FROM THE PAWV PRESIDENT, SANDRA SCAFFIDI

​With the holidays winding down, I found myself gearing up for the New Year – a year full of unknowns and certain challenges.  I wondered how I was going to fill the shoes of our past president, Jeremy Morris, who has led our organization for the past four years.   How would I lead our great staff, Danielle and Lynn, and the numerous AmeriCorps and VISTA that are dedicated to preserving historic resources?   I want to make a difference for our members.   Luckily, I took a deep breath and instead of panicking, I made a New Year’s resolution to remember why preservation is so important to me.

Historic preservation is the lifeblood of our nation.  Our old buildings and landscapes provide us stories to share; our historic downtowns give us a sense of place, and our historic, industrial, and agricultural heritage form the economic backbone of our state.  The preservation and revitalization of the historic resources in communities across West Virginia allows us to stay rooted in reality- and remember what is really important.

Change is inevitable, but with foresight, planning and perseverance, our future is bright.   

So, I resolved to expand upon the foundations of my predecessors and publicize our good works, extend our reach to every county in West Virginia, and to continue to work to revitalize our communities.

I am so honored to be PAWV’s new President and look forward to working with our preservation communities to continue to revitalize our great state.

– Sandra