The SAR MAGAZINE is the official quarterly publication of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution published quarterly.
Issue link: http://sar.epubxp.com/i/79692
Privileged to Serve Honored and Dear Fellow Compatriots, It is a great honor and privilege to serve as your President General for the coming year. We have just completed our 122nd National Congress— certainly, one of the warmest. Thank you to all—especially the Arizona and New Mexico Societies—who made the Phoenix Congress such a success. As I mentioned in my inaugural address at Congress, SAR is experiencing many positives for the Society at this time. We need to keep this moving forward in our favor. One goal I expressed is to have our host society reception in the new headquarters building at the 2015 Congress in Louisville. Think positive. It is possible financially with approval of the trustees and with the time needed to complete renovations to have full occupancy of the building by that time. Above, President General Stephen Leishman and his wife, Janet, in historic New Castle, Del., at the tomb of George Read, a signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. On the cover, the Leishmans at the New Castle Courthouse (1732). Photos by Michael Keen. One thing we all can do for ourselves is work on member retention. Most chapters and societies derive nearly 100 percent of their revenue from dues. The more dues-paying members, the more revenue. Let's actively work to retain members and reduce the loss of members for non-payment of dues. It is everyone's obligation. By the time this issue of The SAR Magazine is distributed, Janet and I will have attended the seven-state Atlantic Middle States Conference and the South Central District Conference. We also will have represented our Society at the Annual Meeting of The American Legion in Indianapolis and presented The Distinguished Patriotic Leadership Award to outgoing National Commander Fang A. Wong. Commander Wong was one of our distinguished 6800(5 visitors at the Phoenix Congress. Our fall leadership meeting is just weeks away. All compatriots are welcome to attend. Educational workshops for all will be presented Saturday morning. Subjects will include secretary duties for chapter and society officers, reconciliation report writing, Americanism Award application writing and a workshop for registrars on updates to the Registrar's Manual. Look for the schedule and online registration form on the SAR website. Looking further ahead to springtime, a trip to England and Scotland is planned for May 9-21, 2013. In London we are planning a meeting with the United Kingdom Society. After a few days of taking in the sights of London, Stonehenge and Bath, we'll journey by train to Edinburgh. Destinations in Scotland include St. Andrews, Blair Castle, Culloden, Loch Ness and the Isle of Skye. More information will be available at the fall leadership meeting. We hope you can join us. Janet and I look forward to serving you and participating at various commemorations whenever we can. Fraternally, Stephen A. Leishman, President General