All, deadline getting closer. It is about 10 yrs between Volumes, so need to hurry.
I am aware of only two that have submitted thus far, Steve Barber and myself. I have also submitted a Biography of the Chapter.
I am having trouble attaching the Form to use for the Biographies. I will send it to Carl, so he can send to every member.
Alexander Hodge Chapter No. 49
Chapter Meeting Minutes
March 25th, 2025
The members
of the Alexander Hodge #49, Sons of the American Revolution, gathered at Spring Creek Barbeque located at 4895 Highway 6,
Missouri City, TX. In the private meeting room, Carl Hill called the
meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. with an Invocation given by Phil Whitley followed
by pledges to the United States flag, to the Texas flag and to the SAR flag.
13-Attending
Chapter Members: Carl
Hill (President & Treasure), Steven Barber (Secretary), Don Rollins (Sgt.
of Arms), Phil Whitley (Chaplain), Don Burns (Vice President), Rick Giuffre, Dennis
Giuffre, Dr, Randal Glenn (New Member), Lovel Aldrich, John Lucey, Robert
Rhodes (New Member), Kevin Buford, Bob Walzel, and Nate Lewis.
6- Other
Guests: Mrs.
Bernice Mistrot, Mrs. Sharon Rollins, Mrs. Sherry Burns, Mrs. Cheryl Buford, Mrs.
Sandy Barber and Mr. Michael Bishop (perspective new member).
2-
Guest of Honor: Mr.
and Mrs. Arthur and Susan Byram- Current District 7 VP
Guest
Speaker: Mr. Blake
Pfeffer
Sworn
In Ceremony: Dr.
Randal Glenn was sworn in to the Alexander Hodge #49 Chapter and presented with
his certificate of SAR Membership.
Treasurer’s
Report: Carl
Hill presented the Treasurer’s Report. The Chapter’s Treasury has a balance of
$9326.12. Funds raised by Richard Zdanowicz (Past VP our District 7) for the
2025 JROTC Scholarship for the Alexander Hodge Chapter amounted to $558.00. It
was proposed and second that the Alexander Hodge Chapter add $42.00 to this
fund to be able to award 2 $300.00 scholarships in 2025.
Secretary
Report: Steven
Barber reviewed the January 28th,2025 Chapter Meeting minutes and
the February 25,2025 Business Meeting Chapter Meeting minutes. Those minutes
were voted on and 2nd for acceptance.
Registrar’s
Report: The Alexander
Hodge Chapter #49 has completed and sent into National S.A.R., five new
membership applications. Robert Rhodes, Joshua Evans and Sean Hicks submitted applications
are waiting for review and approval by S.A.R. National, while Dr. Randal
Glenn’s application was approved. The fifth application was a supplemental for
Mr. Gayle Barber, father of Steven Barber and Grandfather to member Matthew
Barber.
Two on
new applicates for Dr. Thomas Cool and his son Jack are at the State level for
approval.
New
applications are being worked on for Brandon Draper, Micheal Bishop with three
of his relatives and for the Thomas Whitenton, 2-year-old grandson of Tim
Bricher.
Sandy
Barber, Registrar for the Alexander Hodge DAR Chapter is assisting the
Alexander Hodge SAR Chapter in three new applications. One application is for
Steven Garza, son of a recent new DAR member Sylvia Garza, and two rather
difficult to prove applications for Richard Laughlin and Douglas Thorpe.
The
Registrar Committee (Michael Green and Carl Hill) also reported there are 5-6
additional interested applicants that have expressed interest in joining the
SAR Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 chapter.
District
#7 VP discussion on SAR Activates and Future Opportunities:
Art
Byram encouraged members to become involved in various SAR programs coming up
in the near future.
2) Junior ROTC Groups receiving a Flag
Ceremony Service from the Chapter
3) Attending the State Business meeting
this coming weekend March 28-29, 2025
4) Arranging for your younger kids, and
grandkids to be registered with the Children of the American Revolution (CAR.) Texas has the
fastest growth in CAR in the nation.
5) Seriously consider getting involved in
the State SAR presented Mentoring program for recruiting and retention of new
members.
