PageNewsletter 1 of TheThe Georgia Hornet’s Nest Society Jan—March 2016 The Jan—March 2016 Hornet’s Nest The President’s Dispatch office, I have had the honor of visiting the now begin the task of writing the requirements Atlanta, Ocmulgee, Athens and Blue Ridge to give our members the ability to pay their chapters where I had the pleasure of swearing dues online. in their new officers. I have also visited the The third goal was to restart the Brier Creek Lyman Hall, William Few, Dalton, Marquis de Commemoration. I have asked the Wiregrass Lafayette, Casimir Pulaski, Robert Forsyth, and William Few chapters to help me Samuel Elbert and Rome chapters. accomplish this goal. I am pleased to report My other travels have included Spring that they have been working with the local Leadership Conference, the Georgia State mayor to hold a commemoration ceremony Society DAR Annual Conference, Guilford this fall. They are also working on a new Courthouse, Battle of Thomas Creek in chapter in Sylvania! Jacksonville, the South Carolina Annual The fourth goal was to increase the Conference, the North Carolina Conference, membership growth rate. As you know, we Frederica Days in St. Simons and the Richard started the DAR Referral program this year Maltbie grave marking. It has been a busy first and it has been rolled out to every DAR quarter. chapter in the state. It is very important that As I travel around the state and have the each application that comes from a DAR privilege to speak to the members of our referral be accompanied by the DAR Referral chapters I talk about the goals that I have set Form. This is how we track their progress. I out for the State Society for this year. These am happy to report that at the rate applications goals will help strengthen our society not only are coming in, we have a chance to have over for this year, but for the future. 2,000 members by the end of this year! That So how are we doing on reaching these will be a tremendous goal to attain. Bringing in goals? My first goal was to create a positive new members is one thing, keeping them is the atmosphere to change those things that may be real test. I challenge every chapter president to William Allen Greenly (Allen) hindering our progress. So far this year, I have set a time to sit with each new member and get seen a positive response to the first changes to know them, find out why they joined our that were taken. Every chapter that I have had organization, and get them involved. I also It’s hard to believe that we are now at the the privilege of visiting has had a very positive believe that when we are able, taking credit beginning of May. The first 100 days have attitude. Every chapter wants to grow and do cards for dues payments will help with flown by. It seems like only yesterday that I more in their communities. retention. Getting members involved is the key was sworn in as your President. The first of the changes we made was to to retention. It did not take long for me to start on my establish an Ethics Committee. This is not a My last goal was to put a strong focus on goals. Right after the Saturday luncheon and standing committee and is only appointed if an our youth education programs. I am excited to swearing in ceremony, I met with the IT ethics complaint is received. The second report to you that our Eagle Scout entry in the Subcommittee and began the discussions and change we made was to the way the National contest won 1st place! He also placed plans for the new database. We made great Nominating Committee was appointed. The in the Knight Essay Contest! What a coup for progress in the two hours we met. Regional VP’s must ask someone from their the Georgia Society! We have chosen our On February 12th I attended the Kettle region to work on the Nominating Committee Rumbaugh Oration contest winner and want to Creek Battlefield Association banquet and for that year. They cannot appoint themselves. wish her the greatest success in the National brought greetings from the Georgia Society. If a volunteer cannot be found, then the competition. On February 13th it was my honor to lead the President may ask someone from the region to Now is the time to begin your planning for Revolutionary Days parade in downtown be on the committee. If a volunteer still cannot next year’s education programs. I ask that each Washington. That afternoon was the War Hill be found, then the President may appoint the chapter choose at least one youth program and ceremony. Sunday I attended the Colonial Regional VP. The third change that was made work on it for the next school year. If you are Worship service. The entire weekend was a was to clarify the duties of a Regional VP. not sure how to develop a program in your great success. I want to thank everyone who The second goal was to design and create a area, contact Rick Reese, our Education helped bring this event to a successful new database for our website. At the April Chairman. conclusion. Many thanks to everyone who BOM, the Board of Managers unanimously Just remember, the State Officers and participated. voted the funds to have a third party vendor do Committee Chairman and committee members One of my personal goals this year is to the work. The vendor has been engaged and are here to help your chapter succeed. All you visit every chapter at least once. Since taking work has begun. The IT Subcommittee will have to do is ask. The center of the fight for Independence in Wilkes County, Georgia, became known as “the hornet’s nest” because of the stinging attacks made from there by the Georgia Patriots against the British and Tories. Page 2 The Hornet’s Nest Jan—March 2016 The Battle of Thomas Creek Georgia Society President Allen Greenly represented the State and the Robert For- syth Chapter at the 239th anniversary of the Battle of Thomas Creek—the southern- most battle of the American Revolution on March 19th in Jacksonville, FL. The Battle of Thomas Creek, or the Thomas Creek Massacre (May 17, 1777), was Executive an ambush of a small force of Georgia militia cavalry by a mixed force of British Ar- my, Loyalist militia, and Indians near the mouth of Thomas Creek in northern East Committee Florida. The encounter was the only major Meetings engagement in the second of three failed attempts by American forces to invade East Florida in the early years of the American Wednesday April 13, 2016 Revolutionary War. Wednesday July 20, 2016 Wednesday October 12, 2016 The invasion attempt consisted of a naval Wednesday January 18,2017 flotilla carrying Continental Army troops and a company of militia cavalry traveling overland. The flotilla was delayed in reach- Executive Committee ing the rendezvous point, and British intel- Meetings ligence had learned of the expedition and located the cavalry. The British established J. Christopher’s an ambush, which broke up and scattered 5482 Chamblee Dunwoody Road the cavalry, taking more than 30 prisoners. Atlanta, GA 30338 Indians with the British forces were report- ed to kill a number of the captives in cold blood afterward, in revenge for the death of one of their own in an earlier skirmish. Board of Managers Meetings Colonel Samuel Elbert, the invasion com- mander, abandoned the expedition when his flotilla was confronted by narrow channels Saturday April 23, 2016 and prepared British defenses. A 1778 ex- Saturday July 30, 2016 pedition against East Florida failed due to Saturday October 22, 2016 leadership disagreements, although there Saturday January 28, 2017 was a skirmish at Alligator Bridge. BOM Meetings So, as a senior officer of the Georgia Society, I Editor’s Note—the following is from a want to at this time address what I feel is an presentation by our Past President Roger Garden Patch Restaurant inappropriate use of our gassar-bom email 100 Southland Drive W Coursey at the January 2016 BOM. distribution list. There have been a number of instances in the last year where negative publicity (Old Highway 41) It is reproduced here due to it being a was submitted on our email list including very Barnesville, GA 30284 very important message for all inappropriate emails containing falsehoods, Compatriots—not just those who were misinformation, distortions and personal attacks which unfortunately is driving a wedge into our in attendance. Society. Also, the debate on the issue was carried out by emails rather than the appropriate forum of the DEADLINE USE OF (gassar-bom) next BOM where both sides on the issue might be heard. Some of our members are reluctant (and EMAIL properly so) to engage in this type of debate over the email system. Thus it leaves only one side For the next issue of being heard, and the distortions and untruths are considered the facts. As the Georgia Society National Trustee and as the immediate Past State President of the Georgia I encourage everyone to use restraint and proper “The Hornets Nest” Society, I would like to address the proper use of etiquette when using the gassar-bom email etiquette when using our email systems. There distribution list. Let’s keep civility in our esteemed have been several instances of use of the SAR- Officer email distribution list at NSSAR that organization, acting responsibly as true gentlemen.