Meeting Notice and Newsletter for April 2012:
Contents:
Meeting
notice
Meeting
agenda items
Miscellaneous notes from chapter officers
Revolution
History note
March
minutes
Future Program
Schedule
Miscellaneous reminders and information
Meeting Notice:,
Our next meeting will be held on April 21st 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 April meeting is our annual ROTC luncheon. We will conduct the first
half of the meeting in the private room but, since we are expecting a big
crowd, some of our Compatriots should plan to eat in the main dining room and
then reconvene in the private room for the awards presentations. Please
try to divide up so there is at least one SAR member at each table of parents
and cadets.
If you know for sure that either the cadet, his commander or his parents from
the school you have been in contact with will be attending, send that info on
to JROTC Chairman Jack Bolen so he can get some idea of how to set up the
meeting room. Jack’s email address is jbolen4@tampabay.rr.com
N.B.: Jack has recently had a request from Zephyrhills High School to
present the JROTC Award to Cadet James Riggs on May 2nd at 7:00pm in the
gymnasium. If you live anywhere near Zephyrhills (or even if you don’t), please
help Jack out and volunteer to make this presentation!
Jack has also requested the following note he received from King High School be
printed here to reinforce how important the ROTC program is and what it means
to the schools and cadets:
"King H.S NJROTC Annual Awards Ceremony
On behalf of all of the cadets at King, thank you for your tremendous support
of the unit. I can't tell you how excited the cadets were and continue to
be as a result of all of you either being present at the event or sending one
of your representatives to the event while acknowledging their hard work by
presenting an award to some of them. We could not do what we do here at
King without your continued support. If I have missed a representative in
this e-mail, please accept my apology and forward this e-mail to them as you
see necessary.
Again, thank you so much.
For Captain Russell, USN(Ret.) King Senior Naval
Science Instructor...... we look forward to your continued support."
April meeting agenda items:
An agenda will be provided for members at the beginning of the meeting. All
members and guests please be sure to initial the sign
in sheets that will be circulated at the beginning of the meeting so our
secretary can have an accurate attendance record.
One of the duties of the Chapter Chaplain is to send cards to our members who
are sick. If you know of anyone who should receive a card, 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.
Jack C. Bolen
Chaplain
American Revolution Note:
What else but the “shot heard round the world” for our April note? On
April 19, 1775, colonists skirmished with British regulars on the green at
Lexington and later at the bridge outside the village of Concord. The
British were attempting to capture Sam Adams and John Hancock and then destroy
military supplies they believed were hidden in Concord. Some colonists
followed the retreating British back to Boston, sniping at them when the
opportunity presented itself. While it would still be over a year before
the Continental Congress declared independence, the sword had been
unleashed.
As a side note it was also on April 19, this time in 1783, that Congress
ratified the preliminary peace treaty ending the war.
Tampa Chapter, Sons of American Revolution
Minutes of the March 17, 2012 meeting
Call to order: A monthly meeting of the Tampa Chapter, Sons of the American
Revolution, was held at Piccadilly Cafeteria, Tampa, Florida on March 17,
2012.The meeting convened at 12:00 pm, President John Skillman presiding, Mike Frayn, secretary.
Compatriot Jack Bolen gave the invocation. Compatriot Mike Frayn led the Pledge of Allegiance. Compatriot Paul Ergler led the SAR Pledge.
Members in attendance: Alan Bell, Jack Bolen, Ed Clark, Robbins Denham, Terry
Doan, Paul Ergler, Paul Farley, Bill Floyd, Mike Frayn, Chuck Hawley, Leo Kelly, Charles Klug, Luke Lloyd,,
Marty Miller, Ed Neugaard, Gray Reese, John Sessums, Terrell Sessums, John
Skillman, Ken Skillman, Bob Yarnell and Dick Young, 22 in total.
Guests in attendance: Ellie Skillman, Licia Sessums, June Bolen, Lisette
Young, Dave Bryant, Margie Reese, Glenn Clepper, Neva
Sessums, 8 in total.
At the direction of President Skillman, members and guests introduced
themselves. President Skillman recognized all past Presidents and thanked them
for their service.
Approval of minutes: President Skillman asked for additions or corrections to
the minutes of the February meeting. Hearing none, he approved the minutes as
published in the Newsletter.
Officers' reports:
President: President Skillman advised the members that Jack Spangler and
Chuck Copeland resigned their positions due to personal reasons. The Board of
Governors appointed Mike Frayn and Paul Ergler as Secretary and Treasurer respectively on Saturday,
March 17, 2012.
Vice President: Vice President Bob Yarnell advised the members that the
Armed Forces Military Museum will provide our speaker for the May 2012 meeting.
Secretary: No report
Treasurer: No report
Registrar: Compatriot Alan Bell reported 1 supplemental application had
been approved by National for Chuck Hawley. He also reported that he is waiting
on a Record Copy for Glenn Clepper to submit his
application. He received an application from Dave Bryant which is ready to go
to State and National.
Compatriots Alan Bell and John Sessums participated
with the Color Guard at the Saramana Chapter's
Wounded Warrior luncheon on Saturday, February 25, 2012 where
approximately 50 wounded warriors dating back to World War II were awarded the
Sons of the American Revolution Wounded Warrior Medal.
