Rhode Island Society News Archive

The Rhode Island Society had its annual meeting and election of officers on October 23, 2010 at the Anawan Club in Rehoboth, a black tie affair!

Our speaker was James E. Garman, recently retired after teaching American History at Portsmouth Abbey. His topic was "Some Perspectives on the Battle of Rhode Island.

We also placed a wreath and did a reading at our OFPA monument at Patriot's Grove in the R.I. Veteran's Cemetery on Veteran's Day in November.

We also presented our Outstanding National Guard Unit Award to the Rhode Island National Guard Co A/2d battalion/19th Special Forces Group on December 14.

Spring 2009 Bulletin

From left to right: Past RI Governor Carlen Booth, Richard Palmer, RI Secy. John Eastman, Bob Midwood, Past RI Governor & RI First Families Elmer Palmer, Governor General John Bourne, Past RI Governor Harold Sands, RI Governor Sidney Clifford, Past NC Governor Ray Maxson and RI Treas. Mike Northup at Founders Brook Park, Portsmouth, RI.

Past NC Governor, Ray Maxson honored his founding ancestor, Richard Maxson in Portsmouth, RI. Governor General John Bourne was in attendance as well as representatives of the Maxson family, representatives of The Rhode Island Order of Founders and Patriots, The Order of First Families of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations and the RI Sons of the American Revolution.

Governor Sidney Clifford spoke on behalf of the Rhode Island Society as the National Guard celebrated its 372nd year on December 12, 2008 in East Greenwich, RI. Clifford presented an award to the 143th Air Lift branch.

Fall Bulletin 2008

Below, Past Governor General Michael Phelps (right) with RI Governor Harold W. Sands (left). already named, other members present were Toni R. Turk and Stewart C. Whittle. A former chaplain of the Maryland Society, Whittle played an important role in the founding of the
Tennessee Society. We were especially honored by the presence of Toni Turk, Mayor of Blanding, Utah, who planned his trip east to conincide with our conference.

Spring Bulletin 2008

The RIOFPA held its annual meeting on November 4, 2007, at the Squantum
Association Club House in East Providence, RI. with 25 Associates,wives and guests in attendance. Following the election of officers, Lieutenant Commander Matthew L. Army (USN) a student at the Naval War College in Newport, RI, spoke in detail about his recent experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. Rhode Island Governor Harold W. Sands and Awards Chairman Robert B. Baxter presented the “Outstanding National Guard Unit Award” to Col. Paul Pelletier,
commanding officer of the RI National Guard 13th Civil Support Team on December 13, 2007. The entire unit was on hand for the presentation and RIOFPA had 7 associates in attendance. The State of Rhode Island was represented by Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts.

Fall Bulletin 2006

Photo at The Patriot Battalion ROTC Cadet Military Awards Ceremony, 7 May 2006 at Providence College.

Presenting the Order of the Founders and Patriots Outstanding Cadet Award to James Ritch, Robert B. Baxter, RI OFPA Past Governor and OFPA National Awards Chairman.

James J Ritch lives in Mahopac NY and graduated from John F. Kennedy Catholic H.S. in June 2004 and is a Biology Major at Providence College.

Fall Bulletin 2005

Rhode Island Associates at the General Court

The Rhode Island Society commemorated Rhode Island Independence Day at its Seventy Seventh Annual Banquet on Saturday Evening May 7, 2005 at the Wannamoisett Country Club, Rumford, Rhode Island. Past Governor and Registrar Carlen Phillips Booth offered remarks concerning Rhode Island as the first colony to declare its independence from the English Crown. Following the dinner the guest speaker, Associate Bruce Campbell MacGunnigle, gave an interesting presentation, “Royal Bastards of the Mayflower.”

(L-R) Sidney Clifford, Jr. Secretary; Robert B. Baxter, Governor; Carlen P. Booth, Past Governor and Registrar RIOFPA. At a wreath laying ceremony held on Veterans Day, November 11, 2004, at the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery.

