Local historical alliance disbands for lack of interest

A local historical alliance that was developed in February and designed to provide more organization among the many local historical groups has folded due to lack of interest.

About 20 people gathered at the original meeting, hoping that the Cape Girardeau County Historical Alliance would make it easier for an estimated 40 historical organizations to coordinate various events.

But the idea faded this week as e-mails were sent to various groups saying there was not enough interest.

"We had several meetings and there seemed to be interest," said Bill Port, who was one of the instigators of the alliance. But few organizations responded to the request for a $10 annual membership fee. "What that said to me, is that people think it's a nice idea but didn't want to commit."

Port said he had no ill feelings and said that perhaps some good did come out of the alliance's short stint.

"If everybody is now more conscious of meetings and what other groups are doing ... if we accomplished that, maybe that's all we needed to do and we didn't all need another meeting to go to," he said.

Jane Randol Jackson, director of the archive center in Jackson, said it was disappointing that so few organizations committed money.

The main purpose of the alliance was to come up with a calendar so events and classes from similar organizations aren't held on the same day. The group had started a calendar and will continue to provide a calendar for the remainder of the year.

Jackson gave an example of the Cape Girardeau County Genealogy Society and the archive center holding a genealogy class the same day.

"There doesn't need to be a separate class," she said. "We can have a joint class. If you have two similar things going on, you can pull together and work together on it and reach more people."

The biggest reason Port gave for the lack of interest is that people are just too busy.

Port said the alliance could have met quarterly instead of monthly but that people tend to forget about quarterly meetings.

Marge Thompson, president of the River Heritage Museum board, said it's hard to find motivated volunteers these days and the ones who are available may be overburdened.

"What I find at the museum is that there aren't many volunteers around anymore," she said. "Young people aren't interested, and the old people who used to volunteer have made enough money and now they like to travel."

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635