SUMMER 2018 Vol. 113, No. 1 Complete Coverage of the 128th Annual Congress President General Warren M. Alter and First Lady Nancy Alter SUMMER 2018 Vol. 113, No. 1 AWARD WINNER: This image of the Georgia Society SAR Color Guard, taken by James M. Ruff Jr. prior to an Atlanta Braves game, is the winner of the Thomas Jefferson Bond Jr. Memorial Photography Award. Among the Color Guard members was Georgia Compatriot James M. Ruff Sr., the photographer’s father, who passed away just six weeks 6 after this photo was taken. 6 2018 SAR Congress Convenes 23 TV Personalities Visit SAR 28 Graves of Our Fathers: Recent Southern Trips 12 Recognition Night 24 Report from the SAR Foundation 32 Lt. Sarah Hartwell Shattuck 16 New Minutemen Inducted 25 Naval Academy Awards 34 State Society & Chapter News 18 SAR’s Trip to Scotland Planned for May 2019 26 How to Re-create Your Patriot 51 In Our Memory/New Members Ancestor’s Company 20 King’s College London 62 When You Are Traveling Partnership — Spain’s Role 27 Reenactor and Living History Cover photo by Bob Gardner/ in the American Revolution Committee MGM Photography THE SAR MAGAZINE (ISSN 0161-0511) is published quarterly (February, May, August, November) and copyrighted by the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, 809 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202. Periodicals postage paid at Louisville, KY and additional mailing offices. Membership dues include The SAR Magazine. Subscription rate $10 for four consecutive issues. Single copies $3 with checks payable to “Treasurer General, NSSAR” mailed to the HQ in Louisville. Products and services advertised do not carry NSSAR endorsement. The National Society reserves the right to reject content of any copy. Send all news matter to Editor; send the following to NSSAR Headquarters: address changes, election of officers, new members, member deaths. Postmaster: Send address changes to The SAR Magazine, 809 West Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202. PUBLISHER: STAFF DIRECTORY President General Warren M. Alter As indicated below, staff members have an email address and an extension number of the automated 7739 E. Broadway Blvd., #73 telephone system to simplify reaching them. Tucson, AZ 85710-3941 Ph: (520) 886-1980 Executive Director: Acting Director of The Center/ Email: [email protected] Don Shaw, ext. 6128, Director of Education: [email protected] Colleen Wilson, ext. 6129, EDITOR: Stephen M. Vest [email protected] ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Patricia Ranft SAR Foundation Fundraising Manager: P.O. Box 559 Sarah Strapp Dennison, (502) 315-1777, Librarian: Joe Hardesty, Frankfort, KY 40602 [email protected] ext. 6131, [email protected] Ph: (502) 227-0053 Fax: (502) 227-5009 Director of Finance: Assistant Librarian/Archivist: Email: [email protected] Mary Butts, ext. 6120, Rae Ann Sauer, ext. 6132, [email protected] [email protected] HEADQUARTERS STAFF ADDRESS: Librarian Assistant/Receptionist: National Society Sons Director of Operations: Robin Christian, ext. 6138, [email protected] of the American Revolution Michael Scroggins, ext. 6125, 809 West Main Street [email protected] Registrar: Jon Toon, Louisville, KY 40202 ext. 6142, [email protected] Ph: (502) 589-1776 Special Events Coordinator: Fax: (502) 589-1671 Debbie Smalley, ext. 6123, Merchandise Director: Susan Griffin, Email: [email protected] [email protected] ext. 6141, [email protected] Website: www.sar.org 2 SAR MAGAZINE The First Priority (The following are excerpts from President offer assistance or suggestions to help Committee, the General Officers and General Warren Alter’s Installation Speech.) save the day? the VPGs. Communication also includes Some of you heard about one such websites. Chapters, states and districts hat should you expect from person earlier in our Congress meeting, need to have up-to-date information me as President General for former PG Nathan White. Texas had a on their websites. Each website should W the coming year? Perfection? failing chapter, down to two or three have a current calendar with upcoming I sure hope not because you will be members. They were inactive, and events. sorely disappointed. A hard worker nobody was willing to do anything to Communication doesn’t just include who believes in and supports SAR with save it; the recommendation was to close members; it also includes staff. I am his heart and soul?