Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution
Minutes of the Board of Managers Meeting
9 March 2000
President Lloyd called the meeting to order promptly at 4:00 p.m. in the Grant Room of the Union League in Philadelphia. Chaplain Proctor led the Board in prayer.
PRESENT: Messrs. Burke, Cheyney, Clattenburg, Di Stefano, Fenstermacher, Frick, Gordon, Graham, Lloyd, Morris, Proctor, Salisbury, Van Gulick, Ward, G. Wood and H. Wood.
MINUTES: President Lloyd noted that the Executive Secretary had distributed a packet of reports to the Officers and Managers present. They included the minutes of the February meeting of the Board; the Treasurer’s year-to-date profit and loss budget comparison report for the period ending 29 February 2000; the Registrar’s Necrology report; the Finance Committee’s proposed, five-page "Investment Policy Guidelines and Procedures;" the Membership Committee’s three-page "Applications in Process" report; and the Washington’s Birthday Committee’s preliminary report on income and expenses.
President Lloyd noted that review and approval of the minutes of the February meeting would be brought before the Board under New Business.
SECRETARY'S REPORT: Secretary Clattenburg reported that regrets had been received from Messrs. Byrne, Flood, Gresh, Groff, Hoyt, Lewis, Loughran, Maiden, Moore, and Walkup.
The current membership of the Society, as of 29 February 2000, stands at 1,061 active members. This number includes 22 life members and two regular members for whom the Society has no current address. Total membership also includes 20 Junior Life members, raising the sum of all names on the roster to 1,081.
The Society has three new life members. They are Theodore Clattenburg, Jr. (PA Soc. #4664; elected 13 January 1966); Robert Annis Kilgore (PA Soc. #4663; elected 9 December 1965); and Mark Crosby Ward (PA Soc. #5693; elected 10 March 1988).
The Secretary reported that William Henry Rivoir, III (PA Soc. #5456) has submitted a request for resignation from membership in the Society. Mr. Rivoir has lived in Arizona for a number of years and has joined the new State Society of Sons of the Revolution in that state. Mr. Rivoir is a member in good standing. On motion made and duly seconded, the Board voted unanimously to grant Mr. Rivoir’s request and accept his resignation.
The Secretary reported further that the Society has received two requests for reinstatement: the first from Andrew Lindsay Lewis, Jr. (PA Soc. #5031; elected 8 February 1973) and the second from William Dixon Shay, Jr. (PA Soc. #5640; elected May 8, 1986). On motion made by Vice President Di Stefano and duly seconded, the Board voted unanimously to reinstate both men to membership in the Society.
The final item in Secretary Clattenburg’s report concerned two members who have requested "Old Guard" status. The first is Robert Henry Newall (PA Soc. #4083), who is 76 years old and has been a member in good standing for 48 years. The second is Alden Rodney Ludlow, II (PA Soc. #4740), who is 82 years old and has been a member in good standing for almost 33 years. On motion made by Vice President Di Stefano and duly seconded, the Board voted unanimously to grant Old Guard membership status to members Newall and Ludlow.
At the conclusion of Secretary Clattenburg’s report, President Lloyd asked if there were any comments or questions. There being none, the President asked for a motion to adopt the Secretary’s report. On motion made and duly seconded, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Secretary’s report.
TREASURER'S REPORT: Treasurer Ward noted that copies of his Profit and Loss Budget Comparison report for the year-to-date period ending 29 February 2000 were distributed at the beginning of the meeting. In summarizing the report for the Board, he called attention to several conspicuous points: a) in accordance with the discussion at the February meeting of the Board, the report no longer includes the monthly increase or decrease in the market value of the Society’s investment portfolio as a line item of ordinary income and expense; the result is the ability to make useful comparisons between the Profit and Loss Report and the Budget; b) income for the first two months of FY 2000 totaled $11,323, while expenses totaled $14,552; the year’s first quarterly check from the Rorer Trust will arrive and be deposited in March; c) a new page in the report showing year-to-date changes in the market value of the Society’s investment portfolio; d) this page showed there were no deposits or withdrawals from the account during the past month and that the market value of the portfolio stood at $3,610,514 on 29 February 2000, a year-to-date increase of 3.5%.
