Tampa Chapter

Sons of the American Revolution

Meeting Notice and News, February 2011

 

Compatriots,

            Our next meeting will be held on February 19th in the private meeting room of the Piccadilly Cafeteria, located at 11810 Dale Mabry Highway North, Tampa, Florida (813-963-1660). Meetings begin at noon but members arrive as early as 11:30 for a time of camaraderie.

Ken Nichols will speak on the Declaration of Independence. Ken comes to us on the strong recommendation of the Clearwater Chapter.

Below are a number of other items that may be of interest to you. Thanks for taking the time to look them over.

 

Regards,

 

Kevin Yarnell

Secretary, Tampa Chapter

 

Our Color Guard has two events on its calendar in early March. Alan, our Commander, will provide details at Saturday’s meeting. The group is always seeking new members and will assist you in putting together a uniform.

 

Another New Record!

Each year the Florida Society sponsors a “Chapter Challenge” contest wherein the local chapters compete with each other based on the activities completed in the previous calendar year. Various activities are assigned point values and a score sheet determines the total number of points earned by the chapter in the given year. Prizes are awarded for the top scorers at the state annual meeting held each May. The chapters are divided into categories based on size to allow a fairer competition.

 

Here are the Tampa Chapter point totals for the last few years.

 

Year

Point Total

2002

241

2003

466

2004

284

2005

337

2006

435

2007

429

2008

473

2009

550

2010

655

 

You’ll note our record total for the year! Thanks to everyone who volunteered to help with an event. You’re work made this possible.

 

 

The Last Naval Battle Ceremonies Will Be Held On Saturday March 5, 2011

The 228th Anniversary of the Last Naval Battle of the American Revolution will once again take place at the Canaveral Port Authority Administration Bldg., 445 Challenger Road, Cape Canaveral, FL. We will be assembling at 9:15am and our parade will step-off at EXACTLY 10am. In case of rain the ceremonies will be held inside.

            The event is sponsored by the Florida Society SAR and hosted by the Brevard Chapter SAR along with the local chapters of the DAR.

The Last Naval Battle commemoration is a SAR National Color Guard event, that recognizes the March 10, 1783 naval battle fought offshore of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Capt. John Barry of the Continental Navy Ship Alliance was victorious over HMS Sybil, thereby saving the transport ship Duc de Lauzon and her cargo of much-needed funds headed for the Continental Congress.

We are pleased to announce that Tim McGrath will be our keynote speaker. Mr. McGrath is the author of the new book “John Barry: An American Hero in the Age of Sail” (640 pp. / 51 illus., Westholme Publishing)

 

 

Minutes of the January 15, 2011 meeting of the Tampa Chapter SAR

 

President Lloyd called the meeting to order at 11:59. Jack Bolen offered the invocation. The President led the pledge to the flag and the pledge to the SAR.

 

Members present: Marty Miller, Cy Gamber, Doug Brown, Ira Ward, Terry Doan, Ed Neugaard, Chuck Copeland, Alan Bell, Gray Reece, John Skillman, Jack Bolen, John Sessums, Terrell Sessums, Chuck Hawley, Robert Koehler, Dick Young, Charles Klug, and Kevin Yarnell.

 

Welcome guests:

David McAllister, a former member of the Tampa Chapter dating back to the 1970’s

Wives: June Bolen DAR Regent, Lissette Young, Philis Ward, Kathy Hawley, Judy Copeland, Neva Sessums, Licia Sessums

Other guests: Edna Broyles, DAR Regent, Victoria Blake, and prospective members Jack Spangler, Leo Kelly, and Paul Pierett

 

The President and members introduced our guests.

 

The minutes of the December meeting were approved.  

 

Treasurer Chuck Copeland reported a checking account balance of $2,461.09 and cash of $110.88 for a total of $2,571.97. Our contribution of $200 to the Wounded Warriors Fund was sent during December and the chapter received a reimbursement from the state Endowment Trust Fund for our ROTC awards expenses.

 

On behalf of the Chapter Color Guard, Alan announced that the group will be presenting the colors at the March 12th C.A.R. State Annual Meeting to be held in Tampa. He’d like at least 4 members to participate.

 

Alan Bell, the chapter registrar, reported on the status of our prospective members. Several new and supplemental applications are awaiting approval at National and Alan remarked on the “stack” of prospects on his desk at home. He also shared some highlights of his recent visit to the new National Society library.

 

The President reminded the members of the upcoming genealogy workshop, Saturday, February 12, 2011 at the Tampa Bay History Center. The event is sponsored by the DAR.

 

The President then presented awards to

  • Chuck Hawley, a recently approved Supplemental
  • Ira Ward, a War Service medal for his service in World War II. He also served in Korea and Vietnam
  • Dick Young, Sr., a Military Service medal
  • Robert Yarnell, the Bronze Medal of Appreciation for his years of coordinating our involvement with the Fort Brooke Chapter of the C.A.R.

 

The meeting recessed for lunch.

 

The president called the reconvened the meeting and asked June Bolen, DAR Regent to install the 2011 chapter officers.

 

Following the installation the president installed Charles Klug as our newest member and presented him his membership certificate. Then Vice President Yarnell offered some additional background on Charles as introduction for his talk to the members on the history of the Port of Tampa. Using old maps and photographs Charles traced the history of the port from the mid 1800’s to the present.

 

The main theme centered on the migration of the port to the east and south of its original location. The earliest port was located on the southwest corner of the Interbay peninsula. The water at this spot was sufficiently deep as opposed to the depth of water at the mouth of the Hillsborough River which ran only about eight feet. Ships that did make it to the city often needed to drop their ballast before heading up the bay. They did so at Ballast Point whose name derived from this practice.

 

When Henry Plant brought the railroad to Tampa; the transportation increased the importance of the port and he ran a line down the peninsula to the port. But as the city grew, people crowded out the port. Charles pointed out the tension between the needs of the city’s population and the industrial community which requires occasional reassessment of land use. The necessary dredging of the harbor and main shipping channel allowed for the creation of islands in the bay. Davis and Harbor Island are examples. As Charles showed a series of maps and aerial photographs it could be seen how the port shifted off of the Interbay peninsula to these islands and to the each side of the bay.

 

Charles concluded with a brief look at the port today and their plans for the future which included expansion of their ability to handle container ships from Asia. He also pointed out that the port needs constant upkeep including maintenance of the shipping channels. The main shipping channel is 41 miles long beginning beyond the Skyway Bridge and totals 80 miles when including the auxiliary channels. The total dredging required each year is nearly 200,000 cubic yards.

 

Ira Ward won the 50/50. He generously contributed his share to the treasury which was thus enriched by $26.00.

 

The President led the recessional, Jack Bolen gave the benediction, and the meeting adjourned at 2:02pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Kevin Yarnell

Chapter Secretary