6) Attend the April 13th,2025 the
Captain Edward Weyman Society CAR Lineage Day at the Constellation Field Baseball
game April 13, 2025. First pitch @ 2:05 P.M. Freedom Chapter will have a Color
Guard ceremony on the field during the playing of the National Anthem All SAR
members are welcome to participate in the Color Guard in uniform and all CAR,
DAR and SAR members are invited to attend. A flyer was handed out giving all
the details for buying tickets for this event. All members children will be
invited on the field with the Color Guard during the ceremony.
7) Attend the “Honor Flight” Welcome Home
Event, Saturday April 26th, 2025 at 7:45 pm at Hobby Airport. This
event welcomes home a plane full of Veterans returning from overnight trip
visiting all the War Memorials in Washing DC. A flyer on this event was handed
out at the meeting.
Unfinished
Business:
1) The TX
SAR Archives Committee will be publishing Volume 3 of the Texas Society
History. In volume 2, The Alexander Hodge Chapter had 13 members who had
submitted biographies in the 2005 addition. Each Chapter member is encouraged
to provide a short one-page biography on his patriot’s linage and being a
member of the Alexander Hodge Chapter #49. An example of these biographies is
available on request from Carl Hill or Jim Penny. The deadline for these to be submitted to the
State is July 1st.2025, so get your biography submitted soon to Jim
Penny.
New
Business and Future Opportunities to Participate:
1)
April 12th, 2025- Revolutionary War
Camp Reenactment planned at the Jessy Jones Park located at 20634 Kenswick
Drive, Humble, TX.
2)
April 13th CAR Lineage Day at the
Constellation Field Baseball field and game. Tickets purchased in advance at
ballfield $19.00, parking $4.00. SAR Color Guard during National Anthem. See
flyer for details
3)
April 26th, 2025 at &:45 pm
-Welcome Home “Honor Flight” for US Veterans at Hobby Airport. See attached
flyer for details.
Evening
Speaker: Mr. Blake Pfiffer “Shouts from the Republic”
Blake
Pfiffer's family goes back to the original 300 settlers of Americans that came
to settle Texas, originally as citizens of the Mexican nation. Mr.
Pfiffer has written a book chronologizing the events that occurred prior to the
Texas Revolution and events during the fighting and settling of the Texas
Revolution. The book published in 2024 entitled “Shouts from the Republic”,
reviews the events in this time in history of Texas and of the settling of
Texas.
Several
hundred Americans came to the area known as Texas for several reasons. Originally
the land was promised as cheap or even free if you agreed to settle on the
land. ($0.50 per for 45 acres) Secondly, the forming of the Nation of Mexico
from the Spanish was based upon the same constitutional rights and freedoms
that were established in the forming of the United States with its Bill of
Rights and the US Constitution. This attracted American’s that were poor,
running from debt or from criminal charges back in Eastern US, and looking to
start new lives and opportunities.
At
first the relations of the Angleton Americans with the Mexican government were
good, being treated as any other Mexican citizen. The primary issue with having
Mexican support was issues with raiding Indian’s out of Oklahoma and in parts
of Texas. When Mexico started to pull back from those responsibilities, the
leader of the Angleton American settlers, Steven Austin went to Mexico City to
protest the lack of support to the Texas territory and demand better
representation in the Mexican government. Steven Austin was thrown in prison in
Mexico City and held for weeks. Now the American immigrants were being treated
as illegal immigrants. Of course, this led to an uprising of the people living
in the Texas territory. Another fact in these events is many Mexican citizens
did not like the Mexican leader Santa Ana and either supported the Angleton
Americans or were chose to not support the Mexican government in their actions.
Mr.
Pfiffer then reviewed much of the military action that took place between the
700,000 in strength Mexican Army and the small militia groups that fought
against the Mexican army. The first skirmish in Gonzalez, Texas the Angleton
Texans did well with losing only one Texan killed, with 80 dead Mexicans and
the Texans capturing 21 cannons. However, the mobilization of the main Mexican
army had yet been completed. The next
battle, several months later was the Alamo, in San Antonio, TX, where all 170
Texans that were defending the Alam were killed by the Mexican army.
