Quarterly Chapter Meeting Minutes — Saturday, October 8, 2016

Rancho Cordova City Hall
Rancho Cordova, California

Introduction

• Meeting called to order at 1:04 am by President Joel Windmiller.
• Paul Gilger welcomed Jackie Lee back to the group.
• Announcements: Item #8 on the agenda was given prior to the meeting by Shelly from the Rancho Cordova Historical Society. Presentation of Great American Road Trip and Lincoln Highway days and unveiling of a monument to the Lincoln Highway near the light rail Mather Field Mills Light Rail Station, tomorrow, October 9, 2016.
• Minutes of the July 9, 2016 in Truckee, CA minutes reviewed. Motion to approve Paul Gilger. Second by Frank Squires. Minutes approved.

Officer, Staff and Committee Reports

State Director: Bob Dieterich

• Clarksville, east of Sacramento, is an old ghost town cut off from Highway 50. Former residents have a reunion each year called Clarksville Day. Early this month they held and 8K fun run to promote the Lincoln Highway through Clarksville. Sixty runners started on Old Bass Lake Road under the new overpass, past an organic farm, to an old barn and returned. The run will be annual during Clarksville Days next May.
• Clarksville movers and shakers, from Eldorado Hills want to turn the old town of Clarksville into a regional park. The property has been sold and resold. Currently an east coast investment firm is interested in saving the Lincoln Highway through Clarksville. Old residences cannot be restored. They will rebuild one of them. The regional park would be in El Dorado county.
• Bob has received a box of 100 brochures if anyone wants some. New National treasurer so new address and these are the last of the old brochures. John Jackson is the new treasurer.

President: Joel Windmiller

• Joel sent 284 reminders with 2 returns. Gary Kinst did not receive his reminder. Card was received 2 days after the meeting
• Orangeville bridge project is coming along. The original deck and the railings have been taken down. Joel will keep everyone posted on when it will be replaced. Replica 1928 marker the end of the bridge is being considered in the future. No casting date. Paul asked about photos of the the changes to the historic bridge. Joel can get closes enough to take photos. Photos will be available.
• January 7, 2017 chapter meeting will be in Galt and lunch and meeting place to be determined.
• Joel has not been contacted by AT Stephens regarding the use of the Lincoln Highway marker for a Historical display. Joel asked Michael Kaelin to contact his friend AT Stephens about the use of the LH marker in a historical event.
• Nevada Chapter sponsored a road trip October 1 on the Dog Valley alignment between Truckee to Verdi, of the Lincoln Highway. Fourteen members went on the event.
• Rancho Cordova signs are up along Folsom between Hazel and Bradshaw. Signs have been placed on light poles high enough to avoid graffiti or theft.

Vice-President: Neil Rodrigues

• Nothing to report.

Treasurer: Grant Gassman

• Balance please contact chapter for details.
• Deposits: National $297.00 and $225.00, sign sales $78.00, sign sponsors $120.00.
• Withdrawals: Signs $1425.00, post $14.25, meeting items $300.00, marker $15.63, thumb drive $10.00.

Secretary: Myrna Johnston

• Extended a welcome back to Jackie Lee.

Gary Kinst: Traveler Newsletter, Historian

• Bob Dieterich was approached by Caltrans; they are putting together a history of transportation in California. Bob told them Gary had the largest photo collection of the Lincoln Highway. Contacted Dena Supernowicz and helped with photos and whatever he could regarding the history of transportation in California. Hard copies will be available and also online.
• California State Archives has a digital collection of highway photos called California Road Trip, as part of the Google Arts & Culture website.

Webmaster: Jimmy Lin

• Website Update: There has been increases Q3 the traffic falls off from Q2, first page home page less than last year down 23% and map is up 55% as first contact. July and June 12,000. Mobile contact is up. Social media still going up without effort on our part. Facebook up 18%. 1900 likes this year.
• Stats for California chapter website: 1161 sessions, 1022 users. Nevada chapter website: 130 sessions, 120 users.
• Question about roads being changed by Google Maps. Jimmy will ask about who is responsible for incorrect information. Discussion followed regarding changes and corrections. Jimmy will check into how Google changes maps changes roads.
• Gary asked how many view the Traveler; he is concerned about the usefulness of the Traveler. Is anyone reading it? Is it necessary to have the Traveler newsletter. Gary wants input and contributions to the newsletter. 256 hits last month.

