February 6, 2023

Hello Members and Friends,

It’s hard to tell for sure if Spring will be early this year but the calendar is on our side and we know that we are closer for sure.  My cat didn’t see his shadow so that could bode well!!

First off, we want to invite you to our Anniversary Luncheon on Sunday, February 19th at New Century Restaurant – 12 pm – 2 pm.  The cost for the buffet will be $25.00 per person.  Frank Schlichting has agreed to be our guest speaker and we are looking forward to an interesting update on his work in developing the Yankee Boy mine into a mining museum.  Les Johnson is helping us with all the equipment for Frank’s talk – big thanks, Les. As usual – although with a Covid break in there – I’ll bring my German Chocolate cake.  Hope to see you there!!  We are celebrating our 72nd anniversary – I think that is a true accomplishment!

Thanks to all of you who responded to my emails regarding renewing your memberships.  We’ve had a little over half of you respond and renew your membership in our Society. E-transfer has been a real benefit for us. As of today we have 122 paid up members and 4 Life members. 

Joan, Karen, Jo Ann and I met a few Wednesdays ago to discuss grants. We decided to apply to the RDKB and to submit a grant request to the BC Historical Foundation. Joan has been busy getting quotes for the ground penetrating radar and as soon as she has those in hand we’ll apply for the Centennial Legacy Fund from the BCHF.  We’ve already submitted a RDKB Grant-In-Aid application. There is a possibility of this happening this year!!

We’ve got some projects in mind for this spring/summer apart from the ground penetrating radar. I’d still like to see Gladys’ cabin at Jewel Creek fenced on the left hand side with the same kind of fencing we used a couple of years ago.  There is clean up at the cemetery – upper and lower.  I know member Len Lobsinger thought we could get some help from the Greenwood Board of Trade – that would be great. Jo Ann and I are keen to get some more painting done.  Marnie Green has offered her help with this task, too.  We’ve got the memorial plaque to place for Mr. Walters and, you just know, we’ll find some other improvements to take on.  I want to do a sign to go on the IOOF fence with some history of it’s erection and repair.  It would be like the signs on the end of the name kiosk.

Big NEWS arrived this week in the form of an email from Chris Trudeau – executor of Gladys Floyd’s estate.  We were literally flabbergasted to discover the amount Gladys left us – $73,000.00!!  Here we were kind of wishing for a couple of thousand just to help with taxes and such!!  We have to sign the release at our next meeting and from there Chris will proceed.  There are no stipulations on the amount but primary in our minds will be the cabin.  We haven’t had a chance to discuss this as a group yet but I’m hoping we put it in a Term Deposit.  I know Joan and I are of the same mind – we definitely don’t want to lose our work ethic and rely entirely on these most generous funds.  That would not be what Gladys would want either.  We’ll still be volunteering our labour, attending craft fairs and summer markets to sell our Reports and, hopefully, this bequest will just help us dream bigger and get on with recording our history without worrying about funds. 

On a really sad note, we had an email from Cher Wyers.  Her dear husband, Ron, passed away on Sunday, January 29.  Ron and Cher fought a valiant battle with ALS – such a devastating disease.  Ron was such an accomplished pilot and Cher has told us that he will be buried in Kelowna close by the airport so he can keep track of those planes.  There will be a memorial in the spring, I believe. I know you all join us in sending our most sincere condolences to Cher, family and all of Ron’s extensive friends.

Our next regular meeting will be on Wednesday, February 15th at the Woodworker’s building on Donaldson.  1 pm.

Just a reminder that if you have any ideas about stories for our next Report, let us know.

Historically yours,

Doreen

p.s.  Randy Trerise will be at the Grand Forks Public Library on Saturday, Feburary 11th with his presentation about trekking in the Himalayas – 2:00 pm – come early as I’m sure it will be standing room only.