Future
skirmishes and troop movements occurred as the Mexican army attempted to corral
the much smaller Texans army. Through effective scouts reporting the movement
of the Mexican army, misleading the Mexican army on the whereabouts of the
Texans army and sheer luck, Sam Houston’s small army overwhelmed a small
contingency of the Mexican army left with its leader Santa An at San Jacinto,
Texas.
Closing
Remarks:
President
Hill announced that the next Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 meeting will be held May 27th, 2025-7:00 P.M., at the Spring Creek Barbeque restaurant on Highway 6 in
Missouri City, Texas. The next Chapter Business Meeting will be at the same
restaurant on April 29th, 2025, at 1:00 P.M. Chapter members are welcome to
attend the Business Meeting. All Chapter Officers are required to attend the
Business Meetings.
Recessional:
The
SAR recessional was recited by all present.
Benediction: Closing benediction was given by Phil
Whitney, Chaplain.
Meeting
adjourned; Carl Hill, President
Prepared
by Steven Barber, Secretary
Alexander
Hodge Chapter #49
Apparently due to a power blip, Google was closed. When I reopened it, the Alexander Hodge account was gone.
Tried to reinstall but refused to accept password. Went the "I forgot Password" route in attempt to restore. Told me I had to wait 120 hrs.
Got the Link yesterday to change password. Just did, then when it asked for the Password, I gave the one. Google refused it. Put the old one in and it took it.
I was able to restore the alexander.hodge.txssar@gmail.com account.
We all know that TXSSAR has been the abbreviated form used to refer to the State Society of the Sons of American Revolution for a very long time.
That is changing to be in line with the National Society. The National SAR is a Society. The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
The SAR of the States (including Texas) are dropping the Society designation from the names.
The States are now just Sons of American Revolution. So, Texas is the Texas Sons of American Revolution. I guess the abbreviation will be TXSAR.
I don't get the importance of it, but who knows! Not sure if, or when various Site access that use TXSSAR will change.
Blake Pfeffer lives in Houston, Texas, and has been enamored with Texas history since he was a young teenager, a passion he inherited from his father and his Texas-pioneering family.
Note: His book is available at Barnes and Noble as well as directly from author and a number of Sites. It can also be found as an eBook.
Carl Dean Smith was approved the same month that Dr Randall Mark Glenn was approved.
Carl's patriot is Gabriel Smith who was a member of Captain Thomas Child's North Carolina Militia Company.
More will be given when I cover North Carolina in the War.
Dr Randal Glenn's patriot is David Norman.
David Norman served as a private under Colonel Thomas Brandon in 1780 in a Company from Union County S.C. Colonel Brandon was commander of the 2nd Spartan Regiment of Militia. Colonel Brandon's forces were attacked on either June 10, 1780, or July 12, 1780 by Loyalist forces. The Battle is known as "Brandon's Defeat."
Learn more about this Battle and the Patriots who served in South Carolina when I work on the story of South Carolina in the Revolution at a later date.
Robert Rhodes II's patriot is Mark Russell.
Unfortunately, I am unable to give more at this time due to his Patriot being Unindexed in the SAR Database. However, there are 23 Russel/Russell patriot pension records available. So, time will tell if he can be found by an alternate method.
p.s. DAR A098499 Record shows that patriot Mark Russell provided Material Aid in North Carolina. Also lists him as a soldier, but gives no details.
Fellow members,
I continue to try to get into the SAR media stories on the activities of our Chapter. Often, there doesn't seem to be a reason why a general Chapter news item is not accepted. But will keep trying.
On February 16th, I submitted to the State Newsletter, Texas Compatriot, a story about President, Carl V Hill, and past president, Lovell Aldrich, presenting the SAR Martha Washington Medal on behalf of Alexander Hodge Chapter to Jo Ann Vasina of LaGrange on January 18th.
She received the Award for supporting the Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 with three new chapter members: Daniel Joe Shaver, Michael Thomas Shaver, and James Julius Shaver.
On March 4th, I submitted the following to the National Magazine. Hopefully, it will be accepted and appear in the Chapter News section.
