Nearly 350 of you are now on the Barnologist mailing list by now and many of you have gotten involved in various activities that have expanded the efforts and interests in barn preservation. A good group attended our last meeting September 11 and heard a number of reports updating the activities referred to below. Marty and Chris Travis of the Pontiac area gave a program on their personal experience of restoring the barn and other buildings on the family farm which they are seeking to return to it's nineteenth century condition as an educational center.

The McLean County Barn Calendar committee has produced a real "COLLECTORS ITEM". Please note the insert regarding how you may be of help in promoting these. The calendar committee, and others, highlighted and sold the calendar at the Barn Booth at the County Fair as well as contacting local businesses and organizations willing to help promote it. Be sure to thank those persons listed on the calendar who helped to sponsor its production. Jim Williams and his committee have spent many hours and much energy and deserve a real "pat on the back".

The "Rural Heritage In Illinois" conference September 20 was a great success. Members of the McLean County Barn Group helped to facilitate and host this gathering of some 65 participants representing some 33 counties in Illinois. The group was composed of barn owners, county extension officials, State and area preservation groups, contractors and venders working on barn restoration as well as a representative of the Lieutenant Governor's office. There was a great deal of excitement about "networking" and possible development of a State organization. More later.

A committee has been working at the development of By-laws for our organization. Input was received at the September 11 meeting as well as a meeting of the Steering committee. Wally Yoder chairs this committee and will report further at the November 13th meeting. This is part of the process leading to application for 501c3 status which will allow persons to give tax deductible donations.

The Barn Christmas Decorating Contest has begun to take shape. Carolyn Loeb is working with the McLean County Convention and Visitor's Bureau and plans are in the works for possible "tours" of this year's entrants. If you know anyone that is interested in decorating their barn, contact the Extension office or Carolyn (663-1260) for details and an entry blank.

The final Barnologist meeting for 2003 will be November 13th (7:30 p.m.) at the Extension office at 402 N. Hershey Road. Reports and updates of on-going events will be shared along with a discussion of possible organizational structures and By-laws. The program for the evening will consist of a more in depth report from the Rural Heritage Conference including highlights from the address by the President of the National Barn Alliance and reports of what other counties around the state are doing. This will be followed by a discussion of how we see our group developing in the future.

Next Meeting: NOVEMBER 13TH AT 7:30 P.M. HOPE TO SEE YOU. BRING A FRIEND!!