Kaukauna Area Historical Society, Inc.

Board Meeting – August 16, 2006

President Craig Lahm called the meeting of KAHS to order at 6:30 PM on Wednesday August 16, 2006.

Board members in attendance, Julie Coenen, Craig Lahm, Jim Severson, Carol Van Boxtel, Tom McGinnis, Tom Duescher, Jerry Kroll, Rebecca Welhouse, Helen Van Epern and Diane Wittman.   Rev. Kandler was excused.

Motion by Jim, seconded by Carol to approve the minutes of the July Board Meeting.

Secretary/ Treasurer Wittman reported there are currently 49 single paid memberships and 18 paid family memberships.  We currently have $827 in the checkbook.

President Lahm reported that we now have a Seller’s Permit.  So KAHS can now legally make sales and pay the sales tax to the State.

Blacksmith Shop.  David Day had six participants in his blacksmithing workshop and one person who audited the workshop.  He collected $200.  He has donated $50 to the Outagamie Historical Society and $50 to KAHS.  The remaining money he will use to cover expenses. The $50 he gave to KAHS will be used to purchase a membership for David Day and to cover the postal costs incurred by KAHS to notify the KAHS members of the event.

David would like to do a 2 day workshop possibly in the fall.

Oral histories are going very well.  We have forty five people on the list who are interested in doing an oral history.  We want to be sure to send everyone who agrees to do the oral history a thank you letter soon after.  Everyone who does an oral history will get a copy of the interview.

Craig and Carol will work on the thank you letter this week.

We would like to generate an interest in history for young people.  We will work with the school system on this.  The Sun Prairie School Booklet was discussed. 

Tom Duescher reported on the Niagara Historical Society stories on their web site.  He suggested that members look at these stories.

President Lahm reported on an anonymous donation of $1,025 to be donated to preserve the Town of Kaukauna Town Hall.  At the Town Meeting a motion was made and passed to demolish the building.  It has been mentioned that on member of the Town would like to resend his motion.  Helen will keep us informed.

Cemetery Update.  Tom Duescher will teach volunteers how to work on updating the cemetery lists.  Carol and Craig will contact the people who have been interest in working on this project. Kelso, Holy Cross and St. Mary’s have not been cross-checked.

Jerry Kroll suggested we also work on the cemetery near High Cliff. 

It was suggested every six months to one year we update the cemetery records.

Tom Duescher reported on the hits on the KAHS web site. 

These figures are three times higher than his other sites.

Newsletter.  We will no longer send free newsletters to everyone on the list.  Diane will purge the list of anyone who is not a paid member.  We will continue to send a newsletter to the area nursing homes and anyone who did an oral history will receive the next newsletter at no charge. 

Motion by Julie Coenen, seconded by Tom McGinnis to charge $1.00 to anyone requesting a newsletter.  Newsletters are sent to all KAHS members at no charge as part of their membership.

Girl’s Basketball Team.  The Girl’s Basketball Team prepares a yearbook which is distributed at the tournament.  The team has requested a history of girls basketball in Kaukauna.  If we do the research for them they will give us a page ad valued at $100 at no charge.  Jerry Kroll will work on the research.

Dr. Russo will give an oral history at the library on his work at the Sanatorium.  Tom Duescher will video tape the presentation.

Meeting adjourned at 7:45

Diane Wittman

Recording Secretary