—yes. What have I the chapter. Nathan chose to be the 12th going to work with the executive learned in 20 years in the SAR? A lot, Man. He became the chapter president director and the team at headquarters but mostly just how little I know. But and helped rebuild the chapter. He ran to try and improve communication I am a lifetime learner. I have been in in to not only save but build the chapter. with our customers (you). But when leadership positions throughout my That chapter now has more than 50 dealing with staff, I also want to impress career in law enforcement, in other members, less than two years later. upon members that our staff does not nonprofits and in SAR. The most Districts, chapters and states can report directly to you; they report to important thing I have learned is that be the fan base, making the difference the executive director, who in turn how successful you are as a leader is between success and failure. States, reports to the PG. You may indeed make directly related to how approachable are you having difficulty filling offices a request of staff, place an order or you are, how much you listen and how or committees, the chapters, and conduct regular business, but if there willing you are to see the issue from the members needed to be the 12th Man? is a problem, no compatriot, chair or other’s point of view. It is often a matter Chapters, your members and potential member of any level should treat staff of perspective. How many times have members need to be the fan base. But with disrespect or anger. If you have a you and a friend discussed an event you it works both ways. The National problem, contact Executive Director Don saw and both of you saw something Society, districts and state societies Shaw or a General Officer Liaison. Our different? Neither one is lying; neither should support and be the fan base for team works hard. Let’s make their job one is mistaken from their perspective, the chapters, for their fellow states and easier, not harder. but neither one is entirely right. Both districts, etc. We are in a symbiotic or would argue that what they said was interdependent relationship. We need ITEM 2 – MEMBERSHIP GROWTH the truth and 100 percent accurate. A to work together and support each AND RETENTION favorite author of mine, Steven Covey, other, not tear down and destroy. What The Membership Committee, under has two quotes I love: can you do to make it better? Let us be the continuing leadership of Rev. Dr. “Most people do not listen with the each other’s fan base, to offer solutions Randy Moody of Florida, will continue intent to understand; they listen with and help. to spearhead efforts toward membership the intent to reply” and, “Two people The focus of my term will be growth and retention. PG Guzy can see the same thing, disagree, and yet improving the SAR and getting challenged us to reach 64,000 members both be right.” back to having fun and growing our by 2026 and the 250th Anniversary of My point: Your members can make organization by focusing on six areas: the Declaration of Independence, and or break you, and almost all have a Communication, Membership Growth I will continue his efforts. Retention different perspective or view. We are and Retention, Educational Outreach, is an essential part of this project, an organization of volunteers. We need Public Service Recognition, Veteran and communication will help there, to treat each other and our staff with Recognition/Support, and Youth Awards too. Mentoring is a critical element of respect. I want to use a term I learned and C.A.R. retention. Take the time to talk to the about here in Texas—but I have to be new member. Make them aware of the careful because it is trademarked, so I ITEM 1 – COMMUNICATION programs and events your chapter is am giving credit to the originator, Texas I want to improve communication doing. Find out why they joined, what A&M. It is the “12th Man.” Now, I am at all levels. Do we have your email interested them. Invite them to come certain all Texas A&M fans, and many address? If not, please go on the member with you to an event. sports enthusiasts, recognize the term. database and give it to us. Do we have For others, a football team has 11 players the correct address? Currently, only ITEM 3 – EDUCATIONAL on the field. The 12th man is the crowd, about 65 percent of our members have OUTREACH the fans, the supporters. They must an email address listed. Educational outreach plays a vital be ready to run in and take over for an Communication will include sharing role for our organization. I strongly injured or failing player. They can make information. Committee and officer support all four parts of the educational the difference between winning and reports will be available through mission that our Education Committee losing. I want all our members, their Sharefile. Read them and learn about has identified and discussed at the families and their friends to be that 12th what we are doing. Committees need Spring Leadership Meeting: Local Man. At National, the general officers to meet and continue their work Education Programs, National and staff both need the “fans’ ” support between Leadership and Congress Education Programs, the Center for and help.