Warsaw Historical Society Thursday, July 30, 2009

Meeting held at the Gates House 7:00 pm

Present: David Almeter, George Almeter, Andy Gebel, Jim Gillen, Harvey Granite, Bob Heubusch, Sue Heubusch, Robert Kelley, Gordon Kelsey, Pat Meek, Trisha Morris-Kopinski, Janet Segelhurst

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by President Andrew Gebel at 7:00 pm.

Secretary’s Report: The minutes were read by T. Morris-Kopinski. A motion to accept the minutes was made by B. Heubusch and seconded by T. Morris-Kopinski. All members approved.

Treasurer’s Report: The report was amended to include the $54.10 that A. Gebel spent on 2 easel tablets and breakfast for the Heritage NY meeting. The balance should now read $7320.65. The amended report was accepted unanimously.
One of the CDs is coming up for renewal. It is worth $8,670.92. After discussion, a motion was made by G. Almeter and seconded by T. Morris-Kopinski to place the money into the checking account while the treasurer researches CD rates at other banks. A decision is to be made at the next meeting regarding what to do with these funds. The motion was passed unanimously. It was mentioned that we might need the money for building maintenance. R. Kelley suggested that if we get a better rate than what
5-Star bank is offering we give them the opportunity to give us a better rate as we have had such a good relationship with them.

Fair: A. Gebel presented J. Gebel’s plan for the WHS’s display at the Pike Fair entitled “Footsteps of a Centenarian.” J. Segelhurst is working with her on the project and others are welcome to join them. The display will include maps, businesses of the period, artifacts from industries, quotes from an interview with Vernice Stubley, etc.
There are 5 parking tickets for those who are sitting with the display at the fair. From 12 – 9 pm on Sunday, August 16. They should take membership brochures with them to pass out to interested fairgoers.
Thank you’s to Ken Miller who for $98.95 added the upgrade, more memory, and cleaning up the computer; Ron Ballard for mowing the lawn; J. Segelhurst for all her work as a Fredonia intern; and John Hanna from Experience Works.

Arts Council Grant is due in September to help fund next year’s Warsaw History Alive. The theme will be “Old Home Week.” The grant writing committee needs to remember that the grant focuses on artistic merit and can use last year’s proposal. H. Granite moved that WHS support the festival for 2010 and the motion was seconded by S. Heubusch and passed unanimously by the members present.

Federation Meeting - Bob Kelley suggested we send someone to the Federation Meeting to make a presence, more information on the date will follow.

Sill Work: Bob Huebusch will call a meeting of Mark Milcarek, Gordon Kelsey and Ray Brock to discuss an estimate for doing the entire sill versus just the rotted areas. Tentative date August 3 @ 7:00 pm. We have not yet received a final quote from Peter Trieb. Warsaw’s building code requires “treated lumber” be used. Will SHPO accept this?
J. Gillen also suggested that we check with the Amish construction workers in the Pike/Centerville area.
The committee should consider: insurance, materials, and estimates in their decisions.
B. Heubusch mentioned the sign near St. Michaels church Hershberger an Amish contractor

Site for “Americacorps Youth” : A motion was made by T. Morris-Kopinski that we apply for the Gates House to be a site for the “America’s Youth Project.” It trains youth who are eligible to do needed work and helps them pay for their college fund. The motion was seconded by Bob Heubusch and passed unanimously by the members present.

GCC Students as helpers at Gates House.: Sue Heubusch made a motion that we accept D. Almeter’s proposal to offer his history students at GCC’s Warsaw Campus to provide 8 hours of supervised work at the Gates House in place of writing a paper. The motion was seconded by H. Granite and accepted unanimously by the members present.

Permission to publish archival materials: Deanna Bedgood has requested permission to use 26 pictures in a book about the First NY Dragoons. She is willing to promote the WHS in some way. H. Granite has agreed to write a paragraph about Warsaw and the WHS that would give her information that she might use that might stress the importance of New England (from where many settlers came and the importance of Warsaw to the Abolitionist movement. H. Granite made a motion that we give permission, which was seconded by B. Heubusch, and passed unanimously by the membership.

Bylaws update: Committee consists of J. Thomas, Morris-Kopinski, B. Kelley, D. Almeter, J. Segelhurst
B. Kelley suggests we review the services of trustees given the small membership and kinds of projects we are doing and providing a simplified set of Robert’s Rules of Order for our use.
The committee hopes to be ready with a draft by the September meeting.
Suggested that the bylaws be mailed to all members.

Federation Dinner: Will be at Byrnecliff, October 21st, for $20.00. Speaker Kay Sayers on “Seneca Indians.

Curator’s Report: J. Segelhurst shared her activities as an intern at the Gates House. See her attached report. S. Heubusch made a motion that J. Segelhurst be made an honorary member of the WHS. The motion was seconded by T. Morris-Kopinski and passed by the members present.

Yard Sale: Netted $98.00
A. Gebel
Tree work: B. Heubusch made a motion that the society give President A. Gebel permission to have a 4th tree trimmed if he deems the price is fine. The motion was seconded by G. Almeter and passed unanimously.

Operations Committee: The cleanup and garden work continues.

Fundraising: A. Gebel has tried to contact the man who plays Theodore Roosevelt for a possible October 27th event that would also include a catered dinner open to the historical societies in the area called “Meet the President”. Attendees would be given pertinent articles to read so they would be prepared to have a period discussion

Heritage NY Training: The Sunday training with Cindy Boyer and Sarah Benway started with G. Almeter giving a typical tour of the building so the consultants could get a sense of what we now have and how we present it. We then discussed how we could display and promote what we have. It was decided that we should start with a focus on the Underground Railroad information that we have, asking ourselves how to make that tour more experiential and keeping in mind the question, “What makes the WHS important to the Underground Railroad Heritage Trail Tour?” We agreed to start by developing a script for the tour that can be used right away and begin to devise other displays and activities that can be presented.

We will be receiving 2 display cases and 3 freestanding kiosks.

Opportunities for education. A. Gebel will be sending an email noting an opportunity for Upstate History Alliance member for free registration for courses related to museums.

S. Heubusch suggested that members plan to take some tours of other historical societies in the area to get a picture of what they are doing.
Stafford (open Tuesdays from 2 – 4 pm)
Others might include: Waterloo, Castile, Auburn (Harriet Tubman and Seward houses), and Wyoming.


The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 when refreshments were served. Refreshments for the August meeting will be provided by Bob Heubusch. Those for September meeting by G. Almeter. Anyone who would like to bring refreshments for the October meeting please contact President A. Gebel at gebel_Andrew@yahoo.com or on his cell at 322-5687.


The next meeting will be will be Thursday, August 27 at 7:00 pm at the Gates House


Minutes were provided by P. Meek, Recording Secretary