Texas Military Historical Society
P.O. Box 1337
Gatesville, TX 76528
Report of the TMHS Board Meeting, Saturday 16APR11
Time: 1800 hrs
Location: Camp Mabry, Texas
Due to the position of secretary being open, VP David Kumhyr kept the minutes.
The schedule and agenda was as follows:
1) Call to order – President Scott Fullerton called the meeting to order.
2) Recognition of Guests – Joe Hays, Director of the Hangar 25 Museum in Big Spring, Texas was present.
3) Old Business
a) Membership audit and round-up: who’s in, who wants to be in, why aren’t they in, etc.
Tina Zimmerman presented the official membership roster. David Kumhyr moved that it be approved as provided. Scott Fullerton seconded. Motion passed.
Tina Zimmerman presented the treasurers report. Scott Fullerton moved to accept the report as presented. David Kumhyr seconded. Motion passed.
4) New Business/Discussion Items:
a) Discussion item: The establishment of a quarterly commander’s call between unit commanders and the TMHS BoD, to be conducted in-person or via assistive technology, the purpose of said meeting to discuss organizational business and receive input from the field with regard to ideas and initiatives.
David Kumhyr made a motion to table since this was the PAO’s initiative and he was not able to present it. Scott Fullerton seconded. Motion passed.
b) Discussion item: The creation of a TMHS-wide reward & recognition system for individual members who render outstanding/”above-and-beyond” service and display creative initiative on behalf of TMHS. Means and methods of recognition would include, but not be limited to: ribbons (and devices where necessary), decorations, citations and promotions for clearly outstanding effort on behalf of the organization as a whole.
Scott Fullerton moved that the recognition be limited to being from the TMHS itself in the form of website mention, certificate presented by the board or other such award presented by the board. Those individual units remain in charge of unit decorations and devices for their own uniforms. Seconded by David Kumhyr, motion passed.
5) Discussion item: Marketing TMHS and community outreach.
David Kumhyr made a motion to table since this was the PAO’s initiative and he was not able to present it. Scott Fullerton seconded. Motion passed.
6) Discussion item: Medical initiative/unit medic training
David Kumhyr made a motion to table since this was the PAO’s initiative and he was not able to present it. Tina Zimmerman seconded. Motion passed.
7) Discussion item: “In The News,” a formal call for commanders and unit members to suggest and/or submit note-/newsworthy items to the Public Relations Officer for dissemination and/or publication.
David Kumhyr moved that we rescind the sunset of the Yahoo group now that the list includes only paid members and that we moderate the group to enforce the rules. Scott Fullerton seconded. Motion passed.
Discussion concluded that many of the members didn’t know how to use RSS feeds and that the Yahoo group was their primary means of knowledge of the TMHS. Additionally that many members did not use the forums.
8) Discussion item: Outreach by THMS to other units and organizations, pursuant to inquiries from other living history groups about TMHS’ WW2-only focus.
Discussion centered on that our charter was WWII our expertise and membership interests were WWII.
David Kumhyr moved that we should stick to TMHS core interested and charter. Scott Fullerton seconded. Motion passed.
9) Discussion item: Snapshot of 2011-12 organizational calendar and prospective events, to include updates on Waxahachie, Cuero and other events.
Motion made by David Kumhyr to add a narrative to the gallery page, which lists all past events now, and have the narrative written by the PAO. Scott Fullerton seconded. Motion passed.
10) Discussion/Action item: The establishment of a TMHS Details/Working Group to spearhead work on standing events and explore others
Tina Zimmerman moved that the board appoint a committee for each event to assist with preparations and staffing. Scott Fullerton seconded. Motion passed.
11) Presentation by Guest: Joe Hays, Director of the Hangar 25 Museum in Big Spring, Texas. Mr. Hays will offer an overview of his facility and a briefing on work by him and others to establish a regional living history center, with TMHS as a prospective partner.
Mr. Hays presented on the potential for Big Spring to host an event. He also presented the position of the Big Spring Visitors Bureau. Both strongly support an event that will bring reenactors to Big Spring. In addition to hosting a downtown event Big Spring has 6000 acres of undeveloped land that would be available for use for tactical battles.
The theme and timeframe would tentatively be Operation Market Garden (17–25 September 1944). So a September event where we do a Nimijgen and maybe a bridge battle downtown would be a time.
-The Visitors Bureau could provide for tiny US flags and orange cloth for armbands for citizens attending. We would couple with further ideas for town involvement. Some being:
Barbers being prepped to do period haircuts – for reenactors and brave Big Spring folk.
Tying in Locks of Love with a few beauticians volunteering to do shearing in the guise of the haircutting of collaborators.
The “Record Shop” a renowned high quality militaria shop will be a big draw as well.
Small restaurant discounts for reenactors in uniform can be negotiated.
Availability of camping, barracks as well as hotels will allow everyone to make their choice of bunking.
Outdoor movies and perhaps even a street party dance?
If we can have a large downtown battle – with less of a script, where the Germans hold the town day one and the Allies push us out on day two makes it a draw for townsfolk for two days.
12) Comments from the floor. Any/all comments on non-agenda items will be limited to 2 minutes.
No comments.
13) Closing comments by TMHS President
Scott Fullerton stated that the potential for a West Texas event in Big Spring would be a good opportunity for TMHS to expand it’s membership.
14) Adjourn
There being no further business before the board David Kumhyr made the motion to adjourn. Scott Fullerton seconded. Motion passed.
