02 18 2009 History MinutesAgenda Item # 14a) - Oro-Medonte History Association minutes, meetings held on Fe
°,Y 2 7 2009
METING: COUNCIL?
OF F-1 Oro-Medonte History Association Minutes
Wed 18 Feb 2009
Attendance: Allan Howard, Chairperson; Geoffrey Booth, Vice-chair; Sheila Kirkland, secretary;
Margaret Prewer, and Bruce Wiggins
Regrets: Jadeen Henderson
Invited: Carol Benedetti Executive Director Oro-Medonte Chamber of Commerce and Roy
Menagh Cultural Representative for Lake Country Tourism Marketing Board
Minutes of January meeting: moved by Margaret and seconded by Geoff that the minutes be
accepted as circulated.
Old Business:
1. 160`h Anniversary Service: Geoff gave update on choirs we are attempting to contact to
participate in the date. Nathaniel Dett Chorale-Carol knows someone on the choir. She will get
the contact information to Geoff. Carol suggests that a smaller group from this choir may come,
as the entire choir is large. The Arts & Crafts director in Barrie is an African drummer and it is
suggested we contact him.
• Roy suggests that if CBC were interested in the event then we would get the Nathaniel
Dett choir. We need to contact them ASAP and we need to have the Mayor's signature on the
document. Roy felt that we could contact the features department or just call and explain what
we are doing and they can help to direct us to the appropriate department. Geoff will contact
them. A documentary could be done.
• Margaret suggested using it as a follow-up on the Bloodlines piece. We will need to
contact CBC for copyright of the film so we can show it between choirs?
• If CBC assigns a director that person would help us get the choir.
• Tie it into Lake Country as a media and cultural event
• Margaret suggested using the bleachers in the Arena for the choir and have everyone else
sit on chairs on the cement pad for the service.
• Saturday July 25 is date of the service from 1:30 or 2 to 3 or 3:30pm.
• Budget to date we are not sure of amount but Council endorsed us planning the event
• Carol suggests contacting Trinity Church to use their facility-Bruce will contact them
for a pricing.
• Will need to contact Sinton Bus lines to price using a school bus-Bruce will contact.
• Need to contact A Channel morning show.
• Suggest a mass choir at the end-Amazing Grace-written for Wilberforce.
• Event Producer: OMHA lead by Allan
• Executive Producer: Mayor Hughes
• Artistic Director: assign once we know choirs coming
• Rogers TV will pick up (Steve McQuin contact and Geoff knows him), if CBC
unavailable.
• Allan will contact Janie Wilson-Cooper to do the Master of Ceremonies
• Invite local politicians: Barrie Mayor; Orillia Mayor; Springwater Mayor; MP; MPP's
• Carol will contact Hawkestone Choir
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• Can also run an ad in the paper with a brief description of the event asking for them to
apply to perform. Criteria needs to be developed ASAP. Need to be prepared to do North
American Black Gospel music. Contact Joella or John Swartz (Packet & Times) to do a piece for
free. Contact Orillia Today and Barrie Advance to do a story that will encourage participation.
• If unable to get the professional choir the local choirs are a good backup and have done
similar events quite successfully.
• If we get Nathaniel Dett choir give them 30 minutes of the program and the local choirs
to fill in with a mass choir performance at the end.
• Roy and Carol will bring this information to Lake Country Marketing Board this week
as an event they may want to support.
• Margaret will make up a brief history using our current information and send to Geoff
for vetting to send out to the choirs, etc.
• Allan will contact Ricardo Rowe from the Caribbean group in Barrie to attend our next
planning meeting
Carol and Roy were thanked and left the meeting.
Margaret had enlarged one of the ground radar reports and we will frame it in barn board-as
suggested by Jadeen Henderson.
Jadeen had also suggested we look into items to sell that would commemorate the anniversary
but was not in attendance to give an update.
2. Shawn Binns letter: re: buildings of historic interest the following motion was passed "It
is recommended that staff investigate the options available to individual landowners who have
buildings of historic interest on their property for their preservation." Margaret has information
for tax relief that we received last year. --Deferred to next general meeting for clarification from
Shawn Binns.
3. Bruce has the castors for the display cabinet in the Township foyer and will put on later.
4. Storage container-deferred as no update as yet
5. Moved by Margaret and seconded by Bruce that the Township purchase a life membership
under it's name for the Agricultural Hall of Fame and appoint a representative. PASSED-- The
Association recommends that Margaret Prewer be appointed.
Correspondence:
1. Email: Margaret re: Kith' n Kin errata sheets -it is bound in the book at the back.
2. Site lines newsletter from NHSA received.
3. Email: Allan to Margaret Cole re: letter to Springwater Heritage Committee on a
synopsis of the meeting to discuss the fate of the Hillsdale Hotel, which is a designated historic
building.
4. Email: Margaret re: articles from Packet & Times as a way of getting free advertising to a
large amount of people for free. Geoff will follow up.
5. Copy of letter of support from us to the Springwater Heritage Committee in support and
encouragement of their efforts to protect the Simcoe Hotel (Hillsdale Hotel or O'Neil House).
6. Email: from Margaret Cole re: Phyllis Davis who is interested Hillsdale hotel.
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7. Email: invite from Mayor Hughes re: monies from Barrie Council. Geoff and Margaret
attended.
8. Email: Margaret re: choir contacts from Shawn Binns
9. Email: Margaret Cole from Larry Cotton re: O'Neil House Hotel being one of the last
intact public houses in an original state.
10. Email: Margaret Cole to Allan re: O'Neil House Hotel giving a brief description of the
historic characteristics and features of the property and building as well as an invitation to attend
a public hearing on February 9/09-Allan attended.
11. Email: Ricardo Rowe contact information from Margaret Cole-infoC caribfest.ca
12. Email: Margaret re: Copeland Forest write up that Jadeen discussed at last meeting
13. Email: Margaret re: format to give to people requesting genealogy information
14. Email: request from William Campbell for genealogy request
15. Email: request from Joseph Reynolds for genealogy information
16. Email: Janie Wilson regarding her new production she is working on.
17. Gary French has done preliminary research paper on the Alma House (O'Neil) Hillsdale
hotel-plans on publishing it. Copy circulated to all.
18. Gary French opinions paper on public meeting to discuss the O'Neil House/Alma-he
maybe submitting to a newspaper for an article.
19. Email: re: forming an Architectural Conservancy for Simcoe County. March 2, 2009 is
meeting date and Margaret will attend to see if there is a need for us to join.
New Business
1. Article from Packet & Times regarding the group that saved the lot from potential
development at Shanty Bay that was previously owned by the O'Brien family.
2. Budget circulated--160`s Anniversary has a budget of $1500
3. Building Communities through arts and heritage application form to get funding for the
Anniversary service. Margaret filled out some and Allan will complete.
Anniversary meeting next week-Alan will email us a date and time.
Next general meeting is March 30, 2009 at 6pm. Township office.
Respectfully submitted: Sheila Kirkland
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