The Theodore Burr Covered Bridge
Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Monthly Business Meeting
Safari
Headquarters Motel 6, Bloomsburg, PA
Saturday,
June 1, 7:30 p.m.
President Tom Walczak called the
meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. welcoming everyone to the safari and leading us
in the pledge of allegiance. He thanked
Bob and Judy Kuether for all their behind the scenes work to organize the
safari, Jim and Gloria Smedley for designing, taking orders and distributing
the safari t-shirts and Bob and KC Griner for being the caboose of the safari.
NEW
MEMBERS AND GUESTS: Members
Anthony and Karen Abramo were welcomed.
This is their first meeting and first safari.
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES – Tom
reminded everyone the minutes were available for review and he will ask for
approval later in the meeting.
TREASURER’S
REPORT: We have 6 new members: Jim and Colleen McCauley of Jim Thorpe, PA,
Chuck and Joy Shultz of Birdsboro, PA, and Theodore and Beth Smith of
Edgewater, MD.
We have 387 renewed as of May; 9 more
than 1 year ago. The report was approved
as read and will be filed for audit.
MEMBERS’ REPORTS:
Bill Haag visited Sonestown
which is closed. There are side boards
missing from both sides.
Pam
Mailey
saw Aline on Mother’s Day weekend. It could use some rehabilitation. Bob added that he pursued this but was turned
down due to insurance liability issues.
Greg
Williams visited Red
Run at the campground and found they had replaced the abutments at the end
facing the road.
Joe
McCarthy said
demolition work on Dreibelbis Station will start on
June 10 and expected to take 3 weeks.
Moving the bridge to the causeway will take place on July 8 as long as there
are no delays to the demolition work.
Visitors are not allowed during work hours. You will be chased away.
OFFICERS’ REPORTS:
President Tom Walczak saw Kidd’s Mill in Mercer’s County
and found it in good shape. He put up a
display at the I-80 Welcome Center for See Pennsylvania’s Covered Bridges Week
(SPCBW). He was told it generated lots
of comments and discussions on bridges.
In celebration of this being our 50th year for SPCBW he
mailed out postcards to members.
September 21-22 White Covered Bridge will host a festival celebrating
their 100th Anniversary. Tom
will kick off the festival with a presentation and will have a booth set up for
our society during the festival. The
booth is free of charge.
First Vice
President Jim Smedley:
No report.
The deadline for PA Crossings is the
Sunday, October 6th, one week before our fundraiser at Hoss’s.
Second Vice President Ray Finkelstein reported that Bogert’s bridge has
received a grant for rehabilitation with the requirement to provide $100,000 in
matching funds. They are looking for
letters of commitment for funds to be donated.
The National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges has provided
a letter committing $10,000 to the project.
Ray thought it would be nice for our society to provide a commitment for
$1,000. He visited all the bridges in
Lehigh County preparing for the mini-safari he will lead on August 17th.
Third Vice President Steve Wolfhope put up a display at the Valley Forge
Visitors Center. Due to confined space
he was only able to leave it up during Tourism Week. He and Gloria visited a few bridges in New
York and PA while member Ruth Wilson visited from NY.
Fourth Vice President Tim McLaughlin and Connie continue their adventure
to visit all PA bridges during this our 60th anniversary year. They are up to 121 PA bridges so far. They transported a display to the Erie
Welcome Center for SPCBW.
Treasurer Bob Kuether thanked all those that had a part in
helping with today’s safari. There is a
card up front for everyone to sign thanking the Columbia-Montour organization
for lunch today at the Twins. He thanked
all who participated in SPCBW. Judy
Kuether mentioned that 13 of the 14 welcome centers were covered this
year. All but one which was to be done
by Mike Rudnick who unfortunately broke his arm requiring surgery so he was
unable to get his display there. Judy
and Bob Kuether placed 9 display boards at different locations including
Welcome Centers for SPCBW.
Historian Fred Moll: No report.
Corresponding Secretary Pam Heisey: Absent. No report.
Recording Secretary Gloria Smedley and Jim put up a display at the I-83
Welcome Center near Shrewsbury for Tourism Week and SPCBW. They manned the display a couple days and
spoke with travelers about bridges.
ILLNESSES/DEATHS
of MEMBERS: Ben and June Evans continue to have
health issues. They no longer can drive
so may not be able to make it to future meetings. Member Mike Rudnick took a fall and broke his
arm which required surgery and many months of physical therapy.
OLD
BUSINESS: In April, Jim reviewed the first half of the
proposed bylaw changes which were voted on and approved. The remaining will be discussed at the August
meeting.
NEW
BUSINESS: Tom asked for suggestions for next
year’s safari. Connie McLaughlin would
like to go back to Vermont. Jim Smedley
mentioned New Hampshire might be better as the bridges are nicer and not as
many dirt roads. Pat Cook mentioned
southeast Ohio may be nice for a safari. Pam Mailey
took the Country Store to the Twins on May 18th for their bus tour
event. They will have another tour on
June 26th and expect twice as many people. Pam will once again take the Country Store to
the event. May 8th Bob
Kuether gave a presentation at the Redland Library and also took the Country
Store there.
Tom announced the Nominating Committee
for this year’s election of officers: Pam Mailey and Greg Williams. He announced if anyone is interested in
becoming an officer to see either Pam or Greg.
Gloria Smedley encouraged members to
volunteer and become more involved as an officer.
NEW
COVERED BRIDGE ITEMS: Jim gave members a new book by the
National Park Service titled Guidelines
for Rehabilitating Historic Covered Bridges. Books were provided by
Christopher Marston, architect for The National Park Service. Tom distributed covered bridge safari patches
to members.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – May minutes were approved as
presented.
ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned 8:30 pm.
NEXT MEETING - Our Next Meeting will be held on
Sunday, July 7th at our annual picnic. This year the picnic will be held at the
pavilion next to Shearer’s Covered Bridge not far from our usual meeting place
in Manheim. Everyone will gather at noon
with lunch shortly thereafter.
Respectfully Submitted, Gloria
Smedley, Recording Secretary
June 3, 2019