Attending: Angie Fountain, Carolyn Eichelberger, Judy Shields, Bob Dyer, Winky Friedricks, Gene Painter and Art Schneider.

Meeting began at 6:30 p.m.

Financial Report: Maryellen McVicker is teaching class tonight. She left a financial report noting the following donations since the August 14, 2003, meeting:

Donation jar $2

Midway Enterprises $100

Anne Baker $500

Gerding, Korte & Chitwood $100

Boonville Daily News $100

Foster & Rosella Sisson $500

This brings the total donations and pledges-City, County and private-to $46,325! Less than $20,000 left to achieve the goal.

Art Schneider noted that actual dollars in the account total $10,525. The project needs to be able to pay the sculptor $22,000 in September to be on target for a June 6 dedication.

Gene Painter, treasurer for the Hannah Cole Association, presented a check for the association’s pledge amount---$3,000! -- this evening. In addition, pledges from individual members of the Cole Association, recorded as $400, actually amounted to $500 and Gene Painter presented those checks. The individual donor names will be in the next sculpture project update.

This means that we have the $5,000 needed to secure matching funds from the Isle of Capri. Per the Isle of Capri challenge grant requirements, a list of donors and amounts since July 1 will be sent to the Isle so it may issue a check. Kim Hardy, Boonville Isle general manager, is on vacation and will return after Labor Day. Arrangements will be made to invite all local challenge grant donors to the check presentation and the Boonville Daily News will be contacted. That will bring the total donations to $19,025-just $2,975 short of the amount needed for work to begin on the maquette and sculpture.

Judy Shields noted that a second critical time would be the end of the calendar year when an additional $4000 will be needed to secure the city and county matches. In other words, $52,000 will need to be in hand by December 31, 2003.

Bob Dyer continues to work exhaustively. Sad news he reported is that Hirlinger’s has decided not to contribute to the statue. Interstate Bakery also will not contribute.

Good news is that he brought a check from Jim and Tia Higbie for $100 and $50 from Conway and Blanck Law firm. He said Ron and Wilma Bledsoe and Ric-Mar also would make donations-amount uncertain.

Carolyn Eichelberger continues to fundraise neck-and-neck with Bob. She has talked with Gerde. Korte and Chitwood and the firm gave $100. She also contacted Wal-Mart about an employee donating 15 hours a quarter to the project. Wal-Mart will donate an additional $100 for this. She mentioned that she talked with Tia Higbie and that Tia will talk with employees. Discussion was staffing a donation point outside the store. She said the store would need three days notice so that not more than one organization was soliciting.

Judy Shields has contacted the VFW and American Legion, but they are financially strapped to commitments to existing projects. She will contact Bob and Bunny Long.

Winky has contacted Gene Cummins and she has talked with the Cooper County Historical Society. She said the society seeks donations at each meeting and that more than $100 has been raised to date. The society will continue to seek individual funding before issuing a check. She has talked with many out-county people, but they perceive the project as a Boonville project rather than a county project. She mentioned the Cooper County Farm Bureau as a donor. She will contact Farm Bureau.

Art Schneider reported that he has contacted Vicky Riback Wilson, who worked for University Extension before being elected a state representative seven years ago. Vicky has agreed to contact all women members of the Missouri General Assembly for a donation to this project. Additional research is being done on whether this will be the first outdoor statue recognizing an individual woman in Missouri. At this point, this assertion does seem to be true. There is a large bronze bust of Laura Engels Wilder in Marshfield, but no statue. Art reported there might be efforts to honor a woman in Springfield and a statue may be commissioned for this, but none has been constructed at this time. So, Hannah Cole may be responsible for another first-nearly 200 years after first settling Boonville!

Art also is checking with the Missouri 4-H Foundation for possible funding. The design for the park will be developed by Jeff Oberhaus. The city will lay the brick walkways. As a condition of the grant, 4-H members would need to donate community service, which could be the planting of the shrubbery and flowers.

Adversity-Robert Bohenstiehl has been making exceptional progress on the woodcarving. Maggie Brimer has contacted 11 businesses that will sell chances on the woodcarving.

