ALBG BUSINESS MEETING

Transcription

1 ALBG BUSINESS MEETING July 17, 2015 The July business meeting of the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides was held at the Gettysburg Heritage Center on Steinwehr Avenue, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The meeting was called to order by President Joe Mieczkowski at 6:33 PM. There were sixteen (16) members present, including three (3) associate members. President Joe Mieczkowski opened the meeting by welcoming those in attendance. He then asked Secretary Britt Isenberg to present the previous minutes from the last business meeting held on May 15, Phil Lechak moved that the minutes from the last meeting be approved. Larry Korczyk seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously by a voice vote. COMMITTEE REPORTS: TREASURERS REPORT: Treasurer Phil Lechak provided all those in attendance with an Asset/Fund Summary Report and Cash Flow reports. Phil reported that the budget was in good shape. CONTINUING EDUCATION: Vice President Steve Slaughter announced that Association Day was successful with 14 people in attendance to The Wheatfield Tour held on July 13. There is currently no speaker lined up for the September General Business Meeting. GUIDE TEST: President Joe Mieczkowski had no new information to report on the next Guide Exam. LIBRARY COMMITTEE: Jim Clouse was not present at the meeting and there was no news to report. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: Larry Korczyk presented the May Membership Report. There are currently 153 LBG s, of which 28 are non-members of the association. There are 209 associate members and a total of 351members in the ALBG. NEWSLETTER:

2 President Joe Mieczkowski spoke on behalf of Dave Joswick, reporting that the deadline for the upcoming newsletter is September 5 SEMINAR COMMITTEE: Phil Lechak reported that the ALBG Academy had seven people signed up. There are nine people registered for the Fall Seminar, Battle Between the Barns. The Tuesday evening Walks Through History series has been very successful. There have been no less than 12 people on every tour. WEBSITE COMMITTEE: There was no report on behalf of the committee. VISITATION STATISTICS: John Fuss provided the visitation statistics for the first six months of the visitation year for November 2014 October Visitor Center Count (Door Counter) 339,321-44, % Car and Van Tours 3, % Bus Tours 1, % Cemetery Walks, etc. 0-3 Total Tours 5, % CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE: Steve Slaughter reported that there is a Centennial Poster in the Guide Room. 56 people have signed up for the Centennial Banquet. The committee is in the process of tying up the loose odds and ends for the programing. After August 1, the registration for the banquet will be opened to retired guides. John Fuss reported that the Cemetery Walks have been going very well with good visitor turnout. Joe Mieczkowski reported that Dave Joswick is currently designing a plaque to be placed on permanent display in the Visitor s Center commemorating 100 years of Guiding. Several designs will be submitted for approval to the Gettysburg Foundation. PRESIDENT S REPORT: President Joe Mieczkowski announced that Celebrate Gettysburg Magazine has voted the Licensed Battlefield Guides as the Best Tour in Gettysburg. Joe also thanked all those involved with clearing the brush on Little Round Top to enhance the view-shed. Larry Korczyk and Dave Weaver headed the effort with 12 others that donated their time and energies to clear the overgrowth. They worked for an hour and a half under the supervision of NPS Ranger Amanda Whitmore. Devils Den is the next location on the list for work. Joe also announced that the Diorama Open House was a great evening. Jim Kralick

3 was the host and he asked Joe to remind all members that they are welcome at the Diorama at any time. OLD BUSINESS: Phil Lechak announced that he would be sending out the ballot to vote on awarding Dean Schultz the title of Honorary Licensed Battlefield Guide. Phil also made a motion to increase the Revenue line for Seminars by $450 and increase the Organization Membership line by $450. The motion was seconded by John Fuss and carried on a voice vote. Deb Novotny announced that Woody Christ s tombstone was paid for by the estate. Funds provided by the ALBG will be used towards a Memorial Bench at Evergreen Cemetery. Joe Mieczkowski also provided the response to a letter given by the ALBG to Superintendent Ed Clark regarding the issue of unlicensed guiding. It is attached below. NEW BUSINESS: Chris Rebmann introduced research done with regards to current Guiding fees here at Gettysburg compared to fees paid elsewhere. The last evaluation was done on January 1, 2002 and it stated that no increases were necessary until inflation justified it. Since then there has been a 35% increase in the cost of living. Using the adjusted numbers the Guide fee for a 2-HR car should be $54.04; 2-HR van, $81.06; 2-HR bus, $ The committee will further investigate an increase in the licensing fee structure already in place. See the attached report. On another note, Confederate Trails is looking for Guides for their horse tours, but also for their carriage rides which at a minimum run for 1 hour. More information will follow for those interested. ADJOURNMENT: Phil Lechak mad a motion to adjourn and the motion was seconded by Larry Korczyk. The meeting was adjourned at 7:14 PM. Following the meeting, Doctor Daryl Black made a presentation on the Seminary Ridge Museum and its role with regards to Licensed Battlefield Guides. The program became an open forum and was extremely beneficial to all those in attendance. Respectfully Submitted, Britt Isenberg Secretary, ALBG

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