Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Commander’s Column– Planting the New General James Holt Clanton SCV Camp in Clanton

Wonderful development in the Alabama Division and the Southwest Central Brigade with the chartering of a General James Holt Clanton Sons of Confederate Veterans camp.  On Saturday August 29th, Division Commander Hill and the Clanton SCV Camp team met at the CMP SCV Library to sign the charter, transfers and compile the camp constitution which Jimmy took to file at General headquarters.  The Prattville Dragoons played a primary role in the planting of this new camp.  Camp 1524 hosted an informational booth at the Clanton Peach Jam Festival the past two years and Commander Waldo and Adjutant Butler helped lead organizational meetings over the past few months with local men interested in forming the new camp.  The critical mass (minimum of seven members required for chartering a new camp) was achieved when we shifted away from conceptualizing a new camp with primarily new members and instead focused on developing the camp with members local to the area but already active in Camp 1524, effectively planting a new camp from the parent Dragoons camp.  Things moved quickly when compatriots Todd Rogers and David Smith expressed interest in transferring into the new camp and in assuming leadership roles.  Todd will be the camp commandeer and David the adjutant for the General James Holt Clanton Camp.  Clanton compatriot Alex Hollon who is actually a member of the Foley Camp Blakely camp has been instrumental in developing interest in the new camp over the past couple of years.  Alex (Kale) will be the 1st Lt Commander for the Clanton camp.   A number of additional Dragoons who have been outstanding active members in Camp 1524 also volunteered to transfer into the camp as charter members.  The quick progression in the formation of the camp demonstrated a key to the success of that process but also in the workings of all SCV camps.  Members transferring into a new camp and stepping into leadership are already familiar with what is needed in the operations of a camp, the goings-on and what is expected of members of the camp and perhaps even in specific officers’ roles.  It is critical for planting a camp that existing members of parent camps are willing to transfer into the new camp to provide that knowledge and leadership.  Best to plant stronger plants (seedlings or grafts) rather than newbie seeds.  The whole process reminded me of our church which was the parent church and planted a church in Wetumpka, a nearby community.   When it was announced that our church was planting a new church in another community, it was announced that our youth minister would be leaving to lead that new church as the pastor and that a number of families active in our church would also be leaving to help act as the foundational families in that church.  That new church is thriving and growing today.  Planting a church or an SCV camp is best achieved by transferring key leadership and members to the new body who can provide knowledge, stability and energy to establish and move the new camp or church forward.  Although the parent may lose members in the short term, planting a new camp or church is valuable for the organization to eventually canvas new areas and reach new neighbors and grow membership for greater overall growth for the larger organization.  Camp 1524 should look forward to having a thriving sister camp in a neighboring town and county with which we can have bigger and better joint activities like a Brigade fall muster and spring picnic and other events.  Clanton is a great town with a great history including a Confederate namesake in General James Holt Clanton and the community and Chilton county has great folks which should be ready to grow membership in their SCV camp and be active in advancing the Cause and following the SCV Charge.  Great stuff.