Delta Marsh History Initiative, Steering Committee Meeting

9:00 am, 10 June 2002
Home of Shirley Christianson, Portage la Prairie

Present: Barry Bills, Maurice Blanchard, Shirley Christianson, Den Gamble, Gordon Goldsborough (sec), Bob Jones, Shirley Love, Winnie Pauch, Glen Suggett

1. Minutes of the last meeting (6 May) were approved by consensus.

2. Delta discoveries:

a) Shirley Christianson brought three recent clippings from the Portage Daily Graphic with information pertaining to Delta.

b) Kelly Giffin of Portage has photos, etc. and should be contacted.

c) A personal diary by Garrioch (??) was read into a tape recorder, and these recordings (location?) may be useful sources of Delta information.

3. Publicity:

a) Newsletter – The next newsletter should include an item about the Oakland history project. Shirley Love provided a brochure about it. Goldsborough will make 1,300 copies (on colored paper so it stands out from whatever it is inserted into) and will deliver them to Barry Bills by next Tuesday at the latest so it can be included with the Portage Museum News. Shirley Christianson noted that our newsletter has been included in the Langruth Views, Amaranth Gazette, and Westbourne Newsletter.

b) Delta Beach Association AGM – Goldsborough and Pauch will attend the Association’s Annual General Meeting on 30 June. Goldsborough will ask the President, Doug DePape, if our history project can be added to their agenda. We should donate two tickets for the Canada Day fish fry to the Association.

c) Canada Day Fish Fry – Goldsborough will confirm a booking for the 1 July date with the Delta Waterfowl Station. Winnie Pauch reported that Connerys and Giffins are willing to donate strawberries for the fish fry, if berries are available that day. If so, we should give them two complimentary tickets apiece. Shirley Christianson will check with Dairy Queen and Portage Co‑op about donations of ice cream. Blanchard will arrange to pick up orange drink concentrate from McDonalds. For additional seating capacity outside the building, Goldsborough will tent up a large tent loaned by the Delta Marsh Field Station, as well as picnic tables. Pauch will bring her special “coffee” for the volunteer workers. Don Poschenrieder will be asked to make two signs directing people to the site at Delta Beach; Goldsborough will call him about it. Christianson will contact Sarah Tittemore in the City of Portage office to see about getting Canadian flags for the tables. Blanchard will make arrangements for all remaining food, tea and coffee service. Setup will begin at 8:30 am by Goldsborough, Bills, Pouch, Suggett, Christianson and others. Barry and Valerie Bills will sell and collect tickets at the door. (Steering committee members have all received tickets to sell.) Goldsborough will print 50 more posters, and will put together another slide show of historical photographs for display during the fry. Goldsborough will post a notice about the fry on portageonline.com. He will bring wall posters of historical photos made earlier by Suggett. Fish cookers will include Blanchard and family members, and Pauch. We will give two complimentary tickets to McCains in thanks for their past support but will not solicit pies for this event. It was decided, in view of the small size of the venue and the short lead time, to postpone the Silent Auction until another event in the fall to be held in Portage.

d) Next Fish Fry – It was decided tentatively to hold another fish fry on 7 December. (Secretary’s note: Shirley Christianson subsequently found that the Herman Prior Centre was not available on this date so she booked Saturday, 23 November instead.) It will be held from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.

4. Other business:

a) Interviews – Sian Bumsted will compile some questions for use in interviews. She and Goldsborough will meet with Winnie Pauch to discuss interview techniques. Goldsborough will call Pauch to schedule a meeting. It would be good to have a rehearsal interview with a few DMHI members, such as Bob Jones, Maurice Blanchard, or others.

b) Sports Afield Lodge – Goldsborough will call Dick Wallin to see if he is willing to permit copying of historical photographs on the walls of his lodge.

5. Next meeting: The next meeting will be held at the home of Shirley Christianson (118 Wilkinson Crescent, Portage la Prairie) at 9:00 am on Monday, 16 September.

6. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 am.