Minutes of the South Atlantic District Winter Meeting, Friday, January 13, 2017, Spartanburg, SC

Attendance – Sign­in Roster attached as a part of these Minutes

Prior to the meeting, First Lady Cilla Leed Tomme spoke on her service project, “Shoes for Schools,” in

the Knoxville area.

SAD Vice President General Dr. Lawrence G. Fehrenbaker, Sr., presided. SAD Societies represented:

Florida – President Raymond Wess; Georgia – President Allen Greenly; North Carolina – President Gary

Green; South Carolina – President Wayne Cousar. A quorum was present.

Call to Order and Opening Ceremonies

Vice President General Fehrenbaker called the meeting to order at 4:08 PM. VPG announced the rules

for the meeting and appointed Ed Rigel, Sr., to act as Parliamentarian. Invocation delivered by Past VPG

Rigel, Sr. Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag led by President General J. Michael Tomme, Sr. SAR

Pledge led by GASSAR President Allen Greenly.

Approval of Minutes – The Minutes of the 06 October 2016 SAD meeting held in Spartanburg, SC, were

posted to the SAD website. There being no corrections, the minutes stood as posted.

Introduction of Dignitaries and Guests

President General J. Michael Tomme, Sr.

Secretary General Larry T. Guzy

Treasurer General Warren Alter

Dr. Sam Powell, President of the SAR Foundation

Past President General Lindsay Brock

Past SAD VPGs Sam Powell, Mark Anthony, and Ed Rigel, Sr.

National Color Guard Commander David Hoover

FLSSAR President and Deputy Inspector General Raymond Wess

GASSAR President Allen Greenly

NCSSAR President Gary Green

SCSSAR President Wayne Cousar

SAD Secretary Ed Rigel, Jr.

SAD Webmaster Chuck Sweeney

Remarks by President General Mike Tomme:

­PG Tomme gave an overview of his initiatives. There has been approximately $15,000 donated to the

Youth Awards Challenge. The Education Outreach program continues to progress and Youth Protection

Training is being taken by more Compatriots presenting to youth groups. The Mentor Program also

continues to progress. PG Tomme spoke of how National is assisting Chapter Registrars with

applications by convicted felons and transgenders. Finally, PG Tomme challenged all members to “roll

your sleeves up” and get involved as much as possible.

State President Reports Updates – All State Presidents presented highlights of their reports which are

attached as part of these Minutes.

VPG Report – VPG Fehrenbaker gave highlights of his report, which is attached as part of these Minutes.

SAR Foundation Report – SAR Foundation President Powell gave an update on the activities of the

Foundation.

127th

Congress Planning Update – Congress Planning Committee Co­Vice Chair Mark Anthony

announced that the second hotel is approaching capacity. Any changes in reservations need to be

communicated to Congress Planning Chair Paul Callanan so he can work with the hotel to make sure the

slot remains available to the SAR. There will be a grave marking on Friday and planning for area tours is

in progress.

236th

Anniversary of the Battle at Cowpens update – Compatriot Anthony gave instructions for both the

Friday lecture and Saturday ceremony.

Old Business – None

New Business – None

Announcements – John Thornhill invited all to the Battle of Moore’s Creek ceremony on Feb. 25. PG

Tomme reminded all that events for the National website calendar need to be submitted to Mike

Scroggins. National Color Guard Commander David Hoover presented the Bronze and Silver Color

Guard Medals to Guy Higgins, Jr. Commander Hoover urged all to participate in the Color Guard

recognition programs. GASSAR President Greenly invited all to the Kettle Creek Revolutionary Days

events on Feb. 11­12 in Washington, GA.

Adjournment

VPG Fehrenbaker thanked Mark Anthony and the SCSSAR Ladies Auxiliary for arranging the meeting and

reception. He reminded all to sign the roster if they had not done so.

SAR Recessional – Led by FLSSAR President Wess.

Benediction – Delivered by VPG Rigel, Sr.

Meeting Adjourned – 5:14 PM

Ed Rigel, Jr.