The Rhode Island Society held its annual meeting at the Clambake Club in Newport on October 24, 2004. Following a short business meeting including the election of officers and Council members for the coming year the guest speaker, LCDR, Rick Fritsch, USN, gave an interesting and timely talk on “The Mechanics of Hurricanes---Understanding Tropical Cyclones.”

Commander Fritsch is the officer in charge of Meteorology & Oceanography, Wargaming Department, Naval War College. He was previously embarked on the USS Abraham Lincoln Lincoln as staff meteorologist and while involved in Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, was “responsible for the coordination andexecution of weather and ocean forecasting for all U.S. Navy ships in the region, all coalition ships assigned to U.S. Task forces, all strike aircraft launching from the various aircraft carriers in the Gulf, and all amphibious and special warfare operations within the region.” He is currently responsible for the integration of meteorology and oceanography and their planning factors into the wargames run by the Naval War College.

Sunday February 6, 2005, Squantum Association, Riverside. R.I. Society Governor, Robert Bruce Baxter, introduced guest speaker, Marc J. Tremblay, Forestry Consultant and Outreach Coordinator for the Rhode Island Forest Conservators Organization. Mr. Tremblay provided Associates and guests with an interesting and informative pictorial presentation, “New England Landscapes: Changes Through Time.”

Four new Associates were presented with membership rosettes. Pictured from left to right. John A. McCue, John C. Eastman II, Michael R. Northup, Bruce C. McGunnigle and Registrar, Carlen Phillips Booth

Fall Bulletin 2004

(L-R) Historian John Stuart McCue, Governor Bob Baxter and CaptainPeter Plante receiving the OFPA Award

A ceremony was held to pay tribute to the Rhode Island National Guard unit, nominated by the State Adjutant General, Major General Reginald A. Centracchio. The framed Order of the Founders and Patriots of America certificate was presented to the 115th Military Police Unit on 12 September, 2004, following the units return from overseas duty in Iraq. While in Iraq the unit suffered the loss of three of their fellow Guardsmen. The award was presented by Rhode Island OFPA Governor, Robert Bruce Baxter to Captain Peter Plante, Commanding Officer and the entire 115th Military Police unit which was in attendance.

Attending RIOFPA Society officers were, Governor Baxter; Deputy Governor, Harold Winthrop Sands; Registrar, Carlen Phillips Booth; and Historian, John Stuart McCue.

Spring Bulletin 2004

The Winter Meeting Of the Rhode Island Society OFPA was held Sunday, February 8,2004, at the Agawam Hunt Club. Our guest speaker was Captain William Calhoun, U.S.N. (Ret.), Professor of National Security Decision Making, Naval War College, Newport, RI. His talk accompanied by a slide presentation, “A Reacquaintance With George Washington,” was timely and informative. There were 29 Associates and guests in attendance.

Pictured from Left to right: Harold W. Sands, Deputy Governor and Treasurer; the guest speaker, Captain William Calhoun; Sidney Clifford, Secretary; Carlen P. Booth, Past Governor and Registrar and Robert B. Baxter, Governor.

Fall Bulletin 2003

Past Governors attending the 75th Anniversary Banquet (L-R) Kenneth Wood Washburn, Alden Clinton Saunders, Col. Elmer Hall Palmer, Col. Robert Allen Greene, Carlen Phillips Booth and Present Governor Robert Bruce Baxter

Representatives from the RIDAR and RISAR attending the Rhode Island Society Order of Founders and Patriots of American 75th Anniversary Celebration commemorating Joint Revolutionary War Memorial. (L-R) Elizabeth Candas, DAR Regent Elect, Barbara Octeau RIDAR Corresponding Secretary, Tonya I. Jones, RIDAR State Regent, Carlen P. Booth, Project Coordinator and Vice President RISAR, John McCue, RISAR President and Robert Baxter, Governor RI-OFPA.