The 2010 Annual Meeting of the St. George Lighthouse Association brought more than 40 members to St. George Lighthouse Park on Saturday, May 22 to enjoy a hotdog cook-out and to get up-to-date information on the Lighthouse, Keeper's House, and Visitor Center.  The membership also elected officers for the coming year.

The membership approved the addition of a Vice-President to the slate of officers, and elected Dennis Barnell to remain as President, Jim Kemp to the new office of Vice-President, Terry Kemp as Secretary, and Phyllis Vitale-Lewis to the position of Treasurer.

The following members were elected to the Board of Directors:  Joe Bacher, Dennis Barnell, Vito Bell, Doug Brandt, Bud Hayes, Jim Kemp, Terry Kemp, Phyllis Vitale-Lewis, Richard Saucer, and Fred Stanley.

Members seized the opportunity to tour the Keeper's House Museum, where installation of pine floors, walls, and ceilings is about to begin.  The large piles of lumber are climatizing in the cool air provided by the newly-installed HVAC system, and will be installed by volunteer workers in the coming weeks.

Members learned some interesting facts that  are a continuing testament to SGLA's success:

  • Since the lighthouse opened on December 1, 2008, a total of 24,119 individuals have climbed, according to Lighthouse Keeper Stanley Colvin.  In 2009, visitors came from countries including Canada, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Italy, and Croatia -- just to name a few.
  • The Visitor Center & Lighthouse Museum hosted 8282 guests in 2008, but that number jumped to 29,481 in 2009.  "What a difference a lighthouse makes!" said Executive Director Elaine Rosenthal.
  • SGLA now has 183 memberships, representing over 300 members, according to records kept by Secretary Terry Kemp.

Three SGLA members were recognized for outstanding service to the organization.  Stanley Colvin presented the "Lighthouse Keeper's Award" to volunteer Jimmy Lewis, who has been ready and willing to stand in for the Keepers whenever needed.  Fred Stanley received the "Keeper's House Builder Award" for his almost daily volunteer work to assist in the construction of the museum.  Retiring Treasurer Jim Kemp received the "President's Award" from Dennis Barnell for his five years of service as treasurer.