Page 1 The Hornet’s Nest January-March 2015 Newsletter of The Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution The January—March 2015 Hornet‘s Nest The President’s Dispatch alone force. Yes, we are a Corporation, a lotteries. volunteer 501 c 3 non-profit, not a private *South Georgia‘s expansion and settlement club. So, how do we acquire new members, after the purchase of Florida from Spain in retain members and encourage our volunteer 1819. force within the Georgia Society base? *The Seminole War years of the 1820-1835 era with central Georgia as an armed camp We are charged with the responsibility of for the Army. persevering the memory and traditions of our *The Creek &Cherokee uprisings that lasted ancestral veterans of the Revolutionary War. from the pre-Revolution all the way until the We perpetuate their accomplishments via 1815 area. membership strength and it is through that strength in numbers that we can succeed. We have the Georgia Society WEB that Georgia has the population for us to achieve contains not only history, but a vault of every objective of the Society including a information on the SAR and our internal membership increase of many thousands. We operations. Unfortunately, the WEB is a acquire a minimum of 150-250 new members reach-in methodology. Granted most of our each year, but on the down side we lose membership owes a computer, but how can nearly that same amount, if not more. That we prompt them to access and use the WEB position is not sustainable and we will not as an information tool? Maybe a once per survive in the generations to come if it is not year hard mailing to raise a ―flag‖ that can turned around. show them how and encourage them to contribute? Thomas M. Owen (Tom) Retention of core memberships! Engagement of core members and new Budget restrains limit our ability to reach- As I begin my next 100 days let me members! A system that can reach-out to core out, but as our membership increases that address the Georgia Society ―Membership‖ in membership! Partnerships with similar restraint will disappear. Partnerships? Our the context of seeking new members as well organizations! As mentioned on January 24th DAR extended family has a ―notch‖ as their as retaining our present base. A direct quote at my installation, should we use the ―Liberty membership thrives on awards and jewelry, from the National Society Manual Lists an Medal‖ more vigorously with added but they also have sons and husbands. We objective that, as a whole, we may be incentives, etc., to help drive membership need to find our ―notch‖ that will entice missing. ―Membership and Retention is the expansion? members to want to join and stay with the Life Blood of an organization and vital to its Georgia Society. Regional joint workshop survival‖. At present, the only device that the SAR training towards common goals with the has to ―Reach Out‖ is the National SAR SAR/DAR has been mentioned as a The Georgia Society for most of the past Magazine that is sent to every member of the possibility. It may be difficult to support, but ten years has been dealing with a glass ceiling Society. Perhaps Georgia needs to shift our we do have the capability in our present of fluctuating member numbers and heavy delivery in that publication to address a wider membership to accommodate this turnover of core SAR people. As we seldom State audience? Should we send short articles methodology. turnover our BOM members, Committee on our Regional Revolutionary history to the Members, nor our Color Guard, what is the SAR Magazine and the Hornets‘ Nest? We The glass ceiling on our membership driving force that inhibits our core members have lots of Revolutionary family history that needs to be permanently broken so that we from staying with our organization? If we is a part of our SAR & State legacy that can can move ahead each year with expansion. look at the objective of members as the life be more appealing to captured readers, our Increased membership can open many doors blood of our survival we can see that core membership. and possibilities for the Georgia Society to ―numbers‖ perpetuate the organization to new Examples: expand in education, public visibility, heights and provide operating capital via dues *Settlement of Georgia‘s interior by way of traditional values, ancestral legacy, and the to build the Corporation into a premier stand- the Revolutionary War and State Land dreams of a generation. 