Heritage and Cultural Center Fdpc - Regular Meeting

Can you hear me? Yes. Can you hear us? Okay, Rob, yours is just showing on my screen as your microphone being off, but I can hear you. So, whatever. Good. Okay, that works. That works. So, she's recording on me. Good. Well, she can hear. You're the important one here, Don. So,

all right. I think we're ready. All right. I'm going to call the meeting to order and we're going to start with a question. Will you please stand United States of America to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

And again, I just want to say thanks everybody. I know you've got a million things. appreciate you putting the time aside to come to this. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. U so I'm going to try to move as fast as possible as usual. Got a lot on the agenda as usual. First of all, four past and upcoming events to discuss. One I'm going to throw on in there. Uh we're going to talk about the October 16th uh pass event Foundation. We're going to talk about the vets program that we had. U the Justin Zel steel city Improv Maro and Santa. Uh so the pass event foundation that we had on October 16th I thought the speaker went very well. So any other feedback I I thought I'd be a good person to have come back again for just giving the hyper local given passive being such any any feedback that folks have from that building um the first uh soldiers of the Spanish war about sort of how

Yeah, I agree. Yeah, I could have went a more doubt on the history of I mean

is that the speaker's choice they talking? It was he was representative of the foundation. So he went more into the foundation itself versus P although he he touched on it. He gave a video on the whole history of it but it would have been you know that was not his main focus but I guess it would be great to have somebody do a deep dive on the history of it itself. So he touched on it but he didn't do a deep dive. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. I totally agree. Totally agree. Anything else [clears throat] on that one? Secondly, I did want to talk about the the vets program that we had for the first time here. Uh again, I came here as well. I thought first of all the the memorabilia that was out was absolutely outstanding to go from all the way from the civil war conflict all the way through Afghanistan was really something. I mean way beyond. So my hats off to the volunteers who were putting all that together. I thought it was absolutely outstanding. It was great to have the refreshments here uh for the Vent celebration and I thought for especially a version 1.0 I thought it went very well. Any other feedback from folks?

I appreciate the honesty trying to exceed those expectations. It was really a good touch to have coffee and donuts here and everything else. It was maybe we can start earlier next time just get the word out. Yes, I think now we know we can we can build on that. Now we know it's there's a demand and I thought because it was 10 a.m. people would come in and we didn't. It's already flushed into It's already in the counter.

A dozen. There were like a dozen that came in. I know my husband may end burger. [laughter] Great. So, Abby did say it's on the calendar for next year.

I think it's appropriate. Okay. Then I wanted to uh switch gears and talk about tomorrow. So, tomorrow we have Justin Zella from Steel City Improv. Uh I did confer with him. So, I'll be here early uh to make sure he gets set up is going to be experiential. So, it's going to be you'll be experiencing improv uh in the raw, [clears throat] shall we say, as well as lecture format. So, he wants the capability to use slides, but then he wants space for like six people, six volunteers to be able to assist. Uh, I just so you know, I will have some professionals coming in, uh, some 12 12 year olds who are just coming off of a middle school musical. They're the professional. Uh, so they will be volunteering to sit.

Perfect. And again, it's going to be it'll be pure true to its name. It'll be improv. So, we'll be improving as we go along, but I'll I'll be here a little more just to make sure he had what he needs. Uh, so I have not seen him present on this specific subject before. I've heard him present extremely good speaker except I have not seen him do this feedback. He said it will be extreme. Anything else on that respond? All right. Then Santa uh at the HCC in December. So, I'm not sure if Santa if anybody's in contact with Santa with any specific any dates that we're looking at. I'm just wondering if anybody anybody can be watching this video. So, say anybody you know Santa like when would be a good time for this.

We know somebody that likes to play Santa. So, he'll be there. I think I get more out of it. I think there were so many people we Well, we did. Well, that's what is last year.

I was going to do it at 12 from 5 to 8. was going to do it the 13th from 1 to 4 and I was going to do it the 14th from 1 to 4. Then the following weekend, Friday 5 to 8, Saturday 1 to 4, Sunday 1 to 4. I'm okay with it. I know it's people who have the comments and could probably someday.

There's something else that we need for Friday night. Even though we do the parking lot, but it helps to have the road crew have the lights up because if you remember last year, I sat out there forward. [laughter] I don't know if you lost Don. Did we? Don, are you still there? Yeah. Oh, he's there. I'm I'm I'm just having a little trouble hearing. I'm getting an intermittent signal from when when you talk, but Got it. I'm trying to just trying to hear you. That's all. Got it.

So, for I'll do whatever you guys want to do to me. I think you have families that are worried about it. food and everything else and they're asking for $50 to take a picture of the balls. I think it's pretty important to be another way for people to do that. And you know, in the past, you guys have done such a great job of making this feel like sort of. So, here's what I'd ask Suzanne. I know we have to ask some volunteers here for me if you can make the final decision what days would work or not work. And I get we can't do everything. Yeah. Because we have to have hopes have it can't be just need support.

The 21st since our anniversary. So the 21st is I can do I can do both Friday nights and um Sundays. whatever you need to do. Saturday, whatever you put on. So, yeah, we're good. When When would she need to make that decision? You want to give a day or two?

Get the activity. donated and we'll get stacks donated. Okay. Um so it's not anything against our budget. Yeah. But yeah, I I kind of need to know now because we need to do a much better job of getting your publicizing it. Well, that was kind of obscure we did it. Yeah. But you know what? Now, did have the uh things gone to John as far as advertising? Is that a good No, I'll do that. Huh? I'll do that. Oh, okay. U because you got the picture and she got the picture that she's got.

