Most Recent Minutes

March 16, 2026

PRESENT: Mark Obbie, David Pierce, Beth Thomas, Seth Thomas, Deirdre Crofton, AJ Magnan, Brooke Finley. Special Guest Mary Ann Strasser. Absent: Dee Crofton, Griffin Jones, Tracey Howe and Lisa Moore (on leave)

CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order at

MINUTES: February and March minutes will be reviewed at April meeting.

Treasurer's Report and Financial Updates

Dave provided updates on the organization's financial status and recent expenses.
• Church insurance costs decreased to $2,032.36, down almost $200 from previous year
• Current operating funds total $38,000, excluding church funds
• Small Steps fundraising campaign generated about $340 but is being phased out and not promoted

Second Book Project Discussion

Extensive discussion about the proposed second book project and the organization's potential involvement.
• Book will contain 27–28 new stories with April 1st deadline for writing completion
• Project organizers want to use the society's 501(c)(3) status with Chris and John providing $10,000 seed money
• Concerns raised about financial burden and pricing structure for hardcover books with dust jackets
• No commitments made pending more detailed financial information but happy to support the new book and marketing and selling it at events if it works for the board and is approved
• The program at the Bloomfield Historical Society yielded a donor for the second video of book one

Building and Grounds Updates

Seth reported on significant improvements to the Grange building and discussed future needs.
• Removed old heating cabinet and display cases to open up space
• Front door needs replacement with quote of approximately $3,000 from Wilcox estimate
• Kitchen improvements being planned with need for town inspection prior to implementation and to guide planning
• Decision made to focus resources on Grange improvements rather than church renovations to gain funding and access to community spaces
• Seth accepted an oak library bookcase from Honeoye Richmond Historical Society, modified to house the Billy Lee Library and will install next month

Community Programming and Revenue Generation

Discussion of new programming initiatives to generate revenue and serve the community.
• Proposal for intergenerational classes at the Grange including crafts and traditional skills
• Town's community engagement committee interested in hosting a 250th anniversary costume dance
• Parking lot expansion needed for larger events, estimated at around $5,000

Upcoming Events and Programs

Updates on scheduled events and programming efforts.
• Susan B. Anthony House presentation on suffrage postcards scheduled for April 28th
• Burning Springs event planned for May 30–31
• Freedom Festival on June 13–14 with a $5,000 budget approved by Canandaigua municipality
• New intern Maya starting in May to help with Burning Springs and digitizing projects

Organizational Matters

Discussion of board composition and administrative needs.
• Three board openings currently exist
• Lisa Moore's board status unclear due to town responsibilities
• Consideration of reducing total board size from 13 to 9 members in bylaw revision (odd number needed for voting ease)
• Discussion of official embroidered shirts and/or name tags for events
• Beth and Seth are sorting the collection in the Bristol Town Hall attic in preparation for the moving company