Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Prattville Dragoons March Camp Meeting

The Dragoons held their March camp meeting at the Shoney's on Cobbs Ford Road in Prattville on Thursday March 14th.  A number of spouses were in attendance including Mrs. Brantley, Burdick and Crowley.  Announcements included the Confederate Heritage Rally in Biloxi (this past Saturday - watch for a report on this blog upcoming).  As April is Confederate History Month there are many events planned.  On March 30th at 8:30am, the Dragoons will again set flags on the Confederate veteran graves at the Oak Hill cemetery in Prattville.  April 13th is the annual Dragoon's picnic at Confederate Memorial Park which will commence with a flag setting on the veteran's graves at 9am and the picnic at 11am which will include three Dixie smoked butts provided by the camp and camp stew provided by the Lions Club.  April 22nd we will have a wreath setting at the Dragoons monument at the Prattville Primary School on Washington Street at 6pm.  Paul Whaley announced the Living History encampment which will again be held at the Confederate Memorial Park on Friday April 26th at 9:30am. Jeffrey Potts attended the recent gun show at the Shriner's Temple in Montgomery and set up a recruiting booth again for the Dragoons and got a few names of perspective new members who have been contacted by Tyrone Crowley.  Two additional gun shows were mentioned, one in Clanton and one in Birmingham.  The trial in Selma involving Todd Kiscaden and the anarchist Rose Sanders was discussed as that hearing had been held that very day but no information was known as to the outcome; a federal case hearing is scheduled for November where Todd is suing the Selma city council and police department for interfering with the lawful construction project he was forced to postpone.  The heritage attack in Memphis was also discussed where the city council has attempted to rename three Confederate parks despite a subsequent law passed by the Tennessee state legislature prohibiting the renaming of any parks named in honor of military figures. There is movement among the city council and this blatant snub of our heritage may well take a turn.  The Dragoons EC had gathered some money at their Monday meeting to support the Heritage Defense Fund to return the names to these Confederate Parks and the members assembled at the camp meeting pitched in almost $200 additional.

Following these announcements, Tyrone Crowley provided a newsletter report.  26 Dragoons members receive the newsletter by mail and 51 by email and additionally 34 non-members receive the Camp Dispatch including Division officers and others. The postage and printer toner accounts for the minimal cost of the newsletter publication. Tyrone also presented the Treasurer's report in the absence of Billy Leverette.  Costs incurred this past year included parade entries, Lee ads (paper and AL.com), a wreath for the funeral of our Real Son Henry Gober, speaker reimbursement, our $500 annual donation to the Alabama Archives flag restoration, our $150 donation to the First White House security system, final website fees prior to the establishment of our blog site and Quartermaster stores leaving a nice balance.  The recently received check from the GE Foundation matching funds allowed for the approval by the membership present of a bench for the Confederate Circle in the Selma cemetery which will more immediately go to help the Friends of Forrest in their legal battles to continue this restoration and beautification effort. It was discussed as to whether Mr.Bradley from the AL Archives would be our keynote speaker at the April picnic where we could present him the $500 check.  Mr. Bradley provides a special Saturday tour of the backrooms of the Archives to the Dragoons as a special thanks for our donation.  Wayne Sutherland provided the Adjutant report indicating the Dragoons stand with 78 members currently.  2nd Lt Stuart Waldo provided a brief report of the SCV National Leadership conference including Vision 2016 and a couple ideas were highlighted including membership in the local Chamber of Commerce, the camp Google account which is an integral part of the Vision 2016 initiative, and including recent perspective member contacts in the camp newsletter distribution. The slate of officers nominated by the EC passed unanimously including Commander Stuart Waldo, 1st Lt Harold Grooms, 2nd Lt Chris Booth, Adjutant Wayne Sutherland, Treasurer Billy Leverette and Chaplain Tom Snowden. David Brantley also expressed interested in serving in the appointed position of Quartermaster which will be a great help to have solid ownership of that important responsibility.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Sons of Confederate Veterans National Leadership Conference - Part 4

VISION 2016
Dr. Tom Hiter, retired Lt. Colonel in the National Guard and Professor of Military Science at Ft. Benning provided an introduction into Vision 2016 at the SCV National Leadership Conference in Foley AL.  Vision 2016 is an exciting initiative for the entire SCV organization and leadership which will be gearing up immediately and over the next few years.  The GEC in Chickamauga formulated the Vision 2016 concept and program after taking a hard look at the core SCV beliefs.  We believe in God, home, family, heritage, duty, liberty, freedom, self-determination, self-government, and patriotism and we believe the Confederacy was founded on these same beliefs. The GEC formulated a plan to implement these beliefs, to have an organization of 50000 men by 2016 who are regarded as the preeminent authority on Southern heritage and American liberty.  This vision was adopted at the Montgomery National Convention. 
There are six elements to Vision 2016. 
Who needs to take action?  Every SCV member because it is our duty and privilege.
What needs to be done? Vindicate the Cause per the Charge.  The Cause includes the belief in
individual liberty and states rights including the right to property (but not necessarily happiness)
as Jefferson originally proposed for the Constitution; promoting the Cause of liberty is essential
and should be the focus of our events and participation in parades and socials should be the trimming.

