At 7 pm, prior to the business meeting, Walter and Anne gave us a full tour of the historic Hill-Keator House. This was a wonderful experience for us, since most of us did not even know of the existence of this huge and historic home. From the front gabled exterior with its oculus window and wraparound porch to the beautifully detailed interior, which has been decorated in period (but very livable) style, the house was a joy to learn about. A visual history with old maps and photos preceded the interior tour. Hand stenciling, Bradbury wallcoverings, and authentic gas-electric lights all elicited praise. After the short business meeting (see below), Anne served gourmet refreshments.

1. Call to order - Linda Anderson

2. Minutes of March Awards Selection Meeting: - Emailed by Diane Oestreich

3. Vice President: - Pam Saunders - The Clocktower tour is this Saturday, April 24, at 1 pm. Meet at the main entrance to the Clocktower. Enter the Arsenal from Rock Island or Davenport, and use the Davenport (north) entrance to the island. The Clocktower parking lot is adjacent to the entrance. BE SURE TO BRING PHOTO ID to enter the island. The building is handicapped accessible. We will not have a regular business meeting in May, but will attend the Awards presentation on Monday, May 10, followed by a reception in the basement conference room at City Hall. Clayton Peterson will bring beverages and glasses, and Diane, Jean Dasso, and Pam will bring snacks. Pam will bring napkins and plates.

   During the business meeting, we decided to have a regular business meeting on Tuesday, June 15, and a potluck (near the rhododendron garden) and walk in the Hauberg woods on July 20, to review the route for the booklet on the woods that is being planned. Clayton will bring some chairs.

   Francy & Dennis Ricketts will host the June meeting at their Davenport home at 2028 Kirkwood. This is a fascinating house that is believed to be a Gorden-VanTine or Sears house. They will prepare some house history for the May newsletter.

4. Treasurer - submitted by Terri Cone -
   
   Checking Balance $7,802.60
   YTD Receipts excluding Villa $910.00
   YTD Expenses excluding Villa $170.08
   Balance excluding Villa $3,464.95
   
   2009 Villa Arch Project - Net $600.00
   2010 Villa Arch Project - Net $3,737.65
   To Date Villa Arch Project - Net $4,337.65
   
   CD Balance: 1323.14, renews in April

   Terri announced that she wished to resign effective May 1. Daryl Empen agreed to assume the treasurer’s position and was approved by consensus.

5. Corresponding Secretaries - Clayton Peterson, Martha Dismer - There is no time for a newsletter before the Clocktower tour, so Diane will send a handful of postcards to those members who may be interested and who are not on the email list. Articles for a May newsletter are requested.

6. Business Items

   • Awards:
     Diane sent press releases to Argus & Times on April 5. Alma Gaul will do full story in Times on May 16. Laura Fraembs, temporary Homes editor will do an Argus/Dispatch story on May 10. Daryl has taken the photos and we will send them to both papers. Clayton has made arrangements for the awards on May 10 at the City Council meeting and he has reserved the basement conference room for a short ‘reception’ afterwards. (see above). He will also write letters to the winners to invite them to the ceremony. Martha will buy frames and Daryl is creating the awards. Linda will do the presentation.

   • Membership- Diane:
     We have just under 70 paid members so far for 2010. We also received a few donations and multi-year memberships this term. A few of our “regulars” have not yet renewed.

   • Hauberg Walking Tour:
     Jeannie Dasso, Mike Hammer, Diana, and Linda walked the Hauberg site last Saturday morning and came up with a route and a strategy. We will do pot luck on the grounds in July (see above) and perhaps have a deadline for the project.

   • Highland Park Walking Tour:
     Linda asked for volunteers to work on this. Jay Swords, a RIPS member and Highland Park resident has already offered to help. Linda will try to get Highland Park people involved on a committee that we will also need to staff.

   • Constitution/Bylaws:
     Clayton extensively reviewed the constitution and bylaws and submitted recommendations, which were emailed and which we reviewed. Some fine tuning changes were made. These will be compiled by Clayton and emailed to members later for final action in June. One significant change recommended from that emailed was to change Article 7 about the board structure to specify that the board will be composed of the elected officers. This deletes reference to those who are committee chairs being on the board.

7. Adjourn on a motion by Clayton, seconded by Dennis.

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