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Bollinger Elected Historical Society President

David Bollinger of Greenville, a twenty-one-year member of the Wayne County Historical Society and past Vice-President, was elected to lead the Historical Society in the ensuing year as its President. Bollinger becomes only the fourth President of the society in its thirty-four-year history. He was elected unanimously at a meeting of the Board of Directors on October 11. The Past President, Delores “Dee” Keele of Silva, declined nomination due to health issues. 

Bollinger told the Wayne County Journal-Banner, “Dee did a wonderful job this year in the transition from the Museum at the Patterson Community Center to our new museum in the Luna building at Piedmont. She should be commended for her great work and efforts. Now as we look ahead, the board has already started plans in revising some things that will lead to great improvements to the society,” he continued.

In the Board of Directors meeting of October 11, the board voted to organize the following committees; Fort Benton, Finance, Library, Events, Cemeteries and Museum. “The idea is to get Historical society members involved in the section they hold a passion for,” Bollinger stated. “There may be members that would enjoy restoring old forgotten cemeteries, that would have no interest in the Payton Memorial Library, and vise-versa. We have one hundred and thirty-four members of the society and I would like to see each committee to contain five members. That should not be hard to do.”

“There is much work to do,” Bollinger continued. “We have collections in our library that need properly archived and cataloged. We already had a representative from the Missouri State Historical Society to come and give us some pointers and direction on what to do in the library. The historical society is more than just a club for lovers of local history. We are a preservation society of local history. That is the direction I feel we need to take up,” Bollinger stated.

The Historical society board hopes to broaden the range of members this year by expanding their public meetings. They voted to hold six annual bi-monthly public meetings and spread them out county wide. “We voted to hold two at the Luna Museum in Piedmont and one each in Greenville, Patterson, Wappapello and Williamsville,” Bollinger stated. “This will hopefully get a more county wide passion for the society started.”

Anyone may join the Wayne County Historical Society. Annual dues are $15.00 per person and $5.00 for local students. A lifetime membership is $100.00. Bi-monthly newsletters will be mailed to each member. “I encourage anyone who wishes to see Wayne County history preserved to join,” Bollinger said. “Dues monies are much of our operating fees. A person may not be able to physically help, but annually paying dues will help toward preservation efforts”. 

“We are always looking for items to be donated to the Historical society museum,” said Bollinger. “Tools, farming equipment, native American and civil war artifacts, old photographs, records of old churches or schools, and anything believed to be historic is welcome. Monetary donations from individuals or anyone wishing to set up and endowment is welcome to do so as well. The society is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, so the proper donations forms can be distributed.”  

For those interested in joining the Wayne County Historical Society you may mail your annual or lifetime check to:  Wayne County Historical Society, c/o Rita Clements, Sec., P.O. Box 222, Piedmont, MO. 63957. 

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