Wise County Historical Society Activities 8
Reception for New Administrator, Ed Sealover

January 4, 2001 

• There had been no December meeting as we had Christmas dinner at Bonanza which everyone enjoyed.  During the social hour each person told some of the things he or she remembered from Christmases past, and pictures were made.
• Wanda Rose gave the treasurer's report.
• Postal rates have gone up, our license has increased from $100 to $125.00 pr year, pre-sorted, standard marking, and 4.6 overall rate for bulk rate mailing.  
• The question was brought up as to whether or not we should raise the cost of the Appalachian Quarterly.  Rhonda Robertson stated that we should hold the price at $10 per year as long as possible.
• Rhonda Robertson stated that she has contacted Fannie Steele regarding obtaining a grant for work on the cemeteries, that will alleviate gas and supplies that we need. 
• We should contact towns to see if they will keep their cemeteries clean.
• Bob Addington has informed one of the members that there are four or five cemeteries on the top of the hill going from Coeburn to Cranes Nest.  
• Paul Kilgore stated that he has the Coeburn Cemetery book ready for binding.

February 1, 2001

• Fannie wrote the Slemp Foundation concerning a grant
• Dorothy gave an update on the work of Volume II book
• Bill Porter will bind the Coeburn Cemetery book soon
• Visit by Jack Kennedy, the County Clerk
• Found out a copyright is good for 75 years

March 1, 2001

• Try to find a place where we can store books
• Paul Kilgore and Bud Osborne talked to George Barnett about a space but the price he asked was not satisfactory.
• Wanda will talk to Archer Blevins about selling our World War II books.
• Rhonda made a motion we put a marker up for midwife Nancy shores.  Motion  carried.
• Paul will write up the history of the Black community, getting it ready for Volume II.

April 5, 2001

• Bill Gobble, President, called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and introduced our two visitors, Harry Meador and Deborah Whitt from Big Stone Gap.  They represented the group in Big Stone Gap who are trying to preserve the old Girl Scout cabin  which is adjacent to Bulliitt Park.  After the Girl Scouts stopped using the cabin, it was used by the Town Manager, but hasn't been used since World War II.  Wellmont wants to lease the property for a very minimum amount and build a high-rise there.  This group is trying to prevent this, and hopes to enlist our support.  Rhonda  Robertson made the motion that we support them and Bill Porter seconded the motion, and motion carried. 
•  (Let it be noted that neither the group which approached us or the Wise County Historical Society are against the building of a place for older and disabled people to live.  However we think there are other places they can secure without disturbing places of historical significance.)
• Financial report was given by Wanda Rose
• Vol. Ii Heritage book was discussed as to number of pages and the cover.  It will have approximately 1,000 pages and will have a cover to match Volume 1.
• Around 2,000 books will be printed.
• If we want the book by the fall Fling, the absolute last possible date to get it to the printer is August 1st. 
• Dorothy Witt made the suggestion that we write to each one who has written something for the book and inform them that they will be out soon and they can purchase one or more at the pre-published price.
• Wanda announced that the new administrator will be here on April 9th and we plan to have a reception for him.  Nina Mullins will coordinate a luncheon.

May 3, 2001

• In the absence of the President and Vice-President, Dorothy Witt called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m. 
• Wanda Rose gave the treasurers report, stating that she and Mildred Hughes, treasurer of the Vol. Ii Heritage of Wise Co. and the City of Norton, sent payment on Volume II. 
• Washington County, TN is printing a book and one has been ordered for our archives.
• Plans for our upcoming luncheon honoring the new Administrator, Mr. Sealover, were discussed. The luncheon will be on Friday, May 18th, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., and all the employees of the courthouse and the Board of Supervisors will be invited to attend.  Nina Mullins has volunteered to plan and prepare the meal.
• Ernie Benko has said that if someone would come down to his office and tell about our upcoming Vol. II of  the Heritage of Wise County and the city of Norton, he would be glad to make a video of it.  We would need to contact him first and let him know when we are coming.  Bill  Porter said that he would go to Joe Wolfe's office and ask him about buying some of our Volume II Books.

