2019 FoCH Annual Meeting
Tuesday, March 19. 7:00 pm Gund Hall
Items printed in black were posted for member review in advance of the meeting. Notes in green were added after the meeting.
Local farmer/ historic preservation advocate Jim Fry asked to address the group regarding the Oviatt Farmhouse. His interest is in John Brown, an ardent abolitionist whose militant actions may have helped precipitate the American Civil War. JB lived in Richfield 1842-1844, but this is not well known. Jim is proposing to buy one the the JB dwellings which is currently for sale on Rt 303. This, together with the Oviatt House, can form part of a Freedom Byway commemorating JB's role in history. Jim approached Jeff DeLuca and received permission to paint and put a roof on part of the Oviatt House. He proposes charging RJRD 1 dollar to hire him as an independent contractor, so that he will assume any liability for risk while working. Jim feels the Oviatt house is "Not in bad shape" and can be restored without undue difficulty. FoCH members had several questions about the proposed restoration to which Jim responded. Corey thanked him for his time in coming to speak to us about his project.
. Vote on proposed bylaws change This change was adopted by the membership
- Vote for up to three directors Congratulations to Karen Smik and Donna Spiegler who were re-elected
Congratulations and Welcome to Elizabeth Csontos
- Opportunities for involvement ( see list below)
Additional announcements
- for 2019 ,we are returning to business meetings every other months give members more opportunity for planing and involvement
- review of annual report advance copy ( & apologies for the several typos)
- If anyone contributes to a Facebook fundraising campaign for FoCH, please be aware that altho an organization called Network for Good does pass on the money on to us, everything is listed as an anonymous donation. We can't send out thanks because we have no way of knowing who the donors are.
- follow up on capital campaign tagline survey: mixed opinion. nothing really won.
- RJRD is reviewing fundraising format, so marketing on hold anyway.
- Nonetheless, EVERY FoCH MEMBER can be part of the Friendly Presence in the park. We will be presenting a bit of history slid show after the business meetings. Even though they are all "re-runs" repetiton may haelp us all remember
- Refresher course in park history: Richfield Heritage Preserve, Ohio's Hidden Treasure
- Vote on proposed bylaws change
The proposed change will establish the term of advisory panel members to one calendar year. There is currently no expiration on advisory terms. This means that advisors have been able to stay on the panel even after they no longer actively participate, as long as their dues are paid. In the new structure, advisors can be re-appointed by the Board of Directors every year.
Current bylaw: ARTICLE VI: ADVISORY PANEL
Section 1. The Advisory Panel shall consist of interested members of FoCH for the purpose of advising the Board of Directors about any topic under Discussion and to suggest additional topics of concern. Members of the Advisory Panel will be welcome to attend any meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof except those meetings declared to be executive session.
Section 2. Membership in the Advisory Panel shall be by invitation from a majority of the Board of Directors and current members of the Advisory Panel. There shall be no limit on the number of members on the Advisory Panel.
Section 3. Members of the Advisory Panel shall have no voting rights on financial matters nor on matters restricted to the Board of Directors by law.
Section 4. Members of the Advisory Panel can be removed by a Majority vote of all other members of the Advisory Panel and Board of Directors.
Proposed change: ARTICLE VI: ADVISORY PANEL
Section 1. The Advisory Panel shall consist of interested members of FoCH for the purpose of advising the Board of Directors about any topic under Discussion and to suggest additional topics of concern. Members of the Advisory Panel will be welcome to attend any meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof except those meetings declared to be executive session.
Section 2. New members can be added to the Advisory Panel by invitation from a majority of the Board of Directors and current members of the Advisory Panel. There shall be no limit on the number of members on the Advisory Panel. Membership will expire at the end of the fiscal year in which the member was invited, unless extended by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. The Board of Directors may extend the term of any member of the Advisory Panel for the subsequent fiscal year.
Section 4. Members of the Advisory Panel shall have no voting rights on financial matters nor on matters restricted to the Board of Directors by law.
Section 5. Members of the Advisory Panel can be removed by a Majority vote of all other members of the Advisory Panel and Board of Directors.