You know what? There's picture from the website last year where I was out in front. Oh, okay. have flyers and stuff that we can put out. I was waiting on a date. Okay. Um, so if you guys want to focus on one weekend, if you want to volunteer weekend, do you think that's oversaturating? I don't [clears throat] know. The mall is not going to saturate. Last year was so that's your cop. Okay, you know what? You got

I'll do whatever you want. Yeah,

okay. Okay, we'll decide today, but you want to do it afterwards. Yeah, they focus. We'll just now just as you know as well, I did bring a couple of chachkis like 50 different little bubble things and leg up bracelets. We got like 100. So you can't raise your hand. I'm just donations. Just got to hand up. Uh all right. I'm going to move on. Keep us moving. Just public comment on agenda items. Just if there's anything else agenda, you can do it now or you can add it. I did forget to put on here. Um upcoming events is Winterfest. Uh December 6th.

It's Saturday, December 6th. It'll be from 3 to 7. and I have been working with um one of the children's librarians from Northland and they'll come and do a story time. Um she sent me that information and I didn't put it on here. So I will send all that to you. But if you guys can plan to have a representative here um from 3 to 7 that day. So the I think I think I plan to do that. I'm sorry. Said December 6th. Yes, I have it on my should I Yes. Yeah.

Right. I look forward to that. Okay. And then uh let's see. Next is just talking about uh approval of the previous uh minutes for the FDPC meeting. I did take a look at them. I don't have any changes with it. I know we had a motion to approve them in previous meeting. I get a second. Okay. Although Jim can't approve. Sorry. So Suzanne, you can appreciate it. But thanks.

All right. So moving on to number six, the Gayla. Just do a quick recap. The Gayla. My opinion is one of the most unique events in the area. I don't think there's anything else like it. Uh so I got a lot of uh just people saying thanks and reaching out. just uh from the Long View Acres Garden Club, they reached out specifically and we're just extremely uh thankful for everybody asking for additional picture. So that was the big picture I saw. So I just want to get feedback from anybody else. We'll do a deep dive a different sub. I just want to say thank you all for me.

You're w you're welcome, Don. Well, welld deserved. That's for sure. Any other feedback from I I I heard on more than one occasion people say, "Wow, it's really nice that we're like celebrating, you know, a positive thing, positive people, positive impacts on community, not necessarily painless people, just people that [snorts] do stuff in the community. It's many people said Jefferson. Yeah, it's really nice. It's really It is unique.

Yeah. And again across the the large cross-section of winners big cross-section society that you have different professions, different impacts, different

and attendees cross-section of attendees. I asked Abby to start publicizing four nominations for next year. We do have some people that were backed up in nomination. we could not make it this year, but we will definitely the most um there's a couple other people, but uh I've asked Abby and this has to be approved by you u that we close the nominations in March, the first of March is that it gives us the chance to vet everybody, gives us the chance to uh make sure that they're available and then to that because we really do need to do a better job of setting the final rush.

Was the timing better or worse the beat? So, it was better. I thought I thought it was better. So much better.

And you know what? The the betting wasn't perfect, but for what we needed, it was perfect. The only thing that didn't work and we will make arrangements for that next year if you guys want me to continue to do the the chair. That's something else that has to be decided. I'm more than willing to do it. I just need everybody's okay. And that's one thing I thought that worked well this year as well building off last year was having a subcommittee that got together to help with, you know, just just help divvy up stuff. So I thought that was very helpful. So I I thought like as we look into next year being able to do that again was and adjust slightly. So I thought that was very useful to have a focus

earlier. We need to get people to commit with you know going out and getting sponsorships earlier because you know people set their budgets. Sometimes they do it on a quarter. Sometimes they do it on a year. Sometimes they do it on a half year. Just depends. We've been fortunate. We have two venture sponsors that have given their checks that work for the Mac Community Association. That's our arm. That's our 501c3. That's the only way that we can qualify to get these red lines that they write a check to the to the P. [clears throat]

That's Hopkins MC.

She also did all the videos. Uh I hope you guys like the videos. It took a long time to and especially after I lost my computer the week of I had to recreate everything. I will tell you though, I thought it went smoothly. So that's one of the things I think if people didn't know they would they would think it was a minor thing and everything went fine like they would I do just rolling with it and thought it went perfect. There's there's one thing that people told me they said keep the same format because people paid attention. They said between a minute and two minutes for you to check. They did a great job. Yeah.

I got to give credit to every single speaker knocked them out of the park. every single one. The most poignant thing for me was when Kristen checked got up and thanks Stephen. Yeah, that was great. That one was great. Yeah, I was way impressed with everything. It wasn't and his mom said he was she was really surprised that he admitted to that that was something that was very special to him that

I said when J said that you know I got choked up a couple times during the evening but that really what did she come back because she stopped in the house and she was saying she's you know said to him you know you really wanted to and he that monkey to be there. That was something that was a really great honor. No, but when Christ said that it was living proof then people I'd like to having the baskets in a separate room. Total baskets were ridiculous. Amazing.

I didn't get a chance to put my tickets into the basket, but they closed a little early. Yeah, [laughter]

that was why I did it. I like the fact that we have those cards because people automatically save us $20. So that was something that you know already um I brought them today. Okay. They only got here like last week. So, first class mail. [laughter]

I thought the DJ did pretty well. She played the music that we asked her to play. I don't know if I kind of like the fact that people did today until like 9:30. Um, but I I don't know how you guys feel about that. It was seven homes spent on the beach.