June 7, 2001

• In the absence of Bill Gobble, President, Bud Osborne, Vice President, called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
• bill Porter has been in contact with UNIBIND COMPANY of Alpharetta, Georgia, and a representative came by our office to demonstrate a new Binder.  
• The matter of selling ads for our upcoming book was discussed. Wanda Rose and Nina Mullins said the can go to the shopping center  and sell ads to the banks, local businesses, lawyers, politicians, insurance agents an Quik Shops. Bill Porter said he will try to sell memorials.  
• Bill Porter suggested that we need more people to work in our office.
• Rhonda Robertson suggested that we re-do the focus of the Appalachian Quarterly.
• Rhonda and Wanda have planned a trip to the office of the KENTUCKY EXPLORER to see if they can find out what their secret of success is.
• We have 800 issues of the Quarterly which we need to move out, and a notice should be included in our next Quarterly informing of these back issues. 
• Wanda Rose gave the treasurer's report, and asked if we want to continue to pay dues to the Chamber of Commerce. Bill Porter made the motion that we continue to be members of the Chamber. The motion carried.
• It was a general consensus that we not have a booth at the Virginia/Kentucky Fair this year as it has not proved profitable in the past few years.
• Overmountain Press has promised that Volume II of the Heritage of Wise County and the City of Norton will be ready for sale by October 1st.

October 4, 2001

• Wanda Rose reported that Roger Viers, CPA, feels that she is doing a good job with the bookkeeping. 
• World War II book has been paid in full.   Mildred Hughes, Treasurer for Volume II Heritage book reports  the amount of money we have toward getting the book published.
• The question was again brought up regarding our support for saving the cabin in Bullitt Park in Big Stone Gap; there is also a question concerning the changes in the post office building in Big Stone Gap. Bill Gobble will call Mr. Harry Meador tomorrow and talk to him further about this.
• The price of our Volume II Heritage book will be $53.00 until after Home Craft Days at Mountain Empire Community College,  after which the books will sell for $65.00.
• We expect our books to be delivered before the date of the Fall Fling, which will be on October 13th.  2,500 have been ordered and they will be stored in the vault for the time being. No books will be mailed until after October 20th.  A list has been  posted in to office of those people who have already paid for their books and will pick them up.
• On Saturday, October 13th, the Fall Fling will begin and only the Historical Society will be open in the courthouse on that day, due to security reasons.  A divider will be placed  in the hallway in front of our office and no one will be allowed to go on back into the courthouse.  Bill Porter, Wanda Rose, Fannie Steele and Dorothy Witt will man the office on Saturday, and Paul Kilgore and Bill Porter will be working on Sunday, October 14th.
• Fannie Steele will be unloading the e-mail on Mondays and Bill Gobble will be unloading it on Wednesdays and Fridays.
• Dennis Rasnick had Wanda Rose and Fannie Steele to look at our web page. This needs to be updated each month.  Net Access maintains this web page for us at no extra cost.
• It was suggested that we put an order blank on our book list and that we should run a book as a special now and then. 
• The price of the Lawson book (by Bill Porter) will be increased to $35.00 on November 1st.
• Fannie reported that the Beverly book of Southwest Virginia has been donated to us for our archives.
• Fannie Steele read a letter which has been received from a prisoner in Wallen's Ridge Prison, asking for books on Cal Fleming and the Killing Rock Massacre.  Fannie will reply to this letter.
• The annual Christmas Party will be held on Saturday afternoon, December 8th, at  the Bonanza.  (This was later changed and was held at the home of Nina Mullins, where Nina cooked a delicious dinner and gifts were exchanged.  Most of us attended and we had a great time.  Thank you, Nina!)