BIG LAKE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
JANUARY 25, 2024
COMBINED QUARTERLY BOARD & GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MINUTES
The meeting was called to order by President Kyle Hoffman at 6:02 p.m. at the Big Lake Community Church. A quorum was present.
Officers present:
Kyle Hoffman, President
Lloyd Watkinson, Vice-President
Melba Hall, Treasurer/Historian
Pattie Pleas, Secretary
Board members present:
Trudi Davis, Newsletter/Webmaster
Andrea Xaver, NOVEMBER 17, *(2022) PRO TEM
David Granstrom, NOVEMBER 17, *(2022) PRO TEM
• Melba Hall gave the Treasurer’s report.
• The minutes of the October 26, 2023, meeting were read by Pattie Pleas, and were moved, seconded, and approved by the Board.
• Nominations were made for the open positions of secretary and a board member to be voted on at the July 2024 Annual Business meeting. Liz Stewart was nominated by Pattie Pleas to be on the board and was seconded by David Granstrom. Liz Stewart was also nominated for Pattie’s position as Secretary and later in the general quarterly meeting accepted both of her nominations. Nominations for officers and board members will remain open through the April quarterly meeting.
• The Board meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM.
General Membership Quarterly Meeting was called to order by President Kyle Hoffman at 7:00 PM.
• Calendar Committee Chairman Andrea Xaver gave a report on the 2025 calendar committee. A decision was made to keep the calendars focused on the history of the communities making up the Big Lake Valley, Baker Heights, Big Rock, Big Lake,
Walker Valley, Montborne, Ehrlich, Finn Settlement, McMurray, and Cavanaugh.
The majority of those attending the meeting prefer using historical photos – along with any relevant before and after pictures. The cost for the 2025 calendar will remain at $20 each. Pattie Pleas and David Granstrom will work with Andrea Xaver on the 2025 calendar committee. LaRita Humble volunteered to find photos of the Lake Cavanaugh community to consider.
• David Granstrom, Andrea Xaver, Phil Zimmerman and Trudi Davis are working as a team to get a replacement sign at the old townsite on Gary Johnson’s property.
• Trudi Davis discussed the August 2024 biennial display. Jim Davis has been offered some free soundboards to make more display panels if needed. It was decided that 4 or 5 doubles should be sufficient. Trudi stated that they will make as many as is possible with the donated soundboard and with what materials are still at hand. Any additional costs will be billed to the BLHS.
• The BLHS Biennial Exhibit will be held at the BLVFD’s community room on August 10th and 11th. There was discussion to hold a community picnic following the display on Sunday. Attendees will need to bring their own chairs and a sack or box lunch.
• Kyle Hoffman volunteered to organize a display of vintage tractors for Exhibit.
• It was discussed and proposed that the society go ahead and begin collecting stories and quips for a BLHS self- published book of memories from the Big Lake Valley. It was decided that each board member will bring a story or quips of a memory for inclusion into the book to our April meeting. A question arose regarding the book was whether there were ever any famous or notable people in the Valley. Some mentioned Charles Nordstrom, but no other person was mentioned.
• At the invitation of Mick Steinman, we will hold our next general quarterly meeting, April 25, 2024, at the Cavanaugh Community Center, 35022 S Shore Drive, at 7:00 pm.
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.