Five new applications have been submitted to National SAR. One is Supplemental. Three additional applications are at the SAR State Level. The Chapter's Registrar Committee is actively working on another seven new applications. Sandy Barber, Alexander Hodge DAR Registrar is assisting by working on the completion of a SAR application for the son of a recent new DAR applicant and on a rather difficult application completion for one SAR applicant.
The Chapter Registrar Committee also reports working on 5-6 additional applications that have recently expressed interest in joining the Alexander Hodge SAR Chapter.
Other Chapter Activities
1) Carl Hill, Chapter President presented the six SAR Vietnam Veteran Lapel pin One to Chapter member, Lovell Aldrich in honor of his service in the US Army in Vietnam and five to fellow Marines is honor for their service in Vietnam. Jim Penny, Chapter Webmaster, presented an additional one to an Army and to a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War.
2) Carl Hill presented to all the Chapter Officers the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution 100 Anniversary medals (1896-1986) that were available at the 106th State Congress in San Antonio, TX.
Alexander Hodge Chapter No. 49
Business Meeting Minutes
February 24, 2025
The officers of the Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 Sons of the
American Revolution, gathered at Spring Creek Barbeque
located at 4895 Highway 6, Missouri City, TX. In the private meeting room,
Carl Hill called the meeting to order at 1:00 P.M.
Attending: Carl Hill (President), Don Burns (Vice President)
Michael Green (Registrar) Jim Penny (Newsletter and Web Master), Don Rollins
(Sgt. Of Arms) and Steve Barber (Secretary)
Secretary Report: Steve
Barber provided copies and reviewed the Chapters January 28, 2023 Chapter
meeting minutes. The minutes were approved by the attending officers.
Treasury Report:
Carl Hill presented the Treasures
Report. The Chapter’s Treasury has a balance of $9,037.44. after the following
expenditures,
Expenditures Since January 1st,
2025:
1)
$85.00 To Alexander Hodge DAR Chapter – Wreaths
Across America program - 5 wreaths purchased. .
2)
$200.00 Galvez Memorial Bricks purchase in the
name of Alexander Hodge SAR and DAR Chapters.
3)
$329,00 Junior TOTC Medals purchased for 2025-
Approved and signed off by Don Burns and Steve Barber
4)
$186.19 - Various administrative expenses on
process new applicants with Registrar’s activities. Approved and signed off by
Steve Barber and Don Rollins,
The Chapter received a
donation of $125.00 from Mrs. Bernice Mistriot.
Steve Barber reported that the
State of Texas SAR office reported 24 Alexander Hodge Members failed to submit
their 2025 annual dues. This was investigated, finding the State office was
late sending out the notices in 2024 and their on-line reporting system is slow
to be update, 20 emails were sent out to listed members showing not paid,
resulting in 5 emails coming back as not active emails. One email was entered
with an error and that was corrected and sent back out after calling the
member. The other 4 members with bad email addresses shown as not paying and 2
others that had no email listed in the State roster. were contacted by
telephone. Corrected emails were provided along with commitments to pay those
dues from those 6 individuals. To this date we still have 11 members that have
not responded to the emails sent, even though the State still reports that our
Chapter still has 20 members not paying 2025 dues. To illustrate the State
Roster system not being always updated, Jim Penny, who sent his payment in
November 2024 is still listed as not paid, even though the State was verbally
contacted and it was confirmed payment was received. Will send second emails
and will completing telephone calls to those remaining 11 members shown as not
paying 2025 SAR dues.
Registrar’s Report:
Five (5) new applications have
been submitted to National SAR for Robert Rhodes, Joshua Evans, Sean Hicks and
Dr. Randal Glenn. The approval for Dr. Randal Glenn was just received. The
fifth application was a supplemental for Gayle E. Barber, father of Steven
Barber.
Three (3) applications are at
the SAR State Level for Dr. Thomas Cool, his son Jack Phillp Cool and Doug
Thorpe.
Registrar committee is
actively working on applications for Brandon Draper, Micheal Bishop and three
of his relatives, and Thomas Whitenton, the 2-year-old grandson of Tim Birtcher.
Sandy Barber, Alexander Hodge DAR
Registrar is working on the completion of a SAR application for the son of
Sylvia Garcia, who is a recent new DAR applicant and a rather difficult
application completion for. Richard Laughlin.
