All White County Historical Society Board Members and their guests were invited to the home of Gene and Diane Jordan for a pot luck meal preceding the December board meeting. After twenty six visitors consumed ham, turkey, and all the trimmings a brief board meeting was held in Gene’s office. The Board welcomed new member Valarie Berekashvili and regretfully said goodbye to long term board member The Hon. Henry Lewis. The Board has no policy of a parting gift; but fellow Board member, David Brown, spotted and purchased a perfect gift at the Past Perfect Rummage Sale. Janet (Williams) Nichols brought in several items including an unframed watercolor of First Presbyterian Church from the home of her mother, the late Lois Williams. The framed watercolor of his ancestral church certainly brought a smile to Lewis’ face.
Membership Chair, Paula Pierson acknowledged recent new members including: Jeremy and Sasha Jordan, Shirley Mooney, Cindy Elliott, Barbara Martin, Gene Gowdy, and Barbara (Marks) Ringenberg.
The Genealogy Library was open 75 hours in November with 3 visitors and 2 letters being processed as reported by chairman, Suellen Smith. Three volunteers worked 30 hours. Additional volunteer hours on behalf of Historical Society included 111 hours in October with November hours not yet calculated.
Mary McRoy reported the Past Perfect Rummage Sale was a dual success in that many persons donated quality items for the sale and the public came in large numbers to purchase on both days of the sale. The two day sale was held in the Farm Bureau Building basement utilizing the entire area.
The L. Haas Store Museum, Robinson Stewart House Museum, and the Ratcliff Inn hosted visitors on Saturday, November 28 during ‘It’s a White County Christmas’ festivities; and the Society had a tree at DAR Festival of Trees on November 21.
The new furnace is installed and functioning at Robinson Stewart House, and five trees were donated to the Society through the Bicentennial Tree project with two planted at the R-S House and three on White County Farm Bureau property near the Matsel Cabin.
Cindy Conley announced that the spring SIAM meeting will be held in April in Waterloo, IL.
Jordan distributed Bicentennial tee shirts to the Board members which feature the R-S House and reminded Board members that plans begin in January for the 2nd Grade Tea Parties, a Spring Dinner meeting, and other special Bicentennial activities.
