LINCOLN HIGHWAY ASSOCIATION
Teleconference Minutes
November 19, 2008
CALL TO ORDER: President Bob Dieterich called the meeting to order 7:05pm
1) ATTENDANCE: The following board members were in attendance:
Bob Dieterich (CA), Russell Rein (MI), Sue Jacobson (IL), Jess Petersen (UT), Kay Shelton (IL), Lennie Stubblefield (NE), Al Pfingstl (NJ),Jerry Peppers (NY), Mike Buettner (OH), Mindy Crawford (PA), Shelly Horne (WY), Jim Peters(MA),Diane Rositter (IL), Ron Colson (IL) late; Absent: Randy Wagner (WY),Jeff LaFollette (IA), Geno Oliver (NV), Al Stockland (UT), Brian Butko (PA). Russell Rein reported a possible candidate for the Indiana Director. He had spoken with Gary Satkamp (a member since 2002) about running for the position of IN Director. He agreed, and Russell told him to send a written bio to Jeff LaFollette, the election chair.
THE AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING:
2) Pete Davies, author "An American Road": Bob received a call from the people who are doing the reenactment of the Army Convoy in 1919 wanting to make contact with Pete. Russell had the information concerning Pete's addresses and will send the information to Bob.
3) SHADRICK SMITH "Rolling Down that Lincoln Highway":
---Bob Dieterich and Paul Gilger reviewed information about him and the song he recorded which Sue Jacobson had sent, plus info from the internet.
---Song was done at the Fort Wayne, IN banquet and at the IL LHA Conference marches were played on the piano.
---Jess reported video tapes of Shadrack
---Russell will put on website if Jimmy Lin is too busy
---Don't know if an LHA song is necessary
---Coalition rep said they could put the song and information on their website
---PA Director would like it on their website
---Cited Rt. 66 has two songs
---Lylle Henry (IA) was to have an IA college band record the music Sue sent
---Craig Harmon found the U. S. Army band playing the Lincoln Higway March on his website; Russell would like to have it for next conference
---Sue will send the music sheets she has to Russell
---There are several bands, songs, etc. that hopefully will come forward
---Jess inquired about a movie "A Walk in the Sun" from 1945. Russ found information about that and "Wolf Creek Pass"--Old 30. C.W, Gilbreath song about Old U.S. 30. Russell in contact with his grand daughter, Susan G. Lane from Chicago who is having her grandfather (Hoosier Auto Club) papers digitized by U of M archives. He also was the model for the sculpture "The Spirit of the Lincoln Highway". (In the 1924 tour guide) Bob and Russell both have had contact with her.
---The PBS Documentary "A Ride Along the Lincoln Highway would be another source of music/song
---Russell will try and coordinate all the information and put it on the website
4) MEMBERSHIP BROCHURES;
---Bob has had many requests for brochures. Jim Cassler will print 5,000 and distribute them to those who contact him. Many new members since the PBS show have become members and many requests for merchandise.
---Mindy (PA) had 36 requests for information the next day, Peppers (NY) had 40 requests
---Jim Peters requested two brochures---a membership one and a travel one;
looking for helpers with graphic design; each state have own sites and information for their state
---WY Conference had a great one, (Summit County did the work on the Echo Canyon section); Jim Cassler wants to be involved in the production of this brochure. He will send quantities of brochures to Jay Banta, Jess Petersen and Lynn Asp
---Jess reported money in the budget for another brochure, but not one for each state....one with information on travel along the LH
---Lennie Stubblefield (NE) reported byway people in NE put out a brochure which the LHA group in NE helped with the historic section. It won an award. She was to send copies to Bob, Jim Peters and Sue. She'll also bring them to South Bend in June 2009.
---Suggestion to put these brochures on the website
5) ELECTION PROCESS FOR DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS: Jeff LaFollette
In Jeff's absence, Bob highlighted some of Jeff's ideas:
---Jeff is nominating committee chair this year; wants support for his idea that board of directors be elected by each state, rather than nationally and officers be elected on a national ballot. This gets quite complicated, but discussion can't be done unless Jeff is present
---Each state should be making nominations for someone to be on the ballot
---Any change, requires a by-laws change
---Discussion about states nominating directors, but not officers since they are a national board and should be elected by national membership
---Anyone can make nominations now
---Bob will contact Jeff about the vacancies
6) DOMAIN NAMES: lincolnhighwayassoc.net and lincolnhighwayassoc.com
---Bob has been in contact with Rollin Southwell. Rollin has apologized for the problem regarding the domain names. He promised not to renew the domain names, he would let their renewal lapse so we could pick up the domains when the names were released. However, the registering agency, Simple URL, didn't release the names, in fact they locked the names so they can't be brought up by anyone else. They are owners of the names now and have them up for auction on the web. Bob will send out the link with the cost of the purchase being $69 but now is $29. This can be obtained on back order, which we already have. Russell will see what he can find for ownership. Name Jet has the control over the sale at auction. Bob will send the link to the auction site to Russell.
---Rollin wants to get an Eastern NV Chapter started, but can't do anything until the domain name business is settled.
7) ILLINOIS COALITION'S INTERPRETIVE MASTER PLAN: Russell Rein
---Bob Dieterich reviewed the LHA's involvment with the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition. Past President Jan Shupert-Arik had requested one of the ILLHC members serve as an At-Large member on the LHA Board. The IL LHA Director took issue with having a coalition member serve on the board who wasn't an LHA member. Two members of the ILLHC were nominated and elected to At-Large positions....Ron Colson and Diane Rossiter. Some of the issues with the ILLHC are listed below:
---They have asked to use our logo, which LHA has trademark for when used commercially
---The ILLC used the logo on various projects, interpretive panels, etc. and didn't mention the LHA. They were asked for their master plan of their projects
to see how the logo was being used. They didn't provide one
---Bob had to go to the website and downloaded it--2004 Interpretive Master Plan, which was copyrighted and couldn't be reproduced.
