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Compatriots,
The deadline is approaching to register for our CASSAR 149th Annual Meeting of the Membership at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Burlingame, CA on April 26-27, 2024. This is an important time for us to get together as a Society to learn from one another and socialize. The meeting will be structured as it has been in the past. There will be a Public Service Luncheon on Friday, a Youth Programs Luncheon on Saturday and a Gala Banquet on Saturday evening to celebrate our accomplishments during the past year. This is our meeting of the CASSAR members, so please plan to attend as much of the meeting as you can. Here is a link to register:
https://www.californiasar.org/event/149th-annual-meeting.
Also, all Chapter Presidents, State Officers and State Committee Chairmen should have sent their annual reports to Secretary Chris Cerillo by now. If you haven’t sent it yet, please send it this week, so it can be included in the Report Book for the meeting.
All the SAR State Societies have submitted their Membership Reconciliation Reports for 2023, and our California Society remains the 6th largest State Society at 1,626 members on January 1, 2024. Overall, the National Society SAR membership declined by 1% from 33,723 in 2022 to 33,407 in 2023.
I want to thank and congratulate all of our members who invited a prospective member to a meeting and helped him complete his application to join the CASSAR. While our State Society’s membership didn’t grow as much as we had hoped, we were one of 17 State Societies who grew our membership in 2023 versus 2022, with the other Societies either staying the same or declining in membership.
Congratulations to those Chapters who increased their membership in 2023. Our California Society included 10 Chapters who increased membership in 2023 compared to 2022, 2 Chapters who stayed the same, and 12 Chapters who declined in membership. The 5 Chapters with the highest growth in membership will receive the Richard F. Locke Award and a check at our Annual Meeting. I invite you to attend the Annual Meeting and find out who the winners are.
If you have questions about building and retaining members, our SAR Membership Committee has published a Membership Recruitment, Retention and Reinstatement Guide that will assist you at this link:
https://www.sar.org/committees/membership-committee/.
I urge you to read it and apply it to your chapter.
Finally, as I complete my 1½ years as President of the California State Society SAR at our Annual Meeting next month, I want to sincerely thank all of you for your support. I have enjoyed working with you. We have a great team of State and Chapter officers who will be leading us in the future, and I am confident they will keep our California State Society vibrant and strong.
Thank you for your service to SAR,
Jim Klingler, President
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"We will remember our compatriot brothers with thanksgiving."
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Rooms $158/night and $10/Day Parking | | |
We have a great meeting planned in a gorgeous venue!
Optional off-site dinner Friday evening
Tuscan Room, Il Fornaio
Reserve your seat at the table now.
$75 per person, no host bar
Seating capacity limited to 42
| Kick back, relax, and have great conversation with other compatriots. | |
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Gala Banquet
Keynote Speaker
direct from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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In addition to being our Keynote speaker for the Gala Banquet
guests will be free to mix, mingle, and engage in converstion
with Thomas Jefferson during our social hour
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News from Around the California Society | |
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116th Annual Conference
California State Society
Daughters of the American Revolution
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(L-R) Diane Stephens, CASSAR President Jim Klingler, Brian Stephens
CASSAR President Jim Klingler brings greetings to CSSDAR
President Klingler brought greetings to the California State Society Daughters of the American Revolution (CSSDAR) at opening night of their 116th Annual Conference in San Ramon California on March 14, 2024. Also attending were Brian Stephens CASSAR DAR Liaison and Diane Stephens CSSDAR SAR/SR Relations Chair.
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Yosemite Chapter
Presents the Colors at CSSDAR Annual Conference
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(L-R) Yosemite CG Members Jim Riley, Scott Nichols, CSSDAR State Regent Sharpon Maas,
Harlie Smith and Glenn Martin (Thomas Jefferson), Bill Nay (Redwood Empire)
Joint Color Guard at California State Society DAR Conference
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Scott Nichols receives CSSDAR Certificate of Appreciation from CSSDAR State Regent Sharon Maas, for the combined SAR Color Guard
(Yosemite, Redwood Empire, Thomas Jefferson Chapters).