When does it need to start?  Now.
Where was action needed?  Everywhere, especially in the South firstly but everywhere we live now throughout the United States and the world; the SCV has members in Europe, Brazil and throughout the USA.
Why is the action required?  Because it is our Charge and why we exist as an organization.
How?  This is the hard part.  The SCV is a 19th century organization in the 21st century. The members of the UCV conducted their reunions often in campgrounds especially in the poor Southern region rebuilding from the War and Reconstruction.  The SCV was founded by children of these veterans who originally sought to help their fathers attend these reunions.  But today we have a much nobler cause.
The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) In WWII conducted a body of research on which thousands of volumes have been written.  The Vision 2016 plan makes use of this research.  Elementally, this research found that anyone can learn to lead.  This was essential when special operations sought to recruit the local populace to lead resistance forces.  The OSS study showed you can train leaders.
General Systems Theory formulated in the 1950s postulates that open systems are those that interact with their environment and they function best.  Organizations work best when members are involved in making decisions and plot the course of action.  Many organizations today are like that like churches and some local SCV camps too but all too often, SCV camps are founded and directed by a single man who builds a membership that does not get involved and do not continue with the organization.   Systems Theory identified key things to fix – educate ourselves (training), educate the public (marketing), better public relations and growth.   In the 1980s and 1990s communication technology leapt forward and continues today.   Systems Theory is about keeping the communication going.
Vision 2016 formulated by the GEC comprises many elements:
                A “What Works” book was written and is available to every camp.
A g-mail system was put in place and every camp or commander will have a permanent g-mail address.
A shadow organization will be developed to assist Commanders at National, Army and Division levels to assist camps.  Camps should exhaust the shadow organization as resources for support for recruitment, retention, and training.
                Share information between camps at a national level.  The camp Google account will include access to a Google shared drive which provides access for retrieving filed information including resources and communications.  It will be thru this method that for instance instructions for lobbying local, state and national politicians for SCV initiatives will be communicated. 
What’s next?  More Army and Division level training. By July all camps will hold a facilitated meeting to deal with the Systems Theory questions on what we do and what we can do better and results will be disseminated to each camp.  Also by July each camp will need to be comfortable with their Google account.  
What can we do now?  Talk it up.  Use the new Google account and systems. Use the ideas in the What Works book.  Get to know your component managers and coordinators at Division level and use them as resources.
Vision 2016.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Chaplain's Column from the March Prattville Dragoons Camp Dispatch

Chaplain Tom Snowden's column from the March issue of the Prattville Dragoons Camp Dispatch newsletter.

Chaplain’s Column
Have you ever heard it said, “The one who dies with the most toys wins?” When I was unsaved and living in this world without Jesus in my heart I believed in that philosophy. Now that I am saved, older and, I would like to think, much wiser, my perspective on life has taken a drastic turn.
            Turning to our Bibles, Romans 12:2 says the following: “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”
            I now have a new measurement for success. Success is the progressive realization of the will of God in our lives. It’s not about the most toys, money, health, or how famous you are. Turning once again to our Bibles, look at Micah 6:8 which says “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” This explains what God requires of you. Psalm 37:4 says “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart”. This is telling us what God requires of us.
            May I suggest that, if you have the distorted belief that I once had, consider changing your philosophy in life and let Jesus take charge. I have found life to be happier and I pray you will too.
Please remember the following in your prayers:
1.    Jeff Potts
2.    James & Ann Spears
3.    Bobby Carter & wife Merrill
4.    James Little's wife Nita
5.    David Brantley's wife Jennifer
6.    Allen Herrod
7.    Whitson Waldo (Stuart Waldo's father) - cancer
8.    Wayne Sutherland - back problems
9.    Past Division Commander David Allen - kidney stones
10.  John Durden's son (David Fail) - TIA
11.  Cecil Williamson - continued health problems
12.  Wyatt Willis - recovering from broken ankle
13.  JJ Oakley - breathing problems
14.  Billy Parker - recovering from injuries suffered in fall
15.  Billy Parker's son-in-law Stan Stuckey - recovering from heart attack.
16.  Leonard Wilson - recovering from hip-replacement surgery
17.  Family of Bill Myrick's brother-in-law Earnest "Buster" Liles, who recently passed away
18.  James Whittington - back surgery, pain and need to return to job