Sign Committee Chair: Michael Kaelin

• Michael recognized and thanked sign project managers: Joel Windmiller, Kevin Shawver, Bill Von Tagen, and Scott Miner.
• Reminder to project managers: Signage really should go up on the original LH route.
• Michael, as Lathrop project manager, made a presentation at the city council and is working with the chief engineer. He has eight locations in Lathrop; 2 between Roth and Lathrop, 2 between Lathrop and Louise, 1 southbound Louise, and 3 on Mantee on Mossdale side.
• Showed various materials Coroplast Styrofoam and cardboard. Michael worked with my graphic designer and we have some directional signs that will every situation left, right, 45 degree angles. Regarding cost each has taken into consideration.
• San Joaquin county will pay for direction signs. Needs to be placed above the Lincoln Highway signs, high enough to avoid Graffiti and damage. Damaged and unreadable signs need to be replaced.

Speakers

• Paul Gilger will speak at a Senior Center in Sonoma.
• Bob Dieterich spoke at Clarksville before the Lincoln Highway run.
• Mark Hoffman gave a presentation about 40 people in Rancho Cordova.
• Joel Windmiller presented a short history of the Lincoln Highway to the Galt City council July 19th.
• Bob Dietrich spoke to about 20 high school history students at Clarksville.

Coach tours/car cruises: Mark Hoffman and Paul Gilger

• Paul reported on the San Diego Packard tour organized by Mark Burnside. Four day loop: San Francisco, Altamont Pass, Sacramento, Echo, Lake Tahoe and Reno and return through Sacramento.
• Overall the tour was a success. Through the mountains was glorious. Lunch on the USS Hornet great.
• The bad news San Francisco and Bay Area traffic was a nightmare. Interstate 5 is a standstill through Stockton. Monday morning rush out of Sacramento is all morning. The Elk Grove stop was cancelled. After the stop at Fentons in Vacaville, it took two hours and fifteen minutes to the USS Hornet via I-80 to San Francisco.
• The traffic problems means we need to start future tours and cruises in Sacramento. Let’s stay out of San Francisco. Make car tours a weekend tour.

2017 Lincoln Highway Conference and Tour

• Conference will be in Dennison, Iowa. Twenty-fifth anniversary of revitalizing the Lincoln Highway Association. Five years ago they started on the Jefferson Highway.
• Conference dates third week of June this year ends on Saturday.
• The 2017 Lincoln Highway Tour will be half day on LH and five days on the Jefferson highway.
• After the conference, half day LH to Ames. Then north through Minnesota: Albert Lee, Park Rapids, Minneapolis, Beaver Falls and across to Winnipeg, Canada.
• Stops planned for Spam Museum, Mary Tyler Moore’s house, Charles Lindberg’s house. There will be Paul Bunyon and his Blue Ox and a fishing museum.
• Following the tour, you are on your own. West option on the Trans-Canada Highway; east to Mackinac.
• Be sure you have a passport. You don’t need it to get into Canada but to get back into the US.

Old Business

• Interpretive plaque in Lincoln Park is progressing. The cost is covered by warranty and we pay shipping. San Francisco Parks and Recreation great to work with. The Parks and Recreation logo has changed and would cost $500 to replace due to going from two color to seven color printing. It has been decided the logo is a historical item and does not need to replaced.
• Joel reported: Western terminus marker was tagged. It has been repaired by a friend of Joel’s. He has received certificate of appreciation.
• Two semi-damaged signs in Hayward. They can be repaired just a little more bending and add new sheeting over.
• Michael Kaelin reports Lathrop going well.
• John Serpa’s monument has been fixed. Moss landing sign has been fixed at Harlam and Mantee.
• Joel reported Galt is on track after the city council meeting.
• El Dorado County is fully signed.
• Kevin Shavner’s report on San Joaquin should be up about the 17th of this month. Some delay due to highway work.

New Business

• Ophir Monument: someone has been digging a hole in and it is as deep as the diameter of the hole. Bob will contact Placer County regarding damage.
• Kevin Shavner: Stockton sign project
  • Friend Mike purchased sponsorship Port Stockton Motorcycle club, will use the Nevada loop.
  • Seeking sponsors $100 to have LH on the back of the T-shirts. They will become LH memberships.
  • Approved $100 for sponsorship of the Motorcycle club tour. 350 motorcycles.
  • The club plans to become member of the Lincoln Highway.
  • Our logo is trademarked and we have a contract with Jim Kassler of the Lincoln Highway trading post. Jim Kassler needs to be contacted regarding T-shirts are not being sold.
  • Lincoln Highway California Chapter authorized $100 for sponsorship Port Stockton Clear rights for use of logo and request the association provide internet links to Lincoln Highway Assiciation California chapter and National. Motion by Paul Gilger, Second by Gary Kinst. Motion passed.

Adjournment

• Jackie Lee moved for adjournment. Kevin Shavner seconded.
• Meeting adjourned at 2:45pm.

Respectfully submitted
Myrna Johnston, Secretary