Those present: Judy Tiffin, Lee Freeman, Betty Champion, Carolyn Waterman, Charlotte Dean, Vince Brewton, Iva McClure, Mary Peck, Bob Torbert, Brett Wood, Billy Warren (and many residents from the Shoals Community)

1. Billy Warren welcomed everyone to the annual meeting of HPI and thanked them for attending. He encouraged everyone to join HPI and to complete a membership application. He also encouraged everyone to record their e-mail address in order to receive news updates related to historic preservation activities.

2. These people have agreed to serve a three-year term (January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2012) on the Board of Directors of HPI:

a. Hester Cope

b. Mary Peck

c. Bob Torbert

d. Ashley Winkle

e. Brett Wood

Billy Warren asked for further nominations from the floor. Hearing none, he asked for a motion. Betty Champion made the motion that the slate of Board members be approved. Lee Freeman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

3. Billy Warren:

a. Exhibited a copy of the 2010 Historic Houses of Worship in Downtown Florence calendar which was published by the Design Committee of Florence Main Street and emphasized the importance of all local organizations that have similar goals (e.g., HPI, Florence Main Street, Florence-Lauderdale Tourism Bureau, Downtown Florence Unlimited, City of Florence Planning Department) working together;

b. Distributed and briefly reviewed copies of a multi-page document that lists all historic districts and individual structures in Florence and Lauderdale County that are on the national Register of Historic Places; and

c. Distributed and briefly reviewed copies of a document that lists 30 restoration projects in Florence and Lauderdale County that are currently in progress or that have recently been completed.

4. Charlotte Dean made this report on the restoration efforts at the Sweetwater Mansion:

a. The owner of the mansion gave permission for a fundraiser, in the form of a series of evenings of storytelling, to be held on the grounds (which proved to be very successful).

b. The porches have been restored to an almost-identical look that they had during the mansion’s heyday.

c. The City of Florence has been very helpful and cooperative – the installation of eight security lights is an example.

d. A new roof and stabilization of the mansion’s foundation are now being addressed.

e. The owner has removed items of furniture from the mansion and has had them restored by a firm in Atlanta.

It was agreed by everyone in attendance that the restoration efforts underway at this Florence landmark are appreciated and encouraging.

5. Billy Warren distributed and reviewed copies of a document that lists the HPI accomplishments in 2009.

6. Regarding the restoration of the fountain in Wilson Park, Billy Warren thanked the following:

a. Vince Brewton, who brought the deterioration of the fountain to the attention of HPI;

b. Dick Jordan, who worked with his fellow City Council members to secure funding for the restoration;

c. Mayor Bobby Irons, who promoted the need for the fountain’s restoration with his staff;

d. Todd Nix, City of Florence Department Head, who worked with his Parks and Recreation staff to make the project happen; and

e. Brett Wood, who made contact with the stonework artist in Franklin, Tennessee, for the actual work.

The result of this excellent collaboration is a restored fountain, complete with a replica of the third tier which had disappeared over the years!

7. Lee Freeman presented the Capital Award to Pat Mahan in the "Individual" category for her work as a volunteer in the Local History/Genealogy Department at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library since 1996.

9. Billy Warren:

a. Invited everyone to attend HPI’s monthly meetings which are held in the Richards Education Center building on the fourth Monday of each month at 12:00 noon;

b. Thanked Vince Brewton for maintaining HPI’s website as its webmaster and encouraged everyone to visit it regularly: www.florencehistorical.org; and

c. Thanked all Board members who prepared refreshments and encouraged everyone to stay awhile to enjoy them.