Ansoff Elected Nava President
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October — December 2004 Vol. 37 • No. 4 October — December 2004 Issue #184 ANSOFF ELECTED NAVA PRESIDENT FROM THE PRESIDENT: Dear fellow NAVAites, When I first met Dave Martucci at NAVA 37 in Denver two years ago, it never would have occurred to me that I’d end up succeeding him as president of NAVA. I want to thank Dave for the superb support that he’s given me dur- ing the transition. Dave has been presi- dent for the last six years, and he’s put his heart and soul into the organization. I know that giving up the reins has not been easy for him, but he’s done so with grace and good humor. Thanks to him, what might have been an awkward task The new NAVA Executive Board: from left to right, Devereaux Cannon, has actually been a pleasure. First Vice-President; Rich Monahan, Secretary; Peter Ansoff, President; Dave will continue as NAVA news edi- Ted Kaye, Treasurer; and Kevin Murray, Second Vice-President. tor and as manager of the membership database. I’ve also asked him, in his ca- provide the media and the public. We’re none of these projects will get anywhere pacity as immediate past president, to presenting ourselves to them as the ex- unless members are willing to contrib- serve as a non-voting advisor to the perts, and we need to be sure that we ute their time and effort. I really appre- board. I know that I speak for all the really are, especially on a subject (flags) ciate the support of those who have al- directors in saying that we appreciate his that is important and emotional to many ready volunteered to take on particular support and counsel. people. We’ve made a good start with the tasks, and I’ll be contacting others in the One of the initiatives that I proposed review panels for Raven and NAVA News. future. However, please don’t wait for me at NAVA 38 in Indianapolis was a com- We need to set up a similar review pro- to call—if you’re interested in getting prehensive review of how our organiza- cess for the web site, and also for the involved, let me know! tion “works.” NAVA has been in business presentations at our conferences. In the Best wishes to everyone for the holi- since 1967, and I think it would be use- same vein, we need to consider expand- day season (whichever holiday you cel- ful to take a hard look at what we do ing the mission of the flag design com- ebrate)! and how we do it, and see what we can mittee, so that it can establish qualifi- Peter Ansoff improve. To do this, I am organizing a cations standards for consulting “blue ribbon panel” made up of NAVA vexillographers, as well as ethical stan- October — December 2004 members who have recent board expe- dards. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: rience but are not currently serving on Another area that I hope to empha- the board. I’ll ask them to come up with size is the development of research tools. Ansoff Elected NAVA President a list of NAVA’s functions—publications, Thanks to Annie Platoff and Carita NAVA 38 Retrospective annual conference, response to public Culmer, we now have a comprehensive Ohio Flag Fold Official inquiries, web site, etc., etc.—and then index for Raven and NAVA News. We’ll Vexillonnaire Award examine how we do those things. I ex- be looking into other initiatives of this pect that they’ll find many areas in which kind—bibliographies, reprints of out-of- Field Notes: Trip to Alaska we could be more efficient, and others print material, and so on. All of these NAVA Donors List where we should redirect our efforts or things are vital to NAVA’s core mission, City Flags Survey a Hit! adjust their scope. I’ll keep you posted which is to encourage the academic Raven Report Chumley on this effort in future columns. study of flags. New Members Letter An area that particularly concerns me NAVA is a volunteer organization, and VexiloBaires 2005 NAVA 39 is the quality of the information that we —1— NAVA News 37/4 - #184 Compton, known to many for his mas- sive 4”x6” collection and his personi- fication of Uncle Sam (his favorite photo pose was lifting the wallet out of a taxpayer’s back pocket). NAVA shared the hotel with officers of the American Legion, meeting just before their national convention and very intrigued by our unusual flags. NAVA 38 Most of Saturday was devoted to Under the checkered meeting flag of presentations, nine papers demon- black and white, 40 NAVA members & strating the latest in vexillological guests converged on the Radisson City Three flags over the meeting venue: Centre Hotel in downtown Indianapo- City of