Bill Coxton, president of
the Garden Alumni Association, called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
Bill discussed the Garden
Echo yearbooks that have been scanned and digitalized. All yearbooks
have been digitalized.
The preservation of Garden
High memorabilia and the Garden Museum, currently located at the Gift of
Love building, were discussed. It was noted that several people had
made donations of memorabilia to the museum. Hopefully when the
Pharmacy the school builds a new building the Alumni Association will be
able to house the Garden High School-TMI memorabilia in a room there.
Bill stated that it had
cost the Alumni Association about $500.00 for the Pharmacy school open
house
Discussion on ways to
raise funds for the Alumni Association followed. Someone suggested
that the Alumni Association sale bricks for the park that will be built
at the Pharmacy School. Bill suggested that when the park is built that
a Veterans Memorial be constructed and dedicated to the Veterans who
have attended GHS. Bill said the Association will be a non-profit
organization which will allow for donations to the organization. It was
suggested that the Alumni Association collect dues from member. Alma
Proffitt made a motion that the dues be $10.00 which would entitle the
member to a business card that showed they were a paid member of the
Garden High School Alumni Association. This was approved. Janie Owens
made a motion to also have a Gold Membership which would cost $25.00.
These members would receive the business card plus a photo of GHS or
decal or something similar to these things. This motion also passed.
Lois Null asked if it would be possible to get the presentation that was
shown prior to the ceremonies of the open house. Janie Owens suggested
that if more of the later teachers and students could be added to the
DVD then possibly the Alumni Association could sell copies of it. It
was suggested that the Elementary teachers and students also be included
in this project.
Bill stated that he had a
list of graduates from 1943 until the school closed but that he was
looking for a list of students who graduated in 1940, 1941, and 1942.
He stated that he had tried to contact Mr. Tommy Justus, superintendent
of Buchanan County Public Schools, but had not heard back from him. The
Association is also looking for addresses of Alumni from GHS. Grace
Ratliff and Janice Shortt Taylor have several lists of names and address
of GHS students. Chuck Ratliff stated he had the list for the class of
‘79.
The president talked about
the Web site for the Alumni Association. He would like to keep on the
website a list of former graduates and students who have passed away.
It was suggested that the Association keep flowers at the Pharmacy
School in honor of all alumni who pass away at the time of their
deaths.
The Alumni Association
will work with the Pharmacy School in setting up meetings that will
benefit the public. Examples: a public meeting where the elderly and
their caretakers can come in and asked about medications that they are
currently taking; a water study of the local streams in Buchanan
County. Janie Owens will be the contact between the Alumni Association
and the Pharmacy School. Jerry Elkins will coordinate the water study
with the Pharmacy School.
July 7, 2007 will be
reserved for the Class of 1957 to hold its 50th year class
reunion, at least four different classes may take part in this reunion.
It was discussed that sometime in the future that an entire GHS reunion
be held. No discussion of dates occurred.
A motion was made to
reserve the Pharmacy School the Saturday following the fourth of July
each year for the Alumni Association to hold its annual meeting. This
motion passed.
Bill talked about the book
he had written commemorating the beginning of GHS until 1967. He is in
the process of writing the history from 1968 until 1982, the year it
moved to its new location on Rt. 460. Volume Three will be about GHS
from 1983 until it closed in 2001. A book about TMI is also planned.
Chuck Ratliff, vice
president, thanked Bill for all of his hard work and dedication to
keeping the memory of Garden High School and the mighty Green Dragons
alive.
Mickey McGlothlin came in
to the meeting. He thanked the Alumni group for their hard work and
dedication to the Pharmacy School. The Alumni group also thanked him
for all that he had done to preserve the GHS building and bring it back
to the forefront of the community. Mickey stated that there are 60
students using the GHS building and 65 students at the Slate Creek
site. He said that in the future the entire Pharmacy School would be
located on the GHS site. A new building is in the future. When the new
building opens, Mickey stated that they hope to turn the gym back into a
usable gym for the Garden community. Bill told the Alumni that they
should take the time to look at the Pharmacy School’s website
Jerry Elkins talked about
the Pharmacy School and its involvement in protecting the environment.
He said if anyone had concerns or wanted to talk about the environment
to please contact him. He will be working closely with the Pharmacy
School on this endeavor.
Bill closed the meeting at
4:55 p.m.
Kath Witt.
Secretary, Garden Alumni
Minutes approved and below data added: Bill
Coxton, 5 Mar 2000
Contact data associated
with the Alumni Co-Treasures is as follows
