Meeting Minutes |
Stoney Grove Steering Committee January 21, 2000 Meeting 1: Attending Simon Tinsley, Frank Churchill, Shirley Johnson, Martin Johnson, Mr. Tinsley Snr., Evelyn Prosser, Emma Knytleigh. Simon: I’d like to welcome everyone to the first meeting of the Stoney Grove Steering committee. I know I haven't been around much for the last three months, but I’m here to tell you that I'll be working full time at the house from now on. Emma: What do you mean working? Simon: This place is a national treasure. I don’t think it’s right that only certain people should enjoy it. I want Stoney Grove to be a success. I plan to open the house to the public, to develop it into a major tourist destination. Shirley: What! I don’t want a bunch of tourists gawking through my kitchen and spreading dirt everywhere. It’s our home, isn’t it? Martin: They’ll play hell with me vegetables. Emma: This isn’t something you can do lightly. Have you talked to Ann about this? We're still working out the history of the house. Simon: I sent her a letter a while ago and am waiting for a reply. But I have thought about this, I’ve thought about this a lot. That’s why I've called you together. We're going to meet twice a month and discuss how we're going to do this and what needs to be done. Everyone’s ideas will be treated the same. We’ll vote on what’s to be done, though I’ll have the deciding vote. Our goal is to make Stoney Grove the destination of choice for the discerning heritage visitor. Mr. Tinsley Snr.: Who’ll want to come to a dump like this? It's really draughty. Evelyn: I know I’m new here, but how will this affect my project? Simon: Your archaeological research will be part of the interpretation. Right now I see Emma preparing the tourist material, brochures etc. What you’ve done is fine, but we need to brighten it up a bit for the tourists. Nothing too complicated. Remember it’s not history, it’s entertainment. Shirley and Martin will be in charge of the house and grounds at the moment, keeping things in order. I was thinking about a tea room and shop as well, but as I said we’ll meet and discuss all this. I think you’ll need some more help Shirley, and I want you to prepare a budget for me of the estimated costs. Frank, you can earn your keep as head guide... you did such a nice job at the party. We’ll try to get some volunteers from the village to help you out on tours. Frank: So I’ll need to work very closely with Emma? Simon: Absolutely. We’ll all work together. Now I just want this to be a quick meeting today, but I want you to be thinking for the next one about what we can do to make this a place where people feel they must come. I want to open in the Spring. Remember, anything is possible at this point. Think big and think bold! Golf courses, Wild West theme parks, elephants and lions, racing cars and steam engines, multi-plex cinemas. We’ll bring in dancing girls from Vegas if we need to, but this place will be a success! [Door Slams] Emma: Is he gone? Shirley: Gone off his head I reckon. Dancing girls indeed! Martin: And I’m not having any elephants in my garden, I’ll tell you that now. Great big smelly beasts. Emma: I think we need to get in touch with Ann and perhaps even Chester. I’ll see what I can do. Mr. Tinsley Sr.: Sometimes he's just like his mother... |