Indianapolis (but not really in lis for an exciting NAVA 38 on the distress), USA, and State of Indiana. weekend of October 8-10. New mem- bers and old met in a spirit of cama- Association of Vexillology) in deliver- raderie and friendship pursuing a ing a flawless event. The mayor and mutual passion for flags. The meeting the governor issued proclamations hotel overlooked the Soldiers and Sail- welcoming us, and the city’s delegate ors monument in the very center of spoke at the opening ceremony. From the city, represented by the circle and the initial flag-raising with national star on the city’s flag. Fortunately, that anthems to the adjournment of the flag ranked in the top ten city flags in meeting with officer flags flying, the the country, as NAVA officially an- program upheld the NAVA tradition of nounced the results of its City Flag an interesting, informative, and enter- Survey (see related article)! taining weekend. Flag stands with all The meeting’s organizer, former past annual meeting flags adorned the scholarship in North America. The NAVA secretary and long-time mem- hotel’s lower lobby. Captain William Driver Award for best ber Truman Pope, led an organizing The entire meeting honored the paper (with the $250 prize) went to Dev committee from GWAV (Great Waters memory of GWAV co-founder Glenn Cannon, for his outstanding analysis of the competing claimants to author- ship of the first national flag of the Confederacy. Then followed a free- wheeling “Vexi-Bits” session led by Andy Biles in which participants The Soldiers and Saliors Memorial in the center of Indianapolis. The center star and circle on the city flag Past NAVA Meeting flags displayed in the hall of the hotel. represents this site. —2— October — December 2004 shared flags, information, and discus- sion. A “Hoosier Banquet” (with some PAPERS PRESENTED AT NAVA 38 in black tie!) capped off the day. Donna Star Patterns, Dave Martucci: An Schmink, a museum specialist with analysis and presentation of the the Indiana War Museum, gave a com- variant stars patterns depicted on pelling illustrated talk about the Civil the U.S. flag from its inception and War battle flags in her care—a “teaser” their effect on dating antique flags. for the next day’s tour. The Changing Perspectives on Vexillology, Vexillonnaire Award, recognizing a sig- Whitney Smith: The inventor of the nificant and successful act of activist word “vexillology” ponders the evo- vexillology, involving flag design or lution of its meaning over the past usage in North America, went to Tony nearly 50 years and into the fu- Johnson of Washington State, for his ture. role in the creation and adoption of The Genesis of the Stars and Bars, the Chinook tribal flag. Devereaux Cannon: A survey of the At breakfast the next morning we competing claimants to authorship of had a special welcome for first-time the first national flag of the Confed- attendees and we auctioned off the eracy, along with a theory about the meeting flag in a spirited bidding war. most likely answer. Driver Award In the annual business meeting the Flags of Meso-America, Rafael Yates proposed bylaws updates were passed The War Memorial displays a huge Sosa: A historical inquiry into flag and the new slate of officers voted in. US Flag in the central hall. use by the Maya and an explora- Peter Ansoff became the new president tion of the supporting archeologi- of NAVA as many members honored Indianapolis Star featured a color cal evidence. the long service of Dave Martucci with photo of our parade in the next day’s The Hawaiian Flag, Patrick Ka’ano’i: gifts, flags, and tributes. edition. a video program outlining the roots After lunch on Sunday, we as- All during the meeting members of the flag in the symbols of the sembled with national, personal, of- shared flags, books, posters, and other native Hawaiians and its use and ficer, and meeting flags to form a mot- items on display and sale tables. In acceptance over time. ley parade, following a bagpiper four an auction by the Shopkeeper pro tem, The Eagles of Buenos Aires, Gustavo blocks north to the imposing Indiana several large flags went for unbeliev- Tracchia & Francisco Gregoric: In War Museum. There Donna Schmink ably attractive prices. anticipation of ICV XXI in 2005, invited us on a tour of the entire mu- At the end of Sunday’s events, Dave participants in its planning show seum, including such gems as a U.S. Martucci and Peter Ansoff brought the the sources and history of the national flag carried at the Battle of meeting to a close, with Peter voicing eagles on the host city’s flag.