Historical Commission

Sterling Heights Historical Commission February 5, 2015 40433 Utica Road Sterling Heights, MI 48313 Minutes of Meeting I. Call to Order Meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. II. Roll Call Present: John Connor, Frank DiMaria, Douglas J. Harvey, Michael J. Lombardini, Meaghan Mott, Ruthann Schinzing, Scott Townsend Absent: none Staff Present: Tammy Turgeon III. Approval of Agenda Motion made by Harvey to approve the agenda, seconded by Connor. Motion carried. IV. Minutes of November 6, 2014 Minutes of the November 6, 2014 meeting were approved on a motion by Lombardini, supported by Schinzing. Motion carried. V. Communications/Reports/Correspondence Commission members continue to receive local historical groups’ newsletters forwarded to them via email. Turgeon tried to attend MCHA meeting in January, but it was cancelled. DiMaria indicated that tours should be hosted by all commission members. Loa will send a reminder to members that volunteer for specific dates. We need to have two members for each tour. VI. Unfinished Business A. Sterling Christmas DiMaria thanked members for undecorating the house. $43.35 was received in donations. There were 335 visitors. Commission discussed sending out a letter to local businesses asking for a 8’ prelit tree to replace the one in the foyer. Commission would ask families to bring an ornament during Sterling Christmas and we would keep them for the tree each year.  Motion was made by Schinzing to solicit local businesses to donate a tree to be used as the Sterling Heights Community Family Tree, seconded by Lombardini. Motion carried. B. Names Project Still working on. C. Oral History Conversion Project Turgeon has completed 13 of the oral histories into MP3 format. It is a slow process. Mott suggested flagging transcripts that are not complete so that someone could work on those. D. Wikipedia Page Lombardini is working on this. E. Upton House Tours Pamphlet Turgeon will get this put on the website. F. Historical Display in Library Thank you to Jeff Norgrove for creating a Vietnam War display for the case. One idea for the next display was to show SH government through the years. G. Clippings and Scrapbook Harvey still has some clipping work at home. If other commissioners are interested, please let Turgeon or Debbie V. know. H. Historical Marker Program Applications are available online and in the library. We have not received any yet. Harvey would like a picture of the plaque. Turgeon will find out if a list of older homes can be generated through the city. I. Macomb County Heritage Alliance – Patch Program DiMaria indicated that scouts want to purchase patches when they go on the tour. Turgeon will make sure some patches are available in the desk to sell. This option could also be mentioned when a scout group books a tour so they can be purchased ahead of time. VII. New Business A. Fall Magazine Article Mott may do an article on the Clinton River. Someone will need to commit at the May meeting. The article is due by mid-July. B. May Historical Commission Program Commission discussed May program topics. Mott will get Turgeon a contact for a program about Michigan and the Civil War. An alternative subject would be Amelia Earhart. VIII. Communications from Citizens None IX. Adjourn A motion was made by Connor to adjourn, seconded by Townsend. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:03 p.m. Next meeting: May 7, 2015 at 6 p.m.