Minutes of the April 15, 2006 meeting of the Tampa Chapter SAR

President Bolen called the meeting to order at 12:00. Chaplain Richard Hardesty offered the invocation. President Bolen led the pledge to the flag and the pledge to the SAR.

Members present: Jack Bolen, Luke Lloyd, Marty Miller, John Skillman, Richard Hardesty, Alan Bell, and Kevin Yarnell.

Welcome guests: June Bolen, Jeanne Lloyd, Roger Quakenbush, Ron Taylor – a prospective member, Lt Col. Guy Walsh of Brandon High School, 4 cadets and their guests (15 total).

The president introduced the guests.

The minutes of the March meeting were approved.

The secretary reported only typical monthly activity during the past month. The Florida Society Annual meeting is April 28^th and 29^th in Gainesville and he will be attending in his capacity as state secretary and to represent the chapter.

The treasurer reported a balance of $1898.19.

The registrar, Luke Lloyd, gave an update on the status of those applying for membership.

The president asked that those members interested in forming a color guard meet for a few minutes following dismissal.

The president announced that a meritorious service award will be given to Rod Stebbins at a private presentation as Rod is unable to attend meetings.

Richard Hardesty asked that the chapter consider holding a meeting at a location in the Brandon area. The president said he’d publish this suggestion in the newsletter to gage the reaction.

There being no further business the meeting recessed for lunch.

President Bolen reconvened the meeting and began the second half of the meeting by awarding the secretary a Meritorious Service Medal from the chapter. He then turned the program over to the secretary who addressed the cadets, their families, and the membership on the topic, “Are You an Historian”.

Compatriot Yarnell began by defining the problem of ‘lost history’ especially as it relates to personal histories. He pointed out that modern sporting events are given additional meaning because the commentators can use historical information to put an athlete’s or team’s accomplishments into perspective. Records and statistics give added meaning to these events.

The problem is that this type of thing is not done nearly enough. How many minor / H.S. athletic teams keep good records? (Most schools can barely keep track of their major school records.) How many clubs can give a list of all their past members / or past officers or past award winner? How much personal history do each of us have recorded? (Scrapbooks? Photo albums? Time lines?)

The presenter then challenged the audience to begin to change this. He discussed some examples of successes in this area and then ideas of how to proceed. Listed here is an outline of these suggestions:

1. Find history worth capturing (don’t need to look too far)
1. Clubs and sports

i. Lists of members, officers

ii. Lists of awards

iii. Timeline / summaries

2. Family

i. Stories / legends

ii. Timeline

3. Personal

i. Things related to your hobbies (ex: cycling log, book list)

ii. Timeline

iii. Stories; (vacation log)

2. Decide how to keep / record the information
1. Paper vs computer

i. Convenience

ii. How will the data be used

2. Website as a possibility
2. Be creative
1. Personal yearbook
3. Start
1. Barriers

i. Sense of being overwhelmed

ii. May not need to collect back info; maybe we can start now

iii. Ease of maintaining

The secretary concluded by addressing the question, “What’s in it for you?” and encouraged those in attendance to begin to capture their history.

Following the remarks, President Bolen presented the JROTC awards to the cadets in attendance.

One of our guests won the 50/50 drawing. The treasury was thus enriched by $8.00.

President Bolen led the recessional. Chaplain Hardesty gave the benediction. The meeting adjourned at 1:22 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Kevin Yarnell

Chapter Secretary