AMITE COUNTY HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
Minutes of May 10, 2008, meeting
Draft
President Oma Gordon called the meeting to order at 10:05 AM in the meeting room of the library in Liberty, MS. There were 18 attendees. President Oma Gordon asked James Allen Causey 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. Greg Barron made a motion; Jeannine Dixon seconded to approve minutes as amended. The motion passed without dissention.
· President Report: Pres. Gordon discussed the following:
1. She commented on the Local History Newsletter published by the state archives and encouraged those with internet service to look it up online.
2. She mentioned the Amite Reunion web site as a good internet means to find information on county genealogy and the contacts of those engaged in research.
3. She mentioned the notice that some of the society received about the availability of a reprinted book covering Pike County genealogy. A number of families that had members in Amite County are covered in the book.
4. Due to the absence of Treasurer Gay Blalock, she reported that the current society bank balance is $4469.63.
· VP Report: VP Barron reported the following:
1. The doubloon project is moving forward with the final design proof to be made early in the week following the meeting. The run of bronze versions of the doubloon should be available for sale to members at the December open house meeting for $10 each. Members will be given first opportunity at the doubloons before any are offered for sale to non-members. The version to be made available as souvenirs at the Bicentennial will be made of aluminum. If necessary they will be sold for a modest price to assure that there is no substantial cost left for the society from this project.
2. The quarterly meeting for June (the society’s annual meeting) will be on June 14 in the library conference room and will include the localized version of “Antiques Road Show” with Mississippi and Louisiana antiques dealers being available to look at any items members or guests wish to have analyzed. A nationally-known dealer will be possibly be present as well. This will be done as the program for June and will begin at 11:00 am. Members attending the business meeting will be able to sign on to have antiques evaluated early in the program. Late arrivers including non-member guests will be allowed to consult with the experts afterward. Members can bring as many items as they are comfortable keeping secure. Each person bringing items is responsible for the safety and security of their own items. Items should be small enough to be carried by one person; no large furniture should be brought since there will be no one to help move such pieces. All antiques will need to be presented to the evaluators in the conference room; they will not go out to evaluate furniture carried in vehicles.
3. Member Wayne Parker has donated two books to the society. One is a copy of the book accompanying the recent Summit Sesqui-Centennial; the other is a longer book about the town.
4. The quarterly meeting for September will be on September 13 and will be the field trip to Rosemont in Woodville. All details of the planning that were discussed in April are still applicable.
5. The Open House in December, 2008 will be at the old home owned by Dr. Jonah Ford (the site of the first open house in 2004 and otherwise known as the old Felder plantation). Plans continue to be worked out in detail and it is intended that this event will be advertised intensely as we approach the time for it. Dawn Taylor has volunteered to assist with publicity.
6. VP Barron is working toward scheduling a photographer who uses the mid-19th century wet plate photographic method (creating “tin types”) to be available on the main day of the Bicentennial observance. It is currently expected that he will set up his period studio on the green area adjacent to the living history encampment near the Little Red Schoolhouse.
7. VP Barron also suggested that members wanting to acquire mid-19th century style clothing for costuming at the Bicentennial can receive very good prices on items from the “Blockade Runner” that has a web site. (The URL/web address will be added to the society web site in the near future.)
· Secretary Report: Secy. Wayne Anderson reported that a number of the officer election balloting mail outs that would be going to regular-attending members had been brought for manual delivery to save a bit of postage cost. Those not available for pickup and those not picked up due to member absence will be mailed early in the following week.
· Treasurer Report: Treasurer Gay Blalock was not present; see President’s report above.
Committee Reports:
· WPA Books: Pres. Gordon reported that we now have the 50 new sets of the book available and reiterated her request that each member try to sell a set of the books in the next two months.
· Bicentennial Committee: Pres. Gordon reported that the main Bicentennial Committee held their most recent meeting on May 5. She indicated that not much new detail about the status of planning was available. She reiterated that that the plans for activities hosted by the society in conjunction with the Bicentennial observance will be independent of the main Bicentennial Committee planned activities. All events will take place in and about the LRSH and the Library meeting room. She has secured the library meeting room for society activities (probably mostly genealogy researchers and display of genealogical information brought by members and nonmembers. The society will have the library room for Thursday through Saturday.
· Little Red Schoolhouse: The LRSH had several visitors over the month of May with 22 visitors on Heritage Day (May 3).
Old Business: None.
New Business: None.
Other Business:
Glen Huff reported that upcoming events of historical interest included an observance of the Jefferson Davis Bicentennial on May 31 through 6/3 and rededicaton of the Beauvoir home (Biloxi) following its restoration necessitated by damage from Katrina
The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:15. Vera Prestridge gave the closing prayer.