The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge
Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Monthly Business Meeting and Lasagna
Dinner Fundraiser
Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church,
Manheim, PA
Sunday, October 2, 2016
President Tom Walczak called the
meeting to order at 2:08 p.m. He led us
in the Pledge of Allegiance.
NEW
MEMBERS AND GUESTS: New members Pam Mailey, Ortha Sosiewicz, and
Bill & Carol Schleig were in attendance.
It was also nice to see Rose Giannattasio, Ortha Klischer, and Eugene
and Bernandine BiSanti.
Tom reminded members the minutes are
in the box in the back for review and approval later.
TREASURER’S
REPORT: 388 members
renewed for 2016-2017 (21 more than 1 year ago). 218 members renewed for
2016-17. Treasurer Bob Kuether also
provided an annual Treasurer’s report.
MEMBERS’
REPORTS:
Tim and Connie McLaughlin updated the Society on the progress
of Speakman #1 (PA-15-05) reporting it is near completion. Bitzer’s Mill (PA-36-04) is stripped down to
its truss. They also stopped by Mercer’s Mill (PA-15-19 & PA-36-38) and Smith’s
in Delaware (DE-02-01 #2) and both bridges are in good condition.
Joe McCarthy said his company completed work on
Speakman #1 on Friday. The painters and
roofers will be working on the bridge this coming week and some blacktop work
has to be done. Joe will let us know
when a reopening date is set.
Tina Conn and her granddaughter took the Lehigh
County driving tour recently.
OFFICERS’
REPORTS:
President Tom Walczak – On September 17-18 Tom helped Bob
with the Country Store at the Washington-Greene Festival. Tom noted a new
stringer bridge has been built near Ebenezer Bridge (PA-63-14). He traveled to Indiana County, PA to visit
all four of their bridges and reported all of them in nice condition although
Kintersburg (PA-32-05) has a broken lower chord and needs painting. McConnell’s Mill (PA-37-01) painting is
finished and the bridge has been reopened.
First Vice
President Jim Smedley
– No report.
The PA Crossings deadline
is today October 2nd. It should be in the mail about October 14th. Jim mentioned that members will notice a few
changes have been made to the Newsletter format.
Second Vice President Ray Finkelstein – No report.
Third Vice President Steve Wolfhope – Steve stopped by Speakman #1 Bridge
recently.
Fourth Vice President Tim McLaughlin – (See his report with Connie above
in members section.)
Historian Fred J. Moll - No report.
Recording Secretary Gloria Smedley –Provided members with how the
Lasagna Dinner logistics will work when we start the meal after our Business
Meeting. Tom thanked Gloria for all her
hard work to organize the Dinner Fundraiser.
Corresponding Secretary/Program Chair Pam Heisey - No report.
Treasurer Robert Kuether – Bob announced if everything goes
well including the weather cooperating we will paint the portals of
Pleasantville Bridge (PA-06-01) on Saturday October 15th. Bob reported on the Washington-Greene
Festival. Unfortunately, the weather did
not cooperate and crowds were a bit less than last year. Bob thanked everyone who helped at the
festival. Bob invited members to help at
the Knoebels Festival, Poole Forge Bridge decoration, and the Christmas show in
Harrisburg. Bob also thanked Bob Greer for a recent donation of 100 stamps to
the Society, Bill Haag for donating a large tarp and Brian McKee for donation
of books. He also mentioned a Memorial donation in memory of his father, Fred
Kuether, was given by NAWIC and Karen Renzi, an organization Linda Havens was a
member of.
REPORTS OF ILLNESSES OR DEATHS
– Bill Haag’s mother
passed away a couple of weeks ago.
OLD BUSINESS – None
NEW
BUSINESS - None
NEW COVERED BRIDGE ITEMS
Connie
McLaughlin displayed a key chain with a covered bridge she got while in
NH. Tom spotted a covered bridge quilt
and Greg saw a covered bridge sweatshirt recently in a store.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – September minutes were approved as
presented.
NEXT MEETING
Our Next Meeting will be on November 6, 2016 at St.
Paul’s Episcopal Church and will include our semi-annual Bake Sale. We will conduct our regular business meeting
at 2:00pm followed by a presentation by Pat Cook entitled “Nova Scotia and New
Brunswick.”
ADJOURNMENT
The
meeting was adjourned at 2:47 p.m. followed by our Lasagna Dinner Fundraiser.
Respectfully
Submitted by Jim Smedley for Recording Secretary, Gloria Smedley
October
10, 2016