Price County Historical Society Annual Meeting
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting Zoom
President Foytek called the 2022 Annual Meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
Board Members Present: Etola Foytek, Peter Dahlie, Lorraine (Laurie) Pilch, Tom Kaiser, Traci Dunbar, John Berg, Sally McFadyen and Len Schmidt
Board Members Not Present: Bonnie Salm, Eric Tollefson and Steven Eitrem
Also Present: Karen Baumgartner, Grace Kielsmeier, Bev Brayton, Therese Trojak, Maureen Trojak and Jo Gibeaut
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
A Moment of Silence was observed in honor of those members departed since our last Annual Meeting: Life Members: Ed Gibeaut, Barbara Selucky and Jan Ocker. Individual Members: Mary Jill Johnson
Introduction of Board of Directors: Foytek – Introduced the Board and thanked them for their many volunteer hours to the Society. Foytek thanked Therese and Maureen Trojak for scheduling hosts for Sundays at the Old Town Hall (OTH). Foytek thanked Carol Forward for her role in the upkeep of the Greenfield School (GFS) and for scheduling hosts for the school. Foytek thanked the Retired Teachers Association who have committed to hosting at the GFS along with caretaking and hosting at the Woodland (Ohrstrom) School at the Price County Fairgrounds during the Price County Antiques Association event and the Price County Fair.
Motion made to approve the Agenda. Baumgartner/Kaiser Carried.
Secretary’s Report: Annual Meeting minutes of November 3, 2021 (included in newsletter and on website). Motion made to approve minutes. Berg/Dunbar Carried.
Treasurers Report: Current Financial Report as of the end of the third quarter, September 30, 2022 (included in newsletter). Income total: $150,443.03; Expense Total: $14,983.45. Cash on hand (checking and savings): $302,110.39. Fundraising for the Louis A. Koenig Research Center will continue for the rest of this year and into 2023. Motion made to accept the Treasurer’s report (subject to audit). Baumgartner/Gibeaut Carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Buildings and Grounds: Kaiser – General Projects Completed: Inspection of all buildings and grounds. Cintas did yearly testing of all fire extinguishers and exit lights in all buildings. All buildings passed inspection. Plunkett's Pest Control maintained quarterly services for rodent control and yearly spraying of all buildings. Ted Fleming has drained water this fall and added antifreeze as needed. Old Town Hall: A couple of windows may need replacing.
Electrical mast was re-secured. Old Office Building: Working with Xcel to eliminate gas line and meter. Greenfield School: Furnace inspected and is in good shape. Exterior east wall was painted. Louis A. Koenig Research Center: Groundbreaking held November 1. Numerous contractor meetings with our Board of Directors and Kaiser as Project Manager with our general contractor Dennis Huotari, Huotari Construction, Inc. The expectation is that the building will be completed in the summer of 2023. Grounds: Flowerbed under the museum sign by the OTH was removed and will be left as grass. Flag pole by OTH was painted. Bricks from recent sale are being stored at GFS and will be installed in the brick plaza in spring.
Newsletter: Berg-Reviewed the editorial and publishing process and invited individuals to contact him regarding stories they may like to submit or newsletter ideas. Beginning in 2023 Berg plans to reformat the newsletter in order to create better organization and a better flow of information throughout the newsletter.
Photographs: Dunbar – Foytek, Dunbar and Tollefson continue to meet every Tuesday to work on photographs and archives. A big project will be packing up the room and moving photographs, documents and shelving to the research center.
Fundraisers/Events: Foytek – The pie social and strawberry shortcake fundraisers were held and both were well attended. Special openings of the museums, with tours were conducted for the Lakeland Genealogical Society and students from the Butternut School District.
Displays: Foytek/McFadyen /Dunbar– The museums hours returned to normal and were opened full weekends in 2022. The First National Bank display was completed and additions were made to the General Store displays. Plans are to eventually change out the display on the stage in 2023.
Membership: Pilch – Currently we are at 265 members. In 2022 we started the year with 246 members. Four members decided not to renew, four members deceased and 27 new members joined the Society. This was a net gain of 19 members.
