Business Meeting Report

Tri-State Unity Coalition
Business Meeting
Milford United Methodist Church

January 8, 2002


Four people attended Tuesday night's business meeting to discuss the Tri-State Unity Coalition. The meeting was called to order at 7:15 PM.

Reports

  Swastikas on Catholic School - Wayne reported that he sent a letter to Bob indicating that the Swastikas had been painted over. Bob went out and investigated and took pictures. Perry will check TSUC mailbox to see if a reply was received to Bob's letter to the Archbishop. After Perry checks the mail, TSUC should send a letter to the Archbishop noting his attention to removing/covering the swastikas and urging him to obliterate the ones that are not yet done. Wayne said we should continue to work to get the tiles removed, not just painted over.

Pictures in Forest Hall - Picture (from web site's administrative section) taken by Bob was passed around. Wayne reported that there is now another painting up in Forest Hall [in the Artery] entitled something like "Black Girl with a Bad Attitude" which Wayne said was by an artist named "Easton". Wayne said that the 2 other pictures in Forest Hall are also by 'Easton." --SEE CORRECTION BELOW -- Norm said we should find out about the artist before we go to the shop owners [it could be that the artist is African-American]. Kea said that to have pictures like this on display in Milford without having a written explanation near the pictures is sending the wrong message - no matter who painted them. Perry said we should find out who owns Forest Hall and who owns the shop(s) in question.
Postmeeting Note and Correction to Minutes
2/12/02 Krista sent us this link to a short biography of Easton
2/15/02 Norm spoke with Easton. He was the artist for the "Black Girl with a Bad Attitude" painting but NOT the paintings in question.

Handicap Access at Columns - Norm reported that the Historical Society representatives went to Scranton to meet with Keith Williams of the Center for Independent Living (CIL) and that Keith Williams reported back to him [Norm] on the meeting. CIL will continue to monitor the plans. However, both Norm and Kia reported that a recent article in the "Dispatch" stated that The Columns will now be open all winter and events would take place there all winter. PCHS had asked for an extension to the Spring based on their contention that the museum would be closed all winter. At this point, there is no evidence that any contractor has been hired to do the work. Norm stated that plans for the lift, library, and restroom were approved by the Board and on file in 1999 and now the PCHS appears to be starting from scratch as if there were no plans. Also, the library and restroom appear to be eliminated from the current proposal. Norm will bring up these concerns again at the Pike County ADA meeting on Friday afternoon, January 11, 2002, at the Biondo Building where a representative of the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans will explain the various sections of the ADA.

Charles Clausen - Norm reported that the former Director of PCHS, who wrote the successful grant for handicap access to the Columns, was recenly hired by the National Park Service for its Hyde Park, NY site. Charlie will leave Pike County before the end of the month and will be a curator at the Roosevelt Mansion.

501(c)3 & Insurance - Perry reported that we have general liability insurance & event insurance through October 2002. Perry and Norm will meet after the meeting to work on completing the 501(c)3 application.

Tom Quick Monument - Kea reported on her research on Tom Quick, Sr. and Tom Quick, Jr. The objection seems to be on the monument inscription rather than on having the monument re-erected for Tom Quick, Sr. - the inscription supposedly tells how Quick Jr. "avenged" the death of his father by goig on a killing rampage. We need to get a copy of the inscription. Norm reported that from what he has been told, the monument was repaired and is in Milford Borough garage and we need to be alert to what is going to be done with it. Perry offered to contact a member of the council to find out what their position is on re-erecting the monument and if it appears.that it may be re-erected, we may want to send a letter to the council informing them that we have an interest in any discussion or decision on its re-erection - we want input! Norm indicated that he was in communication with historian James Loewen (author of "Lies Across America") regarding the Quick monument and the Lincoln Flag. Kea indicated that she would try to contact some "official" from the Native American community and have them come to our next meeting in February.

Flags at Apple Valley - The question was raised as to what the current "theme" was of the multiple flags now on display at Apple Valley. Someone should check to see what flags are now there (besides the Confederate Flag).

Port Jervis Library - Wayne reported that fliers for our meetings, which he has been posting at the Port Jervis Library, are constantly being removed from the community bulletin board. Wayne will look into why this is being done.

Other - Kea offered to do artistic backgrounds for posters to which lettering could be added later (if we decide to use them in protest marches). Wayne expressed concern that TSUC appeares to be windling in size.

Meeting closed at 8:10 PM.


Minutes Submitted by Norm.

Business meetings will be held the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 P.M., at the United Methodist Church in Milford.

Special thanks and appreciation to the United Methodist Church in Milford for providing the meeting place!



Tri-State Unity Coalition
P.O. Box 752
Milford, PA 18337
http://tristateunity.org
tristateunity@veneziale.net


Minutes