OHIO RIVER CHAPTER

LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL HERITAGE FOUNDATION

Minutes of May 19, 2001 Meeting

The Ohio River Chapter met at the Maritius Museum in Marietta, Ohio, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 19 following a tour of the Maritius Museum and the nearby Ohio River Museum.  The Maritius chronicles the history of the area as the capital of the Northwest Territory.  Present were Esther Duncan, Skip Jackson, Jim Mallory, Paula Mallory, Matt Herron, Jenny Herron, Jim Scott, Jon Staley, Julie Tishler, Doug Wozniak, and Margaret Wozniak.

·         Jon Sealy, President, opened the meeting with a reading from the day the expedition landed at Marietta.

·         The minutes of the October 21, 2000 meeting were accepted as published.

·         Skip Jackson, Treasurer, reported $1,297.64 in the bank and $40 in dues collected today.  The total membership shows 78 names on the mailing list with 52 members with dues paid for the current year.  The treasurer's report was accepted as presented.

Old Business

·         Jim Mallory reported for Jim Holmberg that US representative from Kentucky, Ann Northrup, was present at the White House ceremony during which York, Sacagawea and William Clark were honored.  Representative Northrup indicated her support of the York statue project.  Ed Hamilton, probable sculptor, has estimated the cost as approximately $200,000.

·         Esther Duncan reported that the William Bratton gravesite marker is moving forward. Esther has contacted the state of Indiana regarding the installation of a sign along the highway to indicate the cemetery in which he is buried.  The cemetery is at the intersection of US 136 and Indiana 25 near Waynetown, Indiana, one hour west of Indianapolis.  The chapter voted unanimously to contribute $600 to the gravesite fund.  This will complete the required funding.  Funding will come from the National Park Service grant of $4,900 that the chapter recently received.  Jim, is this the correct amount?

·         Jim Mallory reported that the Eastern legacy trail map project (in cooperation with the Philadelphia chapter) is nearing completion.  The map will indicate sites from Washington DC to Camp Wood, Illinois, and the post-expedition routes traveled by Lewis and Clark through 1809.  The chapter voted unanimously to contribute $2,800 toward this project.  This will provide us with 10,000 maps @ $.28.  (Money to come from the National Park Service grant.)  The Philadelphia chapter will fund its maps from its NPS grant allocation.

New Business

·         Jim Scott reported increased activity on the chapter website.  He is in the process of adding a chapter directory.  Members can update their e-mail address and personal information on the directory.  (The user ID is "member."  The password is "Jefferson.") 

·         Meeting Date:  Jim Mallory brought forward the concern of Bob Anderson that the ORC spring meeting date (third weekend in May) conflicts with the St. Charles chapter's spring Lewis and Clark celebration (the weekend closest to the Expedition's arrival at St. Charles).  After discussion on a motion to change the ORC meeting date, the motion was tabled.

·         Esther Duncan and Jim Scott will serve on the Program Committee.

·         A discussion to have a display table at the Kentucky Association of Environmental Educators conference on October 7 died for lack of a motion.  The KAEE group is quite small and would not present an opportunity to reach a large group of people.

·         The slate of officers presented by the Election Committee was approved.

President, Jim Mallory

Vice President, Polly Brown

Secretary, Margaret Wozniak

Treasurer, Skip Jackson

Communications Chair, Brad Brakke

Announcements

·         The ORC fall meeting will be at Kentucky's Big Bone Lick Park, which is south of Cincinnati.

Other Weekend Activities

·         The group adjourned for dinner at the Levee, one of the oldest buildings in Marietta.

·         On Sunday morning the group traveled to Wellsburg, West Virginia, home town of Patrick Gass.  Patrick's great-grandson, Eugene Painter, led a tour of the Ohio River at Wellsburg, the home built by Patrick Gass, and the Gass burial site.  Eugene's son and daughter-in-law were also present.  Eugene is a delightful octogenarian!