OSLHP Newsletter - April 2005

President's Message

Spring was here briefly, and like many people, I took time to enjoy the great weather. I hope you did too.

Thanks to everyone who keeps coming to meetings, attending events, and planning for the OSLHP future. I cannot do half my work without the dedication of the members. When I meet people and they ask what I do, I say I direct a volunteer re-enactment group of about 75 people. And when I am asked how I do it, I simply say, “My job is the easy part, I try to make sure everyone has what they need to do their parts. Any of the doing is the hard part.” I don’t know many people who can portray another person and love doing it or dressing up in 100-degree heat.

So I think my job is easy compared to being a volunteer. Thank you again for volunteering. Keep up the good work.

General Meeting
General Meeting: April 13, 7pm, come at 6:30pm for the Gold Rush Meeting.

Executive Council Meeting
Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 7pm. Members are invited to attend to observe and comment.

Checking Account
The OSLHP has a checking account balance of $7500

Nominations For Officers
Nomination for officers: Terry Nelson and Sandra Hand.

Status Report Request
All officers and coordinators should make a brief report on current status and what needs to be improved or changed. Please submit by April 15 for review by the executive council during the retreat. Submit to Amy.

New Events/Fund-raisers
If you have any ideas for a potential new event or fundraising opportunity please write a brief paragraph and send to Amy at a general meeting or email at: oslhp@oldsacramentolivinghistoryprogram.com or mail to 1002 Second Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Member Updates
Tara and Amber Rankin gave a performance at Brooks Elementary School portraying their Living History Characters for their high school senior project.

Richard Sneed has returned home after convalescing from numerous illnesses for several months.

Volunteer Recognition
Sorry, I do not do this regularly. Thanks to Ken and his workshop volunteers, this year will prove to be the best; Ruth Chambers for coordinating Women’s History Day; Shelly Green, Sandra Hand, and Ken Knott for work with the Easter Bonnet Promenade.

Executive Council Retreat
The retreat has been rescheduled for April 17, 11am to 3pm. If you have any concerns or would like certain items discussed, please contact either Jan Bullard or Jason Hollingsworth from your member roster.

Name the Newsletter Contest
A fine bottle of wine is waiting for the winner of our "Name the Newsletter Contest." All you have to do is use your imagination and creativity to think up a clever name for the OSLHP newsletter. If you want to get fancy, you can design a Masthead that incorporates the new name.

The deadline for entries is June 8th, the date of our June membership meeting. You can bring your entries to the meeting or give them to Ken anytime before then or mail them to Ken Knott. Email entries may be sent as text within the message or if a graphic, as a PDF or JPEG to: timetraveler49@comcast.net

PAST EVENTS

Women’s History Day Recap
Tickets sold: 55
Comp tickets: 14 returned
Cost: $2411.19
Income: $1200
LOSS: $1,211.19
Almost everyone who came had a good time. It was not quite what we expected and next year it will change again.

Bonnet Promenade
Saturday, March 26th, was a glorious day for a Bonnet Promenade! The sun was shining, but the temperature was a perfect 70 degrees.

Penny Adams, Dennis Brehm, Mary Carlson, Loretta Dobbins, Ray and Terry Eargle, Sandra Hand, Douglas Peterson, Wanda Garnett, Jim Lundsten, Terry and Sandy Melau, Jan Sorci, and yours truly, stepped out from in front of the Discovery Museum at 12:20 for a leisurely perambulation around Old Sacramento. At Waterfront Park we were greeted by Amy Whitlatch, Ruth Chambers, and Shelly Green. Everyone agreed that it was a beautiful day to be outside and enjoy the occasion.

If there were anything that could have made this event even better, it would have been if there were more of us to enjoy it. Let's hope that those who missed it this year will be able to join us for the next Bonnet Promenade. - Ken Knott, Vice President

ONGOING EVENTS

2005 Living History Workshops
Our Spring classes kicked off on Saturday, March 12th, with an Open House, followed by Women's & Men's Historical attire on March 19th, and Early Sacramento History on March 26th. Our classes for April will be:

We have not had as strong attendance as in previous years, as some of the people who expressed interest in our program were unable to attend one or both of the workshops due to illness or prior commitments.

For any of our current members who have already gone through the Old Sacramento Living History new member training classes, this is your opportunity to pick up any class that you missed. Even if you have been a member for a long time, new subjects have been added that were not offered when you went through the training.

Many of us can benefit from attending one or more of the classes, and please remember that you are invited to attend in costume if you so desire, to meet and talk with some of our new members and make them feel welcome. - Ken Knott, Training Coordinator.

Historical Walking Tours
We could use another tour guide. Guides get paid $25 a tour. All tours are 1 hour long, and we provide training. We need help with weekday tours for school groups.

Living History Days/Encampment
April 24, 10am to 4pm, Waterfront Park. Members are encouraged to come and stroll, demonstrate skills or crafts and interact with the public. We have the park to ourselves so we can spread out. If it is going to be warm there will be shade provided. We hope to be able to shoot weapons in June.

COMING EVENTS

Riverboat Cruise
April 12, 10:30am to 1pm. Due to popular demand the OSLHP has been invited back to act as meet and greet aboard the Spirit of Sacramento for their luncheon cruise. This was a lot of fun last year. Instead of doing presentations we are to do small group or meet and greet activities. Lunch is included and people who did this before had a lot of fun.
We will be doing a second cruise in the fall. I am working to get those who participated tickets to go back on a cruise at a later time for their enjoyment.

J. S. Holliday Speaking Engagement
The Historic Old Sacramento Foundation will be having Jim Holliday speak at their next fund-raiser April 29, 6:30 to 9pm. His talk is “America, Only More So,” Origins of California’s Risk-Taking Culture. Tickets will cost $125 per person. If you would like tickets or more information call: Steve Huffman (916) 445-3054.

Gold Rush Days
We are having two planning meeting in April to accommodate everyone. April 9, 11am to Noon, and April 13, 6:30pm, before the general meeting. Please plan to attend one of these meetings.

Volunteer Appreciation Day
Of course no sooner than one day gets planned than it has to be canceled. The new date is July 17, 10:00 to 12:30pm. We are reserving space aboard the Spirit of Sacramento’s Champagne Brunch. This is a 2-hour brunch cruise. Pricing will be decided by the April meeting. Look for reservation forms to come in May.