At the conclusion of Treasurer Ward’s report, President Lloyd asked if there were any comments or questions. There being none, the President asked for a motion to accept the Treasurer’s report, subject to audit. On motion made and duly seconded, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Treasurer’s report.
REGISTRAR'S REPORT: In the absence of Registrar FitzGerald, Secretary Clattenburg stated that it was his unhappy duty to report that in the period since the February meeting of the Board, the Society had learned of the deaths of three members: John Lawrence Atkins, M.D. (PA Soc. #5564, elected 8 December 1983); James Edson O’Connell, (PA Soc. #4014, elected 21 June 1951) and William Cooper Pierson, (PA Soc. #4346, elected 14 November 1957). President Lloyd noted that Mr. Pierson, of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, was 98 years old when he died. Vice President Di Stefano also reported the death, on Wednesday, 8 March 2000, of Francis Shunk Brown, III (PA Soc. #3676, elected 10 February 1943). Mr. Brown’s father, Philadelphia Common Pleas Court judge Francis Shunk Brown, Jr., served as the twelfth President of the Society. The legacy of Judge Brown, repeated to younger members even today, is that he regularly chaired the meetings of the Board of Managers in his judge’s chambers in City Hall. A memorial service for Francis Shunk Brown, III was held on Tuesday, 14 March, at 4:00 p.m., at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill.
President Lloyd asked all those present to rise and Chaplain Proctor led the Board in memorial prayer.
President Lloyd also reported that Registrar FitzGerald is working with the Executive Secretary to secure General Society membership numbers for all recently elected members so that the Society will have a complete list at the time of the Annual Meeting in April. He also plans to meet with his successor as Registrar as well as other officers to review the membership files of the Society in order to assure a smooth transition.
HISTORIAN’S REPORT: In the absence of Historian Groff, there was no report.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT: President Lloyd offered his congratulations to Manager Morris, the members of his Washington’s Birthday Committee, Captain Salisbury, the other officers and members of the Color Guard, and all others who helped to make this year’s Washington’s Birthday party such a success. Attendance was excellent and the pleasure expressed by many of the participants confirmed that the event was successful both as a memorial to the greatness of George Washington and as a social occasion at which the members of the Society and their guests enjoyed dinner and dancing.
President Lloyd reported that the Nominations Committee, in accordance with the Bylaws of the Society, had met and on 1 March, submitted its report. He read the report to Board and ordered that a copy be appended to the minutes. The report will be mailed to the membership with the invitation to the Annual Meeting. The mailing took place on Wednesday, 15 March.
In addition to the Officers and Managers of the Society to serve for the year 2000-2001, the Nominations Committee placed in nomination the names of the Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Triennial Convention of the General Society, which will be held in September 2000 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Nominations Committee named the following officers as Delegates: the President, the Presidents Emeriti, the Regent of the Lancaster County Chapter, and the Vice Presidents. The Nominations Committee also named the following officers as Alternate Delegates: the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Registrar, the Counselor, the Historian, the Chaplain, the Assistant Secretary, and the Assistant Treasurer, in that order.
President Lloyd reported further that he and Secretary Clattenburg have generally completed their arrangements for the Annual Meeting of the Society. The speaker will be Eric Thomas Slauter, the Sons of the Revolution / Society of the Cincinnati Dissertation Fellow for 1999-2000 at the McNeil Center for Early American Studies of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Slauter gave a delightful address to the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania at that Society’s annual meeting this past October. He will receive his Ph.D. from Stanford University later this spring and has accepted an appointment as Assistant Professor of English Language and Literature at the University of Chicago.
President Lloyd explained further that one of our own members, Robert Lincoln McNeil, Jr., is the benefactor of the Center for Early American Studies which now bears his name. Bob McNeil was a member of the Board from 1969 to 1972 and chaired the Washington’s Birthday Committee. He is now in his mid-eighties, but still very active in the world of philanthropy. He is, in particular, a very generous donor to the arts and humanities. A special invitation will be extended to him to attend the Annual Meeting, because he would be very pleased to see the Society demonstrate its support of the McNeil Center and to hear an excellent presentation by one of the Fellows of the Center.
