Atlanta Grade School Friends Year in Review 2023
Mission
The mission of Atlanta Grade School Friends is to restore the historic AtlantaMiller Grade School located on Miller Street in Atlanta, Texas. In addition to renovation of the building and the continued maintenance thereof, Atlanta Grade School Friends oversees the development and management of educational programs and related activities for all ages that enhance the building's usefulness.
Board of Directors Jane Cook Barnhill, President Kevin Stingley, Vice President Danny Stanley, Treasurer Cyndy Chamblee, Secretary
• Lee Ellen Arnold Benjamin • Camille Smith Dawn • Gary Endsley
• Margaret Miller-Fitts • James Joslin • Judy Waldon Lanier • Donna Rice • Phil Rice • Leigh Walker Stanley • Jerri Mason Steger
Virtual Reality: Digital Mapping
Architexas
At the start of 2023, we went digital with a virtual reality “mapping” of Atlanta-Miller Grade School. Thanks to Architexas, you can now view a 3D model of the school as it is today. See our Facebook page for the link. Welcome to the 21st century!
Real Places Conference 2023
We were invited by Friends of the Texas Historical Commission to speak about our work during the Real Places Conference in Austin in February 2023. While Winter Storm Mara kept us from attending in person, we were able to present remotely, online. See our YouTube channel for the slide presentation @atlantagradeschoolfriends.
Greene House Moved
Thanks to a donation from Jane and John Barnhill, Atlanta Grade School Friends had already purchased the Greene House next door to Atlanta-Miller Grade School. In 2023, our nonprofit sold the house to Montana and Caleb Whatley, who then moved it to a new location, where it has become their family home.
Adjacent Property Acquired Thanks to the following, our nonprofit was able to purchase an additional “buffer” lot this year. • John and Jane Barnhill • Cyndy Chamblee
• Margaret Miller-Fitts • Judy Lanier • Leigh and Danny Stanley
Monthly E-newsletter Each month during 2023, our e-newsletter continued, now in its second year. Our thanks to those who shared their, “I remember when” experiences attending AtlantaMiller Grade School. In order of appearance: ➢ Jane Cook Barnhill ➢ Edward Ray Stanley ➢ Nancy Coe ➢ Ricky Draper ➢ Janet Adams ➢ Debra Castell Sparks ➢ Bogie Price and Nalga Price Mebane
Community Survey
During the summer, we surveyed our community online. We discovered there is great interest in the restored AtlantaMiller Grade School becoming a community center for multipurpose programming.
Top Survey Results 88.41& | Arts, music, literacy and other cultural programming 71.01% | Family events 65.22% | Conservation education and outdoors-themed programming
60.87% | Chamber of Commerce, City and County gatherings 60.87% | Volunteer trainings for service organizations 55.07% | Health-oriented programming
55.07% | Conferences by local, regional and statewide organizations 53.62% | Workforce development training 53.62% | Venue for emergency operations and urgent needs
GuideStar Gold 2023 For the second year in a row, Atlanta Grade School Friends received the gold seal for transparency from Candid GuideStar. Maintaining our profile at the gold level signals to donors, partners and the community at large that our nonprofit operates in a professional fashion.
Top Rated Nonprofit 2023
For the second year in a row, Atlanta Grade School Friends was named a “Top Rated Nonprofit” by GreatNonprofits. Thanks go to those who shared their thoughts about Atlanta Grade School Friends on this trusted national platform. Community reviews help those who do not know us intimately, to understand the importance of our nonprofit. They are essential to our success now and in the future!
Preservation Texas Honor Award 2023 Atlanta Grade School Friends received the Honor Award from Preservation Texas this year! After 20 years on the “most endangered” list of historic sites, Atlanta-Miller Grade School was removed, as significant progress toward restoration has been made. Thank you, Preservation Texas.
Northeast Texas Preservation Summit 2023 Danny Stanley, Treasurer of Atlanta Grade School Friends and Carolyn M. Appleton, Development Executive were invited to speak during the Northeast Texas Preservation Summit in Tyler in September. We had a wonderful time and met others engaged in historic preservation across East Texas.
Community Vote
In 2023, Atlanta Grade School Friends received the Reader’s Choice for Best Nonprofit award from the Cass County Citizens Journal-Sun.
Thanks, everyone!
Infrastructure Improvements ✓ We prepared and voted-in new bylaws that are modern and more in keeping with our organization and its work today. ✓ We began the process of uploading our constituent data into a cloud-based platform. We are making online giving easy, while storing vital organizational data securely for posterity. ✓ We added two hundred new emails to our MailChimp e-mail list! ✓ Our new YouTube channel continued to attract visitors and tell our story visually.
Google Maps
After visiting with Google Maps, we got a brand new 360-degree photographic view of AtlantaMiller Grade School this year! The old, dilapidated image of the school covered with vegetation is gone. We also updated our physical address with the City of Atlanta, Texas and Google Maps.
New Zoom Chats
In 2023, we launched a series of casual Zoom chats with current and potential future partners, which we posted on YouTube @atlantagradeschoolfriends. Thanks to the following for taking the time to visit with us on Zoom this year! In order of participation: JuanRaymon Rubio, Architexas Conor Herterich, Preservation Texas Kaitlin Wieseman, Texas Forestry Museum
Restoration Planning The budgeting process continued, as we worked to identify the costs involved in restoring Atlanta-Miller Grade School. We will be seeking preservation tax credits, which will help reduce the amount required to fund restoration from other sources. We began the application process of securing National Register status via the National Park Service. This will enhance the state and national prestige of Atlanta-Miller Grade School.
We Began Meeting with Potential Donors Thanks to those who met with us this year to discuss future applications for funding in support of the restoration of Atlanta-Miller Grade School. These initial conversations helped us better understand what will be required once we formally apply for financial support for the building’s restoration, and the new community center that we are creating in Atlanta, Texas.
Sprinkler System Installation Begins Thanks to The Summerlee Foundation and Walmart Atlanta, we were able to finalize our contract with Infinity Fire Sprinkler Systems LLC and begin work installing a modern, new sprinkler system. This critical feature will ensure the safety of guests who tour the school today, and future construction crews working on the restoration.
RNN: Rabbit News Network You can tour Atlanta-Miller Grade School today by contacting Danny Stanley, Treasurer or by reaching out by Gmail: atlantagradeschoolfriends@gmail.com. We were delighted to host Atlanta Elementary students participating in the Rabbit News Network this year! See our YouTube channel for a recap.
We Are Grateful Thanks to our volunteers, donors and partners for their support during 2023!
Please visit our website for a full listing of contributors and consider a donation today. Your financial support and the donation of your time and talents are deeply appreciated.
Join Us Online Website atlantagradeschoolfriends.org
Email atlantagradeschoolfriends@gmail.com Facebook @atlantagradeschoolfriends YouTube @atlantagradeschoolfriends ISSUU @agsf2023
Mailing and Physical Addresses Atlanta Grade School Friends P.O. Box 851 Atlanta, Texas 75551 Physical location: 106 ½ W. Miller Street Atlanta, Texas 75551 GuideStar gold profile: guidestar.org/profile/46-0492043 Judy Lanier
Phil Rice