Mahanoy Area Historical Society
March 29, 2004
Meeting Minutes
The
Mahanoy Area Historical Society met Monday, March 29, 2004 in the second-floor
meeting rooms of the Mahanoy Area Downtown Center (MADC).In
attendance were Ray Eichman, Ramon Soto, Joan Goodman, Rose Flamini, Charlotte
E. Maurey, Leslie Richardson, Robert Richardson, Francis Senglar, Frank
Selgrath, Peg Grigalonis, Patricia Brown and Teresa McCord.
President
Frank Selgrath opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed
by a brief prayer by Ray Eichman.
MINUTES
Minutes
of the February 23rd meeting were accepted as printed with the
notation that Joan Goodman spoke about markers in the City of Harrisburg,
not Hazleton.Francis Senglar’s name
was inadvertently omitted from the list of attendees as the meeting.
CORRESPONDENCE
Secretary
Pat Brown said a thank you note was received from Phaon and Charlotte Maurey
for the donation they received from society members after their home was
destroyed by fire.
A
letter was received from Bud Holman of Surprise, Arizona, who enclosed
several post cards depicting Mahanoy City around the turn of the century.Holman
said he had a few more post cards with the Kaier Opera House, Lakeside
Park and a number of local collieries and would forward them to the society
if we were interested in them.Selgrath
said he had been in contact with Holman and told him the society would
appreciate the post cards.
Brown
read a letter from the Internal Revenue Service stating the historical
society was exempt under Section 501 C (3) of the Internal Revenue Code
and was classified as a public charity under the code.
A
$50 donation was received from Jean Dacey of Eatontown, New Jersey, and
a $100 donation from Charles Whalen of Vienna, Virginia.An
invitation was received from the Northern Berks Southern Schuylkill Historical
Association of Port Clinton inviting the group to a History and Nature
Day at Port Clinton Park on Saturday, June 5.The
society chose not to participate.
Brown
said thank-you notes had been sent to Louis and Patricia Cameli of Hazleton
and Carol and Michael Ryan of Philadelphia.
COMMITTEES
Membership
Committee
Reporting
for the membership committee, Teresa McCord said she received six membership
renewals and six new members joined.She
said there are still 18 people, who were members last year that have not
renewed their membership.
Advisory
Committee
Selgrath
said the society is awaiting notification from ARDCO as to who will pay
for the window lighting.He said
the society did not pay for it in the past.Eichman
said he did not think the society will be approached to pay the utility
costs inasmuch as utilities were included in rental costs.He
said when the 501 C (3) application was completed, it stated rent was $11
per square foot with utilities and $8 a square foot without utilities.
Curator
Eichman
said the museum room will be open five days a week beginning in April.He
said he would like to have the room open six days a week, and if he could
get another volunteer, he would switch his time to Saturday.Joan
Goodman asked him to remind the Thursday volunteer to put out the garbage
for Friday morning’s pick up.
Fund
Raising
Selgrath
said the society will participate in the Community Day activities over
the Independence Day Weekend as they did at the historical society’s grand
opening.
Artifacts
and Historical
So
far this year there have been 52 accessions, bringing the total accessions
to 753, said committee chairman Rose Flamini.
Eichman
said the book is moving along.
Building
Committee
Eichman
said a contractor had been in the building the previous Thursday to remove
items from the vacant room and he believes the society will be asked to
remove their items soon.He said
they should be moved to the Service Electric building.Selgrath
said any books there should be donated to an organization that could use
them.
Community
Preservation and Revitalization
A
fiberglass plaque similar to those used in Harrisburg were displayed by
Joan Goodman, who said the plaques have a life expectancy of about 10 years.She
said volunteers could be asked to purchase these plaques to be placed near
historical sites in the community, and that she is still open to suggestions.She
said some of the property owners of historical buildings will be asked
if they want to purchase the plaque for in front of their building.She
said she will be in Harrisburg next week and will take a picture of the
plaque in front of the Mayor’s Office.
Goodman
said she was going to the Schuylkill County Courthouse the following morning
and would show anyone who wanted to go with her how to research deeds.
Programs
and Speakers
It
was noted that an email had been received from former Mahanoy City resident
Jack Kubert informing the society he was anxiously looking forward to June
when he will speak at the society meeting and display some memorabilia.
Soto
asked if anyone had contacted the gentlemen who approached the group at
the historical celebration at Fairlane Mall in February regarding a program
on flags.Selgrath said Lorrie Ogden
will talk to him about speaking near Veterans Day.
Special
Committees
Teresa
McCord will chair the Memorial Day Committee.She
will be assisted by Goodman, Flamini, Kathy Wufsus, Leslie and Bob Richardson.They
will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, at the Downtown Center.
Selgrath
said a By-Laws Committee will be convened and asked for suggestions on
amending or revising the current by-laws.He
also suggested having life-time member status and asked for suggestions
on the price of such membership.Current
officers as well as interested society members will serve on the committee.
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS
A
motion was made by Flamini and seconded by Maurey to accept the 501 C (3)
application on display as the annual audit.
NEW
BUSINESS
Selgrath
noted that Goodman had presented him with the gavel he used for the meeting.The
gavel has been accessed as society property and is to be used by the society
president.
ADJOURN
The
meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m. on a motion by Goodman, seconded by Maurey.
PROGRAM
Following
the meeting, Selgrath presented a program about local participation in
the Civil War.
Respectfully
submitted,
+
Patricia
P. Brown, Secretary