Historical Society Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony

The Greater Oneonta Historical Society (GOHS) will hold its Annual Meeting and Awards Reception on Wednesday evening October 2 at the History Center, 183 Main Street. The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM with the presentation of the Hofbauer Outstanding Service Awards to Deb Bruce and Corinne Smith for their exceptional volunteer service. The award is named in memory of Eduard Hofbauer, who served on the GOHS Board of Trustees.

A native of Oneonta, Corinne Smith has served on the GOHS Board of Trustees for seven years, the last four years as president. Smith has been on the fund development and programs committees, along with the executive and nominating committees. Under her leadership, she has introduced new events, and has promoted collaboration with and engagement in the community. Her management and interpersonal skills have made GOHS a stronger organization.

Deb Bruce has provided valuable services to GOHS for almost fifteen years. Bruce has served on the Board as both an officer and a trustee, and for many years on the Collections Committee. For the past several years she has been in the critical position of GOHS' database coordinator.

The Albert E. Morris Award, named after the city of Oneonta's first mayor, is awarded to Wayne Wright in recognition of his contributions to local history. Wright, a native Oneontan, promoted and conserved Otsego County history during his 36 years at the New York State Historical Association. At NYSHA he hosted periodic meetings with the county’s historians and historical societies, and worked with Cooperstown Graduate Program students as they learned to become museum professionals. Wright is historian for the Main Street Baptist Church and has written a history of the church. He compiled a topical index of Ed Moore's volumes of In Old Oneonta. He is a past GOHS trustee and currently serves as GOHS librarian. In 2018 he received the Herbert H. Lehman Award for Distinguished Service from the New York Academy of History.

After refreshments and the presentation of the Hofbauer and Morris awards, there will be a short business meeting, including the election of trustees and officers. An information session on GOHS' Spring 2020 fundraiser trip to Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, will precede the meeting at 6:00 PM. The evening, with refreshments, is free and open to the public. For more information, contact (607) 432-0960 or info@OneontaHistory.org.