"To individual local historians, historical societies,
associations or County and Town Historians"

On behalf of my colleagues and myself, including those individuals and/or organizations involved in various local tourism initiative agendas.

This letter is to share with you some background information on an "Economic Agenda/Vision" for your evaluation of its merits, that will also include the initiation of tourism initiatives. A tourism initiative that we foresee with your involvement offers you the opportunity to assist in the growth of our local economy and participation in the development of our overall economic agenda/vision by you,

"To personally tell the history and rich folk lore to be found in our
region. For it to be told in a manner that is desirable to you and for
it to become a part of an productive economic engine for the region"

A economic vision that will allow us to collectively begin to address the serious economic plight of our local economy, through the utilization of a readily available rich abundant regional/local human and natural resources to be founded in our region for following tourism initiatives.

1. Route 206 Scenic Byway Association, Seventy Five Miles (75) Scenic Byway through Four (4) Counties, Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Sullivan and is adjacent to Otsego County. A Scenic Byway from Roscoe, New York to Whitney Point, New York, of tourist traffic and increase tourist traffic with the inclusion of the developing "The New Underground Railroad for Economic Freedom Trail" of Forging The Freedom Trail Project Foundation, Inc. and Friends of Harriet Tubman Committee.
2. The "Tourist and Visitors Information Center" in office space donated by MKL Wireless located at 28 North Main Street in Bainbridge, New York operating with the support of the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce for the purpose to facilitate local cultural and tourism activities. The center is also to assist in the initiation of the Underground Railroad activities of "Forging The Freedom Trail Project Foundation, Inc.," for the initiation of economic development inspired by "Great Stuff Is Made Locally", MKL Wireless, and Route 206 Scenic Byway Association, within the region collectively.
3. A "Agri-Tourism Cluster" to promote local area agricultural products, local entrepreneurs and tourism in the surrounding communities of the Village of Bainbridge. Initiated in cooperation with the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce, Market Research Initiative, Great Stuff Is Made Locally, Forging the Freedom Trail Project, Inc.
4. To foster Binghamton, New York, as the Crossroads for Tourism, due to the fact that the City of Binghamton is geographically located in New York State with easy access to the City of Binghamton via Interstate Highways, Routes and rural road of the Southern Tier of New York. The fact that Binghamton is the Hub of New York City is one of the major factors in the fact that Binghamton, New York is the Crossroads for Tourism. One of the other main factors is the Binghamton is centrally located the Southern Tier which is very rich in Agriculture Heritage Tourism History
5. The Forging the Freedom Trail Project Foundation, Inc., Great Stuff is Made Locally and Market Research is planning on having its "Great Stuff Is Made Locally Conference" to be held in 2008. This conference is to highlight our marketing strategy of that "Great Stuff Is Made Locally" does exist within our community. To assist in the effort of the development to promote local/regional art, cultural, heritage and agricultural tourism initiatives.
6. The Forging the Freedom Trail Project Foundation, Inc. and the Friends of Harriet Tubman Committee will also have its Friends of Harriet Tubman Committee Unique New York State Wide Agri-Heritage Tourism Traveling Exhibition at Binghamton City Hall for "Black History Month" in February 2008 at the Binghamton City Hall Second Floor Gallery to celebrate the contributions made by Black people. Also, in the summer of 2008 the Foundation is planning on having a statewide “Underground Railroad Organization Conference”. Importantly, we will be to highlight the tourism initiatives of Route 206 and Foundation. This conference importantly will seek to unite agriculture agendas state wide to collectively work together towards a common heritage tourism initiative. Also, developing a "Document of Solutions" that will be addressing identified problems and providing resolutions to those problems from discussions held in the workshops of the conference. Resolutions that will be voted upon that are submitted from the workshops and then will be ratified by the participants attending the conference, as the source for the development and initiation of the "Document of Solutions."

During the Underground Railroad Organization Conference and the "Great Stuff Is Made Locally Conference" we hope to bring together all of the local historians, historical societies, associations or County and Town Historians together to meet together to talk about the use of the history to draw tourist to the area. The foundation will also meeting with the local historians, historical societies, associations or County and Town Historians that attend the meeting to work to bring out the Stories of the Underground Railroad in their areas.

The next conference in 2009 to be in Peekskill, New York to supportive of the establishment of a Museum to be initiated by the Regional Coordinators of Forging The Freedom Trail Project Foundation, Inc. and Sisters in Support. A museum that is devoted to and that expresses the "Objectives and Goals" of Forging The Freedom Trail Project Foundation, Inc., of Education, Preservation, The commemoration of Harriet Tubman and the legacy of the "Underground Railroad." This conference importantly will continue the work of seeking to unite agriculture agendas state wide to collectively work together towards a common heritage tourism initiative. Also, to continue to developing a "Document of Solutions" that will be addressing identified problems and providing resolutions to those problems from discussions held in the workshops of the conference. Resolutions that will be voted upon that are submitted from the workshops and then will be ratified by the participants attending the conference, as the source for the development and initiation of the "Document of Solutions."

We believe that with some creative stimulation of ideas and investment, from "Great Stuff Is Made Locally Marketing". That together we can cause and create some inducement of growth for our local economy. We are suggesting, that as historians, the utilization of history as an economic investment is a marketable product for tourism. We foresee that with your involvement in this economic vision it offers you and the community the opportunity, "To tell an interested audience our history correctly and to inform them in an exciting manner. To inform them in an manner that would create a formidable economic driven base through your support of this tourism initiative".

There is a dynamic economic potential, as we have expressed, that we believe can be initiated and evolve into a successful tourism initiative with your participation. A valued participation that will be beneficial to assist in the accomplishment in the growth of our local economy.
We look forward to your response to our request for having a dialogue on this matter and for your presentation as a historian on our rich regional history. With best wishes and warm regards.

Respectfully,

George M. Sands, Chair
Forging the Freedom Trail Project Foundation
Regional Coordinator, Forging the Freedom Trail Project Foundation
Friends of Harriet Tubman Committee
Great Stuff is Made Locally
Market Research Initiative