The Moniteau County Historical Society met Monday, with Bicentennial celebrations on the horizon next month.
Aug. 10 marks Missouri's Bicentennial, and communities around the state will recognize the occasion with ice cream socials. In California, the Historical Society will play host. The day of the Bicentennial, ice cream will be served from 3-7 p.m. near the Historical Society; there will be no rain date in the event of inclement weather. Members agreed to staff the Historical Society's museum so it can be open during the event.
Soon after next month's festivities, the Historical Society will have another important event on tap - its annual meeting and dinner. The group plans to amend its bylaws to set the annual meeting date for September, rather than its usual November date. As of Monday's meeting, the event is set for Monday, Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. at Dorothy Burger's home, if the new bylaws are approved. The group discussed "passing the hat," like it did at the last annual meeting in 2019, to help fund the Historical Society's scholarship.
Prior to the September meeting, the group will need to give final approval to its bylaws and nominate individuals for its "Spirit of the Manitou" award given at each annual meeting.
Prior to the group's business meeting, Historical Society members heard from a presenter. Joan Stack with the State Historical Society of Missouri was on hand, discussing 10 Missouri artworks that can help to understand the state's history. The works were by Missouri artists or created in places around the state.
Stack, as she presented, said artworks can "function as time machines," allowing one to put themselves in the shoes of people at a certain time and place socially and culturally.
The Moniteau County Historical Society will have some last-minute time to prepare for its upcoming pair of events, as its next regular meeting is set for Monday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m.