On Wednesday, March 16, 2016, Orlando Remembered, Inc., met in the 3rd floor Grand Jury Room at the Orange County Regional History Center, 65 E. Central Blvd., Orlando FL. Meeting was called to order at 9 a.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. Attending were:
Shirley Cannon, Vice President
Grace Chewning, Secretary/Treas.
Mark Line, Past Chairman
Joe Baker
Ann Bennett
John Camichos
Richard Forbes
Leon Handley
Ron Jaffe
Rodney Kincaid
Anita Lam
Bill Leach
Emmett O’Dell
Mike Perkins
Jane Tracy
Peggy Jo van den Berg
Claude Wolfe
1. MINUTES – The February 17 minutes were approved as written on motion of E. O’Dell, seconded by V. Ratliff and vote carried.
2. TREASURER’S REPORT – OR/$17,334.78; Andrew Serros Legacy Endowment/$9,537.93.
3. PROJECT PRIORITIES
A] Still awaiting activation of the OR website, whereupon installation will proceed simultaneously of approved prototype display panels with the new design/branding concept and Logo. Initial locations for the panels include 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 indicated Tana Porter will assist in content of the Letter of Agreement requested by owner, Hank Katzen. B] Claude Wolfe offered to help on contacts regarding relocation of the San Juan display. C] Mark Line reported that relocation of the display in the Orlando Public Library should be accomplished within next 2-3 months.
4. OLD BUSINESS: [a] Strategic Initiatives: ► Member Education. ► Exhibits and website. The Secretary will start sending info/files to Matt Higgs, HardcoreDev.com, for the OR website and to Emmett O’Dell for our Facebook presence. ► “We Love Orlando” Party. ► Orlando Remembered Legacy. Consensus was that steps should be initiated to develop updated Strategic Initiatives. [b] G. Chewning noted that the only process remaining to complete OR 501(c)(3) charitable status is reimbursement of monies from the Historical Society for up-front expenses incurred. [c] “Applause” was given for the successful March 3rd “What’s Up Downtown Historic Walking Tour” attended by 85+, led by Richard Forbes starting at the Downtown Orlando Information Center, 201 S. Orange Ave., involving numerous OR volunteers who appeared “in character” at various stops along the route.
5. NEW BUSINESS: [a] A Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] will be forthcoming outlining the Orlando Remembered, Inc./Historical Society relationship.
6. ON-GOING ACTIVITIES: () Mike Perkins commented on the alliance being developed by the Historical Society with smaller historical societies and museums. Also, there will be a formal “roll-out” on proposed Master Plan for redesign of the History Center. () Via email, Tiffany Rivers, UCF RICHES, advised that the RICHES team remains busy with website enhancements. Recent improvements include making the site ADA accessible, plus more compatible with tablets and smartphones. She is scheduled to demonstrate the site at our April 20th meeting in the Melrose Center at the Orlando Public Library and highlight recent student work on the Downtown Post Office Collection. () Shirley Cannon announced that the Pinecastle Historical Society reached 500 members [and she can now change shirts!]. () The Orange Preservation Trust is meeting on a monthly basis. () Richard Forbes reported that Greenwood Cemetery Sexton Don Price has found the money to restore and move the original Sperry Fountain [that was in Eola Park] from storage to a site at Greenwood!
7. ANNOUNCEMENTS/GOOD OF THE ORDER: Get Well wishes to John Olin [kidney stone surgery] and prayers of comfort to Joe Guernsey, Charter member of OR, who is home with Hospice care. John Camichos directed attention to https://www.youtube.com/embed/SN5c-m45fxs for information about the result of a collaboration between the Orange County History Center and the History Center in Volos, Greece, concerning Lisa Camichos’ dissertation: “The Orlando Plan, Orlando’s Effort to Save Volos, Greece” [http://www.orlandomemory.info/search?combine=Volos]. If you can’t read Greek, Jane Tracy has provided a link to the website translated into English:
https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=el&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.volosnow.gr%2Fpilio-o-evergetis-pouzoume-pouri-c-o%2F&edit-text=&act=url
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: Elaine Demos Miliotes; James P. Smeltzer; Tensi B. Shirley; Gwin Eugene “Gene” Pratt, Sr.; Paul A. Root, Jr.; Robert Smith, Sr.
9. ADJOURNMENT – There being no further business, it was moved by C. Wolfe, seconded by A. Bennett and vote carried that the meeting be adjourned – at 10:20 a.m. Next OR gathering is April 20, 2016, 9 a.m., at the Orlando Public Library, Melrose Center.
Grace Ann Chewning, Secretary-Treasurer
Orlando Remembered, Inc., Loves “The City Beautiful!”