Our annual social meeting was held at the home of Pete & Terri Cone, 1604 22nd Street, with a large number of guests and members present. Special guests were Barb & Dick Sandberg of Moline Preservation Society.

Instead of a formal business meeting, various items were discussed informally among those present as we enjoyed a variety of food and drink. We assembled briefly to hear how Moline Preservation Society is addressing lower attendance at meetings. It is becoming more apparent to everyone – both in RIPS and MPS – that there are so many demands on members’ time that meeting attendance can suffer. Even our strong supporters, especially those with children, find it impossible to attend regular meetings. In contrast to RIPS, MPS typically has offered a presentation at each monthly meeting, and has relegated the sometimes boring business decisions to board meetings. The programs are often accompanied by a meal. The board does not necessarily have regular face meetings, but often communicates by email and phone.

MPS is changing their program schedule to offer fewer and hopefully better attended programs. RIPS members present suggested that we might occasionally offer joint programs in areas of area-wide interest. Since RIPS generally has very good participation for our awards selection meeting, this is one meeting that we would not want to change.

Other preservation-related items talked about during the evening…...

Carolyn Holmgrain urged everyone to support the Rock Island County Historical Society by joining. She also highly recommended the monthly luncheons, which are presented at cost (about $7), and which feature a speaker on various historic subjects.

Linda Anderson has prepared a letter, with illustrations of the Villa arch and the architect’s proposal in color, to be sent to all Villa alum (approximately 500). She will prepare the ready-to-drop-in-the-mail envelopes and send them in bulk to the alum representative, who will then affix the private mailing labels. Clayton will make return address stickers for Linda.

The new decorations for the entrance tree at Hauberg Civic Center, which was decorated by RIPS, was very well received by the patrons at the open house. Pete and Terri noted that it received many positive comments. Rather than the faded Victorian inspired decorations that had been provided by the center in the past, we used large dried hydrangea bunches. Some were naturally colored pink and blue; others had their colors enhanced. Clayton Peterson purchased floral spray in a deep burgundy and gold glitter and lightly touched up some of the hydrangeas. Crocheted snowflakes and pinecones completed the look. We used an existing angel treetop per, but there was agreement that we need something better for next year.

The January 19 business meeting will be held at Linda Anderson’s, 1718 21st Street.