President Lloyd concluded by expressing his heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the four men whose terms on the Board of Managers are coming to a close. He described Francis Joseph ("Jay") Bowden, III as a quiet leader who brought a new identity and appealing activities to the Younger Members Committee. Mr. Lloyd noted that last October the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania elected Lewis Sidney Graham, Jr. to its presidency and that Mr. Graham will surely serve for years to come as a reliable liaison between the Sons and the Society of the Cincinnati. Mr. Lloyd then turned to the Society’s outgoing Treasurer, Mark Crosby Ward, and thanked him also, stating that Mr. Ward deserves much of the credit for holding the Society’s spending within its budget and for safeguarding the Society’s assets. Mr. Ward performed his duties without even the hint of the "grinch," but with good cheer, forthright communication, and general diplomacy. Lastly, Mr. Lloyd described the personality and conversational style of Harvard Castle Wood, III as the perfect match for the chairmanship of the Membership Committee. Mr. Wood’s sociable manner made him a very cordial host to all candidates and new members, as he "promoted the feeling of friendship" wherever he went. The Society is indebted to all four men and the Board will miss their presence and their service.
ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE: Vice President Di Stefano reported that the Admissions Committee held a luncheon meeting at the Acorn Club on Tuesday, 7 March 2000 and approved nine Proposals for Membership. Three candidates for membership are residents of the Lancaster County area: John Eric Buckwalter, and his two sons, Eric Raymond Buckwalter and Evan John Buckwalter. The Philadelphia-area candidates are Timothy Edward Games, Robert Steven Voros, and four members of the Kilgore family — Robert Annis Kilgore, Jr., Robert Annis Kilgore, III, Edward Dustin Kilgore, and Robert Mitchell Shiles, Jr.
Vice President Di Stefano reported that the Society’s verifying genealogist, Robert Barnes, had approved the lineage and supporting documentation of three candidates for Junior Life membership and four candidates for regular, adult membership. The Admissions Committee has subsequently conducted its final review and recommends all seven for membership. The three candidates for Junior Life membership are Christopher Meirs Lent Church, his brother Franklin Quarles Lent Church, and James Jonathan FitzGerald, the son of Registrar Jonathan FitzGerald. The four candidates for regular, adult membership are George Potter Kegler, Michael Joseph McIntyre, Hugh Roberts Parrish, III and Wayne Ralph Strasbaugh.
President Lloyd asked if any member of the Board had any comments or questions concerning the recommendations of the Admissions Committee. Hearing none, he asked for a motion to elect Masters Christopher Church, Franklin Church, and James Jonathan Fitzgerald to Junior Life membership and Mssrs. Kegler, McIntyre, Parrish, and Strasbaugh to regular, adult membership. On motion made and duly seconded, the Board unanimously elected all seven candidates to membership.
Chairman Di Stefano also reported that upon review of the Society’s records for the period April 1996 through April 1997 the Board elected 24 candidates to membership in the Society. In the first year of President Lloyd’s term, the Board elected 13 candidates to membership; in the second year, the Board elected 22 new members; and in the period since the Annual Meeting of a year ago, the Board has elected a total of 34 new members. During President Lloyd’s three-year tenure the Board has therefore elected a total of 69 new members, a number which includes both Junior Life members and adult, regular members.
Vice President Di Stefano stated that for more than seven decades the Society has actively sought to increase its membership, but always beginning only with men of good character. In the years he has helped lead this effort, the Society has been creative and energetic in its recruitment, but it is only during the last three years that he has witnessed the Society’s strategies come to fruition. He thanked the members of the Admissions Committee, whom he described as a small, but dedicated group of men who faithfully attend meetings, meet and assess the candidates, and manage the lengthy membership process through its entire course.
BUDGET COMMITTEE: Vice President Frick began his report by calling the Board’s attention to the Society’s FY 2000 budget of $20,000 for all expenses related to the General Society’s Triennial Convention in September 2000. He noted that $5,000 is designated for the Society’s reception on Friday evening and $15,000 for reimbursing the expenses of the Society’s Delegates, Assistant Delegates, and eligible Managers. He noted further that the Society’s intent is to allocate its budget in such a manner as to send as many members as possible to the Triennial. This aim enjoys the full support of Captain Salisbury and the Color Guard.
