Sheldon Historical Society
Board of Directors
January 21 2025
DRAFT Minutes
The meeting convened at 6:30 with Mr Valenta, Mr Derry, Mr Crane (secty) Ms Churchill (treas), Ms Derry present and Mr McFeeters, Mr Smith, Mr Norris, and Ms Mercure attending via Zoom. Ms Crane, Mr Garrow, and Mr Kaseoru were absent.
Mr McFeeters took the chair, inviting amendments or additions to the agenda. Minutes of the November meeting were presented for consideration. With no changes offered, Mr Valenta/MrSmith 2nd moved acceptance and the motion passed unanimously.
Ms Churchill presented the treasurer’s report, incorporated here by reference. Mr Smith noted PowerShift, the internet service provider, has suspended service due to nonpayment. Ms Churchill has paid all bills, and will explore the apparent confusion. Ms Churchill noted income of $1,715 from the membership Annual Appeal, attributable to the general fund, $100 to the Mailbox memorial program, and $500 designated for window repair or replacement. Mr Crane/Mr Derry 2nd moved to accept the report, and it was accepted unanimously.
Calling for Committee reports, Mr McFeeters opened the discussion by noting vacancies in board and committee strength. It was noted that terms of four board members expire following our Annual Meeting (Mr Crane, McFeeters, Smith and Garrow). The intentions of those members must be clarified. The importance of identifying new board and committee members was stressed, and several names were advanced. Members proposed for the board were Tom Oliver( Bob Norris to follow up), Roger Bennett (Keri is to follow up), and Martha Gagne (Bob Norris to follow up.) Each prospective candidate is to be approached to ascertain interest, to insure a slate is complete for Annual Meeting. Committee membership is not subject to Annual Meeting approval, but weakness in committee strength is an immediate concern. Chairs are responsible for populating their respective committees.
Mr Smith is tasked with preparing a letter to disseminate to the membership inviting more active participation. A similar message was sent to members in November as the concluding paragraph of the Annual Appeal. A draft is to be circulated for approval by the board before it shall be sent.
The House committee, chaired by Ms Derry, will be responsible for staffing the building during open hours: she will work with Ms Masson and others (Fern agreed to help) to provide effective coverage.
The event/program committee, lately chaired by Mr Garrow, had no report on activites for the approaching season. Ms Mercure (agreeing to chair) will work with Ms Derry, Mr Crane, and Mr McFeeters on a calendar of programs for this year. Mr Crane observed that the program for Annual Meeting is critical to stimulate members’ interest in attending. No date for Annual Meeting has been set: the third week of June is suggested.
Mr Crane reported for the Building Advisory Committee, which met recently to define the scope of building activities for this year. A few elements of the Bruhn grant remain to be completed. Subject to audit, the total Bruhn expenses appear to be $46,853.18. Final reimbursement for project expenditures is pending review by the Preservation Trust’s grant administrator. The second floor rehabilitation, (the ARPA project) is the focus of the committee’s attention this year, with the upstairs room nearing completion. Additional tasks defined by the Town’s ARPA support include work in the Town Office space and replacement of the west side cement steps. Neither of these latter projects will interfere with normal museum activities during the season. The committee reports $20,103.87 has been committed or expended on the project to date. The building committee continues to execute its responsibility for completing the upstairs projects.
Mr Crane met with NRPC consultant Marlena Valenta concerning energy efficient enhancements to the building. She is researching additional sources for heat pump vendors and funding. An earlier proposal to install a heat exchanger is on hold, awaiting that information. Mr Crane/Mr Valenta 2nd moved the board approve the 2025 building project outlined by the BAC; the motion was approved unanimously.
Mr Smith reported for the membership committeethat 119 members are currently active. The member Annual Appeal was conducted between November 25 and December 31, yielding 26 responses and $1,715. A further $500 arrived coincidental to the appeal, but apparently unrelated. While this was not a membership drive, two new members were added to the roll.
Mr Valenta introduced a proposal (qv) on behalf of the Education committee, describing the goals and scope of a scavenger hunt: a continuing, long-range program designed to engage the multi-generational Sheldon community in enrichment activitiesfocusing on the natural, social and cultural history of the area. Mr Crane/Mr Derry 2nd moved to accept the proposal as presented, and it was approved unanimously.
Mr McFeeters reported that the Society’s application to participate in the Vermont Historical Society’s “Active Collections” training program was not selected this season.
Mr Smith reported that he is developing a media presentation on the history of Sheldon Junction, and invites contributions, source material, and input from others.
Old business: Signage. Following November’s discussion on informational signage, Mr Smith accessed the LVRT guidelines, which detail the limits for trail-side signs. A proposal describing the content, scale, and location of such signs must be developed. Mr Crane and Mr Smith will discuss. Highway directional signage was revisited, with the substantial cost noted. Mr Smith suggested an existing directional sign might be modified to include Sheldon Historical Society information. Mr Crane will consult with Sheldon Library trustees on a shared directional sign.
In other business, Mr Crane presented a request from a community member: “Will the Society establish a program to recognize Sheldon property owners or renters, whose efforts to maintain their homes, barns, or grounds enhance and benefit the whole community”. The matter is deferred to a later meeting, when the nature and costs of such a program can be more fully considered.
The next meeting will be March 18th .
On a motion by Mr Crane, the meeting adjourned at 8:15
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew Crane, secretary