President Bill Brown opened, noting that this was the 4th meeting of our 143rd year.
Guests, their hosts, and current members returning after having missed a number of meetings were introduced and
welcomed back. There were 68 members and guests present.
The minutes of the previous meeting were printed in the May newsletter. Lee Rogers
moved, seconded by Al Wheeler, that the minutes be accepted as printed. The motion was approved.
John Daly presented a report on membership and told us that there were four new applicants
since the last meeting. They are Nancy Menhennick (Guest of Gerald Schwinn); Paula Smith-Vanderslice (Bill Brown); Dr.
James M. Goode, (Nelson Rimensnyder); and, Hermine Levy Dreyfus (Guest of Damon Cordom). A motion to accept their applications
was quickly made, seconded and readily approved.
Hulit Taylor gave a brief Treasurer's report. Prior to today there were
283 members. Expenses since the last meeting were routine, associated with newsletter printing and mailing.
Bill Brown reported that last night (5/15/2008) the presentation of the AOI Dr. Phil Ogilvie Award for academic
achievement in the GWU Masters of Tourism Administration program was celebrated. The award has been presented since
2002 to an honoree selected by GWU. This year there were 3 candidates who had achieved perfect 4.0 records in the program.
To avoid a last minute tie-breaking process and distribute the $500 honorarium in a sensible manner, an anonymous benefactor
donated $250 to the Ogilvie Award fund, thus enabling the presentation to each of the nominees, and each will receive a $250
stipend. A handsome plaque (with provisions for the names of the honorees) commemorating Phil was presented to the school.
[see accompanying story and photos]
Nelson Rimensnyder reported that the design of the DC quarter was to be to feature
one of three DC people, to be selected from among Frederick Douglass, Benjamin Banneker, and Duke Ellington. Nelson
conducted a straw vote to sample the sense of the members present, and by show of hands Duke Ellington was the favorite. [this was communicated in a letter to Mayor Fenty]
There were numerous announcements of events of interest to members: Lee Rogers
commented on the traffic tie-up yesterday, in conjunction with the new Wilson Bridge dedication. Lee pointed out that this tie-up paled when
compared to that of 1922 and the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington, when traffic was tied up for hours and even President Harding could not get to the ceremony in which he was to be
a key participant. Lee noted that the Chief of Police was subsequently fired.
Our featured speaker was Laura Apelbaum, Executive Director of the Jewish Historical
Society. Laura gave us an excellent presentation of events in DC which have been documented by the JHS, including community
life, important personalities, DC synagogue histories and architecture, and related matters. Much of
this is an outgrowth from an outstanding exhibit several years ago at the National Building Museum, highlighting
Jewish life in Washington. That exhibit has traveled to White Flint and will be at
other locations in the Washington area in the future. There is now a book, "Jewish Washington:
Scrapbook of an American Community" edited by Laura and Wendy Truman, which is impressive. It has captured both
the exuberant spirit and the detail of that exhibit. (Laura mentioned that she had brought copies with her for
AOI members at a special $20 price, noting that it sells for $36 and that it's available from Amazon for $28.80). Laura
paid tribute to our late AOI Vice-President Sidney Hais, who was also active in the JHS of Washington. The exhibit had a snapshot
of Sidney in his Army uniform posing with his mother in front of the family
grocery store at 7th and C
Street, NE in 1942.
It's also in the book. Many members also recalled with pleasant memories Laura's mention of sportswriter Shirley
Povich in her presentation
It was another pleasant worthwhile program.
