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It's not about the sentimental
"spirit" of Woodstock anymore. It's about the
politics of historic preservation, and accountability to the
words and broken promises spoken to the tax paying residents
of Sullivan County and NY State, from whom GF gladly accepted
their hard-earned money. It's about preserving a Historic
Site.
Our hats off to
Dan Hust, for his talent in filtering through the deluge of
information that was presented to him and for putting together
a very concise story defining the goals which the WPA is
determined to achieve. Our sincere thanks to Brad Littleproud
for all his time and help in getting our point across.
Click
here for the article
in the Sullivan County Democrat
Our Most Current and Most Aggressive
Activities Yet
We are
petitioning the Gerry Foundation for permission to proceed
with the application to have the Woodstock Site listed on the
National Register. Written requests have been sent to Mr. Alan
Gerry and Mr. Jonathon Drapkin, Executive Director.
Certified mail
has also been sent to Governor Pataki, Senator Bonacic,
Assemblyman Gunther, and to Glenn Pontier requesting
disclosure of the sources of the $15 million in state funds
allocated for the development of the Bethel Performing Arts
Center. As stated in our current press article, if any part of
the project involves federal funds, the National Register of
Historical Places can review the Gerry Foundation's plans, and
mitigate these plans, if they feel the preservation of this
site is at risk.
We are
receiving advisement from Dr. Michael W. Doyle Ph.D., Ball
State University, who prepared the Statement on the Historical
and Cultural Significance of the 1969 Woodstock Festival Site
for the Gerry Foundation. He
has provided a great deal of guidance in our dealings with
state and national agencies. He, himself, has declared that GF
went back on a statement made to him, and his colleagues, that
the sight would be left untouched. He has come forward
formally to state that development of the site would be
detrimental to the venture. We have also received guidance
from Dr. James Glass, former State Preservation Officer from
Indiana, on process and procedure.
Current Press Release and Flyer
We are
currently circulating our press release and flyer to all forms
of media in New York State. There have been many envelopes
mailed over the past two weeks.
We again appeal
to our New York state members to print copies and mail them to
your local newspapers, college organizations, and political
party offices. This is dated material and needs to be spread
across the state as soon as possible.
Press Release:
Click
here for color
Flyer in b
& w for photocopying:
Click
here for Black & White
The
Application for Nomination to America's 11 Most Endangered
Places for 2003
To
keep everyone up to date on what has been happening as of
late, the WPA has submitted a comprehensive document in
support of nominating the Original Woodstock Site to the 11
Most Endangered Historic Places List, with the National
Historic Trust in Washington D.C. The NHT is the regulator
body that oversees the addition of endangered sites and
properties into the National Historic Registry.
The
WPA has campaigned for a long time, on its own; to attempt to
have the Gerry Foundation come to its senses regarding its
development plans. Although we have done well at advocating
our position, and will continue to do so, it is time to
involve agencies at a National and State level.
Nominating
the site to the List will not necessarily mean that the site
will be saved. However, the document clearly points out what
the Gerry Foundation plans to do; what the WPA's position is
as the main preservationist group, what we have done thus far;
and what we hope to achieve.
At
a minimum, we hope that the NHT will read the application and
supporting documents, and not only recommend it to the list,
but see it necessary to become involved immediately, prior to
digging in the spring.
The
WPA has found a lot of support for our position from a variety
of sources and have received guidance from an individual who
was involved in the DEIS, who pointed out language in the DEIS
which may require the GF to cooperate with us on some level.
The
entire Nomination document will be made available soon on the
website, however; we would prefer that it be in the Hands of
the NHT, prior to getting in to the hands of those who may try
to undermine it.
We
will be in constant contact with a NHT representative to
garner professional pubic preservationist support and aid in
the 11th hour of our struggle.
If
you have questions, comments or ideas as we can keep moving
forward, please ask.
Thanks
to everyone.
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e.thePeople
- Petition
In
last month's newsletter we wrote that The Times-Union in
Albany NY is hosting a petition to "Save the Woodstock
Site," and that this petition will be submitted to Gov.
Pataki, Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen.Charles Schumer on March
10, 2003. This newsletter is e-mailed to 306 WPA members. Currently
there are 216 signatures. If you have not yet signed it,
please do. We need to get as many signatures as possible and
time is running out. Please pass this information on to a
friend.
Click
here for the petition
ALSO
e.thePeople
- Poll and Discussion
Also
at e.thePeople you will find a poll and discussion board.
After signing the petition, please cast your vote to
"not" build on, surround with fencing, or in any way
deface the Woodstock Site.
Comments
may be left at the discussion board.
Poll
Discussion
PreservationDirectory.com
We have
provided a collection of photos, which are now on display in
the Photo Gallery at PreservationDirectory.com. These photos,
which include those from Lisa Law, feature pictures from the
original event, aerial photos, and recent activity. These
visuals were the pictures submitted as part of the application
for the National Trust's ''11 Most Endangered Places" for
2003.
The Revised WPA Website
The entire
Website has undergone some changes, from the first page to the
last. Our main page contains up-to-the-minute information, and
will continue to be edited, as information becomes available.
We have added some new links, and our media page is totally
redone. Please stop by and see what's new. Invite a friend.
www.thewoodstockspirit.org
Promoting
Our Website
We
need to get the word out.
We need to pass on the information about what is
happening in Bethel.
WE
NEED TO PROMOTE OUR WEBSITE.
In
doing some searching online using "Woodstock", the
WPA doesn't come up till like 140 or so.
Then, when looking at other Woodstock-related sites we found
that only a tiny fraction of them have links to us.
With
that in mind, we first need to get our site to come up sooner
in search engines.
Second, we need to contact the people who run Woodstock, or
any other similar sites and ask them to link to us.
Anyone with any means, ways or ideas, that could help us with
this, please let us know what you can do.
TheWPA@thewoodstockspirit.org
Correspondence
We
like to let everyone know that we have been in contact with
Michael Wadleigh (director of the documentary
"Woodstock"). He endorses the goals of the WPA, and will be a strong
supporter.
Michael continues be a champion of the ideals of global peace
and harmony, which is apparent in his work and in the letter
that he has written to us.
Our sincere thanks to Michael.
We
would also like to thank Wavy Gravy and Lisa Law for their
attention. Both
have sent letters of support for the WPA.
Lisa has also granted us permission to use her photos,
taken in 1969 and which are on display in the Smithsonian, and
include them in our application document.
What Can You Do To Help?
Our
wish is to inform all our members that "things are
happening." It's
the time to be excited and not intimidated. Please
contribute. Please
sign the petition at the Times-Union.
Please vote in the poll.
Please
frequent the Website and pass the information along. Please visit the message board.
Become
active - Get involved.
There
are a few of us who have been working very hard and "we
need you."
Since
it's initiation, the WPA has always strived to "make a
mark" and get the attention of important people, and
organizations, to draw support from those who could help us.
We have done this for so long. Now it's Happening.
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