13 12 number ISSUE 148 TABLE OF CONTENTS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Always shall I be grateful for the exceptional privilege of serving this past year as your National President. We have visited chapter after chapter, member after member. The overriding impression has been that this SUP is comprised of extraordinarily fine people who reflect in their lives the important virtues of their pioneer ancestry. Consequently, the SUP successes of this past year are due in major part to the dedication and commitment of our general membership. During the year significant progress and change was made in the following areas: 1. A permanent seat for the SUP on the Board of Trustees of the “Days of 47 Committee.” 2. Continued modernization of our office and communication procedures. 3. Inclusion of our member’s wives as an integral part in our leadership training. (Continued On Following Page) 1 DECEMBER 2017 (Continued From Previous Page) 4. Greater association and shared activities with our sister association the DUP. 5. Major changes in the national bylaws to increase two-way communication with the general membership and their chapters. Included in the bylaw changes are the direct nomination and election of the National Executive Council by the members, the inclusion of the National Treasurer as a voting member of the National Executive Council, and changing the name of our convention back to “National Encampment.” 6. Creation of an online chapter with a chapter president and the national area vice president to work with the at-large membership through social media and the internet. 7. Changes to our “Days of 47” activities in July, which have increased attendance and enthusiasm. 8. We have continued a major upgrade and maintenance of the National Headquarters building. 9. We had a very successful and well attended final National Convention held during September in Centerville. Our next gathering will be known as “National Encampment” in Cedar City in 2018. 10. We continued and expanded the annual fall chapter training in each area. I am especially pleased with the condition of our National Headquarters and its continued use for the general membership, their family and friends. The staff that we have at national are exceptional. Our office manager Heather Davis, our building manager Linda Sorensen and our magazine subscription manager Pat Cook are all exceptional and of the highest and most professional of employees and a credit to the Sons of Utah Pioneers. It has been a special joy for me and my wife, Mary Ellen, to represent and share the direction of the National Society. We are indebted to so many of you who have served so well, and contribute so much to make the National Sons of Utah Pioneers one of the most important heritage preservation organization in existence. I appreciate so much the caliber of men that have become my close associates. I will always cherish my association with you, and the honor you have bestowed upon me to serve as a national officer. John E Elggren - National President 801-560-3174 - [email protected] 2 DECEMBER 2017 This section is for National or individual Chapter announcements. It may be a request for help or just letting the members know what is going on. All items must be SUP related and any costs involved must be clearly stated. Contact the Trail Marker editor, Don Lee, at [email protected] to place any request. FACEBOOK LEGACY DONATION UPDATE The SUP Office Staff has been cleaning up our National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers Facebook group in anticipation of the Online Chapter Facebook group coming online soon. Here are the email links so they are easy for you to find. National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers: https://www.facebook.com/National-Society-of-the-Sons- of-Utah-Pioneers-115720288457938/ Through the Chapter groups we can see what other The National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers chapters are doing and share ideas. Here are two has recently adopted an upgrade to its Legacy chapters who currently have active Facebook pages. program. Bringing the SUP in line with other national organizations, we will now be offering members and SUP Springville Chapter: friends the opportunity to donate in multiple ways in https://www.facebook.com/Springvillesonsofutahpioneers/ addition to the traditional, historic giving programs. SUP Pocatello Portneuf Chapter: The new program is designed to help any interested donor to “DO SOMETHING MONUMENTAL,” even https://www.facebook.com/portneufpioneers/ if they are donors of modest means. More details will follow in the upcoming months. We appreciate the support that many have given us so far, and we feel that this new program, with its