Yours In Christ,
Tom Snowden, Chaplain

Friday, March 15, 2013

Confederate Heritage Rally 2013 - Biloxi MS

The 2013 Sesquicentennial Event/Confederate Heritage Rally will be held Saturday March 16th in Biloxi, MS at Beauvoir. The dedication ceremony for the new Jefferson Davis Presidential Library will be the showcase of the program.  All SCV member and defenders of heritage and promoters of the principles of the Cause should make plans to attend this important event. 
The Heritage Parade line-up will start Saturday morning along the gulf front Hwy 90. Participants should be in place by 11am. The Dedication event and rally begins at 1pm.  AN SCV honor guard, the National GEC officers, reenactors and members from each Division will march down Hwy 90 to Beauvoir.  Battle Flags will be in prominent display and salutes with guns and cannons are planned.  Be sure to attend this special event which also offers an opportunity to tour historic Beauvoir and the renovated Presidential Library. 

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Announcing the Prattville Dragoons Camp Meeting for March 2013

SCV Camp 1524, the Prattville Dragoons will have their monthly camp meeting on Thursday evening, March 14th at 7pm at the Shoney's on Cobbs Ford Rd in Prattville AL.  Come join us for an evening of fellowship and camaraderie at this, our annual business meeting.  Come early and enjoy the delicious Shoney's buffet including one of their scrumptious desserts.  This business meeting includes reports from the officers including the Commander, Lieutenants, Treasurer, Adjutant and Chaplain.  2nd Lt Waldo will provide a report on the National Leadership Conference recently held in Foley AL including the Adjutant information, membership recruiting and retention, traits of successful camps, and the Vision 2016 SCV initiative.  The elections of the camp officers for the coming year will also be on the agenda. The EC has recommended and nominated Stuart Waldo for the position of Commander, Harold Grooms as 1st Lt Commander, Chris Booth as 2nd Lt Commander, Wayne Sutherland as Adjutant, Billy Leverette as Treasurer and Tom Snowden as Chaplain but other nominations may be made from the floor.  Come to this camp meeting to hear about the successes enjoyed by the camp in the past year, news of relevant and upcoming events and to participate in this annual camp meeting.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Sons of Confederate Veterans National Leadership Conference - Part 3

Lieutenant Commander Kelly Barrow addressed the National Leadership Conference in Foley regarding membership Recruiting and Retention saying it's everyone's duty to recruit new members for the SCV but retention is the real problem.  Although advertisements, lapel pins, license plates and stickers may be effective, the best recruiter is SCV members. From a business perspective we must ask ourselves, how do we bring back our past customers, our delinquent members, how do we keep our current customers, and how do we attract new customers.  The Charge encourages us to further the causes of vindication, virtues and liberty.  There are five Rs for Growth: Recruiting, Reinforcement, Retention, Reinstatement, and Replication.

Recruiting may be Demand Side or Supply Side. We should be more concerned with helping men honor their ancestors and heritage than pushing membership. Nonetheless, it would be awesome to grow membership so that one day we see a million cracker march on Washington DC.  To further recruiting, keep an ongoing list of perspective members; SCV headquarters maintains a record of application downloads from the scv.org site which includes names and addresses which are available for camps to use for contact.  But camps should keep lists from festivals and gun shows and other events where recruiting booths or tables are set up. Send these perspective members camp newsletters and announcements and keep them active in these communications for 18 months. Advertise meetings in local newspapers which may be free for non-profits such as the SCV. 

Many camps have annual recruiting meetings which along with a Lee-Jackson commemorative event, a Confederate Memorial Day observance and a Christmas Social constitute the four major camp events each year.  A grassroots effort including sending handwritten invitations, bringing perspective recruits and including a hot dog cookout or ice cream social are successful ideas. Make the annual recruiting meeting a Brigade or even a Division event.  Use SCV media like copies of old Confederate Veteran magazines and brochures at recruiting booths.  New Army recruiting tents are available to use at these events on loan.  Getting perspective members involved with the Friends of the SCV is an effective way to keep them involved and informed as they pursue and complete their genealogical research.  Your camp should join the local Chamber of Commerce as a 501.c.3 to attract new members who may be recent transplants to your community and neighborhoods.

In recruiting, there is a Target and a Broadcast Method.  The Target method utilizes a personal approach where one usually knows the recruit and they may already be familiar with the SCV.  The problem with recruits gained by this method is that they likely develop a club mentality and don't get involved and responsible with camp activities or leadership.  The Broadcast Method provides a potentially broader number of people contacted and many are strangers and relies on the concept that if you build a tent, they will come.  But the members attracted by the Broadcast method are usually more motivated. The best recruiting tool is a vibrant camp which has camp meetings in an accessible location with consistent programs in punctual organized meetings with a fraternal atmosphere including outreach to the community.  Assign new members to an older camp member as a resource or questions and encouragement and to provide a personal touch for a year or so.

