Board of Assistants Meeting

Society of Mayflower Descendants in the State of Ohio

16 May 2009

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Dr. Don Nichols (WR);Ted Dunbar(WR); Janice Kleinline(COL); Marjorie (Dee) Briggs (CIN); Ann Gulbransen(WR); Don Williams (WR); Mary Linn White (COL); Mary Dellinger(MAR); Evelyn Worstell (MAR); Nancy Finley(CLE); Dr. Elizabeth Finley-Belgrad-Northcott (CLE); Jon Miller(CLE); Charles Mays(COL); Ric Harner (TOL); Paula Niederhauser(TOL); Susan Fisher(TOL)

ABSENT WITH REGRETS: Dr. Joan Lehr; Patti Albaugh; Bill Arnebeck; Carolyn Cheverine; Pat Huprich; Jean Muetzel; Teri Okrutny.

Gov. Nichols called the meeting to order at 11:06 a.m. at the Holiday Inn French Quarter near Perrysburg, Toledo, Ohio. Don Williams gave the invocation, and Captain Jon Miller led the Pledge of Allegiance. Dr. Don read the Mayflower Compact. Motion to approve the minutes as transmitted by Jan and second by Paula. Approved.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Checking balance $ 894.14 Investments $157,404.61 Grand total $158,298.75

In Bill’s absence, Paula moved to file this report; Evelyn seconded. Approved. For the October meeting, Bill is asked to identify the sources of the General Use Account funds.

HISTORIAN’S REPORT: Ann reported 32 initial and supplemental applications since the last Board meeting. Since May, 2008, 99 applications have been processed. Motion by Nancy to pay all of the costs Ann engenders in her work as Historian; second by Charlie. Passed. The Ohio Genealogical Society is willing to accept our old files when their new building is complete. Ann hopes to rent exhibit space at future OGS annual meetings to distribute information about our Society. She is recruiting other Mayflower and OGS members to help with this work. The conversion rate of junior members to full membership is very low. Ann plans to initiate a project to contact the sponsors of junior members when they turn 18 and then annually until they turn 25 to ask the sponsors to encourage completion of the application process. Dr. Don expressed special appreciation to Ann for this last project.

ASSISTANT HISTORIAN: Charles presented 18 initial preliminary and 7supplemental applications for approval. Nancy moved to accept; Ric seconded. Approved. CIN KURTZ, Pamela J. (T. Rogers); RICHARDSON, Melody Sawyer (W. Brewster); VonBARGEN, Byron Fritz (I. Allerton); VonBARGEN, Charles Edward (I. Allerton); VonBARGEN, James Kent (I. Allerton); VonBARGEN-PARKER, Susan Lynn (I. Allerton); VonBARGEN-WHITE, Anne Ashley (I. Allerton); SUPPLEMENTAL: DOMBROWSKI, Nancy Ellen (R. Warren);

CLE GORMAN, Patrick Michael (W. Bradford); HARRIS, Mary Ellen (J. Howland); HELTON, Mary F. (W. Brewster); PREVITS, Helen N. (W. Brewster) COL BERRIDGE, Leslie Anne (J. Howland); HALLOWS, Kristen M. (W. Brewster); MAYES, Deborah Ann (R. Warren); PREVITS, JR., Fredrick S. (W. Brewster); SUPPLEMENTAL: EBERT, Janet Winifred (I. Allerton); EVANS, Kathie C. (E. Fuller); HAMMOND, Scott (Brewster); MACMANN (Macmann), Gary (J. Alden); RACHFAL, Carol L. (J. Tilley) MAR CONKEY, Wilbur (J. Alden) TOL STICKLES, Byron L. (F. Cooke) WR HAGGIS, William Campbell (W. Bradford); SUPPLEMENTAL: Cape, Norma Jean (W. Bradford)

JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP: Nancy reported 19 new Junior Members. Ann moved to accept; second by Paula. Accepted.

REPORTS OF STATE OFFICERS:

Governor: Dr. Don’s report will be his Annual Message in the next issue of the Buckeye Mayflower. He wrote of the courage and faith in God of our ancestors and that we should be thankful and proud of them.

Deputy Gov.; Past Gov,; Captain; Counsellor: No reports.

Corresponding Secretary: Jan reminded Lt. Govs. to let her know of deaths within the Colonies. All new members are sent announcement cards, a list of their State and Colony officers, a copy of the current Buckeye Mayflower, and a biography of their ancestor. Nancy sends the appropriate bio page to each new Junior Member. Biographies of all Pilgrims were distributed to Board members who wished to have the packet. Jan moved $100 be sent to the Vrouwekerk Committee for a bronze plaque to honor our Huguenot and Pilgrim ancestors in Leiden. Any excess monies collected by GSMD will be used for maintenance of the Forefathers Monument in Plymouth. Second by Don W. Passed. Bill is to send this check. State Officer medals were ordered for the Historian, Counsellor, and Elder; a top bar and ribbon only were ordered for the Corresponding Secretary. Former Gov. Joan K. Lehr has sold her house in Columbus and now lives with her daughter Catherine Ramos at 6228 Washington Ave., St. Louis, MO 63130-4846. A sale table of Society items is available today. The Columbus Colony has for sale for $10 signed copies of the book Thanksgiving by Glenn Cheney.

