Boonslick Area Outdoors Arts Project
July 20, 1005
Cooper County Emergency Operations Center
Present: Dorothy Whitten, Laura Gramlich, Jim Painter, and Art Schneider.
J. Milton Turner Plaques: There are three plaques. Because of the plaque heights, the front is only able to accommodate two. Tim Carter of Carter Memorial suggested that the story plaque and the donor plaque be placed in the front and the chronology plaque be placed on the left side of the monument. (That is the side that visitors would see walking past the Cole statue and in front of the Walter Williams’ bust.) All agreed as no other option appeared viable.
Review J. Milton Turner dedication program: The Kwan Wu biography had redundancy and a number of grammatical errors and some typos that were corrected. A duplicate donor listing was corrected.
As to the dedication schedule, Selby Myer will serve as Mater of Ceremonies as Gary Nauman will be out of town. Carol Crook, president of CCBC, is to be backup.
Dorothy suggested for the invocation Rev. Roger Metzer, a new minister at Nelson Memorial Methodist Church. Concurrence. (Dorothy later confirmed he had accepted).
Welcome by Mayor Blanck.
J. Milton Turner history by Brett Rogers.
Donor appreciation by Carmen Jones.
Featured speaker Dr. Frankie Bell Cooper, She spoke at the Boonville High School alumni group and was highly lauded. Art noted he sent her background information on J. Milton Turner, per her request. She was asked to send vitae and her presentation talk. As of the meeting these had not even received. (They were received the following week).
Bust unveiling: Carmen Jones, Dr. Cooper and Mayor Blanck.
Laura suggested benediction by Rev. Wayne Jones. He has accepted.
Update on F. T. Kemper Fundraising: Art reported that the public goal had been reached and that additional funds also are to be forthcoming so the request to the city will not be $5000, but $4000.
Seating will be needed for: Selby Myers, Rev. Roger Metzer, Mayor Danielle Blanck, Brett Rogers, Carmen Jones, Carol Crook, Dr. Frankie Bell Cooper, Rev. Wayne Jones.
Also, two additional seats may be needed for Dr. Arvarh Strickland and his wife. He was asked to address the dedication, but he had surgery in July and was uncertain whether he would be able to attend. He requested an invitation in case he can attend. He is the first African-American professor at the University of Missouri.
Frederick T. Kemper sculpture submission: A revised copy of the submission proposal request used for the J. Milton Turner bust was distributed. Some revisions were made in the proposal:
Most important was to change the proposal so that only the bronze bust would be part of it. The plaques and pedestal will be by the committee with International Bronze (plagues) and with Carter Memorial for the pedestal and affixing the plaque(s) and bust to the pedestal. This change will enable the committee to assure the dimensions of the plaques and content will be within the dimensions of the pedestal front. One plaque will include the sculptor’s name and the dedication date.
Bob Dyer has agreed to write the 200-word F. T. Kemper story.
The Art Selection Committee will meet in September to recommend sculptor selection. Laura Gramlich will represent Kemper on the committee.
Laura noted that since Kemper School closed, there have been discussions about changing the alumni meeting dates. Originally they were in conjunction with Kemper events, such as Parents’ weekend. She said there has been discussion to move the date to coincide with Boonville Heritage Days. A decision on that will be made in the near future.
Senator David Barton: Discussion on initiating fundraising for the David Barton bust as the fifth bust at the park. Concurrence to begin.
Meeting concluded at 7:45 p.m.