LBH 2008-2009 President
John Thomas
President’s Message Fall 2008
In my first President’s message, let me begin by extending by sincere appreciation to the members of Long Beach Heritage for your support and this wonderful opportunity to serve as President. I look forward to working with this year’s terrific Board of Directors, all of whom are educated, talented and passionate members of our local historic preservation community. Our Vice Presidents and Committee Chairpersons will work this year on many programs and approaches to achieve our goals and objectives. Strategic outreach, enhancement of our web site, continuous monitoring and updates about development that threatens historic buildings and focus on membership develop remain our immediate objectives. We will also continue to showcase the Bembridge House by hosting events, tours and educational outreach. We are determined to focus on the maintenance and construction projects for the Bembridge House and with the help of the Bembridge House Committee, I’m confident in many successes!
While contemplating our mission of education and advocacy promoting public knowledge and preservation of our historic and cultural resources, I would like to share my “Five Ps of Historic Preservation”. I believe these “Ps” help focus our Board, Committees and Members to develop and sustain programs important to the mission and success of Long Beach Heritage.
They are:
Prepare: With assistance and support from our members and Board of Directors, we will work to develop and sustain active committees that will assist in the development of programs, projects and events that will educate our community, promote membership and provide revenue in the form of fundraisers.
Proactive: Through our Advocacy Committee, we will remain on alert for issues relating to historic preservation. Using our newsletter and web site, we will work to educate our members and the historic preservation community about issues of immediate concerns and call for input and, where necessary, call for action.
Position Papers: As issues are evaluated by the Advocacy Committee, position papers will be developed and made available for membership and the historic preservation community. With input from our membership and others, the Advocacy Committee will study issues and make sound, coherent and achievable solutions. We hope that with this approach of participation and inclusion, we will represent our cause for preservation effectively and achieve clear, definable and tangible success.
Partners: By soliciting input and participation from our members, elected and appointed officials and others in the preservation community, we will continue to develop and sustain strategic partners critical to our goals of realizing our mission in historic preservation. With the help and support of our Preservation Partners, we will achieve our objectives in educating the citizens of Long Beach about the importance of historic and cultural preservation.
Performance: Long Beach Heritage will only continue to grow if we all work together to reach our goals in historic preservation. A respectable performance in the eyes of our members and others in the historic preservation community will be a major objective of the current Board. We have many issues and opportunities ahead and must work cooperatively with everyone at “the table” and demonstrate a transparent public agenda for historic preservation.
I look forward to working with the wonderful members of our board, our committees and membership to reach our objective in educating the citizens of Long Beach about the importance of our historic and cultural resources and how they all play can play a part in this mission. Furthermore, we all must work to reach creative solutions and take every opportunity to grow Long Beach Heritage. Our membership and their participation will be the key to success in our mission!
John Thomas is the president of Long Beach Heritage. Mr. Thomas currently holds positions in as a City of Long Beach Redevelopment Agency (RDA) Board Member 2007-present, Historical Society of Long Beach Secretary, Long Beach Heritage Museum Advisor, and Bluff Heights Neighborhood Association President. Mr. Thomas has also co-authored a book on Long Beach Art Deco architecture. More Info Long Beach Deco
Outgoing LBH President's Message
Summer 2008Writing my final message has caused me to reflect on the accomplishments of Long Beach Heritage over the last three years. Although I had worked with different groups within the organization for the previous decade, when first approached to be president, I had serious concerns about how I was going to handle all the facets of the group. Much to my relief I soon discovered that under the guidance of Mary Kay Nottage, my chief-of-staff as it were, all of my officers and committees knew exactly what to do and how to do it very well; it has been a real pleasure to learn from them. I have served as president of several organizations, but I have never worked with such proficient members. My thanks are extended to everyone involved.
Since assuming office I have seen the restoration of the Bembridge House become a reality. When we acquired the property it had been a victim of “deferred maintenance” for longer than I can recall. Foundation work, rewiring, plumbing issues, re-roofing, replacement of most of the expansive veranda, reconstructing the window frames and leading, restoring the entry, rebuilding the back porch, and restoration projects ad infinitum. The driveway was replaced, the carriage house restored, and a separate restroom and storage shed were built. Thanks to those who knew how to request grants and follow through on them, as well as money raised through tours and special programs, this has all come to fruition. It is amazing that it was done in such a relatively short time. The house and property look magnificent. It’s the first place that I take visitors, and they always are duly impressed.
Our advocacy group has made great strides working with the City of Long Beach and other civic groups. A group of historic houses which would have been torn down were relocated by the Redevelopment Agency in the Willlmore City area with major effort by the Willmore City Heritage Association. Developing a good working relationship with city agencies in realizing our efforts toward preservation is the hallmark of advocacy within our group. A historic survey of the city to assess our resources outside of the historic districts, as well as within them, has been initiated. A Historic Preservation Element has also been integrated into the future plans for Long Beach.
We have held some very interesting general meetings at the Cooper Arms, the Gaytonia Apartments, and the Queen Mary, among other sites. All of these meetings have been attended by much larger numbers than in the past. Long Beach Heritage put on a salon at Rose Towers and a musicale at the Bembridge House. A number of interpretive tours at the Bembridge House had a positive and lasting impact on those who attended, particularly the children. Members also enjoyed a centennial celebration of the Bembridge House with a luncheon and historic fashion show.
The newsletter has expanded in scope to become a valuable educational tool with informative articles, as well as a voice for organizational activities. The last three Awards Banquets, which honored Mike Burrous, Maureen Neeley, and Richard Poper in that order, were hugely successful. The talents and efforts of the committee members were impressive, as well as those of the volunteers who have helped to “launch” every one of our endeavors. The Great Homes of Long Beach tour was another activity which took months to plan and innumerable meetings, but operated flawlessly on tour day. This tour provided educational glimpses into many architectural examples in the city with a varied selection each year.
As a retired teacher and published historian, I have always held education as my primary goal as president, closely followed by advocacy and plain old-fashioned fun. I can reflect on the past three years and appreciate that those goals have been met, and I feel sure that John Thomas will be a great successor. I fully intend to continue in an advocacy capacity and serve on several committees. I hope to see some of our members get more involved in the programs. They are a swell bunch of people. William Faulkner wrote, “The past is never dead. For some it’s not even past,” and I think that suits me just fine!