Newly seated Westport South Beach Historical Society Board of Trustees members gathered for an organizational retreat in Westport last Saturday, Jan. 9. This was the first meeting of the new board elected last October at the Society’s final quarterly meeting for 2015, with the following members taking office effective Jan. 1:
Board members
All members of the Historical Society’s Board of Trustees attended the retreat, including President - Kimmi Kerns, Vice President - Pete Eberle, Treasurer - Sue Thomas, Secretary - Bobbi Willard, Board Position 1 - Ashley Johnson, Board Position 2 - Evelyn Robinson, Board Position 3 - Marianne Pence, Board Position 4 - Don Ross and Board Position 5 - Liz Coverdale.
Also attending the retreat were John Shaw, the Society’s Executive Director, who is in charge of day-to-day operations at the Westport Maritime Museum and the Grays Harbor Light Station, as well as Julie Smith, the Maritime Museum’s Operations Manager.
Board responsibilities
The board is responsible for overseeing the operation and development of two properties, the historical collection in the museum building in the Marina District in the former 1939 U.S. Coast Guard Station that belongs to City of Westport, along with the Destruction Island Light Exhibit Hall next door and the Grays Harbor Light Station, which is owned by the Historical Society.
The Westport Maritime Museum is open to visitors year-round.
Tours are offered at the lighthouse on a regular basis every month except December and January. The station and its 2.9-acre property on W. Ocean Avenue was turned over to the Society on Jan. 14, 2004 by the Government Services Administration (GSA). The GSA is the federal entity responsible for preserving decommissioned Light Stations no longer manned by U.S. Coast guard personnel under the auspices of the National Lighthouse Preservation Act passed by Congress in 2000.
The two sites are the largest tourist draws on the South Beach following deep-sea fishing. Both contribute strongly to the local economy by drawing visitors from not only all over the United States, but also from all over the world.
Longer terms of office
For the first time in the Historical Society’s history, bylaws changes passed by the membership at its last quarterly meeting in October set board officers’ and directors’ terms at three years each on a staggered election cycle that will provide for three board positions coming up for election each year.
That represents a major change from the former one-year-term model. The recommendation for the change came from last year’s board in an effort to create more continuity on the board.
At that same time, Society membership approved returning the number of board directors to five from the most recent three-member model in order to have enough individuals serving on the board to cover all standing committees without overburdening its members.
Retreat topics
Saturday’s retreat agenda included an orientation for new board members, a review the Society’s Mission Statement, establishing long-term goals and priorities for the coming year, discussing budgeting issues, assigning members to standing committees and setting a schedule for Quarterly membership meetings in 2016.
Museum hours
During the winter months, the Westport Maritime Museum is open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Due to storm damage, the Destruction Island Lens Exhibit Hall is closed this winter.
The museum is located at 2201 Westhaven Drive in the Marina District.
Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for ages 13-18, $2 for children 6-12, with children five and under entering for free. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Active and retired military and military families pay $4 each with all active and retired Coast Guard members afforded free admission.
Lighthouse tours
The Grays Harbor Lighthouse — the tallest in Washington State, standing at 107 feet — will open for tours to the 1895 Fresnel Lens room at the top Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Feb. 1 to May 31, from noon to 4 p.m. with expanded days during summer months.
The admission fee for all climbers at the lighthouse is $5, with active and retired military and military families paying $4 each and all active and retired Coast Guard members climbing for free.
There is an additional $1 discount per climber with proof of purchase from visiting the museum.