Atlantic Middle States Association Meeting in Albany

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.

Virginians in the buffet line, front to rear: Laura Truslow, President Ed Truslow, past PG Joe Dooley.

 




    The meeting began with a cocktail hour and a buffet dinner, followed by the first business session.

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     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.

Co-Chairs, left to right, Mid-Atlantic VPG Mark Brennan of Virginia, and North Atlantic VPG Warren Fristensky of New Jersey.

past Mid-Atlantic VPG (2015-6) George Jones (Delaware)

President General Mike Tomme (Georgia)

Secretary General Larry Guzy (Georgia)

Treasurer General Warren Alter (Arizona)

Chancellor General Davis Wright (Delaware)

Genealogist General John Sinks (DC)

Historian General Jack Manning (NH)

Librarian General Bruce Pickette (Alabama)

SAR Foundation Board President Sam Powell (North Carolina)

     Of particular note in the reports by the national officers was the update from Genealogist General John Sinks on new sources proving patriotism.  An update on that information will be posted later.  SAR Foundation Board President Sam Powell also gave a good discussion of legacy gifts and who important they can be to the future of the SAR.  Those leaving a legacy gift of $10,000 or more receive special recognition as member of the Founders Circle. (click here for Founders Circle Form).

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     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.

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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.

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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.

Tour Guide Larry Arnold explains the significance of the fortications, built under the supervision of Polish-born Colonel Kosciuszko, in the shade of a tree at the Neilson House inside patriot lines.

Tour Gude Larry Arnold talks to the significance of the fight that began at the wheat field (in the background), that began the battle on October 7th.

The tour continues at the location of Lord Balcarres' redoubt, a scene of very heavy fighting.

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     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. 

The Color Guard posts the colors.

Guest Speaker Larry Arnold.

Empire State Society President Duane Booth presents the SAR Bronze Good Citizenship Medal to Larry Arnold.

     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.

First Lady Cilla Leed

President General Mike Tomme

     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.

Virginia SAR President Ed Truslow accepts the "Jersey Devil" Award for the Virginia Society.

Next year the Atlantic Middle States Association Annual Meeting will be in Gettysburg, PA.