The Annual Meeting of the Society for the Preservation of Music Hall was called to order by President Norma Petersen at 6:00 p.m. in Corbett Tower at Cincinnati's historic Music Hall. She greeted the trustees and guests and thanked Mr. Milton Dohoney, Jr., Manager of the City of Cincinnati, for his gracious address. In it, Mr. Dohoney, calling Music Hall a "community treasure" and the "front porch" for the entire area, acknowledged that Music Hall adds culture, stability and character to the city's most diverse community. He assured the gathered supporters that Music Hall is valued and will continue to be so in the future. He commended SPMH for work in preserving Music Hall -- both the building and the legacy.

President's Remarks: Norma paid tribute to Joyce VanWye and the late Jean Reis, whose love for Music Hall, and whose sense of urgency concerning the need to protect this great hall, inspired them to found the Society for the Preservation of Music Hall fifteen years ago. Norma also paid tribute to the late J. Ralph Corbett and to his widow Patricia Corbett for their generosity and determination to save Music hall in the 1960s, when its very existence was threatened. Finally, Norma acknowledged the continued generosity of Mrs. Louise Nippert towards Music Hall and she thanked Mrs. Nippert for honoring us with her presence today.

Treasurer's Report: Treasurer Nancy Wagner reported on the assets, expenses, and year-to-date revenues for SPMH and said that the Treasurer's report will be filed for audit.

Corresponding Secretaries: Martha Seaman reported that during the past fiscal year, 217 acknowledgements have been mailed.

Community Liaison: Dottie Lewis reported on a flurry of recent activity in Over the Rhine, including the purchase of hundreds of parcels of real estate, among them $11 million in buildings and vacant lots around Washington Park purchased by 3CDC; condos, apartments and single-family homes; and significant involvement by the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

Nominations: Barbara Boyd reported that the following persons have been recommended for election as trustees for 3-year terms at this annual meeting:

•  Peter Koenig •  Michael Rozow •  Eugene L. Saenger, Jr. •  Alan Sakalas

New officers for 2007-2008 were named. A full list of SPMH officers, trustees and honorary members is available here.

Tour Guides: Mace Justice reported that 44 tours involving 1,454 guests were conducted in the previous 12 months, with many scheduled for the coming season. A new tour guide, Joe Neyer, was welcomed.

Archives: Bob Howes thanked Ed Rider for filling in for Bob during his recent illness in the matter of accepting the rare letters and other records about Music Hall and the College of Music, which were discovered by Mike Williams of Wooden Nickel Antiques.

Bob also reported that tour guide materials are being updated, wtih particular attention being paid to the accuracy of all materials and inclusion of information about the College of Music. Bob also described his idea for creating a Cincinnati Performing Arts Archive, to be housed in Memorial Hall, next door to Music Hall.

Music Hall Update: Scott Santangelo, CAA Director of Operations, thanked Norma and the SPMH, including the Tour Guides, for their strong support throughout the year. He also recognized the strong seasons of both the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Opera.

Tenant Updates: While no tenant representatives were present, Norma commended the supportive staffs of all the tenant organizations.

Other Business: Philip Long was rcognized and thanked for his gift to SPMH: a set of framed nineteenth century newspaper front pages featuring handsome drawings of Cincinnati Music Hall. Joel Ebersole gave everyone copies of a print dated May 14, 1878, featuring the Grand Opening of the Reuben R. Springer Music Hall with the first concert of the third May Festival under the directorship of Theodore Thomas.

Ron Wehmeier, organ restorer, responded to a question regarding the installation of the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ in the Music Hall Ballroom. The documents need one final signature -- that of a representative of the City of Cincinnati -- before Ron can begin working. His work on the organ will then take thirty months to complete (by January 1, 2010).

The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.