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 January-March 2015 Visit the State Society Web Site: www.georgiasocietysar.org The Georgia Society Officers PRESIDENT RECORDING SECRETARY Hornet‘s Nest Thomas M. Owen Terry Gibbs 401 S. Alexander Ave. 37021 Hickory Ridge Court ©Copyright 2015 Washington, GA 30673-1786 Marietta, GA 30066 706-678-5024 770-971-5350 [email protected] [email protected] Publisher CHAPLAIN GASSAR SENIOR Thomas M. Owen VICE PRESIDENT Emory D. Fennell 401 S. Alexander Ave. William A. Greenly P.O. Box 903 Washington, GA 30673-1786 6044 Ivey Meadow Lane Swainsboro, GA 30401 706-678-5024 Cumming, GA 30040-6675 478-237-5697 [email protected] 404-788-8824 [email protected] [email protected] Editor GENEALOGIST Carter J Wood SECRETARY Milus Bruce Maney 6327 Black Rock Lane George H. Wheeless 2603 Abilene Trail Hoschton, GA 30548-8228 63 New Court Snellville, GA 30078-3413 678-895-1580 Carrollton, GA 30116-5557 770-972-1751 [email protected] 770-836-1162 [email protected] [email protected] Photographer TREASURER CHANCELLOR Rick Reese Wayne L. Brown Chris E. Chapman 9141 Branch Valley Way 2062 Double Creek Drive 1561 Aiken Chafin Lane Roswell, GA 30076 Powder Springs, GA 30127 McDonough, GA 30252 404-806-5835 404-694-4609 404-787-4021 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] REGISTRAR HISTORIAN The Hornet‘s Nest is published quarterly and Robert A. Sapp N. Walker Chewning copyrighted by the Georgia Society Sons of the American 2649 Club Valley Drive 706 Chesterfield Drive Marietta, GA 30068-3519 Lawrenceville, GA 30044-5626 Revolution, Inc., a domestic nonprofit corporation, for 770-971-0189 770-972-7890 members in good standing of the chapters in the state of [email protected] [email protected] Georgia. Please send articles and photos of your committee and chapter activities and announcements to the editor. The EDITOR SERGEANT-AT-ARMS deadline for input to the next edition is July 15, 2015. Carter J Wood Jackson (Jay) Guest Copyrighted articles previously published in other 6327 Black Rock Lane 1240 Crabapple Circle publications cannot be used without written consent of the Hoschton, GA 30548-8228 Watkinsville, GA 30677-4125 author (Exception: US Government publications). Please 678-895-1580 706-769-9269 [email protected] [email protected] send changes or corrections of e-mail address to the Secretary, George H. Wheeless at his address. Southeast Region West Region Regional Jeffrey Allen Allmond, Sr. LCDR David G. Jessel Trustees 192Wayfair Lane 10 College Street Vice Presidents Hinesville, GA 31313 Newnan, GA 30263-2006 912-368-5589 770-254-8579 National Trustee Northeast Region [email protected] [email protected] James Stallings Carter J Wood 230 Calloway Drive 6327 Black Rock Lane Southwest Region East Region Macon, GA 31204-2428 Hoschton, GA 30548-8228 David Neal Spooner Homer S. ―Chip‖ Durden 478-745-4516 678-895-1580 5368 Ash Road 641 W. Moring Street [email protected] [email protected] Iron City, GA 39859-3408 Swainsboro, GA 30401-3178 229-774-2227 478-237-2635 Northwest Region [email protected] Alternate National Trustee Curtis Eugene McWaters Edward P. Rigel, Sr 6339 McCollum Lane Central Region Metro Region 1504 Berkley Court Acworth, GA 30102-1559 Robert P. Cruthirds James W. Lynch Gainesville, GA 30501 770-974-4708 129 Julee Emilyn Dr. 2734 Varlet Ct., SW 770-534-7043 [email protected] Bonaire, GA 31005-9104 Snellville, GA 30039-4448 [email protected] 478-922-0416 770-978-8362 [email protected] [email protected] Page 3 The Hornet’s Nest January-March 2015 Americanism Georgia Society Committee KendalChairman E. Abbott Finance Patriot Medal 4041 Buck Road H. Wilder Smith, Jr. J. Michael Tomme, Sr. 210 North Racetrack Street 3830 Chardonay Drive Powder Springs, GA 30127-2006 Swainsboro, GA 30401 Rockledge, FL 32955 770-475 -1463 478-237-8134 321-806-3564 Americanism [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Manning 1201 Timber Lane Court, SW Flag Respect Public Safety Lilburn, GA 30047-7439 Paul I. Prescott Paul I. Prescott By770-564Laws-8822 111 Timber Ridge Court 111 Timber Ridge Court [email protected] E. Thurmond Woodstock, GA 30188-2262 Woodstock, GA 30188-2262 770-360-5766 770-360-5766 Audit [email protected] [email protected] Bobby D. Shaw 2900 Barbara Lane Fund Raising Publicity Marietta, GA 30062-1433 George Thurmond Carter J Wood 770-971-3416 120 Cannonade Drive 6327 Black Rock Lane [email protected] Alpharetta, GA 30004 Hoschton, GA 30548-8228 770-475-1463 678-895-1580 By-Laws [email protected] [email protected] Edward P. Rigel, Sr. 1504 Berkeley Court Rev. War Patriot’s and Gainesville, GA 30501-1260 Historic Sites & Celebrations Compatriots Graves 770-534-7043 K Scott Collins Donald Burdick [email protected] 130 Cherokee Forrester Drive 166 Hart State Park Road Athens, GA 30601 Hartwell, GA 30643-4128 C.A.R.