We began the meeting with a tour of the grounds and refreshments. After the meeting we toured the interior of the house, believed to be a Gordon-Van Tine or Sears home. It had been moved from a location two blocks away about 50 years ago and served as an art studio and sales room for several years prior to the Ricketts’ purchase and subsequent restoration. A new garage in stucco with a hipped roof looks like it has always been there.

1. Call to order - Linda Anderson

2. Minutes of April Awards Selection Meeting: - Emailed by Diane Oestreich. There was no May meeting as we presented our annual awards at City Council.

3. Vice President: - Pam Saunders & Diana Alm - The Clocktower tour on the last Saturday of April was attended by about a dozen members. We spent some time discussing the options for the July 20 meeting – a potluck and review of the proposed Hauberg Tour starting near the rhododendron garden at Hauberg. We decided that we would begin the potluck at 6 pm, with a walk around (not the complete tour, but a sampling, depending on how far folks want to walk) beginning about 6:45. Clayton Peterson will bring brats and a folding table as well as some chairs. Participants are asked to bring a dish to share and their own table service and beverage. An approximate head count will be requested when the meeting notice/agenda is sent. Linda said that Bob Towler had expressed an interest in joining us and pointing out some of the historic water-handling features of the Hauberg landscape.

   Diane said that the Moline Preservation Society is discussing joining with us in September and December.

4. Treasurer - Daryl Empen: No report. It was approved on a motion by Diane, seconded by Clayton, that we renew our annual membership in Landmarks Illinois. Diane will get the renewal form to Daryl.

   Linda also reported that she had filed the new IRS online Form 990N required of all non-profits. RIPS had not received any official notice of this, although FOLV had.

5. Corresponding Secretaries - Clayton Peterson, Martha Dismer. Clayton continues to send thank you notes as needed. He also did all the mailing and response collection for our awards. Martha published a newsletter in early May that included pictures of excellent quality. Martha tried to send Pete Cone a PDF for the website, but it was a 7MB file which was too big to make a good download on the website. She then sent the publisher file to Pete – to see if he can create a better PDF file.

   We received one suggestion in a membership renewal that an email version of the newsletter be sent instead of a paper one for those who request it. We can add this to our membership form next year.

6. Business Items

   • Endangered buildings/Preservation projects:
     Linda has responded to several emails directed to our website, including one elderly woman who lived at the Villa as a 2 year old when her parents went on extended trips. Linda has also received a specification drawing from the architect. It shows footings and a concrete block structure covered with brick. The difficulty of putting the “puzzle” of pieces of varying thicknesses was discussed.

   • Membership- Diane:
     We have 72 paid members. We also received a few donations and multi-year memberships this term. A few of our “regulars” have not yet renewed.

   • Neighborhood Partners - Terry Anderson Diana Alm
     Jill Doak sent information on Cable Access Channel 9. She said NP members can forward news releases, newsletters, eNews, etc. to Cherise Schwabe (Schwabe.Cherise@rigov.org ) for inclusion on this free notification system. Rules and other information about the Cable Access channel are at http://www.rigov.org/citydepartments/personnel/channel9.html you want to make sure an item is included, send her a specific email and include the application.

     Diana provided pictures taken at our awards to Jill for the NP newsletter. We also sent Jill Daryl’s pictures & Diane’s press release for the story.

   • Hauberg Walking Tour Booklet:
     Daryl reported that he is overlaying the original plans with the current aerial view of Hauberg. We hope to review this and the tour route (although probably not walk it all) at the July meeting. Linda said she’d only done a small amount of writing for the booklet at this point.

   • Highland Park Walking Tour:
     Linda has not had any volunteers to open their homes, although some may if asked directly and if we schedule around their schedule. We discussed several options and iterations of guided walking tour outside and/or interior home tour(s). That will also affect the timing of the event. If we only do a free external walking tour, we can do it on a regular meeting night and perhaps end up in someone’s yard or the school grounds for refreshments. If it’s an interior tour, for which we would charge and split the revenue with the Highland Park Association, it would likely be from 12 – 3 on a Sunday afternoon. Whether we have enough volunteers from RIPS and the neighborhood to do both events concurrently is a question. For interior tours, we do need a significant number of volunteers. Linda will attempt to get a commitment of interest and support from the neighborhood.

   • Website: Pete Cone
     Website updated with proposed RIPS constitution (sans red marks).

   • Constitution/Bylaws:
     Clayton made the changes in the constitution and bylaw changes that resulted from the preliminary review in April. The most significant change was in Article 7 where the board is specified to be composed only of elected officers, and it deletes reference to those who are committee chairs being on the board. Overall the revisions make our organization more flexible (i.e. by reducing the mandate for monthly meetings and changing it to 4 meetings per year) as well as reflect how we typically operate. The revised constitution was approved on a motion by Terry Anderson and seconded by Pam. We also determined that only the Constitution and Bylaws should be on our website, not the Policy and Procedures. Once Clayton has removed the red text, he will make sure that Pete has the latest version for the website. Clayton will also incorporate the dates of revisions.

   • Support for Preserve America
     On a motion by Terry, seconded by Dennis, we agreed that RIPS should sign the online letter to Congress for preservation funding as prepared by the National Trust. Linda will take care of this at http://www.preservationnation.org/take-action/advocacy-center/national-action-alerts/save-preservation-funding/open-letter.html

7. Announcements, Events, & General
   Open House at Coventry Apartments (Historic Rosenfield Mansion) on Tuesday, June 22 from 1-3 pm. There will be a tour of the mansion and apartments, refreshments, and a 30-minute presentation about the Rosenfields and their home starting at 1:30. RSVP by June 18 at 788-0117, ext. 23.

   Chippiannock Cemetery will have a tour with actors portraying people who interacted with John Looney on August 28, from 1 – 3 pm. Cost is $10.

8. Adjourn on a motion by Diane, seconded by Clayton.

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