The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge
Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Monthly Business Meeting
Saint
Paul’s Episcopal Church, Manheim, PA
Saturday,
November 4, 2018, 2:00 p.m.
First Vice President Jim Smedley called
the meeting to order at 2:12 p.m. (President
Tom was running late.) He welcomed everyone and led us in the pledge of
allegiance.
NEW
MEMBERS AND GUESTS: New members Gordon and Jeannie Wirth were
present and this was only the second meeting for Richard and Gale Toland.
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES – Jim
reminded everyone the minutes were available for review and he will ask for
approval later in the meeting.
TREASURER’S
REPORT: Bob Kuether announced new members Peggy Baurer
(from the calendar) and Barbara MacBride
& Stephen Boyce (from the website). We have 252 members renewed for 2018-2019, 36
less than 1 year ago.
MEMBERS’ REPORTS:
Michael Chorazy and his wife Sharon recently took a
trip to the West Coast. While there they
saw Wawona Covered Bridge in Yosemite National Park.
Joe McCarthy:
Local police told Joe they recently arrested four teenagers for
trespassing on Sheeder-Hall Bridge. His
company will be doing the repairs to Loux Bridge where a truck with a backhoe
on the back damaged the bridge. Repairs
will take 3 days. His company is working
with Lobar Site Development Corporation who won the bid for Dreibilbis
Bridge.
Connie
McLaughlin visited
Harmony Hill and drives through Speakman #1 often. She noted that the headache bars at Schenk’s
Mill are way too close for taking pictures of the bridge.
Richard
Toland recently
visited Jackson Sawmill which he noted is in nice condition and well cared for.
President Tom arrived during the
members bridge reports and took over the meeting from there.
OFFICERS’ REPORTS:
President Tom Walczak thanked Jim for taking over in his
absence. Tom has not visited any bridges
specifically but passes by Diehl’s or Turner’s and Herline often. He shared items discussed with the board at
yesterday’s annual planning meeting. The
board met from 10 a.m. to about 3:00 p.m. and discussed many topics including
fundraising, meeting dates and programs, and budget. One way they thought to save a little money
would be to eliminate membership cards.
Tom asked the group for a show of hands for those who would like to
continue to get cards and those who don’t care.
Only a few wanted cards (out of over 40 in attendance). The group suggested members request a card
when they renew if wanted. It was
suggested to put a checkbox on our application if the member wants to receive a
card.
Tom also asked the group for feedback
on the timing of the June meeting which will be held during our annual safari
May 31 – June 2. It was agreed to hold
the meeting on Saturday evening June 1st. Bob will plan the safari so that day will be
a light day giving attendees plenty of time for dinner before the meeting. There will still be a brief pre-safari
meeting on Thursday evening May 30th.
Tom shared that changes to the bylaws
have been reviewed and approved by the board and will be rolled out to the
members over two meetings in 2019.
Changes were necessary due to our newly obtained 501(c)3 status and
various other outdated matters.
He announced that the board agreed to
hold the Hoss’s Fundraiser Event again in 2019.
It was a big success this year and we raised $150 just for having dinner
there. Plans will be to eat dinner first
at about 12 noon and then hold our meeting.
Tom thanked all those who participated
in today’s Bake Sale by bringing in baked goods and/or purchasing them.
First Vice President Jim Smedley and Gloria visited Blenheim in
Schoharie County, New York. The bridge
appears to be finished but they are still working on the approach to the
bridge. Joe McCarthy confirmed that they
are trying to get funding for a timber frame stairway and walkways from the
other side of the bridge.
The deadline for PA Crossings is
February 3rd (even though there is no meeting in February).
Second Vice President Ray Finkelstein was not present. He was in a car accident yesterday on his way
to the annual board meeting and is in the hospital. Ray sent via Judy a message to say he did see
Hangman’s Bridge in Germany while he and Linda were on a recent cruise.
Third Vice President Steve Wolfhope.
In October he visited Henry Echo Farm Hunt Club Bridge in Monroe County
where he met the owner and builder of the bridge. He and Gloria took a trip to Ohio where they
saw 31 bridges in southern Ohio. He
noted that Barkhurst Mill and Johnson Road bridges were very hard to get to and
Blackwood Bridge was covered with graffiti inside and out. He has been asked to do a covered bridge
presentation at Lansdale Camera Club.
Fourth Vice President Tim McLaughlin and his wife Connie attended a car
show at Poole Forge and set up a booth and display for our society. They visited over a dozen bridges since our
last meeting. In particular he noted
that Sheeder-Hall looks great and you can get some excellent reflection shots
there. Loux has some portal damage. There was flooding at Cabin Run due to recent
rains. They saw the Box Pony Truss at
Pipersville that used to be covered, and the Tohickon Aqueduct. They found the gate at Schofield Ford is
closed permanently. They gave our rack
cards at several bridges and mentioned that it is good to have these in your
back pocket when visiting bridges.
Treasurer Bob Kuether is still recuperating from the
Knoebel’s Festival event where the Country Store did $6,000 in sales, more than
any other year. He thanked Bonnie Shultz
and Pam Mailey for meeting at his house and checking the garland and lights to
put up at Poole Forge. He made several
announcements:
·
Christmas
Show will be November 28 – December 2.
·
The
3rd weekend in March will be our first mini-safari. Michael Chorazy will lead us to Thomas Mill Bridge. This will be the first of 6 mini safaris in
2019. Michael mentioned that it is a
healthy walk to this bridge so attendees should be aware of it.
·
Bob
had damaged models available for free and plates for just $3.
·
Pam
Mailey is taking orders for a handmade covered bridge bird feeder on display
for only $35.
·
On
December 2nd Pam Mailey and Judy Kuether will take the Country Store
to Christmas on the Bridge at the Twins while he is at Knoebels.
·
He
asked for volunteers who may have nursing home nearby to take used puzzles and
give them to the homes.
Historian Fred Moll reported that the Pleasantville
Covered Bridge in Berks County has once again been damaged by a high-profile
truck. Even though there are signs along
the road warning of low clearance and a drawing of a
covered bridge on the sign, trucks still do not pay attention to them and keep
hitting the height restriction device.
Because the height restriction devices are bolted to iron bars in the
wing walls and abutments, the stone work has been damaged and the bridge has been
closed indefinitely according to the Reading Eagle.
Corresponding Secretary Pam Heisey: No report.
Recording Secretary Gloria Smedley:
No report.
ILLNESSES/DEATHS
of MEMBERS: Ray Finkelstein suffered multiple
fractured ribs and vertebrate in his car accident and is in Lancaster General
Hospital.
OLD
BUSINESS: Joe McCarthy enjoyed the Hoss’s Fundraiser
but asked that we be sure to have use of the larger room for the next event.
NEW
BUSINESS: Pam Mailey showed a large black and white
charcoal original painting of McConnell’s Mill Bridge that is being auctioned
off in support of our 60th anniversary dinner. For raffle tickets see Pam. She also mentioned that we will be decorating
Poole Forge Bridge on Saturday, November 17th starting at 10:00 a.m.
NEW
COVERED BRIDGE ITEMS: Connie McLaughlin shared two
newsletters where covered bridges were pictured on the front and throughout.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – October minutes were approved as
presented.
ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 3:10 p.m.
followed by the presentation “Susquehanna & Tidewater Canal” by Pam Heisey.
NEXT MEETING - Our Next Meeting will be held at Dutch-Way
Family Restaurant on Saturday December 8th and will be our Annual
Christmas Dinner
Respectfully Submitted, Gloria
Smedley, Recording Secretary
November 5, 2018