Secretary, South Atlantic District

Vice President General Report

NSSAR South Atlantic District

January 6, 2017

The South Atlantic District has donated or pledged over $6,000 towards PG J. Michael Tomme’s funding

Initiative of the Council of Youth Awards to date. I am confident that by 1 June 2017, the challenge

issued to the State Societies will be met. I am certain that PG Tomme will provide to us an update.

We, in the South Atlantic District, have been among the Society’s leaders in the promotion and

implementation of our Youth Educational Outreach programs. A review of some of these programs

have been described in the SAD Presidents’ reports. A review of our calendar events listing shows the

extent of the SAD involvement in Commemorative ceremonies at our Historical Revolutionary sites. A

review of the SAD President reports shows that new Patriot graves continue to be identified and

honorably marked. Our Color Guards continue to be among the Society’s most active. All of these

events support the long­range Initiative of PG Tomme’s goal in promoting our patriots and their

sacrifices during the Revolutionary war for independence and freedom to our youth and the public in

general.

Our District States and Chapters have embraced PG Tomme’s Initiative of creating Mentoring programs

for new members to stabilize compatriot growth and participation in society programs. Membership

retention is equally important in stabilization and growth and several District State reports have

indicated the steps taken to increase retention. I mentioned and suggested steps for membership

retention in my inaugural talk and a brief notice that appears on our web­site.

The next meeting of the SAD will be our Annual Meeting on May 20, 2017, which will be held in

conjunction with the Florida Society’s Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida on May 19 – 21, 2017. Hotel

information and registration should be available during the second week of February. Hotel links and

meeting registration will be available at FLSSAR.org and accessing the BOM button on the home­page.

Our SAD Breakfast Meeting and VPG Induction will be held during the 127th NSSAR Congress in Knoxville,

TN (Tuesday, July 11, 2017). Watch sar.org for registration information when available.

Since my last report, I have attended the following events:

1. Oct. 14­15, Florida BOM, Orlando, FL.

2. Oct. 22, Georgia BOM

3. Nov. 19 Fort Morris­Sunbury Memorial Ceremony, Midway GA. (Morning)

4. Nov 19 Brier Creek Chapter Chartering, Sylvania GA (Evening)

5. Nov 28 Ft. Myers, FL. Liberty Tree Dedication at Four Freedoms Park

6. Several DAR and local Naples Chapter meetings

My tentative travel schedule for the remainder of the term is posted on the SAD web­calendar. If there

are specific events that chapters would like me to visit, please contact me at your earliest convenience,

and I will try to accommodate the request if scheduling permits.

During this interval, I have updated the South Atlantic District’s history which is found on the District

web­site.

Respectfully submitted,

Lawrence G. Fehrenbaker, Sr. VPG, SAD

FLORIDA SOCIETY, SAR, REPORT TO SOUTH ATLANTIC DISTRICT

29 December 2016

The Florida Society (FLSSAR) continues to make progress in improving on the excellent foundations

established by past FLSSAR leadership administrations. We have established to first FLSSAR Strategic

Planning Committee and they have been tasked with doing a top to bottom review of the Society,

evaluating strengths and weaknesses, and formulating a Strategic Plan with short, intermediate, and

long term goals and objectives.

The Strategic Planning Committee has exceeded all expectations and will be presenting a draft at our

February Board of Management meeting and will be submitting a final plan for approval at our annual

meeting in May 2017.

The final plan will have an emphasis on SAR Youth Education Outreach programs, funding of

additional awards, and increased participation. The plan will also include NSSAR goals and objectives

as well as President General initiatives with emphasis on how the Florida Society can contribute to

their success.

As a side note, the Florida Society donated $4000.00 to PG Tomme’s youth program increased funding

initiative. The Florida Society supports this initiative and will work towards increasing FLSSAR youth

program awards.

The Florida Society continues to support an initiative started by Past FLSSAR President, Lawrence

Fehrenbaker of traveling throughout the state and holding Regional meetings. These meetings allow

the FLSSAR leadership to bring information to members who usually don’t attend a Board of

Management meeting or Annual Meeting. The Regional meetings have been an overwhelming

success and have been well received by the membership. Many members have found a way to enter

the discussion of FLSSAR business when they were not able to participate before. We set a goal of

holding a Regional Meeting in all seven regions for the fiscal year of 2016­2017 and that goal will be

achieved.

