HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Minutes of September 13, 2010
Merrimack Savings Bank
Members present: |
Bill Landry |
Mary Riordan |
John Meserve |
Kathy Meserve |
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Karen O'Malley |
Mary Marshall |
Pat Wonson |
Barbara DiBartolomeo |
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Mike Hughes |
Courtney Jason |
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Bill Landry called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Bill Landry introduced two new members Mike Hughes and Courtney Jason.
Secretary’s Report – Mary Riordan
John Meserve made a motion to adjourn to accept the minutes. Karen O'Malley seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 Yes, 0 No, 4 Abstentions.
Treasurer’s Report – Bill Landry
The Checking Account income was from dues, sale of Historical Books and donations made in memory of Forrest Reynolds. The expense was the electric bill for the Primary Schoolhouse and quarterly insurance on the Primary Schoolhouse. The Money Market income was interest and donations made in memory of Forrest Reynolds. The expense was the State of NH Corp. reinstatement. Mary Marshall made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Karen O'Malley seconded the motion. The motion passed on a unanimous vote.
Old Business:
Schoolhouse Repairs – Bill Landry passed around current pictures of the Primary Schoolhouse. John Neveux thinks he'll be done with the plaster and sealing the walls in a week or 10 days. Bill suggested that the Executive board should look at the walls when John is done. He thinks we won't have to paint the plastered walls just the wainscotings around the bottom and the back room. We have to clean up the dust and there is still some electrical work to do. Then we will paint before Rob Hayes can do the finish floor. Bill thinks we won't be ready to open the Schoolhouse until the spring.
Marshall House Sign Replacement – Bill Landry reported the sign has been installed.
Granite State Poker – Bill recapped that the situation for the new members. Bill contacted the IRS for a letter of determination to prove we are tax exempt. The IRS asked for a certification of registration from the NH Charitable Trust. Bill found we don't have one. Bill went the NH Department of Justice to get the certification. Bill is waiting for the form from the DOJ. Bill will go back to the IRS when he gets the form. There was discussion on whether our Executive Board is equivalent to a Board of Directors and the background checks required.
Scanning Project – Karen O'Malley reported she and Mary Marshall had taken pictures of many items. Karen needs to have Irene Nally to clarify some of the accession sheets. Mary Marshall suggested we might have filled out accession sheets for items that we may not want to keep. Cheryl and Ron, our curators, should look at these to determine if we are going to keep them. There was discussion of the loom in the Marshall House and the age of the Marshall House. Pat Wonson thinks the Marshall House is 1870 ish. Mary Marshall noted that some people in town remember who lived in the Marshall House at one time. Bill suggested we need to gather more information on the Marshall House for when we open it.
Steve Closs Civil War Seminar – Bill Landry reported that Sally Woodman has booked the Town Hall on November 17th at 7:00 PM. John Meserve suggested serving cider. Kathy Meserve suggested we serve refreshments of the Civil War time at the event.
IMLS Grant – Kathy Meserve doesn't have a specific grant in mind. Mary Marshall suggested we decide on a project and then look to see if there are any grants.
Fourth Annual Autumn Social – Kathy Meserve explained we changed the name of the event from the Wine and Cheese Social to the Autumn Social. John Meserve reported he is sending out 127 letters tomorrow to businesses around town. He indicated LPO Marketing would send out a press release around the end of September and another on a week before the event. He is talking to Dingo Creative about getting new posters due to the different theme this year. He will send the new PDF to Bill. Kathy Meserve indicated we would be giving tickets to the people who have been volunteering to do the work at the Primary Schoolhouse. Karen O'Malley said we could display her Tartan jacket again this year. Bill suggested we have 2 computers running slide shows with the pictures of previous years, the
renovations at the Schoolhouse and Pat Wonson's house pictures. Kathy indicated we would have drawings for donated items again this year. Kathy asked if anyone had an opinion on what wines, other beverages and food we should have. Karen O'Malley suggested we have cider.
New Business:
Primary School Tax Assessment – Bill Landry reported he received the tax assessment for the Primary Schoolhouse. The land is assessed at $76,100 and the building is assessed at $66,500 for a total of $142,600. We do not have to pay taxes on the property.
Irene Nally resignation as Archivist – Bill Landry reported he received Irene's resignation as Archivist due to health reasons. Bill asked the member to think about being the Archivist. Bill indicated the duties are defined in the By-Laws. Bill will email a copy of the By-Laws to all the members.
Meeting at Peabody Archeological Museum in Andover, MA – John Meserve saw that the Museum is now open. He asked about whether we were still going to have a meeting there in the future. Bill will get in touch with Donnie Slater or Marla at the Museum about scheduling it.
Other:
Forrest Reynolds Memorial Donations – Bill Landry reported we had received several donations in memory of Forrest Reynolds. Karen O'Malley suggested we do something with the donations that will reflect they were in memory of Forrest. Bill sent Thank You letters to the donors. Kathy Meserve suggested a farming display in Forrest's memory.
Myrtle Rogers – Barbara DiBartolomeo reported Myrtle had been in the hospital and is now at the rehab. She is doing well and hopes to be home soon.
Flagpole at the Marshall House – Bill reported he had put the flag from the World War II memorial on the pole at the Marshall House. John Meserve offered to replace the flag with the appropriate size flag when he replaces the one at the Bank.
Correspondence:
NHHS Annual Meeting – Bill received information about the New Hampshire Historical Society Annual meeting on October 23rd, 9:30AM at the Peterborough Historical Society in Peterborough, NH. Bill also received the renewal for our dues to NHHS. Pat Wonson made a motion to renew our membership in NHHS for $40. John Meserve seconded the motion. The motion passed on a unanimous vote.
NHHS History Course – Putting People First. This is a 6-part course. Contact Bill for more information.
Mary Marshall made a motion to adjourn. Karen Meserve seconded the motion. The motion passed on a unanimous vote. Bill Landry adjourned the meeting at 8.14 PM.
Next meeting is Tuesday October 12, 2010, 7:00 PM at the Merrimack Savings Bank.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Riordan, Secretary
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