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News from and about the Potomac Legion POTOMAC LEGION'S ANNUAL MEETING HELD Potomac Legion Annual Meeting- Elmira, NY ~ November 3, 2007 Minutes Opening remarks were made the PL President, Dave Myrick. He asked for a volunteer to serve as Secretary at the meeting since the regular Secretary was not able to be present. Joe Bordonaro volunteered and wrote these minutes. Officers of the PL attending were:
A letter from the Vice President, Dave Townsend, was read by Charles Heath. In the letter, Dave expressed the desire that the Vice President be assigned specific duties. Dave Myrick noted that duties had, in fact, been assigned to the Vice President in the new bylaws of the PL. The VP is now to serve as insurance coordinator for the PL. The minutes from the last meeting were not read, not being available. [2006 minutes] Dave Myrick explained the near insurance crisis involving the sudden non-appearance of insurance funds from a member group of the PL. James Owens paid the shortfall to permit the PL’s insurance to remain in effect. He has regained the funds but expressed concern that a reserve be created to be available in the event of a like event occurring in the future. It was noted that the insurance will be due in the middle of January. Last year’s premium amounted to some $1700. Proposals were made, to wit: Units should be monitored to accertain that they are remaining active, so that the PL will not again be embarrassed by the sudden non-payment of insurance monies by member units of the PL. All insurance monies should be paid by December 15th, to insure their timely delivery to the PL’s insurance carrier. An increase in per man insurance be levied to provide a cushion in the event of future shortfalls of insurance monies. The insurance policy should be extended to March 1st to provide more time after member unit’s annual meetings to collect insurance monies from individuals. A $20 per unit Potomac Legion membership fee be levied to gain a pool of money available to handle insurance or other monetary needs, the levy to be adjusted as needed on an annual basis. A motion was made to accept the proposal for the $20 per unit PL membership fee. It was seconded and passed. A motion was made to accept the proposal to designate James Owens as the insurance payer, and for checks for insurance to be made out to: Co. D, 1st Minnesota
All monies for insurance to be due by December 15, 2007. Events of the 2007 season were next discussed. Kernstown was described as, “part living history, part tactical demonstration”. It was noted that participants were not allowed to “take hits”. It was noted that all three elements of the army were present and worked cooperatively, to wit: infantry, cavalry, and artillery. It was noted that over $2,000 was raised to aid the Kernstown Battlefield Association, and they were said to be “very grateful”. The Wilderness was noted to have had 68 men present. The march to the Vermont Monument took place, even though a cold rain fell. Charles Heath described it as a “pretty good event”. The “Death March” was described as “fun” by Charles Heath. It was noted to have featured infantry and cavalry/opposing cavalry for the first time. It experienced lower numbers but was still judged to have been a success by Doug Oakes. The visitor walk-through was described as particularly well-received by both visitors and members of the reenacting groups. The “After the Battle” event was noted to have been postponed. The reason given was that the farmer who leased the land may not have been reimbursed for crop losses he was claiming on account of drought if visible damage from reenactors was apparent to insurance claims representatives. Charles Heath felt that postponement of the event was a good call in view of this situation. As he put it, “It’s a hobby for us, but it’s the farmer’s livelihood.” The Board of Directors was then reelected by popular acclaim. A quorum was confirmed to exist to permit the reelection. Next, the Officer and NCO Pool for 2008 was discussed. It was explained that volunteers were solicited on an event by event basis. It was noted that the member unit, Columbia Rifles, has an established pool. The matter was tabled because it was noted that the new bylaws made a pool no longer necessary. It was noted that James Owens, Dave Townsend, and Charles Heath worked on the revised bylaws. It was noted by Charles Heath that James Owens did most of the work on the bylaws. The members responded with a round of applause for James Owens. A motion was made to accept the revised bylaws. The motion was seconded and passed. An excellent lunch provided by the Tobeys was enjoyed by the attendees and business was resumed afterwards. Next, the following events for the 2008 season were discussed in some detail:
It was noted that the “After the Battle” event will not conflict with next year’s Rememberance Day Weekend in Gettysburg. The “Death March” (Date TBA, probably in August), to be held in New Albany, Pennsylvania, and the Glendale/Malvern Hill Living History, on 18-20 April, 2008, were selected as Alternative Events for the PL. It was noted that the Potomac Legion most likely will field two companies, to be attached to the Western Brigade Battalion, for the Gettysburg event. The unit portrayal for this event will be the 1st Minnesota. Mention was made of the Kennesaw Mountain event, but it was noted that it was close in time to the Gettysburg event. Mention was also made of a Picket Post event, hosted by the Stonewall Brigade, to be held south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The unit portrayal for this event will be the 15th Wisconsin. It will feature a scenario based on action in Northwest Georgia. Mention was made of a Living History event to be held at Fort McCleary, near Kittery, Maine, on the 2nd weekend in August. The unit portrayal will be the 1st New Hampshire Heavy Artillery (who were also trained as infantrymen). Fort McCleary was established in the early 1700s to protect Maine (at that time part of Massachusetts) from New Hampshire. The fort is said to feature a fully-restored blockhouse. It is situated across from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Monies raised will go to preservation of the fort. It was noted that participants should use artillery color for rank. Mention was made of the 100th Anniversary of Fort Drum. It will involve participants in the Civil War portion of a timeline. The date of the event is the weekend of June 14-15, 2008. Mention was made of the “Unison Days” event in Loudoun County, Virginia. It is a tactical that will feature combined infantry/cavalry forces. It is scheduled for the last week in October, 2008. The following were selected as “Max Effort Events” for the PL:
The following were selected as Alternate Events:
The matter of new applicants to join the Potomac Legion was next addressed. The requirements for probationary status were explained, to wit: a letter of intent to join the PL, an agreement to abide by all rules and regulations of the PL, and a list of all members of applicant units must be given to the PL at the time the prospective unit applies for admission. The applying unit was to also supply proof of insurance, or agree to join in the Potomac Legion’s group insurance policy. Three groups appeared at the meeting to apply for membership to the Potomac Legion, to wit:
The Liberty Rifles representative, Jeff Hayes, noted that he was attending to learn what the PL requirements were and determine if the PL was interested in the LR joining. The decision to join would have to be decided by the LR at their next meeting. After some discussion, all units were accepted for probationary status for the coming 2008 season with the LR being contingent on their decision. It was noted that a decision on granting applying units full status of members of the Potomac Legion will be made at the 2008 organizational meeting. It was noted, after some discussion, that individuals in member units of the Potomac Legion may fall in with other groups at events but that all efforts should be made to fall in with the Potomac Legion at Potomac Legion events. It was noted that all efforts should be made by all Potomac Legion member units to support each other’s events. It was noted by Doug Oakes that 47 men were enrolled for this year’s “Battlefield March” at Gettysburg on Rememberance Day Weekend. Doug Oakes explained what the command structure will be during the march. The 1st Pennsylvania Artillery discussed artillery/infantry cooperation on the field and the tactical employment of artillery. Jerry Todd (1st Maine Cavalry) reported on the state of the PL website and requested new, up-to-date content, and especially images be provided. There being no other new business raised, the meeting was adjourned by the President, Dave Myrick. |
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