After describing the anticipated costs of the Louisiana Society’s registration fee, the round-trip transportation to New Orleans, and lodging at the Hotel Monteleone, Vice President Frick proposed the following resolution:
"On funding for the Triennial meeting of the General Society
to be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, 20 — 24 September 2000
"The Society will pay the registration, transportation, and lodging expenses of each Delegate and Alternate Delegate whose expenses are not otherwise provided for by the Color Guard of the Society in accordance with the following schedule:
"In accordance with the report of the Nominations Committee the Delegates of the Society are the President, Presidents Emeriti, Regent of the Lancaster County Chapter, and Vice Presidents. The Alternate Delegates are the Secretary, Treasurer, Registrar, Counselor, Historian, Chaplain, Assistant Secretary, and Assistant Treasurer.
"The Delegates and Alternate Delegates must inform Pennsylvania’s Representative to the General Society, Vice-President Johnson, and the Office of the Society of their attendance at the Triennial meeting by 11 May 2000, the date of the May meeting of the Board of Managers. Should any Delegate or Alternate Delegate be unable to attend, the Board will extend its invitation, on the same terms and conditions described above, to the Managers of the Society, in order of seniority, beginning with the members of the Class of 2001."
Vice President Frick explained that at an anticipated expense of $1,725 per couple, the Society’s $15,000 budget will provide full subsidy for eight Delegates and Alternate Delegates. This is precisely the number of Delegates and Alternate Delegates who are not members of the Color Guard and therefore not eligible for the Color Guard subsidy.
President Lloyd asked if there were any comments or questions of the Budget Committee’s report and resolution. Hearing none, he asked for a motion to adopt the resolution. On motion made and duly seconded, the Board voted to unanimously adopt the resolution and accept the report of the Committee.
FINANCE COMMITTEE: In the absence of Vice President Johnson, Vice President Frick distributed copies of the Finance Committee’s proposed "Investment Policy Guidelines and Procedures." He noted that adoption of this policy would bring the Society into compliance with Pennsylvania’s recently enacted law governing total return investing by non-profits. The law stipulates that organizations using the total return philosophy of investing must abide by a written investment policy. In addition to the Pennsylvania statute, the Society must pay heed to the Internal Revenue Service, which has published guidelines that it deems appropriate for private foundations. With these factors in mind the Committee has developed a prudent policy and operations statement, which it recommends to the Board of Managers for adoption.
Vice President Frick also noted that Counselor Cheyney had reviewed the policy and approved it. Counselor Cheyney added that the proposal before the Board has undergone repeated scrutiny and several revisions. He believes that it is very workable and will meet the requirements of the law, while not hindering the investment goals of the Society.
The full text of the resolution is as follows:
PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION
INVESTMENT POLICY GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES
"The Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution (‘PSSR’) is a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation. It is also a Section 501(c)(3) Private Operating Foundation for purposes of income taxation.
"It has been the tradition of the PSSR to maintain a common investment fund for use in advancing the objectives of the Society. This common investment fund is composed of two parts, the General Fund and the Permanent Fund. The Permanent Fund consists of initiation fees, life membership fees, donations and legacies. The General Fund is unrestricted. This common fund has been invested on the ‘Total Return’ philosophy of investing.
"This document constitutes an election by the Board of Managers of the PSSR to be governed by Section 5548(c) of the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Corporation Law (the ‘NPCL’), as amended effective December 21, 1998. It also constitutes an adoption of an investment policy seeking a total return on the assets of the PSSR, with that return to be derived from both capital appreciation and earnings or distributions with respect to that capital, pursuant to Section 5548(c)(2) of the NPCL.
Total Return Management
"In response to changing economic conditions, many nonprofit organizations in recent years have adopted fund management on a total return basis that looks to interest, dividends, and capital gains from securities appreciation as sources of ongoing support. Prudently applied, this approach recognizes that (a) a bias toward higher income can hurt overall fund preservation and growth, especially in an economy with falling or flat interest rates and declining yields, (b) historically, and not just within the last decade, most portfolio growth has come from appreciation in the value of stocks, and (c) too much dependence on stock appreciation in meeting the organization’s financial goals (the opposite side of the coin of income yield maximization) also has its dangers when markets flatten or fall.
"Pennsylvania law permits nonprofit corporations such as the PSSR to use total return management, as opposed to complete reliance on interest and dividends, under a formula set forth in Section 5548(c)(3) of the NPCL. The statute, in substance, allows a nonprofit to recognize between 2% and 7% of the value of a charitable trust fund as income, and to use interest, dividends and capital gains as income sources. Under Section 5548(c)(5) of the NPCL, value is determined annually using the average of the fund’s fair market value for at least the last three years.
