July 2022

 DMARSPA JULY 28, 2022, MINUTES

1. President Marla Carr welcomed DMARSPA members and guests to the July 28, 2022,
DMARSPA meeting.
2. Sherry Wilkinson introduced the speaker, Jerry Talerico, who presented a program on
“Vintage Restaurants of Des Moines.” As a young boy, his father Vic would take him to the
restaurant, more of a baby sitting chore. His father was one of a group of Italians who
came here during the start of the century. Jerry started working for John Compiano. John
sold it to the Hyatt Corporation. After heart surgery, John opened Giannis, where Jerry also
worked. From Giannis, he went to The Hotel Savory, then Garbo’s owned by Trostels. He
had the ambition of owning his own restaurant. Jerry went to the Culinary Institute of
America, and from there he met a guy who owned some restaurants in Cape Cod. Came
back to the Savory, then heard Christophers was looking for a chief. In 1996, a friend
working at Flannigans asked if he wanted to open up a place on University - Sam and
Gabe’s. Doing well and thought they should expand. Moved to 86th and Hickman in early
2000. In 2015, he was approaching burnout, and he sold it. The new owner changed
everything, and it went bankrupt. After several months of not doing anything, he decided
he wanted to get back into the food service industry. He didn’t like to work for others.
When the pandemic hit, a friend asked him to help cook for his parents. The Register
food critic put it on line. A place in the mall opened up; and during the pandemic, he
delivered to the curb. One of the mall managers asked if he wanted to take a place at the
mall permanently. That’s where TallyHo to Go is now.
At the turn of the century, a lot of Italians settled in Iowa as coal miners. There was a
settlement outside Des Moines. A woman cooked there,and her food was known as the best
around. Mr. Colby heard of this and said if she would cook, he would open a restaurant called
Anjo’s. Italians would learn from their mothers and grandmothers. His aunt did most of the
cooking at the TallyHo. This spawned a lot of restaurants - Babe’s , Johnny and Kay’s, Gino’s.
This was the Golden Era of Restaurants. The owner was there, and he got to know a lot of the
customers. In the early 60’s, corporations came in with franchises. Very few restaurants today
are owner operated. In 1961, Vic Talerico had a stroke, and he couldn’t manage the restaurant
like he did. Things started slipping. The one man who was supposed to clean the filters, was
lax, and a fire started - the restaurant burned down. He built again, but nothing was as good
then. Involved with Jazz. Vic knew Spec Red, a renowned Jazz prodigy. Vic had to fire his
nephew = in-law, another jazz person. Some family members left. Later he hired him back.
He believed music was part of the dining experience. Part of the success of Johnny and Kay’s
was Kay Compiano. A lot of sad tales - Gino who owned Gino’s gave a man a lot of money to
invest and he blew it all. Deburgo is another Iowa thing. Members told tales of the old
restaurants. Jerry wanted to call his place after Sam and Gabe’s, but the new place wouldn’t
let him; so he named it Tally Ho To Go. The original Tally HO started in 1939. Things of the
past are gone in restaurants - table clothes, matches, doggie bags.
3. Celebration of July birthdays .
4. Pledge of Allegiance followed by a moment of silence.
5. Lunch
6. Visitor introduction
7. Business meeting:
A. Secretary’s Report: Sherry Wilkinson - Minutes approved as read
1. Joke of the day
B. Treasurer’s Report: Sandra Petree - GENERAL ACCOUNT: Balance on hand June
23, 2022 - $4494.80. Deposits: $1795.00, Expenses: $.00. Balance on hand
July, 28, 2022 - $6289.00. SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT: Balance on Hand June
23, 2022 - $129.39. Deposits: $179.00, Interest: .00, Expenses: .00. Balance
on hand July 28,2022 - $308.39. TOTAL BALANCE JULY 28, 2022 - $6597.39.
1. Please pay dues to Sandra
2. Thank you to Bill and Joelle Synder for putting together and publishing our

membership book.
3. Approved as read and will be filed for audit.
C. Courtesy Report: Dee Fleischacker - Marla sent a card to Dee for hip surgery, card
sent to three new members, scholarship donors, sympathy card to Pam Stalter
on the death of her husband.
D. Old Business:
1. Volunteer hours need to be turned in today or sent to Marla by Sunday.
2. Thank you note from Rheya Spigner
E. New Business:
1. Please encourage newly retired teachers to become members of DMARSPA
2. Officers for next year - installed in August.
a. Same officers as this year.
b. If anyone would like to be on the slate for next year, please let Marla
know.
3. Finding a new meeting place before December.
a. Requirements for meeting place read.
b. Hope to have a place selected within the next few months.
c. Exec. Board will visit final choices and make a decision.
8. Announcements:
1. Sandra Petre has volunteered to organize a list of members who would like to
decorate tables with centerpieces and table favors.
2. School supplies or monetary donations for Ukrainians in September.
9. Door prize winner - Renda
10. Cashiers for August - Sandra and Jane Petre
11. A reading by Marla Carr - “Sometimes.”
August 25 Program: The Louvre Experience by Gary Thelen
Respectfully submitted,
Sherry Wilkinson
Secretary