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Archiver > SUVCW > 2008-05 > 1209665779


From: "Doug McMillin" <>
Subject: Re: [SUVCW] membership longevity (thread off of "We still llhavelots of wor...
Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 14:16:19 -0400
References: <c29.34d2fac6.354a92e5@aol.com><8CA79A49354C6C8-1208-CE1@MBLK-M26.sysops.aol.com><773c85270805010630o688f670el25be2d7f559c1cd8@mail.gmail.com><B396D84E9E784A829C13DCD117DB4C19@AlPetersonPC><773c85270805010852h60d610fdl34db1c33eb40961a@mail.gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <773c85270805010852h60d610fdl34db1c33eb40961a@mail.gmail.com>


This is what we have been doing so far this year for recruiting.

We have already begun do exactly as suggested about recruiting booths. In
March we had a booth which was promoting all the Allied Orders at a
re-enactor expo at the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg PA. (National
Headquarters) The turnout for the event was impacted by snow but we still
got to talk to a lot of people and hand out fliers about the SUVCW and the
DUVCW. Plus ASUVCW members were there too. That was a good day.

On the 17th we again will be doing this at the US Army Heritage Center in
Carlisle. This will be Army Heritage Day and several thousand visitors are
expected. Re-enactors from all periods from French and Indian War up
through Vietnam will be doing exhibits and demonstrations all day. We are
promoting a project to restore the grave site of Brig. Gen Merchant here in
Carlisle and providing grave site location for the Cumberland County Civil
War veterans buried here to help raise awareness of visitors potential
ancestors that served. We have a couple thousand names collected so far so
it should be interesting. SVR members of the Gettysburg Blues will be on
hand and DUVCW and ASUVCW members will be there in period and contemporary
attire. Fliers for the three Orders represented will be there as well as
information about Memorial Day. Unfortunately, we have no one to represent
the LGAR or the WRC, but will be able to talk about them. Here is a link to
the website. www.usahec.org

We had hoped to do a demonstration but could not get the numbers together
with the unit to do anything serious on short notice. The idea was after
the re-enactors did their thing we would do a memorial service honoring
those who have served in all eras. General Logan's order establishing
Memorial Day would be read to the crowd then a prayer would be
offered. Three volleys would be fired and taps would be sounded. This would
give the SUVCW great public exposure and introduce many to the true Memorial
Day. I hope we can make it happen next year with more advance warning.

