MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
St. Bernadette’s Catholic School

PROGRAM SUMMARY
“Appleton’s Historic Parades”

CALL TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT TOM SUTTER

TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 77

OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:

Tom Sutter, James Richter, Laura Leimer, Mark Moderson, Linda Muldoon, John Marx, Brian Schneider, Jim Krueger and Diana Sandberg.

Upcoming Special Events

March 4 9-12:30 History Fair at the Indoor Farmer’s Market, City Center Plaza
August 13 2pm - Riverside Cemetery Walk – City Pioneers
December 2 9-12:30 History Fair at the Indoor Farmer’s Market, City Center Plaza

2017 Appleton History Speaker Series

January 11 Vulcan replica and early hydroelectricity – Tom Seidl
February 8 Appleton parades – Greg Otis
March 8 St. Joseph’s Church and School, 150 years – Jim Krueger
April12 NativeAmericans–PeterPeregrine
May 10 Appleton East High School – 50 years – Corey Otis
June14 LawrenceUniversity–ErinDix
July 12 Cloud Buick - Steve Cloud
August9 AtticTheater–BerrayBillington
September 13 Pioneer and Riverside Cemeteries – Gwen Sargeant
October11 VoecksMeatMarketandFoxValleyCoin–MichelleGriesbach
November8 TheAppletonPictureShow--Bringyourownphotosforshowandtell!

APPLETON HISTORICAL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION:

♦︎  AHS Officers:

A. President - Thomas Sutter
B. Vice President - Gwen Sargeant
C. Secretary – James Richter
D. Treasurer – Laura Leimer

♦︎  AHS Board of Directors:

A. Terms through November 2017:
     1. Mark Moderson
     2. John Marx
     3. Laura Leimer
     4. Diana Sandberg

B. Terms through November 2018:
     1. Tom Sutter
     2. Christine Williams
     3. James Richter

C. Terms through November 2019:
     1. Linda Muldoon
     2. Jim Krueger
     3. Gwen Sargeant
     4. Brian Schneider

Fund Raising Committee:
A. James Richter, Chairman
B. Gwen Sargeant, Vice Chairman
C. Laura Leimer, Treasurer
D. Linda Muldoon
E. Brian Schneider
F. David Buss
G. Jack Voight

Fund Raising SubCommittee-Promotions:
A. Mark Moderson, Chairman
B. Jim Krueger, Vice Chairman
C. Karen Moderson

Building and Grounds Committee:
A. John Marx, Chairman
B. Gwen Sargeant, Vice Chairman
C. Laura Leimer, Treasurer
D. James Krueger
E. Brian Schneider

Additional Committee Chairs are as follows:
A. Mark and Karen Moderson, Principal Organizers
B. Brian Schneider, Technical Resources
C. David Buss and Diana Sandberg, Research Specialists
D. Gwen Sargeant, Public Relations and Web Page
E. Christine Williams, Monthly Programs
F. Gwen Sargeant, Publications

PRESIDENT SUTTER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

A.Thanks to the Post Crescent for it’s announcement of tonight’s meeting and all of it’s support.

B.We express our deepest appreciation to St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church for the use of their School Building located on Lourdes Drive on Appleton’s south side.

C.Thanks to Tom Seidl for last month’s program “Vulcan Power Plant Replica and Early Hydroelectricity”.

D.Sutter gave a report on remaining monthly programs and special events for the year.

E.The door prize was won by Wayne Defferding, who chose a Spat’s Coupon.

F.Urgedeveryonetorenewtheirmembershipsfor2017.

G.Sales of our book Images of America-Appleton continue to go well. Books are available at the registration table for $22.00 a copy.

H.We also still have available Vulcan Electric Site Souvenir Booklets for $10.00.

AHS 14th History Fair Preparations:

James Richter, Co-Chairman, gave a report on preparations for our 14th History Fair, which will be held on March 4, 2017. He and Co-Chair Mark Moderson are arranging a wide variety of historical exhibits. The focus of this event will be on “Appleton’s Manufacturers- The First 100 Years”. As always we are looking for exhibitors for our 16 to 18 tables. Each table is set up with pictures, artifacts and antiques, most on our focus area. We are going to have a table with historic maps covered with glass that will show the location of many of the manufacturers being exhibited. He distributed flyers on the event that the audience was asked to post on public bulletin boards they may have contact with. Richter then asked the audience for help in setting up and taking down tables and equipment as the committee was just overwhelmed with doing it alone. He urged the audience all to attend.

James Richter, Co-Chairman
Mark Moderson, Co-Chairman

Fund Raising Report:

James Richter, Chairman, gave a report on progress of fund raising:

(1)  Grant applications submitted to GulfStream Foundation by Richter and U.S. Venture Foundation by Sargeant.

(2)  Personal appeals also being made.

(3)  Mark & Karen Moderson’s Sub-Committee are working on a Wine and Cheese Event this
year.

