THE NATIONAL SOCIETY, SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
VICE PRESIDENT GENERAL’S REPORT
Filing Date: June 3, 2013
DISTRICT: PACIFIC VPG: Robert F. Doughty
MEETINGS ATTENDED:
02/08/2013 Spokane Chapter, Spokane, Washington; President Rob Goff
02/09/2013 Seattle Chapter, Seattle, Washington; President Stefan Kovalenko
02/10/2013 Thomas Jefferson Chapter, Eugene, Oregon; President Daniel Froehlich
02/16/2013 Mid-Columbia Chapter, Richland, Washington; President Stan Wills
02/18/2013 104th Greater Seattle DAR Regents’ Council wreath laying at George Washington Statue
02/23/2013 John Paul Jones Chapter, Bremerton, Washington; President Ken Roberts
02/23/2013 John Paul Jones Chapter Executive Board, Bremerton, Washington; President Ken Roberts
03/01-02/2013 SAR Spring Leadership Conference/Trustees Meeting, Louisville, Kentucky
03/08/2013 Spokane Chapter, Spokane, Washington; President Rob Goff
03/09/2013 Seattle Chapter, Seattle, Washington; President Stefan Kovalenko
03/16/2013 Alexander Hamilton Chapter, Fife, Washington; President Russ Pringle
03/23/2013 John Paul Jones Chapter, Bremerton, Washington; President Ken Roberts
03/30/2013 Mid-Columbia Chapter, Richland, Washington; President Stan Wills
04/03/2013 Southern Oregon Chapter, Medford, Oregon; President Don Thomas
04/06/2013 Cascade Centennial Chapter, Kirkland, Washington; President Allen Gray
04/12/2013 Spokane Chapter, Spokane, Washington; President Rob Goff
04/13/2013 Seattle Chapter, Seattle, Washington; President Stefan Kovalenko
04/20/2013 Republic Chapter, Salem, Oregon; President David Devin
04/26-28/2013 Pacific District annual conference, Kennewick, Washington; VPG Robert Doughty
04/27/2013 Oregon Society Board of Managers, Kennewick, Washington; President Eugene Melvin
04/27/2013 Washington Society Executive Board, Kennewick, Washington; President Jim Lindley
05/03/2013 WSSDAR State Conference, Tukwila, Washington; Regent Jannelle Braithwait
05/04/2013 Lewis & Clark Chapter, Beaverton, Oregon; President Larry Heckethorne
05/10/2013 Spokane Chapter, Spokane, Washington; President Rob Goff
05/11/2013 Seattle Chapter, Seattle, Washington; President Stefan Kovalenko
05/18/2013 New Chapter Forming, Quincy, Washington; Presiding Mentor Stan Wills
05/19/2013 Thomas Jefferson Chapter, Eugene, Oregon; President Daniel Froehlich
05/25/2013 John Paul Jones Chapter, Bremerton, Washington; President Ken Roberts
06/01/2013 Alaska Society Spring meeting, Anchorage, Alaska; President Walter John
Scheduled meetings to attend:
06/14/2013 Spokane Chapter, Spokane, Washington; President Rob Goff
06/22/2013 John Paul Jones Chapter, Bremerton, Washington; President Ken Roberts
07/6-10/2013 SAR Annual Congress, Kansas City, Missouri; President General Stephen Leishman
REPORT & RECOMENDATIONS:
The Pacific District continues to explore the feasibility of hosting a National Congress in the Pacific Northwest sometime after the year 2020; the proposal, introduced to the Congress Planning Committee during the 2013 Spring Leadership Conference/Trustees Meeting at Louisville, Kentucky, received guidance on how to proceed; a Pacific District Steering Committee report at the annual Pacific District Meeting in April, 2013 resulted in appointment of a follow-up committee to further investigate the possibility of hosting the SAR Congress in 2021, including, location, costs of hosting, plans for raising money, and other details; committee to report to the 2014 Pacific District meeting with recommenda-tions. Compatriot Eugene Melvin (ORSSAR) is nominated as VPG Pacific District for 2013-2014. On behalf of the Southern Oregon Chapter, VPG Doughty presented a Flag Certificate to the Twin Creeks Retirement Community at Central Point, Oregon.
