The Spencer County Historical Society met on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 in the Rockport Library Genealogy Room.

The meeting was called to order by the president at 6:35 PM with seven members present.

The minutes from the last meeting were read and approved.

The treasurer’s report was given. 

The president had talked to Indianapolis about the microfilming of the 1950 Journal.  They are in the process of taking the book apart as they were not able to microfilm the pages adequately without losing information if the book was left bound.  This process is being done at the Indiana State Archives, which is the depository of negatives of all the newspapers in the state. 

The Evansville Bindery will be putting the book back together once the microfilming is finished.  The Society will be responsible for the cost of the microfilm (possibly two reels) and the rebinding fee.

( I checked with the library on November 4, and once this item is finished, the Genealogy Room will have on microfilm all the county papers up to December 29, 2005 for The Rockport Journal-Democrat  and up to December 1998 for The Spencer County Leader.)

A member mentioned that the Olde Rockport Pioneer Cemetery manuscript that was done as an Eagle Scout project has been placed on the History of the South Spencer County School Corporation web site. 

A member mentioned that he had recently given speeches on the 2009 flatboat trip and dowsing.

A member mentioned that a Meeks relative had been here from Wisconsin to place a marker in the Graff Cemetery in Luce Township to honor his ancestors.  A plaque giving the history of the Meeks Massacre was placed in a concrete base in the cemetery.

A member mentioned that several people had contacted him and also contacted the library about finding information and/or pictures of old schools.  He was wondering about putting an ad in the local papers to see if anyone had such information.  It was decided to table this matter.

There was a discussion on possible candidates for the 2010 Historian of the Year and 2010 Commemorative Historian of the Year.  A list of names was presented and a decision will be made at the December meeting.

The president was going to contact the Extension Office to see about a date for the banquet.  A tentative date of April 24, 2010 was selected.

A member mentioned a call he had received from the president of The Friends of Lincoln Pioneer Village.  They are setting up a room in the back of the museum to use as a place to show a short video or PowerPoint presentation about the village and wanted to know if the Society would agree to use the $200.00 in the George Honig fund to pay for benches to be used in the room.  The benches have already been ordered.  After a discussion, the Society felt that it would be more appropriate to use the Honig fund for something to honor the person for which it was donated.

A motion was made and seconded to donate $200.00 to the Friends of Lincoln Pioneer Village to be used for the benches.  The motion carried.  A member had a condition that a small plaque be placed on the benches with the following message – Donated by the Spencer County Historical Society.

A member was going to check on the possibility of having a guest speaker in February to speak on Indian customs.

It was suggested that a member present his “Dowser’s Tool Box” at a future meeting.

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.

The next meeting will be December 1, 2009 at 6:30 PM in the Genealogy Room.