THE ALABAMA SOCIETY

SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

 

Message from Rev. Marvin K Vickers

2013-2014 ALSSAR President

 

Compatriots,

 

I want to thank you all for the election to the Presidency of the Alabama Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.  You can rest assured that I will do all I can to honor the responsibility you have placed in me.  If I have learned anything as a member, there are a lot of Compatriots in our organization that can be counted on when you call on them.  As I take the reins I look forward to the year and call on each of you to do all you can to foster patriotism where ever you go.  I will follow the theme that our past Presidents have followed:

 

“Honor Our Forefathers Who Gave Us Our Freedom

And Teach Our Children the Values and Cost of Freedom”

 

There are some matters that are important to all of us.  First of all there are the matters of the dates and places that several have already asked -- The Board of Managers (BOM) and the State Convention.   We arrive at the BOM 9:30 am or so with the meeting starting at 10:00 am.  The fine ladies of the Auxiliary have provided us lunch of which we are always grateful.  The dates and places are as follows: the Spring BOM is in the American Village on 27 April 2013 and the Fall BOM is at the Columbiana Court House, in Columbiana on the 14 September 2013.  Also we have set the date of our Alabama Society Convention to be in Dothan, Alabama, on 14-15 February 2014, the place “To Be Announced” (TBA).  There are several other dates and places that will be announced in the Newsletter and on the Website.

 

As I visit your Chapters, you may ask, “What do I plan to say?”.  Well, there are some things will be given and I want to discuss these a little bit here.  I was at the recent Leadership meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, and I was very proud of our delegation.  We nominated for the third time Larry Cornwell as the Genealogist General and Mike Wells as the Librarian General.  Also Mike Wells was named “Minuteman” class of 2013.  As all of you know, this is the highest award given by our Society to any living Compatriot.   In addition, we had the largest delegation there.  BUT, having said that, we had a poor showing in several areas. 

 

Friends of SAR Library is an area I want to plug hard.  As a society of well over a 1000, we have only 24 members of the Friends of the SAR Library.  That is under .04 per cent.  When you consider it only takes $25.00 to become a “Friend,”, well, you know what I mean.  We can do better.  Let us make a considered attempt to support our own SAR Library.   I just renewed my membership, how about you?

 

Center for Advancing America’s Heritage (C.A.A.H) is another area we look bad but not as bad as the Friends of SAR Library.   We have a little way to go to complete our Main Street building.  “The next two years are vital to accumulate the capital needed to avoid debt financing to complete the work.  The primary source of funds continues to be the generosity of the Compatriot membership.  Contributions of any amount, from as many Compatriots as possible, must be at the heart of the campaign,” says Campaign Chairman Lanny R. Patten.   We have given to the C.A.A.H. around $102,303.00 in the past.  That is about $97.00 per member.  Our goal is $250.00 and we are a long way from that figure.  One hundred seventy- three (173) members of the ALSSAR have given to C.A.A.H. and that reports to about 16%.  This next year we can increase this figure by your giving to this worthwhile program.

 

Another program is the George Washington Endowment Fund.  In the brochure, it says, “The George Washington Endowment Fund (GWEF) Board was established by the SAR Executive Committee and approved by the Trustees during the meeting of February 27, 1993.  This action followed two years of work by a special Task Force that had been asked to evaluate and propose a plan for NSSAR to provide for the following:

•  Establish a permanently restricted fund, the income of which will provide adequate financial contributions for support of NSSAR unfunded and underfunded committees and special projects, and
• Provide for the equitable distribution of funds.

 The George Washington Endowment Fund is financed by gifts from members and friends of the SAR.  Remember 100% of your donation goes into the permanent fund.  Only 80% of the income from the fund will be spent each year.

 

 

 

Individuals donating $1,000 or more are recognized as George Washington Fellows.  Gifts may be paid in a lump sum amount or in installments of $200 or more annually over a five-year period.  Each person recognized as a GW Fellow shall receive a distinctive lapel pin and certificate denoting his status.”

 

One other pet of mine is Flag Certificate.  This does not cost any money but just a little time.  I encourage each of us, when are about our communities, to see if we can recognize our neighbors with Flag Certificates.  It cannot be “for profit” organizations, but organizations or persons who display the United States Flag properly.  You make out a certificate, make an appointment, and give it to them.  You may have the news media present and that will good news for the community, your Chapter, the ALSSAR and the NSSAR.  You can do this as often as you wish and keep a record for reporting to the BOM.

 

I look forward to hearing great things that your Chapters are doing.  It will be a great year.  See you at the Spring BOM if not sooner.