AMITE COUNTY HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
Minutes of February 14, 2008 meeting
Adopted by vote of membership at 8 March 2008 meeting
President Oma Gordon called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM in the courtroom of the Amite County courthouse in Liberty, MS. There were 20 attendees. President Oma Gordon asked Mildred Morgan to open the meeting with prayer.
President Gordon asked if all had read the minutes. Hearing no questions, she asked for a motion to approve the minutes. Linda Lea made a motion; James Allen Causey seconded. The motion passed without dissention.
· President Report: Pres. Gordon had no report
· VP Report: VP Barron reported the following:
1. The society has been presented with old record books from the Hyman Mercantile Company in Summit. The records consist of a variety of documents regarding business conducted with, for or by the company in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The books were found as a result of work being done for renovations; Kenneth Dixon was instrumental in having the books made available to the society.
2. The March meeting will be on Saturday, March 8, 2008, and will consist of a self-guided tour of the Gloster Arboretum in Gloster. VP Barron recognized David Dreyer who has spearheaded the planning for the arboretum visit. Plans are for attendees wishing to drive over as part of a caravan (so that everyone can find the arboretum) to assemble at the Little Red Schoolhouse between 9:00 and 9:30 am. At the arboretum, a short business meeting will be held at the house there. Members should bring their own lunch including drinks. A lawn chair should also be brought since there is no seating available at the arboretum. Following the business meeting and lunch, members may tour the grounds on their own. Some parts can be accessed by car but others require walking to see all the various plantings in the area. If the weather is too bad to allow for such outdoor activities, the meeting will be held at the Liberty Library meeting room and the LRSH will be opened for anyone wishing to do a little research in lieu of the arboretum tour.
· Secretary Report: Secy. Wayne Anderson had no report.
· Treasurer Report: Treasurer Gay Blalock handed out copies of the Treasurer’s report then covered details verbally as well. The report covered the last month. The balance on hand as of the meeting date was $7817.70. Linda Lea made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s report, Mildred Morgan seconded. The report was approved without dissention.
New business:
· VP Barron explained that, due to requests by a number of elderly members and others who cannot drive at night, the Executive Board has decided to try holding all meetings on the second Saturday of the month, mornings at 10:00 am, in the meeting room of the Liberty Library. Pres. Gordon asked for a show of hands from those present on which meeting schedule was preferred; the majority of the members indicated preference for the Saturday schedule.
· VP Barron announced that a special memorial fund set up in memory of Susan Barnes, Life Member who recently passed away was accepting donations. The fund will be used to acquire a book on Andrew Jackson and his involvement with Mississippi in preparation for the Battle of New Orleans. The book will be inscribed with an appropriate memorial dedication.
· Plans have become more complete on obtaining commemorative coins for the Bicentennial. One thousand commemorative coins in aluminum can be produced for a set-up cost of $725 plus a product cost of $700 for a total of $1425. These aluminum coins would be the items for giveaway at the Bicentennial. To offset most of the cost of the aluminum coins, an additional 250 coins could be struck in bronze for approximately $5 per coin and then be sold as a finer version of the commemorative coin for $10 each. This would generate enough revenue to offset all but $175 of the up front cost on the aluminum coins. The images on the coins would be the society logo (with the small inset pictures removed from the magnolia) and the LRSH each side will contain appropriate succinct text to identify that the coin is a society commemoration of the bicentennial. After some further discussion, Nelson Dawson moved that we proceed with the coins as described; Bill Rimes seconded. The motion passed without dissention.
· Pres. Gordon asked Mrs. Vera Prestridge for her help in unveiling the final, now acceptable version of the society banner which was first ordered over a year ago.
Committee Reports:
· Pres. Gordon reported that only 4 sets of the WPA books remain of the original 150 sets. Due to having received a number of inquiries of whether copies would be available for sale during the Bicentennial, it was decided to order another printing of 50 sets.
· Pres. Gordon expressed her thanks to Mayor Ricky Stratton for his assistance to the society both as many and as publisher of the Southern Herald.
· Vera Prestridge reported that the school records have all been arranged and cataloged at the LRSH in the new shelving on the second floor. She reminded other members of the committee that visitors can come to visit and research these books but that the attending committee person should remain with the visitors so that the books do not become mixed up and none are “borrowed” and removed.
· James Allen Causey gave a report on some aspects of planned for the historical sites tours.
Old business: No one had any items.
Other comments: David Dreyer reported that he had received a copy of a letter written in the early 1800s with Amite County connections. A copy of this has been presented to Mrs. Vera Prestridge to be made available at the LRSH. Mr. Dreyer was asked about the recent documentary on Mississippi Educational TV about the African prince that was a slave near Natchez. It was shown on 2/4 and may be repeated. VP Barron reported that due to a need for a photo of Dr. Tichenor, the antiseptic company has been contacted and they have agreed to work with the society in providing Dr. Tichenor information.
Pres. Gordon asked James Allen Causey to dismiss the meeting with prayer. The meeting closed at about 8:05 PM.