Des Moines Historical Society

DMHS Minutes 9/27/09

DMHS Minutes 9/27/09

DES MOINES HISTORICAL SOCIETY of DES MOINES, IOWA
MINUTES
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2009 at The Des Moines Birthplace Cabin

The meeting was called to order by the chair Pat Meiners at 3:10 p.m. at the Des Moines Birthplace / Ft. Des Moines No. 2 Cabin. There were more than forty (40) in attendance that had completed membership applications, paid dues and signed the Charter Member ship Role. The cabin was to have been opened by 3:00 p.m., but no city employee had yet arrived to unlock the door. The City Employees had been called and someone was on their way. It was a sunny, but very windy day. Ted Lussem is acting as Treasurer and being helped by Karen Hanley and others.

Copies of the minutes of the last meeting were distributed for review. Pat Meiners spoke briefly about why the Des Moines Historical Society is needed and thanked everyone for supporting her efforts. It was moved by Ted Lussem, seconded and approved that the minutes from the prior meeting be accepted. There were also copies available of the Bylaws which were approved in August. Natasha Moore told of the meeting she, Karen Hanley and Pat Meiners attended in Muscatine on September 17. They learned about historic properties and toured a museum in Muscatine.

The new business included getting members signed up with their dues paid. The next meeting will be at the Coffee House or ‘Balmoral Castle’ at 4140 Grand Avenue in Des Moines on Sunday, October 25 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. It will be for members only, but new members may join that day. Quarterly meetings are required in the bylaws, and they will be in January, April, July and October. The quarterly meetings will usually be at an historical site or be a tour for the purpose of attracting new members. There may be meetings in other months, but they would be more for study or discussion or have a topic presented. We were reminded of the upcoming World Food Fair and Prize and that the East Village should be visited so there are flyers in the windows of businesses in the area. Before similar large gatherings the areas should have flyers posted.

During the discussion about the DMHS elections, a city employee arrived. He did not have a key and we will have to wait longer. Brian Browning presented the report of the Nominating Committee. The candidates are: Pat Meiners, President; John Wenck, Vice President; Ted Lussem, Treasurer; Rick Meiners, Secretary; and Brian Browing, Jim Bush, Natasha Moore, Kaye Sanchez, Jacob Shoemaker and Nancy Suby-Bohn as Board Members. Ballots were distributed and picked-up and counted during other discussion.

We continued with some discussion about the future of the DMHS. (The tape was not able to be used due to the conditions outside.) The update about the hotel which was to be built over part of the Fort Des Moines No. 2 site is that project was abandoned even though the property owner agreed to pay for the archaeological excavation of the site. The issue of the historic sewers is still not resolved. There is a form on the table for submitting possible names for the SE Connector Bridge being built near the cabin. We were reminded that everyone should support and promote the DMHS when they can and there will be Promotion/Publicity and Program Committees formed.

About 4:30 a city employee was finally able to open the cabin door so we could enter the cabin. This meeting did not go as planned, several left before the cabin was open, but we many did stay for a tour. While outside and then inside the cabin, there were several problems noticed that need repaired. The elections were tabulated and announced before adjournment. Those elected were the officers as stated before, and the board members are Brian Browning, Jim Bush, Natasha Moore, Kaye Sanchez, and Jacob Shoemaker. The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted

Richard Meiners, Secretary
Des Moines Historical Society

[Since this meeting, we have received emails from the city apologizing for their error in not opening the cabin and they are assessing the cabin repairs we related to them.]