Minutes of the
2009 Annual General Membership Meeting of
 The Fort Smith Historical Society, Inc.

The Fort Smith Historical Society held its 2009 General Membership meeting on Thursday, April 16, at 7:30 pm at the River Front Events Building, immediately following the 2009 Frontier Achievement Awards ceremony.

President Clara Jane Rubarth introduced Darrel Cunningham of the Arkansas Community Foundation who presented a check in the amount of $500 for the oral history project.  This is the third year in which the Community Foundation has made the grant.  Clara Jane also recognized Deb Marley of the Southside East Lab, which has been helping with video editing for the oral history project.  The East Lab students contributed $100 for a piece of needed software.

 Members of the Frontier Researchers attended the meeting, explained the focus of their organization and suggested a possible merger of their group with the Historical Society.  Clara Jane will form a committee to study how the groups might work together and asked those interested in serving to volunteer. 

Clara Jane reminded the membership of meeting dates.  The Board meets quarterly on the third Thursday of January, April, July and October at 6 pm in the Community Room of the Fort Smith Public Library.  The Executive Committee meets with no action taken on the second Wednesday at 5 pm.

 Nancy Ciulla read the membership report for Wincie Hendricks.  Our membership has increased from 350 in January to 400 to date.  Wincie encouraged each board member to try to get two or three new members, especially in the Joint Membership category with the Fort Smith Museum of History.  Nancy also gave the Treasurer’s report showing total assets of $43,162.79.

Clara Jane announced the formation of a publication committee to assist the Editor in Chief of the Journal.  Martha Siler, Leta Spears and Edna Howard, students in the Historical Interpretation Program at UAFS will work on the committee.

The membership elected the following officers:

                        President – Clara Jane Rubarth
                        Vice-President – Al Whitson
                        Secretary – Jo Ann Campbell
                        Treasurer – Nancy Ciulla

Board members elected to three year terms were:  Floyd Barger, Calline Ellis, Jerry Hendricks, Wincie Hendricks, Billy Higgins and Brad Kidder.

Clara Jane announced that the subject of the Fall issue of the Journal will be the murder of John Clayton.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

                                                            Respectfully submitted,
                                                            Jo Ann Campbell 
Attendance 

Chloe Lamon
Clara Jane Rubarth
Nancy Ciulla
Jimmy Ciulla
Joanne Swafford
Jo Ann Campbell
Al Whitson
Deb Marley
Bill Kirk
Dorothy Kirk
Joe Wasson
Lynn Wasson
Jerry Akins
Floyd Barger
Roy Henderson
J. P. Chancey
Carole Barger
Barbara Coleman
Kenneth Coleman
Sherrell Buchanan
Shirley Frantz
Diane L. Burl
Sherry Rogers