Happy New Year! 2016 ended on a melodious note when three South Orange County School of the Arts students appeared in costume as “Dickens Carolers” to entertain us at our Holiday Open House on December 4. Some 50 members and guests enjoyed appetizers, sweets, drinks and a video montage of our year in review — all organized by your Board of Directors in thanks for your support.
2017 is charging ahead! The Dana Point City Council approved the Hobie Alter memorial statue’s location and concept in December (please read Bruce Beal’s article on page three). The $9,000 balance of the Historical Society’s $10,000 pledge for the Hobie Alter Memorial statue will be due when the city signs the final agreement, which is expected soon. As stated last January, the Historical Society hopes to inspire other individuals, organizations and corporations to contribute toward the cost of the memorial sculpture.
Please join us for our January 25th traditional potluck dinner and Annual Meeting, always a sociable event to greet old friends and meet new ones. Brief annual reports will be given. We will thank outgoing treasurer Paul Hinman, who is retiring from the board to travel, and we will welcome Kat Wallace as our new treasurer. A highlight of the Annual Meeting program will be presenting Willa Porter with the Pat Plepler Award for her active citizenship in our community. Willa is never too busy to volunteer for the Historical Society and is an avid recruiter of new members.
WE NEED YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT as members and volunteers. Our dues are payable at the first of the year unless you were a new member who joined in the last quarter of 2016 or you have a Life Membership. Your active individual, family or business membership allows us to keep our programs going and we want to count you as an active member. Please consider bringing you dues to our January meeting.
HERE’S WHAT YOUR DUES, SUPPORT & VOLUNTEERISM HAS ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE LAST YEAR:
- The museum was open during regularly operating hours for 144 days in 2016, as well as several other times by appointment. Docents were scheduled or board members were present for each of these days.
- Our DPHS outreach tent filled with information, books and merchandise appeared in five community festivals for a total of 12 days. Volunteers were scheduled daily to set up and host.
- $ 1,387 is the monthly cost to support the museum, programs and outreach.
- We had nine program meetings, three with dinners, seven with receptions. One dinner was underwritten by two members.
- History enactor Bob Minty portrayed U.S. Attorney R. H. Dana Jr. for the 50th anniversary of R.H. Dana Elementary School in March and the Society also presented the school with commemorative gifts.
- Newly purchased Richard Henry Dana light-pole banners were installed throughout the city for the Sixth Annual Reading of Two Years Before the Mast in April. Over 125 volunteers plus guests were involved with the reading over three days.
- The June Scholarship Fiesta Dinner at Doheny raised funds for two scholarships.
- The Historical Society was chosen as the lead nonprofit for the 50-Year Harbor Time Capsule Celebration, which included long hours of preparation and many volunteers.
- Nearly 40 members participated in the November bus trip to Heritage Village and historic Clifton’s restaurant in Los Angeles.
- Six editions of The News Drogher newsletter were mailed or sent electronically to our members in 2016. In addition, volunteers sent many emails announcing upcoming events and posted notices on our web page and on Facebook.
It has been an honor to serve as your president this year with a dedicated Board of Directors. Please allow us to thank you for your support in honoring and preserving Dana Point’s history. I look forward to working together to continue to celebrate our history throughout 2017.
Barbara Force Johannes