Tampa Chapter

Sons of the American Revolution

Meeting Notice and News, May 2012

 

Contents

          Meeting notice

          Meeting agenda items

          Misc. notes from chapter officers

          Revolution History note

ROTC notes

          April minutes

          Program Schedule

          Misc. reminders and information

 

Compatriots,

          Our next meeting will be held on May 19th in the private meeting room of the Piccadilly Cafeteria, located at 11810 Dale Mabry Highway North, Tampa, Florida (813-963-1660). Meetings begin at noon but members arrive as early as 11:30 for a time of camaraderie.  The speaker for May will be a representative of the Armed Forces Museum in Largo.  This is a hidden jewel in our area and I am looking forward to hearing more about the museum.  Also, the 1st and 2nd place winners of the state Knight Essay contest are from our area and have been invited to attend the meeting.  While time will not permit them reading their essays, they will share with the membership why they chose the topic they did and what they learned from their research.

         

 

May meeting agenda items.

An agenda will be provided for members at the beginning of the meeting. Chapter Website:.  http://www.patriot-web.com/

 

 Brief note/request—please initial the sign in sheet that will be circulated at the beginning of the meeting so the secretary can have an accurate attendance record.

 

One of the duties of the Chapter Chaplain is to send cards to our members that are sick. If you know of anyone that I need to send a card to, please mention it at our next meeting. Another duty is to send a sympathy card to the family of a member who has passed away. I have been remiss in these areas and am asking your help. I need your input.

Jack C. Bolen            

Chaplain

 

 

American Revolution Notes.

 

This month we have two, non-military items.  On May 29, 1765, while the Virginia House of Burgesses was debating whether to approve resolutions opposing the Stamp Act, Patrick Henry gave the first of his note worthy speeches.  As he neared the end of his speech ( in favor of the resolutions) he said “Caesar had his Brutus, Charles I his Cromwell” when cries of Treason, Treason, erupted from some of the members, Henry quickly shifted gears and ended with “and George III may profit from their example.”  No contemporary account includes the phrase “if this be treason, make the most of it.”  It is thought by many that this was added much later to give more importance to the speech and to Henry.

Twenty-two years later, on May 14, 1787, the Philadelphia Convention began.  By the 14th enough delegates had arrived to start the convention called by Congress to amend and change the Articles of Confederation.  However, within a few days, the Articles had been scrapped and the delegates began to debate, amend, and flesh out a proposal by James Madison for a new government.  Meeting 6 hours a day (10-4) 6 days a week (Sundays off), they kept at it until Sept. 17, 1787.  On that day they approved the final draft of the Constitution of the United States.  For the sake of secrecy they kept the windows and doors closed.  Everyone who was present and has left us a record (journal, diary, and letters) mentioned how hot it was in Philadelphia that summer.  As we begin to experience the heat of a Florida summer (with air conditioning) we need to be mindful of what they did 225 years ago.

 

(ed. Note:  Dick Young is chairing a committee to plan how we will celebrate Constitution Day in Sept. and what, if anything, we might do differently at out meeting in Sept.  Anyone with ideas or suggestions is asked to pass them along to Dick.)

 

ROTC notes:

Thanks are extended to all of the members for their attendance and flexibility at the ROTC luncheon last month.  Additionally, thanks are extended to Jack Bolen and those members who functioned as liaisons with the various schools for their time and effort.  Lastly, special thanks are extended to Jack Bolen for chairing the meeting in the absence of both the President and Vice-President,  both of whom regret personal issues kept them from attending.

 

 

Pictured here are the cadets who attended our ROTC Luncheon.

 

Thanks also go to Dwight Tetrick, who presented Silver ROTC awards at area Universities.

University of South Florida:   Navy—Cadet Benjamin Bontrager; Army---Cadet Jacob Diebel;  Air force---Renee Crane

University of Tampa:  Cadet Tyler Botset

 

 

MINUTES of Chapter Meeting

Meeting date: April 21, 2012

 

Call to order: A monthly meeting of the Sons of the American Revolution was held at Piccadilly Cafeteria, Tampa, Florida on April 21, 2012. The meeting convened at 12:00 pm, Compatriot Jack Bolen presiding, Mike Frayn, secretary.

 

Compatriot Luke Lloyd gave the invocation. Compatriot Charles Klug led the Pledge of Allegiance. Compatriot Jack Bolen led the SAR Pledge.

 

Members in attendance:, Chuck Bearss, Alan Bell, Jack Bolen, Ed Clark, Robbins Denham, Terry Doan, Paul Ergler, Paul Farley, Mike Frayn, Cy Gamber, Chuck Hawley, Charles Klug, Luke Lloyd, Marty Miller, Gray Reese  and Dick Young.

