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7 <br />acreage for non - mechanized farming. If the Association can act quickly and creatively, it is still <br />possible to rescue some of the classic properties before they are sold for commercial or <br />residential development. This will involve: <br />a. Identifying potential property and structures. This would fall into either of two categories: <br />i) Farmland with historic structures that will otherwise be sold for development. In this <br />case the job of the association is to promote the property's conveyance to a <br />protected public trust of some sort <br />i) Historic structures on private property that will otherwise be demolished. In this case <br />the Association's job is to provide a framework whereby the owner receives <br />assistance with restoration activities and expenses and the public procures some <br />level of access to the property. <br />b. Developing renovation / restoration plans. Clearly, the Association will need to develop <br />and share its experience in restoring historic structures, particularly in the use of <br />materials and technologies available at the time. <br />c. Procuring public and private funding through grants. The Association can be an <br />invaluable enabler for obtaining funding just by knowing how to prepare and submit <br />grants, develop business and project plans, and providing the office support tools for so <br />doing. <br />d. Identifying and organizing community participation. This is perhaps the key activity <br />underlying all of the Association's goals. Unless the Association is a community activity, <br />it will not exist. Unless it obtains the support, participation, and goodwill of the larger <br />community, it will be largely ineffective. Unless it procures the involvement of the civic, <br />legislative, and media communities its impact will be local and transient. <br />,Ilan � Chas Greer <br />