OHIO LINCOLN HIGHWAY LEAGUE

Minutes from the April 26, 2008 Annual Business Meeting

Elks Banquet Room at Galion, Ohio

Pre-meeting 

A.  Registration and Fellowship began at 9:15 a.m. and continued through 10:00 a.m.  A continental breakfast was kindly donated by the Galion Chamber of Commerce.

B.  At about 10:00 a.m., OLHL President Mike Buettner (Lima) welcomed members and guests, after which the group said the Pledge of Allegiance, then officially welcomed by Galion City Manager Dave Oles.

C.  LHA National President Jan Shupert-Arick (Indiana) was introduced, and was asked to give a brief report on activities at the national level.

D.  LHA State Director Marie Malernee (Canton) was also introduced.  To avoid repetition of national matters, Marie did not give a report.  Marie was then recognized for receiving the “Exemplary Friend of the Lincoln Highway Award” at the LHA 2007 Annual Conference in Fort Morgan, Colorado for her work with the nominating committee of the LHA.

E.  The Ohio Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor was represented today by Mike Hocker (Galion).  Mike gave a brief report on their past and future activities, especially with regard to the Lincoln Highway Buy-Way Yard Sale.  Dates for the 2008 version of this event are August 7-9.  Mike was also thanked for his efforts in setting up today’s meeting, along with other members of his committee, especially Tom Lockard (Gambier) and John Renock (Galion).

F.  The next person to be introduced was special guest Kirk Slusher, Planning Administrator for District One of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT).  Kirk was in attendance to receive another “Exemplary Friend of the Lincoln Highway Award,” which had been announced at the 2007 Annual Conference along with the award to Marie Malernee.  The award presented to ODOT was in appreciation for their construction of the new State Route 696 (Lincoln Highway) bridge over I-75 at Beaverdam, which has four Lincoln Highway logo signs facing traffic on I-75 and four Lincoln Highway signs in brick pillar replicas facing traffic on State Route 696.  The bridge was opened in December 2006, and is considered to be the most impressive new Lincoln Highway monument to be erected anywhere in the United States in many decades.  After giving a brief history of the funding which allowed this “aesthetic” bridge to be built, the glass award was presented to Kirk by LHA National President Jan Shupert-Arick.  Mike Buettner went on to say that District One has worked well with OLHL in several other areas, particularly with various types of signs, and considered the award to be merited not only because of the new bridge, but also for their long-time support of our activities in Ohio.

G.  The last introductions to be made recognized Life Members of the Lincoln Highway Association, including Jim Cassler (Canton), Mike McNaull (Ashland), and Mike and Tammy Buettner (Lima).  Also introduced was new LHA Life Member Tom Lockard (Gambier).  State Director Marie Malernee was asked to present a framed certificate to Tom.

I.   Call To Order

The meeting was officially called to order by the president at 10:10 a.m. as a quorum (Article VII B) was met with at least ten members and at least two officers present.

II.  Officers Reports

A.  Treasurer's Report, as prepared by Michael Lester (Bucyrus):

Copies of the treasurer’s report were distributed to those in attendance, and were reviewed and discussed accordingly.  Critical numbers as follows:

B.  Secretary’s Report, as prepared by Mike Buettner from notes by Tammy Buettner (Lima).

Copies of the minutes from the 2007 meeting (Ada) had been posted on the OLHL web site to save on printing costs.  Hard copies were also available for mailing upon request.  The president sought a motion to accept said minutes as prepared.  Such a motion was made by Mike McNaull (Ashland), seconded by Mike Logan (Harrod), and approved. 

III.  Chapter Reports

A.  Mid-Ohio Chapter President Mike McNaull (Ashland) submitted a copy of the chapter report to the secretary, which is attached herewith as “Exhibit A.”  In lieu of reciting all the chapter activities for 2007, Mike discussed some of the chapter highlights for the year.

B.   Eastern Ohio Chapter President Jeff Lotze (Louisville) submitted a copy of the chapter report to the secretary, which is attached herewith as “Exhibit B.”  In lieu of reciting all the chapter activities for 2007, Jeff discussed some of the chapter highlights for the year.

 IV.  Old Business

A.  Some matters which would fall under the heading of “Old Business” were generally discussed in the several reports listed above, including those during the “Pre-Meeting” activities.

 B.  The July 2007 book tour by author Michael Wallis and photographer Michael Williamson was recalled.

 C.  Construction updates were given on the progress of new U.S. 30 projects.  The interchange west of Upper Sandusky is expected to be finished in July 2008, after which a ribbon-cutting is expected to be made to celebrate the official completion of the new four-lane highway between Ada and Upper Sandusky.  It was also reported that according to the ODOT internet site, construction of a bypass around East Canton is expected to begin in 2009.  This matter caught Eastern Ohio Chapter members by surprise, and will be confirmed at a later date. 

