OHIO LINCOLN HIGHWAY LEAGUE

Minutes for the April 23, 2005 Meeting

The Pour House, Upper Sandusky Ohio

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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)

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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:

  1. Chapter meetings have been and will be continuing on a monthly basis.
  2. Supplied guest speaker at Ontario Library on June 8, 2004, to speak about Lincoln Highway.
  3. Chapter members have loaned LH items to the National Clock Museum (York, PA) for display.
  4. Richard and Mary Lou Taylor (Mansfield) attended the auction at Craig Harmon’s former museum in Galion; various items were purchased for the chapter.
  5. Supplied guest speaker at Mansfield Library on October 14, 2004 to speak about Lincoln Highway.
  6. Chapter joined “United Community Club Schoolhouse,” an old one-room school located on the 1928. Lincoln Highway about three miles east of Jeromesville.
  7. Had joint meeting with Eastern Ohio Chapter in October 2004, featuring program on Titanic.
  8. Supplied four volunteers for coverlet committee, with sale of raffle tickets.
  9. Supplied guest speaker at Wayne County Historical Society on April 16, 2005 to speak about Lincoln Highway.
  10. Bev Looker (Galion) continues to publish a monthly chapter newsletter.
  11. Placed ad in Adario Farmer’s Institute program book (last remaining one in Ohio).
  12. Richard Taylor continues to offer cast medallions and concrete posts.
  13. Volunteered three men to plan for the annual state meeting [named in Pre-Meeting notes above].
  14. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Had joint meeting with Mid-Ohio Chapter in October 2004, featuring program on Titanic.
  4. Visited Bob Lichty’s new business, “Motorcar Portfolios” in downtown Canton in November 2004 as part of monthly meeting.
  5. Hosted annual holiday dinner at Spread Eagle Tavern (Hanoverton) in December 2004.
  6. Toured the Ohio Society of Military History Museum (Massillon) as part of monthly meeting in February 2005.
  7. March 2005 meeting featured a slide show on Lisbon and the Lincoln Highway, presented by a local historical society member.
  8. 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

 

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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/
  4. 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

 

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Charles Brunkhart (Forest) discussed the idea of a Lincoln Highway Garage Sale Day, modeled after a similar event on U.S. Route 127.
  7. 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.
  8. 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:
    1. Mike Buettner                       President
    2. Mike McNaull                       Vice President
    3. Mike Lester                           Treasurer
    4. Tammy Buettner                   Secretary
  1. 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.
  2. 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).