I think that some people they have to still continue to talk and if the music's too loud they don't they leave. I think some of them left because of that and people were standing on the dance floor too talking. So I don't know that but I like the fact I think that music that we had for dinner was something that could have been carried off for the night. I think that was really nice and they Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

I mean I think sometimes even like last year people laugh because they could be they you know talk each other last year was great. It wasn't it wasn't the Yeah. This year we did a little bit better job, but I I see your point. Yeah, I almost crowded with the jazz. Yeah, I think I mean you think people could enjoy the They were really good. Really good.

Okay. They were good. Yeah, that's a good that's a good consideration for next year. That's a good consideration. And you know I wrote notes to McMales because I think

so we've written pretty much right. So here's what I would suggest. We're going to we'll do a deeper dive at a different time uh as we reformulate some can't wait reopen in March. Okay. You know the thing that's been the problem the last years we've been already you know wanted to keep the same date next year that we had this year. I thought that was nice at the beginning. So I put that I didn't send a a or anything but verbally I thought for Oh

and that's in Pennsylvania. Gotcha. So he's going to send us for next year's deposit. Same site. Yeah. Same site. I don't see Santa Alexis being ready for that yet. Yeah. I think, you know, they did the air conditioning, they did the bathrooms, but they haven't done the catering kitchen, and that's going to be fine for everything that they decided to do. It's much larger than what we have at the Camelot, but I kind of liked the fact that we were pretty close together at the Camelot. It gave people dinner.

Yeah, I was the size with the uh the problem. I mean was there was it two problem right think that we're stuck at 155 260 people I don't think we're going to be able to sell more tickets because then I think it would be kind of truth but I thought that bar worked out well I thought that how they did the food worked out well how they did the dirts worked out well Yeah, [laughter] it was a lot. $268, you know,

it's better last year or so. Well, here's what happens. We get followers for the people that we see and we get you see that we gave fans to their plus one. Last year people were going up on the road and they were playing.

Yeah. So changed it this year. 68 when you talk about shelf alcohol. That's pretty good. It's pretty good. Last year we were drinking Rocka and it cost 168. So I feel really good about that. I thought the dessert was really good. I thought that the food was outstanding and compared to what we've had previously at the Chadwood. I thought the food was my daughter and they were sexy. Yeah, I mean everything was really well done. Well,

well, let's do this. I think we're in agreement that we want to be able to look at it next year a number of improvements and then I can work uh Joe with you and Abby on the date we want to be able to get together a subcommittee how we want to organize all that let's say before March at least at least start the planning out so we'll work on that as far as when to be able to launch that off because I thought it worked well to have something today versus doing everything in this group but I guess it's too much all All right. Okay. I'm going to move on unless there's anything else to mention there. All right. Thanks. Thank you, Joe. Thank you. Appreciate bringing multimedia.

Thanks, Joe. All right. We're going to move into then number seven, reports and updates from committees as far as marketing and communications from a social media standpoint. Uh so I'm sure Abby if you want to talk about that from a social media standpoint. Yeah, this was our best uh Facebook post of the month last month. Um it had a reach of over 8,000 um people. It had six shares, 42 comments, and 109 likes or reactions. And it was, of course, about Long View Acres. So, it was the booklet we have of the uh

sales pamphlet that you could choose different layouts for when they were building Long View Acres. So that was our top one for the month last month. Nice. And by the way, I continue to use your Facebook post. Do you share on my page and everything? Great. Thank you. Makes it easy. Yeah. Because we have our own neighborhood pages. It's just make it so easy that share it has all the little QR code everything links to get to the signup page. Everything. Thank you. Right. And I know we want to talk about potentially using the ACC as more of a meeting place and rental facilities to spot.

Um, so right now the Heritage Center is on the town's fee schedule to be a $200 refundable deposit. Um, and then $75 an hour as a rental facility. Now, that has worked well in the past for like the Long View Acres Garden Club who had more of a reception. Um, but I would like to think about ways that we can use the Heritage Center as more of a meeting place. Like Rob approached me and asked if the Girl Scouts could come um for a tour and then also have their, you know, monthly Girl Scout meeting here. So in the earlier this year when the library was under construction, uh they closed their meeting rooms and I was getting a bunch of calls um asking for meeting space, for tutoring, for just, you know, small group meetings. Um, and unfortunately all we had in place was that $75 an hour, which is, you know, not feasible for someone who's going to tutor a kid in math for 45 minutes. Um, so just thinking about the fee schedule for next year and ways to use the center in that way. Now, I know that the rental program also depends on volunteers to be able to be here to o open the doors to sort of monitor the the items that are here um in the facility. So, if that is a route that we go, I think we need to think about, you know, what the demand on the volunteers would be and if you're open to that or not. So my opinion is I think the facilities here be used. So anything that can help the community use it as best as possible.

Yeah. And if we want to view next year as doing some experimentation, let's experiment with a few groups, see how it goes. But does this work or not? Because in that to me I I would be very Would it be possible to maybe come up with categories that could be anything from maybe nothing up to the $75 an hour? Yeah.

You know, depending upon the amount of people, depending on the complexity. I mean, we we don't want to make our categories too complex, but we shouldn't maybe have some kind of a sliding scale with uh uh that we could service the people in the community and make money if we if there's a lot of work involved and and maybe just use the center if there's very little work to be done. So, here. I I'm I'm losing I'm losing it here. I'm sorry. She can't read that.

