THE LOWER MERION HISTORICAL SOCIETY

 

Executive Board Meeting

Thursday, September 18, 2008

The Lower Merion Academy

 

Present: Jerry Francis, Denise Francis, Ted Goldsborough, Joanne Murray, Ross Mitchell, Anna O’Hora, Max Buten, Leon Levine, Jack Hagner, Alison Graham, Andy Amsterdam, and Bobbie McElroy

 

Guests: Phil Eidelson, Steve Selinger

 

Excused: Dennis Montagna, Bruce Reed, and Betty Cannon

 

Jerry Francis called the meeting to order at 7:31pm. Ted Goldsborough led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Minutes of the June 19, 2008 meeting were unanimously approved.

 

President’s Report: Overall, the Society is doing well and the various outreach initiatives are having a positive impact on our standing in the community.

 

Cynwyd Train Station Stabilization Project: The recent issue of “Milestones” has a progress report on the Cynwyd Train Station project. Everyone involved with this plan is pleased with the quality of work being done by JECB Construction. Jim Easter reported that the structural work is moving at a slow and deliberate pace, which is the nature of this type of repair work. Phase I re-construction should be finished in late spring or early summer.

 

Steve Selinger has acquired a copy of the ICC Report, circa 1920, that has been in the Pennsylvania Railroad archives. This master plan documents all stations, east of Pittsburgh, with each station plainly numbered. This resource will be an aid to what building materials will be needed to restore the outside of the station.

 

There was a discussion on whether the Cynwyd Station could/should be “a green building.”  This would involve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) designation, which is a third party certification program by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Two consultant reports were distributed that outlined the work that the Society would have to do to gain such certification.

The reports were from David Krupp of Gravity Partners in Philadelphia; and Sarah Francis, a LEED AP, from Brooklyn, N.Y.  Both reports cited the high cost of pursuing such an initiative.  Also, there is the issue of upholding the certification since we don’t own or control the ongoing maintenance of the site. Andy Amsterdam moved to drop the certification proposal, which was unanimously approved by voice vote.

Treasurer’s Report: Jack Hagner presented the Statement of Financial Position as of August 31, 2008. This report showed a strong Balance Sheet. Between $15,000 to $17,000 still remains to be disbursed from the S. Hamill Horne’s Charitable Trust. The report included a revised budget.

 

Jerry gave an update, from the June meeting, on the status of the various expenditures:

 

1)    The Lower Merion School District will replace all the venetian blinds in the Academy. The cost of these units on the second floor will be absorbed by the School District.

2)    Janitorial service has not started yet, but is expected to begin in September.

3)    Jim Easter will do some testing on the Archive Room, to get some idea on where to go with the de-humidification project.

4)    4 Thru 8 were tabled.

9)    The management of our membership database has not yet been transitioned over to EY Productions. This should occur later in the year.

10) The introduction of the iPhoto database into our website has been sub    contracted. Ted Goldsborough and Max Buten are working on the move. Due to unexpected complications in file compatibility, this project has gone over budget, but will add value to our online presence.

11) The re-installation of The Autocar Historical Marker, on Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore, has not yet taken place. Ted, Jerry and Chris Leswing will continue their search for an alternate location.

12) Ted donated the re-manufactured Green Tree Fire Marker and JECB Construction donated their time and materials involved with the installation of the marker to the outside of the Academy Building.

13) Landscaping on the side of the building seen from the Cynwyd Elementary School, along the terrace in front of the sun porch has been completed. The Society donated $500 for the plants. The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd’s Beautification Committed did the planting.

14) The Philadelphia and Columbia Railway Historic Marker for the Merion Friends Meetinghouse has not been purchased yet. We do have a picture of the design that will be used. This marker will be installed in the fall.

15) Cynwyd Trail Beautification will be done in the spring 2009.

 

It was moved, seconded and unanimously approved to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented, with thanks to Jack Hagner for a job well done.

 

With the assistance of Andy, Max and Steve, the Society has purchased from the Free Library of Philadelphia limited reproduction rights to 28 Hexamer Survey Plates. These surveys deal with industrial properties here in Lower Merion.  Andy will be printing them in color full size and then laminating each one for protection.

These plates will be stored in our flat files and made available to the public for reference.

 

Education: A list of 22 Lectures and Events was presented, including the dates of each, from January 1^st thru September 14, 2008. A total attendance of 1010 persons was recorded.

 

Library: Our website, that was started 7 years ago, has been successful and we continue to upgrade this service. We will be moving our Information Service Provider (ISP) from Advantagecom.net in Walla-Walla, Washington to Hostgator in Houston, Texas.  This change in ISP location will help accommodate the additional files from our iPhoto database.

 

Membership: Denise Francis reported that the 2^nd dues notice went out in June. Names of former members, not paid since 2004-05, will be deleted from our lists. The hope is that publicity about the Cynwyd Station project will bring in more revenue, so more outreach programs can be developed. We already have a great deal of respect and are known to other Historical Societies.

 

Program: Joanne Murray reported that our fall programs are listed in the recent issue of “Milestones.” We expect good attendance at each of these events. Also of note, 2009 will be the 60^th Anniversary of the Society. Let’s put our planning hat on and do something special and exciting in the spring.

 

Public Relations/Publications: Jerry reported that our booklet “Celebrating William Penn’s Vision…” was named a finalist in a national competition among government professionals. 3CMA, the City-County Communications and Marketing Association has selected our booklet as a finalist for their prestigious Savvy Award. Announcement of the winner will be made public in October.

 

 “Main Line Today” magazine will do an article on the Cynwyd Train Station project next spring.

 

It is scheduled that Lower Merion’s Channel 7 will do a taping of Jerry and Chris Leswig about the Train Station project. This one-hour show will feature our Powerpoint slides with voice over of Jerry and Chris.

 

“The Lower Merion Society for the Detection and Prosecution of Horse Thieves and the Recovery of Stolen Horses” will be having their annual meeting and banquet on November 8^th. Ross, Joanne, Steve and Jerry are members of this association and we hope to help re-vitalize this group and make them more visible to the community.

 

Old Business: The S. Hamill Horne Charitable Trust. Ross Mitchell reported that he contacted Joseph Horne (Hamill’s son) and informed him that the society is interested in doing work at the Morris Llewellyn cemetery site. Ross will keep us updated.

 

New Business: “Milestones” has a tribute to the late Bob Swartz, a Past President and a long time member of the Historical Society.  Recently, Mrs. Swartz donated many negatives and 8mm film that were from Bob’s Camera Shop in Ardmore. These items will be inventoried and an assessment made of how best to preserve these important items.

 

The Next Executive Board Meeting will be Thursday, January 22, 2009

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:20pm.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Barbara McElroy, Recording Secretary