Fisher House Board Meeting

09/01/04

 

Attending: Robert Slaven, Badge Jessup, Maureen Rawding, Amey Dodge, Deale Salisbury, Jim Fisher, Dick Carter

 

Celebrating the Fisher House receptions

 

Fisher Moment

 

Jim read letter from Samuel Babbitt about interesting descendents

Jim – will forward document to Rob Nolan to whom the letter is addressed.

 

National and Historical

Jim noted the National and Political document being on line.

One page was reproduced in the meeting handouts.

Why did Jonathan Fisher chronicle all of these events? 

Dick - this was a way for Jonathan to illustrate that the French were the bad-guys.  The New England Congregationalists were pro-England, despite the blockades by the British.  Napoleon was particularly despised. At this time US was aligning with France.  Daniel Merril was firing against the British at this time.

 

August Minutes - approved

 

Opening for tours the rest of the season?

·        We have had a great deal of difficulty finding people to mind the house since Jonathan left

·        Deale was here today and did not have any visitors.  Deale expressed concern about having only one person in the house.  His concern is shared, but we are having a difficult time finding people. 

·        The Board worked on schedule of tours

·        Myron and Gladys Hager - might be willing to help with the balance of the season

·        Mary Spooner will continue to work on Fridays

·        Jim will try to come in on Thursdays

 

September 19 Annual Meeting

Speakers

·        Bob - 15 minutes on Jonathan Fisher and the Sea

·        Bob – will read his father's reflections on earlier board activity

·        Jim will call Moira Creaser and the Hagers to see whether they might speak

 

Publicity

·        Press release – Jim will issue a short press release

·        Post Cards – Jim will attempt to print invitation post cards, Amey will secure stamps.

·        Email List - congregational church (email to Wendy Ritger at bhcongo@hypernet.com)

 

Light Refreshments - Amey and friends

 

Nominations

·        All current members have agreed to stay on.  Badge has requested that someone else take on secretarial duty

·        Maureen Rawding

·        Linda Hoskins

·        Brad Emerson (interested) - need to confirm

 

Archives and Collections

·        Much of this discussion was tabled until the next meeting.

·        Jim handed out copies of Jonathans summary report

·        next meeting we can go upstairs and see the emergency kit, copier, etc.

 

Dick Carter

·        leaving a draft copy of his dissertation for our internal use

·        he hopes to revise the dissertation for publication

·        wants to extend his research to treat a twenty year period of Jonathan's life in greater detail

·        Dick emphasized the importance of the Fisher Sketches and sermons.

·        Need to scan the sketches documents in the Blue Hill Library

·        Peter Powers, Daniel Merrill and Jonathan Fisher (Hancock County Ministers Association) formed a movement - the "second great awakening" appears to have started here before it started in Connecticut and Massachusetts

·        Isaac Carter - ancestor to Dick Carter received Jonathan Fisher's word and left a legacy for the Carter family

·        Badge suggested that this could be part of a Fisher Symposium

·        Dick Carter is planning to be here in August, 2005

 

Building and Maintenance

·        alarm system - fire alarm - needs to be programmed to dial 911

·        storm windows - Jim will do this

·        sewing party - need new curtains - what kind of cloth

·        storage - cedar balls, separated by a layer

·        lawn - one last cutting around 9/15

·        book damage - cold weather will stop the insects through the winter, but we need to deal with this before next summer

 

Membership

·        need to contact Janet Shaw about a $1,000 contribution – we cannot find that check (Newport Beach, CA)

·        need to check that Katie Hendra – need to put her in the database

 

Development

·        Maureen raised the idea of a Blue Hill "Throw"

·        $300 - used to start the process of making the throws (proposing that the Fisher House pay half of this.)

·        Need 250 people who order them in advance - prepay about $45 (GR=$11,250, NR = $5,000, Fisher House share $1,350 (assuming all are sold)

·        Cost of goods sold is about $20

·        McMullen of Philadelphia manufactures them - designs are woven in.

·        Division of labor and capital:

·        senior citizens do the work,

·        Holt House provides black and whites,

·        Fisher House and Legion Hall might put in $150 each. 

·        Might try to sell some through local shops.

·        Consider other partners - Chamber of commerce, GSA

·        Deale and Badge will bring their throws to the next meeting.

 

Marketing

·        Visitation is only good when we communicate with the public. 

·        The House needs someone to lead the marketing effort (no volunteers tonight!)

·        Need to find out about AAA as soon as possible

 

Treasurer’s report

·          We continue to spend more than we take in, but costs are coming down. 

·          Contributions were up this year, but membership renewals are extremely low.

·          The Esther Wood contribution may arrive in October.