We set an additional goal of becoming a partner of the National Committee to celebrate the 50th

anniversary of the Vietnam War. We applied for partner membership and were accepted. We held a

FLSSAR “Welcome Home” celebration of Vietnam era veterans at our October 2016 Board of

Management banquet where PG Tomme participated in presenting Presidential Proclamations,

commemorative pins and specially designed service ribbons to 42 members of the Florida Society who

qualified because of their Vietnam service.

We have also initiated a new Ethics Committee Charter and have appointed a committee of six

including a chairman and five members. The committee was formed as an ad­hoc committee and will

be made a permanent standing committee at a future Board of Management meeting. The charter

mirrors the NSSAR Ethics Committee responsibilities. The FLSSAR Ethics Committee will review ethics

complaints submitted by members and forward recommendations to the FLSSAR Executive

Committee.

The Florida Society has a very active Ladies Auxiliary. Their membership continues to grow and their

support the Florida society’s Youth Programs has been exemplary. The ladies hold gift basket

auctions at our banquets and use the proceeds to supplement the Youth Program prize awards.

Respectfully Submitted:

Raymond F. Wess

President

Florida Society 2016­2017

Dr. Lawrence Fehrenbaker

Vice President General

South Atlantic District

National Society SAR December 31, 2016

Sir:

Attached please find the South Atlantic District Quarterly Report from the

Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution.

Georgia Society­­Membership:

Number of Society Members ­­ 1 Jan 2016 ­­­­­­­­­­­­ 1,612

New Member since 1 Jan 2016 ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ 206

Reinstatements­Transfers since 1 Jan 2016 ­­­­­ 60

Total Additions since 1 Jan 2016 ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ 266

Deceased since 1 Jan 2016 ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ 26

Transfers out since 1 Jan 2016 ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ 9

Total Losses since 1 Jan 2016 ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ 35

Active Membership as of 30 September 2016

Reported to National Society SAR ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ 1,843

Plus Dual Members ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ 26

Active Membership as of 30 September 2016

TB Reported to GASSAR Board of Managers 1,869

Membership Categories as of 30 September 2016:

Regular Members ­­­­­­­ 1,664

Junior Members ­­­­­­­­­ 84

Junior Life Members ­­­ 5

Emeritus Members ­­­­­ 5

Regular Life Members ­ 50

Nov./Dec. Reinstatement 8

Dual Members ­­­­­­­­­­­ 26*

Total Membership December 31, 2016: ­­­­­­­­­­­ 1,664

Color Guard Events:

Since October 1st, the Color Guard participated in the following:

10/01/16 Grave marking Compatriot Gosnell

10/07/16 Kings Mountain

10/15/16 Grave marking Patriots Ruben Blanchard, Capt. James Cartledge, Pvt. Samuel

Cartledge

10/19/16 Yorktown

10/22/16 GA SAR BOM meeting

10/22/16 Grave marking for Patriot Solomon Strickland

10/29/16 Grave marking for Patriot James Rylee

11/11/16 Veterans Day Ceremony, Oconee Veterans Memorial Park

11/11/16 Veterans Day Ceremony, Atlanta History Center

11/19/16 Ft. Morris

11/19/16 Brier Creek Chartering Ceremony

11/03/16 Vann’s Creek

12/5/16­12/16/16 Governor’s Mansion Tours and Celebration

12/17/16 Wreaths Across America

12/17/16 Grave marking for Compatriot Butterworth

For the calendar year 2017 there are 5 National events on the Georgia Society SAR Color Guard

Committee schedule.

Education Outreach, Awards and other Activities:

The Georgia Society’s presentations to elementary and middle school students are continuing to

enhance the education of those students in their studies of the Revolution and Colonial Life. The State

is working on PG Tomme’s initiative and will be working with the chapters to move these programs

forward. The Georgia Society has contributed $1,000 to PG Tomme’s initiative.

