| State
Association for the
Preservation of Iowa Cemeteries
SAPIC is a non-profit organization
501 (c) (3).
Contributions are deductible under sections
170, 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the
Internal Revenue
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Visit on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SAPICiowa |
Next Meeting
The upcoming SAPIC meeting on Saturday, October 14, 2017 will be in Davenport, Iowa (Scott County) at German American Heritage Center & Museum 712 W 2nd St, Davenport, IA 52802.
The meeting will begin at 10:00 am with two programs following the meeting:
1. "Human Hair Wreaths", what they are, how they were made and how to maintain them.
2. Successfully applying for and obtaining military headstones for Veterans who served prior to WW1.
A local German-American organization is willing to prepare an "Oktoberfest" meal of bratwurst patty sandwich, red cabbage or sauerkraut, homemade dessert and drink for $8 per person. The meal would be served at the German American Heritage Center. The organization would need at least 20 people to sign-up in advance, but could serve as many people as needed. To make a reservation for the meal, contact: Kory Darnall. Phone: (309)278-0020 E-mail: [email protected]
Here is a list of accommodations. All selected due to their "walking distance" proximity to the meeting venue (The German American Heritage Center).
1. Beiderbecke B & B 532 W 7th Str. - Beiderbeckeinn.com - 563-323-0047
2. Hotel Blackhawk 200 E 3rd Str. - Hotelblackhawk.com - 888-525-4455
3. Current Iowa Hotel 215 Main Str. - thecurrentiowa.com - 563-231-9555
Upcoming meetings:
SAPIC will meet in April of 2018 in Burlington, Iowa.
SAPIC will meet in July of 2018 in DeWitt, Iowa (Clinton County).
SAPIC will meet Oct 13, 2018 in Winneshiek County.
If your group or organization would be interesting in hosting a SAPIC meeting in the future, send an email to Steve Story at [email protected], with "SAPIC meeting" as your subject. Usually there are 35-40 attendees at a meeting. The host usually provides coffee and some refreshments prior to the meeting, as some members travel a great distance. Meetings usually start at 10:00 AM. Some hosts provide lunch (sometimes as a fund raiser), but that is not necessary.
SAPIC's
PURPOSE
SAPIC was organized in 1996 with the following
goals:
A. To identify all cemeteries in
Iowa
B. To take such measures as are necessary, possible and
reasonable to protect these cemeteries, and the monuments contained in
them, from danger due to natural causes or from human
encroachment.
C. To provide guidance and educational materials for
use by the people entrusted with the preservation of these cemeteries and
monuments contained in them.
D. To compile and distribute
information about the proper maintenance techniques for these cemeteries
and the monuments contained in them.
E. To provide advice and
information to legislative bodies empowered to pass legislation creating a
legal framework for the protection, the preservation and maintenance of
these cemeteries and the monuments contained in them are
enforced.
F. To act as a monitor of the administrative and management
personnel of these cemeteries, to ensure that the legal measures for the
protection, preservation and maintenance of the cemeteries and the
monuments in them are enforced.
SAPIC Bylaws
Check out Patriot Outreach
and their current restoration project for-Iowa Governor (Colonel) Samuel Merrill's resting place
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Photos courtesy of John Heider.
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PHOTOS OF GRAVE RELOCATION AT OAKGROVE
SAPIC History The State
Association for the Preservation of Iowa Cemeteries was formed in 1996 as
a result of legislation that allowed for each of the 99 counties to create
a County Cemetery Commission. The focus of these Commissions was to rescue
untended pioneer graves and cemeteries and to take responsibility for the
upkeep of such sites. May is proclaimed Cemetery Appreciation Month each
year by the Governor of the State of Iowa.
Our Pioneer Cemetery Concerns Iowa law defines a Pioneer Cemetery as
one in which there have been 12 or fewer burials in the past 50 years. If
you know of a cemetery that qualifies for this distinction, and would like
to have it recognized, please contact the State
Association for the Preservation of Iowa
Cemeteries to have it recorded.