"The continued risk of market stagnation or decline, which can have a considerable effect on an equity-oriented fund such as the PSSR fund now is, could cause the fund’s value to decline substantially over time if a full 7% were spent on a continual basis. It should be noted, however, that each year’s dollar value would decline because it would be calculated from a declining base. Other nonprofits tend to set spending rates at between 4% and 7% of fund market value per year. These spending rates are based on varying assumptions for rates of portfolio growth and inflation, but the underlying idea of prudent management in all cases is to make use of the monies realized while allowing the total fund to continue to grow.
"Under Section 5548(c)(3) of the NPCL, the Board of Managers is required to determine annually, and record in its minutes, a percentage spending rate ‘and determine that it is consistent with the long-term preservation of the real value of the assets’ of the PSSR. This action will be taken each year upon recommendation of the Budget Committee as part of the annual budgeting process.
Asset Allocation
"Based upon the investment goals stated in this document, the following asset mix is considered appropriate. Investments should not exceed the minimum or maximum levels, at market value, without the specific approval of the Finance Committee as recorded in the minutes of that committee.
Section Range
Equity 40-99%
Fixed Income 0-45%
Cash 1-60%
Investment Guidelines and Limitations
1. Types of Securities
Equities mean high quality common stocks or equivalents such as convertible bonds. While yield is always a consideration, it should not be the primary one. More important factors include financial strength, sound value, and potential for growth. Investment in foreign securities is permitted for those issues that are traded in American Depository Receipt form on major U.S. exchanges. Stocks with limited marketability or high volatility should be avoided.
Fixed-Income Securities that are acceptable investments include readily marketable issues by the U.S. Treasury or Federal agencies, and American corporations or financial institutions.
Cash Equivalent Investments include U.S. Treasury bills, U.S. Government repurchase agreements, money market funds, or commercial paper.
2. Diversification
Equities: Equity investment should be diversified in order to lessen the effect of a substantial loss in any specific industry or issue. No one company’s equities should exceed 7 1/2% (valued at cost) or 10% (valued at market) of the equity portion of the investment fund.
Fixed-Income Securities: Except for U.S. Treasury and Agency obligations, the fixed-income portion of the investment fund should not contain more than 10%, valued at cost, of a given domestic issuer, regardless of the number of differing issues. Diversification within quality and maturity guidelines, outlined below, are intended to deal with possible market and interest rate fluctuations.
3. Quality
Equities: A general standard of prudence should be followed, consistent with the strength, value, and growth factors noted above. Convertible bonds will be considered as an equity investment and must be rated ‘Baa’/’BBB’ or better by a recognized rating service such as Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s.
Fixed-Income Securities: Bonds held in the portfolio should be rated investment grade (‘Baa’/’BBB’) or equivalent by the rating services. This guideline is intended to give sufficient latitude to periodically take advantage of bond swaps.
The appropriate ‘ladder’ of maturities is at the discretion of the Finance Committee.
Cash Equivalent Investments: Short term money market funds, or bank deposits guaranteed by the FDIC are permitted cash equivalents.
Inappropriate Investment: The following types of investments are not considered appropriate at the present time:
Private Placements Margin Trading
Unregistered or Restricted Stock Options and Futures
Derivatives Commodities
Oil and Gas Working Interests Puts, Straddles
Uncovered Calls, Short Sales
This may be modified by a super majority of the Finance Committee at a regular meeting, with the decision reflected in the minutes of that meeting.
Performance Objectives
"The finance committee shall annually set performance objectives and review those goals periodically compared to performance. The long-range goal of the committee is to achieve independence from the Rorer Trust Income without a decrease in overall Society activities by the year 2022. The Annual Return of the portfolio shall be compared with the performance of the Standard & Poor 500, the Consumer Price Index, and the New York Stock Exchange Index.
Guideline Review and Modification
"The Finance Committee shall review these guidelines, especially with respect to asset allocation, at least once each year and report to the Board of Managers on any recommended changes. In addition, ‘running changes’ made during the course of the year by the finance committee, shall be reflected in its minutes, and shall be reported to the Board of Managers at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board of Managers, in turn, is responsible for communicating any changes in the PSSR’s overall financial plan to the Finance Committee so that any necessary adjustments in asset allocation or other matters may be made.
