The June 4 meeting of the Greenwood County Historical Society board was called to order by 1st Vice-President Gib Rhodes.
Members present were: John Bills, Dusty Booth, Kevin Hough, Taylor Hunt, Dana Mills, Kent Olson, Rhodes, Rise Russin, Stan Skaer, Jan Stephens, secretary Sheryl Moody and Museum Director Robin Himes.
The minutes of the April 2 board meeting were read. There was a correction on the date of the June meeting – from the 2nd to the 4th. Minutes were approved as corrected.
During the Treasurer’s report, Olson shared that there were four CD payments in March. These amounted to $5,445.93. No action was taken on the treasurer’s report.
Visitors reported were as follows: 18 in April from Kansas, California, Colorado, Florida and Wyoming; 13 in May from Kansas, Colorado, Illinois and Holland and 22 visitors signed the register on Eureka Days.
In committee reports, Mills and Russin met to go over scholarship applications. There were seven total applications, two from Madison and five from Eureka. The scholarship was awarded to Lyndsey Escareno from Eureka.
There were no communications and no bills were presented.
Old business included the following items:
•The signage has been placed on the farm equipment.
•The new stencil has been put on the Double Dude bulldozer blade.
•There was further discussion on the Sunflower Summer Program and whether anyone on Eureka Days had signed in with it. Himes explained what workers in the museum would have to do when visitors came in with this app.
Himes, Moody and Hunt all did the online training for this on March 15.
•Hunt said that he had updated all of the QR codes requested and is willing to do more when he is asked and has the information needed.
•Bills reported on the presentation at the Hamilton Alumni meeting. There were 60 people there. They got some new information on schools and information on the Burlington Trail Road.
•During the update on the proposed addition of the school building, it was shared that Mike Pitko is still getting estimates on the cost of moving the school and for completion of needed repairs.
The following was discussed in new business:
•Himes shared about a phone call from a concerned citizen about children playing on the equipment on the west lot. Hough asked about liability insurance.
•Mills volunteered to bring some students and clean out the leaves in the horse drawn farm equipment display.
•The newsletter has been completed. It was mailed and emailed out to members on May 29.
•Hunt talked about updating the website. GCHS has outgrown its current website space. Hunt is currently working on a new website for the Historical Society that will accommodate future endeavors.
•Olson will be doing a 50-minute presentation for Symphony in the Flint Hills. They have asked for history going back to 10,000 BC. He will talk about Indian settlements and relocations; the first documented white explorers and then up to the 1850s with the Norwegian immigrants coming into Greenwood County.
•Olson also gave an update on the digitalization grant. This has been delayed until March of 2025. Hunt spoke up and said GCHS would not be waiting on the grant. This can be done as a self-managed project.
•Olson was asked about speakers from the Humanities Council. He said GCHS just needs to pick a date and he would see what speakers were available for that time. Stephens moved to have a speaker from the Humanities Council come on Sept. 30 (the 5th Monday). Mills seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Hough moved to adjourn the meeting. Mills seconded the motion.
The next Historical Society meeting will be August 6.