The committee also reports
working on 5-6 additional applications that have recently expressed interest in
joining the Alexander Hodge SAR Chapter.
Web Site and Newsletter
Report:
Jim Penny produced a 2025
Calander to track 2025 Alexander Hodge Chapter events.
Jim also presented a Mentor
Training program for new members to improve Chapter recruiting and retention of
new Chapter members. This structure program from the State SAR looks very promising
as program to adopt to improve Chapter membership and participation in Chapter
activities. This program would require active participation of existing members
as mentors to use this program to recruit new members and having new members
actively participating in Chapter events. The program has sign on paper work, a
Power Point presentation, a list of mentor responsibilities and a State lapel
pin recognizing mentors’ participation.
Jim Penny presented a short
draft of the history of the Alexander Hodge Chapter #49, recognizing that 2025
is the 32nd year of the founding of this chapter.
Other Business and Activities:
1)
Carl Hill presented the SAR Vietnam Veteran
Lapel pin to 6 Alexander Hodge Chapter members. Lovell Aldrich in honor of his
service in the US Army in Vietnam and 5 Marines is honor for their service in
Vietnam were Greg Phillips, Jim Howse, Jerry Hoffman, Bill Knight and David
Singleton.
2)
Carl Hill presented to all the Chapter Officers
present at this meeting, Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution 100
Anniversary medals (1896-1986) that were available at the 106th
State Congress in San Antonio, TX.
3)
The Texas SAR Achieves committee will be
publishing volume 3 of the Texas Society History in 2025. The last time this
was published as volume 2 was 2005. Each Chapter member is encouraged to
provider a short one-page biography and a portrait picture to Jim Penny to be
included in this publication. The Chapter had 13 members listed in volume 2. Am
example of a biography is available on request. The deadline for submittal of
your biography is July 1st, 2025.
4)
Nathan Simoneaux submitted a competitive 500-word
patriotic essay with a four-generation ancestry chart into the State SAR Eagle
Scout program, through the Alexander Hodge Chapter #49.
Upcoming SAR Chapter
Opportunities to Participate:
1) Carrie
Isaak’s has setup a VA Hospital Visit for 8 members for the Alexander
Hodge Chapter #49. The Michael DeBakey VA Medical Center is located at 2002
Holcombe Blvd, Houston, Texas.
This event is approved for March 11th
at 10:00 a.m. Small gift bags for the veterans have been arranged for this
event. We encourage anyone that wants to attend this event to wear their SAR
uniform or a SAR shirt. Please let Carl Hill know of your interested in
attending this very rewarding event.
2) March 1st, 2025 there is an SAR Black Powder event at the Humble Museum, in Humble, TX at 9:00 a.m. This is the annual Revolutionary Education event this year entitled “Spanish Gamble”. This event for kids is a mini reenactment event with period costumes worn.
3) April 12th, 2025, there is a similar mini-reenactment event planned at Jessy Jones Park located at 20634 Kenswick Drive, Humble, TX. Details to be announced.
4) Two Historical
Flag Presentation are being planned for the first half of 2025. One event has
been requested by the Saint Lawence Church Scout program in Sugar Land, TX. The
second event is being requested for around July 4th, 2025 at the Genealogy
Department at the George Library in Richmond, Texas. Looking for members to assist
in these presentations, Details to be announced.
Carl Hill has volunteered to
remain as Chapter President, Treasure and Registrar and will be available to assist
any one that would volunteer for any of these positions. Don Burns has volunteered to be Chapter Vice
President. Phil Whitney has agreed to
continue to be the Chapter Chaplain. Jim Penny has agreed to continue to be the
Newsletter Web-Master for the Chapter. Steve Barber has agreed to continue as
the Chapter Secretary and Don Rollins to continue as Sgt. Of Arms. Michael Shane Steele has volunteered to remain
Color Guard Commander. There are other officer and committee position available
to Chapter members. The officers list as expressed above has been sent to the
State SAR to update the officers’ roster.
END OF BUSINESS MEETING REPORT
Prepared by Steven J. Barber,
Secretary