The law was changed from six to 12
burials in 2009 under 'standings bill' SJ 1150, and was signed by
Gov. Chet Culver on May 26, 2009. See our PURPOSE
above.
2018 SAPIC GRANT APPLICATION
Please include a membership application (if not already a member) which can be found here
SAPIC Cemetery/Grave Marker Survey
SAPIC developed a survey form for the detailed documenting of cemeteries. The public is encouraged to use this form for documenting and/or recording cemeteries anywhere, whether they be pioneer, city, church, private, etc. and regardless of condition. A Word version is available for typing directly into the boxes and a PDF version is available to print and write on.
Microsoft Word version
PDF version
Do not let this form scare you! Recording a cemetery of any size does require extensive dedication, but with the diversity between cemeteries, it is unlikely that every field will be filled. It is still important to do your best and complete the survey as fully as possible. Some of the fields will require additional research away from the cemetery, including the utilization of the library, courthouse and online information. The goal of this form is merely to serve as a guide with terminology to better understand our cemeteries and as a starting point towards cemetery restoration. Many abandoned cemeteries are far from what the pioneers had envisioned in their cemetery's future. We can prevent what remains of our cemeteries from facing the same fate. There are no regulations requiring cemeteries to use this form, but many wish they had a universal form to record their cemeteries and prevent what currently exists from entering oblivion. For those of you who are determined to undertake this challenge, we commend you!
Contacts
STATE CEMETERY REGULATOR
Dennis N. Britson, Director
Regulated Industries Unit, Iowa Securities Bureau
601 Locust St., 4th Floor
Des Moines, IA 50319-3738
(515) 281-5705 or toll-free (877)-955-1212
[email protected]
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OFFICE OF THE STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST
Lara Noldner
Bioarchaeology Director
700 Clinton Street Building
Iowa City, IA 52242-1030
319-384-0740
[email protected]
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Membership Dues Thanks to all of the SAPIC members who have renewed their
memberships. Your support is greatly appreciated! If you haven't done so
yet, you may send your dues to SAPIC Treasurer, Brad Hughes, 308 Sunset Lane, Grimes, IA 50111. Annual dues are: Individual -
$25; Household - $35; Organization or business - $40. Lifetime dues for an
individual - $200. Membership includes the SAPIC newsletter "Grave News." All donations welcome and tax deductible.
Membership
Application
Iowa Cemetery Laws and
Procedures
Please note, the number of burials requirement to be
designated as a Pioneer Cemetery has been changed to 12 since the original
law was passed.
Meet the winners of the Carter Awards
Nominations due July 1 each year E-Mail List:
The Iowa Cemeteries e-mail list is hosted by SAPIC
member Fred Reese. To join this list send an e-mail message to [email protected]
Leave the subject area blank. Put only the
word subscribe within the body of the message (nothing else). You will
receive a confirmation that you have been subscribed to the list, along
with instructions on how to participate. Note that there are hundreds of
people on this list. Not every post is necessarily from a member of SAPIC.
Most people on the list are genealogists searching for relatives, want
directions to a cemetery in the state of Iowa, or who have questions about
Iowa cemeteries. Everyone participates in answering questions.
SAPIC
LENDING LIBRARY
Books and videos related to cemetery preservation and restoration are now available through a lending process. See links for details.
SAPIC Book & Video List
Book/Video Loan Form
Loaning Policy
Resetting Gravestones, such as Military Markers
IOWA GRAVESTONE PHOTO PROJECT
or
FIND A GRAVE
Researchers may submit photos
and transcriptions of gravestones and may connect with kinfolk. Care should always be taken when relying on the accuracy of information inscribed on grave markers as well as the information posted to these sites; double check your facts for everyone's benefit.
Last updated November 27, 2017. Please send updates to [email protected]
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