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Kern Chapter
California State Society
Children of the American Revolution
Annual Conference
Bakersfield, CA
| On March 9, 2024, California State Society, Children of the American Revolution, 94th Annual State Conference and Awards Banquet was held in Bakersfield at the Kern County Museum. | |
CAR State President Sophia Kaufman (left) with
CAR Senior President Sue Fitzpatrick (right)
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Several of California’s CAR, DAR, and SAR members
were present to support the State Conference.
Kern Chapter SAR 250th Committee Chairman Bruce Wearda presented
the 250 Minute and an American 250th Flag Streamer.
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CAR California State President Sophia Kaufman (above left) receives the
SAR 250th Anniversary Bronze Medal with Certificate from
SAR Kern Chapter President Christopher Scott (right)
| Kristen Blackburn-Kaufman, CAR Senior State Vice President (standing left), was awarded the 250th Anniversary Bronze Medal with Certificate by SAR Kern Chapter President Christopher Scott (standing center). | |
Bakersfield Mayor Karen K. Goh
with SAR Color Guard
(L-R) Past President Arnold Burr, CASSAR Color Guard Commander Brandon Villardi,
Kern 250th Chairman Bruce Wearda, Past President Mike Davis, Mayor Goh,
Kern Color Guard Commander Brian Claxton, Scott Davis, Kern Vice President Larry Carroll,
Kern Chaplin Rodney Goodmon, Kern Treasurer Kerry Adams, Rick Meridith.
Color Guard present Colors for the
CAR State Conference in Bakersfield on March 9, 2024
Kern Chapter SAR’s Color Guard presented and retired the Colors for the Banquet with honorary guest Commander
California Society SAR Color Guard Commander Brandon Villardi.
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New SAR Members Sworn In
Thomas Jefferson Chapter President Glenn Martin (left) inducted
Michael Black (center) and Josh Thorndike (right) as new members.
They were sworn in and presented their SAR rosettes and record copies.
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Joybound People and Pets
Stewart Proctor (right) and Sue Adams (center) of Joybound People & Pets, formerly know as Contra Costa ARF. Mr. Proctor noted that the organization started in 1991, when Oakland A’s Manager Tony La Russa rescued a stray cat that ran onto the field at an A’s-Yankees game in Oakland. La Russa and his wife co-founded Contra Costa Animal Rescue Foundation
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San Diego Chapter
SAR-DAR Plaque Rededication at Mission San Diego de Alcalá
February 3, 2024
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On the morning of February 3rd members of the
SAR and DAR San Diego Chapters joined forces for the rededication
of a jointly funded replacement SAR-DAR plaque (top).
The original 1932/33 plaque (bottom) was stolen. | |
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Janet Bartel (above), Mission Historian,
was instrumental in the replacement of the plaque.
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(L-R) Duncan Campbell, Rob Welch, Fred Hall, Rev. McGuine, Alan Winters,
Jim McAdory, Karon Jarrard, Judith Reale, Darlene Cook.
Judith Reale (2nd from right above), Vice Chair Historic Preservation Committee, CSSDAR, Honorary Regent San Diego Chapter, NSDAR
provided the welcome and dedication remarks.
