BEMUS POINT – Members of the Bemus Point Historical Society gathered at the Hare n’ Hounds Restaurant in Bemus Point on Tuesday, Dec. 9, for their annual Christmas dinner.

President Fletcher Ward thanked the officers of the organization for their dedication to the society and to its mission of preserving the rich history of Bemus Point and the surrounding Chautauqua Lake region. He remarked that the success of any organization depends on what he termed, development of a “customer base,” and one individual in the organization had stood out in that effort.

Robert Terreberry was honored for his work developing exceptional monthly public programming for the Bemus Point Historical Society over the past several years. Terreberry is a retired educator and has filled his retirement volunteering for many organizations in the greater Jamestown area. Robert and his wife, Irene, are residents of Maple Springs.

Programs Terreberry has orchestrated this year have included Patricia Pihl, author of “Lost Places of Chautauqua County”; local architect, Phil Thorsell, talking about the unique architecture of the area; and educator, Karen Walsh, recounting her efforts to return portraits drawn by Laurabel Colburn to the foreign exchange students who have studied in Bemus Point.

Terreberry was also a driving force in the organization establishing a collaboration with the Bemus Point Elementary School administration to develop a series of programs and historic walking tours of the village of Bemus Point specifically for fourth graders. Following these walking tours, each child is given a copy of local author, Mary Jane Stahley’s book, “The History of Bemus Point.”

The Bemus Point Historical Society’s programs are offered at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the society’s museum on Alburtus Avenue. Remaining programs for the 2014-15 season include: Sam Genco, noted local historian and expert scuba diver speaking of “Diving Disasters” on Feb. 10; Vince Martonis, Hanover town historian, discussing the “Redware and Stoneware of Chautauqua County” on March 10; Steve Johnson, military historian, providing insight about Gov. Reuben F. Fenton on April 14; local author, Fletcher Ward, discussing his new book, “Chautauqua Lake’s Great Race” on May 12; and Michelle Henry and Adam Dolce recounting the history of the properties comprising the Cassadaga Job Corps on June 8. All programs are free and open to the public.