Warwick Historical Society Minutes
September 20, 2017

Present:  Larry Carey, Mike Carey, Arline Lincoln, Rod Whipple, Liz
Whipple, Ed Lemon, Mel Kitchen, Charlie Brown, Bev Shepardson, Dave
Shepardson, Kristen Wallock, Martha Morse

The Meeting was called to order at 7:09 pm by Larry Carey

Secretary's Report:  Martha Morse read the minutes of the June 21st
meeting that had been prepared by Helen Whipple. The minutes were
accepted as read.

Treasurer's Report:  Arline Lincoln gave the treasurer's report which
was accepted as read. Disbursements were $71 to Barbara Walker for
plants and $41.34 to National Grid, bringing the total expenditures to
$111.45.  Receipts totaled $859, which included $749 from sales at Old
Home Day.  
CD balance: $10,610.66
Savings balance: $4,240.98
Checking Account: $2,980.92                      Total: $17,832.56

President's Report:  Larry reported that he has only been able to
exhibit two of the four military uniforms donated to the Society.  The
three mannequins already purchased cost $500.  He hopes to buy several
more at a lower price and the proper sizes for the uniforms.  Larry
would like the Committee as a whole to make decisions on the parameters
of this exhibit going forward. 
 
The Old Home Day (OHD) Committee has suggested that the WHS keep a
record of events and memorabilia from Warwick's 250th celebration in
2013.

Larry reported that he is continuing to display and sell items 
collected by his family during OHD celebrations.   He will continue to
do this at future events.  

Larry asked for volunteers to set up a table at the upcoming Holiday
craft fair sponsored by Metcalf Chapel.  Martha volunteered to do this
with the assistance of a few others.  The date for the Fair is Saturday,
November 25.  

Larry reported that the vacuum at the museum does not work, and is
beyond repair due to age and condition.  After some discussion, Ed moved
that the Society  purchase a new shop vacuum for an amount not to exceed
$50. 
 
Mel reported that the wool braided rug under the table in Room #1 at the
museum has been cleaned and is being stored at her house for the winter
months.  

Mike Carey said that there had been no internet connection at the museum
for some time, but that it is up and running again with a modem he
himself donated. 
 
Ed Lemon gave the curator's report, highlighting the success of the
recent historic houses book, noting that 49 copies of the 100 printed
have already been sold.  Ed also spoke of plans for a Drone project and
the ongoing audio/visual project.  The curator's report in its entirety
is posted following the minutes. 

Dues were paid and membership cards were signed and distributed. 
Members will have another chance to join at the next meeting on December
20, 2017.

The meeting adjourned at 7:52 pm followed by conversation and
refreshments.

     Respectfully submitted
     Martha Morse, secretary

Curator's Report 9/20/2017

Museum
We had a decent number of people overall, with the highest number during
Old Home Days.
Thanks go to all who hosted the Sunday opening hours.

Inventory project
Still on hold, but we have a number of new items that need to be added
to the database.

Historic Houses Book
This has been a success. We printed 100 copies of which at least 49 have
been sold since they went on sale at Old Home Days. The total cost for
printing was $835 of which $750 was provided by a grant from our
Cultural Council. The Society will cover the remaining $85. At $8 each,
that's about 400 dollars for the Society already, less the $85. We plan
to continue selling them at the library and at the crafts fair. People
have been very complimentary about the book. Thanks go to Liz, Cal and
Freddie, and the two Marthas.

Spinoff project
Many people seemed to like the cover picture, which I took from a video
I made with a drone from about 200 feet up. It has been suggested that
we could print up for sale some of the stills from that video and others
I am making. Martha K has obtained a quote for making frameable prints,
but we may need to look at some other options.

Drone project
Drone photography is the up and coming thing, as the new models can take
detailed photos and videos from anywhere up to 1000 feet up. Cal Fellows
and I are finding spots where we can fly the drone and take sweeping
vistas of our town, which can be edited into a short video which, again,
we could burn to disc and put on sale. We started with Clubhouse Pond
and will gradually cover other parts of Warwick during the four seasons.
Some towns are putting similar videos on their web pages, advertising
the beauty of their locations. As to beauty, I think we can fly with the
best! As a footnote, the Broadband Committee wants me to take aerial
shots of our two antenna towers. Those could be added to our town video
as well.

Video/Audio project
I remind you all once again of the availability of video and audio
recorders to our members. They are easy to use, and if you have seen the
DVD of Charlie Brown's talk at our March meeting, then you can see the
possibilities here. Mike Carey may be able to set up some sort of system
at the Museum to display the videos I have already made and any future
ones we make. Copies would be provided to the library as well. We have
this technology, so let's use it!

Respectfully submitted,

Ed Lemon, curator