She has requested people bring a small box, e.g. a Kleenex box, to the Extension Center; she will prepare them for the businesses. Tickets will be available at: Boonville IGA, Peacock Manor, UMB Bank, Orscheln’s, Your Money’s Worth, Medical Arts, Ellis Café, Off Main, Christy and Company, A Bow-K and the Cooper County Extension Center.

Art also has contacted all University of Missouri-Columbia sororities asking that the join in this effort. IF ANYONE KNOWS AN M. U. SORORITY MEMBER FROM BOONVILLE, PLEASE CONTACT ART AT 660-882-5661 OR SEND E-MAIL TO: SchneiderA@Missouri.edu

Art also reported is office has contacted David Barton, Central and LSE schools. Ss. Peter & Paul already has donated $250 and the high school already has been contacted through Amanda Dodson.

Efforts are being made to meet with schools through fundraising programs called “Change for Hannah” or “Chores for Hannah.” Some project members may be called upon to attend the PTO meetings.

Gene Painter said his wife, Sandy Painter, was interested in a fundraiser toward the project. Art will contact her.

Earlier this summer an application was submitted to First Christian Church’s Laura Redmon fund. Investment returns have greatly diminished since the fund’s establishment.

Sept. 25 Boonville Women’s Club-The club has requested a speaker for its noon meeting Sept. 25. Lunch is provided the speaker.

After much discussion, project members decided to do the following:

1) Set Sept. 25 as the date to collect the first third--$22,000-of the $66,000 statue cost and to present check for that amount to sculptor Harry Weber. Art will contact Harry Weber on whether this will work for him.

2) Ask Harry Weber to speak at the club meeting about the statue.

3) See if Harry Weber would be available to an art class about sculpting during the Sept. 25 visit.

Lighting Grant for Hannah Cole sculpture and bronze busts/pedestals at the park at Morgan Street is just about complete. The applicant will be Downtown Boonville Inc. The grant request will be $3937. This will include materials and installation.

Columbia Famous-Barr Grand Opening Charity Night-Art reported there will be a meeting Sept. 5 in Columbia that he will attend. He has requested 150 tickets. Primary audience will be Columbia residents. He has contacted seven people who work in Columbia and asked them to collect monies and distribute tickets for the Charity Night.

Boonville Chamber of Commerce: Winky asked if the chamber had brochures on the project. Art said he had not sent any brochures to the chamber. Winky said she would take some with her when she went to the chamber office this week.

Huldah Kitchen and dedication of Walter Williams’ bronze bust: Art reported that he has learned Mrs. Kitchen has suffered a stroke. He is uncertain of her status. (When Art returned home Wednesday night he had a phone message from Mrs. Kitchen’s daughter that her mother is seriously ill and will not be able to attend the dedication.)

Sept. 14 Walter Williams’ bronze bust dedication: Art Schneider requested guidance on the dedication program. Members discussed his not using a blue tarp with duct tape, but a sheet with rope or bow tie that would be removed at time of the unveiling. Consensus for the following:

Welcome-Mayor Danielle Blanck

Invocation-Ministerial Alliance to be contacted

Introduction of Family and Guests-Mayor Danielle Blanck

Family---

Boonville Daily News (successor to the Boonville Advertiser) Staff

Parks & Recreation Department Board and staff

Tourism Commission members

M. U. Faculty, staff and students

Bob Dyer-Boonslick Outdoor Arts Project Steering Committee on project

Dr. Maryellen McVicker, executive director, Friends of Historic Boonville on Walter Williams

Unveiling of bust by Family, sculptor Sabra Tull Meyer, Dean Mills

Remarks by sculptor Sabra Tull Meyer on the Walter Williams’ bronze bust

The Journalists' Creed led by J-School student

Introduction of Dr. Dean Mills, dean, University of Missouri School of Journalism-Mayor Danielle Blanck

Dr. Dean Mills---TOPIC

Conclusion-Mayor Danielle Blanck

Meeting concluded at 7:30 p.m. Next meeting September 11, 2003