THREE NEW MEMBERS ELECTED TO HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD

Finney County Historical Society

Three new members have joined the Finney County Historical Society Board of Directors after an election for the 22 person governing body of the 72-year old organization, and nine returning members have been re-elected for additional two-year terms.

The new members include Nikki Geier, who will fill out the term of Bryce Baker, a long-time member and former president who died in March; as well as Dennis Mesa and Mike Radke.

Geier is the retired Garden City Community College admissions director.  Mesa is a former two-time Garden City mayor who served as regional director for the office of U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, later Kansas governor. Mesa also served as director of the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation.  Radke is an instructor with USD 457 and previously served as a captain with the Garden City Police Department.

Returning board members chosen for additional terms are Rosemary Corbett, Loretta DeLaRosa, Keith Downer, Mary Eves, Barbara Goss, Robert Jones, Elaine Garcia, Dennis Kleysteuber and Rhonda Stone.

In addition to the full board election for the 350-member organization, Ray Heinemann was re-elected as board president and Joe Burnside was re-elected as treasurer.  Mary Ann Bennett was elected vice president.

Board members serve terms of two years each, with 11 terms expiring on odd years and 11 expiring on even years.  If willing to continue serving, board members are eligible for re-election to multiple terms.  The society’s full membership is eligible to vote in annual elections.

The FCHS, founded in 1948, is the parent organization of the Finney County Historical Museum, located at 403 S. Fourth Street in Garden City’s Finnup Park.  The mission statement of the society is “Preservation of the Past to Enlighten the Future,” and that ongoing objective is carried out through museum exhibits, a year-round education program, historical research services through a library housed in the museum, and the care and maintenance of more than 21,000 artifacts and records.