Belogradchik E-Mail List at Yahoo was launched on October, 17th, 2005. It is intended to be a tool for an effective communication and information between the members of the ABN&FB. This society has not been constituted yet. It will be established in the first months of 2006.

The town of Belogradchik is among the most beautiful places in Bulgaria - with a unique nature and a rich cultural heritage. However both the demographic changes and social cataclysms in the second part of 20th century exhaused the human capacity of the Belogradchik region. The migration process in the last 50 years changed the population of the town. The failure of the family tradition and the lack of relationships between the different generations seem to be unfavourable factors for the social progress of the town and for the prosperity of its citizens.

Everyone who is interested in the problems of rural regions, their history and natural and cultural heritage and traditions is kindly invited to join ABN&FB. Certainly the first category of members - Belogradchik natives, is restricted by the requirement the member to be born in Belogradchik and some of his/her parents and grandparents to be born in Belogradchik as well. However the second category - the Friends of Belogradchik, is open for everyone who would share ABN&FB's mission and would support Society's objectives.

We intend to develop Belogradchik E-Mail List at Yahoo as a clearinghouse of original documents and/or forgotten books and articles in the field of history, folk studies, war history, social behaviour, education, etc. This, however, means that in a most part the materials published will be in Bulgarian: therefore some basic knowledge of that language will be necessary. Certainly postings in English are allowed as well.

In addition some recent problems should be put in a focus, e.g. small town development, rural gender issues, agricultural reconstruction, youth and ageing in rural areas, rural economic restructuring, rural household in transition, health and poverty with nursing and social cares, rural market participitation. Case studies and comperative analyses will be much appreciated.

The aim of ABN&FB is to bring together people with interests in all aspects of the field, and to publicise relevant ideas whithin wider research and public communities.

I am looking forward to hearing from anyone who would share the ABN&FB's mission and would agree his/her name to be included in the list of Sotiety's founder-members. For members outside Bulgaria the membership is FREE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sincerely,

B.V. Toshev ====================

Professor B.V. Toshev,
University of Sofia,
1 James Bourchier Blvd.,
1164 Sofia, BULGARIA
Email: toshev@chem.uni-sofia.bg
Visit the website at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/belogradchik