Board of Management Approves

Land Acquisition

A Vision for the 21st Century is gaining

momentum. On February 5, the Board of

Management of The Daughters of the

Republic of Texas signed a contract that

declares its intent to raise $1,425,000 to

secure a critical piece of property on the

north side of the historic French Legation

Museum in Austin. This site will be the future

location of the Republic of Texas History

Center.

We believe the price is appropriate and

generous. The owners have indicated they

prefer working with the DRT to preserve the

historic nature of this unique East Austin

neighborhood, rather than selling to a

commercial venture.

The DRT currently operates in a building

located in North Austin under an unattractive

overpass at the intersection of U.S. Highway

183 and Interstate Highway 35. Originally

commercial in nature, the building was not

intended to serve as a museum. It is hard to

find and lacks adequate parking for school

buses and large numbers of visitors.

As the role of DRT expands in future

years, a more appropriate setting for

museum exhibitions, educational programs

for visitors of all ages, and community activi-

ties like conferences, family gatherings and

festivals is needed.

The Vision Team leading the fundraising

effort is conducting private meetings with

potential contributors across the state, both

DRT members and non-members. Grant

proposals are being prepared and

submitted. We believe we are on our way

to success, but more work remains to be

done.

Your help is greatly needed and most

welcome. The sooner we raise the

$1,425,000 land acquisition cost, the more

quickly we can turn our attention to the task

of securing funding to build and furnish the

new Republic of Texas History Center. This

uniquely designed facility will ultimately

become the center point of an entire

“complex” called the Republic of Texas His-

tory Complex, to include the French Legation

Museum and grounds.

A Vision for the 21st Century serves all

members across the State of Texas and

beyond. Please join the Vision Team and

make your contribution today!

Vision Team

Nancy M. Shurtleff, Chair

Cynthia L. Anderson ~ John Ellen Becker ~

Betty S. Bird ~ Patricia E. Horridge ~

Gayla H. Lawson

Campaign Update: A Vision for the 21st Century

Republic of Texas History Complex

The Daught er s o f

The R epub l i c o f T exa s

510 E . And er son Lan e

Aust in , T exa s 78752

512 -339 - 1997

Facts at a Glance

The DRT Board of Management

has signed an agreement with

the owners of the property on

the north side of the French

Legation Museum.

The DRT has one year to secure

$1,425,000 in donations

(through February 5, 2011).

Currently housed in an unat-

tractive, hard-to-find location,

the Republic of Texas Museum

and the DRT headquarters will

ultimately relocate to a new

“Republic of Texas History

Center” downtown.

By consolidating the DRT’s

activities at this attractive,

accessible downtown Austin

location, members and visi-

tors alike will have a more

satisfying experience, and the

work of our organization will

be more easily achieved.

Thank you for contributing

today!

Winter, 2010

How to Contribute to “A Vision for the 21st Century”

Thank you for supporting A Vision for the 21st Century.

You may write a check and send it to Lana Boussidan, Ad-

ministrator, The Daughters of The Republic of Texas, 510 E.

Anderson Lane, Austin, Texas 78752. Your gift is tax de-

ductible to the extent allowed by law, and no goods or

services will be provided in exchange for your contribution.

If you wish to charge your gift using a credit card, please

call Lana Boussidan at the headquarters office, 512-339-

1997.

If you wish to donate online, go to the website GuideStar

(www.guidestar.org). GuideStar is the leading online re-

source for donors seeking nonprofit financial information

throughout the United States (grant recipients and grant

makers alike). The DRT has 123 listings on GuideStar, but

they have made it easy to identify the DRT headquarters

by having it appear first when one completes an online

search. You can make an online donation directly from

GuideStar by clicking on the “donate” button.

A Vision for the 21st Century maintains its bank account at

Frost National Bank. Our contact there is Anthony White,

888-481-0336.

Yes gifts of stock are welcome. Our investment firm is

Edward Jones, Nacogdoches, Texas. Our contact person is

Gary Russell, 936-560-2702.

Do you know of other individuals, families, foundations or

corporations who might have an interest in helping us

achieve A Vision for the 21st Century? If so, please let

Nancy Shurtleff, Chair of the Vision Team, know by e-

mailing her at nshurtleff@austin.rr.com.

Questions? Call Lana Boussidan at the DRT Business Office

in Austin, 512-339-1997 (lana.boussidan@drtmuseum.org).

Thank you!

DRT Mission Guides “A Vision for the 21st Century”

A Vision for the 21st Century is designed to help better achieve the mission of The Daughters of The Republic of Texas, and to bet-

ter serve the citizens of our State and nation in the years ahead. The Vision dovetails closely with our mission, and is inseparable from

it. The DRT strives to:

~ Perpetuate the memory and spirit of those who achieved and maintained the independence of Texas.

~ Provide educational programs of the highest caliber in coordination with area school districts and the Texas Education Agency, as

well as educational programs for the general public.

~ Encourage research into early Texas records, preserve historic documents, and encourage the publication of historic records.

February, 2010

Today, the Republic of Texas Museum and DRT headquarters are

located in North Austin under an unattractive freeway overpass

that is hard for visitors to find.

The new Republic of Texas History Complex will include the

beautiful French Legation Museum and grounds, as well as a

new Center designed to respect the historic nature of the site

and the East Austin neighborhood nearby.