Doug McMillin
Gettysburg Camp #112


On 5/1/08, Ernest Everett Blevins <> wrote:
>
> I too sent her an article as well. Of coruse she might be just a reporter
> and limited by the editors of what she can do to follow up. Hope she will
> though. They have a large national cemtetery there. Eric and I visited it
> one time and found the Raiders (General and Texas fame) burried there.
>
> Ernie
>
> On Thu, May 1, 2008 at 11:32 AM, Al Peterson <> wrote:
>
> > Brother Ernie, just wanted to inform you that I sent an E Mail to Chloe
> > Morrison of the Chattanooga Times Free Press last night and gave her a
> > lot
> > of information about the "real" Memorial Day, how it happened to be, and
> > the
> > problems we are experiencing today of not remembering or knowing what
> and
> > when Memorial Day is.
> >
> > Let's see if she responds.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Al Peterson
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: [mailto:] On
> > Behalf Of Ernest Everett Blevins
> > Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 6:30 AM
> > To:
> > Subject: Re: [SUVCW] membership longevity (thread off of "We still ll
> > havelots of wor...
> >
> > Being in Kentucky the SUVCW should have a big push in 2009 which
> Kentucky
> > has already started heavily working on the bicentennial for Lincoln. I
> > was
> > up there in Kentucky for the National Council on Public History
> conference
> > last month and they really pushed it. Kentucky camps should contact the
> > Kentucky Historical Commission and ask about their mobile display which
> is
> > set up for Lincoln. its small and very focused on his Kentucky life but
> > for
> > what you can pack into a self contained 18 wheeler display its
> good. See
> > if
> > the SUVCW can link into it. I know they are parked for most of amonth
> > with
> > the State Fair -- what an opportunity.
> >
> > Ernie Blevins
> > List Administrator
> > Commander Kennesaw Mountain #3
> >
> > On Thu, May 1, 2008 at 9:15 AM, <> wrote:
> >
> > > The membership projections are very encouraging.? I too had been a
> life
> > > long student of the civil war, having come of age during the 1960's
> > > bi-cintenneal events.? My first contact was as a boy scout, hiking
> some
> > > trails at Perryville, Ky (Dug Road and Dry Canteen one the paths of
> the
> > > union the other the rebels coming into the battlefield).? Their was a
> > > ?re-enactment - about dozen men in a motley collection of clothing and
> > > firearms "re-enact" the Battle of Perryville, Ky -- I suppose each
> > soldier
> > > "represented" a Brigade or more considering the numbers involved in
> the
> > real
> > > battle.? There wasn't any camps, nor sutlers, nor any flags that I
> > remember
> > > either.? The cemetery on the grounds was in bad shape, and their were
> > quite
> > > a lot of wire fences and modern things around.? SUVCW?? No, I did not
> > > discover that until about 10-15 years ago myself, someone who knew
> > someone,
> > > knew that I was interested in the Civil War and was a "re-enactor" as
> > well,
> > > heard that there was a group forming -!
> > > -This new camp grew, we now have a Department.? I am still in the
> camp,
> > > having "grown" as well, held I suppose every office at one time or
> > another
> > > and even a few state offices as well --associated with fellow camp
> > brothers
> > > who have been Dept. Commander and on the National scene as well?. Our
> > camp
> > > and the one in Cincinnati, jointly hosted a National?Encampment
> > (Cincinnati,
> > > OH) in Ft. Mitchell, KY and are working on the upcoming Louisville, KY
> > > encampment on the horizon as well.? Our camp was instrumental in
> > starting
> > > the James A. Ramage, Civil War Museum and Battery Hooper Park in Ft.
> > Wright,
> > > KY. as well as instrumental in?parades, events, monuments and
> > dedications.
> > > ?Today, the Perryville Battlefield is in historical and pristine
> > condition,
> > > has more than doubled its size, held national events, etc.? I am sure
> > things
> > > like this are repeated all over the country with many camps.? There
> are
> > so
> > > many positive stories to tell.
> > >
> > > F. C. & L.
> > > Bernie O'Bryan, Camp Commander Nelson-Garfield Memorial Camp #3, Dept.
> > of
> > > Kentucky, SUVCW??
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From:
> > > To:
> > > Sent: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:28 pm
> > > Subject: Re: [SUVCW] membership longevity (thread off of "We still ll
> > have
> > > lots of wor...
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > In a message dated 4/30/2008 8:31:42 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> > > writes:
> > >
> > > Where I am coming from is this. I have been studying the Civil War
> > > diligently for 32 years and only first heard of the Sons after 29
> > years.
> > > I
> > > was stunned that an organization such as this could elude me for so
> > long.
> > > Now of course Sons seem to be popping out of the woodwork every time
> I
> > > turn
> > > around. At first I thought I simply was not looking in the right
> > place.
> > > What was really the case is I was not looking period. Never having
> > heard
> > > of
> > > it why should I look. This is something I have heard from others
> that