PROGRAM:“The History of Appleton Parades”
PRESENTER: GregOtis

 

Speaker’s Own Biographical Sketch:

“I am a lifelong resident of Appleton. I was born at St. Elizabeth Hospital in September of 1947. Let me do the math for you. I will be 70 years old this year. I have been married, to a local girl, coming up on 43 years in April. We raised three children here and have 4 grandsons. I started working the parades in 1970. I got out of the Army in Nov. of 1969 and in May and June of 70’ I was introduced to the Memorial Day and Flag Day Parades. I drove cars with dignitaries and whatever else they needed. In 1974 my dad took over as Chairman of Flag Day and I was brought on to the committee. In 1984 my dad retired and I have been Chairman ever since. A lot of changes have occurred since then. The most significant being the forming of the Appleton Parade Committee. The Appleton Parade Committee was given the charge to combine all three parades under one committee. I am appointed every January at a city council meeting to Chair the Committee. I have a very dedicated and passionate committee of volunteers who work tirelessly year round to bring the area the very best parades anywhere!! This year will be my 47th Flag Day and Memorial Day Parades. It will also mark my 37th Christmas Parade”.

Introduction of the Parade Committee:

Greg introduced committee members that were present. Each spoke during the presentation:

Harvey Samson, Don Burisch, and Corey Otis. Greg admitted he was blessed with a passionate group of volunteers.

Introduction:

Greg began by saying that operating three Appleton parades as they do involves constant preplanning. Generally planning is 6 months out on each of the parades. Aside from the three major parades they also coordinate the Building for Kids Parade, which involves moving 2,000 kids down College Avenue.

Before each parade they have organized chaos. His two kids, Corey and Meghan, joined the chaos long ago and have been volunteers all of their lives. The kids and all of the volunteers march or ride at the end of the Flag Day Parade every year since 1950, so the community can recognize them.

There were some significant events in development of the Flag Day Parade. President Harry Truman signed a formal declaration designating June 14th as Flag Day. Appleton always has the Flag Day Parade on the second Saturday of June. In 1960 the City of Appleton took over the parade. Mayor Clarence Mitchell amassed volunteers to put on the parade as he said “To Honor the Red, White and Blue”. Each year they have dedicated the parade to a branch of the military. This year they are honoring the Coast Guard on June 10th.

The Memorial Parade is a more solemn event. The format has been changed from area politicians as presenters, to Appleton area students.

The Christmas Parade receives up to 150 applications per year to participate, they are forced to restrict the number of entries to 75 for proper control. The limit on number of entries is based upon how much WFRV-TV can fit into a one hour time slot. The parade was originally put together by Bernie Pearlman and the Appleton Downtown Business Association. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade was shortlived, due to a lack of volunteers.

Slide Presentation:

Appleton Parades have been an honorable tradition, here are a few highlights:

♦︎  Portrayed was an 1898 Flag Day Parade.

♦︎  Post Crescent ad on the 1925 Memorial Day Parade.

♦︎  Post Crescent article on the 1959 Parade.

♦︎  Memorial Day Parade 1960.

♦︎  Post Crescent picture of Memorial Day Parade 1963.

♦︎  Flag Day Parade route when it ran from Lawrence College to State Street.

More Facts About Appleton Parades:

Just a few more items we want to point out:

♦︎ Our Flag Day Parade is recognized as the nation’s oldest Flag Day Parade.

♦︎  Average annual estimates for the Flag Day Parade, over 60,000 attendance and over 100 unit participating.

♦︎  Their theme for this year’s Flag Day Parade is “United We Stand”.

♦︎  Checkout their web site by going to Appleton.org and click on parades.

♦︎  This year’s Memorial Day Parade will be on May 29th at 9:00 a.m.. It starts at
the corner of Appleton Street and College Avenue and runs to Riverside Cemetery.

Harvey Samson comments:

♦︎ These parades are all community events. “It’s all about giving back to the community”.

♦︎ The first lighted float at an Appleton Parade was the H. C. Prange Co. entry.

♦︎  The Christmas Parade has been with Channel 5 (WFRV) since 1987. Their broadcast is now live and runs for an hour and a half.

♦︎  Payoff for them at the Christmas Parade is watching the kids see Santa Claus go by.

♦︎  For the Christmas Parade they have the City close off 2 1⁄2 miles of streets.

♦︎  These events would not be possible without the great support of the City of
Appleton and it’s Police Department.

♦︎  They have a “no campaigning” rule for dignitaries who participate in the parades.

♦︎  When Greg’s dad was Chairman of the Flag Day Parade the committee members were required to wear a flag shirt and long blue pants during the event.

♦︎  Fox River Mall donated their Santa to the Christmas Parade for many years.

♦︎  Funding is always tight. The parades are just three small line items in the City budget each year: Flag Day, Memorial Day, and Christmas Parade. They have to rely on sponsors to help with their budget and fund significant items or
special floats.

Don Burisch comments:

♦︎ He got involved with the parades in 1987.

♦︎  Our committee only consists of 12 people, plus countless volunteers-but we get a lot done.

♦︎  The Parades have put Appleton more on the map throughout the state, and even throughout the country.

♦︎ The committee wishes to express it’s deepest thanks for the great support they have received from the military. E. Statler of their committee is the force behind this.

Questions from audience:

♦︎ Does the Parade Committee run the City Homecoming Parade? No, those are done by individual high schools. These parades are usually neighborhood based only, and just circle the respective schools.

The presentation concluded with deep thanks expressed by the audience to an exceptional parade committee.

Respectfully, James L. Richter AHS Secretary, 2/28/17

2-2017 Appleton Parades - Greg Otis https://appletonhistory.com/images/logo/AHSlogo3.jpg Denise Behreandt