Report of the Georgia Society Registrar:

Membership Applications Processed through September 30, 2015

Applications: January 1, 2016­­­­­­December 31, 2016

Received as of December 31,2016­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ 310

Applications Reviewed & Sent to NSSAR­­­­­­­­ 291

NSSAR has approved ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­188

NSSAR has Pended­­applications ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ 4

GASSAR Registrar Pended ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ 47

Still pending at National ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ 14

The Statistics of Applications Reviewed and Approved is as Follows

� 93.9% of applications reviewed and mailed to NSSAR

� 64.6% of applications approved by NSSAR

� 16.2% of applications received & pended by Georgia Registrar

� 01.3% of applications received & pended by National

The fourth quarter of 2016 flow of applications represented 22.6% of the applications received in

2016. The quantity of pended applications by the Registrar shows a slight decrease in the number of

pended applications and still indicates a need for chapter Registrars to review applications

preparation procedures. A Registrars workshop is scheduled to be held at our annual conference.

New Chapter Development:

The Georgia Society chartered the Brier Creek chapter on November 19th. This chapter chartered with

approximately 50 members. This chapter is located in Sylvania, Georgia.

There are two more chapters under development and preliminary meetings have taken place.

Applications for new members are being researched and prepared with the aid from Chapter Officers

of the adjoining territories.

Fourth Quarter Special Chapter, Events or State Initiatives:

November 19, 2016. Chartered the Brier Creek chapter.

Respectfully submitted,

Allen Greenly, President

Georgia Society

Sons of the American Revolution

MEMO for South Atlantic District 31 December 2016

FROM: Gary O. Green

SUBJECT: Society President’s Report

Membership as of 1 Jan 2016: 977

Membership as of 31 December 2016: 1149

Chapters: 27

Budget: $20,095

Color Guard Activities: Since our fall 2016 District Meeting, the North Carolina Society has added thirty

new members and has performed multiple (10) patriot grave markings and three compatriot grave

markings in our state. I have attended commemorations at Battles of Kings Mountain, Shallow Ford and

Great Bridge, VA with each event involving at least eight other compatriot color guardsmen.

Veterans salute: As one of my primary goals, I have tried to recognize as many SAR compatriot veterans

as possible. We started the year having recognized 31 and have expanded the recognition to greater

than 87 by Veterans Day 2016. We had compatriots attend Veterans’ Day celebrations throughout the

state.

We have had three of the five state District meetings during this fall including one using an electronic

“GoToMeeting” program. Subsequently we have tried a less expensive “Free Conference Call” online

meeting with our District Vice Presidents and EXCOM members. This may be a cheaper and less travel

intensive way to conduct future SAR business meetings.

I have also attended gatherings of six individual chapters conducting their periodic chapter meetings. In

each visit, I have emphasized my goals for my term in office. We also have compatriots involved with

the update/validation of the casualties at King’s Mountain initiated by the Tennessee Society SAR.

PG Tomme’s goals of the Mentoring program and monetary support for Youth Awards are on the

agenda for the 28 January 2017 Board of Managers (BOM) meeting. We have the funds available; we

need BOM approval.

I have continued my emphasis upon retention, communication and Veterans recognition by use of a

monthly “President’s Piece” e­mail distribution chronicling the activities of the state SAR. I have

emphasized the need for accurate reconciliation of national membership rosters and retention of SAR

members. This communication is not inclusive of society members; we have about 240 compatriots

who do not have e­mail addresses.

GARY O. GREEN, President

North Carolina Society SAR

The SCSSAR had an very active Fall with two new Patriot grave markings. The Daniel Morgan Chapter

recognized the grave of 2nd Lt. Daniel Gilbert and the Gov. Paul Hamilton Chapter recognized the grave

of Col. Isaac Hayne who was hung by the British in Charleston.

Many Chapters participated in Veterans Day Parades including the Matthew Singleton, Thomas Lynch

and Col. Lemuel Benton Chapters.

Kings Mountain went off in spite of hurricane Matthew thanks to the SCSSAR and The NCSSAR.

The Thomas Lynch Chapter wrote the script for the Revolution on the new Veterans Memorial Wall in

Georgetown SC.

All of our events have seen more youth involvement which is a goal for this year.

Our new online publication of the Palmetto Patriot is going well with more members using the new

online delivery

The SCSSAR will hold it’s annual meeting in Beaufort SC which is drawing much interest and we are

expecting a good turnout on Apr 21 &22, 2017.

The SCSSAR is experiencing good growth in membership, with 901 members as of Dec. 20,2016.

Wayne Cousar

President SCSSAR