Approved May 12, 2025 Burke County = America 250 Committee Meeting Minutes AMERICA Date: Monday, April 14, 2025 250 Location: Burke Co. Travel & Tourism office NC 140 N. Sterling St., Morganton Time: 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Members Present: Guests Present: Gordon, Waits J Patton, Robert None Hancock, Kevin Phillips, Ed (Chair) V Johnston, Laurie (Secretary) V Smith, Phil V Jones, Deborah Swan, Dr. Mike Lindsey, Dr. Bryant Welch, Dr. Joel (Vice Chair) Lindsey, Dr. Linda V Wells, Dr. Patricia McKesson, Dr. Leslie V Wilkinson, Sam McSwain, Butch Call to Order Committee Chairman, Ed Phillips, called the meeting to order and welcomed committee members. Approval of Minutes from March 10, 2025 Minutes from the March 10 meeting were presented and discussed. Thanks to Linda Lindsey for completing the minutes as Laurie Johnston was absent. A correction of the name Dr. Sonny Kelley was noted, with no other corrections discussed. Phil Smith moved to accept the minutes as corrected and Waits Gordon seconded it. Minutes were approved by all those present, but as only 6 of the 15 members were present, no quorum was reached. Old Business Grant Application Approved by NCDNCR Ed Phillips presented a progress report on the committee's efforts. A summary is attached. There have been two grants awarded from the NC Department of Cultural Resources. The first grant of$10,000 has been used to order branding materials, banners and pole brackets that have been delivered to various sites and organizations. They should be installed soon. The second grant of $30,000 is planned for the Revolutionary War Week activities in September this year. A Facebook page has been established to post and promote events. Future Committee meetings will be held on the 2nd Monday of each month at 5:30 pm at the Burke Visitor Center. 2025 Revolutionary War Days Event Ed will finalize contract with NCDCR Representatives. We will get half the funding up front and the other half after the event. The finances will run through Burke County Tourism office for cash flow. A review of plans was presented, along with a breakdown of costs. War Week will include a week of activities including a living history encampment and Revolutionary field for trip opportunity all fourth graders in Burke County Public Schools. It will be heavily marketed America 250 Committee Burke County Page 1 of3 and promoted in ways that have not been possible in previous years. Much of the activity will take place on September 26/27 weekend at the McDowell House. Rodney Causby, the owner of the adjacent property has approved use ofthe land for additional parking, etc. We can use the Trolley as a shuttle when needed. Other larger spaces that had once been considered are closed or received damage from Hurricane Helene. Western Piedmont Community College campus has infrastructure issues and is not a historic site, SO it has been determined that the McDowell House would be the most suitable property for the events. Plans are underway for historic site tours. Confirmed sites include Historic Gilboa Methodist Church, Quaker Meadows Cemetery, Southern Railway Freight Station, Avery Somersette House. Other sites for consideration include Swan Ponds, Creekside, Broughton grounds (Avery building), etc. with docents situated at each location. Lunch would be included possibly with a guest speaker, and a fee of $20 to $25 is being considered for the tour. Budget for the week was determined months ago for the grant application. See attached spreadsheet. Other details about the event were discussed, including entertainment, Salisbury group for encampment, money for street banners & yard signs, reserving COMMA 2 days, marketing, large number of volunteers that will be needed, need for indoor/outdoor facilities, colonial clothing, colonial recipes. We would like to include NCSSM students, possibly as trained docents. We will need white, heavy duty festival tents. Burke Arts Council is willing to store tents. New Business Facebook Page Management The Facebook Page--"America 250, Burke County, N.C."