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Compatriots,
Thanks to everyone who attended our 148th Annual Meeting of the Membership of the California Society of the SAR on April 14-15, 2023 at the Orange County Hilton Hotel in Costa Mesa, CA. We had a good turn-out from our CASSAR Chapters with 19 our 24 chapters represented at the meeting. We received greetings from California State Senator Janet Nguyen, Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens, DAR State Regent Sharon Maas, CAR Senior State President Sue Fitzpatrick, State Leaders of other Lineage Organizations, SAR National Officers and Distinguished guests, and Past CASSAR Presidents. We heard reports from the CASSAR Officers, CASSAR Committee Chairmen, and Chapter Presidents on their activities on behalf of CASSAR the past year. This created a great time to share experiences among the Chapters and learn from each other. Congratulations to the winners of the Richard F. Locke Award for largest percentage chapter membership growth in 2022: South Coast Chapter (19%), Yosemite Chapter (18%), Sons of Liberty Chapter (10%), Thomas Jefferson Chapter (8%), and General George Patton Chapter (7%).
We also honored our Youth Contest winners and Public Service employees at their respective luncheons. Our Public Service honorees were: Chief Brian Fennessy of the Orange County Fire Authority, Officer Daniel Gunter of the California Highway Patrol, and six members of the California Honor Flight. Our Youth Contest winners who attended their luncheon were: Outstanding Eagle Scout Robert McPhie, and Outstanding Sea Cadet Mason Nguyen. The other Youth Awards announced were: Outstanding JROTC Cadet Harini Akurathi, Brochure Contest Winner Rebecca Platt, Essay Contest Winner Erick Jacobsen and Poster Contest Winner Grayson Cooper. We congratulate all these deserving award recipients.
Finally, at our Formal Banquet we installed our new and returning CASSAR Officers (listed below in this newsletter and on our website) and the Ladies Auxiliary Officers for 2023-2024. We also presented awards to our members for their excellent service to SAR, including Patriot Awards to CASSAR Surgeon Dr. Matthew Bowdish, CASSAR VP Membership James Bunker, and CASSAR Color Guard Commander, Brandon Villardi. Congratulations to all our award winners.
I also give special thanks to members of the SAR Orange County Chapter for hosting the Annual Meeting and the SAR-OC volunteers who served before and during the meeting: Kent Gregory for managing the registration process; Lisa and Kent Gregory for the music at the Memorial Service; Phil Mitchell, Dan McKelvie, and John Ferris for serving as Master of Ceremonies at the lunches and the banquet; Barry Key for hosting the hospitality suite; Dan Casey, Mike Miller, Hammond Salley, and Dan McMillan for staffing the registration table; Karen Carlson, Liz Ferris, and Karen McKelvie for assistance with the auction and hospitality suite; Lidia Klingler and Anna Klingler for donating and setting up the table decorations and preparing the gift bags; Lidia Klingler for managing the check-in process for the Thursday and Friday dinners.
Our next major event is the SAR 133rd National Congress on July 13-20 in Orlando, Florida. This is a great time to meet SAR members from other parts of the country and renew friendships. This Congress is especially important because CASSAR Past President and current SAR Secretary General, John Dodd, is running for SAR President General. We want to have a large delegation from California to support his candidacy. Our CASSAR Secretary, Chris Cerillo, has requested that each Chapter President send him a list of delegates from their chapter by May 5th, so he can submit them to National SAR. There is a link to register for the Congress on our CASSAR website (www.californiasar.org/event/sar-133rd-national-congress).
Thank you for your service to SAR,
Jim Klingler, President
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Kimm Richwine (DAR) awarded SAR Bronze America 250 Medal
CASSAR Past President Craig Anderson presented Kimm Richwine, 1st Vice Regent, Charlotte Parkhurst Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution with the SAR Bronze America 250 Medal and Certificate on April 24, 2023 in Folsom. Kimm is an active participant in the SAR Sacramento Chapter School Guard and talks about the role of women during the American Revolution.
