Price County Historical Society Annual Meeting
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting Zoom
President Foytek called the 2021 Annual Meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.
Board Members Present: Etola Foytek, Peter Dahlie, Lorraine (Laurie) Pilch, Tom Kaiser, Traci Dunbar, John Berg and Sally McFadyen
Board Members Not Present: Bonnie Salm, Len Schmidt and Eric Tollefson
Also Present: Karen Baumgartner, Bev Brayton, Arlene Morrison and Carol Koenig
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: Hadley Chafer and Don Mockler. Individual Members: Verna Behreandt, Adrienne Bouchonville, Martha Hilgart, Barbara James and Agnes Wudel.
Introduction of Board of Directors: Completed by Foytek. Foytek thanked Carol Forward for her role in the upkeep of the Greenfield School along with obtaining hosts for the school. Foytek also thanked Therese and Maureen Trojak for scheduling hosts for Sundays at the Old Town Hall Museum.
Motion made to approve the Agenda. Berg/Kaiser Carried.
Secretary’s Report: Annual Meeting minutes of November 4, 2020 (included in newsletter and on website). Motion made to approve minutes. McFadyen/Berg Carried.
Treasurers Report: Current Financial Report as of the end of the third quarter, September 30, 2021 (included in newsletter). Income total: $136,821.23; Expense Total: $6,041.47. Cash on hand (checking and savings): $154,672.80. Motion made to accept the Treasurer’s Report (subject to audit). McFadyen/Dunbar Carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Buildings and Grounds: Kaiser – General Projects Completed: Inspection of all buildings and grounds. Cintas did yearly testing 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. Roofs are good on all buildings. Ted Fleming has drained water this fall and added antifreeze as needed. Old Town Hall: Basement is in good shape. Areas on the handicapped ramp need touch-up painting eventually. Old Office Building: Mold remediation completed. Painting and repair of windows completed. Greenfield School: Furnace and plumbing in good shape. Grounds: Flowerbed on the south side of the school was taken out and re-seeded into lawn. Removed plum tree and brush from the flowerbed in front of the school. Inspected the brick plaza in front of the Fifield School Memorial and all bricks remain in good condition. Signage outside the Old Town Hall Museum needs to be addressed; plans are to remove the flowerbed from around the sign and eventually paint as needed. Flag Pole is adequate, but needs painting.
Huotari Construction, Inc. will be the general contractor for the Louis A. Koenig Research Center. Kaiser is the project manager and is in contact with Dennis Huotari for planning of the center. Fundraising is going on and will continue the rest of this year, through 2022 and beyond.
Newsletter: Berg-Reviewed the editorial and publishing process and invited individuals to contact him regarding stories they may like to submit or newsletter ideas. The main focus of the 2021 newsletters was the history of the Louis A. Koenig family along with progress on the research center.
Photographs: Foytek/Berg – Beginning in March of 2020 access to our photo archive room was closed to our use due to the Pandemic. Access was regained in July of 2021. Berg continues to make contact with individuals regarding scanning of their collections.
Fundraisers/Events: Foytek thanked Merri Cassidy and her son Liam for doing a Chili cook-off and candy bar fundraiser. Bonnie Salm also took on the lead role for fundraisers held at Fifield Days (food concession and flea market), pie social, farmers market and Chili to Go.
Displays: Foytek/McFadyen /Dunbar– Worked on a new Christmas display updated various other displays. The museums were open on Saturdays in 2021. Anticipating returning to a regular schedule of full weekend openings in 2022.
Membership: Pilch- 246 members. Three members decided not to renew, eight members deceased and 11 new members. Membership continues to remain stable.
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.
Books: Pilch – Books are sold through our website, gift shop at the OTH, Johnson’s Hardware Store and the Park Falls and Phillips Chambers. Books reprinted this year were Fifield and 100 Years on the Flambeau. Books purchased were The Pike Lake Chain and The Park Falls Line. In addition we want to thank Bob Kopisch for his donation of a box of new books, The Northwoods Journal of Charles C. Hamilton for us to sell.
New Business: Election of Directors for three year terms 01-01-2022-12-31-2024: Foytek – Terms for Dunbar, Foytek and Salm are expiring. Foytek and Salm have agreed to serve another three year term. Dunbar, who was appointed to serve the remaining term of Arlene Morrison, which ended in 2021, is now eligible for a three year term. Dunbar has agreed to serve her first three year term. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the Board that this slate be elected as described above. Foytek called three times for nominations from the floor. Motion made by Berg, second by Kaiser to close nominations and to cast a unanimous ballot for the slate of directors as presented by the Board. Motion Carried. In addition 21 proxy ballots were received with the following results: Dunbar=20 votes; Foytek=19 votes; Salm=21 votes; Other=0 votes.
Open Forum: Carol Koenig was introduced to those attending. Brayton gave updates on the activities of the Jump River Valley Historical Society. Baumgartner gave updates on the activities of the Spirit Historical Society. Berg discussed the historical banner project that he is doing for the Forest History Association and the impending sale of the local railroad line. Discussion regarding resources to contact with expertise regarding the planning and setting-up of a research center ensued. Consensus was that Bonnie Byrd, Executive Director of the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum and a member of the Wisconsin Council for Local History along with Janet Seymour, Director of Outreach for the Wisconsin Historical Society, would both be good contacts for technical assistance with our project.
Adjournment: President Foytek adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Lorraine (Laurie) Pilch, Secretary/Treasurer
Member, Board of Directors
Price County Historical Society
Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting Zoom
President Foytek called the 2021 Annual Meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.
