DEAR FRIEND Letters 1970

Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 17: PMSS Publications (Published by the School)
Dear Friend Letters 1970

DEAR FRIEND Letters 1970 June and November

[Sketches by Mary Rogers.]


TAGS: Dear Friend letters 1970,fundraising letters,PMSS Director Burton Rogers,Mary Rogers’ sketches,photographs of PMSS activities,Earth Day at PMSS,planning the future of PMSS,summer school activities


CONTENTS: Dear Friend Letter 1970 June 2

Page 1
Photographs: Children on a footbridge; A man driving stakes into a hillside; a girl and an adult tending to something at a fence.

Title: “Earth Day At Pine Mountain”
Director Burton Rogers describes the events on April 23, 1970, when “the entire school spent this day on a variety of environmental activities, films, exhibits, discussions, field trips and work projects for everyone.” Rogers lists the various projects.

Rogers then describes the School’s continued “efforts and activities for the all-round development of young and older citizens.” Students from kindergarten through eighth grade were provided tutoring, singing and recorder classes, library, counseling and athletic coaching and club activities. Special occasions involved the community and other groups, such as a potluck supper, Boy Scout ceremonies and meetings of the Northside Community Council, Fish & Game Club and Parents-Teachers’ Organization. Also, presentations were given by the Mohawk tribe of American Indians and the Settlement Institutions of Appalachia, Inc. held a conference at PMSS.

Special services in the Chapel included the Nativity Play, a county-wide gathering of Girl Scouts, the eighth grade graduation and Bible School.

Page 2
Rogers continues listing the School’s activities: class field trips and camping trips. PMSS staff members continue to serve in various civic organizations and to attend conferences and seminars.

Rogers then describes the impact of “a particularly strenuous siege of winter weather.”

In the meantime, the School is meeting regularly to study the region’s needs in order to determine Pine Mountain’s future service.

Rogers expresses an urgent need of financial help as the School approached the end of the fiscal year on June 30. Rising costs and special needs created a “gap between income and expenditures.” He gives examples of unanticipated expenses, such as building maintenance needs and the raising of the legal Minimum Wage.

Rogers ends the letter with an appeal for donations, particularly from those who haven’t yet given aid to the School.
“Sincerely,
[signed] Burton Rogers, Director
Pine Mountain Settlement School
Pine Mountain, Ky. 40864
June 2, 1970″

GALLERY


CONTENTS: Dear Friend Letter 1970 November 25

Page 1
Sketches: Tall pine tree with mountain range in background; two children crossing footbridge along a road towards PMSS and Pine Mountain.

Header: “Pine Mountain Settlement School, Incorporated
Pine Mountain, Kentucky 40864
November 25, 1970″

Director Burton Rogers shares with readers “glimpses of our children in some of their activities since my last report in June:”

Special school was in operation for six summer weeks and included children from the Green Hills School. They engaged in daily classes in the swimming pool. On some days, children visited from other Harlan County school for a day.

Eight high school girls were employed under the Neighborhood Youth Corps program to assist in the summer school program.

Students returned on August 26 to begin a new school year. Two new teachers were elementary education graduates from Berea College this year. Warm weather allowed the continuation of the afternoon swimming periods for five weeks.

Children enjoyed the weekly Clubs meetings with a choice of about ten activities; school boys stayed after school to work stripping leaves from cane for sorghum molasses-making.

Three wedding services student in the Chapel for former PMSS students included Burton and Mary Rogers’ son; and “a funeral service of another recent graduate lost in an accident while serving in the Navy.”

Page 2
Sketch: The faces of five children looking to right with rapt attention.
A 1971 calendar is enclosed featuring a picture of the cabin built by “Uncle William Creech and neighbors before moving Aunt Sal and two children here from Poor Fork” on March 23, 1871.

“In 1971 we face major changes, involving staggering challenges to our energies and resources….” The new county elementary school at Green Hills in under construction and former PMSS children will likely attend school there next fall. The Board of Trustees has “approved the continuation of current projects not directly involved with the public school day, and the development of new, short-term sessions…” for school-age children.

Rogers ends by expressing appreciation for the PMSS friends’ gifts and interest and the need of every kind of support.
“Sincerely,
[signed] Burton Rogers, Director”

GALLERY


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