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
March 12, 2025 – 4:00pm

MINUTES

Present: President Jon Halvorson, Vice President Cynthia Pratt, Treasurer, Kendra Hensley, Secretary John Dziedzic, and Trustees Larry Ganders, Denise Keegan, Cheryl Malkmus, Monte Pascual, John Turner, Paul Webb, and Margie Wyllie. Trustee Larry Ganders arrived at 4:45 p.m.

President Halvorson convened the meeting at 4:06 p.m., and acknowledged that a quorum was present.

Agenda/Previous Minutes: M/S/P Secretary Dziedzic moved, and Trustee Pascual seconded, a motion to approve the agenda as presented, with the addition of an announcement regarding the passing of Jack Homann added for the good of the order. The motion was adopted. M/S/P Trustee Keegan moved, and Vice President Pratt seconded, a motion to approve the Minutes of the January 8, 2025 meeting of the Board of Trustees, with an amendment to reflect the presence of Trustee Webb. The motion was adopted.

Community Foundation: Trustee Keegan introduced Mindie Reule, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, who described, and answered questions about the function and processes associated with a non-profit corporation that chooses to maintain an Agency Fund the Foundation

Presentation by Lacey Firefighters: President Halvorson introduced Lacey Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Hulse (and former Firefighters Union President) and Lieutenant Jim Green (and the current Firefighters Union President), who described their organization’s phased effort to construct a Union Hall (approximately 3000 square feet) on two acres located at 805 and 837 Carpenter Road.
Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Hensley reported that 57 members had paid their annual dues for 2025, and that the Society had submitted its annually required federal income tax filing in post card form. Secretary Dziedzic moved, and Trustee McGuire seconded, a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report as presented.

Fiscal Audit Status Report: Trustee McGuire reported that the committee charged with conducting the annual audit had completed its work and concluded the audit to be clear. A report to that effect was also submitted.

2025 Work Plans – Dr. Ehlers: Secretary Dziedzic summarized the previously circulated written work plan, including the names of the Honorary Advisory Committee.

Trustee Turner moved, and Trustee Webb seconded, a motion authorizing the raising of funds in the name of the Society and dedicated to the proposal to construct a statue in honor of Dr. Ehlers, and to further assure that any such funds received were accounted for in compliance with IRS regulations so as to assure the tax-deductible status of such donations.

Treasurer Hensley informed the Board that two donations had recently been transacted through the website that resulted in an unexpected difficulty in balancing the books and cautioned against adopting the requested authority until the problem had been properly investigated and resolved. Trustee Ganders moved to table the motion until the following meeting to permit time to conclude that investigation. The motion to table was adopted.

M/S/P Trustee Ganders then moved, and Secretary Dziedzic seconded, motion authorizing the expenditure of up to $1500, payable to Lacey MakerSpace, for the fabrication of a scale model, or maquette, of the proposed statue of Dr. Ehlers, for use in promotion and fundraising efforts later this year.

2025 Work Plans – Memorial Garden: Secretary Dziedzic described an application for a City Neighborhood Grant for a $2500 matching grant to begin the relocation of the Memorial Garden that had been previously located on properties owned by the society and contiguous to the city’s museum on Lacey Street. The application seeks to partner with CityGates Ministries, which is in the process of acquiring by donation the parcel currently owned by the Lacey Womens Club, and reserve a section of that parcel as a new home for some of the Memorial Garden’s dedicated plants. Secretary Dziedzic moved, and Trustee McGuire seconded, a motion to authorize the described application to be submitted for consideration under the City of Lacey’s Neighborhood Grant program. The motion was adopted.

Financial Strategy for 2025
M/S/P Secretary Dziedzic moved, and Trustee Keegan seconded, a motion that the certificate of deposit at Olympia Federal Savings, which is currently scheduled to mature on April 19, 2025 be allowed to mature and the proceeds therefrom be distributed as follows: (a) first, all interest earned on the certificate of deposit since its initial creation, shall be deposited into an interest bearing account, at the discretion of the President, and dedicated to satisfying expenses as authorized for calendar year 2025; and (b) the remaining amount at maturity after the re-investment described in the preceding paragraph shall be re-invested at t he discretion of the President into a certificate of deposit at Olympia Federal Savings and Loan carrying the greatest interest rate with a term of no more than seven 7 months. The motion was adopted.

For the Good of the Order: Secretary Dziedzic reported that Jack Homann, son of Lacey’s first Mayor, had passed, and that his memorial service was March 13. Secretary Dziedzic also relayed that, following an extended series of communications involving Trustee Webb, Mr. Homann, and city staff, that city officials had announced plans for a city-funded historic marker to be installed at the Al and Anna Homann park, on Carpenter Road, explain the story behind the Homann family’s donation of the park to the city.

Lacey Historical Commission: President Halvorson announced that Trustee Webb had volunteered to represent the Society at the Commission’s March 19 meeting.

Next Meeting: As the April meeting of the board of Trustees was cancelled on an adopted motion by Secretary Dziedzic, and seconded by Trustee Keegan due to the anticipated unavailability of President Halvorson and Secretary Dziedzic, and others, the next meeting is May ___, 2025 at the Lacey Fire Department main station.

There being no additional discussion President Halvorson declared the meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.

Submitted by: John Dziedzic, Secretary