Message from the Chair of the Board of Trustees:
Exeter Historical Society – A Year in Review
Here we are, 2025!
Together we have strengthened our commitment to preserving and showcasing the many facets of Exeter’s History. We look forward with renewed hope and dedication as we approach 100 years of the Exeter Historical Society’s impact on the community.
Co-Executive Directors, Laura Martin and Barbara Rimkunas report the accomplishments in Development, Programs, Accessions, Education and Outreach but the smooth running of our Historical Society is directly attributable to the many tasks they juggle on a regular basis. Laura’s frequent social media posts and written communications maintain lighthearted but informative messaging for the membership. Barbara’s knowledge and expertise is valued in research for the town, community organizations including the upcoming 250thAnniversary Celebration of Exeter (more on that to come!).
Operating expenses continue to be within budget, thanks to the diligence of the Board, Co-Executive Directors and especially to the generosity of our donors and members. The Investment Policy we executed last year has kept us in a favorable position through recent market volatility. We have prioritized investment in our staff, collection preservation and digitization and quality education and programming.
Events continue to be a great source to share the Historical Society’s passion for history and commitment to the community. New exhibit receptions over the past year (Brass Band - Music and Memorabilia and Eyes on Exeter - Photography by Ben Swiezynski) bring friends familiar and new who usually take the opportunity to peruse the vast archives and artifacts in the building. The newest exhibit opening this summer will be Greetings from the Past: Postcards & Travel in Exeter History.
We appreciate the support of local businesses hosting fundraiser events for us - Exeter Book Store, Fort Rock Farm, Ore Nell’s Barbecue, Otto’s, and Sea Dog Brewing Company. Our first Appraisal Day, in a few years, was met with great success and will be added to our annual events. One may continue to find us at town-wide events such as Memorial Day Parade, Independence Festival, Holiday Block Party, dedications of historic sites, and greeting you at the polls.
Time is one of the most precious gifts one can give. Our impact would not be as great without the support of community members and volunteers who give so generously. (Please see the list below.)
The Board regularly reviews priorities and goals for the Society set during the multi-year strategic planning in 2024. We adjust the plan as needed, always upholding our mission. Together, we achieve more through teamwork, respect and an eagerness to serve the community. We welcome new Board members who share our passion.
We are about to undertake a major project to add movable shelving to support growing collections housed within a finite space. The project will require careful planning not to disrupt ongoing research and a substantial investment. We have secured funding for nearly half the cost through the generosity of the Biber Foundation, Riverwoods, and a small allocation of the Fogg-Rollins fund (in accordance with donor restrictions).
Each year we have to say goodbye (for now) to the two senior Student Trustees. Andrew Halepis and Poppy Schaffer have been active contributors on the Board for the past two years. They organize and host Youth Night, along with the Junior Trustees. They champion a History Club at the High School and liaise with several school clubs to participate as volunteers. We know they do well in their next exciting adventure.
Our membership is over 300, consistent with the past several years. While we are grateful to each member for this important means of support, we would love to celebrate our 100th year with new members from every neighborhood in Exeter. We are ever thankful for our members and donors who continue to be the cornerstone of our success.
Thank you!
Vicki Geis
Board Chair, Exeter Historical Society
Treasurer’s Report
January 1 - December 31, 2024
Exeter Historical Society financial statements as of December 31, 2024 report cash and cash equivalents of $94,454, net fixed assets of $523, and investments of $428,164 for total assets of $523,141. Liabilities and net assets include no liabilities and net assets of $523,141 for total liabilities and net assets of $523,141. The change in net assets for 2024 is $22,936 which consists of $127,140 of revenue and $104,204 of operating expense.
View 2024 financial report here.
Submitted by Julie Avant, Treasurer
Secretary’s Report
Annual Meeting, May 7, 2024
View the 2024 Annual Meeting minutes here.
Minutes taken by Caroline Siecke and submitted by Brian Smalley, Secretary
Governance Report
A very successful strategic planning meeting in March of 2024 gave us direction and focus for this year. We thank Carole McCammon for volunteer facilitation.
