The Board of Trustees met on Wednesday evening, September 10, 2008, at the Waltz Building. You may download the agenda as a word document HERE. The BIG NEWS is that we passed the By-laws draft presented and ushered through three meetings by the Bylaws Committee -- chaired by VP Eric Vanice with Trustees Allison Merrill, Penny O'Connell and Marcia O'Hair. Passage will call for a champagne toast!

New Members Galore! The following Home Tour attendees signed on for a membership and were rewarded with a Souvenir Guide of the tour. Phil Baldwin signed up for a family membership that would include his wife of many years, Layne Goldsmith, who was a docent at the Maughlin House; Debbie Emge who is the city's Director of Economic Development and now an even better friend of our Society; Ann and Tom Koonce from Duval; Shara L. Hathaway-Peterson from Snohomish; Cindy and Mirch Markham also from Snohomish; Bob Johnson not only took us up on the offer of the illustrated guide, but also joined in on the walking tour with architect Josh Scott of Mosaic Architects and yours truly -- great fun -- Phil was in on that too; Deb Cuyle wrote down "Snoho" on the membership form; Ericka Acuna joined AND purchased a personalize copy of Early Snohomish -- she's off to a good start; Carlene and Leonardo Rivera from Monroe; Samantha E. Hanh recently from Mesa, Arizona, now living in Arlington, much cooler; Sharon Howard and Mike Rosen joined as a modern family with different last names -- Mike is on our Advisory Board; Terrie Schmitt joined AND purchased a book; Anita L. Salter from Seattle; Judy & Chris Pruitt of Bothell; and finally, Karen Crowley, President of KSER's Board, joined our walking tour at the last minute! Thank You One and All!

John S. White Day was declared by Mayor Hamlin at the September 16th city council meeting. Treasurer Penny O'Connell and PR Chair, Marta Gronlund, are rounding up the numbers relating to the tour, which will be presented and discussed at the next board meeting, but we know for sure that the tour raised the community consciousness of an important historical person who contributed so much to what we value about living in this city -- the visibility of its architectural heritage. More info and images HERE

Thanks to Dennis Bishop for documenting the tour pro bono. Please visit Dennis's WEBSITE to learn more about this talented and generous photographer.

Many Thanks to Long Time Trustee Darlene Huntington who led the crew for several sessions of selecting which vegetation should live around the Blackman House and which had to go to Bailey's compost operation. Pictured on the left is Darlene, Rebecca Loveless and Mark Henry; pictured on the right is Dan Huntington showing the vegetation who is boss. Not pictured are Peter Moore, Trustees Sayra Hill and Eric Vannice.

Kevin from the Sky Valley Chapter of ABATE Washington presented Treasurer Penny O'Connell with a check for $750! The Chapter produces the annual bike show in downtown Snohomish and every year they share the profits with the non-profit organizations in town. Also receiving checks this past August were the Food Bank and the Senior Center. You can learn more about the group and the annual bike show HERE.

Winners! of the Most Creative Picnic Setting contest, as determined by participant vote, was the crew pictured here representing Fred's Rivertown Ale House. L to R: Katauna, Bryn (Susannah's sister), Susannah, Kevin, Lily, Nicole, and Darren. Actually, the Historical Society's entry by Sayra Hill and Denise Page gathered the most colored dots of votes, but as a sponsor's entry, Sayra and Denise passed on accepting the generous prize from Kusler's. Besides the Fred's crew braved the on and off rain by refusing to move their entry into the picnic shelter. This was our first city wide Picnic in the Park on the shores of historic Blackman Lake and was a collaboration primarily with the Foundation for Sustainable Community and Kusler's. Marileen Richardson rounded up the live music by Sudden Change Blue Grass Band and Bryan Stratton John Denver and Originals. Susannah from the winning team mentioned that she wanted the same musicians next summer since they inspired ideas for next summer's picnic setting.

Kathleen Lince, the Society's Stack Family Foundation Archivist pictured here on the left with Trustee Marcia O'Hair are inspecting the amazingly abundant content of the Conservation Bookself awarded to the Historical Society by the Institute of Museum and Library Services in cooperation with the American Association of State and Local History last month. The collection of books are reference materials to help the Collections Committee of the Society take better care of the Society's collection of papers, records and photographs using professional methods and standards. Please learn more about the award in a new window HERE.

Next Board Meeting is October 22nd, 7PM at the Waltz Building

Cheers!