Local historian Frank Young talks in front of the chimney that marks the site of the old Dibbons' Mill in the Waldorf basin. The June 17th outing was held in conjunction with the HGI Annual Meeting.

By Dana Abrahamson, Bill Wilson, and Cynthia Skeen

The HGI membership held its Annual Meeting at the Georgetown Community Center on June 17, 2006. In the absence of Chairman of the Board of Directors Matt Schmalz, HGI Executive Director Dana Abrahamson, narrated a slide presentation entitled, "May 4, 1970 - June 17, 2006: Past, Present, and Future," which contained information about HGI's past history, the current status of activities, and the results of the recent strategic planning workshop of the HGI Board of Directors.

After acknowledging the monumental loss to the organization and community of HGI founder and President, Ronald J. Neely, Abrahamson recognized all of HGI's original founders: Bob Bolander, Bob Gibbs, Wally Baehler, and Ron Neely. A review of the organization's mission and purpose followed:

• We aspire to have the Georgetown-Silver Plume National Historic Landmark District, along with all of its significant buildings, streetscapes, landscapes, mining sites and open lands preserved within its boundaries, recognized as one of the exemplary Historic Landmark Districts in the United States.
  
  
• Our purpose is to make the results of HGI's preservation efforts highly visible and available to the public-at-large, so that it may better understand the relationship between mining in the Rocky Mountain West, along with other commercial and lifestyle activities of the Victorian Era, and the natural setting in which these occurred. Furthermore, we aim to preserve the historic integrity as well as the historic fabric of Georgetown and to instill and foster an ongoing historic-preservation ethic in the District.
  
  
• We hope to fulfill this vision through the effective use of communication and technology as well as through increased visits by our fellow Coloradans, fellow Americans, and international guests.

• Create a HGI Contemporary History Room
• Install interpretive plaques on historic buildings
• Develop the Alpine Hose #2 Museum
• Consider establishing a historic-preservation resource center
• Establish HGI as a consultant to assist other historic-preservation organizations
• Strive to make each property economically self-sufficient

• Develop and maintain a strong membership base
• Gain new membership and make itself attractive to young members and families
• Continue to communicate with residents, friends, and supporters through newsletters, mailings, and special events

• The frequency of Board meetings increased in 2005 to 10 meetings per year
• A smaller, more active Board has been established
• Board financial support of HGI has increased in the last 4 years

• Development and Planned Giving
• Membership
• Open Lands
• Properties
• Publications
• Parks and Gardens
• Devil's Gate History Club
• Special Events

• Increase visits to museums through marketing, group sales, and the Gateway Visitor Center
• Provide educational programs and interpretive displays
• Present living-history programs
• Offer Georgetown Walking Tours and promote sales of Bill Wilson's Walking Tour Book

The presentation concluded with several striking before-and-after photos of various HGI properties and rehabilitation projects, including the Hamill House, the Mahany Building, Taos Square, Hamill Park, and Centennial Mill.

Other presenters at the meeting included Bob Gibbs, Georgetown Trust Board Chairman; Cynthia Neely, interim Georgetown Trust Executive Director, who reported on the progress of the acquisition and stabilization of the Old Georgetown School; and Ned Biggs, who gave the auditor's report, stating that HGI was possibly in the best financial health of its history, thanks to the efforts of recent Board Chairman Matt Skeen and Executive Director Dana Abrahamson.

HGI members elected four Board incumbents to an additional term on the HGI Board of Directors: Barbara Leyendecker, Mickie Newman, Matthew Schmalz, and Matthew Skeen. Carol Curran and Herb Wanderer stepped down after serving their HGI Board terms, and each was honored with a certificate expressing the gratitude of Historic Georgetown.

HGI members are encouraged to participate in the ongoing efforts of Historic Georgetown to preserve and protect the buildings, landscape, and history of Georgetown, Colorado. If you would like to participate by making a contribution toward a particular property or project, by volunteering your time for any project, or by serving on any HGI committee, please call our office at (303) 569-2840.

Catching a few rays: Mary Ann and Richard Woods of Evergreen attend the HGI annual meeting on a regular basis. Perched on a rock below Waldorf, they enjoy soaking up the sun.