Minutes of the January 21, 2006 meeting of the Tampa Chapter SAR

President Bolen called the meeting to order at 12:04. Chaplain Luke Lloyd offered the invocation. President Bolen led the pledge to the flag and the pledge to the SAR.

Members present: Jack Bolen, Marty Miller, Luke Lloyd, Walter Lane, Ken Skillman, John Skillman, Robert Yarnell, and Kevin Yarnell.

Welcome guests: June Bolen, Jeanne Lloyd, FLSSAR President Harry Hollien, and David Benjamin a prospective member

The SAR membership approved the minutes of the December meeting as published in the newsletter.

The secretary reported that the annual report had been sent was coming along with 22 of 32 members having renewed. The president offered to contact these people.

The treasurer reported a balance of $1903.41. The membership agreed to have Marty Miller audit the 2005 books. Further, the treasurer asked for a motion to destroy chapter financial documents prior to 2003. A motion was made, seconded, and passed.

Luke Lloyd, as registrar, reported on the status of two prospective members. Our guest today, David Benjamin, is well on his way to membership as is David Christianson. A brief discussion ensued considering persons and other resources that can serve as aids in genealogical research.

The president offered an update on the health of Janett Tetrick and the secretary relayed an email from Dwight which read, “Janett will start chemo again at Moffit Center this Thursday after taking therapy at home for sometime.”

President Bolen called on the secretary who introduced FLSSAR President Harry Hollien. President Hollien installed the chapter officers for 2006.

The meeting recessed for lunch.

President Bolen reconvened the meeting and called on President Hollien to present the program.

Harry began by detailing some of the practical things the state society is undertaking. The main goals for the 2005-2006 year are improving communication and the visibility of the society. In these areas, the President explained: the new public relations committee, increased participation in the county History Fairs, the continuing work of the state Education Program, and the attempt to get more high-profile speakers at state events. He answered a few questions on these topics.

Next, President Hollien spoke on the one of his ancestors, Myles Standish. The speaker has concluded that Standish is the most interesting of his ancestors because of the mystery which surrounds him.

The first mystery concerns his origin. Myles Standing presumably came from the Isle of Man on the west coast of England. But there are references that put him on the English mainland and another that he was born in London and orphaned. Harry is of the opinion that he was likely raised on Isle of Man and took the name of Standish but was not actually an heir of the aristocracy.

A second mystery revolves around his early military service. There is some question as to how he earned his rank of First Lieutenant as this typically was a purchased commission and Standish was not likely to have had the resources to do this.

In 1690 Standish is elected captain of the pilgrims planned colony but it is not at all clear how this connection between Standish and the pilgrims was made. Standish’s job was to handle the security for the colony. He trained about a dozen men to use the muskets of the day and must have been fairly good at this because in his entire military career, even with the primitive weapons of the day, he never lost a battle. Standing also designed the fort structure that surrounded the colony.

During the first winter most of the colony fell ill. However Standish maintained his health and devoted a great deal of time to nursing the sick. This was in sharp contrast to his normal disposition as a fiery, demanding, soldier.

Standish was responsible for the controlling the native Indians. For the most part the pilgrims got along well with the Indians. However, there was a few times when force was used to maintain order and Standish was successful in these instances.

Another mystery surrounding Standish was his leadership position. Standish was a Catholic and the Pilgrims never allowed non-separatists to hold leadership positions, yet Standish held a position of great responsibility in the colony.

President Hollien concluded by remarking that these mysteries will likely never be solved

The president called for new business. The secretary relayed a request by the Riverview NJROTC for funds to purchase trophies for the Hillsborough Country JROTC competition to be held March 11^th. Luke Lloyd moved that, in so far that the event was for all the county JROTC units, the chapter donate $100.00 to the Riverview JROTC. The motion was seconded and passed without dissent.

The president then asked John Skillman to report on his experiences visiting the SAR chapter meeting in Roanoke, Virginia. A discussion followed on the issue of visibility of the Tampa Chapter. President Bolen relayed several ideas he’d picked up in discussions with other chapters when he attended Florida Society meetings: joint meetings with the DAR and other like minded organizations, and a color guard. This latter idea generated some discussion and interest amongst the members. The Clearwater chapter has offered to come speak to us about organizing a color guard. Our March meeting will be devoted to the essay contest which is typically short. The chapter agreed to invite the Clearwater compatriots in March. President Bolen will make the arrangements.

Ken Skillman won the 50/50 drawing. He donated his share to the treasury which was thus enriched by $9.00.

President Bolen led the recessional. Chaplain Lloyd gave the benediction. The meeting adjourned at 2:24pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Kevin Yarnell

Chapter Secretary