- Vote for no more than three directors
CANDIDATES
Elizabeth Csontos has lived in Richfield her whole life. Richfield Heritage Preserve has been like a home to her for almost 2 years, where she happily serves on the advisory panel for FoCH as well as FoCH Hike Coordinator. Elizabeth was the project coordinator for the installation of the Wayfinding Signs at the park and also serves on the RJRD Park Operations Committee. Volunteering has always been a passion of hers. When she encountered RHP for the first time, you could not take her away! Nothing brings her greater joy then volunteering for a project to help the park and the people of this park thrive. When she is not at the park you can find her nannying for two kids, ages 3 and 5 or studying. By 2022, she will achieve an online Bachelors degree of Science in Psychology with an emphasis in Biblical Studies and a minor in Nonprofit Management from Colorado Christian University.
Rachel Oppenheimer, Ph.D. grew up camping on the property and taught horseback riding lessons at the stables in the early 2000s. Rachel has been involved in FoCH since its first meeting, planing and organizing Sunday Fundays in 2010 & 2011. She currently serves as FoCH's director of social media. She is a professional historian who holds a doctorate in history from Carnegie Mellon University. Her doctoral dissertation was on the subject of prison protest in Northern Ireland and the United States during the late 20th century. She is a visiting instructor of history at the University of Pittsburgh and an adjunct instructor of history at the Community College of Allegheny County. In the fall she will also be teaching at Carnegie Mellon. Rachel participates in programming with FoCH when her schedule permits a visit back to Ohio.
Karen Smik handles FoCH's publicity and loves to work on special events for FoCH as well as the RJRD. She has a son, a daughter, and two precious granddaughters. Karen is a "professional" volunteer and is very actively involved with a number of Richfield community and school-related organizations. She enjoys the paperwork and phone calls involved in organizing activities and functions. Karen is a very passionate fan of Richfield Heritage Preserve and of FoCH!
Donna Spiegler currently serves as the treasurer of FoCH, and has been a member of the organization since 2009. She has a master’s degree in non-profit management and works in communications at a large historic house museum. Donna is always delighted when she can spend time at Richfield Heritage Preserve.
- Opportunities for involvement. Spend time at the property and with your fellow FoCHs !
Friendly Presence
Trail Tracking
Fence Following
Garlic mustard check in - April 27 & May 4
Garlic Mustard removal
Invasive species- herbicide training
Barberrians
Event Assistants : Kirby Day, Organized hikes, and others TBA
FoCH booths at events both in & out of the park ( with an experienced member)
Garage sale storage & hosting
Grant - writing
Graphics
Cookie baking for 2019 sale
RJRD projects – saturday mornings and otherwise
- Refresher course in park history: Richfield Heritage Preserve, Ohio's Hidden Treasure
All FoCH members are invited to learn more about the park. Each Membership meeting in 2019 will be followed by a presentation on a different aspect of park history. These presentations have all been given in various locations in the past. They are being offered again as "refresher courses" so that as many FoCH members as possible can help spread the message about why this place is so significant.
items printed in black were posted for member review in advance of the meeting. Notes in green were added after the meeting.
. Vote on proposed bylaws change This change was adopted by the membership
- Vote for up to three directors Congratulations to Karen Smik and Donna Spiegler who were re-elected
Congratulations and Welcome to Elizabeth Csontos
- Opportunities for involvement ( see list below)
Additional announcements
- for 2019 ,we are returning to business meetings every other months give members more opportunity for planing and involvement
- review of annual report advance copy ( & apologies for the several typos)
- If anyone contributes to a Facebook fundraising campaign for FoCH, please be aware that altho an organization called Network for Good does pass on the money on to us, everything is listed as an anonymous donation. We can't send out thanks because we have no way of knowing who the donors are.
- follow up on capital campaign tagline survey: mixed opinion. nothing really won.
- RJRD is reviewing fundraising format, so marketing on hold anyway.
- Nonetheless, EVERY FoCH MEMBER can be part of the Friendly Presence in the park. We will be presenting a bit of history slid show after the business meetings. Even though they are all "re-runs" repetiton may haelp us all remember
- Refresher course in park history: Richfield Heritage Preserve, Ohio's Hidden Treasure
- Vote on proposed bylaws change
The proposed change will establish the term of advisory panel members to one calendar year. There is currently no expiration on advisory terms. This means that advisors have been able to stay on the panel even after they no longer actively participate, as long as their dues are paid. In the new structure, advisors can be re-appointed by the Board of Directors every year.
Current bylaw: ARTICLE VI: ADVISORY PANEL
Section 1. The Advisory Panel shall consist of interested members of FoCH for the purpose of advising the Board of Directors about any topic under Discussion and to suggest additional topics of concern. Members of the Advisory Panel will be welcome to attend any meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof except those meetings declared to be executive session.