The Alaska Society: State President Walter John reports Compatriot John Rogers, AKSSAR Registrar, presented SAR medals and certificates to JROTC Cadets in March and April in Anchorage, and in Fairbanks, Compatriot John Seamamds presented four JROTC SAR medals and certificates in mid-April and one ROTC SAR medal and certificate in early May – nine total. They continue receiving inquiries for membership; one new member has been approved, one new member application is in headquarters, two supplementals await approval. AKSSAR Past President Harvey Rookus, their long-standing Compatriot and many-hatted officer, passed away March 18. Fittingly, several of us presented Harvey with the War Service Medal (WW II) at his home last November and a year ago this June, presented him with the medal for Outstanding Service. In May, Harvey’s wife, Wilma, was presented with the “In Memory” certificate honoring his Service and Contribution. President John and his wife attended the DAR State banquet in Anchorage April 20; guest speaker: NSDAR President General Merry Ann T. Wright, who, among other things, discussed some of the challenges of the Alaska DAR Society. They sound familiar!
The Oregon Society, guided by new State President Johnny Alexander reported no Society activity since the last VPG report.
The Washington Society led by State President Jim Lindley is exploring establishment of new chapters in the areas of Vancouver and Quincy. The Washington Society streamlined and updated its ROTC-JROTC program under new leadership of Compatriot Allen Gray (Cascade Centennial Chapter) to ensure all units, as well as Sea Cadets, Sea Explorers, and Young Marines are recognized. At the Washington C.A.R. Annual State Meeting in March at historic Fort Steilacoom, the WASSAR Color Guard presented colors, and Compatriots Doug Nelson and Mick Hersey (John Paul Jones Chapter) gave a history lesson: “A Day in Colonial Life and the Revolutionary War Soldier.” The House of Lords Christian Academy in Oldtown, Idaho had no American flags in their classrooms; children were pledging allegiance to paper home-made flag drawings pinned on the wall. Compatriot Stan Wills (Mid-Columbia Chapter) in concert with local American Legionnaires immediately purchased American Flags and staffs for each classroom out of their own pockets. In Honor of Law Day (May 1) Compatriots Gale Palmer and Stan Wills (Spokane Chapter No. 1 Color Guard) assisted the Spokane Federal Court swear in 100 new citizens from 25 countries. As new citizen’s hands were shook, each received a US Flag lapel pin. If you have an opportunity, attend one of these ceremonies, it is very moving! Tomorrow, Friday and Saturday we present ROTC and JROTC awards at various schools. Next week we have three Living History School presentations.
The John Paul Jones Chapter Color Guard is very active with Rifleman Bob exhibiting his 1776 camping gear and rifleman’s kit to three Peninsula Cub Scout packs; preparing for the WSDAR State Convention with posting colors and manning a recruiting booth, conducting three fifth grade presentations of “History of Old Glory” and the “Continental Soldier’s Kit.” After Color Guard members complete elementary school Colonial life presentations, students are encouraged to write an essay on what they learned. More than half the students respond, and the top three authors are awarded a Young Patriot Writers Certificate and a scholastic book on Colonial America/Revolutionary War. Compatriot Mick Hersey and crew welcomed home the aircraft carrier USS John Stennis from a five month voyage, and are preparing an application to add Medal of Honor recipient Bud Hawk to our Society. May 18 brings the Bremerton Armed Forces Day Parade with the Elizabeth Ellington DAR and C.A.R. groups. In the first four months of 2013, the western Detachment of the WASSAR Color Guard participated in 24 uniformed events, including a new Chapter chartering ceremony, a memorial, living history in schools, posting of colors, speaker presentations to DAR and other organizations, conferences, National Leadership and veterans events, an average of six uniformed events every month.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert F. Doughty
Vice President General, Pacific District