You said when they have Long View Acres. Yeah, I just couldn't hear it. Yeah, Long View. Yeah, Long View Lakers would be the $75, but what you're saying about somebody wanting to tutor somebody because of their maybe they they lost their where they were doing it like the library, but temporarily we could accommodate them. Yeah.

Yeah. And the Girl Scouts need a venue for the 15 girls and they're like, "Oh, it's super. This would be great. It's in January. You guys are closed. It's awesome. They be here like okay went down $200 and then that's you know that's a different game." So which was a great idea. Perfect. Yeah. I think McDonald's.

Well, as long as you guys are uh you know open to that possibility of having more smaller events here um and using volunteers to facilitate that that also is a you know income stream for the heritage as well. Um, so I will draft up some some information and you know bring it over. Perfect. I love the idea of experimenting. I like the side benefit. The more people you get in here who have a reason to be here, the broader the board gets out that this exists.

Every time someone comes in here for some event, even if it's for some meeting they are planning and being here for, they go home and tell five about who the place is. Agree. And now we have to

Yeah, they are they are all right. But for our event so I think that's why we decided okay seven most so they should for the speaker series tomorrow when they should be on there be like yeah all right okay anything else you want to talk about on the the meeting place we have what you need for that no

all right budget on the budget side I think budget planning for 2026 I know we're going through overview review last time. I'm not sure if there's anything new to mention. No, nothing new to mention. Um the uh how do you call it? The uh open forum hearing. Thank you. [laughter] The budget the budget hearing is at this Monday's meeting um where members of the public can come and uh state their comments about uh the proposed budget for 2026. Um and then after that, town council will uh vote for the budget for6. We vote the week the meeting after after that. That's a public. Yeah.

So Monday will be the purpose will be to hear what public have to say. Good. All right.

All right. I'm going to move into programming then. Uh the adver and I'm going to go into this uh the advertising. Now the big thing we are about speaker series to be able to summarize as far advanced as we can and Abby has taken that to her a draft one of putting together a list of things that the first page is the third Thursday lecture series your own pole I'm waiting to actually confirmed. So the bargaining line said it was a yes. It's just a matter of so um so that's exciting. Um, in thinking about the programming for the third Thursday lectures next year, we wanted to make it more mechanist 175 centric. Um, so thinking about more hyper local things that have to do specifically to measan. Uh, Rob has been in contact with Brady Kraer which has been on the books for quite some time. He can adjust that. He's got want to do that or any other like

French Indian War is fine. I mean, western Pennsylvania in general is is a, you know, influencer Clemente Museum. Everyone loves the pirates and Roberto Clement. So, that's a good one.

Um, like I said, the Harmony Line presentation uh is confirmed there. And then part of that too, um, Rob and I have talked about this was this year when we did the Alageney Observatory lecture and then we went there for a visit. I thought that that was a really fantastic experience to sort of see what the presenter was talking about in in real time. So I reached out to Scott Becker. Uh he actually retired as the executive director of the Charlie Museum earlier earlier this year, but he's still there volunteering, I guess. [laughter]

Um but he said he would love to have us come as a group, see the Wexford station. And then they also have a Harmony Line car that is not typically on public view that he'd be glad to show us as well. So um there would be a cost associated with that. And then if we wanted to coordinate, you know, like rent a bus, the school bus to take you down to Washington for that day or so those are things we can talk about, but I think that that would be a fantastic option. I think the tickets were like $15 to get in with a group rate. Um, get the Oh, that's a great idea. Trolley to trolley. Oh, that is great.

It sounds great. I said that was absolutely fantastic.

Um, moving on. The history of Route 19 with Steve Cicero, Ross Park Mall's 40th birthday with Scott Barrett. The history of North Park with Ranger Delin McManis. The North Hills genealogologist in October. Uh, Robert Skurich, a professor from Point Park University. We'll come back and talk about the Nike missile sites. And that's another opportunity for a site visit as well. Last time he came, we went up to the fire academy and the park and looked at the 19 missile sites. Um, so I also will reach out to the fire academy or the park rangers and then also maybe see if we can go to HOSA and see the ruins over there as well. But he said that that one we would need a uh a good weather day. We won't get caught back there in mud, I guess. So, we'll see about that one. But at least go up to the fire academy. I don't foresee that. that would be an issue. Um December holiday display, Winterfest, and then potential for Santa. Um the additional programs that we've been working on include a McCandless 175 birthday party hosted by the Heritage Center on Sunday, March 22nd. So this is something that came up in our Mckanas 175 committee. Um and Kevin and Trish are also on that committee. Um, so to recognize McInness's 175th proper birthday, that was the day that the charter was signed back in 1871. Um, is that the right date? 187. Um,

so if any of you have thoughts about what that might look like, I am here's why. Okay. And you don't necessarily have to have an answer right this second, but um be thinking about how we can celebrate Vikim's birthday. Even if it's something as simple as like actually getting a cake.

I have a costume. Really? Yeah. Yeah. There's a sun. I need to take her. I'm looking. We have to get some measurements cuz what's the waist? Yeah. So, be thinking about that. Um, I also will be thinking about that and we'll be discussing that in 175 committee meetings as well. Um Rob and I spoke with Bob Stley from the Hunts History Center last week. Um they do an appraisal fair as a part of their HCAP program. They did it at the Shayer Library earlier this year. Very successful. Yes.

