LACEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (LHS)
PO Box 3324 Lacey, Wash. 98509-3324
‘To be a voice for the early citizens of Lacey, and to be their stewards
protecting the historical heritage they have given us’
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING

January 14, 2026

Minutes

Present: President Jon Halvorson, Vice President Cynthia Pratt, Treasurer Tim McGuire, Secretary John Dziedzic, and Trustees Yvette Burroughs, Larry Ganders, Denise Keegan, Cheryl Malkmus, Ed Sorger, John Turner, Paul Webb and Margie Wyllie.

President Halvorson convened the meeting at 5:03 p.m. and acknowledged that a quorum was present. He also introduced society members Jim Keogh and Mike Pettit, along with retiring Treasurer Nancy Miller, to whom he also presented a certificate of appreciation for her services to the Board of Trustees.

Agenda/Previous Minutes: M/S/P Secretary Dziedzic moved and Trustee McGuire seconded a motion to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was adopted. M/S/P Trustee Keegan moved and Vice-President Pratt seconded a motion to approve the Minutes of the October 8, 2025 meeting of the Board of Trustees The motion was adopted. . (The regularly scheduled meetings in November and December were cancelled.)

Treasurer’s Report: Former Treasurer Miller distributed a financial statement as of December 31, 2025, which indicated that the Society had finished the year with a positive cash position (revenue exceeded expenses). M/S/P Secretary Dziedzic moved and Trustee Keegan seconded a motion to accept the report of the Treasurer as presented. The motion was adopted.

2026 Budget: Treasurer McGuire presented a comparison of actual income and expenditures for the last three calendar years against a budget proposed for 2026, noting specifically that investment income for the upcoming year was expected to be less due to anticipated lower interest rates. M/S/P Treasurer McGuire moved and Secretary Dziedzic seconded a motion to accept the budget, with a line of the word “Temporarily” inserted in title of “Restricted Donations” line item. The motion was adopted.

Liability Insurance: President Halvorson announced that he was prepared to submit a request to renew the society’s annual liability insurance policy with State Farm Insurance, which required financial information from our most recently completed fiscal year. The just-approved budget anticipates that the premium will probably increase over 2025. Trustee Ganders commented that he had experienced an increase in the liability insurance policy for another non-profit with which he was associated. M/S/P Trustee Ganders moved and Trustee Turner seconded a motion to authorize the President to seek renewal of the society liability insurance policy with State Farm Insurance. The motion was adopted, with Vice-President Pratt abstaining.

Board Meeting Time and Place: President Halvorson explained that use of the Fire Department’s conference room for Trustee meetings during the upcoming year was limited to occurring after regular business hours. Several Trustees expressed concern about having meeting that late, and asked that alternative locations be investigated, including Panorama, the I-Hop on Martin Way, Capital Development Company’s board room at South Sound Center, Fire Station #33 on Mullen Road, and Peak Credit Union on the IntelCo campus at College Street and Yelm Highway.

M/S/P Trustee Turner moved and Vice-President Pratt seconded a motion to cancel the Trustees meeting scheduled for February 10, 2026. The motion was adopted.

Dr. Ehlers project update: Secretary Dziedzic reported that a meeting is being arranged with the society’s webpage designer to verify the capacity of the site to properly process and record both regular and “temporarily restricted” donations to the Dr. Ehlers project before beginning the membership fundraising campaign, which is anticipated to be a focus of the next newsletter. Trustees Ganders and Keegan requested that the option for donors to include paying any credit card processing fees as part of the discussion with the webpage designer. President Halvorson directed that Trustee Ganders and himself be included in any such discussions.

Annual Membership Meeting: President Halvorson notified the Board that the Lacey Community Center is available for the Annual Meeting of the Membership on Thursday, September 10, 2026. A discussion ensued regarding options to publicize and conduct the event in such a manner to attract greater attendance. Suggestions included partnering with the City to celebrate the 60th anniversary of incorporation and with other groups honoring the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding. M/S/P Trustee Wyllie moved and Vice-President Pratt seconded a motion to reserve the Community Center as proposed, and to pursue a more celebratory program.
President Halvorsen announced that appointments had been made for the officers of the Board to execute updated authorization cards at both of the society’s financial institutions Friday morning

Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for March 10, 2026, at a location to be determined.
There being no additional discussion President Halvorson declared the meeting adjourned. The meeting was adjourned at 6:32 p.m.
Submitted by: Secretary Dziedzic.