The regular monthly luncheon meeting of the General George S. Patton, Jr., Chapter SAR was held Friday, 13 April 2007, in the Garden Room of Marie Callender’s restaurant, 1295 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura. The meeting was called to order by Chapter president Bill Henry. In attendance were nine compatriots: Ron Risley, Dick Hawley, Richard Caldwell, Bill Henry, Ward White, Steve Hurst, Bob Colbern, Chuck Bennett, and Bob Taylor; and nine guests: our guest speaker Mrs. Diana Johnson and her husband Bill, prospective member Mr. Burt Jacobs and his wife Nancy, Mrs. Jo Ann Bennett, Mrs. Rosemarie Risley, Mrs. Loni Jung (sister of Rosemarie Risley), Mrs. Elaine Colbern, and Mr. Robert Lewis.

The invocation was given by compatriot Chuck Bennett, followed by the pledges to the Flag and the SAR.

Reports: The following reports were presented:

• The minutes for the meeting of 9 March 2007 were read and approved.
• The treasurer’s report was read and approved.
• The registrar’s report was read. The supplemental applications for Bob Taylor (1), Ward White (10), and Joel Schaeman (1) are pending. The supplemental applications for Hale Hamilton (3), Steven Colbern (1), and Richard McMullen (1) have been approved. The applications for 3 new members (R. Loren Taylor, Brian Taylor, and Burt Jacobs), 1 associate member (David Nichols) and 2 prospective members (Col. James M. Williams and James L. Williams) are pending.
• The Eagle Scout Committee report was given. Three eagle scouts, Mark Littlefield, Bryce Wyckoff, and Stephen Sardoni, were presented with certificates.
• The chaplain’s report noted that compatriot Richard McMullen is undergoing cancer treatment.
• The Publicist presented his report, noting that an announcement had appeared in the Ventura County Star, with the Daily News to start..
• The Chapter bylaws have been reviewed and an amendment has been prepared.
• Bob Colbern will be a guest speaker and present the SAR medal to the Junior ROTC member at an appreciation assembly at Oxnard High School.
• Bill Henry reported on the meeting with the DAR 22 March, where Bill was guest speaker. Seven representatives from the chapter (three wives) attended. The 11 May meeting of the Chapter will feature Rev Dave Pressey speaking on the Religions of the Revolutionary War.
• Attendance for the 19 May Armed Forces Day luncheon at Marie Callenders was stressed. The speaker will be Mr. Doug Miller, an expert in the field of genealogical DNA testing. It was noted that the Colonial Wars organization meeting was moved to that day to remove a schedule conflict with the CASSAR meeting next week.

A recess from 1155 to 1225 was called for lunch.

To underscore the importance of the 19 May meeting, Bill Henry passed out the latest chapter roster, and obtained volunteers to conduct a telephone calling campaign.

The CASSAR chapter contest was discussed and the relative merits of continuing or dropping out were discussed. President Henry requested a volunteer to take over the contest or discontinue our participation in the contest. It was felt that CASSAR needs to modify the point awarding system to make it more equitable for all chapters.

President Henry requested a volunteer to head up the Eagle Scout program and relieve the load on Ron Risley.

A letter of appreciation was read to the chapter from Ms. Gayle Soles, who read the chapter meeting announcement in the paper, and attended the meeting due to having an ancestor who fought in the Battle of Brandywine, and was pleased with the presentation.

Bill Henry reported that the Chapter’s Knight Essay contest winner, Miss Jolene Paul of Los Angeles, responded to his e-mail and thanked him, will accept her award at a meeting in El Segundo.

The President’s Newsletter was discussed, and the chapter is in favor of continuing it. Future submissions will be by e-mail. President Henry noted it costs $24 per month in postage for mailing. It was moved, seconded and approved that President Henry be reimbursed for $48 to cover the mailing of newsletters for two months.

Old Business: None

New Business:

• A Budget Committee for the chapter’s financial affairs was recommended and approved. The treasurer, Richard Caldwell, will chair the committee, with compatriots Steve Hurst and Ron Risley as members. A committee report has been requested for next meeting. A discussion on the chapter’s income and expenses ensued.

Program: The program titled “Jamestowne’s 400th Anniversary – Seeds of the American Revolution” was presented by our guest speaker, Mrs. Diana Johnson, an accomplished author and pilot. The presentation was interesting and well received by the membership.

The next meeting will be on Friday, 11 May 2007.

The meeting was adjourned following the benediction by Ron Risley.

Respectfully submitted

Robert Taylor, Chapter Secretary.