A member is someone who has either asked specifically to be on our mailing list, or someone who -- by phone, email, snail mail, in-person conversation-- has worked with us and wanted to stay in touch. After thousands of messages, the membership in the SWI seems to be self-selecting into the following categories, none of which are mutually exclusive:
Concerned Citizens: These are people who contacted us to let us know how much they care about stone walls, and wished to be part of a group of like-minded souls. Most were prompted to write after reading about the initiative in local media or linking to the SWIi website. Contacts take many forms, from thank-you notes, gestures of good will and pledges of support.
Advice Seekers: Dozens of people have written specifically to ask for advice on land-ownership issues involving stone walls. Normally they have witnessed or experienced damage to stone walls they care about and seek advice on how to proceed. Many of these are legal cases in which an abutting land-owner stripped a common wall, usually out of ignorance. Some, however, are cases of outright theft, either where walls are raided in the night or hauled off the properties of absentee owners, who are not there to protect their woodland properties.
Fascinating Walls: Many readers responded to our request for mention of walls they are especially interesting, either for personal reasons or for some special feature. Here we have received stories of ancient pre-European walls, stories of how stone walls were important to someoneÕs childhood, or mention of walls involving columns, towers, massive construction, or folk art.
Managing the Commons: The planning and zoning divisions of local governments, regional planning agencies, and the officers of non-profit organizations have much at stake in helping to identify, then regulate the stone wall commons . Requests for information have come in from all New England states.
A listserve of members is being continiuously compiled. |
