12-13 Aug 2016 Albany, NY
The Atlantic Middle States Association, made up of the the Mid-Atlantic District (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and District of Columbia Societies), and the North Atlantic District (New Jersey and New York Societies), met at the Radisson Hotel in Albany, NY for their annual meeting. Sixty-six compatriots, including nine from the Virginia Society and two of our wives attended. Those from the Virginia Society included President Ed Truslow and his wife, Laura, Mid-Atlantic District Vice President General Mark Brennan, National Trustee Reverdy Wright, Surgeon Kirk Sheap and his wife Norma, past President General Joe Dooley, Peter Davenport, Ernie Coggins, Paul Chase, and Bill Schwetke. Paul Chase, Peter Davenport, Joe Dooley, and Bill Schwetke, also participated in the Color Guard.  Virginia participants, left to right: Ernie Coggins, Surgeon Kirk Sheap, Bill Schwetke, Paul Chase, National Trustee Reverdy Wright, Laura Truslow, President Ed Truslow, Norma Sheap, Peter Davenport, Mid-Atlantic VPG Mark Brennan.
The business session was conducted jointly by Mid-Atlantic VPG Mark Brennan and North Atlantic VPG Warren Fristensky. The first order of business was reports by the national and district officers. Chancellor General Davis Wright also gave a report as the Mid-Atlantic District Web Master.
After the reports of the national and district officers, candidates for next years' national officers were proposed for endorsement by the Middle Atlantic States Association and voted upon. The candidates that were proposed are listed below; those who were endorsed are in bold and underlined: President General Larry T. Guzy (Georgia) Secretary General Warren M. Alter (NH) Chancellor General Davis L. Wright (Delaware) Genealogist General John D. Sinks (DC) Registrar General Rick D. Hollis (Tennessee) C. Bruce Pickette (Alabama) Historian General Mark C. Anthony (South Carolina) John O. Thornhill (North Carolina) Librarian General No Endorsement Surgeon General Matthew J. Barlow, Jr., MD (Delaware) Dr. John Barlow is a dual member of the Norfolk Chapter of the Virginia Society.
Candidates, who did not also address the meeting as national officers, included, left to right: Rick Hollis, Dr. Matthew Barlow, Mark Anthony, and Jack Thornhill. SATURDAY, AUGUST 13th Saturday morning began with a continuation of the previous evening's business session. New items of note that were discussed included a discussion of digitization of our genealogical records, funding of that effort, and availability of a DVD on our museum project by Solid Light. The digitization of our genealogical records is necessary to preserve them, and to make them searchable for researchers. Our then existing applications were microfilmed by the predecessor of Family Search in the 1990's. Copies of that microfilm are kept at NSSAR Headquarters, the DAR Library, and by the Genealogical Society of Utah. The proposal to the NSSAR from Family search is to digitize existing records, to now include documentation. and patriot biographies. There are significant concerns about privacy issues with our records, and those are being addressed. Though most of the funding for this is being provided by Family Search, there are costs for the SAR. The Foundation Board has established a special fund for this project, and has proposed setting goals of $1,000 per state society and $500 per chapter (probably to be adjusted for size variation). The Atlantic Middle States Association voted to commit to $10,000 in donations by its member state societies and chapters. The NSSAR Headquarters Museum Project has a six minute DVD on the Solid Light Proposal for this museum which is available to societies and chapters to be shown to the membership.  Our Bus Tour Group viewing the Saratoga Battlefield from Bemis Heights. After the morning business session attendees participated in a bus tour of the Saratoga Battlefield, led by certified tour guide Larry Arnold.
 Saturday evening was the banquet and awards presentation. After the formalities and introductions, guest speaker Larry Arnold, our afternoon tour guide, spoke on General Benedict Arnold (no relation) and particularly the importance of his actions on May 18, 1775, which preserved the earlier victory at Fort Ticonderoga.
President General Mike Tomme yielded his position of honor in presenting greetings and remarks to his first lady, Cilla Leed. PG Tomme then gave brief remarks in support of his initiatives: Educational Outreach, a Mentor Program, Donations to Youth Awards.
To conclude the program awards were presented to those who organized the meeting, and a special award, the "Jersey Devil" award, to the state society that amassed the most points based on members attending and distance traveled. Virginia SAR President Ed Truslow accepted the award for the the Virginia Society.
Next year the Atlantic Middle States Association Annual Meeting will be in Gettysburg, PA.
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