Minutes of Regular Meeting of the Dallas Chapter
TXSSAR Sons of the American Revolution
June 11, 2005
Chapter President Tom Whitelock called the meeting to order at 8:00 am at the Warrington Room of the Crowne Plaza Suites, 7800 Alpha Road, Dallas, Texas. A eulogy was given in honor of past Chapter President Danny Wilson by going over the June 13, 1987 chapter minutes from Danny's tenure as president.
Chaplain Frank Pounders being out of town, Compatriot Art Ingalls reported that no Compatriots had been listed in the sick call. He then proceeded with the Invocation.
Compatriots Rick Fawkes, Glen Toal, and D.A. Sharpe respectively led pledges of Allegiance to the United States Flag, the Texas Flag and salute to the SAR Flag. Judge Pounders then led the members in America the Beautiful. Members were asked to proceed to breakfast in an orderly manner under the direction of newly-elected TXCAR President and Dallas Compatriot Wayne Wende.
Prior to reconvening the business meeting at 8:30 am, the Chapter President played a patriotic musical interlude. Head Greeter Rick Fawkes was recognized for the morning's "welcome line". A total of ten guests were acknowledged. In a lighter vein, Compatriot Chalmers Omberg was asked to stand and show off the lavish and dressy Colonial suit that he was wearing. It was noted that he was going through some sort of initiation for being inducted into the SAR Color Guard. Chapter Humorist FCP Art Ingalls enlivened us with a joke for the day.
By motion from the floor by FCP Judge Tracy Pounders and a second by Chalmers Omberg, the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting, as posted on the website, were waived and approved by voice vote.
Chapter Registrar Mel McCoy was out of town and in his stead FCP Ralph McDowell announced that the current membership was now 287 with six pending applications. New members not able to attend were Gregory Galloway, T.O. Strickland, Andrew Strickland, David Strickland, Donald Anderson, William Merken and Robert Merken. We are striving to get our membership up to 300. FCP McDowell also installed with a membership oath our newest member in the chapter Edward Mathew Courtney IV, whose Revolutionary War ancestor was a minuteman named Mr. Dawes.
Treasurer Allen Christian was unable to be present however his brother Byron made the treasurer's presentation. He reported that 30 members were in attendance and that the checking account was at $2,578.92. The Minuteman Fund had $7,865.11, and the Richie Fund balance was not reported (afterward $26,442.35). By motion from the floor by Judge Pounders and seconded by Michael Caine, a voice vote approved the report.
CAR liaison FCP Judge Pounders announced that he attended the state C.A.R. installation. He reported the fact that his nephew, Mr. Henderson, is a former president of the Texas C.A.R. and he will be our first sixteen year old member of the SAR Chapter. DAR liaison Jack Carney announced that the DAR Regents Council has adjourned for the summer and they will reconvene in September. President Whitelock then charged the members with the obligation to locate organizations or individuals to be eligible to be presented the flag display certificate. Compatriots Fawkes and Sharpe were then serenaded with Happy Birthday.
The Chapter 2nd Vice President Charles Baker announced that a total of 47 awards had recently been awarded by the Chapter. They included 26 Bronze JROTC awards, one silver JROTC award and twenty Good Citizenship awards to students at schools not having ROTC programs. In further news, Dr. Baker announced that the Chapter was presented the 1st place marching award at the Ennis Polka Festival two weeks previously. The color guard medal was then presented to fourteen men. Those color guard medal recipients were Richard Arnold, Dr. Charles Baker, Jack Garney, Rick Fawkes, David Hill (in abstentia), Art Ingalls, Graham Martin, Mel McCoy (in abstentia), Ralph McDowell, Cliff Slagle (in abstentia), Tom Smith (in abstentia), Jim Templin, Tom Whitelock and Charles Windham. The Color Guard will participate in the flag day ceremony at Valley View Mall. It will also participate in three other 4th of July events and an upcoming ceremony at the VA Hospital. President Whitelock indicated that Dr. Baker's discussion today of the flag day ceremonies will serve as this meeting's Americanism program
President Tom Whitelock next introduced our Guest Speaker, Sonja Armstrong Brown, who spoke about Thomas Jefferson's involvement in the Louisiana Purchase. After her speech she was presented with a certificate of appreciation along with a liberty bell, and three different style earrings made by President Whitelock utilizing the new Jefferson nickels.
After reminding color guard members of the Banner Photo to be taken after the meeting and after the door prize drawing, President Whitelock led the SAR closing. It was followed by the Benediction from Art Ingalls. The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Clark, Secretary-Dallas Chapter