We had a nice size crowd of both DAR and SDSAR members as well as many that had attended the Mass just prior to this program starting. Our Color guard began the program by leading the Mission’s priest, Very Reverand Peter McGuine, to the entrance to the area of the new plaque. Kathleen Winchester led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Redlands Chapter
Navy Seals receive SAR Flag Certificates
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(L-R) (SEAL) Jeffery Bramstedt (USN Ret), Captain (SEAL) Robert Schoulz (USN Ret.), Master Chief (SEAL) Rick Kaiser (USN Ret.) CEO US Navy UDT-SEAL Museum Fort Pierce FL
(SEAL) Todd Perry (USN Ret.) Exec Dir Navy SEAL Museum SD,
40 Year SEAL Spouse Jackie Perry, Reserve CEO Mike Kelly.
US Navy UDT-SEAL Museum Fort Pierce, FL and
US Navy SEAL Museum SD, Reserve event in Indian Wells CA
event participation and awards organized by Ben Hobbins, Redlands Chapter
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Ben Hobbins presents the SAR Flag Certificate to
Frank Harding and his daughter
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Ben Hobbins
awarded the
SAR Certificate of Appreciation
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Kern Chapter
SAR America 250 Medals Awarded
by Kern Chapter President Chris Scott
(in the red hat)
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Kerry Adams
awarded the
SAR Bronze America 250 Medal
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Arnie Burr
receives the
SAR Bronze America 250 Medal
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Bruce Wearda
receives the
SAR Bronze America 250 Medal
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Mike Davis
awarded the
SAR Bronze America 250 Medal
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Larry Carroll
awarded the
SAR Bronze America 250 Medal
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The SAR America 250
Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals
What are YOU waiting for?
Start sharing your knowledge on the American Revolution
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PG Manning’s America 250 Daily Minute
If you want to find out how your chapter can be apart of this celebration, contact John Ferris, Chair, America 250 SAR, at jrf1776@outlook.com .
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America 250 SAR Update
There is new information on the America 250th SAR website. I hope you will be impressed at what you will find. Please visit the America 250 Programs Library.
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SAR Tab:
185 Programs on the Revolutionary War, 225 videos, podcasts, and YouTube Videos, 175 website programs that you can use from the SAR, DAR, PBS, History Channel and the Museum of the American Revolution.
Educational Tab:
1900 Lessons on the Revolutionary War, 150 videos, podcasts, and YouTube videos, 175 website programs.
Color Guard Tab:
SAR Color Guard Handbook, Magazine and Reporting Forms, Download Color Guard Programs and News Releases, Color Guard Training videos and YouTube videos on uniforms, ceremonies, how to load and fire your musket, and the Baron de Steuben manual, YouTube Website links to the National SAR Color Guard Committee, State Color Guard Sites and the Baron Von Steuben's Revolutionary War Drill Manual
After you have perused the content, reach out and let me know what you think. I'd like to know if you used any of the information to help you or others on your America 250 journey. For any questions concerning America 250th SAR or the America 250th Anniversary Recognition Program, please contact John Ferris at jrf1776@outlook.com.
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April 26-27, 2024 — CASSAR Annual Meeting, Burlingame
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May 15, 2024 — All Regulatory Filings Must be Complete
- June 14, 2024 — Flag Day
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July 4, 2024 — Independence Day
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Every member who participates in SAR programs and interacts with youth under 18 years of age
is required to successfully complete
SAR Youth Protection Training.
Training is online, takes about 20 minutes, and is valid for 3 years.
Send your certificate of completion to Dan McKelvie: mckelvie@sbcglobal.net.
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Cyber Scams
If you receive an email, text, or voice mail from a purported Officer or Compatriot seeking any kind of financial transaction, consider it a hoax. Phishing messages are very sophisticated and may include the unauthorized use of the SAR logo, a compatriot's name, or a pseudo SAR email address. Stop — Think — Verify !!!
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CALL FOR ARTICLES — April 20, 2024 Deadline
Please send news of events and high resolution digital photos to:
John Ferris at jrf1776@outlook.com
— RELEASE FORMS —
All photos or or other materials that show or name any
minor under the age of 18
must be accompanied by a signed Release Form.
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The California Compatriot is the official newsletter of the California Society, Sons of the American Revolution. Unless explicitly stated, the opinions expressed herein are the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the California Society SAR.
Editor: Donald B Littlefield
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