President Foytek called the 2025 Annual Meeting to
order at
Board Members Present: Etola Foytek, Peter Dahlie,
Lorraine (Laurie) Pilch, Tom Kaiser, John Berg, Traci
Dunbar, Gay Marschke, James, Wedemeyer and Len Schmidt
Board Members Not Present: Eric Tollefson and Bonnie
Salm
Also Present: Approximately 40 individuals including,
Price County Historical Society Members and members of
the public,
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited
A Moment of Silence was observed in honor of those
members departed since our last Annual Meeting: Life
Members: Irene Fleming, Gary Ocker, Kathryn LaPointe
and Lillian Neeck. Individual members: Dee Hintz,
Doris Kronberger, Kay Thelen, Jerry Thelen and Leonard
“Manny” Stein.
Introduction of Board of Directors: Foytek –
Introduced the Board and thanked them for their many
volunteer hours to the Society. Foytek announced that
Sally McFadyen resigned from the board effective
Motion made to approve the Agenda. Dahlie/Kaiser.
Motion carried.
Secretary’s Report: Pilch – Annual Meeting minutes of
Treasurers Report: Pilch – Current Financial Report as
of the end of the third quarter,
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Buildings and Grounds:
Kaiser –
General Projects Completed: Inspection of
all buildings and grounds. Cintas did yearly tests of
all fire extinguishers and exit lights in all
buildings. All buildings passed inspection. Plunkett's
Pest Control maintained quarterly services for rodent
control and yearly spraying of all buildings. The Town
of
Newsletter:
Berg – Historical articles and other news of
the society will continue to be a focus. We placed
additional copies of the newsletter at the OTH and GFS
for visitors to read and take to learn more about
PCHS.
Fundraisers/Events:
Dahlie – The pie social and strawberry shortcake
fundraisers were held and both were well attended. Pie
bakers are always in demand as we need approximately
40 pies for the social.
Displays:
Foytek/Dunbar– OTH: Display cases were made by
Dennis Peterson to be able to display the 1863
Springfield rifle and the shotgun. Future displays in
the planning stage will be one to celebrate the
150-year founding of Fifield, Phillips and Ogema in
2026. The original 1883 Jacob Miller Map of the Pine
Region is now located at the research center. Berg
worked with the Wisconsin Historical Society to obtain
a copy of the map, which will be displayed at the OTH
in 2026. Tammy Hastings made a video of the second
floor for viewing for visitors who are not able to
access the second floor to see those displays in
person.
Membership:
Pilch – Currently we have 262 members. We started the
year with 263 members. Six members decided not to
renew, eight members are deceased and thirteen new
members joined the Society, resulting in a net loss of
one member.
Books:
Pilch – The Town of Elk History book was republished by Joyce Hrad Anderson
in memory of her father James Hrad. We purchased 30
copies to sell at our gift shop and online.
A Glimpse at the Early History of the State of
Wisconsin Relating to Price County by F.W. Sackett
was published by PCHS. Copies of the book will be
available for sale after the conclusion of the
meeting.
Website/Facebook:
Pilch – Updates were done as needed by Tollefson and
Bill Nemec of Minding Your Business. The facebook site
continues to be managed by Steven Eitrem.
Meetings and Presentations:
Berg – provided an update of events and our
involvement in the Northern Wisconsin Heritage
Council, Arctic Run Railroad Show, Forest History
Association and the Upper Flambeau Watershed
Networking Group.
New Business: Election of Directors for three year
terms 01-01-2026-12-31-2028:
Foytek – The nominating committee brought
forth to the Board of Directors their recommendations
for inclusion on the ballot the names of John Berg,
Peter Dahlie and Eric Tollefson to fill three year
terms. Foytek called three times for further
nominations from the floor. Jennifer Werkmeister
indicated that she would be willing to be on board.
Motion made by Kaiser/Berg to have Foytek appoint
Werkmeister to fill the remainder of the term from
McFadyen’s resignation. Motion carried. Foytek then
appointed Jennifer Werkmeister to fill the remainder
of the term from McFadyen’s resignation, with the
appointment to begin immediately and run through 2026.
Motion made by Schmidt/Baumgartner to close
nominations and to cast a unanimous ballot for the
slate of directors as recommended by the Nominating
Committee and presented by the Board of Directors.
Motion carried. Proxy ballots were sent to all members
eligible to vote by USPS. Eighty-Seven proxy ballots
were returned by
Open Forum:
Terry and Forrest Teeters thanked the board for the
bookcase containing the plaque in memory of their
mother Ethel Teeters that was built by Logger
Manufacturing and installed at the GFS Karen
Baumgartner reported on the activities of the Price
County Genealogical Society and noted that they are
meeting again at the Phillips Public Library at 1:00
p.m. dates for 2026 to be determined. Baumgartner also
gave updates on the Spirit Historical Society. Foytek
gave an update on the Friends of Fred Smith.
Adjournment:
President Foytek adjourned the meeting at
Following the meeting refreshments were served and a
program about William H. “Billie the Beaver”
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Member, Board of Directors