Yes. Um so it's you know like Antiques Road Show of sorts. Um they bring maybe three experts from the Hines History Center. They uh do a reg registration process where you can only bring, you know, two or three items that you want to have them look at. You spend a little bit of time and they really just educate you. They're not giving like a cost appraisal, per se. And they did charge for correct. Were you part of that? I wasn't part of the

Yeah, I got [clears throat] you like hard against I think for each I think it's like $10. Yeah. Because otherwise you

Yeah. So they have experience. They've done this at Sho Library and a couple other of their HCAT member um locations. So they sort of have a formula of how to do the registration process. Um, so I was very excited about that. Um, I sent a couple dates to Bob. He was going to check with his team at the Heind History Center to see if any of those dates listed um, work for them. And that would be June 27th, August 22nd, or October 10th. So, more to come on that, but he is, you know, willing to host that here. That's absolutely fantastic.

Yeah, Bob is such a great guy. really really good. I appreciate you connecting. Um, Caitlyn and Ann have uh offered to get a house history workshop again. Um, and we've scheduled that for Saturday, May 16th. By the way, I love that you guys did a version one and that was so I mean what

and Amy Steel was unable to meeting today, but she and I will touch base about the scanning party. Amy has wanted to do is scanning a program for some time, inviting the public to bring in photos that they may have um of historic things in in Macandas that would add to our digital collection as well as possibly our our film collection. So that's scheduled for July 25th. and the birthday party, the house history workshop, and the scanning party are all published already in the town calendar, which will be mailed to residents um in December. The photography show was also published in the calendar. You remember about three years ago, we did a North Park photography uh show here at the at the Heritage Center. So this time around I wanted to be more general macanless themed. So buildings uh people um just general macanless life. Um so I put that in the calendar. So it has to be real. September said

that's true. Yeah. Um, so I'll use a similar process to the one we used a couple years ago in um, reaching out to some local photography groups. I'll also reach out to the North Hills Art Center because they have a photography um, program there as well. Um, sort of invite people to submit things and then we'll uh, jury them and make a selection because we obviously have space limitation on what we can share. So, Correct.

So maybe the second part we could because we're going to be scanning the images, we could get a couple prints made. You can pick 20 photos that we could show the tiny history angle with the photo. I like that idea. I like that. Or have like a historical category where you know like this category might be all buildings. This category might be nature and then historic. Yeah.

Okay. Um, shining stargaya, we already discussed that. Um, and a date to be determined for next year. And then also the Veterans Day breakfast has been published um in the calendar as well for Wednesday.

Great. Got it. Um, something else I wanted to push hard for next year is more outreach. I know at certain times we have reached out to the retirement homes and the nursing homes. I think Suzanne even compiled a list earlier this year. Um, but I want to offer them this space as a meeting space. I want to offer them guided tours. I want to take items to them um to the retirement homes and do a presentation. Um, so that's a program that I would like to uh revive by [clears throat]

where they're all I mean quite frankly that's I did that presentation at the Rotary Club last year. It's already done. I could literally lift your shift and I'd be happy to do that or anybody who Okay,

but we could do that as slide show. Yeah, they have their own programming and then you come and everybody hops on van. Why not? I mean, I can do that. You just tell me date. I can show up. It's done. The thing's done. I just update a few things. Yeah, now that come on like they hit the our place and they go to There you go. Yeah,

that would be out. So again, I'm totally obvious want to put something on the calendar. I'm just Is there anyone who would like to sort of spearhead the outreach efforts? know where I work, but they have places that come in and do things and talks and stuff. They came here to virtual one time. Okay. But [clears throat] because the buses can only the van can only put so many people be reach more people and we take things in and do a

I would like to do it both ways because I think there is an opportunity to bring people in and then keep them coming back. Um, but also I do understand that some of those folks aren't necessarily comfortable getting on the bottom. Maybe they want to come and

right. So would anyone like to take on the outreach? Well, I can certainly stand up. Sure. If one try would take things in for the reunions and stuff. He would set up a table at a different ending. that he would bring art and hold them that had to do with that year and stuff to the

We had a couple classes come through here as well where we set out the the yearbooks from their their stuff and put on the table and actually um had you know a yearbook for that for that year or they you know brought stuff that was pertaining to graduate is the way to get solder plans I mean, I think it's probably each class has someone different who steps up, but it would be nice to let them know the things that we have. Yeah.

I mean, we can reach out to the Does NA have an alumni association to do or the foundation? I don't know who they coordinate with. Like I my husband's a grad like he just gets scores out when he hears the beginning. It's not very

evenension. I went to convention and you know even some of their reunions

he went he went to a lot of things like when J when breakfast Joe always showed up and had display

when we had a thing up at the health fair the airport time. They had Melissa had and we went up and I helped him obtain money to br his he also went to Marshall Community Days. I went with him one time and we had it in the um block the library and we had stuff set up and you know all the history is we brought a whole bunch of stuff. So would you be willing to compile a list of the retirement communities and potentially other people on the outreach? Could you be the head of that?

Yeah, I can.

Okay. Thank you. All right. Um, rental opportunities we already discussed. Um, so we'll move forward with that project. Um, if we wanted to host just a general openhouse, um, particularly during a time when the soccer fields are being used, the baseball fields are being used, there's lots of activity across the street. Um, so be thinking about um planning something like that where we do maybe something outside to attract attention to ourselves to folks driving by. Whether we get like an inflatable bouncy house and put it along the side or um something just to have like a a day of like a open house come and visit. Would it be good to have you?

Yeah. Separate from the birthday party for Macless. Yes. Like the Heritage Center technically opened in March or something like I feel like the birthday was in March. Is that right? But that might be wrong. Yeah.

