On Wednesday, May 18, 2016, Orlando Remembered, Inc., met in the Grand Jury Room, Orange County Regional History Center, 65 E. Central Blvd., Orlando FL. Meeting was called to order at 9:10 a.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. Attending were:
Robert Serros, President
Shirley Cannon, Vice President
Grace Chewning, Secretary/Treas.
Mark Line, Past Chairman
Joe Baker
Sandy/Shelia Dann
Richard Forbes
Leon Handley
Ron Jaffe
Rodney Kincaid
Bill Leach
Gail Padgett
Bunny Parrish
Vic Ratliff
Tiffany Rivera
Peggy Jo van den Berg
Claude Wolfe
John Olin
Jonathan Sebastian Blount
Jim Stoddard
1. MINUTES – The April 20 minutes were approved as written on motion of L. Handley, seconded by R. Kincaid and vote carried.
2. TREASURER’S REPORT – OR/$17,339.10; Andrew Serros Legacy Endowment/$9,544.00.
3. PROJECT PRIORITIES
A] The OR website may be viewed at orlandoremembered.org per Matt Higgs/HardcoreDev.com and our “in-house” guru, Ron Jaffe. Implementation of steps necessary to install approved prototype display panels with the new design/branding concept and Logo may proceed for initial locations considered at 1 S. Orange Ave., 20 N. Orange Ave./San Juan, 390 N. Orange Ave./Bank of America, Autrey Arcade/Jefferson Court block. As to 1 S. Orange Ave., Mark Line stated he has met with Hank Katzen, owner of 1 N. Orange Ave., who also wishes to work with Richard Forbes on Historic Preservation signage that will include Orlando Remembered. Mr. Katzen has given a verbal pledge of $1,000 therefor.
B] Reinstallation of the San Juan display at 20 N. Orange Ave. is on-going with alternative sites under consideration.
C] Relocation of the Orlando Public Library display to the 4th floor is “on schedule.”
4. OLD BUSINESS: [a] Updated Strategic Initiatives/5-year Plan: In hands of volunteer ad hoc committee [Bob Serros, Shirley Cannon, Mark Line, Emmett O’Dell and Tiffany Rivera].
5. NEW BUSINESS: [a] The Transfer & Release Agreement [aka MOU] between Orlando Remembered, Inc., and the Historical Society of Central Florida, Inc., is dated May 10, 2016. “Up-front” expenditures incurred for OR 501(c)(3) charitable status will now be reimbursed by the Historical Society. [b] Mark Line commented on recent situation involving removal of our display from the lobby of Regions Bank, 111 N. Orange Ave. and placed in storage by Historical Society staff.
6. ON-GOING ACTIVITIES: () Jim Stoddard reviewed the project he is undertaking, working with the UCF “RICHES” program, on the downtown US Post Office, involving meta-data collection. His contact info is 321-231-5599, [email protected]. () Shirley Cannon noted that the Pinecastle Woman’s Club/Historical Society also is working with UCF history students to digitize Pinecastle’s History!
7. ANNOUNCEMENTS/GOOD OF THE ORDER: Richard Forbes commented on Agenda items at tomorrow’s Annual Meeting of the Florida Historical Society, including recognition awards to Joy Dickinson, Rick Kilby and Sara Van Arsdel! He indicated the Lake Eola Park has been approved for historical designation and will go to the City’s Municipal Planning Board for action. Bunny Parish advised that Princeton Elementary school still needs money [https://gofundme.com/PrincetonLeeFinals] to help its team attend the May Odyssey of the Mind World Finals in Ames, Iowa. Peggy Jo van den Berg reported that Toasy Martin has agreed to make a presentation during one of our meetings in the Fall similar to the outstanding pictorial power point she did at the April “Orlando Natives” bi-annual event! Get-Well Wishes to Bob and Texann Ivy Buck! Jonathan Sebastian Blount offered remarks about various celebrations and topics of interest. Mark Line distributed “Member Bio” forms to be filled out for the OR Website.
8. ORLANDOANS REMEMBERED: People whose lives were so important to so many, who helped make Orlando a great City and whose passing represents a significant loss to our community: Jack Longfellow; Charles Gazil; Martha Helen King Johnson; Eugene W. Kelsey III; Theresa Mae Gleason Crews; Esther Potter Myers; Edna Yacobian Bishop; Alexander M. Marsh.
9. ADJOURNMENT – There being no further business, Chairman Serros declared the meeting adjourned – at 10 a.m. Next OR gathering is Wednesday, June 15, 2016, 9 a.m., at the Orange County Regional History Center.
Grace Ann Chewning, Secretary-Treasurer
Orlando Remembered, Inc., Loves “The City Beautiful!”