Ever wonder what a future generation may think of the present? Seventy years from now, Long Islanders may wonder why it was so difficult to elect a president in the year 2000 and will probably learn of New York's affinity for baseball as was evident by the attention the Subway Series garnered.

Those associated with the American Red Cross, located on Willis Avenue in Mineola, may not have to wonder. Since the organization has always been concerned with preserving its history, American Red Cross is in the process of capturing it in a small copper box.

During a recent holiday party, the American Red Cross as well as local schools and organizations set aside items for a time capsule, which will be opened in 70 years. Based on the items that were buried, future leaders of the American Red Cross will have an inkling of what was newsworthy in the year 2000. In addition, those who set aside items for the capsule have ensured their place in the future.

The idea for a 2000 time capsule was sparked by the success of the first American Red Cross time capsule, which was buried in 1928 and only discovered earlier this year.

Finding the capsule during the recent demolition of the American Red Cross's former location on Old Country Road was like finding a treasure chest. It came when Bryan Anthony, director of financial development asked the project manager of the demolition for a few red bricks from the building to save as a remembrance. Anthony was given the '1928' cornerstone, signifying when the building was erected. Imbedded within it was a copper box, which Anthony pried open with a screwdriver and a hammer. Much to everyone's surprise, the box contained Red Cross memorabilia from 1928 as well as newspapers covering the "1928" presidential election - all neatly and perfectly preserved.

The American Red Cross, therefore, under the director of CEO Victor C. Hackett, Jr., decided to put together another time capsule for the year 2000 since this is the first year of a new century and the country just had an historic presidential election.

Among some of the items to be put in the new copper box are newspapers from this past fall, which covered the recent Subway Series between the Mets and the Yankees. Also, newspapers covering the Nov. 7 election will also be placed in the box. Just to avoid any confusion in the future, a newspaper from this month proclaiming George W. Bush the winner over Al Gore was also placed in it.

In addition, a citation presented to the American Red Cross by Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta and by Village of Mineola Mayor John P. Colbert will also be put in the new time capsule.

Various departments within the Red Cross also buried some items such as brochures about current courses the organization offers, coins, pins, a disaster plan saved on a 3.5-inch floppy disk, which hopefully will not be antiquated in the future. In addition, the American Red Cross placed patches, a monthly financial report, a business card which reads "Good Luck and Keep Raising Money," and a 1971 Kennedy Half Dollar.

Jack Hehman, president of the Mineola Historical Society, contributed a Mineola Chamber of Commerce Business Directory, a village newsletter containing information on the revitalization of downtown Mineola and the constitution and bylaws of the Mineola Historical Society.

In addition, students who are members of their school's Red Cross Club from various high schools in Nassau also put items in the capsule. The Mineola High School Red Cross Club contributed a picture of its members, an October issue of the school newspaper and a varsity letter "M." On hand to make the donation was Mineola High School's Red Cross Club co-presidents Neeti Dharia and Diana Rodrigues.

All items will be compacted in the new copper box, which will then be placed into the cavity of the 1928 cornerstone, which also contained the first time capsule. The cornerstone will then be mounted on a stone engraved with '2000' and kept in the lobby of the American Red Cross building.

Unlike the 1928 time capsule, American Red Cross employees will know the capsule is in the cavity because there will be a plate attached to the stone, which will remind workers to open the capsule in the year 2070. Until then, all items contained within it are sort of frozen in time.

It's hard to imagine the events of today being thought of as history. Yet, what happens today is molding and shaping the image of what future generations will think of this one.