Des Moines Historical Society

DMHS Minutes 1/31/2010

DES MOINES HISTORICAL SOCIETY of DES MOINES, IOWA

MINUTES

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010 AT THE SPAGHETTI WORKS RESTAURANT

The meeting was called to order, after a nice meal and time for getting acquainted, by the chair Pat Meiners at 2:30 p.m. at the Spaghetti Works Restaurant on Court Avenue in downtown Des Moines.  There were some questions regarding the home.  The officers and board of the DMHS were introduced.  The minutes of the last meeting were approved.   The Treasurers report was accepted and the officers, board members and committee chairs gave short reports. 

Pat has been contacted by the city that they are interested in some type of celebration regarding the Centennial of the laying of the cornerstone at the Municipal Building (City Hall).  A meeting will be scheduled soon and she will keep the board and members apprised of the progress.   The date of June 14 has been tentatively set.   To nominate a name for the SE Connector Bridge, the Streets Department should be contacted.  There was some further discussion about bridge names, including referencing the Native Americans of the area, John Ruan, the WWII Tuskegee Airman that recently died, Bill Bryson, Sec Taylor Bridge, and The Pointe.  No action was taken to submit a name from the DMHS. 

The 501(c)3 designation is in process.  We have a federal identification number.  It can now be applied for online and the cost is less than it had previously been.  We are able to take donations, but they are not deductible.  With the new members today we have over 100 members.  Pat expressed her goal to have 200 or more by next January, and she hopes everyone will help as much as they can to enroll members.  We will continue to distribute flyers wherever possible, and they should especially be distributed and in windows of businesses when there are special events in a neighborhood.  The membership form is on the website: www.neighborhoodlink.com/org/dmhs.

At the September meeting there were problems noticed with the cabin and the city is now making plans to better weatherize the cabin and seal it from the elements.  The site of the cabin is archaeologically significant and should be eligible for the National Register of Historic Sites.  Jack Porter said he believes the land is already designated an historical site.

A logo contest is in the works and will be announced later this year.  Prizes such as gift certificates and items from our business members, along with some payment could be given to the contest winner.  An entry fee could be asked from the artists and that could be the prize money.  We could offer what we can, but part of the prize is being able to state on a resumé that we chose their design. 

The next meeting will be April 27 at the South Side Library.  The topic of study will be the South Side.  The bylaws require only quarterly meetings of the DMHS, but there will be other ‘extra’ meetings, talks and workshops also.  The quarterly meetings will be in January, April, July and October.  If anyone has a topic they would like to present to a group, or would like to have as a meeting topic, please let her know.  These are a way to promote the DMHS.  A workshop to discuss researching a topic will be planned for this summer, after June 14. 

As new business, there was a presentation from Michael Baldus about the North/South Connector project.  This road is planned to go from I-235 north to I-35/80.  As it is now planned there will be some historic houses and buildings demolished to complete the road.   There was a motion made for the president to write a letter from the DMHS to oppose the project.  There was a lengthy discussion about neighborhood preservation, and whether the DMHS wants to take a position on the project at this time.  It is not known if that is permitted within the bounds of a 501(c)3 designation.  On an unofficial vote, about ¾ of the group currently opposes the proposed road.   There was information given to contact the Neighborhood and Natural Recreation Preservation Project at nnrpp.org if you wish to voice your opinion about the project, there is an online petition that can be signed.  The motion to write a letter in opposition failed for lack of a second.

The meeting adjourned at 3:25 p.m. and was followed by the some information about the Spaghetti Works Building, the early Fort Des Moines II and the Court Avenue District. 

Respectfully submitted 

Richard Meiners, Secretary
Des Moines Historical Society

The beginning of the meeting was not taped, we apologize for this.