Surgeon: Dr. F.-B.-Northcott will present her report to the General Meeting today. She is glad to take health questions by email also. elizabethfinleybelgrad@yahoo.com

Elder: This position is open. Jan is to ask for a volunteer from the Columbus Colony. (A week after the meeting, but noted for your convenience: The new Elder is Carol L. Rachfal. Dr. Don has sent an email with contact information.)

REPORTS OF COLONIES: Cincinnati: Dee reported that at Compact Day last November the program was “Genetics and Genealogy”. Colony bylaws were adopted and officers were elected. A survey of members and prospective members showed most members joined simply to establish the validity of their lineage and are not interested in attending meetings. Prospective members expressed greater interest in active membership, and assistance in completing their applications is being provided upon request. Planning for the next meeting is in progress.

Cleveland: Jon reported that Western Reserve Colony and the Cleveland Colony will have a joint summer picnic at 12:00 noon on Sat., 20 June, in the Greentown Community Park, 9845 Cashner Street NW in Greentown. Cleveland’s Compact Day dinner will be at 12:00 noon on 14 November at the Cleveland Skating Club, 2500 Kemper Road, Shaker Heights. The speaker will be Peggy Baker, director of the Pilgrim Hall Museum at Plymouth, Massachusetts. The Spring Assembly will be on 24 April 2010. A member of the Colony has requested that news, at least notice of deaths, be made known quickly to members. Discussion as to how to do this efficiently followed. It was noted that as organizations get larger, it is difficult to get information out quickly. Diana Leslie is asked to put on the website a note asking members to give their email addresses if they desire quick delivery of reports and news of deaths within their own Colony.

Columbus: A report from Sandra noted that the 4 April meeting program was “Sacajawea” by Jan Augenstein. Amanda Seeley was the winner of the Colony scholarship this year. Compact Day on 7 November will be at Kensington Place in Bexley. Librarian Becky Hill from the Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont will speak on “President Rutherford B. Hayes--His Lineage and Library”.

Marietta: Evelyn reported there are five new members, but they are not interested in attending meetings.

Toledo: Ric reported all speakers at the three yearly meetings deal with the Pilgrims or the American Colonial period. Officer changes happened unexpectedly this year; those names were reported in the March BOA minutes. The 18 July meeting will begin at 11:30 at the Holiday Inn French Quarter in Perrysburg (same place as the State Meeting today). Dr. Christine Myers of Franklin University will speak on “Colonial Women”. The Compact Dinner will be on 14 November at the Women’s Federation Building in Fremont.

Western Reserve: A report by Pat Huprich noted 192 members in the Colony. New officers include Donald Williams as representative to the State Board of Assistants, Frank Bachman as Colony Treasurer, and Kathleen Lambacher as Elder. The November 2008 Compact Day speaker was Ann Lainhart, immediate-past GSMD Historian General. The four WRC past Lt. Govs. were guests of honor. The adult membership drive will end on 31 Oct. 2009. The Colony initiated a “Coming to America” Project. These educational packets are purchased by the Colony. Sponsors of Junior Member/s may purchase the kit from the Colony at one half the initial cost. Then the packets are presented to elementary schools by the sponsors in the name of the Junior Member/s. The joint picnic/meeting with the Cleveland Colony was explained in the Cleveland Colony report. Peg Baker, Museum Director of Pilgrim Hall, will be the speaker at the 15 November Compact Day Celebration. The Colony hopes to recognize the 200^th member that day.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES:

Scholarship: The essay topic this year was “The Influence of the Mayflower Pilgrims on America”. Susan announced these winners, all from the Toledo Colony: $1,000 Anthony Althauser; $1,000 Elizabeth Cramer; $750 Samuel Gothke. Congratulations to all.

Nominating: No report.

By-Laws: This committee now consists of Donald Williams(Chair), Ann Gulbransen, Carolyn Cheverine, Charles Mays, and Jean Muetzel. Don reported that proposed changes were sent to all members with ballots and return envelopes. Ballots will be counted in the State Meeting today. A number of issues to simplify procedures will be addressed later in the year.

COMMUNICATIONS: None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. Insignia See Corresponding Secretary’s report.

2. Patti Albaugh has asked if the BOA members would set an example and receive the newsletter via email. BOA members who do NOT want the newsletter via email should let Patti know. mayflowerlady@pattialbaugh.com

3. The 3,000 member of the Ohio Society will be recognized at the General Meeting later this morning.

4. Ric asked that the suggestion to subscribe to the Mayflower Quarterly for libraries be removed from the agenda.

5. Evelyn moved $500 be donated to the Ohio Genealogical Society Library Building Fund. Second by Jan. Passed. Bill is to contact Ann for mailing information for the check.

6. Please see New Business #3.

7. A consignment table of Mayflower Society items is being presented on a trial basis today and was available last evening.

8. Bill McEwan, Past Treasurer, continues to care for and store the model of the Mayflower.

New Business: 1. The business of the Vrouwekerk was explained in the Corresponding Secretary’s report.

2. Support by email or in a monetary way to save and refurbish the Monument to the Forefathers will be appreciated.

3. Don W. spoke about existing Life Membership Funds and the need to increase those funds. The existing fund will be depleted in approximately 10 years. A packet of charts and tables of support was distributed and discussion ensued. BOA members who wish this packet may contact Don Williams. dewline@sssnet.com Evelyn asked if the Finance Committee needs to be re-activated.

Dr. Don gave the benediction and adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan K. (Wunderley) Fisher

Recording Secretary