April 1, 2014

The Spencer County Historical Society met on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 in the Rockport Library Genealogy Room.

The meeting was called to order by the president at 6:30 PM with seven members present.

The minutes from the last meeting were read and approved.

The treasurer’s report was given. 

The treasurer asked about an invoice from “Hoosier Heritage Magazine”.  She asked if the Society wanted to renew the subscription.  Since the Genealogy Room was currently receiving the magazine, the item was tabled.

It was mentioned that Indiana History is having a meeting at the Newburgh Museum on Thursday, April 10, 2014 from 10:30 to 11:30 AM.  They will be talking about celebrations with an eye toward Indiana’s Bicentennial in 2016.

Lincoln Amphitheatre was asking for a donation.  It was decided that the treasury was too low at this time to send a donation.

The Society was informed the Indiana Genealogy and Local History Fair would be held at the Indiana State Library on October 25, 2014.

There was a short discussion about “Hoosier History Live” which is broadcast on Saturday at noon from Indianapolis.  A member has been on the show.

A member mentioned Facebook has several good sites concerning the Spencer County area.  They are Grandview, Indiana and Spencer County Ancestors.  He also mentioned that a group meets at the Rustic in Rockport at 8:00 AM every Thursday to discuss history of Spencer County.

Since the cost of newsletters has increased, the Society purged the list of complimentary newsletters that will be sent out.  Not all Societies reciprocate by sending a newsletter to us.

After the discussion of dues was tabled at the last meeting, the Society continued the discussion.  A motion was made and seconded to raise annual dues to $20.00 per member.  The motion carried. 

The by-laws state, amendments will be permitted by a simple majority vote of the membership and voting at the regular meetings of the Society.  Amendments will be voted on at three (3) successive meetings, and must be approved by a majority of those present and voting at two (2) such meetings.

Ideas for the upcoming Bicentennials were discussed.  Indiana’s Bicentennial will be in 2016.  Spencer County’s Bicentennial will be in 2018.  A member suggested having a photo contest of historical sites in Spencer County for 2016.  Another member also suggested having the photo contest for 2016 and then using the photos in a calendar for 2018.  The calendar would be made and sold in 2017 to be ready for 2018. 

A member had a CD with cemetery records that have been updated to 2010.  These are the cemeteries that are located in Hammond Township.

After a discussion, a motion was made and seconded to have Colonel James S. Wright as Commemorative Historian of the Year.  The motion carried.

Since the Historian of the Year Banquet will be held at noon instead of 6:00 PM, there will be a time factor in getting the building set up.  The president is going to check and see about the possibility of decorating the Friday evening before the banquet.

A motion was made and seconded to have Dennis Hutchison, a Civil War re-enactor, as speaker at the banquet.  The motion carried.

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 8:07 PM.

The meeting was called back to order at 8:08 PM to conduct further business.

A motion was made and seconded to amend the by-laws and raise the yearly dues to $20.00 per member.  The motion carried.

Since this amendment was voted on a two meetings, the by-laws will be changed to show that the annual dues are now $20.00 per member

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 8:09 PM.

There will be no meeting in May.  The next meeting will be June 3, 2014 at 6:30 PM in the Genealogy Room.