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Flag Certificate Presentations | |
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(L-R) Tom Douglas, Steve Belden, Mayor Rosario Rodriguez, and Don Littlefield
On April 11, 2023, Tom Douglas, secretary and a founding member of the Mother Lode Chapter, Steve Belden, president, and Don Littlefield, Sacramento Chapter, presented a framed SAR flag certificate to Folsom Mayor Rosario Rodriguez. The Mayor was thrilled with the occasion and hopes to invite the SAR back to a meeting of the Folsom City Council at a future date.
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Redlands Chapter made a huge effort in April by presenting 3 flag certificates. Pictured is Don Boatright presenting an SAR Flag Certificate to the representative of Elks Lodge Redlands 583. As of now Redlands is almost averaging 1 certificate/month. Way to go Redlands! | |
Sacramento Chapter Chapter | |
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DAR Receives $500 Donation for WAA
The Sacramento Chapter also presented the Charlotte Parkhurst Chapter DAR with a check for $500 toward their 2023 Wreaths Across America fundraising efforts. Regent Bobbi Bennett accepts the check.
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Folsom DAR Chapter
Awarded SAR Flag Certificate
On April 24, the SAR Color Guard was invited to present Colors at the April meeting of the Charlotte Parkhurst Chapter DAR. Regent Bobbi Bennett accepting the Flag Certificate.
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News from around the State | |
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Harbor Chapter Color Guard (L-R) Brandon Villardi, James Gill, Kyle Puro, John Ferris, John Richardson, and Kevin Bidenkap
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Harbor Chapter's April 13 meeting featured William Dillon, a 98-year-old WWII submariner and radio/radar operator who served on the USS Sailfish.
Mr. Dillon (pictured right) spoke on how the Great Depression shaped and prepared young men for service in war and set the foundation for the success they achieved later in life. He spoke about his submarine service but also focused on his later accomplishments as an electrical engineer in developing the Atlas and GPS programs.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Dillon also gave a lengthy video interview where he discussed his upbringing and life accomplishments in detail, which will be professionally edited and presented to him as a gift from the Harbor Chapter in preparation for his book that will be released in December.
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(L-R) Diver First Class Sean Connelly, Navy Chief Jeremy Velasquez,
WWII veteran William Dillon, Harbor Chapter President James Bunker
President James Bunker presented Mr. Dillon with a chapter certificate of appreciation and Harbor Chapter challenge coin, and the Navy representatives presented him tokens from the Diving Program.
The Harbor Chapter is also pleased to announce that two promotional videos will be released from the event that will discuss how the California Society is promoting the America 250 Program and honoring America's veterans in preparation for the 250th anniversary of our great nation.
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(L-R) Diver First Class Sean Connelly, President James Bunker,
and Navy Chief Jeremy Velasquez
Harbor Chapter President James Bunker presented the Navy dive team with chapter certificates of appreciation and Harbor Chapter challenge coins.
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Redwood Empire Chapter
Redwood Empire Chapter participated in the Troop 848 Spring Court of Honor.
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The Senior Patrol Leader Ash Nay was the Master of Ceremony. | |
Derek Brown, Vice President General, Western District, National Society SAR attended and presented the Troop with certificates for their dedication and service in the Retirement of 66 U.S. Flags. | |
VPG Brown and Bill Nay (right) were joined by Scouts BSA Redwood Empire Council Scout Executive Charles Howard-Gibbon (left) and Bill Van Valkenburg as they presented Mike Nay (center) with the SAR Robert E. Burt Scout Volunteer Medal and the Eagle Scholarship Fund Medal (inset). | |
CASSAR Past Vice President North Bill Van Valkenburg (left) presented Redwood Empire Chapter President Bill Nay with a Flag certificate. | |
Harini Akurathi of the Scripps Ranch High School was presented the San Diego Chapter's Junior ROTC Enhanced award for 2023 by our Sargent-at-Arms, Gary Newton. The award ceremony was conducted on April 3 at the Scripps Ranch High School's ROTC facility in front of an assembly of JROTC students. | |
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Compatriot Jim McAdory, Chapter Treasurer, presented Harini with a check for $250. Cadet Akurathi also won the CASSAR competition.
