Jack Arnold, President, called the meeting to order.

The minutes of the last meeting were read.

Old Business:
There was discussion of having moved the journals to Fort Chaffee. Jack said that the journals had already been moved again to Building 865 by a group there. It is just like the first building. Racks have been welded to the walls. There wasn't time to take inventory. It will have to be done later. There are approximately 4,000 copies of 28 years of journals left.

Joanne Swofford gave the treasurer's report. The beginning balance July 31, 2002, was $13,549.64. Total income was $3,931.02. Total expenses were $6,194.18, leaving cash on hand of $11,284.48. The Certificate of Deposit matured and rolled over in October, 2003. The $10.000.00 CD matures in May, 2008.

Jack is to account for any moneys we spend from the $20,000 grant we received. He will send a report regularly.

New Business:
Jack handed out the new brochures which list our web site. Chuck handed out Oak Cemetery calendars. They were on the radio today discussing the Historical Society. They have already had some good feedback. Also, there is a write-up on the Historical Society in the October issue of ET Ft. Smith, and we have already gotten one member. Our web site revolves 24 times a day on the Public Service channel. We have had 3 high school class mail outs, and got 16 and 19 members from two of them, but no report from the other.

Gene McVay asked if we have a 'counter' on our web site. Ben Boulden said we can get one. Ben contacted the Ft. Smith National Historic Site and asked them to link us to their web site. There was discussion about linking Ft. Smith cemeteries.

Jo Tillery gav a membership report. There are 321 members who have renewed. The ad in ET cost $450.00. We may run it every other month.

There was discussion about the need to increase sales of the old journals. Jack read a letter from Amelia, saying she will send a letter to each of the 27 Ft. Smith Public Schools offering to give each of them a complete set. Joanne moved to accept her offer, Gene seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. There was discussion of lowering the price to move the older journals. There are six tons of them in storage. Gene moved to place a full page ad in the Journal offering back issues from the first 25 years for $4.00 each including postage ($1.37) on US mainland, and $3.00 each at book outlets such as the National Historic Site, and Indexes for $10.00. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Chuck Raney moved to offer the whole set of 50 editions (the first one would have to be a reprint) for $175.00. He would deliver them locally. That is a $275.00 value. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The reason the journals cost so much is that Consolidated Printing has to put them together. Ad Plus will do it for $1,000 less. We need to pay someone to make it print-ready. And we need to put the journals on a CD so we can put them in the computer and print on demand. Articles need to be on media form. There was discussion of topics being worked on for future journals. Those mentioned were Ft. Smith Airports, Race Tracks, Speer Hardware, Beckman Dairy, Furniture Business, and the Ciulla Family.

Jack nominated Joe Wasson as a member of the board, and he was accepted unanimously.

There was discussion of appointing an assistant editor to help Amelia. Ben talked about apprenticing with Amelia or he might find someone who would do it. It was decided that no action would be taken yet, but Ben, Jack, and Chuck will meet with Amelia to discuss a new format and working with an assistant.

Notices of future meetings will be sent by postcard or e-mail.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2004, at 2:30
instead of 2:00 PM.

The meeting was adjourned.

Chloe Lamon, Recording Secretary