DEAR FRIEND LETTERS 2012 December

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 17: PUBLICATIONS PMSS
“Dear Friends” Letter
By Nancy Adams, Director
December 2012

The Maze at Blanton Forest. Photo courtesy of Ben Begley, December 2012. [dear_friends_2012_11_002.JPG]

TAGS: Dear Friends Letters 2012, Centennial Celebration preparation, windows restoration project, environmental education, Reading Camp, Intervention Program, community recreation, chickens, shiitake mushrooms, gardening, art classes, healthier meals, historic preservation, historic restoration

DEAR FRIEND LETTERS 2012 December

PMSS Director Nancy Adams writes a “Dear Friends” fundraising letter in 2012 December as she prepares for the coming centennial year of the School.

TRANSCRIPTION

December 2012

Dear Friends,

As I write to you, Pine Mountain Settlement School is preparing to celebrate its centennial. On this threshold, we stand with one foot planted in our first century of operation grounded by the successes of the boarding school era, the community school days, and our outstanding environmental education program. With the other foot, we are poised to step into our second century, ready to take on new challenges faced by our neighbors and our constituency beyond these hills.

Throughout the Settlement School’s rich history, the mission has remained constant: to provide educational opportunities and to serve the local community. We have adapted our programs to meet current needs without duplicating services offered by other groups and institutions.

Our current programs offer essential education that can strengthen our personal and collective resilience in a time of widespread unease and serious challenges. We also offer our natural lands and facilities as a haven for those who seek respite from personal and societal stresses, and for those who want to create art.

This year, we

    • Taught 2,200 students from 43 schools about the natural environment of Central Appalachia, one of the most biologically diverse places on earth
    • Taught historic preservation skills to 30 students and homeowners so that they can repair their high quality older windows
    • Helped 37 area families to grow more of their own food – a combined 19 tons of vegetables!
    • Offered instruction on planning a garden, preserving food, growing shiitake mushrooms, raising chickens, preparing healthy meals, making sorghum and beeswax candles.
    • Worked with 60 struggling elementary school students to help them learn reading basics through Reading Camp and our Intervention Program
    • Provided facilities and recreational programs for the local community 
    • Opened our campus to those who wish to pursue artistic endeavors
    • Hosted more close to 100 people for our wildflower, forest study and fall color weekends
    • Increased the amount of fresh food served in our dining hall and planned healthier meals
    • Maintained and repaired our historic structures

By supporting the Settlement School, you become our partner. You share in our accomplishments. You help people become more knowledgeable, more resilient, healthier, and more respectful of the natural environment. We welcome you to join us.

In the Spirit of Pine Mountain,
[Signed] Nancy Adams
Nancy Adams, Executive Director

GALLERY

 

DEAR FRIEND LETTERS 2010 December

dear_friends_2012_11_001.jpg

See Also:
NANCY ADAMS Director – Biography