MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Atlas Coffee Mill
CALL TO ORDER BY CHAIRPERSON TOM SUTTER
TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 69
BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Mark Moderson, Tom Sutter, Christine Williams, James Richter, Linda Muldoon, Laura Leimer, Brian Schneider
REVIEW OF UPCOMING MEETINGS AND PROGRAMS:
•NOVEMBER 16 - Emily Gilbert of The Appleton Public Library will discuss the history of the library
•DECEMBER NO MEETING
•JANUARY 18 - Chloe Siamof, a senior at Appleton West High School will discuss the History of Appleton West High School
•FEBRUARY 15 – Brian Brautigam, an Appleton firefighter, will discuss the history of the Appleton Fire Department
•MARCH 21 – Tom Boldt will give a presentation on the life of Harry Houdini.
•APRIL 18 – Ivan Spangenberg, retired conductor of the Appleton City Band will discuss it’s history.
APPLETON HISTORICAL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION:
•Officers and Committee Chairs for the organization are as follows:
A. President - Thomas Sutter
B. Vice President - Christine Williams
C. Secretary – James Richter
D. Treasurer – Jack Voight
E. Mark and Karen Moderson, Principal Organizers
F. Brian Schneider, Technical Resources
G. David Buss, Research Specialist
PRESIDENT SUTTER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
A. Extended his deepest thanks to Janice Krahn, Corporate Archivist and Historian for Thrivent Financial – for doing her program on the History of the Aid Association for Lutherans at last month’s AHS meeting.
B. Encouraged us all to attend the Holiday Home Tour which will be put on by the City Park Neighborhood Group. It will be held Saturday, November 19, 11:00 to 4:00.
C. Reports the AHS Board of Directors concerns about a few committed members have been overwhelmed with AHS work and in truth volunteers are needed. Hopes we can get other members and guests to step forward to share duties and responsibilities.
D. Sutter is offering membership to new candidates for a bargain. He states that any other new members who would join tonight will get the balance of 2011 and all of 2012 for the single fee.
E. Annual Meeting will be held at our regular monthly meeting on November 16th. The session will include our annual business meeting and election of officers.
VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT:
A. Williams brought special attention to a program that will be presented at the January 18th’s meeting by Appleton West Senior Chloe Siamof.
B. She also alerted the audience to the April 18th’s program on the historic Appleton City Band by the historic director Ivan Spangenberg.
C. Reminds us of our two upcoming History Fairs on December 3, 2011, and March 3, 2012.
AHS HISTORY FAIR - DECEMBER 3, 2011:
Jim Richter, History Fair Co-Chairman, reported on planning underway for our third History Fair. Items reported:
(1) Mark and Karen Moderson are again our principal organizers. They have arranged some 12 exhibitors thus far who will display historic Appleton pictures and artifacts at the event. We have capped the total number of exhibitors at 15 plus AHS and Brian Schneider tables.
(2) Richter reminded the audience that the History Fair Committee have concluded that objects, artifacts and pictures have been the biggest attractors in the past, and therefore they will continue to be our focus for this and the March 3, 2012 event..
(3) Richter reported that at the 9/21/11 regular, monthly meeting the audience offered 18 new ideas on booths and exhibitors they would like to see in coming events. We are trying to incorporate many of those ideas in the coming event.
(4) Arrangements are being made for WHBY radio appearances by Mark Moderson prior to the event.
(5) We are also asking for Nancy Barker’s help in promoting the History Fairs on her WHBY program.
REMINDER TO CHECK THE AHS WEBSITE REGULARLY:
To reach our Web Site go to www.appletonhistory.org
•PROGRAM SPEAKER – Cindy Czarnik-Neimeyer, Appleton’s Bellaire Ct. Neighborhood.
Cindy’s Background:
ACindy has been our principal contact on arranging this presentation. Although she was the primary speaker she brought along a large group of some 20 long-time neighbors to back her up, as well as give many testimonials. Personal introductions were made of all.
BShe reports that a number of the current residents have amassed several boxes of pictures, objects, and archives on the residents of the Court and it’s many group activities. They have wonderful albums of pictures covering the period from 1945 to the present. They also have a list of all the houses and when they were built.
Cindy’s Comments:
•We learned that the Peabody Park area was originally named Bellaire Park, but wills of the Peabody family who owned most of the property stipulated that the area shall be called Peabody Park.
•She explained that the Bellaire Court Neighborhood has always been about family and good friends. Such a bond has developed between neighbors that even those forced to move away return when ever possible to renew friendships and keep up on news.
•She stressed that it’s all about a lot of people helping out each other. Example many of the folks who snowblow or lawn cut for their neighbors.
•She pointed out that that one of the key reasons for their sense of community is the regular events that Bellaire residents put on each year. These include: Pot Luck Dinners, Christmas Candy Cane Displays, and Santa Coming to the Court. The Christmas season is very special because all of the kids of the neighborhood form the Bellaire Park’s Children Choir. The adults in the neighborhood have their own choir. They appear and a neighborhood procession begins.
Highlight of the Presentation:
•We were treated to a long interview on DVD by two of the neighborhoods oldest living residents: Rachel Connelly and Shirley Gambsky. Their reflections were truly illuminating.
MONTHLY MEETING AND SPEAKER’S PRESENTATION AGAIN VIDEOTAPED:
We want to again thank Matthew Payne for his videotaping our entire meeting. This was the second such taping. DVD’s from his first taping our still available through Tom Sutter.
DRAWING AGAIN HELD FOR AN AHS MEMBERSHIP:
President Sutter held another drawing and awarded a Mark’s East Side Gift Certificate. Dave Kalz was the proxy for the night’s winner.
SITE CHOSEN FOR THIS MEETING:
Due to scheduling issues the site for tonight’s meeting was the Atlas Coffee Mill. Sue and Bogie Bogenschutz not only provided audio, but also computer projection, along with their excellent.beverages and pastries.
NEXT MONTH’S MEETING:
The Appleton Historical Society’s next regular meeting will be held on November 16th.
Respectfully, James L. Richter AHS Secretary 11/6/11