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JSF 2003 Summary
For my last article of the year, I have decided to briefly review our 2003 activities and also provide a partial list of what we’re working on for 2004.
This year, we produced 18 books and 4 newsletters. We continue to enjoy our role as one of the four cornerstones of Ashland’s Cultural Corridor, along with the Kentucky Highlands Museum and Discovery Center, the Ashland Area Art Gallery, and the Paramount Arts Center.
I have lived in Ashland since 1985, and I am proud of the contributions the Jesse Stuart Foundation has made to our community during the last two decades.
- We promote economic development by:
- Keeping jobs in downtown Ashland
- Playing an extremely active role in cultural tourism
- We have played a major role in the educational and intellectual life of the community by:
- Producing books which supplement the educational system, at all levels
- Sponsoring community activities, like Allan W. Eckert’s book signings, the annual Jesse Stuart Weekend, and in-house programs for students, teachers, and librarians.
In the last eighteen years, JSF publications and projects have promoted learning and reading, while also playing a major role in preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of the area.
Several years ago, I received a letter from Billy C. Clark which said, in part: "I wanted to thank you for permitting me to see decent literature again in my lifetime. Until the Jesse Stuart Foundation began its work, it had become easy to believe, except on rare occasions, that decent literature might be gone forever. What a contribution you are making to the school systems everywhere, for old and young alike. Not just beautiful stories that touch the spirit of man, but in a format that makes each book not just another book but a collector’s item as well; books to be passed on from generation to generation."
In 2004, we will extend our record of publishing excellence by producing the last two volumes in Allan W. Eckert’s monumental Winning of America series: "Gateway to Empire" and "Twilight of Empire."
We will also produce a biography of Jesse Stuart by former CBS News Correspondent David Dick, who has become one of Kentucky’s best writers and thinkers.
Next year we also plan to continue our ambitious efforts to improve our building in order to maximize its potential for community service and economic development.
We plan to raise funds to put another restroom on the main floor and to install storm windows throughout the building. We also hope to begin work on an elevator that will link all three floors of the Jesse Stuart Foundation and make our 4000 square feet of luxury second floor offices more accessible to public use.
Next year promises to be another great year for the Jesse Stuart Foundation. On behalf of our staff and our Board of Directors, I invite your involvement and assistance—not based on our statement of need, but on our record of accomplishment.
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