We have been fortunate to recruit four new Board members, two who joined us last year and two for the coming year.
We have streamlined our volunteer recruitment process and are looking to make our recruitment more effective by targeting specific needs within the Society.
Our student trustees from SAU 16 continue to help us stay connected to the younger generation and bring new energy to our outreach efforts!
I am working on developing more Board education materials, specifically in self-study format, so we can continue to become more knowledgeable about our responsibilities.
Respectfully submitted,
Caroline Siecke
Thanks to our 2023-24 Volunteers:
Bookkeeping
Pam Conary
Collections & Research
Richard Cole
Jackie Gendron
Pam Gjettum
Lee Jacoby
Vicki Lucas
Luke Taylor
Development & Membership
Christine Coronis
Rick Mahoney
Pat Theisen
Appraisers
Dan Olmstead
Mark Sisco
Events
Nancy Belanger
Mary Cady
Exeter High School Rho Kappa
Exeter TV
Andrea Richards
Mary Tegel
Exhibits
Roger Cady
Zach Diamond
Jim Mills
Brenda-Sue Machala
Jim Swiesynski
Computer Technician
Marc Bessler
A note about the timeframe of our reports:
The Society observes the calendar year as our fiscal year,
but we hold our annual meeting in May, at the end of our program year.
Based on our Program Year (May 2024-April 2025):
our Chair’s message, 2024 Annual Meeting minutes, and list of volunteers
Based on our Fiscal Year (January - December 2024):
our Treasurer’s and Co-Executive Directors’ reports, as well as our list of $100+ members and donors
We apologize for any confusion caused by this distinction.
co-executive director/
Curator’s Message:
Sharing our history is my primary role for the Society. Tending and maintaining our collections ensures that visiting researchers – be they elementary school students, professional writers, genealogists, or PhD candidates – all have access to the materials. Alongside my work preserving collections, I also use them to produce educational and (I hope) entertaining articles, video scripts and presentations to bring Exeter’s history to the general public. In 2024, I published 20 articles on topics ranging from the velocipede derby at Town Hall to Exeter’s League of Women Voters. Laura and I produced 12 Exeter History Minute videos that are always a delight to make. I was able, with the able assistance of our research volunteers, to compile and present the history of the Exeter Hospital Nurses Training School. We held an eclipse party on Swasey Parkway in April. The Society headquarters on Front Street, through its new events committee, hosted two major exhibits in 2024: The Exeter Brass Band (which was featured on NH Chronicle in July and The Photography of Ben Swiezynski. It is my responsibility to run the day-to-day operations of the Society headquarters. Meeting the inquisitive people who love the town’s history as much as me is the greatest joy of my job. In particular, our trivia night, which allows me to serve as the trivia master, is an annual thrill.
submitted by Barbara Rimkunas
Co-Executive Director/
Program Manager’s message:
My primary roles are programming, marketing, and development, with the aim to both share Exeter's history and to make sure that it will be available and accessible to future generations. I work with our Program Committee to plan the programs for each season – September through May – and with the Development Committee to raise funds to keep the Society functioning and financially healthy. Also, I manage our publicity and marketing by frequently updating our website; regularly posting on social media; creating and sending all of our email communication with our members, donors, and mailing list; and submitting press releases to the Exeter News-Letter. For 2024, I again worked with our Program Committee, the NH Humanities, Exeter TV, and our talented speakers to bring eight programs to the Exeter Town Hall and Zoom. I filmed, produced, and marketed our 12 Exeter History Minutes and, as I'm writing this, we've just filmed our 150th episode. Additionally, I continually update our announcements section on our website to make it easier for people to see what's happening at a glance. I wrote the membership, Pillar, and annual appeal solicitation letters. My hope is that through this behind-the-scenes work, I make people aware of what the historical society has to offer and make it easier for our members and donors to support the collection, preservation, and sharing of Exeter's history.
submitted by Laura Martin
