Long post...

My mother and father both volunteer at our local botanical gardens because of my mother’s affiliation with her garden club and it is very satisfying for them both. The attacks of September 11th weighed heavy on both their minds, when my father asked if he could, at his expense put up a plaque in the garden as a reminder of the people lost in the attacks. After kicking this idea around with other volunteers and people in charge it seemed to just take off. It went from a small plaque to special marble being shipped from India to carve the twin towers (aprox. 8 feet tall each) and the New York skyline as well also incorporating the Pentagon and a marble wall (similar to the Vietnam wall) listing the victim’s names all on a site set aside for the memorial. The NYFD and NYPD were notified and have gladly given permission to use their emblems and logos on the wall. The project went from a few hundred dollars to having materials and services donated such as $1200 flagpoles, electrical work, floodlights, marble carving, dirt, tree removal, and landscaping just to name a FEW things. The city has agreed to supply water for auto sprinklers (and possible fountain) free as well as pay for electricity for lighting. A first for the city was an agreement for solicitation of donations inserted in the monthly water bill for people getting water from Beaumont. Also ads will be in the Beaumont and Houston newspapers both have donated ad space for this. Advertisements and printing has all been donated. While so much has been donated there are still some large costs. The city has offered to help with an initial startup loan of $2,000 (to be paid back as donations come in) to get drafting and construction plans up and running. Some members of garden clubs and people associated with the botanical gardens have already have pledged around $10,000.00 as soon as they heard about it. The solicitations should bring more as well as some tentative corporate sponsors. There will be another plaque thanking the donors who’s names will be listed who donated $250 and above to this project. All funds will go to this project for its construction and maintenance there will be NO profit from it. This is going to be a huge project taking about six months to complete. A far cry from two old retired people just wanting to place a little reminder, at their own expense, of what happened on September 11th. I am proud of what they have started and how my community has responded.

I have been proud to be a member of CC>CC and found a special people associated with this club. In addition to my personal donation, I want to donate $250 in the name of ‘my club’ but I am having mixed feelings about it because I am not an elected official, nor do I represent the club in its views or opinions nor am I a spokesperson for the club, therefore some might object. I am afraid someone somewhere just might. I would like to see “CC>CC” on the plaque; I just don’t know how to get it there. Suggestions???

If all else fails I will ask a member friend for a $1 donation and I add $249 then the listing becomes "Members of CC>CC" (as there would be 2 of us and we both are members).

Mike