Okay. H happy h on birthday. Um well, we can look at the calendar to see because we also have a jam-packed event calendar with the other programs that we're doing at the town as well. So, but yeah, that's not about anyone. Um, are there any ways that you can think of that the Heritage Center could be more involved in community events? Thinking about community day, National Night Out, the Easter egg hunt, I think you guys were open for all of those events. Maybe not National Night Out, but uh just to have a presence in a different way than we've done in the past. you gone to other community like Marshall Township Community Day or like St. Alexis Festival where these are people that would share an interest in what's here to be nice.

That's actually a good idea. Yes. [laughter] Certainly through the summer. Okay. I was also just thinking like through the winter months um you know an unusual place that gathers a lot of people is the baby tech bunches. Yes. And they I feel like might like something like this, you know, like as a as a side display in their in their They're 90 g. I mean, it's a decent lunch for five bucks. Yeah, might be fixed now, but or the fish fries that they do, too. Yeah, that might be a little more chaotic.

That's still chaotic. They're like saving and stuff like maybe is during the weekdays. Okay. And and uh I think it's like three days a week they have their their dining room open. Yeah. And they have a nice buffet. That's a great idea. The other thing is um there's a lot of like non vendor fairs um at churches or schools or whatever. Um I don't know if NA has vendor fair like they have that place to get visual exposure to like at a table. Wait, we have to sell something though.

I don't. Okay. I mean there there were like the Girl Scouts had a table at the North. They were selling survival. It could be you could work out a deal. Maybe Divine Pro has one maybemorial usually in the fall [clears throat] December. those kind of

Yeah. Yeah. I think there's one there's like an I made it market farmers market but if you had a farmers market it's been brought I am serious. We got to get his problems. Seriously, we should make a professional.

See how the season what do you say is the best September? Okay. Your house has like a flag. Yes.

And I did want to mention this year you could really see that HC is part of the whole campus and I think obviously that's because of Abby with your leadership bringing it all together which was huge. To me the improvements are pretty straightforward like you know better signage and people know this is part of it. I do think as well that what this lends itself to is if you want to have pictures with dressed up characters, this is a nice spot for that. You know, because you little kids come in, they go to the bathroom. It's like more mellow. Uh if they want pictures in the better than in the correct just saying, you know, that's but you could tell very much this year that now this is and I think that's great. I'm sure there's a million improvements, but it was really

detect by the way the first is a Sunday. Okay. So, Yeah, the next one is seven. Let's just make sure Joe puts mine down the right. Well, we'll try to Yeah.

Yeah. He didn't mention the date, right? That's a Friday. I bet. Yeah, that's Sunday next year. No, I got it. Yes, I put it November 7th. 7th this Saturday.

Um, some social media initiatives. Um, I've been wanting to do a countdowns 175. I don't know if that would be on the Heritage Center page or the town's page or both. Um, but if there's anything else or anyone to assist me with social media posts, um, I would be grateful for the assistance of photographs of I have so I took all of the information from the office or from the library relating to Macandas. So, and if you've been the monkey for sorry, [laughter]

there would be multiple blinders in there. Um, so I'd like to sit down and sort through it and really focus heavily next year on the Macan list history for our Facebook page. Um, so if you've got photos, if you've got things that I've not thought about or that you'd like to see, I think that I think I've mentioned this before. Restaurants that are there anymore are very popular that has three of them. Perfect. I'd love to see it. [laughter] Maps are very popular,

particularly old maps and photos that have people in. Yes. Yes. So, very nostalgia stuff. Um, um, I'd like to limit it to the list. That's not always possible. Sometimes there's something really good, right, to share that doesn't relate to me, but I'd like to at least keep it as mechanous as possible. Girls,

yeah, that's what I was going to say. Like we sometimes think of when you say this stuff like old get this could be my 20 years ago, right? Yeah. People will start identifying. Yeah. People playing and that also helps us build upon our collection too.

Oh, I did a post not too long ago about the more recent um NA yearbooks. you know, you may have graduated in 2024 and now you're a part of history because you are an alumni and like now your your yearbook is in the Heritage Center, too. So, history is made every day and even though it's not old tomorrow, um you know, we need to continue to collect uh those things so that way we can preserve them for the future. So I just said a thing to my company yesterday might be a good time to bring up the quote somebody said because my company Hayatt is celebrating big but what they said was heritage without innovation it becomes only history but we need to keep on bringing things in

the one one thing you're just all pictures but is there any problem with publishing them. Would you need their permission to do that or sports game picture was taken from you if it was a a team photo or something? Yeah, I should say. So, but I mean Yeah, that's a good question. Amy Seal has brought that up in the past about, you know, photo release and permissions things like that. Creative comments late or something. We could look at that. Okay,

there are some issues, but I don't know. I mean when you get back to 1800 or like to 20 there may not be any because it's so

but you know if it's my daughter's kindergarten soccer team so they're not of the photo like I bought the photo from the pictures I took. Oh, I would love to see those. I like that. Right. That was the official photographer. I have picture of you

day. I have a picture of you in a red convertible on that day. Yeah. In the parade was first day. Yeah. This looks like an absolutely finished. I mean, come on. This looking pretty darn good. This is looking pretty darn good. Especially this. Yeah.

