Message from the Virginia SAR President for March 2020

Compatriots,
 
     This is the first of your monthly messages from the Virginia SAR President.  The purpose of this message is to share a few thoughts and some information on the events of the month ahead, to keep you and other members informed about the doings of your state society.  This is part of an initiative, suggested by past President Pete Davenport, that your officers work hard at communicating to each member.  Part of that effort is to add to your online newsletter, The Virginia Dispatches, a calendar, that can now be found on the “Coming Events” tab.  As each event of interest to the Virginia SAR is confirmed, it will be added to the calendar, along with information about the event such as registration for wreath presentations.
 
     Also on Virginia Dispatches you can find the script of my Installation Address at the Annual Meeting and a list of 2020-21 Presidential Initiatives.  The most important initiatives to me are those connected to the DAR.  By working with the DAR we can significantly increase our effectiveness.  Also we should encourage the DAR to bring us their fathers, brothers, sons, and eligible husbands, to increase our numbers.  If only one in four Virginia DAR Daughters brought us one new member, we would more than double in size; and those new members are likely to be active in your chapter.
 
     Members of the Virginia Society are active in the National Society Leadership.  Fifteen Virginia compatriots attended the Spring Leadership Conference and Trustee Meeting this past weekend and you can see a report of what transpired on Virginia Dispatches.  The Fall Leadership Conference and Trustees Meeting will take place in Louisville, KY on September 24-27th.  These meetings are where our National Society does a lot of its work, and there is an opportunity for you to participate.  Contact me if you are interested and we’ll find a place for you on one or more of the national committees.
 
     At our Annual Meeting last month we elected a new member of the Virginia Society Leadership Team; Ernie Coggins of the George Washington Chapter is our new 3rd Vice President.  He will be expected to progress to higher office each year to become our Society President for the 2023-2024 term.  Ernie is also the chair of our Strategic Planning Committee, so for many reasons he is the compatriot to contact about your plans for the future.
 
     In the near term I will be attending five chapter meetings in March.  I would love to attend your chapter meeting to talk about what the SAR is doing across the state.  Consider inviting me or other society officers to one of your chapter meetings.
 
Your Servant,
Bill
Bill Schwetke
President, Virginia SAR