 VI.  New Business

A.  Members were encouraged to continue sending letters of support to officials in Osnaburg Township (Stark County) regarding the preservation of the brick roadway known as Cindell Street.  Mike Buettner gave a brief report on his activities relating to this matter, and Marie Malernee discussed the lack of available money that is making it difficult for us to keep local officials from paving it over with blacktop.  There are three township trustees involved in this matter, and the one newly elected trustee is the swing voter needed for majority support.

 B.  Marie Malernee announced that she would not be able to attend the LHA Annual Conference in Evanston, Wyoming in June 2008.  Volunteers were sought to sit in for Marie and thus represent Ohio, but no one was able to commit at this time.  Marie will not serving a second term as State Director, and will likely be replaced by nominee Mike Buettner.  Assuming that this nomination is accepted, Mike is expected to represent Ohio at future national conferences in Indiana (2009) and Illinois (2010) and Pennsylvania (2011).  Mike announced his firm plans that he will only be serving one term of three years, and that the group should begin considering his successor.

 C.  According to rosters published each September by the LHA, Ohio memberships have dropped from 166 in 2004 to 126 in 2006 to 124 in 2007.  Attendance at the annual business meetings of the OLHL has also been disappointing.  Today’s count of members and guests was given as 32, which is roughly the same as the tally for 2007.  The future relationship of chapters to the national association was discussed, and the president suggested including a questionnaire in the next newsletter to seek ideas on how interest in state-level activities can be recaptured.  This questionnaire may also be made available at the OLHL internet site.

 D.  The matter of new “Lincoln Highway in Ohio” display boards was discussed.  Currently the group has one display board to share among the two chapters, which has caused several inconveniences in attention to normal wear and tear.  There is also a need to update graphics and other pertinent information.  With that in mind, it was decided that three new display boards be fabricated—with one going to the Mid-Ohio Chapter, one going to the Eastern Ohio Chapter, and one going to the Ohio Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor.  The latter is to be considered as a contribution to OLHHC, in lieu of the fact that OLHL is not a paying member of the OLHHC.  Jim Cassler reported that the estimated cost for three new boards would be $875.  The president requested that a motion be made for the purchase of three sign boards at the estimated price.  Such a motion was made by Mike Logan (Harrod), seconded by Jim Metzger (Lima), and passed.

E.  Jeff Lotze of the Eastern Ohio Chapter reported that the chapter has no documented chapter by-laws.  Thus, it is believed that it was the intent of the founding members that the national by-laws be followed, where applicable.  This small issue had been questioned only because of recent discussions at the national level which pertained to the functions of state and/or local chapters.

 F.  All current OLHL officers were nominated as a group for re-election.  This came as a result of a motion by Tom Lockard (Gambier), seconded by Mike Logan (Harrod), and passed.  Officers through our next meeting in April 2009 are as follows:

Michael Buettner                                                                                 President

Michael McNaull                                                                                 Vice President

Michael Lester                                                                                      Treasurer

Tammy Buettner                                                                                   Secretary

G.  It was announced that Mike Buettner will continue his appointment as newsletter editor, and that Jim Ross (North Canton) will continue his appointment as webmaster, both through April 2009.  These appointments were made by the executive committee.

H.  It was agreed that the next annual meeting of the Ohio Lincoln Highway League will be hosted by the Eastern Ohio Chapter of the Lincoln Highway Association.  The date for the meeting was tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2009.  However, if attendance could be maximized by moving the date forward or backward by one week, that option was to be considered.

VI.   Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 11:39 a.m., after which lunch was served.  It was reported that 32 members and guests were in attendance for this year’s events.

 Post-meeting 

 Just before an excellent lunch which was highlighted by a tasty combination of chicken breast and pasta, several members and guests had the opportunity to give “show and tell” presentations on various Lincoln Highway items which they have brought for display.  After lunch, local educator and historian Ted Bruner presented a detailed account of Colonel Crawford and the Battle of Olentangy.  Generous door prizes and raffle items were distributed at the conclusion of the events at the Elks Hall, after which the group was dismissed to tour various locations in Galion.  This included a walking tour of Uptowne Galion, plus a tour of Brownella Cottage.  Most folks were heading for home by 4:00 p.m. to close out a cool but sunny spring afternoon.

 Prepared by President Mike Buettner from the notes of Secretary Tammy Buettner

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