This is the third year that either a Sea Cadet or JROTC representing our Chapter has won a State level award.
| Scripps Ranch High School has a very active JROTC (Air Force) group with 68 students in the program. They recently won the Air Force Association's National Cybersecurity JROTC competition as part of the Associations Cyberpatriot program. | |
CASSAR 148th Annual Meeting of the Membership | |
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The 148 Annual Meeting of the California Society took place April 14 and 15 at the beautiful Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa.
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Smiling faces, old friends, and conversation... the key to a great meeting! | |
James Klingler being sworn in by former PG Joe Dooley as President, CASSAR | |
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Patriot Medal Recipients
CASSAR Color Guard Commander Brandon Villardi receives the Patriot Award.
Dr. Matthew Bowdish, MD, CASSAR Surgeon (absent)
Dr. James Bunker, PhD., CASSAR Vice President Membership (absent)
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SAR Meritorious Service Medal
President Klingler presented the SAR Meritorious Service Medal to
Randy Dhindsa and David Gilliard.
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Center, is keynote speaker Professor Edward Larson, Hugh & Hazel Darling Chair in Law, Caruso School of Law and Professor of History at Pepperdine University.
Bob Ebert receives his Korean Service and Viet Nam War Veterans Corps certificates from Don Littlefield. The were awarded at the last SAR Congress.
Randy & Tyler Dhindsa, John & Liz Farris. Surgeon General Keith Weissinger, MD and John Dodd, Phil Mitchell, Janet Brown and Librarian General Fred Olive, Owen Stiles.
Randy Dhindsa receives pin as a George Washington Endowment Fund Fellow from Edmon McKinley Chairman GWEF.
PAST CASSAR President Stephen and Joy Renouf.
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(Clockwise from top left)
Cadet Mason Nguyen, US Naval Sea Cadets — Outstanding Sea Cadet Award
Chief Brian Fennessy, Orange County Fire — SAR Fire Safety Medal
Craig Van Doren, Honor Flight — SAR Bronze Good Citizenship Medal
Officer Daniel Gunter, CHP — SAR Law Enforcement Medal
Robert McPhie, BSA Eagle Scout — Outstanding Eagle Scout
absent
Grayson Cooper, Gold Ridge Elementary — Americanism Poster Contest
Rebecca Platt — Brochure Contest
Eric Jacobsen — Knight Essay Contest
AFJROTC Cadet Harini Akurathi — Outstanding JROTC Cadet
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Outstanding Chapter Award Recipients
Delta Chapter
Eagle Chapter
Harbor Chapter
Kern Chapter
Riverside Chapter
San Diego Chapter
Yosemite Chapter
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Chapters having Outstanding Color Guards
Eagle Chapter
Orange County
South Coast Chapter
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America 250 Awards
America 250 Gold Medals were presented to Dan McKelvie (Orange County), Don Littlefield (Sacramento Chapter) and Peter Fagan (san Diego Chapter) in recognition of their efforts and activity in planning and executing America 250 public events celebrating and promoting America's 250th Anniversary.
Silver America 250 Medals were also presented to Randy Dhindsa, Dan and Karen McKelvie, Don Littlefield, and Phil Mitchell, Stephen Renouf, and Greg Owens. (If any names were missed... apologies.)
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Ladies Recognition
Kelly Villardi, Ladies Auxiliary 1st VP - Martha Washington Medal
Karen Carlson, Ladies Auxiliary 2nd VP - Lydia Darragh Medal
Liz Ferris, Ladies Auxiliary Registrar - Daughters of Liberty Medal
Janet Brown, Aide to Western District - Lydia Darragh Medal
Sue Fitzpatrick - CSSCAR Senior State President - CAR Silver Medal
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In the business sessions:
Treasury Audit was conducted virtually prior to the Annual Meeting and Chairman Klingler concluded the CASSAR accounting records are kept in good order with no exceptions.
