Illinois Society News Archive

Spring Bulletin 2006

Two days ago, on Saturday, September 17th, 2005 we held the Annual Business Meeting of the Illinois Society, as was noticed up to each of you in our invitation of a few weeks ago. I should like to report to you upon the directionand decisions made therein.

We owe a debt of gratitude to the Illinois Society, Sons of the Revolution for allowing us to meet continually with them, and enjoy their fine programs and luncheon. This time was no exception with Burt Showers presenting his WWII experiences while on the General Staff of Douglas MacArthur; it was my pleasure to preside at both the SR and OFPA Meetings, and the luncheon.

Glenn Marion Peterson and myself will continue in our various mutual and shared duties; we have admitted five new members in recent times, with one more just submitted for review/approval a few days ago. We were joined by a prospective member whose papers will be submitted shortly, and who graciously took part in our discussions of ways to promote our Illinois group. To that end, we have decided to reach out to potential and current members with an Illinois Society website, to be linked to the National and other state society sites. I will begin this undertaking this week. In addition, we will contact the prospective members as provided from National, and make an OFPA presentation at the General Society, Sons of the Revolution Board of Managers (national) Meeting in Chicago next month.

The other “outreach” will be an award to a selected high school graduating senior from each of the top five rated high schools throughout Illinois. This is in line with a new and similar program from OFPA Connecticut. I am alsopleased to report that our Illinois Society has donated one fourth of the treasury to the OFPA National Archives project.

Let us combine our efforts and work together for the betterment of our State and National Societies!

Fall Bulletin 2005

Tim Curtis and Jim Barr

Although the Illinois Society is still in its ‘reorganizing phase’, the society has been somewhat active throughout the past year in order to promote its local presence and that of the National Society. Throughout the past three years all Illinois members have been invited guests at all Illinois Society, Sons of the Revolution social functions. These four events yearly have provided contact between most of us and served as an outlet for the networking of these two fine and venerable societies.

In May of this year, as last year, Governor James F. Barr was able to address the Illinois Society, Sons of the American Revolution about our fine OFPA group, and successfully garnered some interest there, including generating one pending Application. In April Governor Barr presented a Membership Certificate to new member Stanley Dee Buckles while at the Sons of Confederate Veterans/Military Order of the Stars and Bars Joint

Convention at Decatur, Illinois. This presentation sparked two membership inquiries. We have also addressed other heritage, historical and lineage societies throughout these United States, and never failed to mention OFPA. Governor Barr spoke in Lexington, Kentucky at the Army of Tennessee, SCV All Army Meeting, and garnered a genuine inquiry, which should turn into an Applicant soon. The Governor declared he shall in fact be speaking this Memorial Day at Springfield, Illinois at the Camp Butler Veterans Day Service, and assures that he will find a way to work in our OFPA.