Members of the Greendale Historical Society met for a full day of strategic planning on Saturday, November 17. Significant results were achieved in both organizational matters and the Original Police/Fire Station renovation project.

The adaptive restoration of the station and hose tower was the subject of the most discussion. Eight goals were set for the project. These goals included refining the business plan of the proposed community center and museum to assure sustainability; securing the necessary funding through grants, private donations, and fund raising events; and establishing project management. Each goal was then fleshed out into a number of measurable objectives, with timelines and responsible parties determined.

According to Ted Mainella, a member of the Historical Society’s project steering committee, significant progress was made. “The Village of Greendale has entrusted the Historical Society with two important, original buildings for adaptive restoration. Today’s planning day assured that a detailed roadmap is now in place for completion of this project.”

Participants also drafted a revised mission statement for the Historical Society and a new one for the restoration project. Both are to be posted on the Society’s website, www.thegreendalehistoricalsociety.org. In addition, members proposed that the renovated buildings be designated as “The Greendale Community Center and Museum.”

The day also featured the laying of plans for elections to the Society’s Board of Directors. Seven positions are to be filled, with voting slated to occur at a meeting of the Society’s members on December 10.

In addition to Mainella, other attendees included Dorothy Fischbach, Kevin Knitka, Kathleen Hart, Brenda Siemers, Barb Krawczyk, Stephan Zielinski, Marilyn Shepard, and Sara Hackbarth. The day was facilitated by Stephen V. DeLeers, the Greendale Historical Society’s consultant for restoration project issues.