Prepared by Steven J. Barber,
Secretary
SAR Business Meeting Notes
The Alexander Hodge Chapter
#49 Business Meeting was held June 25th at 1:00 P.M. at the at
Spring Creek Barbeque located, at 4895 Highway 6, Missouri City, TX.
Attending Officers: Carl Hill
(President &Treasure), Everett Gardner, (Vice President), Steven Barber
(Secretary), Don Rollins (Sgt. of Arms), Phil Whitley (Chaplain), and Mike
Green (Newsletter). Note: Jim Penny (Webmaster) was absent due to July Duty.
Carl Hill called the meeting
to order and gave the updated treasury report. There is one outstanding
scholarship check for $300.00 that yet cleared, but deducting that outstanding
check, the Chapter account has a balance of $8,936.35. The chapter has not yet
been reimbursed from the State SAR for the 17 Bronze JROTC metals and
certificates that were presented.
District 7c VP, Richard
Zdunkewicz has announced a goal of collecting $10,000.00 for JROTC scholarships
for next year, 2024. Chapter #49 will have $2,000.00 of that scholarship monies
to be awarded in 2024. Next year, this Chapter will have one additional high
school (Crawford H.S.) JROTC program to provide these scholarships too, in addition
to Lamar Consolidated JROTC program and Fort Bend JROTC program. For a JROTC
candidate to qualify for these scholarships, they must: 1) Have a 3.0 average on
a 4.0 scale (2) Planning on attending College, and (3) Be recommended from
their JROTC leader.
Steve Barber gave the
secretary’s report on the May 28th, 2023 Chapter Meeting. Noted that
there was a total of 26 attendees at the last meeting with13 Chapter members
and 13 guests. Of the 13 guests, 5 of
those guests were new candidates for the Alexander Hodge #49 Chapter that are
in the process of submitting their SAR applications. The five identified
candidates are Don Burns, Robert Graves, John T. Kovach, Allen Bogard and Kevin
Buford. Four of the applications are being submitted this week. with the 5th
application still being prepared for submission.
Carl Hill and Mike Green have
downloaded the COX software to complete SAR applications. The applications will
be completed by a committee until another Registrar for the Chapter can be
identified. It was noted that the application fee for new applicants is
$195.00. Annual SAR dues are likely going up in 2024. It has been 10 years
since SAR had an increase in annual dues.
The other business reported by
the Secretary was on Sharon Aldrich, Social Chairperson, discussing planning a
few social events for Chapter members to attend. One is attending a Space Cowboy
baseball game and the other a concert or play for later this summer or this
fall. Officers were in favor of having a planned Space Cowboy Baseball outing in
late July or early August. It was also suggested to look at up-coming events 2-3
months out for planning. There are several events happening in Houston or even
in Sugar Land with the Stafford Center or The Smart Financial Center. Looking
for suggestions.
The Chapter now owns a total
of 8 flags. This includes the US Flag, the Texas Flag, two SAR Flags, the Betsy
Ross Flag, the TX SAR flag, the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag and the Gilford
Courthouse flag. Covers have been procured for the flags. A Flag certificate
has not been awarded in 2023 by this Chapter. A company or school is chosen
each year to receive a SAR certificate for flying the Flag of the United States
of America. (This certificate is given in recognition of exemplary patriotism
in the displaying of the Flag of the United States of America.)
The State SAR is looking for
ideas to improve recruiting. Looking for a response back from all Chapters by
the end of 2023. The Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 has procured 500 SAR Flag
cards for $250.00. These Flag Cards display the American Flag and the SAR Flag
on the front and has the SAR Pledge on the back. These are to be used in
recruiting along with a couple pamphlets that have also been procured in the
past from the State SAR.
The Alexander Hodge Chapter
has 13 past members that have not paid their dues for 2023. A email or text
message was sent to all 13 members by the Secretary during the month of June
and Carl Hill is planning a follow-up telephone call to each member in the
rears with dues.
The Chapter was notified that Leonard
J. Williams of Sugar Land, TX did pass away June 23, 2023. The State SAR form
announcing this passing has been submitted and details will be published on the
Chapter’s Website and Newsletter. Leonard is father to Kim Birtcher, wife of
this Chapters member Tim Birtcher.
Frank Rohrbough, State SAR
Veterans Chairman has made the Chapter aware of Certificates available from
National SAR recognizing of SAR members that are also Veterans. The Chapter is pursuing obtaining this
certificate for any known member of the Alexander Hodge #49 SAR Chapter that is
also a military veteran.
Carl Hill has been very
successful in getting good speakers for the upcoming Chapter Meeting. A good
source for speakers is from other SAR and DAR Chapters. Carl announced that Dr,
Gregg J. Dimmick will be the Speaker for the July 2023 Chapter dinner speaking
on his published book,”Sea of Mud”, describing the retreat of the Mexican Army
after being defeated at the Battle of San Jacinto. and the archaeology investigation
of that historical occurrence. Wesley Wright will have his presentation of George
Washington at the September 26th meeting. Then to finish the 2023
year, Chris Hammons from Houston Christian University will be the speaker for
the November 28th, 2023 meeting of the Alexander Hodge #49 Chapter.