Success in 2005

2005 dawned bleakly for concerned members. Kent Whitworth, executive director of the KHS, stated the return of Ron Bryant to the Kentucky History Center, is not negotiable. Mr. Whitworth, as a result, lit the members' fire & provided ample motivation for the members' work throughout the year..

In its initial year of organization the Concerned Members of the KHS have achieved much & can celebrate success. The following is a partial list of the members' success in 2005.

Ann Pennington was appointed to the Executive Committee of the KHS to voice members concerns. First among them is members concerns over the lack of conformity of KHS by-laws & charter with Kentucky law.
Members met with outgoing KHS Director Walter Baker, retired Kentucky Supreme Court Justice, who offered guidance on achieving members' objectives.
Members met with incoming KHS President Libby Jones, promoting awareness of members' concerns. Mrs. Jones responded positively. At the annual meeting of the KHS in November, the first remarks of Mrs. Jones addressed the need to listen to members.
Networking among KHS members spread awareness of the problems confronting the KHS & concerned members.
Members mounted a write-in campaign for election to the KHS Board of Directors and achieved 4.7% of the vote. 95% of the votes were cast by KHS executive directors Kent Whitworth as proxy. Less than 15% of the total members of the KHS exercised their vote. Members see promise in these numbers for electing a slate of candidates in November, 2006.
In the annual meeting of the KHS, for the first time in anyone's memory, election results were announced & publicly disclosed, as requested by concerned members.
Members addressed a variety of local issues affecting history throughout Kentucky.
Toward year's end, Jim Host resigned as Commerce Cabinet secretery under pressures resulting from the Merit system investigation. Host initiated the restructuring of the KHS & KHC & their inclusion into the Commerce Cabinet, which also lead to the removal of Ron Bryant.
Members initiated its own web site for issue commmunications.