As the Closer to Equality capital campaign continues to make progress raising critical funds needed to build and open the Stevens and Smith Historic Site, we're pleased to announce the expansion of our project Steering Committee. For several years, our core group of volunteers has been quietly working to assure project success. Many thanks to Chair Margot Brubaker, Reverend Louis Butcher, Jr., HPT past president Rita Byrne, HPT current president Bill Musante and Judy Ware.

Joining this stalwart group now as we expand our leadership and fundraising reach are Teddie Chairsell, Darryl Gordon, Jeff LeFevre, Alice Sanders and Suzanne Woodard. Darryl comes to us from High Industries, where he serves as Corporate Director of Human Resources. Jeff, a long-time volunteer and member of the Trust, is an independent realtor with Prudential HSG. Alice currently chairs the visitors bureau's Multicultural Advisory Council. And community volunteers Teddie and Suzanne form our first mother-daughter team.

Last week we found the opportunity to gather Steering Committee members for a tour of progress at the historic site. While it may appear from the street that no work has begun on this preservation project, a walk-through of newly constructed interior spaces that overlap and interact with the neighboring convention center demonstrated smooth progress. The group's excitement was palpable.

Welcome to new members, and thanks to all of our volunteers for their hard work to bring to Lancaster...and our Nation...a world-class historic site sure to become a highlight of Lancaster's continuing renaissance. When your phone rings in the near future with a request for financial support, you will know who's calling.