OHIO LINCOLN HIGHWAY
LEAGUE
Minutes for the April 23, 2005 Meeting
The Pour House, Upper Sandusky Ohio
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-meeting
Ø
Registration and Fellowship began at 10:00 a.m.
Ø
At about 10:40 a.m., Howard Donbar
(Mansfield) began the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and a recitation of
the Statement of Purpose of the Lincoln Highway Association. The planning
committee for this meeting included co-chairmen Howard Donbar, Mike Hocker
(Galion), and Charlie Looker (Galion). The business portion of the meeting was
then turned over to Mike Buettner (Lima), President of the Ohio Lincoln Highway
League.
I. Call To Order
The meeting was called to
order by the president at 10:49 a.m. as a quorum (Article VII B) was met with at
least ten members and at least two officers present. OLHL Vice President Mike
McNaull (Ashland) was not able to attend this year’s meeting, but all other
officers were present.
II. Officer and Director Reports
A.
Treasurer's Report, as prepared by Mike Lester (Bucyrus):
Copies of the treasurer’s report were
distributed to those in attendance, with critical numbers as follows:
Checking account –01/01/04 $3,872.98
Checking account --12/31/04 $4,296.81
2004 gain $ 423.83
Checking account –01/01/05 $4,296.81
Checking account --04/08/05 $4,235.26
2005 to date loss $ 61.55
B. Secretary’s Report, as
prepared by Jim Ross (North Canton).
Copies of the minutes from the 2004 meeting (Van Wert) were distributed to those
in attendance. The minutes had been prepared by then-outgoing secretary Jim
Ross and submitted to the president shortly after that meeting. On behalf of
Jim, who was absent, the president sought a motion to accept said minutes as
prepared. Such a motion was made by Rosemary Rubin (Canton), seconded by Howard
Donbar (Mansfield), and approved.
C. State Director Report,
by Bob Lichty (Canton)
- At the close of this
year’s national convention, Bob Lichty will begin his term as president of the
Lincoln Highway Association. Because Bob has reached his term limits as State
Director for Ohio, it was announced that Marie Malernee (Canton) will be
nominated as our new director.
- News regarding the
National Park Service Study on the Lincoln Highway has been relatively quiet,
but the little bit of news that has been heard has proved controversial. This
matter is expected to be a key subject at the national conference.
- The national conference
will be in Ely, Nevada from June 7-11, 2005. Those driving west to the event
may join an entourage of vehicles that will be traveling together and lodging
overnight at several of the same motels that served as hosts for the 2003
Cross-Country Tour. Rosemary Rubin discussed the tour and prepared an
itinerary for same. The itinerary will also be mailed out with the next state
newsletter.
III. Chapter Reports
A. In the absence of
Mid-Ohio Chapter President Mike McNaull, chapter representative Tom Lockard
(Gambier) reported activities and news from that chapter, including the
following:
- Chapter meetings have
been and will be continuing on a monthly basis.
- Supplied guest speaker
at Ontario Library on June 8, 2004, to speak about Lincoln Highway.
- Chapter members have
loaned LH items to the National Clock Museum (York, PA) for display.
- Richard and Mary Lou
Taylor (Mansfield) attended the auction at Craig Harmon’s former museum in
Galion; various items were purchased for the chapter.
- Supplied guest speaker
at Mansfield Library on October 14, 2004 to speak about Lincoln Highway.
- Chapter joined “United
Community Club Schoolhouse,” an old one-room school located on the 1928.
Lincoln Highway about three miles east of Jeromesville.
- Had joint meeting with
Eastern Ohio Chapter in October 2004, featuring program on Titanic.
- Supplied four volunteers
for coverlet committee, with sale of raffle tickets.
- Supplied guest speaker
at Wayne County Historical Society on April 16, 2005 to speak about Lincoln
Highway.
- Bev Looker (Galion)
continues to publish a monthly chapter newsletter.
- Placed ad in Adario
Farmer’s Institute program book (last remaining one in Ohio).
- Richard Taylor continues
to offer cast medallions and concrete posts.
- Volunteered three men to
plan for the annual state meeting [named in Pre-Meeting notes above].
- Discussed plans to
repair the Hopley Monument in Bucyrus.
B. Eastern Ohio Chapter
President Marie Malernee (Canton) reported activities and news from that
chapter, including the following:
- On July 18, 2004 an
information booth about the Lincoln Highway was displayed at the “Summertime
On Historic Fourth Street Festival” in Massillon. The street is adjacent to
the Lincoln Highway.
- At the September chapter
meeting, a report about pole painting was given by a local Eagle Scout. The
scout had also painted and erected directional signs for Baywood and Cindell
Streets.
- Had joint meeting with
Mid-Ohio Chapter in October 2004, featuring program on Titanic.
- Visited Bob Lichty’s new
business, “Motorcar Portfolios” in downtown Canton in November 2004 as part of
monthly meeting.
- Hosted annual holiday
dinner at Spread Eagle Tavern (Hanoverton) in December 2004.
- Toured the Ohio Society
of Military History Museum (Massillon) as part of monthly meeting in February
2005.
- March 2005 meeting
featured a slide show on Lisbon and the Lincoln Highway, presented by a local
historical society member.
