APPLETON HISTORY ASSOCIATION
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, May 27, 2010
CALL TO ORDER BY ACTING CHAIRPERSON TOM SUTTER
WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
Total attendance of 41 noted.
PLANNING COMMITTEE IN ATTENDANCE:
Mark & Karen Moderson, Tom Sutter, James Richter, Jack Voight, Christine Williams, Linda Muldoon, Bob & Marlene Roloff, Nancy Peterson, John Marx.
DISPLAYS OF APPLETON ANTIQUES AND ARTIFACTS:
Several members including Sutter, Marx, Moderson, Richter and Roloff had displays from their private collections set up in the meeting room.
Visitors were also directed to the Appleton History display that the Moderson’s have set up on the second floor of the Library.
THE FORMAL MEETING:
Personal introductions were made of all attending.
Chairman Sutter reviewed what preliminary meetings found as areas of interest in the community.
Sutter then reviewed the one page questionnaire that was given to each person as they arrived. He reported that a formal structure for our group will not take place at this meeting, as our Leadership needs some time to review and compile data from the questionnaires.
Sutter and Richter were quick to point out to all that this is a new organization whose structure has not been formalized yet. That is why we are seeking comments from the audience.
Sutter stressed the group will have to decide if we want to:
(1) become a special interest group of the Outagamie Historical Society;
(2) be a 501 (c)
(3) separate non-stock corporation affiliated with the Wisconsin Historical Society; or be a separate organization.
APPLETON HISTORY ASSOCIATION 5/27/10 PAGE 2
REPORTS & COMMENTS RECEIVED FROM THE FLOOR:
Pat Merkes of the Near North Neighborhood Group: believes we need to focus on the preservation of Appleton’s historic homes.
Encouraged us to have a unified group name for our organization that covers all aspects of Appleton history.
Suggests we consider placing and displaying our Collections and Archives with the Hearthstone.
John Oakley of the City Park Group: expressed concern the Appleton History group’s focus was not clear.
Asked what is the Mission Statement for this group?
Richter responded that we are seeking members of common interest to help choose our direction and goals, but stressed it has been quite clear that those joining us have shown their interests lie in three different areas:
1. Individuals with antique collections reflecting Appleton history.
2. Those who would like to regularly discuss and preserve Appleton
history.
3. Parties who seek to create a museum specifically on Appleton.
Oakley said it seems the three areas that Richter pointed out are our goals, and that our Mission Statement should be: “For the Preservation of the History of the City of Appleton”.
Sharon Clothier of the Outagamie Museum:
A. She is a staffer with the Museum until the 28th, since she has resigned to
devote all of her to to her family. She offers her assistance to our group,
and shows interest in being a member.
She reports the Museum has a lot of Appleton items in their Archives.
She sees a lot of overlap in what we want to do and what the Museum
already does.
She points out it costs a great deal of money to preserve and maintain
historical items, archives and displays.
Comments Received of Genealogical interest:
A. We learned that the County had a Genealogical Study interest group that
has gone by the boards and members of the audience wondered if we are
thinking of filling that void.
Karen Probst of the Library reports there is a Fox Valley Genealogy
Group, but they are mostly focused on studying the organizer’s family.
APPLETON HISTORY ASSOCIATION 5/27/10 PAGE 3
Sutter encouraged those studying ancestry in their families to look to a group that would be focused on genealogy, but stressed that our group certainly would network with them.
Chad Wolf of the Hearthstone Museum:
A. He is hoping our group can among other things fill a desperate need for
a History Web Site with links to other Museums and Historical Society’s
in the area.
Karen Probst of the Library advises there already is a Fox Valley
Memories group that shows on their web site a list of History Collections
in the area and whom to contact.
He also suggests we start an Appleton History Month.
Another idea offered was to start an Appleton History Conference held every two years at the Paper Valley Hotel.
He also suggests our developing an interactive map of Historical Sites and Groups from throughout the Fox River Valley.
Mark Moderson, our Principal Organizer:
A. Suggests that we do a History Walk each year.
B. Pat Merkes said that the Columbus School area group does Walks
regularly and that Frank Rippl of the group should be contacted.
C. Linda Muldoon of the Third Ward Group reports their group has ceased
doing this because of a lack of volunteers, but have instead gone to doing
“Porch Stories” at several locations, which has gone over well.
A representative of the City Park Group said they have quit doing house tours because it is to labor intensive.
Jim Krueger, a Private Antique Collector:
A. He reports having an Appleton memorabilia collection like Moderson’s.
B. He also makes available a collection of negatives and pictures of old
buildings that he would like to see preserved.
C. He suggests that our group might focus on old businesses from the past
and eventually publish a book on them.
Nancy Peterson of the Appleton Heritage Society:
A. She suggests we continue to link with the Appleton Public Library.
B. We should be aware that May is “Preservation Month”.
C. She suggests we try a more stimulating name than the Appleton History
Association, such as “Appleton 101” or “Appleton Past and Present”.
APPLETON HISTORY ASSOCIATION 5/27/10 PAGE 4
ADDITIONAL NOTES FROM MEETING:
All should consult Appleton Neighborhood Voice on the Internet.
CONCLUSION OF THE FORMAL MEETING:
Chairman Sutter closed by thanking everyone for attending and expressing their ideas and thoughts. It was then agreed we would have our next Public Meeting at the Library on June 23rd as planned, agenda items will include:
A report on comments from Questionaires
A presentation from Karen Probst on the Appleton Public Library’s Wisconsin Collection
Deciding on a permanent location
Voting upon a budget and membership fees
F.Y.I. FOR THE MEMBERSHIP:
The Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Council of Local History will be hosting their Annual Local History and Historic Preservation Conference, October 15-16, 2010, at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva Wisconsin. Members are urged to attend.
ORGANIZATION’S ACTING LEADERSHIP:
Tom Sutter, Acting Chairperson
James Richter, Acting Recording Secretary
Mark & Karen Moderson, Principal Organizers
Christine Williams, Communications Director
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
Wednesday, June 23, 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Appleton Library, Lower Level; Speaker, Karen Probst, Appleton Public Library, Wisconsin Collection Coordinator
Wednesday, July 28, 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Appleton Library, Lower Level; Speaker, Terry Bergan, Outagamie Historical Society
Wednesday, August 25, 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Appleton Library, Lower Level;
Nancy Barker, Speaker
Wednesday, September 29, 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. (TENTATIVE) Appleton Library, Lower Level
Respectfully,
James L. Richter
6-18-10