We received this email we would love to share:

Dear Friends,

Sorry,I had to break the one email a week rule as there is so much news this week. Public debates, City Hall testimony, action in Norristown by Montgomery County Commissioners and their (and our) attorney, expert opinion that the Barnes Foundation is eligible for National Historic Landmark status, and three articles in major media markets about a completely new concept for a secure future for the Barnes. Our organization has picked up enormous traction and it feels GREAT!

Not wanting to drown you in dense information, I am using a bulleted list of items (in order of importance, not date) to inform you and then invite you to visit the new Friends of the Barnes website for details: http://www.barnesfriends.org

On Thursday, June 8, Montgomery County Commissioners voted unanimously to hire attorney Mark D. Schwartz to guide a legal challenge to the move of the Barnes Foundation art collection to Philadelphia. (Go to http://www.barnesfriends.org/files/news.html#news_article and follow the link to the Philadelphia Inquirer article, “Commissioners Plan Suit…”)

On Tuesday, June 12, Attorney Mark Schwartz sent a proposal for a secure, permanent future for the Barnes Foundation in Merion to Barnes Foundation Board of Trustees Chairman, Bernard Watson on behalf of the Montgomery County Commissioners. (For more information, see http://www.barnesfriends.org/files/news.html#news_article and follow links to News articles.)

On Thursday, June 8, a report by an expert on historic preservation issued a report that validates a core belief of Friends of the Barnes Foundation about the completely inter-connectedness between the Arboretum, the art collections, and the gallery building of the Merion site. The report states unreservedly that the site, in its entirety, is eligible for National Historic Landmark Status. (Further information will be available shortly on the FBF website.)

Robert Zaller and Gresham Riley are to meet for a rematch debate on Monday, June 18 on WHYY’s acclaimed program, “Radio Times” on 91.0 FM from 10am to 11am and possibly rebroadcast on Monday, but we will not know until Monday. Check the WHYY website at http://www.whyy.org/91FM/radiotimes.html

It is important for our members to encourage the initiatives and the continuing support of our mission by the Montgomery County Commissioners. You may contact them by e-mail to:

Ruth Damsker:

Tom Ellis:

Jim Matthews:

or by regular mail to: One Montgomery Plaza Suite 800, Norristown, PA 19404

will find all of this information heartening. With your continuing interest and support, we will move steadily onward, ever closer to reaching our goal of a permanent and secure future for The Barnes Foundation in Merion.

Best,
Nancy Herman

"If the world should blow itself up, the last audible voice would be that of an expert saying it can't be done."

Peter Ustinov

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