January 14, 2006
The meeting was called to order at 8:04 a.m. in the Mesquite Room at the Embassy Suites, (13131 North Central Expressway, Dallas, Texas) by Chapter President, Tom Whitelock. Most members had previously processed through the breakfast line. He went over the year’s activities, reporting that we had gained more activity points than ever before in Chapter history.
Chaplain Frank Pounders reported that the Rev. Craig Merkel was ill. The Chaplain then proceeded to give the Invocation for the day. This included the commemoration of the last call for compatriots who died last year. Our departed compatriots include William M. Campbell, Col. William H. Hastings (former president), Allen L. Oliver Jr., Peter W. Orlebeke (past president), Harry C. Post (past president, perpetual member), Samuel Freeman Ragan, Gordon Wayne Riter, Earl Free Sexton, William Harry Strickland, and C. Danny Wilson (past president).
Pledges of Allegiance to the United States Flag, the Texas Flag and salute to the SAR Flag were led by President Whitelock. Immediate Past Chapter President Judge Tracy Pounders led the singing of “America”. President Whitelock then awarded the Chapter Bronze Service medal to Chaplain Frank Pounders and a certificate of appreciation to Martin Lyford. All of the chapter officers and committee chairmen for 2005 are receiving certificates of appreciation from the chapter. PCP Cliff Slagle received the large membership certificate for continuous service to the chapter. President Whitelock then announced that there had been a special chapter meeting on December 17, 2005 to invest Marine Lance Corporal Karl Klammer into the chapter prior to his deployment to Iraq. The President then announced that he gave a certificate and medal of appreciation to Jacqueline Strickland in 2005 and presented the Martha Washington Medal to Kimberly Clark on December 24, 2005. It was announced that PCP Ralph McDowell would serve as the head greater in 2006. Ralph then gave the meeting’s Americanism program on “Benjamin Franklin”. Compatriot McDowell was then recognized for having recently been selected for the Patriot’s Medal.
The President next recognized a total of seventeen guests at the meeting which included a number of prospective members. Attending were several members’ wives and Compatriot Lauri Crapo, the last President of the Blaine Wilhoite Chapter in Irving. PCP and Jokemeister Art Ingalls then enlivened the meeting with the joke for the day. He was then presented the certificate of appreciation by President Whitelock.
Treasurer Allen Christian reported that 34 members were in attendance and that the checking account was at $825.77. The Minuteman Fund had a balance of $8,062.21 and the Richie Fund totaled $27,229.49.
Vice President Charles Baker was presented a bronze chapter service medal by Chapter President Whitelock. Also, Mr. Whitelock announced that the Chapter turned in 25,968 points towards the Veterans Affairs Stark Award. The President also awarded certificates of appreciation to both James and Grady Fairbairn for their work with veterans affairs.
In the absence of Registrar Jim Templin, new members were then invested by President Whitelock, which included the father and son team of Robert V. Baylis and Robert Brad Baylis. John Morton, Mike McKinney and Mark Hansen then respectively gave reports on the Chapter poster contest, oratorical contest, and essay contests. First Vice President Dr. Charles Baker then gave a report on the Chapter Color Guard at which he announced that the first color guard program of the year would be on March 6, 2006. Dr. Baker then reported that the February chapter speaker would be Dr. Jody Potts on techniques to assist in remembering the Bill of Rights. The March speaker is scheduled to be former “Flying Tiger”, Major General Charlie Bond (USAF Ret). Texas Society President-Elect Tom Green is scheduled to be the April speaker. In the meetings after that there will be programs on “Using DNA to prove your Ancestors”, “Spies and Traitors in the Revolution” and a first hand report of the Battle of Pearl Harbor.
The reading of the Minutes of the previous meeting were dispensed with upon motion by Frank Pounders and seconded by Judge Tracy Pounders.
Chapter President Whitelock then announced that the recipient for the “Sisson Golden Sledgehammer Award” was First Vice President Tom Smith because of his many, varied efforts on behalf of the chapter this past year within the community.
Former State and Chapter President Graham Martin then invested and swore in the following 2006 chapter officers:
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President |
Tom Smith |
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1st Vice President |
Charles Baker |
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2nd Vice President |
Bob Clark |
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Secretary |
Allen Christian |
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Treasurer |
Byron Christian |
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Chaplain |
The Rev. Frank Pounders |
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Historian |
Tom Whitelock |
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Registrar Jim Templin will be invested at the February meeting. Past Chapter President Whitelock then presented newly-invested Chapter President Tom Smith with the gavel and his insignia of office. President Whitelock then gave a humorous “survival” kit to each of the new officers. President Tom Smith gave a short inaugural speech. President Smith then gave a gift to Tom Whitelock and to Montye Whitelock in appreciation for their work in the preceding year. PCP Whitelock and Dr. Baker announced that the two unique characteristics of the 2005 President’s newsletter messages was that the word “God” was in every report and that the consecutive first letters in every report spelled out “I KNOW SAR”.
After the door prize drawing, the Benediction was given by Chaplain Pounders, which was followed by the SAR Closing led by Chapter President Smith, who adjourned the meeting at 9:30 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Clark
Secretary, Dallas Chapter-TXSSAR