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Adjourn
Tricia Stevenson announced she was not calling this meeting to order but making some announcements before the meeting began. She stated that this meeting would serve as both the February Associate Board meeting as well as the Annual Meeting of the Ashland County Historical Society. Only Associates can vote during the Associate Meeting. Members from 2006 are allowed to vote. Members who have joined in 2007 are not permitted to vote. Tricia Stevenson announced she was honored to be the recording secretary for the meeting. Director of Operations, Tina Carpenter, will chair the meeting. If comments or questions need to be made, raise your hand. Tricia will recognize you and you may direct your comment or question.
Tricia “presented” Tina Carpenter, who was not in the room. At that time a gentleman who may have been Bill Harvey walked in and the people present laughed. Tina eventually walked into the room from the side, walked up to the front, and stood in front of a podium.
Tina decided to wait to begin because someone heard the elevator. An older couple entered the room and sat next to Barb Queer. Then, Tina asked for the for the Associate Board minutes to be read. A motion was made, seconded, and carried. No meeting was called to order.
Tina then called for the 2006 Committee Chair reports.
Janice Banta was in charge of the displays committee. They removed the Christmas decorations in January with help from Mary Ellen, assistant for displays. They changed the displays in the toy room and front bedroom. There were some acquisitions from Carole Johnson. Hats were moved and now stored in the back of the library in Cowen/Myers home. Marge McBurny is in charge of clothing. Cindy Kerr rehung the Hall of Fame pictures.
Next year the Ricado glass display will be in the carriage house. They plan for the next two bedrooms to be done. Two students from Ashland University doing their community service will be helping to “lug” items. A thank you was made to all those who helped.
Joyce Imhoff reported on membership totals. In 2006 the Ashland County Historical Society had 558 members and brought in $11,865 in dues. They sent out about 530 newsletters. To date, membership for 2007 is at 217 with a total of $4,235 brought in as dues.
The Veterans’ committee report was given by Elliot Craine. The committee has recruited younger members in 2006. They also compile surveys, creating a comprehensive military history of each soldier. About 450 surveys have been completed. 804 video interviews have also been done with veterans. This year the committee is planning a program about the Korean War. Elliot Craine was written 41 articles to date to help publicize the veterans’ projects. A manuscript including a list of 121 men from Ashland County who passed away in World War II has been created. Elliot feels the list of 121 men is complete from Ashland County. They have been working on a plan to build a memorial for those men. The memorial has grown to be much more than what Elliot imagined and the committee has decided to make it a memorial for all veterans and will be called “The Fallen Heroes of Ashland County” and will cost about $30,000. The design, locally created, originally was being planned at the entrance of the Ashland Cemetery. Elliot stated they got some “flack” about the site. The committee is going to request space for the memorial on the A.N. Myers Home site if the house is demolished.
Judith DeVaul summed up the events for the Society in 2006.
The first event was the Antique identification in April. Six people identified and appraised antiques brought in from community members. Dick Lydy joined them this year to help identify and appraise. Mr. Lydy passed away later last year.
In May, 37 people were served at the Victorian Tea and the Society made about $460.
The July ice cream social and silent auction brought in approximately $761.
During the holiday parade a float advertised the annual Sweets Sale and the event brought in about $369. (The dollar amounts were read quickly. The numbers are close but may not be exact.) The December Holiday open house attendance numbers were down. Judith stated, “I’m not sure why.” She also thought there should be more programming. There used to be a special program the first Sunday of every month and she would like to see that brought back.
The acquisition’s report came from Michelle Wright. 71 individuals, families, and/or groups made donations last year. 21 givers had donated before. Some of the acquisitions included:
Cowen family clothing
Items from the 20th Armored Division
Additions to the Toy Collection
Myers catalogue collection
Quilts and coverlets
The painting that used to hang in the county court house by Ann Stillmen
A silver cash register.
(Other items were acquired but the list was read so quickly I couldn’t write them all down.)
Elliot Craine added that the Veterans’ Committee has always been independently funded through veterans’ organizations. They have their own video equipment and hope they won’t need to ask the society for capital anytime in the future.
Tricia Stevenson passed out a graph and chart showing the Society’s activity reports.
This is the data from her chart.
Categories Year end 05 Year end 06 Difference
Tours 340 446 24% increase
Groups 483 816 41% increase
Programs 966 1070 10% increase
Meetings 794 594 25% decrease
Totals 2583 2926 12% increase
The meetings declined at the end. Meetings include Society meetings and community requested space for meetings.
Special activities included the Victorian doll house exhibit and the antique car club. Nancy Davis and Mary Ellen lent the Society some circus items for the Christmas open house.
A woman in the front and seated with the Associate Board stated this shows people what is done here at the Society.
Tina moved on the election of officers. Michelle Wright passed out the ballots and reminded those that were not members in 2006, they couldn’t vote. I believe only Kathy Aldrich was the only person unable to vote. After several minutes Tina Carpenter asked if everyone as about finished voting. I raised my hand to be recognized. I told the group I was new to Ashland and don’t know any of the candidates. I said I would like them to stand up and tell something about themselves. Tina announced that Bud Ingrand and Jim Midland were not present. Judith DeVaul told that Jim helped in securing the endowment of the Society. Judith told that she had been on the Board of Trustees when it was first created and has been working with the Society for 33 years. She remembered bring her children up to the museum for projects. Celinda Kerr told that she was an Associate Board member, owned a photography studio in Ashland, knows many people in the community, and has business experience. Gaylord Abrams stated that he was an Associate Board member and has worked with the Society for years. He felt that more people should get involved with the Associates. Tina Carpenter made a comment that Jim Midland was filling in as the President of the Board of Trustees since the position was opened. Tina Carpenter also called either Jim Midland or Bud Ingrand on his way to Florida to ask if he would run for the Board of Trustees of the Ashland County Historical Society. Tina stated that all the candidates were “very well qualified”.
Beth Buchanan asked to be recognized, stood, and asked where each of the candidates stood on the issue of the A.N. Myers home. No one answered the question. Judith DeVaul talked about being open minded.
Members finished voting and Michelle Wright tallied the votes. As she counted, Tina reported some of the large contributors in 2006. John Void from Texas – part of his donation included a “hard to come by” book of Ashland history. Jay Myers also made a large donation this year.
Tina described the water damage in the Manor House (Cowen/Myers Home) from a roof leak in the attic. Ken Householder, Maintenance Supervisor, repaired the damage and “redid the entire attic roof”. The carpet from the A.N. Myers house is being/was removed and put into the attic of the Manor House (Cowen/Myers Home). The wall carpeting in the Freer photo gallery was removed because of a fire hazard. Mark D. Miller with the Fire Prevention Bureau recommended this and Ken Householder is dealing with the project. The pictures will be re-hung in their exact location.
Michelle was still tallying votes.
City Councilman Bob Valentine thanked the committee chairs for such fine reports. Tina Carpenter thanked the Associates.
A question was asked about if the new door on the back of the Manor House was finished yet. Tina stated it is still being worked on.
Tina received the tally from Michelle and laughed. Cindy Kerr and Judith DeVaul were both elected as member of the Board of Trustees. The other three were tied. Discussion arose as to what to do. Tina said we’ll have to revote. Gaylord Abrams withdrew his nomination to the Board of Trustees. Tina accepted the withdrawal and accepted Jim Midland as well as Bud Ingrand as members of the Board of Trustees.
Tina asked for a motion to adjourn.
Bob Valentine so moved. A woman in the Associates section seconded the motion. The motion carried.
No financial report for the Society.
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