Newsletter January 2010: Important!
The year of 2009 was a real struggle for the Cornish Global Migration Programme. Financially the project is looking for help but the office now has a new team of volunteers.
Our office is in Murdoch House, Redruth which, until now, has been supported by the Management Committee for all of the project's requirements.
The Trustees of Murdoch House were fortunate in winning a lottery grant, the intention of which was to turn Murdoch House into an educational centre to be used by all people, regardless of their age group. This was an ambitious idea and thought to be well within the committee’s abilities. Unfortunately, time ran out to complete this idea and the lottery money had to be returned. This left the Management Committee with the great problem of how the historic building could be retained and be available to all of the groups that used it, the Cornish Global Migration Programme being one of those groups.
The Cornish Global Migration Programme volunteers are a very dedicated group of people but decided, as a result of the the Management Committee’s problems, that they would try to progress the project and make the Cornish Global Migration Programme self-financing. This will continue to be a major battle but with everyone’s support the Cornish Global Migration Programme will continue.
Initially, the Cornish Global Migration Programme vacated one of the rooms in Murdoch House that it was using for storing a very important library that was given to the Cornish Global Migration Programm by A. C. TODD, to allow the Management Committee to have it available for letting. These books are now within the Cornish Global Migration Programme's main office, which is becoming very cramped.
A further change was to make the Cornish Global Migration Programme electronically available. This took time as the telephone provider had to be changed as well as the email address, both of which were costing the Management Committee too much money. The Cornish Global Migration Programme are now delighted to promote its new email address info@cornishmigration.org.uk. The Freenet address is no longer working.
The Cornish Global Migration Programme was able to commission the design of this web site www.cornishmigration.org.uk and this has provided added interest to the project. The website design was provided and the site maintained without charge by a Redruth company - Cornish Computing (www.cornishcomputing.com).
A major milestone was crossed in November, when the 40,000th name was added to the database. The names are given to the Cornish Global Migration Programme and the project is very grateful for the support that is readily given. This support is also the evidence that the Cornish Global Migration Programme is a vital project and the incentive for it to continue.
To further enhance the project, the Cornish Global Migration Programme is now looking for like societies and organisations to become Friends of the Cornish Global Migration Programme. It is hoping that interested groups, in order to preserve this unique project, will make a donation on a regular basis or whenever they can help. Another way to help is via sponsorship of aC ornish Global Migration Programme overhead. Without guaranteed financial support, the Cornish Global Migration Programme will not be able to continue recording all Cornish born migrants who moved to all corners of the world. It would also cease to be an asset to the history of Cornwall. (see below for current sponsors )
In December the Cornish Global Migration Programme were delighted when further volunteers offered to broaden the aspects of the project. Details of how this will eventually develop will be included in a further newsletter. These volunteers have to be instructed on the office's procedures. Please be tolerant if you do not receive an immediate reply to any correspondence as new systems are being developed. We will get back to you!
To end in an up-beat note, the Cornish Global Migration Programme will continue in Redruth, which was the centre of the mining industry and from where so many migrants left. These migrants left their mark in every corner of the world and in respect of the tremendous history and friendships that continue around the world, the Cornish Global Migration Programme will endeavour to record as many of these pioneers as possible - WITH YOUR HELP.
The Cornish Global Migration Programme is very grateful to its sponsors:
The Cornish American Heritage Society (sponsors the CGMP telephone account)
Bob & Tommi O’Hagan
Vancouver Cornish Society
Keweenaw Kernewek (The Cornish Connection of the Copper Country)
Cornish Computing (maintains the Cornish Global Migration Programme website)
In Pensioner J.C. Carbis
Please contact us if you can help in any way - with information, financial assistance or research.
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