- Group visited the new
Lincoln Highway Station on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s Canton
Connection as part of monthly meeting in April 2005.
C. Western Ohio Chapter
1. Efforts are still on hold regarding the
formation of a Western Ohio Chapter. Larry Webb and Mike Buettner both continue
to be busy with various LHA/OLHL/OLHHC endeavors. Larry is especially involved
with Heritage Corridor commitments. Mike presented his slide program to five
various historical and service groups in 2004. This was the most programs that
Mike has ever given in any one year. Also see Item 2 under New Business below
for an item relating to Western Ohio.
2. Several members from two of the western
counties suggested the scheduling of informal meetings to help the newsletter
editor stamp and stuff envelopes for regular mailings of Buckeye Ramblings.
IV. Old Business
- Regarding the Lincoln
Highway Scenic Byway, discussion was made regarding the OLHL’s purchase of
additional signs. This would increase the density of signage for that newly
designated state byway. The state is responsible only for marking state
highways, and the counties and townships may be limited regarding the number
of signs that they choose to post.
- Regarding the Ohio
Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor, Mike Hocker gave a report on the
groundbreaking year experienced by that group in 2004, especially highlighting
the successful meeting in Galion in September. Over one dozen OLHL members
attended that particular event.
- Regarding U.S. Route 30
improvements, Mike Buettner gave his annual brief update, and encouraged
members to visit the fine web site maintained by the Ohio Department of
Transportation for future news and construction schedules. The site is at
http://dot.state.oh.us/us30/
- Bob Lichty and Rosemary
Rubin reviewed the June 2004 National Conference in Chester, West Virginia,
which was jointly hosted by the Eastern Ohio Chapter and Pennsylvania members.
V. New Business
- Mike Buettner reported
that there are 166 Lincoln Highway Association members in Ohio, and that we
are now second nationally to Iowa, which has 181. Mike challenged the group
to increase the membership so that by the 2007 annual state meeting, we will
have become first nationally.
- Mike Buettner discussed
the possible loss of the Lincoln Highway Bridge over Upper Prairie Creek in
Van Wert County, which has LH signs in the parapet walls. Along with Larry
Webb (Van Wert), Mike is working with county and state officials for
alternatives to replacing the bridge.
- Mike Hocker discussed
the idea of painting barns with large Lincoln Highway signs on the sides and
passed around a computer generated sample image that proved visually
appealing.
- Joe Everly (Leesville)
displayed a painting of his J&M Trading Post (on the Lincoln Highway) that was
included in a book which celebrated the Ohio Bicentennial (2003). Only one
painting was made for each county, and Joe’s landmark building was chosen to
represent Crawford County.
- OLHL will be subsidizing
Marie Malernee’s trip to the national conference, where she is expected to be
named as our new state director. It was agreed that $300 was a fair amount
for this subsidy. This came as a result of a motion by Rosemary Rubin
(Canton), seconded by Esther Queneau (Pittsburgh, PA), and passed. It is
likely that this funding can be continued in future years.
- Charles Brunkhart
(Forest) discussed the idea of a Lincoln Highway Garage Sale Day, modeled
after a similar event on U.S. Route 127.
- Discussion was made
regarding Brian Butko’s upcoming book tour, which will include a stop at
Mansfield. Brian will be promoting his newest book Greetings from the
Lincoln Highway. It is expected that members of the Mid-Ohio Chapter will
be setting up display tables that will include membership brochures, post card
collections, and other Lincoln Highway items of interest.
- All current officers
were re-elected for the upcoming year. This came as a result of a motion by
Rosemary Rubin, seconded by Joe Everly, and passed. Officers through our next
meeting in April 2006 are as follows:
- Mike Buettner
President
- Mike McNaull
Vice President
- Mike Lester
Treasurer
- Tammy Buettner
Secretary
- It was announced that
Mike Buettner will continue his appointment as newsletter editor, and that Jim
Ross will continue his appointment as webmaster, both through April 2006.
These appointments were made by the executive committee.
- It was agreed that the
next annual meeting of the Ohio Lincoln Highway League will be hosted by the
Eastern Ohio chapter at a date and time to be announced. The chapter will
have the choice of either Saturday, April 22, 2006, or Saturday, April 29,
2006, as the date for this meeting.
VI. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at
12:11 p.m. It was reported that 55 members and guests were in attendance for
this year’s events. This was the largest attendance for a state meeting in many
years, and it came despite a fluke of a weather event for late April—cold and
wet snow. Among those in attendance was local artist Dianna Swartz, who was on
hand to sign items featuring her folk art work.
Post-meeting
Ø
Mike Hocker
served as master of ceremonies for a Lincoln Highway trivia game, which
featured the distribution of numerous generous gifts and door prizes donated by
area businesses. Howard Donbar and Charlie Looker served as capable assistants,
despite pleas instigated by Jim Cassler (Canton) to get Vanna White to take over
their prize-presenting tasks. The group then had the option of visiting up to
three local attractions: the Wyandot County Courthouse, the Wyandot County
Historical Museum, and the Wyandott [sic] Mission Church. Most folks were
heading for home by 3:30 p.m.
Prepared by President Mike Buettner
from the notes of Secretary Tammy Buettner
Download a hard copy (zip file).