range of options, will allow us to have more donors, and donors who receive the MODERN DAY PIONEER gratification from doing something monumental, that We have been striving to start a new feature to honor will allow them to create a Legacy, by, in many cases, some of our members who are modern day pioneers. getting “more bang for the buck” as the rocket scientists Unfortunately this seems to be like Home Teaching, say. Steve Kruman, an Area Vice President, who is a everyone likes the idea, but no one wants to do it. Financial and Estate Planner, will be the person serving Consequently this feature will be sporadic, appearing the SUP for the upgraded program. He will be sharing when we have material for it. So please, if you have information with your Chapter Presidents, and we someone in your chapter who you would like to honor, hope to have a brief presentation made in the Chapters submit the information to the editor. Nominations for during 2018. If you need to reach Steve sooner, so that this will be accepted from any member of the SUP. you can obtain an additional tax deduction in 2017, you Please send a write-up of up to 500 words and a good may contact him at (435) 463-2778. quality picture to the editor, Don Lee at donlee0938@ gmail.com. 3 DECEMBER 2017 (Send National News submissions to [email protected]) We had a wonderful time at our 2017 Brigham’s Christmas Dancers. Steve Cook won the Men’s Costume Contest, Ball. Keith Van Roosendaal was sworn in as 2018 National Kathy Tidwell won the Women’s Costume Contest, and President. Tony Tidwell was sworn in as 2018 National Jim and Joan Hurst won the Couple’s Costume Contest. President-elect. And John Elggren was sworn in as 2018 Grant Barton and Keith Van Roosendaal won the raffle National Past President. The National Board and other for buying their tickets before the deadline. We had such a Officers were also sworn in. Dil and Diane Strasser prepared great time that the Old Glory Vintage Dancers have given excellent food in a beautiful buffet dinner presentation! Over the SUP four $25 Gift Certificates redeemable for other 80 people were in attendance and partied the night away similar events they hold throughout the year. These will go with dancing and games lead by the Old Glory Vintage to the first 4 people that contact Heather at 801-484-4441. ? 4 DECEMBER 2017 alendar of vents (OnlineC Calendar available at: www.sup1847.com/calendarE ) BRIGHAM’S CHRISTMAS BALL 1 National Headquarters - 6pm. December NATIONAL BOARD MEETING - 6PM 19 National Headquarters - 6pm. December January 16 NATIONAL BOARD MEETING February 24 ANNUAL CHAPTER PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL MEETING March 20 NATIONAL BOARD MEETING UPCOMING NATIONAL ENCAMPMENTS 2018 Sponsor: If your chapter would like to sponsor the National Encampment in any of the coming years, please send your proposal to the National Office. CEDAR CITY CHAPTER All chapters are welcome to apply! We are looking ahead to facilitate September 20-22, 2018 scheduling. These are wonderful events, please plan now! THE MISSION OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE SONS OF UTAH PIONEERS 1. Come to know our fathers, and turn our hearts to them. 2. Preserve the memories and heritage of the early pioneers of the Utah Territory and the western U.S. 3. Honor present-day pioneers worldwide who exemplify the pioneer values and qualities of character. 4. Teach these values and qualities to the youth who will be tomorrow’s pioneers. 5 DECEMBER 2017 One pioneer story is going to be included in the Trail Marker each month, but all will be saved to be added to the Pioneer Stories page of the SUP website when the program is completed. All of you probably have stories of your pioneer ancestors that moved you. Please submit them so we can be moved & inspired also. Send to LaRon Taylor at: [email protected]. JOHN STREATOR GLEASON AND THE MARTYRDOM OF THE PROPHET Submitted by Ann W. Engar John Streator Gleason of mobocracy by night and by day. When I contemplate the (1819-1904) was a scout scene it almost makes me shudder, and my blood run cold for the 1847 first group in my veins. I have been an eye witness to almost the whole into Salt Lake Valley. He scene from the beginning. My life has been exposed— joined the Church in 1839 threatened from time to time. when they were filled with and moved with his wife wrath …. About a week before the assassination of Joseph Desdemona Chase and and Hyrum Smith I was arrested—marched to jail by a band her parents to Nauvoo in of the desperate and could not even lay there in peace—was 1842, where he became aroused about 12 o’clock by a rush of men into the yard and a trusted friend of the a loud rattleing [sic] and hallooing at the door of the jail.