The meeting was held June 6 at 5 p.m.

At the meeting:

Members present include David Boyle, David Cameron, Don Coleman, Evelle Dana, Hubert Marsh, Davene Nichols, Darla Smalley and Mary Smitherman. Staff member: Lin Oliver.

Evelle Dana called the meeting to order at 5 p.m. and yielded the floor to Don Coleman who introduced the first two participants in the Clayton Bell Scholarship/Internship Program in Historic Preservation. Both are rising seniors at LaFayette High School: Raven Lumpkin and Diana Morgan. We welcomed and congratulated them. They then met with Jennie Chandler who began orienting them to the docent program as part of their internship.

Minutes of May 2 meeting were approved as submitted previously by email.

Treasurer’s report : Beginning Balance Regular Account – $4,771.42. Receipts –

$4,178.50, including $3,267.50 from the auction. Expenses – $1,307.83. Balance after expenses as of June 1 – $8,949.92.

Events account: Beginning Balance as of May 1 – $9,076.40. Expenses – $629.53. Balance after expenses as of June 1 – $8,446.87. Combined accounts – $16,088.96.

Encumbered monies: Rug account: $425. Clayton Bell Scholarship: $2,619. Cabin fund: $2,088.53. Available funds – $10,956.43.

President’s report : Evelle Dana gave a summary of the story of how the recently acquired portrait of Gen. Lafayette came to hang in LaFayette City Hall. See the next issue of the newsletter for full detail, but it began with a call to Dana from someone in California who saw the Marsh House website. Dana reviewed the plan to renovate the friends organization with a new group of workers. Mary Smitherman gave Dana a list of current friends members. The recognition of volunteers from all aspects of the Marsh House will be separated from the friends group.

Staff report : Lin Oliver sent her report in writing. Final amount made by the Tea and Tour $585, all profit due to donations of supplies. Served 24 at the first serving and eight at the second serving. Sold more tickets than we served. Thanks to all who volunteered. Lin worked with Mary Smitherman and all the volunteers at the Auction. Wrote and delivered thank you notes to the volunteers I asked to help and to those who made donations to the auction. Worked on donation sheets for us to hand out to donors. The donation sheet worked very well, and now I will have it on file.

Booked a tour group for June 16, the Black Creek Ladies Association from Chattanooga. Suggested they eat at the Ivy Cottage and gave them the number. I had given the head of the group information about the Marsh House last year, so it took them a year to make the arrangements for the tour. The new housekeeper's name is Sue Swartz. There was no activity in the gift shop to report.

Building & Grounds (David Cameron): Electrical repair work and new front exterior lighting completed by DKB Electric. New programmable thermostats installed. Will be programmed to maintain the museum standard range of 59-77 degrees Farenheit. Plans for June: Exterior painting of the house started today to be completed within three weeks. Broken north irrigation line repaired by Mid-Atlantic today. Will schedule HVAC checkup. Bill Whitten hopes to have new logs needed for the cabin reconstruction this week.

Interiors and Furnishings (Davene Nichols): The light fixture on the back porch is installed. Some other light fixtures are being repaired. Looking for a simple, plain wash stand for the servants’ quarters. Approved replacement unanimously on a motion by Hubert Marsh (1) and Don Coleman (2). A motion was made by Davene Nichols (1) and Hubert Marsh (2) to purchase a large ceramic or concrete pineapple to place at the back drive entrance as a historical sign of welcome.

Housekeeping : The new housekeeper is doing well, but may need to allot more time.

Public Relations (Don Coleman): Coleman presented the report and application materials for the Clayton Bell Scholarship Fund (attached). The procedures for recruitment and administration for the fund were approved unanimously on a motion by Coleman (1) and Mary Smitherman (2). There will be refinements over time and a strong effort to include all county high schools. This year was a pilot year to develop the program. The museum education schools subcommittee of the history committee will serve as the coordinating group for the program. Darla Smalley raised the issue of explaining in our materials who Clayton Bell was and why the fund is named in his honor. David Boyle agreed to supply a biographical note for the materials.

Events (Mary Smitherman): The May 21 auction raised about $3,300 with some final book keeping to be settled. Smitherman thanked everyone who participated and helped make it a success. Sometime in June, Smitherman will help feature the house events on the Channel 9 Don Welch TV show. The Ghost Walk is scheduled for Oct. 29.

History Committee (David Boyle): The History Committee is examining the history of several log cabins in south Walker. Several monthly programs of the Walker Historical Society will deal with the effects of the War Between the States on the area: Aug. 28, 2:30 p.m., Doug Carson will lead a session at Fricks’ Cave on Saltpeter Mining during the war. The Sept. 25, 2:30 p.m., meeting of the society will be a walking tour of the Battle of LaFayette ending with lemonade on the Marsh House lawn. The history education (museums) subcommittee will assume a coordinating role with the Clayton Bell Scholarship program. The subcommittee is regrouping after weather wreaked havoc with plans for familiarization tours for teachers from various schools.

Docents Report (Jennie Chandler per written report): Number of active docents: 5, Volunteer hours during regular tours: 19, Volunteer hours for special tours: 12.25, Committee management hours: 2, Total Hours: 33.25. Guests: 39 adults, 4 children. Amount collected: $53. Committee activity for the month: The Tea and Tour program May 7 was a great success. Marilyn Ransom’s tea pot collection was the exhibit in May.

Old business : David Boyle presented the first annual report with a copy for everyone. It can be used for information or promotion with any of our supporters. The next one will have even more information.

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 1 at 5 p.m. No meeting in July. Adjourned at 6:25 p.m.

Submitted by David P. Boyle, recording secretary.