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Archiver > SUVCW > 2008-05 > 1209647062


From: "gdy2shosflthybst" <>
Subject: Re: [SUVCW] membership longevity (thread off of "We still llhavelotsof work to do")
Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 09:04:22 -0400
References: <773c85270804301225g6146c8b2t4d585ff99dd7c952@mail.gmail.com><002a01c8ab85$b7aff020$0200a8c0@admin8319b6b33>


One additional thought on recruiting. A lot of guys are either not active or
don't join becasue they feel their families ( the female members) are
excluded. We also need to advertise the allied orders so the ladies can
participate with their husbands and fathers and it will be seen as a more
family friendly organization.

For example, in our fledgling Dept of GA-SC we have four camps. Only one has
an operating auxiliary. I have tried to find women that will start LGAR or
DUVCW groups but, as most of you know, it takes the right person with an
appropriate amount of zeal to form these groups. We should remember to
mention these groups in any advertising we do.

CC Eric Peterson
Elias Moon Camp #2
----- Original Message -----
From: "gdy2shosflthybst" <>
To: <>
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 8:20 AM
Subject: Re: [SUVCW] membership longevity (thread off of "We still ll
havelotsof work to do")


I am also a Free Mason. The average age of a member at my lodge is 55. This
was true when I joined 22 years ago. We did some research into this and
found that we ar ecompeting with the x-box, video games and TV. Younger
people tend not to want to sit in meeting with a bunch of old fuddy duddies.
Some younger members will joing such an order because of an older relative
that they love and respect. This is why the Junior membership is so
important. Often once they are in, they will stay.

Our masonic lodge started sponsoring a local soft ball team to get younger
members. You had to be a mason or related to one to join the team. This
worked to some degree to get men in their 20s and 30s to join. The closest
thing we have to that is the SVR. We can garner a lot of members from the
ranks of re-enactors who want to do something to burn all that physical
energy and its fun. Perhaps we need our SVR units to be more visible. They
have to join the SUVCW to join the SVR.

We also need to target that demographic by advertising in college
publications, High Schools and anywhere else young people gather such as the
mall.

in FC&L

Eric Peterson
CC, Elias Moon Camp #2
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ernest Everett Blevins" <>
To: <>
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 3:25 PM
Subject: [SUVCW] membership longevity (thread off of "We still ll have
lotsof work to do")


" A well respected brother of the Order said to me not two weeks ago that he
fears that if the Order doesn't double
it's membership over the sesquicentennial of the Civil War the SUVCW will
not be here to observe the bi-centennial. I looked around the room and saw
more grey hair than not. Of thirty brothers at the meeting 3 were under 40.
Of those three one was in his 20s and the other was a junior. This is not
a good statistic for an organization that once numbered 200,000 men." Doug
McMillin JVC

The quote by Doug above is very true, and it is not just the SUVCW that has
this problem of a majority older membership. I'm 39 now and I started
joining societies when I was about 20 or so. Mayflower, SCV were my only
two for a long time. Now I've added SAR, Founders & Patriots, several
family societies, and of course SUVCW. Some of these I'm more active than
others (SAR, SCV, SUVCW). Until only a year or so ago I was generally the
youngest in the crowd in most of these organizations. And often I still am
at meetings although not necessarily the youngest on rolls.

I think there is something to be said in this from Doug and the recent
comment by Eric on someone who found he had 5 Union and no Confederate
ancestors. A combination of lack of American history/civics on our students
today, lack of knowing where the family came from and who they were, and a
lack of the concept to do something in the community all play a part of it.
These all are larger factors than how much dues are -- which stemmed from a
similar discussion on a SCV list.

I think the most important age group to reach out to is the college age as
they are educated enough to have an interest, likely seeking involvement if
not resume enhancers, will most likely have some spending income later for
dues and donations, and they will have a longevity for the organization. I
think recruiting from all levels of the community is good, but I think some
extra in this demographic might be some fresh blood to the SUVCW. I know we
haven't but has anyone tried recruiting posters or even a booth on their
local campus? Maybe the local campus could supply a meeting space to use
and therefore attract the youth.

Ernie Blevins
List Administrator

Ernest Everett Blevins, MFA • Blevins Historical Research
110 Evergreen Way • Villa Rica, Georgia 30180
• 770-456-1876

Historic Preservation Consultant -- Historical and Architectural Research --
Genealogical (Family) Research -- Preservation Planning and Documentation --
House History

Member: American Planning Association, New England Historic Genealogical
Society, Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Sons
of Union Veterans, and member of numerous other lineage and heritage
societies.
The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) list received the
blessing of National in July 2007. It was established in January 2007 to
assist in disseminating information and seeking assistance to members,
associates, and potential members who have an interest in the SUVCW, GAR,
the people and events of the period of the War Between the States.

The opinions expressed and information provided in messages are those of
individuals and are not necessarily the official opinions, views or beliefs
of any Camp, Department or National SUVCW.
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The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) list received the
blessing of National in July 2007. It was established in January 2007 to
assist in disseminating information and seeking assistance to members,
associates, and potential members who have an interest in the SUVCW, GAR,
the people and events of the period of the War Between the States.

The opinions expressed and information provided in messages are those of
individuals and are not necessarily the official opinions, views or beliefs
of any Camp, Department or National SUVCW.
-------------------------------
To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to
with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in
the subject and the body of the message

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