The Jefferson Proving Ground Heritage Partnership met Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2004, at the Jennings County Library at North Vernon. The group enjoyed a Christmas pitch-in dinner prior to the business session.

President Norma Lou Irwin opened the meeting. Minutes of the November meeting were approved as published on a motion by Louis Munier and seconded by David Lee.

The financial report was discussed and approved. It showed a balance of $2,571.30 with $1,000 earmarked for the Old Timbers book.

A letter from Bill Corning congratulating the partnership on paying on the loan

was read. A card was signed to be sent to Mr. Corning, who has been ill.

Bob Irwin made a motion to pay $1,000 on the loan balance of $4,500.

Ken Knouf brought copies of the Big Oaks Society newsletter for review. It included an article on the partnership’s work day at Oakdale School. He encouraged members to join the society. He reported Adjutant General Martin Umbarger will be staying on through the administration of Governor-elect Mitch Daniels.

After much discussion, the bylaws were amended to add an associate membership category on a motion by Ron Harsin and seconded by Carl Busch. It passed with 17 votes and there were three abstentions, Ken Knouf, Norma Irwin and Mike Ochs. Knouf stated the partnership should take another look at the associate membership in a year.

HHH Coordinator Terry Stephenson reported the grant application to the Rising Sun Regional Foundation had been approved by the HHH council in the amount of $48,856.50 for the oral history project. The grants are expected to be announced by Jan. 15.

No check for parking cars has been received from the Regatta despite several contacts with the committee. Another contact will be made.

Ron Harsin reported he would be delivering one of the reprints of Sue Baker’s book to a Hanover resident in time for Christmas.

Harsin distributed copies of the usage statistics for website. Total hits since

it was established in February 2004 is 18,859. There were 4,614 hits in November and an average of 16 visits per day since the first of December.

Bill Sanders reported a total of $70 received in dues for two members, George Waltz and Evelyn Comer, An addition $118 was received for the seminar.

Stephenson reported the partnership grant application to Subaru had been denied, but the company invited the partnership to reapply in 2006.

Knouf mentioned the partnership might consider the chili cook off in Madison next fall as a fund raiser.

Knouf made a motion to donate $50 of the collection for the evening to the benefit for Barbara Jachimiak’s grandson, who is ill. The motion was seconded by Mike Ochs and passed unanimously.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005, 7 p.m. at South Riley Elementary School at Versailles. Schedule for future meetings are Feb. 15, Holiday Inn Express, Madison; March 15, Jennings County Library, North Vernon; April 19, South Ripley School; May 17, Madison; June 21, North Vernon; July 19, South Ripley; Aug. 16, Madison; Sept. 20, North Vernon; Oct. 18, South Ripley; Nov. 15, Madison; Dec. 20, North Vernon.

Lilian Carmer, Secretary Pro-Tem