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Board Of Directors Members Installed For Historical Society
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Riverbank Historical Society Board members for 2019 were installed at the recent Annual Dinner meeting at Perko’s Restaurant. Showing off their Certificates of Installation are, from left, Kristin Platts, president; Cal Campbell, vice president; Marina Campbell, secretary; Rich Holmer, treasurer; Craig Ethier, and Judie Hardie, members at large. Not pictured are Mary Banda and Paulette Robison, both also board members at large. Ric McGinnis/The News

The Riverbank Historical Society hosted its Annual Meeting over the weekend, with the installation of its 2019 Board of Directors.

The dinner was held on Saturday, Feb. 2, at Perko’s Restaurant on Patterson Road.

Installed were President Kristin Platts, Vice President Cal Campbell, Secretary Marina Campbell, and Treasurer Rich Holmer. Two Board Members at Large were also installed: Craig Ethier and Judie Hardie. At-large board members Mary Banda and Paulette Robison were not able to be present.

Board leaders discussed the upcoming After Mothers Day Omelette Breakfast coming up, this year scheduled for May 19 at the Community Center. Campbell, who is also a City Councilman, noted that the fundraising breakfast would be one of the first events to occur at the newly renovated center.

The annual Omelette Breakfast helps provide the society’s yearly operating funds. All other fundraising efforts go toward construction of a new Annex building next to the current museum.

He said the breakfast would be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tickets will soon be available through society members, he added.

The board leadership also mentioned some strategic goals for the upcoming year to those in attendance.

Campbell said that efforts will continue to raise money to build the annex next to the current museum site, with fundraisers, applying for grants and seeking private and commercial donations.

He said they hope to develop local historic themes at the museum and add technology capabilities so videos and other archival materials can be made available to members of the public who visit the museum.

He also said some thought is going into possibly changing the operating hours of the museum, to include some night time availability. He noted that most residents, who might be interested in learning more about Riverbank’s unique history, are working during the hours it is currently open, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to noon, and Saturday afternoons, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Campbell reported that the board is looking into ways to better involve local school students in learning about the town’s history.

Two other items popped up right at the end of the dinner. It was noted that the historic 1919 Model T Fire Engine, nicknamed River Red by school children here, will be turning 100 years old this year.

And the Carnegie Library, now the Riverbank Historical Museum, will turn 100 in 2021. Officials have indicated that these would be good opportunities to focus upon with fundraising efforts.