FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact(s): Susan Grabski, Executive Director, Lawrence History Center, 978-686-9230
Lawrence History Center hosts its 46th Annual Meeting; welcomes new board member; debuts Mass Humanities film "Love Letters to Lawrence"; hosts White Fund Lecture on the 1860 Pemberton Mill Collapse
Lawrence, MA – On September 28, 2024, the Lawrence History Center (LHC) held its 46th Annual Meeting (hybrid - in-person and on Zoom) and Open House. LHC board president Sara Morin presided over the meeting at which Mark Svendsen agreed to a new three-year term as board treasurer, Brian Sheehy and Ellan Spero agreed to new three-year terms, and one new board member — Charles M. Brain — was elected by the membership to his first three year term.
The meeting and open house marks 46 years since LHC was founded and took place in the Essex Company Stable, part of the Essex Company Office & Yard, a site listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Sara Morin called the meeting to order at 10:08 AM. She welcomed guests and thanked LHC board, staff, and volunteers for their efforts across the last year. She then, in LHC board secretary Karen Van Welden-Herman’s stead, presented the LHC Annual Meeting Minutes, 9/23/2023 for approval.
After the LHC Annual Meeting Minutes, 9/23/2023, were accepted, Susan Grabski, LHC executive director, in LHC board treasurer Mark Svendsen's stead, presented the Fy2024 Treasurer's Report for acceptance. Her overview included a summary of our revenue and other support, in addition to our expenses and investment account balance.
After the FY2024 Treasurer's Report was accepted, Sara, in LHC vice president Andy Kelley's stead, presented the Board Slate of Candidates, 2024-2025 and introduced one new nominated board member:
Renewing Officer(s):
Mark Svendsen, Treasurer, 2024-2027 (3rd Term)
Renewing Member(s):
Director Position(s):
Brian Sheehy, 2024-2027 (2nd Term)
Ellan Spero, 2024-2027 (2nd Term)
New Member(s):
New Board Director(s):
 |
Charles M. Brain, 2024-2027 (1st term) Chuck Brain's roots in Lawrence date back over 150 years. A recipient of the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune's Newspaper Boy Scholarship Award, his education in Lawrence included graduating from St. Rita's Grammar School and working the third shift at Malden Mills. After receiving Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Boston College and a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, Chuck's early career in Washington included working as Lawrence's freshman Congressman Jim Shannon's Legislative Director. After several positions on the House Committee on Ways and Means staff, he eventually served in the White House as President Bill Clinton's Director of Legislative Affairs, working closely with the President to secure passage of the administration's legislative initiatives. Chuck is currently a Strategic Advisor at Public Strategies Washington, a consulting firm that advises on a wide range of legislative issues. Before joining PSW in 2019, Chuck served as founder and President of Capitol Hill Strategies. Due to his extensive experience in and out of government, he is widely recognized as one of Washington's most respected legislative affairs consultants. Chuck is married to the former Maureen Murphy of Methuen. Also a graduate of St. Rita’s Grammar School, she graduated from St. Mary's High School and Merrimack College. Maureen taught at St. Mary's after the couple was first married and later earned a Master's degree from the University of Virginia. Chuck and Maureen have two married sons and six grandchildren, all living near them in the Washington, DC area. In his spare time, Chuck enjoys writing a family history blog (Our Family Tree House), which frequently includes posts on Lawrence's history and the lives of his Lawrence relatives. |
After the Board Slate's acceptance by the membership, Sara also thanked outgoing board members Kathleen Curry and Ellen Minzner for their service to the board. Ellen was present and shared that "...[LHC] has a wonderful board, probably one of the most exciting boards she's seen since she's known about the History Center" and that it's been an honor to serve. Both will be sent a gift from the board. Sara also noted that Mark Cutler's term as immediate past president had come to an end. His contributions were properly acknowledged at last year's meeting.
To learn more about the 13 member LHC Board of Directors, 2024-2025, please visit: https://lawrencehistory.org/about/board
Sara adjourned the business meeting at 10:18 AM.
After the business meeting was adjourned, the membership heard updates from Collections Manager Amita Kiley and LHC Executive Director Susan Grabski. After staff updates, Susan debuted the Mass Humanities short film Love Letters to Lawrence:
VIDEO OF WHITE FUND LECTURE:
“No Avenging Gibbett": The 1860 Pemberton Mill Collapse"
UMass Lowell History Professor Robert Forrant will present a talk based on his just-published article in the New England Quarterly on the mill’s collapse.
———————————————————
Blacksmithing Saturday at the Essex Company Forge
Demonstration by Richard Wright
[To view an interview with Richard Wright, please visit https://vimeo.com/869908365]
Events were free and open to the public