Local history organizations consider an alliance

Around 20 people representing local historical organizations met Sunday at Southeast Missouri State University to discuss the possibility of forming an alliance.

"The idea is not join and make one organization, but to coordinate what we do and to support each other," said Barbara Port, an organizer of the new Cape Girardeau County Historical Alliance.

Port, who is involved with the Cape River Heritage Museum, May Greene Garden, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Old Town Cape and the city's historic preservation commission, said most specifics about the new organization are still up in the air.

During Sunday's meeting, representatives from a variety of history-oriented organizations, including the Cape Girardeau County Genealogical Society, the Jackson Heritage Association and the Civil War Roundtable, worked to develop a master calendar of upcoming events and activities so that groups could avoid competing with each other.

An ad hoc committee made up of Dub Suedekum with the Civil War Roundtable, Pat Dahl with the Historic Preservation Commission and Marge Thompson with the Cape River Heritage Museum will work to establish a mission statement and goals for the alliance before the next meeting in April.

"This is something we've talked about for years," said Thompson. "And finally it happened. It will be a great benefit to everyone involved."

Port said they contacted around 40 various organizations, from cemetery associations to the county archive center, to join the alliance.

Membership procedures have not yet been developed. Port said the group is also considering the creation of an alliance board.

"This has been a dream come for true for many of these organizations," Port said. "And it was a surprise to me how many groups in the county are involved in historic preservation in some form or another."

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128