HERITAGE PRESERVATION, INC.

Minutes of Meeting, 12-17-07

 

Those present:  Vince Brewton, Cathy Wood, Judy Tiffin, Betty Champion, Hester Cope, Mary Peck, Jim Ingrum, Jim Lake, Lee Freeman, Bob Torbert, Brett Wood, Billy Warren

 

  1. The Board welcomed Jim Lake to the meeting.

     
  2. Jim Ingrum made the motion that the minutes of the 11-26-07 meeting be approved.  Brett Wood seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

     
  3. Billy Warren presented this financial report:
    1. Checking Account Balance                            $3,971.63
    2. FDR Fund                                                       $5,000.00
    3. Forks of Cypress Account                              $3,234.78
    4. Bailey Springs Project                                     $4,348.10

 

Bob Torbert made the motion that the report be approved. Vince Brewton seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

 

  1. Billy Warren exhibited two DVD’s created by Jim Lake:  one features footage on HPI’s Cemetery Stroll in April, 2007, and the other features the Bailey Springs Cemetery Dedication on December 8, 2007.  Jim plans to edit the footage in both DVD’s so they will be more cohesive.  Billy also circulated a collection of still photographs of the Dedication which were taken by Jim Lake.

     
  2. Lee Freeman and Bob Torbert represented HPI at the Bailey Springs Cemetery Dedication on Saturday, December 8.  Both reported that the ceremony was well-planned and very impressive.  In attendance were representatives of various agencies besides HPI (e.g., Alabama Historic Cemetery Preservation Alliance) and descendants from out-of-state of some of the War of 1812 veterans interred in the cemetery.  All present at today’s meeting agreed that it was a pleasure for HPI to be the sponsor and fiscal agent for this excellent preservation project.

     
  3. Bob Torbert circulated photographs of the current state of the Wilson Cemetery which is adjacent to the Blackberry Trail Golf Course.  He stated that Chris Cassel has received approval from Boy Scout officials for him to use the restoration of this cemetery as his Eagle Badge project.  Bob will work with him on the project.  Bob reported that the City of Florence has allocated $1,000 toward the cemetery’s restoration.  Work on the project could begin as early as this week.  Applause for Bob!

     
  4. Bob Torbert stated that, in 2008, the offer from Mr. Beckman at Florence Marble Works will be advertised more widely:  simple gravestones @$25 each for churches involved in their cemetery restoration.

     
  5. Hester Cope:
    1. Announced that she is retiring as Executive Director of Florence Main Street in January, 2008 (but not as a member of the HPI Board!);
    2. Announced that Ashley Winkle has been named as her successor as Executive Director of Florence Main Street;
    3. Reported that Shoals Community Theatre (an umbrella organization that includes both the Zodiac and Gingerbread Theatre groups) has purchased the Shoals Theater building;
    4. Announced the recent opening of two stores on Mobile Plaza:

                                                              i.      House of Heroes, and

                                                            ii.      Downtown Girls; and

    1. Urged everyone to purchase at least one Christmas gift at downtown “Mom and Pop” storeS as a show of support for downtown Florence.

       
  1. Regarding Florence Main Street, Billy Warren reported that one of Ashley Winkle’s goals is the establishment of a secure, climate-controlled art museum in downtown Florence.  Since HPI has already gone on record in support of such a museum, perhaps there can be collaboration on the project.

     
  2. Billy Warren reminded everyone to visit the public library to see the special exhibit of the handwritten copy of Clement Moore’s “The Night Before Christmas” before it is removed on December 31.  It is one of only four copies in existence and is owned by a local businessman.  (It is valued at $286,000.)

     
  3. Billy Warren stated that the terms on the HPI Board of the five people listed below end on December 31, 2007.  Beside each name is an indication of those who agreed to serve another three-year term – to expire December 31, 2010:
    1. Vince Brewton – yes
    2. Betty Champion – yes
    3. Charlotte Dean –
    4. Billy Warren – yes
    5. Carolyn Waterman -

       

Note:  Following today’s meeting, Billy Warren received an email from Carolyn Waterman in which she accepted another three-year term on the Board.

 

  1. Regarding the Capital Award:
    1. Brett Wood made the motion that David Faulkner be given the award in the Junior Division for his work on the restoration of the Bailey Springs Cemetery.  Lee Freeman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
    2. Hester Cope made the motion that UNA be given the award in the Institution/Government Division for the restoration of Rogers Hall.  Vince Brewton seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
    3. In the Individual Division, these names were put forward: 

                                                              i.      Pat Mahan – webmaster of the Lauderdale County Genealogical website,

                                                            ii.      David Mackay – several years of dedicated work toward the restoration of the Shoals Theatre building, and

                                                          iii.      Vince Brewton – webmaster of the website of Heritage Preservation, Inc.  (Vince declined the nomination since he is a member of the Board.)

 

Hester Cope made the motion that David Mackay be given the award in the Individual Division.  Lee Freeman seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

    1. There was a voting process to select a recipient in the Commercial Division since four nominations were made.  As a result of the vote, Robert Bunch will be presented the award for his excellent restoration of the former Pittsburgh Paint building on East Tennessee Street.

       
  1. Regarding the annual meeting in January, these decisions were made:

     

    1. The date, time and place will be:  Sunday, January 20, 2:00 p.m., Richards Education Center.
    2. The program will be:

                                                              i.      Bob Torbert – Cemetery Restoration; Lauderdale County Cemetery database,

                                                            ii.      Lee Freeman – State Laws Governing Cemeteries,

                                                          iii.      Pat Mahan – Lauderdale County Genealogical database, and

                                                          iv.      HPI’s Cemetery Strolls (with short performance by Bill Foster).

    1. Betty Champion will be in charge of light refreshments, with cookies provided by:

                                                              i.      Judy Tiffin,

                                                            ii.      Hester Cope,

                                                          iii.      Bob Torbert, and

                                                          iv.      Billy Warren.

    1. Billy Warren will mail a letter about HPI to all existing and former members to encourage attendance at the meeting and to encourage membership renewals.

       
  1. It is hoped that, at the annual meeting in January, there will be time for the Board to determine the list of personages who are to be portrayed in the April, 2008, Cemetery Stroll.