Section 2. Membership in the Advisory Panel shall be by invitation from a majority of the Board of Directors and current members of the Advisory Panel. There shall be no limit on the number of members on the Advisory Panel.
Section 3. Members of the Advisory Panel shall have no voting rights on financial matters nor on matters restricted to the Board of Directors by law.
Section 4. Members of the Advisory Panel can be removed by a Majority vote of all other members of the Advisory Panel and Board of Directors.
Proposed change: ARTICLE VI: ADVISORY PANEL
Section 1. The Advisory Panel shall consist of interested members of FoCH for the purpose of advising the Board of Directors about any topic under Discussion and to suggest additional topics of concern. Members of the Advisory Panel will be welcome to attend any meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof except those meetings declared to be executive session.
Section 2. New members can be added to the Advisory Panel by invitation from a majority of the Board of Directors and current members of the Advisory Panel. There shall be no limit on the number of members on the Advisory Panel. Membership will expire at the end of the fiscal year in which the member was invited, unless extended by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. The Board of Directors may extend the term of any member of the Advisory Panel for the subsequent fiscal year.
Section 4. Members of the Advisory Panel shall have no voting rights on financial matters nor on matters restricted to the Board of Directors by law.
Section 5. Members of the Advisory Panel can be removed by a Majority vote of all other members of the Advisory Panel and Board of Directors.
- Vote for no more than three directors
CANDIDATES
Elizabeth Csontos has lived in Richfield her whole life. Richfield Heritage Preserve has been like a home to her for almost 2 years, where she happily serves on the advisory panel for FoCH as well as FoCH Hike Coordinator. Elizabeth was the project coordinator for the installation of the Wayfinding Signs at the park and also serves on the RJRD Park Operations Committee. Volunteering has always been a passion of hers. When she encountered RHP for the first time, you could not take her away! Nothing brings her greater joy then volunteering for a project to help the park and the people of this park thrive. When she is not at the park you can find her nannying for two kids, ages 3 and 5 or studying. By 2022, she will achieve an online Bachelors degree of Science in Psychology with an emphasis in Biblical Studies and a minor in Nonprofit Management from Colorado Christian University.
Rachel Oppenheimer, Ph.D. grew up camping on the property and taught horseback riding lessons at the stables in the early 2000s. Rachel has been involved in FoCH since its first meeting, planing and organizing Sunday Fundays in 2010 & 2011. She currently serves as FoCH's director of social media. She is a professional historian who holds a doctorate in history from Carnegie Mellon University. Her doctoral dissertation was on the subject of prison protest in Northern Ireland and the United States during the late 20th century. She is a visiting instructor of history at the University of Pittsburgh and an adjunct instructor of history at the Community College of Allegheny County. In the fall she will also be teaching at Carnegie Mellon. Rachel participates in programming with FoCH when her schedule permits a visit back to Ohio.
Karen Smik handles FoCH's publicity and loves to work on special events for FoCH as well as the RJRD. She has a son, a daughter, and two precious granddaughters. Karen is a "professional" volunteer and is very actively involved with a number of Richfield community and school-related organizations. She enjoys the paperwork and phone calls involved in organizing activities and functions. Karen is a very passionate fan of Richfield Heritage Preserve and of FoCH!
Donna Spiegler currently serves as the treasurer of FoCH, and has been a member of the organization since 2009. She has a master’s degree in non-profit management and works in communications at a large historic house museum. Donna is always delighted when she can spend time at Richfield Heritage Preserve.
- Opportunities for involvement. Spend time at the property and with your fellow FoCHs !
Friendly Presence
Trail Tracking
Fence Following
Garlic mustard check in - April 27 & May 4
Garlic Mustard removal
Invasive species- herbicide training
Barberrians
Event Assistants : Kirby Day, Organized hikes, and others TBA
FoCH booths at events both in & out of the park ( with an experienced member)
Garage sale storage & hosting
Grant - writing
Graphics
Cookie baking for 2019 sale
RJRD projects – saturday mornings and otherwise
- Refresher course in park history: Richfield Heritage Preserve, Ohio's Hidden Treasure
All FoCH members are invited to learn more about the park. Each Membership meeting in 2019 will be followed by a presentation on a different aspect of park history. These presentations have all been given in various locations in the past. They are being offered again as "refresher courses" so that as many FoCH members as possible can help spread the message about why this place is so significant.
items printed in black were posted for member review in advance of the meeting. Notes in green were added after the meeting.