 

Guests in attendance: June Bolen, Lisette Young, Jean Lloyd, Glenn Clepper,  Kathy Browning, Cadet Jon Browning, Cadet Chase Torres, Cadet James Cavalli, SgtMaj Oscar Cunningham , USA (Ret), Cadet Dominic Hill, Andre' Hill, Damian Hill, Ida Trainum, Aliyah Hill, Marie Hill, Sommer Hill, Scott Tielemans, Martha Tielemans, Cadet Kenneth Tielemans, Heiki Broussard, Kevin Balladin, Gerri Balladin, Jimmy McAuley, Cadet James Riggs, Brian Riggs, Andrea Riggs, Shirlie Cavalli, LCdr Larry Jordan, USN (Ret), Ruben Medina, Breann Medina, Mike Mistretta, Pete Colangelo, Cadet Bryce Colangelo, Carla Colangelo, Steve Shaw, Cadet Stephany Shaw, Marliena Shaw, Brandon Scott, Larry Rogers, Cadet Kianna Rodrigues, Bridget Rodrigues, Lorenzo Rodrigues, Cadet Jordan Torres, Cadet Suresh Ballandin, Cadet Brandon Sickles and Clifford Wright.

 

Compatriot Jack Bolen explained the schedule and called a recess for lunch at 12:05pm.

 

The meeting resumed at 12:50pm. Compatriot Jack Bolen welcomed all our guests and asked all the JROTC instructors to stand and be recognized. He then introduced the guest speaker.

 

LtCol Guy Walsh, USA (Ret) Senior Army Instructor of the Brandon High Junior ROTC Program spoke on the topic of the history and achievements of the JROTC.

 

Compatriots Jack Bolen and Alan Bell awarded the ROTC Medal and certificate to cadets from local high schools. These cadets are selected for having a high degree of merit with respect to leadership qualities, military bearing and general excellence. The recipients are selected by the Commanding Officer of the JROTC unit. The following cadets received awards; Jordan Torres, Jon Browning, Stephany Shaw, Kianna Rodrigues, James Riggs, Dominick Hill, Bryce Colangelo, Kenneth Tieleman, Chase Torres, Suresh Ballandin, James Cavalli and Brandon Sickles.

 

Compatriot Jack Bolen thanked the guests and invited them to stay for the brief business portion of the meeting and then to take photos at the conclusion of the business meeting.

 

Approval of minutes: Compatriot Jack Bolen asked for additions or corrections to the minutes of the March meeting. Hearing none, he approved the minutes as published in the Newsletter.

 

Officers' reports:

       President: Not present, no report.

 

          Vice President: Not present, no report.

 

          Secretary: No report

 

          Treasurer: Compatriot Paul Ergler reported that the interim audit had been completed by John Sessums and there had been no discrepancies.

 

          Registrar: Compatriot Alan Bell reported 3 supplements approved for Compatriot Chuck Hawley. Dave Bryant's application has been completed and submitted. Glenn Clepper's           application is waiting on signatures. The application for Grey Reese's son has been           received..

 

Announcements:

       Compatriot Jack Bolen is working on a living history presentation of the Color Guard in Dade City.

 

          President John Skillman, Luke Lloyd, Charles Klug and Mike Frayn will be attending the May Board of Manager's meeting in Kissimmee.

 

Awards:

          Compatriot Jack Bolen awarded Compatriot Chuck Bearss the Military Service Medal.     

          Compatriot Jack Bolen led the recessional.

 

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 1:42pm.

 

Mike Frayn

Secretary                                                    Date: 21 April 2012

Tampa Chapter

Sons of the American Revolution

 

 

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PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Below is the tentative program schedule for the 2011-2012 year.  As always send along any suggestions for speakers.

 

May              Speaker from Armed Forces Museum in Largo & recognition of Knight contest winner

Sept.           Constitution Day speaker (TBA)

October       EMT/Fire Medal and Law enforcement medal

November    TBA

December    TBA

 

 

Misc. Reminders and notes.

 

Chapter Website—always remember you can find information about the chapter and programs on the chapter website.  http://www.patriot-web.com/

 

VETERANS’ LEGACY ARCHIVES

The Veterans’ Legacy Archives is a local organization founded by (ret.) Congressman Bilirakis.  The Archives are housed at the library on the Tarpon Springs Campus of St. Petersburg College.  The goal of the archives is to preserve the stories and experiences of veterans of America’s wars.  The specific goal at the moment is to concentrate on WWII and Korean War veterans.  The archives consist of video taped interviews and presentations, documents provided by veterans and fact sheets about veterans.  If any one in the chapter knows of a WWII or Korean War veteran who might be interested in sharing his story, please contact Bob Yarnell.  It can be as simple as filling out a fact sheet or, if the veteran is willing, being interviewed and that interview turned into a narrative by a trained person.  Or even making a 30 min presentation to one of the college’s history classes and responding to students questions and allowing that presentation to be videotaped for future students and interested persons to view.  Again, more details available from Bob Yarnell

 

OPERATION HELPING HAND

Operation Helping Hand, a visitation program at the V A hospital.  Operation Helping Hand (OHH) is a local program begun in 2004 to help the wounded and their families who are at James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa.  The third Thursday evening of each month at 6 p.m., the OHH Committee has a catered supper for these folks in the dining room area of the Spinal Care Clinic.  Anyone can attend and interact with these families.  SAR members are encouraged to attend