New business:
President
Skillman declared that there was a quorum necessary to conduct business for the
chapter. He advised the membership that the By-laws and Constitution Committee
had approved the proposed Constitution and By-laws and he called for motions to
approve both.
New
Constitution Approval: Motion: Moved by Charles Klug that the proposed
Constitution be approved. Luke Lloyd seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
New By-laws
Approval: Motion: Moved by Charles Klug that the proposed By-laws be approved.
Luke Lloyd seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
A copy of
the new Constitution & By-Laws is available on the Chapter website for the
reference of all Compatriots. Printed copies will not be distributed.
Announcements:
Compatriot Jack Bolen explained the workings of the JROTC award program. He
solicited assistance from members to assist with making presentations at local
high schools.
Compatriot Bob Yarnell reported that the winner of the Knight Essay Contest was
a local student.
President Skillman announced that he is looking for a chairman for the Boy
Scout Committee.
Compatriot Charles Klug announced that he attended the Last Naval Battle
ceremony in Merritt Island in March and provided the membership with a synopsis
of the battle.
Compatriot Charles Klug announced that he attended the Presidents’ Day luncheon
of the DeSoto Chapter, Daughters of the American
Revolution at Palma Ceia Country Club.
President Skillman announced the dates for an upcoming conference on the
American Revolution in Charlottesville, VA June 22-24, 2012. This year's topic
will be presentations by 10 university professors on
different biographers of Thomas Jefferson. The cost is $250 not including
lodging.
President Skillman offered challenge coins to the first 10 members to bring in
a new member. Compatriot Luke Lloyd explained the origin of the challenge coin.
President Skillman advised the members that the state chairman for Veterans
Affairs was seeking a volunteer for a regional co-chairman. This committee is
responsible for reporting to the State Chairman chapter activities that would
be considered for the USS Stark Memorial Award.
President Skillman solicited volunteers for the Constitution Day Committee.
Luke Lloyd and Charles Klug volunteered.
Awards:
Compatriot Alan Bell presented Chuck Hawley with a supplemental certificate for
ancestor Squier Hill.
President Skillman awarded Compatriot Mike Frayn the
Military Service Medal.
President Skillman awarded Compatriot Charles Klug the Last Naval Battle Medal.
President Skillman was awarded a lapel pin, medal and certificate for his
donation to The Center for Advancing America's Heritage.
President Skillman awarded Compatriot Terrell Sessums
the Silver Good Citizenship Medal, which required prior approval from the
State.
President Skillman directed that Compatriot Sessums'
abbreviated biography be entered into the minutes:
BA, UF, 1952
USAF, Captain, 1952-1956
JD, UF College of Law, 1958
Honorary Law Degrees from Florida Southern, Rollins, Flagler, and USF
Legislative Aide & Legal Assistant to State Senator Sam Gibbons, 1959-1961
Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, 1972-1974
General Counsel, Tampa Port Authority, 1974-1989
Florida Board of Regents, 1979-1988; Chairman, 1986-1988
Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, President, 1983-1984
Special Council to US Senator Bob Graham, 1995
Recipient of Distinguished Alumnus Award, University of Florida, 1973
Director of the following:
GTE,
Florida, 1986-1993
Southeast
Bank, Tampa Bay, 1973-1991
Blue Cross
Florida, 1977-1978
Museum of
Science & Industry, 1990-1994
Moffitt
Cancer Center, 1984-1991
Florida
State Fair Authority, 1995-1996
Florida
Chamber of Commerce, 1987-1996, Chairman, 1992-1993
Florida
Independent College Fund, 1988-1990
Trustee of the following:
Time Warner
Trust, 1983-1998
University
of Tampa, 1978-1991, Chairman 1988-1990
Tampa Bay
Performing Arts Center, 1980-1988
United
Methodist Foundation for Higher Education, 1998-2006
Distinguished legal career as a Partner of:
Albritton, Sessums, Gordon &
Ryder, 1961-1984
Macfarland, Ferguson & McMullen, 1984-1997
Salem Saxon
PA, 1998-2003
Salem Law
Group, 2003-Present (of Counsel)
March Speaker: Compatriot Bob Yarnell spoke of the diary of Colonel
Thomas Browne, a Loyalist who was the commander of the East Florida Rangers and
their role in the American Revolution.
Compatriot Paul Ergler led the recessional.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 1:54pm.
Mike Frayn
Secretary
21 March 2012
Tampa Chapter
Sons of the American Revolution
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Future Program Schedule:
Below is the tentative program schedule for the 2011-2012 year. As always
send along any suggestions for speakers.
April
JROTC— Compatriot Jack Bolen: "The SAR Then and Now" & LTC(R) Guy
Walsh, USA, Senior Army Instructor, Brandon High School: “Brief history of the
JROTC”
May
Speaker from
Armed Forces Museum in Largo & recognition of Knight Essay Contest winners
Sept.
Constitution Day Commemoration - Speaker TBA
October EMT/Fire and Law
Enforcement Medals
November Election of Chapter Officers
December Installation of Chapter Officers
Miscellaneous Reminders and Notes:
Chapter Website — Compatriots and prospective members can always find
information about the Tampa Chapter on the Chapter website: http://www.patriot-web.com/