> > > have
> > > recently joined as well. So I am forced to wonder at why it is that
> I
> > > could
> > > travel to battlefields all over the mid west and east, read
> extensively
> > > and
> > > talk to round tables without bumping into something...somewhere.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Brother McMillin:
> > >
> > > Your observations and questions do not surprise me. Please allow
> me to
> > > express some unwritten history of the Order and give a glimpse to an
> > > answer to
> > > your question.
> > >
> > > You did not hear of the SUVCW by design. At least a design that
> > existed
> > > for
> > > many years and has been slowly erased over the past 20 - 25 years.
> > >
> > > Let me take you back to Remembrance Day 1986 in Gettysburg. A small
> > > group
> > > of Brothers were appalled at a conversation we overhear between 3
> > PCinC's
> > > all
> > > of whom have answered their final muster call. The essences of that
> > > conversation was 1) those younger than themselves did not have
> personal
> > > knowledge of
> > > the Comrades of the GAR and therefore had no understanding,
> > appreciation
> > > or
> > > desire to "keep green the memory" for we had no memory, 2) the Order
> > > would die
> > > with them for the above reasons, 3) they did not want and did not
> > support
> > > any recruitment program they liked the small good old boys club where
> > the
> > > PCinC's ran the show for eternity. Needless to say this development
> > was
> > > the
> > > sole
> > > topic of conversation at the banquet that evening and the topic of
> many
> > > telephone calls during the ensuing months. Not all the PCinC's had
> > this
> > > attitude
> > > for there were some who had never personally know the members of the
> > GAR.
> > > They served out of a sense of duty to their ancestors and the deeply
> > held
> > > desire to honor their forefathers through membership and service to
> the
> > > Order.
> > > We
> > > were determined that no matter what it took, we would not let this
> dire
> > > prediction come to pass. An informal plan took shape and was put in
> > > place over
> > >
> > > several years. Without going into a lot of detail, it worked. We
> are
> > > still
> > > here. Yes, we need to do more and we need to make ourselves better
> > > known.
> > > But let's look at where we have come from. In 1988 when I became
> > > National
> > > Treasurer and Jim Lyons became National Secretary, we scoured the
> > records
> > > which
> > >
> > > were given to us. We had been claiming a membership of 2500 +/-. In
> > > reality,
> > > when the paper camps were removed and deceased Brothers dropped, we
> had
> > > less
> > > than 1500 living breathing Brothers. From this we have grown to
> 8,000
> > > members. More than a 500% increase in Brothers in 20 years and have
> > > added the
> > > Departments of Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee (includes Alabama),
> Texas,
> > > Oklahoma,
> > > Nebraska, Kansas and soon Georgia and South Carolina and North
> > Carolina.
> > > Expanded the Department of Wisconsin to include Minnesota, Department
> > of
> > > Maryland to include Virginia and the Department of Colorado and
> Wyoming
> > > to
> > > include
> > > Utah and Montana. If we can continue this pace, we will have 40,000
> > > members
> > > by mid century and have a real chance to have Departments covering
> > every
> > > state. (With the chartering of the two new Departments, only
> > Mississippi,
> > > Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, Idaho,
> > North
> > > and
> > > South Dakota are not part of a Department) Is this sufficient? No.
> > But
> > > is
> > > isn't all that bad either considering that most hereditary
> > organizations
> > > are
> > > experiencing drops in membership.
> > >
> > > Remember the SUVCW is a camp up organization not national
> down. If you
> > > have
> > > ideas, express them. Get yourself appointed to Department
> and National
> > > Committees. Run for elected offices. You are the SUVCW not some
> > > mythical
> > > National organization. The consensus of the Brothers is
> the direction
> > we
> > > go.
> > > Above all be a delegate and attend Department and National
> Encampments.
> > > If you
> > >
> > > have standing credentials by virtue of your past service, exercise
> your
> > > right
> > > to participate in the encampments. The SUVCW needs your
> participation;
> > > your
> > > ideas; your zeal.
> > >
> > > Ok enough pontification for tonight.
> > >
> > > Rich Orr
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S.
> used
> > > car
> > > listings at AOL Autos.
> > > (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)
> > > 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
> > >
> > > 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
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > 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.
> > -------------------------------
> > 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
> >
> > 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
> >
>
>
>
> --
> 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.
> -------------------------------
> 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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