The 2012 German Village Haus und Garten Tour raked in $86,955, slightly less than last year.

Darci Congrove told fellow German Village Society board members Sept. 10 that the tour day has been down the last two years.

The 2011 event brought in $88,510 to the GVS coffers. Haus und Garten revenues represent about 23 percent of the Society's budget.

Next year, the structure will be slightly different, said Congrove, the board liaison to the committee responsible for planning the event.

Officials have written new job descriptions for both volunteer and staff positions, and have made a short list of people to ask to be chairmen of the event.

They also will form a committee for the PreTour gala, which had been run by an individual.

On a related note, the Tea 4 2: Two Hundred for Tea party raised $15,600 for historic preservation programs in the neighborhood.

The party, held Aug. 18 at the German Village Guest House, owned by Congrove and her husband John Pribble, drew about 200 people, the desired number.

Last year's inaugural event brought in nearly $10,000.

In other news from the meeting, board members bade farewell to longtime trustees Jim Hopple, Roy Bieber and Norman Hall, who did not seek re-election.

They had about 25 years of combined experience on the GVS board.

Chairman Bill Case was returned to board. Newcomer Stephanie Martt was elected to the board, as was Jeff McNealey, who had previously served.

Bill Curlis, who had held a nonvoting, emeritus position on the board, was elected to a full term. He also had previously served on the GVS board.

In the most recent race, nine people were seeking four positions.

Curlis suggested one of the unsuccessful candidates be appointed to a one-year emeritus position to determine whether it was a position he or she would want to seek for a full term.

Also during the meeting, the board agreed to hire a paid consultant assisting the society with fundraising, and the management of the Haus und Garten Tour and other events.

Society officials said they would like to have the person, who will be paid $33,000 per year, in place by Jan. 1.