The membership meeting was held at home of Diana Alm, 4601 14th Street.

President - Linda Anderson called the meeting to order with 9 present.

Vice President - Pam Saunders said the October 20 meeting will be held in the Tulip Room (the main living room) at Hauberg. She will bring refreshments. Linda suggested that, before the meeting, we could go outside and take a look at the area suggested for a tour booklet. It will be dark, so this will just be from outside the house. Pam suggested we might want to meet at the Deere-Wiman house at a future date.

Secretary - Diane Oestreich emailed the minutes of the August meeting.

Treasurer - Terri Cone reported a balance of $4907.13 after a major donation by Linda which will be used to pay architect fees for the installation of the Villa archway. The CD will come due in October. It pays very little interest and we could increase the interest by a very small amount by investing for 18 rather than 6 months. It was the consensus that the income is so small that we should not lock up our funds for that period of time. Terri also said that our account at American Bank was a “Business” account that paid minimal interest but that also charged a $15 monthly fee. Based on last month’s discussion, she has changed it to a “Liberty Small Business” account with no fee and no interest. Minimum balance is $250 and there is a limit of 500 transactions per month. Daryl Empen and Terri have check signing rights in case Terri is unavailable and a check is needed quickly.

Corresponding Secretaries - no update

Committee Reports/Business

1. Neighborhood Partners:
   Comments on the United Way volunteer website were made www.unitedwayqc.org. It was determined that we would need a project in order to seek volunteers.. There will be a NP forum about insurance for nonprofits at some undetermined future date. We should plan to send representatives.

2. Website:
   Pete Cone is still waiting for pictures of the 2008 Award winners. Daryl should have a CD which he prepared for the awards ceremony at City Hall.

3. Endangered Properties:
   Linda has not received any information about the site plan from the architect yet. She said there is a critical time to make contact with Villa alumni who receive an annual mailing around Christmas.

   The deteriorating brick entrance wall outside the Villa on 16th Avenue has been demolished and there are plans to build a new entrance surround with brick piers, made mostly from the historic brick, with ornamental iron (aluminum) between. A drawing was passed around. There is no time frame for this construction.

   Concern was also expressed about the deterioration of the historic brick streets in Highland Park due to the heavy construction vehicles. Ultimate regular access to the school grounds may also affect the neighborhood.

   Noting reports that there were pre-Villa foundations found on the site, it was suggested that someone contact Dave McAdam to find out more details. None of the historic information about the Villa mentioned a pre-existing building.

   It was also noted that the historic Jackson House at 824 20th Street will soon sport a reproduction tower. The tower is now in the front yard – a windowless box – and will presumably be hoisted atop the front projection. Owners Dave Cordes and Bryan Pattschull are RIPS members.

4. Hauberg Art:
   To reproduce the small painting, Diane contacted Bill Hannan who suggested Dave Deen at Summit Graphics in Moline who recommended a guaranteed 75 year ink printer - related to the "giclee" process. We can use either actual canvas or a watercolor textured paper. He recommended the watercolor type paper because the canvas texture can overwhelm small pictures, The cost for one print with an emailed graphics file on the archival substrate is $26 for the first one (approx 8 x 10, which is the original artwork size) and $11.75 for subsequent ones.

   It was moved by Pam, seconded by Diana Alm, to spend up to $60 to obtain and mat the picture. Diane has a nice frame which she will donate.

   If members want to purchase a $12 print, the order must be made at the same time as the single copy is ordered.

5. Fall Event:
   Diana will keep us posted on the Black Hawk Park West activity on Sunday, October 4. There will be a hot dog roast (donation; NOT a potluck) preceded by either a viewing of the new Indian exhibit at the lodge (not yet open) or a tour of the Saukenuk village area. Meet at 3 pm near the statue by the lodge. An email reminder will be sent to RIPS members.

Announcements & General:
The annual Gold Coast Home Tour in Davenport featuring 7 restored homes and buildings will take place this Saturday, September 19, from 11 – 4 , and Sunday, September 20, from 1 – 4. Tickets cost $10 and are available at all of the homes. For more information and home addresses, visit www.davenportgoldcoast.org.

A conference on “The Challenge of Change in Living Cultural Communities” will be held on Friday – Sunday, October 9 – 11 in Bishop Hill. You may register for single days or for the entire conference. Visit http://bishophillilsymposium.com/ to see why this unique symposium is of value to many fields and worth attending as well as for a complete schedule and registration info. If you have questions call Mike Wendell at 309-927-3899 or email bhha@winco.net

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has recently issued a Weatherization Guide with useful information for the old house owner. It has new, up-to-date information that deals with the issues of being “green” and being historic at the same time. Visit the website for information. Especially read the section on windows, energy audits, mechanical systems, insulation, roofing and more. http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/weatherization/

Upcoming Saturday programs at Black Hawk Park include a Geology Walk led by Jeff Strasser on September 19 from 10 till noon and a Fungi workshop and walk on October 3 from 9:30 – 11. In both cases, meet at the lodge.

River Action is having a dinner on Thursday, September 24, to celebrate their 25h Anniversary. Featured speaker is Joseph R. Riley, Jr., Mayor of Charleston SC who will talk on “Designing and Building Great Public Places: Everyone’s Responsibility.” Linda highly recommended this speaker. Details available at http://www.riveraction.org/node/47

A tour of historic homes and breweries will be held in Galena on September 26 & 27 from 9 to 5. For more info and details on the buildings, see http://www.galenagazette.com/main.asp?SectionID=142&SubSectionID=343&ArticleID=14154&TM=16190.74

This Sunday, September 26, from 1-3 pm there will be a “Salute to Veterans” tour at Riverside Cemetery in Moline.

Chippiannock Cemetery has a new tour pamphlet prepared by Jill Doak about the associates and contemporaries of John Looney who are buried here.

ADJOURNMENT - by consensus

Diane Oestreich
(309) 788-1845
blueskies78900@yahoo.com