<div dir="ltr"><div>Muskogee will be glad to chip in $200. Will get it sent off by Monday.<br><br></div>John<br><br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, May 12, 2017 at 10:44 AM, Kelli Yadon <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:Kelli.Yadon@okcommerce.gov" target="_blank">Kelli.Yadon@okcommerce.gov</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d">Forwarding a message from Jim Watters, Advisory Board Member and former Main Street State Staff member.
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:#1f497d">J</span></b><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi, my name is Jim Watters and for the folks who were not around when I worked for the Oklahoma Main Street Program, I used to do the work that Jeremy does now. Not too long ago, Linda Barnett wrote to you about the Oklahoma Main Street
Foundation. I have copied her note below. Within her note is my address. Well, Jim had one of his
<u>senior moments</u> when he gave Linda is address. My "real" address is <u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>2807</b> Raintree Circle<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Norman, OK 73072<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">For the managers who know me, I'm sure you understand.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I am really sorry for the mistake. Fortunately, Raintree Circle in Norman is only one block long and I have told the Post Office of my mistake. Please excuse me. <u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Dear Board Members, Main Street Communities, Oklahoma Main Street Staff and Friends, As you probably know, Main Street, like every other entity in state government, is facing funding threats due to the dwindling state budget. For several
years now, the Board of Directors of the Main Street Foundation has been looking at ways to supplement revenue and to assist this worthwhile movement in our state. Originally, we had hoped to form the foundation to create a tax-deductible base for donations
so that we could return the funds to communities in the form of grants and assistance. We still hope to do that but we are also hoping to create more sustainability within the state program. For instance, if the state, in the future, can't fund our contract
with the National Main Street Center, perhaps the OMSF Board of Directors could do so. This is just an example.</i><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Thanks, to former State Staffer, Jim Watters, we are on the road to achieving our 501(c)3 status. However, some base funding is needed. Larry paid $50 from his own pocket to start the foundation checking account and Jim contributed
$100.00 to get the Employer Identification Number (EIN). Now we are facing an $850 filing fee. I am sending a check for $100.00 to Jim to begin the process. I am challenging each of you to do the same (or more, or less). Your donation is entirely tax deductible
during this process. The Foundation address is: </i><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i>James G. Watters </i><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><a>2708 Raintree Circle</a>. </i><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i><a>Norman, OK 73072</a> </i><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i>If you know of any entities also willing to contribute, any amount is appreciated. This is a grass roots effort for a worthwhile program that makes all of our lives better. </i><u></u><u></u></p>
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Sent from my iPad<u></u><u></u></p>
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