Hinesburg Historical Society
Minutes for May 28th, 2009
Present: Nancy Boyle, Gill Coates, Marshall Delaire, Maggie Gordon, Aaron Kimball, Kitty LaClair, Jean Miner, John Roberts, Sue Roberts, Ann Thomas
Jean opened the meeting by handing over a check for $25 that was given to the Historical Society in memory of Daisy Bissonette. Maggie will set up an account for the HHS at the Merchant’s Bank. Jean also passed around a summer calendar of events from the Rokeby Museum.
The main agenda item for the meeting was working on the bylaws so that the 501 (c)(3) nonprofit application process can continue. Gill read a list of four provisions that the Vermont Secretary of State’s web page recommends including in the application. These provisions will be incorporated directly into the HHS bylaws. The web site also indicates that the word “education” should be included into the mission statement to make clear which category of tax-exempt status the society belongs into. After pilfering from the mission statements of other historical societies, members voted to amend the Hinesburg Historical Society mission to read:
The mission of the Hinesburg Historical Society is to collect and preserve any archives, artifacts, and historical records pertaining to the history of Hinesburg and to educate the public about them.
Nancy suggested that the date of the annual meeting (currently January) be changed. It was agreed to move the annual meeting to April, and the change will be reflected in the bylaws.
Gill pointed out a possible sticking point on the application for a federal Employee Identification Number (EID) which is required for the 501(c)(3) application. The application requires the name and social security number of the principal officer. Jean was reluctant to submit her name and social security number. Maggie offered to submit her name and number, but she is not the principal officer. Aaron pointed out that the name of a trustee could be submitted instead, but that that would require changing the bylaws to appoint trustees. It was finally agreed that Gill would contact the IRS to ask about the importance of the contact name and number, and we will revisit the issue at the next meeting.
Ann read through the bylaws (members were unable to locate a copy of the revised and condensed version) and the group agreed on deletions and revisions. The secretary will send out a revised copy of the bylaws with the minutes for the May meting, to be voted on at the June meeting.
Jean mentioned the possibility of the HHS putting on a float for the 4th of July parade, but proposed that focusing on the 250th anniversary of the founding of Hinesburg would be a better use of our time. Hinesburg was chartered on June 24th, 1762 and 2012 is the anniversary of that date. Jean said that Charlotte, Monkton, and Hinesburg were all chartered on the same day, and that Benning Wentworth got a grant of 500 (?) acres each time he chartered a new town.
Nancy shared a blurb that she wrote for the website saying that the information published there may not be accurate.
Jean shared congratulations from Brad Wainer, former cemetery commissioner, on the work done publishing information from the cemeteries on the website. John added that he hopes to put the information from the O’Neill cemetery on the website soon. He also said that he is on the trail of the Leonard family, has left a note on a gravestone in hopes that a descendent will contact him, and would appreciate any leads that people could share. Both Jean and Marshall offered to put him in with Charlie Leonard. Jean suggested that the Society plan another trip to a cemetery while we have the light of long summer evenings, and after some discussion it was agreed to meet at the town hall next month and carpool to the Barker cemetery (on the Richmond Road). Jean promised to stock up on shaving cream.
Marshall pointed out that the cemetery commission has funds, and should at least make a plan to preserve the town’s cemeteries, most of which are in need of more care. Ann suggested that members of the HHS could offer the manpower for specific outings or projects to work on them.
Aaron offered to take pre-construction photos of the Silver Street intersection and of the proposed drugstore lot on 116 (thanks to George for his e-mailed suggestion).
The next meeting of the Hinesburg Historical Society will be held on Thursday, June 25th at 7pm in the Town Hall parking lot, where we will meet to carpool for a visit to the Barker (and perhaps one other) cemetery.
- Maggie Gordon, Secretary