Bylaw Proposals recommended by the Bylaws Committee were adopted as amended during the meeting. The complete set of CASSAR Bylaws will available on the CASSAR web site under Members, then About California SAR section.
Candidates endorsed for elective office by the Nominations Committee were elected. CASSAR Officers are listed further down this newsletter and on the CASSAR website under Officers.
An open discussion on Funding CASSAR Annual and BOM meetings was held. Following that discussion, President Klingler asked Don Littlefield to chair a Task Force and report findings and recommendations at the November BOM. Including in the discussion were 6 points:
- CASSAR currently grants host chapters $500 to cover expenses
- CASSAR could consider increasing the amount of these grants
- CASSAR has advanced funds to chapters to cover deposits
- Shift the financial risk of CASSAR meeting away from the host chapter
- Hold on of the two yearly meetings via video conference (Zoom, etc.)
- Hold only one meeting per year; bylaw amendment requiring attendance
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SAR Past President General Joe Dooley swears-in the slate of California Society Sons of the American Revolution 2023-24 officers. Congratulations! | |
David Grinnell
David Lawrence Grinnell passed quietly on April 18, 2023. He was 79. He graduated from Newport HS in 1962 and received his BS in Business Finance at Bryant College, in 1966. He was CFO of CODAC for many years. After retiring in 2009 David moved to Palm Springs CA with his husband, Victor M Ranieri. He is survived by his son, Nathan Grinnell of Georgia, two grandchildren, Ryder and Lila Grinnell, his daughter, Jodi Grinnell Brierly of Missouri, and his husband. He is also survived by a brother in Newport, RI, Ronald Grinnell. Two other brothers, Alfred and Roger Grinnell, predeceased him.
David's joined the SAR in December 2009. He was also a member of many other genealogical groups. His rich ancestry has many kings and queens and even Charlemagne in it. He often held an office in several of these groups, either as treasurer or registrar. He will be missed by all who knew him.
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LAST CALL !!
SAR 133rd Annual Congress
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Hotel Registration remains open for the SAR 133rd Annual Congress at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, FL, July 14-20, 2023. The Rosen Plaza direct number is 1-800-627-8258. Group code: NSSAR2023. Below is the link for the online registration. For questions, please contact Paul Callanan at:
704-756-0363 or LTCMRSC@aol.com.
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The Harbor Chapter is looking forward to hosting the 148th BOM meeting November 3-4 aboard the iconic RMS Queen Mary. Located in the Port of Long Beach, the Queen Mary features a rich maritime history, authentic Art Deco décor, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Long Beach city skyline. On her maiden voyage in 1936 she was considered the grandest ocean liner ever built.
The Queen Mary has a rich maritime history that includes Winston Churchill signing the D-Day declaration during WWII as well as pop-culture relevance in the film "Assault on a Queen" starring Frank Sinatra. The Queen Mary's final cruise was October 31,1967 and the ship has been a featured part of Long Beach's shoreline ever since. History buffs and visitors of all ages can explore the ship's museum, tours, and exhibits.
Hotel Reservations are now available for 148th BOM Meeting Onboard the Queen Mary using the group link below or by calling: 888-217-1153. The Group code is: 1123CASSAR
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Click the image to play the America 250 SAR Video | |
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May 29 — Memorial Day
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June 14 — Flag Day
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July 4 — Independence Day
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September 4 — Labor Day
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July 15-20 — SAR 133rd National Congress, Orlando
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November 3-4 — 148th CASSAR Board of Managers Meeting
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Every member who participates in SAR programs and interacts with youth under the age of 18, is required to successfully complete SAR Youth Protection Training. Training is online, takes about 20 minutes, and is valid for three years.
Send your certificate of completion to Dan McKelvie: mckelvie@sbcglobal.net.
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CALL FOR ARTICLES — May 20, 2023 Deadline
Please send news of events and high resolution digital photos to
Don Littlefield at dblittlefield@comcast.net
— 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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Cyber Scams
If you receive an email, text, or voice mail from a purported Officer or Compatriot seeking any type of financial assistance, 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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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
craigandersonsar@gmail.com
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