-is up and running. We will use the page to promote events ofinterest to Burke as well as events planned by this committee. Burke Events for 2025 Some events from the SAR Quarterly Newsletter have been added as events to promote. Linda Lindsey added that the Historic Carson House in McDowell County is hosting events for 4th graders in April and the OVNCST (Overmountain Victory NC State Trail) will have a booth. Committee members are asked to let us know of associated Burke events that could be included and promoted on our Facebook page. Other Grant Applications Robert Patton had suggested we may want to look at other charitable organizations for grant opportunities. Other suggestions include NC Humanities grants. We may want to sponsor a lecture series. Additional Ideas Linda Lindsey mentioned that Historic Burke Foundation has received funding to replace stage lights and sound equipment for its courthouse space on the second floor of the historic Burke County Courthouse. The space could be utilized for events. Laurie Johnston mentioned a Burke County group that has reçently created a Readers' Theatre production of Burke County historical tales and folklore. Ed Phillips mentioned the traditional 4th ofJuly Parade in Morganton. He also gave an update on the number of banners and brackets that have been given out to the school district, Western Piedmont Community College, History Museum of Burke County, etc. SO we America 250 Committee - Burke Counly Page 2 of3 should be seeing those put up soon. Laurie mentioned that we have reserved the July slot for Art in the Hall at Morganton City Hall with Michael Berley. We may want to promote a quilt show or display oftextiles. Leslie McKesson suggested that perhaps historical quilts or weavings could be included. Wrap Up The next meeting will be held on Monday, May 12, 5:30 pm at Burke Tourism Office. Adjourn Linda Lindsey moved to adjourn, seconded by Phil Smith, and the meeting was adjourned. Submitted by Laurie Johnston, Secretary May 12, 2025 Appendix : Attachment A - Meeting Agenda Attachment B - Progress Report Attachment C- Budget Spreadsheet America 250 Committee - Burke County Page 3 of3 AHlachment A AGENDA BURKE COUNTY 250th PLANNING COMMITTEE MORGANTON, NORTH CAROLINA Committee Members: Butch McSwain, Deborah Jones, Dr. Bryant Lindsey, Dr. Joel Welch, Dr. Linda Lindsey, Ed Phillips, Kevin Hancock, Laurie Johnson, Leslie McKesson, Mike Swan, Patricia Wells, Phil Smith, Robert Patton, Sam Wilkinson, Waits Gordon. REGULAR MEETING April 14, 2025 5:30 P.M. Burke Visitor Center I. CALL TO ORDER 1. Purpose ofthe Committee- Burke County "To engage all North Carolinians and ALL 100 counties through their many signatures and officially recognized programs, projects and events over the commemoration by inspiring future leaders and celebrating North Carolina's contributions to the nation over the last 250 years. 29 II. Approve Meeting Minutes from March 10, 2025 III. OLD BUSINESS 1. Grant Application Approved by NCDNCR 2. 2025 Rev War Days Event IV. NEW BUSINESS 1. Facebook Page Management 2. Burke Events for 2025 3. Other Grant Applications Allachment B AMERICA 250 - NC BURKE COUNTY April, 2025 PROGRESS REPORT Grant # 1- The Burke County Committee has applied for and received 2 grants from the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. $10,000 for Pole Banners and Brackets to be placed at strategic locations throughout Burke County. These banners have been delivered and should be installed soon. (April, 2025) Grant # 2 $30,000 for Revolutionary War Week Events in September, 2025. This will include historic site tours on Friday, September 26, 1700's Reenactors, Encampment, and Saturday OPEN HOUSE at the Charles McDowell House. All Burke County 4th graders will be invited on a Field Trip to learn about the American Revolution in Burke County. A Facebook page has been established and events will begin to be posted and promoted. The Committee has Approved a Meeting Calendar of the 2nd Monday of each month to be held at 5:30 pm at the Burke Visitor Center. Future meetings will focus on other America 250 related events and community outreach Respectfully Submitted, ERFhily Ed Phillips, Chair America 250 N.C. Burke County Committee AHachmentG Rev War Week Outreach & Festival Actual Budget Income 3000 * Historic Site Tour Revenue $25 x 60 ppl 1,500.00 4200 Grant Revenue 30,000.00 Total Income 0.00 31,500.00 Expense 6200 Burke Frontiersmen Living History 1,000.00 6300 - Entertainment (Sat Night) 3,000.00 6304 -Sound Engineer- Entertainment 1,500.00 6400 - Living Historians (SECLH) 2,500.00 6730 Street Banners Advertising 1,500.00 6750 Trolley Transporation 1,000.00 6760 -Motor Coach for Historic Tours (2) 2,400.00 6770 - Yard signs at Historic Sites 500.00 6800 . Portajons Handicap plus Hand Stations 2,000.00 7200 Event Supplies 1,500.00 7240 Educational Outreach: Location TBD 2,000.00 7250 . Take Home Tuesday Materials 2,000.00 8350 Marketing: BillBoards/Facebook 7,000.00 8500 Docent & Student Training Expense 2,500.00 8800 . Festival Tents (10 x $300) 3,000.00 8850 . 9500 0.00 9900 0.00 Total Expense 0.00 33,400.00 Net Income 0.00 -1,900.00 Dr. Sonny Kelley- Black Veterans Speaker