Fall Meeting
     The Wet/Dry Routes Chapter met for its fall meeting on October 23 at the Fort Larned National Historic Site. Following a tasty meal of hearty beef stew, the following business items were addressed: the Talking Tombstone project, vandalism at the Zebulon Pike Plaza, the winter meeting at Kinsley scheduled for January 22, 2012 in conjunction with "Making Sense of the Civil War" presented by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association. Subsequently, the members and guests totaling 50 drove to the Cheyenne/Sioux village site thirty miles to the west where George Elmore and Dr. Leo Oliva spoke to the events surrounding the destruction of the village in 1867 by troops under Maj. George Winfield Scott Hancock.

Winter Meeting
     The Chapter will meet at the Kinsley Municipal Building at 12:45 p. m., January 22, 2012 for the winter meeting. Lunch will be served promptly at 12:45 p. m., courtesy of the Chapter. However, your editor will be in contact with individual members to determine a headcount.

     Following lunch, a brief business meeting will be conducted. The Faye Anderson Award will be presented and 2012 officers will be elected.

     The afternoon will be given over to a Civil War Program sponsored by the Kinsley Public Library.

     The 2012 dues of $10.00 per family will be gathered by Alice Clapsaddle.

     The following is a description of the program as submitted by Joan Weaver, Director of the Kinsley Public Library.

     Don't forget to sign up on-line for Let's Talk About It: Making Sense of the Civil War at the Kinsley Library, 208 E. 8th St., Kinsley, Kansas. The first discussion is January 22, 2-5 p. m. (One discussion a month for 5 months.) When you register, the Kinsley Library will send you the books so you can have the readings done by January 22. Dr. Leo Oliva is the discussion scholar. The first meeting will also feature Dr. David Clapsaddle speaking on JEB, John, and Bleeding Kansas. For complete information just Google the Kinsley Library or go to {www.kinsleylibrary.info} and then select the Let's Talk About It link. Registration is quick and easy. You will not want to miss this series.

     Further information is provided in the enclosed flyer.

Talking Tombstones
     Looking forward to next fall, the Chapter will once again in conjunction with the Larned Tourist Committee conduct Talking Tombstones. This event, always well received, will feature Chapter members interpreting early Pawnee County pioneers buried in the Larned Cemetery. During that period, 1870's, members of the fairer sex did not receive much attention. Thus, all the deceased portrayed will be of the male persuasion.

Rendezvous 2012
     Plans are now being formulated for Rendzvous 2012 which will be held in Larned the latter part of September. This popular event is sponsored by the Santa Fe Trail Center, the Fort Larned National Historic Site, and the National Santa Fe Trail.

Faye Anderson Award
     The Faye Anderson Award, so named for a charter member famous for her Buffalo Chip Cookies, is the only award given by the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter. The award may be presented to an individual, group, of institution which helps preserve the objectives of the local chapter and the Santa Fe Trail. The award has been presented for over twenty years. The awardee is presented a plaque from the Chapter and a brass plate with the awardee's name is placed on a permanent plaque at the Santa Fe Trail Center.

     Remember The Winter Meeting At The Kinsley Municipal Building On Sunday, January 22 at 12:45 p. m. Lunch Is Furnished By The Chapter.

     End of the Trail correction...........a confusion of a death notice led your editor to believe that Shirley Stein's husband Maurice Stein of Dodge City had died. He is very much alive and we regret any inconvenience or confusion this might have caused.

Dues are always Due or should we say
"Old/New Members Always Welcome"
     Chapter dues in the amount of $10.00 per family, are due at the Winter meeting or may be mailed to Alice Clapsaddle, 215 Mann, Larned, Kansas, 67550 any time. Checks should be made out to the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter. Dues and email addresses are welcome.
"Printable Dues Form"