North Carolina Society News Archive

Fall Bulletin 2007

Our ROTC Programs are the most visible events for young leaders. Last year we had the Citadel and UNC Chapel Hill. This year we have added the Outstanding Cadet at Duke to our Program Awards. I was honored to hear from our States Attorney, Pete Jaeger, this past month concerning the request for a repeat of the UNC Chapel Hill Outstanding Cadet Award, and the new request from the ROTC Program Commander from Duke. It is a struggle for Pete to get to both of the events, since they are on successive days at two campuses.
The Citadel Award for Outstanding Cadet is being handled by our Secretary-Treasurer, Lonnie Mixson.

Fall Bulletin 2006

The North Carolina Society’s September meeting was held 10:30 a.m., Saturday morning, September the 11th at the Single Brothers Workshop in historic and scenic Old Salem, North Carolina. Minutes of the March meeting were read, our 2006 Offi cers were elected and various issues discussed. Among these issues were topics such as Society finances and the need for additional funding, the ROTC program, the book donation program and the need for the development of a life membership program. All of these will be touched on in the Governors Corner, below. As the discussion was lively and extended, the membership adjourned to lunch with the ladies at a neighboring colonial era tavern for a delicious repast consisting of dishes served in the 1700’s.

After lunch, discussions were concluded, action items were assigned and a talk was then delivered by a former CIA Officer on “Intelligence: What it meant to our Founders, our Patriots and to us today in the War On Terror.” This generated many questions and a lively give and take discussion. Several Associates praised the speaker and stated that they had a better understanding of “where we are in the world today.”

Fall Bulletin 2005

Woody Stearns and Thatcher Wood at the 109th General Court

The North Carolina Society’s By-Laws have been written and a draft copy forwarded to the OFPA Attorney General for review. Our By-Laws are based on the Virginia Society’s By-Laws which were carefully converted and modified to reflect the needs of our organization. Our sincere thanks to NC Associate Stanley C. Squires [our Registrar] who has invested many long hours and much effort into writing our By-Laws. Hopefully, they will be reviewed and approved during this month’s General Court.

Spring Bulletin 2005

(L to R) CG Thatcher Wood, GG Robert Vivian, NC Gov Joseph Norcross, Registrar Stanley Squires and Councillor Jerry Hubbard.

“Project Phoenix”, a multi-year effort to re-establish North Carolina as a viable Society within OFPA came to a successful conclusion on Saturday, March 12, 2005 when Governor General Robert Vivian formally installed Joseph Arnold Norcross as Governor. The other members of the new NC Team include Peter Corson, Secretary-Treasurer; Stanley Squires, Registrar; Frank (Pete) Jaeger, States Attorney; Donnel (Jerry) Hubbard, Councillor; and Thatcher Wood, Councillor General.

At the Annual Meeting Governor General Vivian paid special tribute to the late Bruce Butler, long-time Society Treasurer and Bryan Bechler, now a resident of Washington State, as “the glue that held the NC Society together even in its darkest hour.”

Vivian also pointed to the strong support and encouragement of the VA Society -- and especially to the work of past Governor Thatcher Wood, who directed the operation and to VA Registrar and former Registrar General, Jerry Hubbard, as well as to NC Associate and Interim Governor Emory (Woody) Stearns II, who had to resign for personal reasons.

Through their efforts and with the support of current VA Governor Dan Warren, other VA Associates who became dual members, and NC members who dropped and decided to renew such as former NC Governor and Deputy Treasurer General Grant Peterson (he kept the Charter safe, stored the “official” stationery and offered helpful suggestions and background information), the NC Society, like the mythological bird, has arisen from its ashes.