Date:	Thu, 6 Dec 2007 22:59:41 -0500
From:	"Karol Lawson" <karolannlawson@AOL.COM>  View Contact Details Add Mobile Alert Yahoo! DomainKeys has confirmed that this message was sent by HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM. Learn more
Subject:	[MUSEUM-L] Maier Museum of Art up-date
To:	MUSEUM-L@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM

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Colleagues,

I am pleased to be able to send you the attached up-date from the group of alumnae working to keep from sale four paintings from the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College (formerly Randolph-Macon Woman's College). A heartfelt "thank you" to all who were able to help spread the word about this situation and to those who were able to contribute.

Legal pleadings and other news releases can be found at http://www.preserveeducationalchoice.org.  

Karol Lawson
karolannlawson@aol.com.

Preserve Educational Choice news up-date, December 4, 2007:

Since the November 16 decision by the Supreme Court of Virginia to lower the injunction bond requirement to $1 million, we have worked diligently to raise the necessary funds. The success of our grassroots fundraising effort among students, the people of Lynchburg, alumnae of Randolph-Macon Woman's College, and national museum and art professionals clearly shows how important these

paintings, and the larger issue of donor intent and public trust, are to a wide range of people.

In the two weeks since the Justices issued their decision, we have received donations from more than 650 people, ranging from spare change collected by students on campus to checks for $100,000. As of today we have raised a little more than $500,000“ a remarkable sum given the very short fundraising timeframe.

On Friday November 30, we filed with the Supreme Court of Virginia and asked them to accept the $500,000 that we had raised to date and extend the deadline for the remaining $500,000. We learned Monday (Dec. 3) that the Court heard our plea and granted our request. We deposited the first $500,000 with the Circuit Court in Lynchburg Dec. 3, thus keeping in place the temporary injunction on the sale of the four paintings from the Maier Museum. The paintings are protected from sale

while the underlying charitable trust and art lawsuits make their way through the legal system. We are continuing our fundraising drive to raise the remainder of the required funds by the deadline extension of February 15, 2008.