The second R is Reinforcement.  New members should be assigned to a committee so that they get a sense of belonging and usefulness and ownership.  The camp Commander should make an effort to meet new members stressing the importance of the work of the camp. The camp should always have plenty of projects in process to work on and new members should be encourages to participate in these projects to feel important and an asset to the camp.

The third R is Reinstatement.  2/3 of all members in the SCV are delinquent members.  The National Headquarter maintains a list of these past members. The Camp #584 is the Headquarters Camp which has most of the delinquent members.  Many of these wanted to get their SCV membership certificate and not renew and didn't seek to get involved in a local camp.  Candy White at headquarters can be contacted for a list of Camp 584 in your area and local delinquent members.

The fourth R is Retention. Initiatives like effective camp communication including the camp newsletter and an updated website encourage retention along with frequent varied opportunities for activities in which to participate.  The Membership Renewal System has created a centralized more automated method for ensuring every member gets notification for membership renewals.  The scvli.org on-line SCV Leadership Institute is a terrific resource for instruction for new members and members seeking leadership positions and opportunities.

The fifth R is Replication.  The monster camp is not a good goal.  If a camp is growing, spread the success and try to start new camps in surrounding communities using the same folks and successful initiatives which made the original camp great. This concept follows the model of the 1st century church and the Great Commission and modern missionary evangelistic churches.

Recruiting and retention should not just be man to man but camp to community. The five Rs address how to attract and retain SCV customers. 

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Sons of Confederate Veterans National Leadership Conference - Part 2

Lt. Commander Kelley Barrow commenced the program for the SCV National Leadership Conference at the Gift Horse saying he started training programs during his Army command and initiated the national programs including these conferences as well as the on-line training for Commanders, Adjutants and membership (in development). Kelley then introduced Adjutant-in-Chief Steve Ritchie as the first presenter.

Adjutant-in-Chief Steve Ritchie defined the Adjutant as a staff officer assisting the commanding officer chiefly with communications per the dictionary but the SCV Constitution goes much further to include maintaining records and minutes of meetings and conventions, rolls of camps and officers, keeper of the seal of the Confederation, creating awards for members and other duties assigned by the Commander in Chief and serves at the pleasure of the CiC.  Steve recognized the Adjutants that served tirelessly before him including Chuck Rand. Per the Constitution, the Adjutant can implore staff to assist with his designated duties.  He reminded everyone that the Elm Springs staff is there to welcome everyone when visiting the SCV headquarters and the six folks on staff handle everything there including gift shop purchases. He also encouraged everyone to use the scv.org website as most all information requested can be found there. 

Adjutants make it all work.  Roster updates are important to be provided to the Army Secretary to ensure members are accounted for and to make sure everyone gets their outstanding quarterly SCV magazine.  Adjutant Ritchie has just initiated this January distribution of monthly newsletters to Division Adjutants to disseminate to Brigade and camp Adjutants and he encouraged everyone to approach their Division Adjutants to receive these useful newsletters.  He also encouraged everyone to read the Camp Handbook, a must read for Commanders and Adjutants.  Steve stressed the importance of camp Adjutants to complete the Last Roll paperwork when members pass away - of the 60000 delinquent SCV members, a surprising number are deceased but no Last Roll paperwork was every provided for them.  Cindy White at the national headquarters can provide a delinquent member list for every camp and Steve asked that every Adjutant get one of these lists. 

Adjutant Ritchie then announced what he claimed would be a controversial fact, that there is no constitutional requirement to send proof of lineage/descent from a Confederate veteran to the National Headquarters for membership in the SCV.  The membership packet required at national SCV headquarters includes a completed application, a check and preferably a type written summary of the applicants information but no paperwork for descent documentation is required by national headquarters.  Membership records are kept as hardcopies at SCV National headquarters.  SCV National does no genealogy verification.  The application requires camp officer signatures to substantiate membership satisfaction and camp requirements vary.  Compiled service records are sometimes illegible or inaccurate and many were lost during the War especially when towns were burned and razed such as in Sherman's march.  Additional resources include the American Civil War Research database and Broadfoot's records of Confederate veterans.  UCV and pension records are additional resources.  He highlighted that how an ancestor was separated or location of his burial may be unknown and don't get hung up on those details when completing the application. 

Steve encouraged everyone to use this period from February thru April to use the prorated dues as a recruiting tool for growing SCV membership as a great value to encourage new members to sign-up.  He encouraged everyone to continue to learn more about the Adjutant role and use the scvli.org (SCV Leadership Institute) as a part of this educational opportunity. Finally, Steve implored everyone that when choosing camp officers, choose responsible competent people - a poor Adjutant means reports won't be filed, Last Rolls will not be completed for condolences, members won't get their magazines.  He stressed that there is no disgrace in resigning from a position for family and work priorities. 

Adjutant-in-Chief Steve Ritchie Addresses SCV Leadership Conference