10 / 40
Page 10
Volume 26, Issue 1
Gettysburg Foundation
right, she will volunteer for you, because she
is looking for something to do.” So Vickie
said, “OH, GOOD!” And I joined right
then and I filled out a membership form.
GF: TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR FIRST FRIENDS
EVENT.
BJF: After I joined the Friends I had gone
on a three-week RV trip. When I got back
Vickie told me that the Friends had a
committee that was forming to do the first
“March for Parks” event which would raise
funds for a specific preservation project on
the Gettysburg battlefield. She told me that
she had a gentleman from the Philadelphia
area that was on the committee who was Jeff
Anderson, as well as Al and Sally Atkinson,
Dean and Judy Schultz, herself, her staff and
a few others. Jeff chaired the meeting and
asked if I wanted to help, and I agreed. I
don’t know what exactly I did, but that was
the first event I helped with. Vickie called
to follow up with me, and asked if I wanted
to help again, and I did, and that’s how I got
involved volunteering with the Friends.
GF: WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS BEEN THE MOST
CHALLENGING PROJECT FOR THE FRIENDS OF
GETTYSBURG?
BJF: It was the removal of the power lines
along Emmitsburg Road because we had
no money. It was a huge project and the
Park really wanted to see us accomplish
it. I’m always amazed that it got done.
We figured out it cost a million dollars a
mile because there were so many utilities
involved. It also helped put the Friends
“on the map” because it was such a big
undertaking. I think that we were the first
Friends group to accomplish something
that made such an immediate difference in
a national Park’s landscape. Another one
of the biggest challenges we faced (as the
Gettysburg Foundation) was the removal
of the old cyclorama building which was a
huge project because of all the opposition.
We also had to raise funds for it and it had
to clear all kinds of legal hurdles.
GF: WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE FRIENDS’
BIGGEST SUCCESS STORY?
BJF: I think the merger between the
Gettysburg National Battlefield Museum
Foundation and the Friends of the National
Parks at Gettysburg to form the Gettysburg
Foundation is a success story. The missions
of the two organizations differed in scope,
but we were both involved in the ultimate
goals of education and preservation. The
Friends had always been an advocate of a
new museum and visitor center (the major
goal of the Museum Foundation), and the
Museum Foundation wanted to become
a membership organization with the
same goals of the Friends (acquiring land,
removing modern intrusions, and acquiring
artifacts). We were told by the GNMP
superintendent at the time, John Latschar,
that it would be much more productive if
our two organizations would merge. We
each selected a team of negotiators and
scheduled six meetings (supposedly secret)
to discuss details. After four meetings, we
agreed on all points, told the members at
the Spring Muster in April 2006 … and the
Gettysburg Foundation came to life!
GF: WHY WOULD YOU TELL PEOPLE TO BECOME A
FRIEND TODAY?
BJF: It’s something you can do by yourself
or with your family and you will meet so
many other like-minded people. It’s about
preservation. It’s about education, your
own, and what you can pass on to other
people. If you become involved it will be
one of the finest things you have ever done.
You can give up to your limit of giving. We
A FEW OF BARBARA’S
FAVORITE THINGS:
Favorite Book –
Little Women
and
Caddie Woodlawn
Favorite Movies –
You’ve Got Mail
and
Lincoln
Favorite Place to Visit – New York City, NY and the National
Parks of the Northwest – Glacier, Yellowstone, and the Grand
Tetons.
Favorite Music Artist – Elvis Presley
Favorite Food – Pizza with Pepperoni, mushrooms, and black
olives from Pizza Hut and home-made noodles and chicken or
beef like my mother used to make.
Favorite Pie – Cherry Pie
Favorite Gettysburg Restaurant – One Lincoln located on
the square – I get the salad with chicken, cranberries, and
gorgonzola
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor – Butter Pecan
Favorite Color – Blue, but for cars I like Black
Most Prized Possession – College Ring from Purdue University
and my cell phone so I can stay connected!
Favorite Sporting Event – Final 4 College Basketball – It’s the
best sporting event there is. I’ve been lucky enough to go to
about six of them, there’s just nothing like it.