Klyne Esopus Museum

Klyne Esopus Historical Society
2008 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

(Leaders serve for a three-year term and may be nominated for two consecutive terms.)

President	Alexander F. Contini	3nd Term ends Dec. 2008
1st Vice-President	Daniel Terpening	1st Term ends Dec. 2008
2nd Vice-President	Vivian Wadlin	2nd Term ends Dec. 2008
Treasurer	Barbara Barton	Interim appointment by the Board
Corresponding Secretary	Marie J. Kelekian	Interim appointment by the Board
Recording Secretary	Rosane Balistreri	1st Term ends Dec. 2008

(Trustees serve for a three-year term)
Barbara Barton	2nd Term expires Dec. 2008
Norman Bohan	2nd Term expires Dec. 2008
Chris Mabie	2nd Term expires Dec. 2008
Elizabeth Shanley	2nd Term expires Dec. 2008
Gloria Van Vliet	2nd Term expires Dec. 2008
Debbie Silvestro	1st Term expires Dec. 2008
Herb Wilcox	1st Term expires Dec. 2008
Joanne Steele	2nd Term expires Dec. 2009
Marie Kelekian	2nd Term expires Dec. 2010
Anne Gordon	1st Term expires Dec. 2010
Catherine Quick	1st Term expires Dec. 2010
Leslie Seff	1st Term expires Dec. 2010

THE 2009 NOMINATING COMMITTEE

(Members of the Nominating Committee serve for one term only)

Roscoe Pecora	Term expires Dec. 2008
Beatrice Moore	Term expires Dec. 2008
Linda Monfette	Term expires Dec. 2008
John Coutant	Term expires Dec. 2008

The Making of the Klyne Esopus Museum Timeline from The Making of the Klyne Esopus Historical Society Museum (1969 - 1993) by Mary E. Polhemus
1965	The Ulster Park Reformed Church closes after 138 years. Marion Sahler strongly objects to the plan by the Mid-Hudson Classis of the Reformed Church to raze the historic building.
1969	Ruth Ford researches the history of the congregation and building. She and Edwin Ford call a meeting at the town hall to save the building. The Ulster Park Church Historic Committee is formed. An organization meeting is held at the home of Marion Sahler. The committee title is changed to the Klyne Esopus Historic Preservation Committee.
1970	The Mid-Hudson Classis agrees to give the church property to the Preservation Committee if they incorporate. The committee name is change to the Town of Esopus Historical Society. The Town of Esopus declares the church building a historic site. Incorporation papers are prepared for the Klyne Esopus Preservation Historic Committee.
1972	The group is incorporated after two years of work.
1974	New York State returns the incorporation papers as flawed. They are rewritten. The deed to the property is received and presented to Marion Sahler.
1975	The first Board of Trustees is elected.
1976	IBM provides the first grant to replace the roof.
1977	The church building is declared a historic site by the Ulster County Historic Site Commission and the Ulster County Legislature. The organization's name changes to the Klyne Esopus Historical Society.
1978	Membership in the society increases from 15 to 51.
1979	500 letters are mailed for the first fund drive. $1,000.00 is raised.
1981	Work begins on incorporation under the New York State Board of Regents as a "museum." The name is changed to the Klyne Esopus Historical Society Museum.
1983	Sales tax exemption received.
1984	Provisional Charter as a museum is received from New York State.
1986	Renovations on the building are completed using funds raised by the Society and grants from IBM, New York State and the Heritage Task Force.
May 17, 1986	The Klyne Esopus Historical Society Museum has its Grand Opening ceremony.
Sep. 8, 1986	New by-laws and a Museum Policy are written by the Board of Trustees.
Nov. 21, 1986	Absolute Charter awarded to the Museum by the New York State Board of Regents. Society has 350 members.
Nov. 2002	The membership approves major revisions to the by-laws. While retaining its official name, the Klyne Esopus Historical Society Museum, the museum begins doing business as the Klyne Esopus Museum.
Apr. 2003	A terrace is constructed in front of the museum funded by subscriptions to Legacy Bricks. Melinda Terpening, Vivian Wadlin and Mary Brechter completely redo the Museum's exhibits in accordance with professional museum guidelines.
2004	Boy Scouts renovate the restroom and paint the storage buildings. First Recognition Dinner honors museum founders. The 100th Anniversary of Esopus resident Alton B. Parker's presidential candidacy is celebrated. A major exhibit is mounted at the Museum and a play is produced by the Parker Elementary School from Cortland, NY . Parker was born in Cortland. Additional land is purchased for parking and a picnic grove.
2005	Esopus Goes to War, 1941 - 1945 the 2005 exhibit remembers the sacrifices Esopus made in defense of freedom.

Presidents of the Klyne Esopus Museum from The Making of the Klyne Esopus Historical Society Museum (1960 - 1993) by Mary E. Polhemus
October 24, 1969 to June 30, 1975	Marion Sahler
July 1, 1975 to June 30, 1977	Roger Mabie
July 1, 1977 to December 31, 1979	Daniel Terpening
January 1, 1980 to December 31, 1980	Anna Cole
Note: From this point on, terms were two years served from January 1st of the first year to December 31st of the second year. Term limits were three consecutive terms.
1981 to 1982	Mary Polhemus
1983 to 1988	Norman Bohan
1989	Paul Huth (Resigned when he took over the Mohonk Trust)
1990	Donald Herring (Completed the term of Paul Huth)
1991 to 1994	Raymond Monfette
1995 to 1996	Susan Leahy (Resigned due to change in job)
1997 to 1998	Raymond Monfette (Completed the term of Susan Leahy)
1999 to 2002	Karl R. Wick (Removed from office by the Membership)
2002	Vivian Wadlin (Completed the term of Karl R. Wick)
2003 to Present	Alexander F. Contini

	Exhibiting the Pride of Esopus To Preserve, Interpret and Disseminate the History of The Town of Esopus
	The Klyne Esopus Museum, located in Ulster Park, New York, is housed in a former Dutch country church built in 1827. The museum offers a variety of exhibits about the culture, commerce and history of The Town of Esopus.