---The coalition wanted to change our Headquarters building in Franklin Grove into a coalition information center and they would set up a big visitor's center in Dixon, IL. Large pictures and info about the coalition, but nothing about the LHA
---Can't reproduce the plan due to being copyrighted which is questionable due to using taxpayers' money to produce it.
--Filed a "Freedom of Information Act" request to get supporting documentation leading up to the grant to produce this plan. There's a 2007 addendum. They sent one copy to Russell Rein, which is also copyrighted so he can't make copies for the LHA officers. (Russell is the LHA's contact person with the coalition after failed interaction with the state director and the LHA's president.)
---Russell shared the cover letter sent with the plan from the coalition:
"While we are supplying you with one copy each of the Master Plan and the addendum, please understand the coalition will not acquiesce to ass'n's review of or changes to the coalitions plans or projects." The letter was written by Sue Vos, chairman of the ILLHC and Ray Keller, past chairman. Group from U of Wis. wrote up the plan who have done other similar plans for other groups like Rt. 66 and other byway programs.
--Delays in sending the plan to us due to lack of copies and the cost, plus the ILLHC Board needed to give approval at a monthly meeting. Ron Colson would ask the next coalition meeting if we could make copies for our LHA board members.
---Russell gave his impression or interpretation of the plan. Their plan is to promote tourism and historic byways, under many different titles. They are able to get national park funding for projects for the states
---The addendum had some historical problems...stated concrete markers were
mile markers, inaccurate routing of LH, trying to enlarge the corridor of the LH to encompass the surrounding communities to expand tourism. Misleading to people as to actual route of the Lincoln Highway. Russell felt there's enough along the actual highway, that expanding to outlying areas isn't necessary.
---Ron Colson cited a situation of Larado Taft's and Jens Jenson's friendship that connected two distant areas in his area. Ron will ask to have the issue of the Master Plan copies for the LHA board, put on the coalition's agenda. Also, they need historical accuracy in their presentations, exhibits, etc.
---Russell maintained the byway designation is separate identity from the coalition.Funds available should be spent on improving, identifying, preserving, and documenting the byway , not expanding it to related communities
---Kay Shelton elaborated on people getting confused as to where the Lincoln Highway goes and where not. Franklin Grove has received numerous calls to that effect.
---We need to establish a closer working relationship, but don't know why the coalition is relunctant to review anything with us or let us review for accuracy.
---Each one has it's own direction/mission. Communication needs to be improved. We've tried to maintain a two-way street when Kay was attending meetings, but had no idea the plan and addendum were available. We need to be included and involved.
---The contents of the cover letter was taken with offense, especially when it stated "don't contact us, you may contact the board of directors,but we don't want to communicate with you". There's a conflict that needs to be resolved.
---The ILLHC was offered help by the state LHA, but it was ignored. They refused to work with us and sought outside help from the Schemkle group.
---Russell will contact the ILLHC about the markers, include a copy of the marker booklet, mention we'd appreciate if they would included the LHA in their various publications with LHA information to those wanting to know more about the highway
---Coalition is for municipalities...not individuals
---Question for Jerry Peppers....How can somebody copyright something that's been prepared with taxpayers dollars? Reply: Federal statute that permits the discoverer to take ownership of something that's created with a Federal grant. Doesn't know if that covers our situation. This seems more like a lack of communication. This communication has gone back to 1996 from the beginning of the coalition involving the LHA. More like a lack of trust.
---The plan is 182 pages in length and the addendum is 82 pages, which Bob will copy if he gets the o.k. from the coalition
---Diane and/or Ron at next coalition meeting ask them to put the LHA's purpose and statement of purpose on their website
---Bob asked Diane if she supported this letter, She said she had nothing to say about that...as she is a staff member, not a board member. Then he told her she was the coalition's representative on our board, and Ron was their representative and she said anything board related, Ron is the representative. Bob took issue in that Ron represents the Farming Heritage. He's also been involved in the formation of the coalition and helped work toward Scenic Byways status. Northern Illinois Tourism Development Office managed that...a state function, to get grants, funding, etc. Diane is the ILLHC representative who was elected to our board of directors, hence he asked her, not as a coalition member, but as a LHA director, member, how she felt about this issue. She replied as a staff member on the ILLHC, she had been instructed by the executive board not to comment. Russell told her he was into the ILLHC website, and when he clicked on LHA link, it goes to the homepage of the National Byways Program. She said they would work on that. Bob again asked Diane as a LHA director, how she felt. She said he put her on the spot. Bob told her we're truly at odds with the coalition and her not responding is a detriment to the LHA. She asked him what he wanted her to do about it and he said he couldn't do anything, but she could tender her resignation. Russell will try to get in contact with the ILLHC to try and counteract this hostility and conflict.
---Concluded communication should be forthcoming and will be doable. Our intentions are to improve and protect the highway, not to impose or restrain any of the coalition's activities. We want to work for historic accuracy. Ron will take the request for copies of the Master Plan and addendum to the ILLHC board at their next meeting, and ask them to place LHA membership contact in their brochure
---Jerry Peppers wanted a copy of Doug Papus' book. Also a life-sized marker to place in his work with the Eastern Terminus. Bob Dieterich gave him some suggestions and will e-mail the info to him
ADJOURNMENT: 9:05
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Sue Jacobson
National Lincoln Highway Association
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