Amendments; Maintenance in Permanent Records
"This document may be amended at any time and from time to time by action of the Board of Managers, and all such actions shall be recorded in the Board’s minutes. A manually executed original of this document shall be maintained in the Board’s minute book.
"ADOPTED by the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution, by action of the Board of Managers, and executed on its behalf on 9 March 2000, effective 1 January 2000."
Attest: PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF
SONS OF THE REVOLUTION
By: ___________________________ By:_________________________
Theodore Clattenburg, Jr. Mark Frazier Lloyd
Secretary President
President Lloyd asked if there were comments or questions of the report of the Finance Committee or on the resolution that it recommended for adoption. Hearing none, he asked if there was a motion to adopt the resolution. Mr. Frick moved that the resolution be adopted and the President and Secretary of the Society execute the policy. The motion was duly seconded and on vote, unanimously approved.
RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE: Counselor Cheyney reported that there are no pending resolutions.
AMERICAN HERITAGE COMMITTEE: In the absence of Chairman Walkup, there was no report.
INDEPENDENCE DAY COMMITTEE: In the absence of Chairman Byrne, there was no report on the Independence Day luncheon.
Co-Chairman Fenstermacher reported on preparations for the Let Freedom Ring National Bell Ringing program and ceremony. He reported that a press release has been prepared and approved, as well as an updated Bell Ringers recruitment letter. The database of names and mailing addresses of past Bell Ringers has been proofed and corrected in anticipation of mailing over 3,500 pieces by the end of March or early April. Both the press release and the recruitment letter will also be posted to the Society’s web site.
NEW CITIZENS’ RECEPTION: In the absence of Chairman Hoyt, President Lloyd reported that the Society is in receipt of a letter from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania confirming the next three dates the Society will sponsor new citizen receptions. They are Thursday, 29 June; Thursday, 19 October; and Thursday, 16 November 2000. The calendar is therefore set for the rest of the year 2000.
President Lloyd also reported that the Lancaster County Chapter sponsored two New Citizens’ Receptions on Friday, March 3 at the Lancaster County Courthouse. The first was held at 10:30 a.m., when 76 new citizens were naturalized and at the second at 11:00 a.m., when 65 more new citizens were naturalized.
SARATOGA-YORKTOWN ANNIVERSARIES COMMITTEE: In the absence of Chairman Morgan, there was no report.
SPECIAL PROJECTS: In the absence of Historian Groff, there was no report.
VALLEY FORGE COMMEMORATION: Chairman George Wood reported that the Committee and Executive Secretary have prepared the invitation, proofread the printer’s copy, and authorized printing and mailing. The printer will send all invitations by first class U.S. Postal Service mail. Chairman Bowden of the Younger Members Committee will send a letter to the Younger Members encouraging them to bring their families. Children six and under may attend at no cost to their family.
The program for the Church Service has not been finalized, but is largely complete and will be placed in the hands of the printer well in advance of the event. The Committee is seeking volunteers to serve as ushers and is in the process of arranging a walk-through of the church building for the officers of the Color Guard.
With regard to the event budget, Chairman Wood again advised the Board that the reception at Waynesborough will incur extraordinary expenses. In an effort to hold costs to a minimum, negotiations continue with the caterer. Chairman Wood nevertheless predicted that expenses are likely to exceed budget.
WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY PARTY COMMITTEE: Chairman Morris was very pleased to report that this year’s event received excellent press coverage, in addition to being very well attended. There were 240 members and guests, comprised of 92 regular members and guests, 94 were Color Guard and guests, and 34 younger members and guests. In addition, the President and the Committee extended a total of 20 complimentary invitations, which included the guests of honor, General Society officers, representatives of other State Societies, and members of the Philadelphia-area press.
In the absence of Senator Specter, the Society was pleased to honor Vice Admiral Scott Fry as its guest of honor and to enjoy an appearance by former Mayor Rendell. Mr. Rendell, arrived shortly after 9 p.m., stepped to the podium, and briefly addressed all those present. He thanked the Society and its Color Guard for its support of the Let Freedom Ring National Bell Ringing program on Independence Day, as well as its support for the National Constitution Center. Mr. Rendell’s remarks were well received.
