“Greentown on the Ballot”

Involvement of local citizens in the political process

   A new exhibit will open at the Greentown Historical Society, 103 E. Main Street, on August 4.  It will feature information about Greentown area people who have held political office or been involved in government on several levels.  There will be items from the personal collection of Bob McCann, who was on the election and re-election committees for several presidents, and worked from the White House during the terms of Presidents Nixon, Ford and Reagan.  There will also be several interesting photographs and memorabilia involving presidents from Lincoln to Obama.     The exhibit will run through November 25. 
   From Aug. 4 through Sept. 10 the Society will host a traveling exhibit from the Indiana Historical Society.  Named “Faces in the Crowd; Indiana and the Political Process,” it is not the story of the candidates behind the microphone, but the individual citizens in the crowd – each of whom play a crucial role in ensuring the electoral process works. 
    A series of presentations will supplement the exhibit.  On Saturday, August 18, at 2:00 p.m., Bob McCann’s presentation, “From Greentown to the White House,” will include highlights of his 35 years of White House and Capitol Hill experiences.  The program will be at the History Center, 103 E. Main Street.   On October 21, Eastern High School students will give a background of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and recreate portions.  This program will also be at 2:00 at the History Center.
   November 1 will be the annual meeting and dinner of the Greentown Historical Society.  The time and place will be announced later.  At this meeting, attendees will enjoy some political campaign songs through the years and there will be a reprise of the Lincoln-Douglas presentation. Alan Zirkle, who was a member of the Indiana Legislature, will speak about his experiences on Saturday, November 3, at 2:00 p.m. at the History Center.