Stevenson Society meets again; summer music festival in the works
By EMILY HUNKLER, Enterprise Staff WriterLAKE CLEAR - The new Stevenson Society of America met Wednesday night, although the so-called former board is yet to officially relinquish its control of the group.
Nearly 50 members gathered in the warehouse of the Adirondack Arc building in the Harrietstown Business Park in Lake Clear to hear from the newly elected board what progress had been made since a "coup" against the old board took place at a meeting on Dec. 10.
Transition to the new board
The new board of Bill Delahant, Michael Munn, Rita Leonard, Les Hershhorn, Jim Abendroth, Walt Finnegan and Les Parker was elected at the December meeting as a majority of the society's paying members - 60 out of 87 - voted to remove the old board.
Parker, the new board's secretary, informed members that he had contacted the former board's lawyer, John Muldowney of Saranac Lake, who has been prosecuting the eviction case against the Stevenson Cottage's live-in curator, Mike Delahant.
"We communicated with him that he was the attorney for the society and we were now the board, and we asked him to put a hold on the eviction case against Mike," Parker said. "Those requests were disregarded, and we then advised the attorney that we were terminating his services to the society."
Parker said there have also been "productive interchanges" between the two boards, albeit through an intermediary. There has been no direct contact between the two boards, Parker clarified.
"But it's not for a lack of trying," said Les Hershhorn, the new board's treasurer.
The previous board did make society and museum records available for the new board to copy, a request that was made at the December meeting.
Treasurer's report
Hershhorn informed the members that the society has gone from a $15,486.95 balance at the beginning of last year to a $3,641.24 balance at the present time.
The majority of the money, $13,447.60, was spent by the previous board on legal fees.
"With an income of $4,000 and legal fees of $13,000, it's pretty obvious what's happened," Hershhorn said, regarding the disparity between the two year's balances.
The new board is still taking steps and advocating an amicable transfer of leadership from the previous board.
Parker said the ideal conclusion would be for the previous board to make an official motion and resolution to instate the new board.
"So far, it has been respectful, cooperative, and everybody is just trying to act in the best interest of the society," Parker said. "I would not characterize these other folks as people who don't want to see what's best for the society."
Robert Louis Stevenson Pennywhistler Festival
Hershhorn, who works as a concert promoter, announced his plans for a Celtic/English/Scottish-American music festival to be held at Spencer Boatworks the weekend of Aug. 8-9 this coming summer.
"I picture it starting with a parade of bagpipers, followed by children playing the pennywhistle," Hershhorn explained.
Hershhorn said the society could get a brewery company to help sponsor the event.
Hershhorn declined to say for certain if this was to replace his previous weekend music festival, the Mountain Music Meltdown, which last year was met with criticism and fines from North Country Community College officials, where the event was held the past two years.
"This has nothing to do with the Mountain Music Meltdown," he said. "This event is strictly a fundraising event about raising money for the Stevenson Society."
Hershhorn announced a list of musicians who are available that weekend and are affordable, including Enter the Haggis, Savoy Brown Blues Band featuring Kim Simmonds, and folk singer Tom Paxton. None of them are booked, he said.
"I think this festival has a lot of possibilities to help fund the society and the cottage," Hershhorn said.
---
Contact Emily Hunkler at 891-2600 ext. 24 or ehunkler@adirondackdailyenterprise.com.
|
concerned
|
|
|---|---|
|
01-16-09 2:32 PM
|
i think the new board is the only option.........and delehant shouild stay
|
|
YouKnowImRight
|
|
|
01-15-09 7:35 PM
|
Soooo, what was the problem? The guy that's there is getting a lot of support-
|
|
concerned
|
|
|
01-15-09 7:09 PM
|
i know of the past problems of course, but haven't got the faintest idea who the good guys are......it seems to me that a fresh start is in order as it is very clear that the society was on a train to nowhere. i guess this is a case of go forward and don't look back
|