Manager Morris then reviewed his preliminary financial report, a copy of which is attached. The increase in attendance generated ample income for this event, apparently sufficient not only to conclude within budget, but also to return a few hundred dollars to the Society’s treasury. Mr. Morris thanked all involved for their efforts in helping to make Washington’s Birthday 2000 a resounding success.
YOUNGER MEMBERS: In the absence of Chairman Bowden there was no report.
THE COLOR GUARD: Captain Salisbury reported on two functions of the Color Guard performed in the period since the last meeting of the Board. On Sunday afternoon, 13 February the Guard held a drill at the Union League in preparation for the celebration of Washington’s Birthday. The rehearsal was completed in just three repetitions. Captain Salisbury believed that this was due, in large measure, to just two factors: attendance at all drills is excellent and the Guardsmen take their orders and responsibilities very seriously.
On Saturday evening, 19 February, at the Union League, the Color Guard paraded the Society’s flags and performed extremely well. Admiral Fry was heard to say that he believes the Pennsylvania Society’s unit is the best civilian color guard in the country. Captain Salisbury was perhaps even more pleased to learn that a former military officer responded to the Admiral by saying that he had never seen a color guard so good even in the military!
Captain Salisbury again expressed his deep satisfaction with the high level of professionalism the Color Guard displayed at both the drill and the event itself. He thanked all those involved for their productive work and outstanding achievements.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: Chairman Harvard Wood thanked President Lloyd for his generous praise for Mr. Wood’s leadership of the Membership Committee. He also noted that Executive Secretary Taylor and her assistant made very important contributions to the Society’s program of membership recruitment and retention.
The Society’s web site has also proven to be an asset to membership recruitment and communications. High profile press coverage for Society events was another contributor to his Committee’s success. To the best of his recollection, the Society has never enjoyed before the level of coverage it received for the Washington’s Birthday Party event.
The procedures for expediting the proposal for membership and application process are now fully implemented and account for major improvements in this essential area. At today’s meeting there were approximately 40 candidates in the membership pipeline, most of whom are completing their lineage documentation requirements. The oldest of these applications dates to 1997; fifteen percent were initiated in 1999.
In celebration of the large number of candidates admitted to membership during the past three years, the Membership Committee, joined by the Admissions Committee, will host a New Member Reception at the Corinthian Yacht Club on Friday, 11 June, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Invitations will be mailed to all 69 members elected during the last three years, as well as any additional new members elected at the May and June meetings of the Board.
NEWSLETTER: President Lloyd stated that he had no report.
OPERATIONS COMMITTEE: Vice President Burke stated he had no report.
TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE: Vice President Lewis regretted his absence and there was no report.
REPORT OF LANCASTER COUNTY CHAPTER: Regent Moore is still enjoying his winter vacation, but has reported to President Lloyd by e-mail. The Lancaster County Chapter has rented a bus and will have significant representation at the Society’s Annual Meeting. The Chapter will be celebrating its own Annual Meeting on Sunday, 7 May.
REPRESENTATIVE TO THE GENERAL SOCIETY: In the absence of Vice President Johnson there was no report.
OLD BUSINESS: Vice President Frick inquired as to any progress on publishing the Society’s Proceedings and President Lloyd stated he had no new developments to report.
NEW BUSINESS: President Lloyd asked the Board if it was prepared to consider the adoption of the minutes of the February meeting which had been distributed at the beginning of the meeting.
Vice President Di Stefano requested that the minutes of the February meeting be amended to include the full names of all candidates whose proposals for membership were reported to the Board by the Admissions Committee. The full names of the seven candidates proposed for membership and approved by the Admissions Committee at its February 2000 meeting were Franklin Quarles Lent Church, Lawrence Jay Field, Grenville Hyland Foote, Peter Reichner Hill, David McClure Humphrey, James Hayes MacBride, and Edwin Purdy Short.
President Lloyd asked if there were any objections to the proposed amendment of the minutes. Hearing none, he asked if there were any other additions or corrections to the minutes. Hearing none, he asked for a motion to adopt the minutes as amended. On motion made and duly seconded, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the minutes as amended.
There being no further business to come before the Board, President Lloyd asked that the Board remain after the benediction in order to reconvene in executive session. Chaplain Proctor led the Board in prayer and President Lloyd adjourned the meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Theodore Clattenburg, Jr.
Secretary