Website/Facebook: Pilch – Updates were done as needed by Tollefson and Bill Nemec of Minding Your Business. The facebook site continues to be managed by Steven Eitrem. These sites along with other community facebook sites and both the Phillips and Park Falls Chambers of Commerce are used to promote PCHS and their events
Books: Pilch – Books are sold through our website, gift shop at the OTH, Johnson’s Hardware Store, CSA Gallery and Gifts, and the Park Falls and Phillips Chambers. Books republished or published this year were: Thanks to the efforts of Dale Houdek, Chairman of the Town of Emery, Jeanne Kirchmeyer and Violet Dunbar, Members of the Town of Emery Centennial Committee and the entire Town Board of Emery, the copyright to the Emery Centennial 1889-1989 book was transferred to the Price County Historical Society. The book was then reprinted and is being sold at Johnson’s Hardware, OTH gift shop and PCHS online gift shop. Thank you to Kathy Cervenka for her donation of 25 Books from Babi’s Kitchen Collected Recipes & Stories of the Frantisek and Josephine Machovec Family, with proceeds to go to building the research center. Also republished was A Pictorial History of Park Falls,
Fifield and Butternut. Purchased to sell: Hicks’ Landing 40th Anniversary Collection of Fine Recipes Vol 1 Edition II as republished by Connie G. Hicks as a 70th Anniversary Commemorative marking the Anniversary of Hicks’ Landing (all profits from the sale are earmarked for the preservation of history). Finding Dairyland: In Search of Wisconsin’s Vanishing Heritage by Scott Wittman, two books by author Scott Schmidt, Lines from Upstream Volume I and II, and The Art of Fred Smith. The Society is presently working on obtaining the copyright for the Phillips Centennial Book, with plans to republish that along with F.W. Sackett’s A Glimpse at the Early History of the State of Wisconsin Relating to Price County, with an addendum first person account by John E. Herron The Early Days of Phillips.
New Business: Election of Directors for three year terms 01-01-2023-12-31-2025: Foytek – Terms for Berg, Dahlie and Tollefson are expiring. All have agreed to serve another three year term. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the Board that this slate be elected as described above. Foytek called three times for nominations from the floor. Motion made by Schmidt, second by Kaiser to close nominations and to cast a unanimous ballot for the slate of directors as presented by the Board. Motion Carried. In addition 34 proxy ballots were received with the following results: Berg=34 votes; Dahlie=33 votes; Tollefson=34 votes; other=0 votes.
Open Forum: Therese Trojak inquired if we were going to publish any of the other towns’ centennial books. PCHS indicated that they would be open to that if a good copy of the book can be obtained and the copyright transferred to PCHS. Trojak will look at what books she may have and get those to Foytek. Brayton gave updates on the activities of the Jump River Valley Historical Society. Baumgartner gave updates on the activities of the Spirit Historical Society and the Price County Genealogical Society. Foytek gave updates on the Friends of Fred Smith. Berg discussed his networking with the Upper Flambeau Watershed group, the photograph project with Cenex and our membership in the newly formed group Northern Wisconsin Heritage Council, a new group formed to promote and market the history and sites in northern Wisconsin.
Adjournment: President Foytek adjourned the meeting at 9:18 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Lorraine (Laurie) Pilch, Secretary/Treasurer
Member, Board of Directors
Price County Historical Society
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting Zoom
President Foytek called the 2022 Annual Meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
Board Members Present: Etola Foytek, Peter Dahlie, Lorraine (Laurie) Pilch, Tom Kaiser, Traci Dunbar, John Berg, Sally McFadyen and Len Schmidt
Board Members Not Present: Bonnie Salm, Eric Tollefson and Steven Eitrem
Also Present: Karen Baumgartner, Grace Kielsmeier, Bev Brayton, Therese Trojak, Maureen Trojak and Jo Gibeaut
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
A Moment of Silence was observed in honor of those members departed since our last Annual Meeting: Life Members: Ed Gibeaut, Barbara Selucky and Jan Ocker. Individual Members: Mary Jill Johnson
Introduction of Board of Directors: Foytek – Introduced the Board and thanked them for their many volunteer hours to the Society. Foytek thanked Therese and Maureen Trojak for scheduling hosts for Sundays at the Old Town Hall (OTH). Foytek thanked Carol Forward for her role in the upkeep of the Greenfield School (GFS) and for scheduling hosts for the school. Foytek thanked the Retired Teachers Association who have committed to hosting at the GFS along with caretaking and hosting at the Woodland (Ohrstrom) School at the Price County Fairgrounds during the Price County Antiques Association event and the Price County Fair.
Motion made to approve the Agenda. Baumgartner/Kaiser Carried.
Secretary’s Report: Annual Meeting minutes of November 3, 2021 (included in newsletter and on website). Motion made to approve minutes. Berg/Dunbar Carried.
Treasurers Report: Current Financial Report as of the end of the third quarter, September 30, 2022 (included in newsletter). Income total: $150,443.03; Expense Total: $14,983.45. Cash on hand (checking and savings): $302,110.39. Fundraising for the Louis A. Koenig Research Center will continue for the rest of this year and into 2023. Motion made to accept the Treasurer’s report (subject to audit). Baumgartner/Gibeaut Carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Buildings and Grounds: Kaiser – General Projects Completed: Inspection of all buildings and grounds. Cintas did yearly testing of all fire extinguishers and exit lights in all buildings. All buildings passed inspection. Plunkett's Pest Control maintained quarterly services for rodent control and yearly spraying of all buildings. Ted Fleming has drained water this fall and added antifreeze as needed. Old Town Hall: A couple of windows may need replacing.
