FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2008
CONTACT: Molly Dannenmaier
Director of Marketing and Public Relations,
409-765-7834
molly.dannenmaier@galvestonhistory.org

Galveston Historical Foundation to Hold 2008 Annual Meeting Friday, July 25

Heritage at Risk List and Preservation Awards to be Announced
Volunteer Service Awards to be Given
Election of New Board to be Held
Changes to Member Bylaws to be Considered

Galveston Historical Foundation’s (GHF)’s Annual Meeting, open to all GHF members, will be held at Garten Verein Pavilion, 2704 Avenue O, on Friday, July 25. The event begins at 5:30 with hors d’oeuvres and libations. Dress is “Island Casual.”

The order of business for the meeting includes a reception that begins at 5:30 p.m. and a program beginning at 6 p.m. GHF executive director Dwayne Jones will welcome the membership and introduce the program. Outgoing president Raymond Lewis will present a power-point presentation on the organization’s accomplishments over the past year.

There will be a “passing of the gavel” from outgoing board president Raymond Lewis to incoming president Tom Schwenk.

Other business includes the election of officers, directors and advisors for 2007-2008 and a vote on proposed bylaw changes. The bylaws and the proposed amendments can be seen by clicking here. All members are encouraged to study the proposed changes and be prepared to vote on them at the Annual Meeting.

The Annual Meeting will be the venue for a number of GHF awards recognizing volunteer service, including the President’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service, Outstanding Galveston Historic Homes Tour Volunteer, Outstanding Dickens on the Strand Volunteer, Phoenix Award and Spirit of GHF Award.

For the first time this year, GHF will announce at its annual meeting the winners of its annual Preservation Awards along with its annual Heritage at Risk List.

GHF makes Preservation Awards annually to projects related to historic preservation on Galveston Island. Awards will be given in four different categories: Adaptive Use, New Construction/In Fill, Rehabilitation, and Restoration. Adaptive use is changing the use of a structure to meet modern needs, such as changing a building from a fire station into an apartment and artist studio. New construction/in fill refers to new structures or additions to existing structures that respect the historic fabric of the building. The rehabilitation award is given for a project in which historically sensitive improvements are made to a building in such a way as to make it suitable for modern use; slight changes to the original design are acceptable. A restoration is returning a structure or significant part of the structure to its original design.

GHF also announces Galveston’s Heritage at Risk List on an annual basis. The list, which alerts Galvestonians to historic buildings and neighborhoods that are threatened with loss, is a call for community action to preserve Galveston’s heritage as well as the quality of life that makes the city an attractive place to live in and visit. GHF modeled this list after the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “11 Most Endangered Historic Places” and has been compiling the list since 2003.

Galveston Historical Foundation’s Annual Meeting is free and open to all GHF members. GHF encourages non-members to purchase a new membership at the door or in advance by calling Julia Muncaster, director of membership, at 409-765-7834.

GHF is the steward of 13 historic properties and attractions including Ashton Villa, the Bishop’s Palace, the Michel Menard House, the Great Storm Theater, and the Texas Seaport Museum, home to the 1877 Tall Ship ELISSA. GHF membership fees support these historic properties along with innovative educational programs, nationally recognized events and award-winning preservation programs and services. Members receive free admission to GHF attractions, a discount on harbor tours aboard Seagull II, and invitations to a wide array of lectures, parties, exhibit openings and other special events throughout the year. Members also get a 10 percent discount at all GHF gift shops and 30 percent off KWAL and Sherwin Williams paint products.

One of the largest local preservation organizations in the United States, Galveston Historical Foundation was incorporated in 1954 in response to the deterioration and potential loss of Galveston Island’s extraordinary architectural legacy. As the organization matured, it expanded its role on the Island as a leader, not only in historic preservation, but also in community redevelopment, economic revitalization and heritage tourism.