All right. Moving on. um education on what types of items we want to add to our permanent collection. So I think uh that came up in our conversation with Bob Stler last week and that those appraisal events really help you educate people on you know like this or you can encourage people to say like do you have Macan's history in your basement like we want to see it. So even though it might not be valuable to you dollar-wise, it would be extremely valuable to us if you wanted to donate it to us, you know, when you not today if you don't want to, but he said there have been a couple times where people have brought stuff in and they're like, you know, this would be better suited to be here where it can be on display and enjoyed by other people and not just tucked away in my basement. So um just spreading education about again that continuing uh preservation and collection history. Um volunteers, how can we recruit additional volunteers? Um we are going to need additional coverage for Saturdays beginning in 2026. Um and then I would like to get to a point where we are open on Sundays again. um how can we better assign and organize projects that need to be done and just sort of have a better structure for oversight of the volunteer program. So does anyone have any feedback on that part of the start of it? So great and also attracting a younger um demographic whether that's high school

students or uh Lar Ro or CCAC students who need some you know volunteer time or internships or

[clears throat] Oh yeah.

They need volunteer. But yeah, the the honor society was all volunteer. Yeah. Because they're already academics. college programs do this gave credit form and those are the those are the groups that I believe out too that you know volunteer for winter fest and community day so that's I don't know why oh yeah yeah they're good

they filled in all the spots but for community day when Yeah.

Yeah. I wonder if there's a couple uh like again I'm sure but it would have to be somebody close by have access to driving like you could put something in a newsletter senior care and just say hey look volunteers when you know can sell sell the center a little bit you [clears throat] know Yeah.

You look for a certain kind of person to do that. I know like the key club used to do stuff still there. I don't they're [clears throat] not I see like they're not as reliable here. It's [clears throat] a lot of the same kids. But what I would like to to strengthen though is our task list of like even though we're inviting these volunteers in, I want them to have something meaningful to do, right?

Um and I need a direction to give them um to engage them so they're not sitting here bored. Um and and we do need volunteers to just, you know, be open on Saturdays. Um, and I don't want a student being here by themselves either. Uh, so just thinking about how we structure that a little bit better. So we have a a list of projects that we want to accomplish and here's what you can do to contribute to this project that's already moving forward. One thing I found out with um a little person here I mean like Katie has all these photos of around the she and I mean that's been really helpful and then between she and what do you think and stuff and put the val that helps her she wants this

and I do think um social media content. Yeah, as far as writing a more detailed, okay, take any item, I don't care what it is, write something really catchy about it, details, and then, you know, upload that to what our SharePoint said or just email it, whatever. And that might be something just delegate and then you everybody wins because they get the they get the social media experience. you are going back to touch social media though and view it before it gets posted and then you get and you get their vibe and you can say it's this person did it. I don't know just an idea bird with one soon. Yeah.

Okay. Well, we'll continue to to work on that as well. Would would Amy still allow us to put some kind of a bulletin or a flyer on at the library asking for volunteers for the um Yeah, they um they do ask you to submit it and so they have to approve whatever. You can't just go in and put something up on the bulletin board. Yeah, I I think they would be happy to receive something from us

because that you might get a lot of views, a lot of people with their eyes on it that uh you know and and maybe even just say u maybe some specific uh uh types of volunteering whether it be uh um you know cataloging or whatever or or helping uh people or volunteering to keep it open. just list some of the um some of the activities that the volunteers do and see how many um just to let people know what might be available for them if they volunteer. young moms with little kids there eventually or you know middle age people

and they do um street programs from time to time too. So we could even ask to have those targeted audiences like everyone who signed up to go to the guilded age presentation like hey you know that the heritage center's right down the road. So, that's a great idea. Um, okay. So, display ideas for 2026. Um, I want to be very deliberate about what we put out next year. Um, for some reason, I only have one special date on here, so I know for a fact that there's way more than that. Um so in thinking about relevant dates that would help uh the birthday party of course the community day uh veterans day memorial day fourth of July those are sort of no-brainers. Um, I would also like to coordinate with organizations to do um displays both here and possibly at their organization as well to commemorate Macandas 175. So, I met with uh Mary Ellen Muse from the Sisters of Divine Providence last week uh and showed her around the Heritage Center and she was very impressed. Uh they have confirmed to loan us some items. Uh they'll be celebrating a landmark um anniversary next year as well. I believe it's 100 years, 75 of which have been in McCandless. Um so they're going to loan us some stuff for display for May and June of next year. I've also talked to the Pass Foundation a couple years ago. They loaned us some items to put on display here, but they also have a display case over at Passment Hospital um near their Passment Hospital timeline. sort of in the main entryway there. Um, so, uh, I was working with

Gene Marie and she was going to get in touch with the hospital to see if we could use that display case to advertise forless 175 next year. I called the sisters in Kentucky um, and spoke with um, their executive assistant. I put in a request to her asking to get information about Vincent Academy as well as about the Vincent Vincent sisterhood. I called the the sisters who live in McCandless um their advocate who works for them and also asked to speak to some of the sisters who were living in in Macandless as well to see if they would like to participate in some way.