Electrical mast was re-secured. Old Office Building: Working with Xcel to eliminate gas line and meter. Greenfield School: Furnace inspected and is in good shape. Exterior east wall was painted. Louis A. Koenig Research Center: Groundbreaking held November 1. Numerous contractor meetings with our Board of Directors and Kaiser as Project Manager with our general contractor Dennis Huotari, Huotari Construction, Inc. The expectation is that the building will be completed in the summer of 2023. Grounds: Flowerbed under the museum sign by the OTH was removed and will be left as grass. Flag pole by OTH was painted. Bricks from recent sale are being stored at GFS and will be installed in the brick plaza in spring.
Newsletter: Berg-Reviewed the editorial and publishing process and invited individuals to contact him regarding stories they may like to submit or newsletter ideas. Beginning in 2023 Berg plans to reformat the newsletter in order to create better organization and a better flow of information throughout the newsletter.
Photographs: Dunbar – Foytek, Dunbar and Tollefson continue to meet every Tuesday to work on photographs and archives. A big project will be packing up the room and moving photographs, documents and shelving to the research center.
Fundraisers/Events: Foytek – The pie social and strawberry shortcake fundraisers were held and both were well attended. Special openings of the museums, with tours were conducted for the Lakeland Genealogical Society and students from the Butternut School District.
Displays: Foytek/McFadyen /Dunbar– The museums hours returned to normal and were opened full weekends in 2022. The First National Bank display was completed and additions were made to the General Store displays. Plans are to eventually change out the display on the stage in 2023.
Membership: Pilch – Currently we are at 265 members. In 2022 we started the year with 246 members. Four members decided not to renew, four members deceased and 27 new members joined the Society. This was a net gain of 19 members.
Website/Facebook: Pilch – Updates were done as needed by Tollefson and Bill Nemec of Minding Your Business. The facebook site continues to be managed by Steven Eitrem. These sites along with other community facebook sites and both the Phillips and Park Falls Chambers of Commerce are used to promote PCHS and their events
Books: Pilch – Books are sold through our website, gift shop at the OTH, Johnson’s Hardware Store, CSA Gallery and Gifts, and the Park Falls and Phillips Chambers. Books republished or published this year were: Thanks to the efforts of Dale Houdek, Chairman of the Town of Emery, Jeanne Kirchmeyer and Violet Dunbar, Members of the Town of Emery Centennial Committee and the entire Town Board of Emery, the copyright to the Emery Centennial 1889-1989 book was transferred to the Price County Historical Society. The book was then reprinted and is being sold at Johnson’s Hardware, OTH gift shop and PCHS online gift shop. Thank you to Kathy Cervenka for her donation of 25 Books from Babi’s Kitchen Collected Recipes & Stories of the Frantisek and Josephine Machovec Family, with proceeds to go to building the research center. Also republished was A Pictorial History of Park Falls,
Fifield and Butternut. Purchased to sell: Hicks’ Landing 40th Anniversary Collection of Fine Recipes Vol 1 Edition II as republished by Connie G. Hicks as a 70th Anniversary Commemorative marking the Anniversary of Hicks’ Landing (all profits from the sale are earmarked for the preservation of history). Finding Dairyland: In Search of Wisconsin’s Vanishing Heritage by Scott Wittman, two books by author Scott Schmidt, Lines from Upstream Volume I and II, and The Art of Fred Smith. The Society is presently working on obtaining the copyright for the Phillips Centennial Book, with plans to republish that along with F.W. Sackett’s A Glimpse at the Early History of the State of Wisconsin Relating to Price County, with an addendum first person account by John E. Herron The Early Days of Phillips.
New Business: Election of Directors for three year terms 01-01-2023-12-31-2025: Foytek – Terms for Berg, Dahlie and Tollefson are expiring. All have agreed to serve another three year term. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the Board that this slate be elected as described above. Foytek called three times for nominations from the floor. Motion made by Schmidt, second by Kaiser to close nominations and to cast a unanimous ballot for the slate of directors as presented by the Board. Motion Carried. In addition 34 proxy ballots were received with the following results: Berg=34 votes; Dahlie=33 votes; Tollefson=34 votes; other=0 votes.
Open Forum: Therese Trojak inquired if we were going to publish any of the other towns’ centennial books. PCHS indicated that they would be open to that if a good copy of the book can be obtained and the copyright transferred to PCHS. Trojak will look at what books she may have and get those to Foytek. Brayton gave updates on the activities of the Jump River Valley Historical Society. Baumgartner gave updates on the activities of the Spirit Historical Society and the Price County Genealogical Society. Foytek gave updates on the Friends of Fred Smith. Berg discussed his networking with the Upper Flambeau Watershed group, the photograph project with Cenex and our membership in the newly formed group Northern Wisconsin Heritage Council, a new group formed to promote and market the history and sites in northern Wisconsin.
Adjournment: President Foytek adjourned the meeting at 9:18 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Lorraine (Laurie) Pilch, Secretary/Treasurer
Member, Board of Directors
Price County Historical Society