We met at the Voss Brothers Lofts, 2125 3rd Avenue, a project that received an award last year. Manager Peggy Crawford offered their first story conference room as a spot for our meeting. She also provided a tour of some of the apartments, including her own. Each of the apartments has a different layout; one even has a second story loft. Pam Saunders provided refreshments as well.

President: Linda Anderson called the meeting at 8 pm after the tour.

Secretary: Diane Oestreich emailed the March minutes.

Vice President: Pam Saunders - Pam Saunders will find a downtown spot for our meeting after our City Council awards presentation on May 19. Pete & Teri Cone volunteered to host the June 17 meeting. We’ll also confirm if Martha Dismer will host the July meeting, otherwise we’ll need an air-conditioned spot.

Treasurer: Daryl Empen reported a balance of $3007.32, with income from dues.

Corresponding Secretaries: We will need info for an early May newsletter. Get something to Martha Dismer by May 1! Jay Swords will write a history of his family’s business, the Swords Lumber Company, which sold Midwest-harvested walnut logs for years, for a later newsletter.

Committee Reports/Business

1. Awards:
   Linda contacted the City Clerk. We expect confirmation that the date for presentation will be Monday, May 19.
   Other items which are in process:
   
   1. Press Release - Linda & Diane;
   2. Frames (8 needed because we’ll also give one to the city) – Martha Dismer;
   3. Award photos layouts & printing – Daryl; He will also design the granite plaque, which has been purchased, for the Sylvan Natural Area
   4. Letter to awardees – Diane;
   5. Presentation narrative - Linda;

2. Neighborhood Partners:
   Terry Anderson will be our second Neighborhood Partners representative. Diana Alm will bring him up to speed and offer guidance. Jill Doak has added him to the mailing list. There is an upcoming event on May 8 at the downtown library sponsored by Neighborhood Partners. See below for details.

3. Membership:
   Diane reported that we have 61 members who have renewed. This is somewhat lower than previous years, but will probably pick up when the newsletter acts as a reminder. She also said her neighborhood is working on organizing, but is starting to study their history.

4. Postcard from Home:
   Diane said that the May column will be the last, simply because there aren’t new subjects to write about.

5. RIPS Website:
   We had a “hit” and request for info about the Crescent Bridge from Barbara Cohen who was researching bridges made by Phoenix Iron Company. She was very excited to find the Crescent. You can read about the restoration of the historic Phoenix Foundry at website http://www.phoenixvillefoundry.org/ Phoenixville is near Philadelphia and very close to Valley Forge. Diane sent her a high resolution scan of the Crescent Bridge postcard and asked Daryl to take some more pictures of the bridge when he has time to send her. Daryl said there is a way to find out how many hits we receive on our website.

6. Endangered Buildings/Preservation Projects:
   Daryl is exploring salvage of the terra cotta doorway at the Villa before it is demolished. This is in the part that was already burned. He’s contacted Salvage One in Chicago, but hasn’t heard back after he sent a photo. He’ll follow up and will also contact GRG in Davenport. This will take skilled work to remove without damaging it and there’s little likelihood of it being marketable in the QCA. Daryl also noted that some of the stone from the Villa may be stored at the old QCIC site.

   Old Lincoln School, as well as some other Rock Island buildings, was evaluated by the nonprofit Artspace organization for potential rehab for artists’ lofts. You can read the final report with the link below. You may not be able to access if you aren’t a subscriber…but try anyway. http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=381468&query=artspace. If the link doesn’t work, try www.qconline.com and enter the search term artspace (If you still can’t read it, email me and I’ll cut and paste it into a message for you). And if you want to know more about the company itself, check out http://www.artspaceusa.org/.

7. Hauberg landscape walking tour brochure: No Action

8. Notecards to sell at Long View Centennial:
   We’ll talk about this later after awards and Broadway tour, which take a great deal of Daryl’s time, are finished.

9. Fall Event?
   Linda reminded us that we need to start thinking about an event this autumn. We’ll branstorm next month.

10. Announcements & General:
    Broadway Great Unveilings – TWO unveilings will be held on Saturday, April 19, beginning at 8 am. The first will be at 824 20th Street (Smythe-Jackson House next door to David & Bryan). After that is finished, the unveiling will move to 820 22nd Street, probably around noon. Volunteers are welcome!

    Keystone Unveiling – Keystone Neighborhood Association is sponsoring an unveiling on April 26 at 4509 9th Avenue, beginning at 9 am.

    Davenport’s Gold Coast and Hamburg Historic District High Tea Saturday, April 26, 2008. You can choose from one of three times and locations.
    

    1. 1:30 pm, at "Westwin Place", 714 Western Street
    2. 2:30 pm, at 606 West 8th Street
    3. 3:30 pm, at 618 West 8th Street

    Each participant will receive a brief tour of the host home, High Tea, English style, a 20 minute presentation by Karen Anderson, and guided vehicle tours of the area after the Tea. Cost is $30. Obviously only a limited number can be accommodated, so make your reservation early. Call Sara Bartholomew, 563-322-8911, sbartholomew@mchsi.com or PJ Slobojan, 563-326-2894, pjs312@juno.com

    Neighborhood Partners FREE Seminar “Taking Green Home” Thursday, May 8, 6:30 – 8 pm at downtown library, 401 19th Street, Community Room upstairs. Sponsored by the Knowledge through Neighbors Task Force, there will be four speakers:
    

    • Bruce Wood, CEO of ePower Synergieson his new electric cars. See www.ePowerSynergies.com.
    • Beth Yusko, Project NOW, on weatherizing your home
    • Melody Miller, the City of Rock Island, on the Rain Garden Program
    • Tom Ayers, Rock Island’s Building Official and the Sustainable Design Advisory Team on using recyclable materials on home projects.
    
    Deserts will be served throughout the evening! Seating is limited, so reserve your spot by calling 732-2900.

    Broadway Home Tour - May 17 &18, from 11-3 each day. Volunteers will be needed to work at the houses. Two RIPS members have houses open – David Cordes & Bryan Pattschull at 816 20th Street, and Dennis and Francy Ricketts at 2208 7th Avenue.

ADJOURN on motion by Terry Anderson, seconded by Daryl.