Upcoming Meetings and Events
Saturday April 14, 2012 - Annual Meeting
Portland, ME
News
Highlights from Sept 24 Member Event:
The September 2011 Member Event and Board meeting of the Maine Society of the Sons of the American Revolution was held at the Senator Inn in Augusta. The day's events were separated into 4 major sections: the Board of Managers Meeting, a ladies event, the Member Event which included a presentation on the sons of the revolutionary war patriots by Larry Glatz and a luncheon.
The Board of Managers met for over an hour and a half attending to the business of the society. Officers of the Society and Committee Chairs gave reports. During the time Board members met, any ladies or drivers of attending MESSAR members were treated to a presentation and discussion. The ladies program was provided free of charge.
Of note from the Board of Managers meeting concerns the possible formation of three MESSAR chapters in Maine: Portland, Augusta and Bangor. The formation of these 3 chapters remains a priority with the Societies President and a renewed effort will be formed during the 2011 fiscal year. BUT: key to any Chapter happening is that one or more of the local membership takes on the formation of the Chapter and drives it to fruition. The Board has a committee who will help anyone in these 3 areas through the process. But, again, it will take a person or two to volunteer to be the advocate. Anyone interested should contact the President either thru the Societies Web Site www.messar.org , or directly via cdwyer@midcoast.com. It will take 15 members in good standing to petition for a local chapter and then to name it, elect officers and run it.
The Board of Managers wants all members to know that the next Member Event is tentatively (subject to locating a suitable venue) scheduled for April 14th, 2012. This will also be the Annual Meeting of the society. Watch this web site and the mail for further information.
After the Board of Managers meeting was adjourned, board members joined other members and guests and were then treated to a presentation by Larry Glatz on the subject of "The Sons of Revolution: Mainers of 1812 reload for the 2nd and 3rd Struggles for Independence."
Larry, who graduated from Bridgton (Maine) High School back in the days when there was Bridgton HS, received a bachelor's from Dartmouth and a Masters from Harvard and enjoyed a career as teacher and administrator in public and private schools in New England, after which he enjoyed a 2nd career as a data systems administrator. He has edited and collaborated in a number of publication works, including Proceedings of the Steamship College and Young Wives tales from Maine and Kansas. He served as Chair of the Oxford County Bicentennial Commission and was awarded the Maine Historical Societies James Phinney Baxter award for historical writing. In addition to this he has used his data management skills to compile a number of reference works. The most significant of these is a 15 volume set, including an every name and household index of the 1850 census of Maine: the earliest federal census to include names and ages of every residence of the state. Since his recent retirement he has been engaged in compiling a directory of soldiers and militiamen from Maine who participated in the War of 1812. The register is nearing its forty-five thousandth entry.
Larry informed the audience that in the years following George Washington's terms as President, the young American democracy struggled through an identity crisis which culminated in the War of 1812. Although the soldiers of the Revolution knew exactly what they were fighting for, their sons were seriously divided over the issue of whether a 2nd war against Great Britain was needed or not. This division was particularly wide in the District of Maine, where participants and events of the War of 1812 had profound effects.
After the presentation Mr. Glatz joined the members and their guests and they all dined on a plated lunch of Crispy Lemon Chicken Breast with Lemon Buerre Blanc Sauce or Roast Stuffed Pork w/apple walnut stuffing and Madeira gravy.. There was a cash bar available from the Senator Inn and a dessert of strawberry shortcake. The food was a hit as was the presentation.
Please plan on joining us at the next member event tentatively (subject to locating a suitable venue) scheduled for the Portland area on April 14th 2012. This will also be the Annual Meeting of the society. And please think about getting involved in starting a local chapter!!!
Court Dwyer, president MESSAR
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WELCOME!
The Maine Society of the
Sons of the American Revolution (MESSAR) is the state affiliate for the National
Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR). It was organized in
Portland in 1891. The preliminary meeting was held February 21; a proposed
Constitution and By-Laws were presented for consideration February 28, and were
adopted March 14. The election of officers followed March 28.
 Any
man shall be eligible for membership in the Maine Society Sons of the American
Revolution who: Being of the age of eighteen years or over
and a citizen of good repute in the community, is the lineal descendant of an
ancestor who was at all times unfailing in loyalty to and rendered active
service in, the cause of American independence, either as an: officer, soldier,
seaman, marine, militiaman or Minuteman, in the armed forces of the Continental
Congress, or of any one of the several Colonies or States; or as a Signer of the
Declaration of Independence, or as a member of a Committee of Safety or
Correspondence; or as a member of any Continental, Provincial, or Colonial
Congress or Legislature; or as a recognized patriot who performed actual service
by overt acts of resistance to the authority of Great Britain.
The memorial above was
placed at Valley Forge by the Maine Sons of the American Revolution in the early
part of the 20th century.
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Maine In 1776-
At the time of the American Revolution,
Maine, not a State until 1820, was part of Massachusetts. Because of Maine's
remoteness from the authorities in Boston and the Continental Congress in
Philadelphia, the inhabitants received little military support despite the
proximity of the British across the border in Canada and constant pressure from
the Royal Navy along the coast. Apart from Benedict Arnold's ill-fated
expedition to Quebec through the wilderness of western Maine, most military
action took place up and down the vulnerable coast. |
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CALLING ALL WORLD WAR II VETS
The SAR is asking all WW II Vets to complete a survey on the National Web Site so SAR can recognize and inform the national membership of their WW II service.
To complete the survey WW II vets are asked to complete the "SAR WW II Veterans" survey on the national site.
Clicking on the link below will then present the form to be filled out on-line and submitted to the National Society SAR. You may click the below link to go directly to the Survey.
http://www.sar.org/NSSAR-Forms/Webform/WW2_Survey
The Maine State Society SAR is planning on presenting certificates to those who have completed the on-line survey, and have been acknowledged by NSSAR, at the Maine State Annual Meeting in April 2012. If you are a WW II vet please complete the form on the National Site a.s.a.p. so certificates can be made up for the April Maine Society Meeting. And plan to attend meeting in April so your compatriots may recognize your service. Watch your mail or this site for more detailed information about the April Meeting.
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