There's still some love. We had one sister that came to our reunion when we had our reunion. She was like just entered that when she was at mentioned she was like yeah I mean really young she wasn't a terrorist but I heard that they moved them back into the continent. I'm not really sure. Oh really? You know but the sisters off at ours are all from Ber and we have about 30 35 of them in our facility they all moved and there were 70 at one point when they moved in in 2019. So, I mean, you know, they

as far as I know, the only sisters who live um at the Vincent town homes over there, I think there's only about 10 to 15, I think, now. I miss 30 30. And they have they have a um dinner once a month. They had the had it last night and they have their committee or whatever. There was about 20 of them there. So that may I know they have that once a month and have different things in that they use the our academy which is a big room and you know that might be something they make you know and these are Vincent sisters or non Vernia sisters we have about 30 from Vernia in our okay but none from Vincent pardon

none from Vincent I I was one some of them were friends with some of these sisters because I know she went to conferences or something. the one sister and she talks to her every month. I mean I have her phone number the one that came to our review and she'll ask you what their advocate um gets back to me like a history of them already really can yeah it was it was the foundation okay but it had the history in it so let me see if I can get that if I could getational school okay

they have display think of invention prog that you know if in sension you know I know that we have some of our sisters that could no longer be at our facility that are in there but they have different things I mean I rehab facility too like when you get off the elevator they building

I think divine providence yeah divine providence I think they keep their own records um so that's why they're loaning us items to display about the sisters and then about laose as they gave that property to start around 1960 so that'll all be sort roll into the bottom. What was that? Power. Power. That's a big

more [clears throat] this year. I think Marian's pretty he's the one Marie 175 children.

Yeah, they're going to loan us items about Loro and sister with divine confidence. Um I need contact at CCAC. anyone can anytime I've tried different factoring. [laughter] class and stuff and some of them are only like a week. I mean, they only have one week. I mean, that might be something they may have probably.

Yeah. Um, are there any other major organizations or I don't want it all to be so focused on churches or religious aspects. So are there other aspects? I mean obviously

as far as efforts, right? I know that they're celebrating some anniversaries in um as is the ambulance authority. So in Kansas 175 meeting last last month he talked about you know one 2000 2027 being like first responder celebration year. Um but yeah if they've got history I know they they do not be a still

anyone else you can think of at the moment? The only thing I was thinking of given that we uh given that I know it's a for-profit entity but the trip live given that it's a local thing of how that works. Uh, and I know Natalie Matter is just fantastic feature. How does this all work like from a reporting standpoint and a news dissemination? You mean as like a lecture or

Yeah. Yeah. Like as a speaker or you know, I know it's not an organization, but it is obviously dominates local like it's local. It's not like going to, you know, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette or something. Yeah. More of a local flavor. I was like, how does this work? Met awesome. Uh, it's like, wow, how does this whole thing work? You're probably gonna want to talk to her about Yes. Yeah. She might actually say the newspaper history news like that everybody.

All right. All right. Well, that concludes my um massive list of This is a great list. This is having all of the stuff in advance. Right. Do you want to fly through the rest of this agenda? Yes. I don't think we already

Okay, I know late so we are going to crank through some stuff. First of all, the volunteer thank you party. Uh looking at December 17th, 5:30. So that that still works for everybody. December 17th. I was told to put that in my mind. Please RSV What day of the week is that? I think it's after our next after our meeting. Oh, okay. All right. Yep. There it is. I have it on my calendar there. Hey, very good. Yeah.

Okay. I'm going to move on to item number eight. Just operations. The Hines History Center picking up the carousel panels. I'm not sure if they they want that. Okay. Parking lot lights installed and operational. We just have Do they come Do they come on automatically or do we have to turn them on? They come on automatically. All right. Yeah, they look good. They look good. All right. Macless 175. Quick update on there. You have a history book and photography show. You want to talk some?

Yeah, we talked about those. All right, that's all we have on the agenda. Any other comments or thoughts? It has been one heck of a year. We're not even done, but it's been one great year. When when I I think about this when you're letting these foods to come in, originally we had planned on putting a kitchen kitchen sink back in the back and forth. [clears throat] Somehow we talked about it. Never

never happened. I don't know whether this rough or I'll have to chase if I just donated donated work. He's still around. We got a budget for it. Pardon? We got a budget for something we need. Yeah. that you talked about just like the weather 175 because I've been thinking of a few

possible subject speakers but one of them I did think said about appreciation plans if you've been there great minds think I told my kids when they had a summer program there and they really like it and they help different things all through the year it's a really neat place for u they they dress up and top it's quite fun just the role There you go. In the first place, they have these little cemetery with all these really old headstones. In fact, they I'm sure they were really nice.

Um, so the library had an exhibit, the rug group, the gallon guild. Um, they had a an exhibit at the um library showing their rug. What about other organizations like that? Like a crafting crafting organization. I know there's an embroidery one. There's probably painting watercolor. A few years ago, Suzanne um and Russ Dick coordinated with the North Hills Art Center. We did like an art show here at one time. Um I think for next year I would like to keep it

centered but yeah that's a good idea for the future program that the church

the only thing I would mention that I was so meeting with Bob from Hines History Museum is to actually have a Hind history museum presentation of like does it just do everything I mean and I'm sure you could potentially tailor it to our mechanics 175. That was just uh an idea. And then secondly, to get more volunteers, something we may want to think about is he he did offer if we wanted our own special little tour of the district, you can it could be a special look like you want to be a volunteer. You know, a little benefit you get is that you get your own special behind the scenes tour of the hinds. That's not a bad little That's not bad at all. But yeah, that's a kid in the candy store. So, so it's just something to think about. I know we didn't talk in detail with them, but I think that's a benefit for all the time and volunteer work that them world class work. Sure.

All right. Anything else? Feel like we go on for days. It's like what a year. What a year group. So again, thank you for all your time. I know everybody's got a million things. Thank you. It's been a great year. And Abby, I did want to say thanks for putting all the stuff down on the state for next year and here's the point. So, all right. Thanks, folks. Okay. I will be here tomorrow, uh, 6:15 p.m. Speaker office. You do need a motion to adjourn. I make a motion to adjourn. and Don second.

Hey, Don, thank you so much. Appreciate you dialing on is. So again,