GENERAL MEETING MINUTES
February 4, 2017
Bayland Community Center
The meeting was called to order by President Marjorie Lowe who gave the invocation and led the group in the pledge to the U.S. flag and the Texas flag.
The Presidents Opening Remarks:
* The membership needs to start thinking about nominations for the Board and Officers for the 2017-2018 year. Ginny Douglas will chair the Nominating Committee with Mary Frances Townsend representing the Board on the committee. If a member would like to suggest a person or volunteer themselves, they should contact Ginny.
* Vernon Gillette has resigned as Editor of THE RECORD due to his health. He will be replaced by Jen Sansbury. Jen said several articles have been submitted for the next issue, but more are needed. If a member has an idea for an article, please contact her.
Webmaster Walter Steets discussed with illustrations the following things about the HGF Website: how to log-on, how to renew membership on-line, how to reset a password, how to pay with a credit card, how to pay for the March 18 Special Event, and how to order a box lunch. He then asked people to help him recruit a person for the Website Committee who has a background in computer systems. A person with technology knowledge is greatly needed. Contact Walter if you know of someone.
Recording Secretary Glenda Hayes ask if there were any additions or corrections to the Jan. 7, 2017 Minutes. There were none, so the minutes will be filed as printed.
Corresponding Secretary Lynne Zalesak shared communications from the Texas State Genealogical Society. They are soliciting submissions for presentations for the State Conference which is in Houston in October. The deadline for submissions is March 18.
Second VP/ Membership Chairman Rae Bryant reported that HGF has 126 members for 2017. Twelve of them are new since the first of the year.
Treasurer Sharron Newhouse was absent. President Lowe gave the report to the membership. She also shared that Marj Harris’ classes had brought in some money.
Historian Gay Dowdy reported that HGF had not made any donations recently in memory of a past member.
Director Mary Frances Townsend thanked all the people who helped with the snack table today. She mentioned that help was needed to pass out box lunches at the Sayre Special Event on March 18. Contact Mary Frances to volunteer.
First VP/Program Chairman Alan Leeds shared that the Board was discussing several alternatives for future door prizes and input was needed from the membership. He then introduced the speaker for today’s meeting, Michele Verret Johnson.
Michele Verret Johnson is the Project Manager for the William J. Hill Texas Artisans and Artists Archives which was created by the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens and the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. The archive is a freely- searchable online database that documents the lives, work, and products of Texas artisans and artist through 1900. The database contains census records, city directories, research notes, newspapers, manuscripts, correspondence, and objects. Their website is http://texasartisans.mfah.org. Many questions were asked during the presentation.
After the presentation, Alan and the speaker passed out door prizes. Alan then reminded the group that the next general meeting on March 4 will be about the Galveston Hurricane of 1900. The Sayre Special Event is March 18 and the deadline for registration is soon.
President Marjorie Lowe then adjourned the meeting.
Respectfully submitted by
Glenda Hayes
Recording Secretary.
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