Oregon Chapter of the
Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation
Spring Council Meeting Report
April 25, 1999, Longview, WA
Spring Council Meeting, Longview, WA -
Our Spring Council Meeting was held in Longview, WA in partnership with the
Washington Chapter. Many started their day enjoying a champagne brunch cruise
aboard the sternwheeler Columbia Gorge. The program meeting started after the
cruise at 2:35 pm in the St. Rose Parish Center. Murray Hayes, president of
the Washington Chapter, started off the meeting with a welcome and a quick
overview of the meeting agenda. He next introduced Keith Hay, president of
the Oregon Chapter. Keith reported that the Bicentennial Council is evaluating
and inventorying existing and proposed Lewis and Clark sites along the
Columbia River for protection and interpretation. He commended Dave Nicandri
and the Washington Governor's Committee for their role in taking the
initiative to identify sites for the bicentennial. Mr. Hay also reported that
the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation (LCTHF) is forming a Trail
Stewardship Project to evaluate what exists and what needs to be done for
sites along the trail prior to "the threat of discovery" which will result
from bicentennial tourism. Each chapter will receive a form to complete
concerning sites in their respective states.
Murray Hayes then thanked specific members for various contributions of time
and effort in support of the Washington Chapter. Pam Andersen, Washington
Chapter secretary, announced their newsletter deadlines and encouraged members
to submit articles and information.
Ron Laycock, LCTHF Chapter Liaison relayed greetings from the National
Foundation and noted that the Foundation now has over 2,500 members.
Barb Kubik presented the new Curriculum Resource Guide produced through a six
year effort by the LCTHF Education Committee. This cross-curriculum guide was
reviewed by a number of experts for accuracy and contains many creative ideas
on how to associate the Lewis and Clark expedition to lessons in the classroom.
Copies of the guide can be ordered from the Foundation for $40.00 plus $6.00
for shipping.
Murray Hayes then introduced Wendy Kosloski of the Longview Public Service
Group (1339 Commerce Ave., Suite 104, Longview, WA 98632). This group is
trying to raise $160,000 in private funding in order to place a Sacagawea
statue in Longview's Sacajawea Park by November 2000. Wendy introduced artist
Tag Richards, who discussed the various elements of his work using a small
model of the statue, which they brought for display purposes.
Murray next introduced Doc Wesselius, Washington Chapter board member and
program chairman. Doc began by announcing future Washington Chapter meeting
plans including a July 17, 1999 Tri-State (Idaho, Oregon and Washington) Chapter
Bicentennial Workshop, field trip and lecture by Dr. Gary Moulton at 7:00 p.m.,
at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center in Stevenson, WA. Doc then began
the program portion of his talk, which discussed aspects of the expedition as
they traveled from Beacon Rock to the Pacific Ocean.
Keith Hay introduced Joyce Badgley Hunsaker. Joyce is a member of both the
Washington and Oregon Chapters and presented a fascinating living history
program wherein she portrayed Sacagawea. Her flawless presentation kept the
audience spellbound with her words and motions as she shared "her" experiences
of growing up and becoming attached to the Lewis and Clark expedition.
The general meeting adjourned at 4:00 pm and was followed by separate Washington
and Oregon Chapter board meetings.
At the Oregon Chapter board meeting, Keith gave an update on the National Lewis
and Clark Bicentennial Council's Planning Workshop (April 21-24, 1999). This
was followed by much discussion about the Oregon Lewis and Clark Site Assessment
Survey project. By general consensus, the first step was acknowledged to
being the compilation of a list of all Lewis & Clark sites in Oregon including
those that are already marked with interpretive signs and sites of importance
that should be marked and/or preserved. Using the site survey forms that
should be forthcoming in June, volunteers can pick sites from the list to
evaluate the site's condition and its interpretive, renovation and protection
needs.
A field trip to "Clark's Point of View" was tentatively scheduled for Saturday
June 12, 1999, starting from Ecola State Park. Another tentative event was a
dinner and lecture by Dr. Gary Moulton on June 18, 1999 at the Governor Hotel
in Portland. Dr. Moulton is also scheduled to speak at Fort Clatsop on June
26, 1999. The Tri-State Chapter Bicentennial Workshop on July, 17th at the
Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center in Stevenson, WA, was noted as another
upcoming event and opportunity to hear a lecture from Dr. Moulton. Further
details of these events will be available in the next Chapter newsletter.
Jay Rasmussen, Oregon Chapter Secretary reported that the Chapter now has 122
members and a balance of $1,299.00. It was decided that the next Chapter
newsletter should go out before the end of May.