Mahanoy Area Historical Society
February 23, 2004
Meeting Minutes
The Mahanoy Area Historical Society met Monday, February 23, 2004 in the second-floor meeting rooms of the Mahanoy Area Downtown Center (MADC). In attendance were Ray Eichman, Ramon Soto, Susan Zimmerman, Thomas Ward, Joan Goodman, Lorrie Ogden, Rose Flamini, Kathy Wufsus, Larry Levy, Betty Lou Soult, Frank Selgrath, Peg Grigalonis, Pat Brown, Teresa McCord.
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a brief prayer by Kathy Wufsus. President Selgrath said he would like to have future meetings opened with a prayer.
MINUTES
Minutes of the February 3rd meeting were accepted as printed on a motion by Joan Goodman, seconded by Lori Ogden with the correction that Thomas Ward and his daughter, Peg Ward Campbell, would volunteer to staff the museum room on Tuesday, not Monday and Tuesday.
CORRESPONDENCE
Secretary Pat Brown said a $100 donation was received from Ben Drabnis of Arizona, a $25 donation from Louis and Patricia Cameli, Hazleton, and a $10 donation from Michael and Carol Ryan, Philadelphia. A thank-you card was received from Mrs. Webb’s second grade class at the Academy of the Blessed Virgin Mary School, thanking the society for the Christmas treats given to the children.
A motion was made by Joan Goodman that any time the society receives a donation of $50 or more, some type of acknowledgment should be sent to the donor. The motion was seconded by Lori Ogden and unanimously passed on a voice vote.
TREASURER’S REPORT
The treasurer’s report given by Peg Grigalonis
showed an opening balance of $4,802.08. Receipts for dues, membership
and a payment from the Mahanoy Township High School Alumni for their share
of the insurance amounted to $342.95. Expenses amounted to $62, leaving
an ending balance of $5,084.03.
Grigalonis also noted that there was a
total of $120 in the petty cash account in the museum room. Teresa
McCord questioned how membership dues could amount to $297.95 when memberships
are paid in five dollar increments. Grigalonis said she would check
the figures. The report was accepted on a motion by Kathy Wufsus,
seconded by Rose Flamini.
Grigalonis said the 501c(3) application
for a tax-exempt status was filed with the Internal Revenue Service and
included a report of the society’s financial status for the past five years.
COMMITTEES
Selgrath said the 6:30 p.m. meeting of the executive committee, which precedes the regular meeting, is more of an advisory meeting, and said members are welcome to come into the meeting at any time.
Chairmen of the various standing committees announced by Selgrath were:
Executive
Frank Selgrath
Membership
Teresa McCord
Finance
Peg Grigalonis
Public Relations & Hospitality
Patricia Brown
Curator
Ray Eichman
Book Advisory
Ray Eichman
Fund Raising
Executive Committee
Artifacts & Historical
Rose Flamini
Community Preservation
Joan Goodman
& Revitalization
Programs (Speakers, etc.)
Lori Ogden
Special Community Events
Kathy Wufsus
Building Committee
Tom Ward
Selgrath said special committees such as the annual audit, by-laws and election committees would be announced as needed. Committee chairmen may select their committee members. Selgrath said if anyone wanted to serve on a particular committee, they should contact the chairman. He said any fund-raising proposals would be discussed first by the executive committee and then brought to the general meeting, although he was a little reluctant to sell anything until the tax status was in order.
ARTIFACTS AND BUILDING COMMITTEES
To date, there have been 701 accessions, according to Chairman Rose Flamini. Eichman said he and Selgrath met with Joseph Campbell, manager of the M&T Bank, who allowed them to look at old bank records and take what they wanted. He said it was their intent to take a few books at a time to extract a history. One of the older books will be displayed in the museum room. Campbell volunteered the books at the county historical celebration held at the Fairlane Village Mall on February 14.
Flamini said a collection was being taken for Charlotte Maurey, an active member of the society, whose home was destroyed by fire. A total of $125 was collected. The money was turned over to Treasurer Grigalonis, who will send a check from the historical society.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
Reporting for the membership committee, Teresa McCord said the group has 131 paid members to date. She said she has been trying to personally contact the 23 people who were members last year either by phone or letter.
BOOK ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Eichman said he had sent a signed contract to the publishing company that intends to publish a Mahanoy Area historical book and he is waiting to hear from him.
Goodman asked if anyone had pictures of the Mahanoy Area prior to 1913 for the proposed book, and said the pictures would be returned to their owner.
BUILDING COMMITTEE
Eichman said the building manager had approved a light in the Main and Centre Street window. Ward suggested a window light be installed in the lobby area and that a time switch be installed on the window lights to have the window illuminated from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. He will prepare a cost estimate. Eichman will notify the building manager.
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION & REVITALIZATION
Goodman questioned the feasibility of looking into historical markers, noting the City of Hazleton has some unique markers containing pictures of buildings as they originally looked. She will inquire about the cost of this type marker. Lori Ogden said markers may be eligible under the Schuylkill River grant, and said the grant application would be submitted in the very near future.
PROGRAMS & SPEAKERS
Ogden said she could put out a newsletter within a week after getting information submitted to her. She said e-mailing would be the best way to get the information to her. A program on the Civil War will be presented at the March meeting.
Selgrath asked if anyone had any ideas
for the Memorial Day Parade and asked that suggestions be made at future
meetings. Flamini suggested getting children involved.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
In lieu of an annual audit, Selgrath said the work done on the 501c(3) application will be entered into the records as an audit. A motion was made by Ogden, seconded by Wufsus that the 501c(3) records be put on public display. The motion was unanimously approved.
NEW BUSINESS
Selgrath said by June 1, he would like to reconvene the By-Law Committee, which will consist of some of the original committee members and some new members.
An engraved clock was presented to Larry Levy, past president of the society, by McCord, who thanked him for his work.
A motion was made by Levy, seconded by Flamini that two signatures be required on all checks issued by the society and that any two of the four officers may sign it. The motion was unanimously passed on a voice vote. It was noted that the society was fined $25 by the bank because only one signature appeared on a check that was issued.
Ogden thanked those who attended the opening of the REDCO center on Presidents’ Day.
Eichman said he had been contacted by Mahanoy City Borough to see if the society would collect donations for videos at the end of the Molly Maguire tour, which is being sponsored by the Schuylkill and Carbon Tourism Board. Ogden said ground has to be broken for the Molly Maguire Park this year.
Selgrath asked for a motion, but later rescinded his request, to have a letter sent to the Mahanoy City Borough Council and ARDCO asking that the small room temporarily being used for storage be turned over to the historical society. Ogden said the space was being turned into classroom space as a means to generate income and that work is expected to begin on it within the next three months.
The meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m. on a
motion by Odgen, seconded by Wufsus.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________________
Patricia P. Brown, Secretary