Board Members Present: Etola Foytek, Peter Dahlie, Lorraine (Laurie) Pilch, Tom Kaiser, Traci Dunbar, John Berg and Sally McFadyen
Board Members Not Present: Bonnie Salm, Len Schmidt and Eric Tollefson
Also Present: Karen Baumgartner, Bev Brayton, Arlene Morrison and Carol Koenig
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: Hadley Chafer and Don Mockler. Individual Members: Verna Behreandt, Adrienne Bouchonville, Martha Hilgart, Barbara James and Agnes Wudel.
Introduction of Board of Directors: Completed by Foytek. Foytek thanked Carol Forward for her role in the upkeep of the Greenfield School along with obtaining hosts for the school. Foytek also thanked Therese and Maureen Trojak for scheduling hosts for Sundays at the Old Town Hall Museum.
Motion made to approve the Agenda. Berg/Kaiser Carried.
Secretary’s Report: Annual Meeting minutes of November 4, 2020 (included in newsletter and on website). Motion made to approve minutes. McFadyen/Berg Carried.
Treasurers Report: Current Financial Report as of the end of the third quarter, September 30, 2021 (included in newsletter). Income total: $136,821.23; Expense Total: $6,041.47. Cash on hand (checking and savings): $154,672.80. Motion made to accept the Treasurer’s Report (subject to audit). McFadyen/Dunbar Carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Buildings and Grounds: Kaiser – General Projects Completed: Inspection of all buildings and grounds. Cintas did yearly testing 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. Roofs are good on all buildings. Ted Fleming has drained water this fall and added antifreeze as needed. Old Town Hall: Basement is in good shape. Areas on the handicapped ramp need touch-up painting eventually. Old Office Building: Mold remediation completed. Painting and repair of windows completed. Greenfield School: Furnace and plumbing in good shape. Grounds: Flowerbed on the south side of the school was taken out and re-seeded into lawn. Removed plum tree and brush from the flowerbed in front of the school. Inspected the brick plaza in front of the Fifield School Memorial and all bricks remain in good condition. Signage outside the Old Town Hall Museum needs to be addressed; plans are to remove the flowerbed from around the sign and eventually paint as needed. Flag Pole is adequate, but needs painting.
Huotari Construction, Inc. will be the general contractor for the Louis A. Koenig Research Center. Kaiser is the project manager and is in contact with Dennis Huotari for planning of the center. Fundraising is going on and will continue the rest of this year, through 2022 and beyond.
Newsletter: Berg-Reviewed the editorial and publishing process and invited individuals to contact him regarding stories they may like to submit or newsletter ideas. The main focus of the 2021 newsletters was the history of the Louis A. Koenig family along with progress on the research center.
Photographs: Foytek/Berg – Beginning in March of 2020 access to our photo archive room was closed to our use due to the Pandemic. Access was regained in July of 2021. Berg continues to make contact with individuals regarding scanning of their collections.
Fundraisers/Events: Foytek thanked Merri Cassidy and her son Liam for doing a Chili cook-off and candy bar fundraiser. Bonnie Salm also took on the lead role for fundraisers held at Fifield Days (food concession and flea market), pie social, farmers market and Chili to Go.
Displays: Foytek/McFadyen /Dunbar– Worked on a new Christmas display updated various other displays. The museums were open on Saturdays in 2021. Anticipating returning to a regular schedule of full weekend openings in 2022.
Membership: Pilch- 246 members. Three members decided not to renew, eight members deceased and 11 new members. Membership continues to remain stable.
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.
Books: Pilch – Books are sold through our website, gift shop at the OTH, Johnson’s Hardware Store and the Park Falls and Phillips Chambers. Books reprinted this year were Fifield and 100 Years on the Flambeau. Books purchased were The Pike Lake Chain and The Park Falls Line. In addition we want to thank Bob Kopisch for his donation of a box of new books, The Northwoods Journal of Charles C. Hamilton for us to sell.
New Business: Election of Directors for three year terms 01-01-2022-12-31-2024: Foytek – Terms for Dunbar, Foytek and Salm are expiring. Foytek and Salm have agreed to serve another three year term. Dunbar, who was appointed to serve the remaining term of Arlene Morrison, which ended in 2021, is now eligible for a three year term. Dunbar has agreed to serve her first three year term. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the Board that this slate be elected as described above. Foytek called three times for nominations from the floor. Motion made by Berg, second by Kaiser to close nominations and to cast a unanimous ballot for the slate of directors as presented by the Board. Motion Carried. In addition 21 proxy ballots were received with the following results: Dunbar=20 votes; Foytek=19 votes; Salm=21 votes; Other=0 votes.
Open Forum: Carol Koenig was introduced to those attending. Brayton gave updates on the activities of the Jump River Valley Historical Society. Baumgartner gave updates on the activities of the Spirit Historical Society. Berg discussed the historical banner project that he is doing for the Forest History Association and the impending sale of the local railroad line. Discussion regarding resources to contact with expertise regarding the planning and setting-up of a research center ensued. Consensus was that Bonnie Byrd, Executive Director of the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum and a member of the Wisconsin Council for Local History along with Janet Seymour, Director of Outreach for the Wisconsin Historical Society, would both be good contacts for technical assistance with our project.
Adjournment: President Foytek adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Lorraine (Laurie) Pilch, Secretary/Treasurer
Member, Board of Directors
Price County Historical Society