NEWSLETTER FOR AUGUST 2005

Camp website: http://pvtrichardtaylor.bizland.com/

Commander: Talbot Hackett genberry@msn.com

Editor: Steve Pearce spearce@knology.net

All went very well at our July meeting. I congratulate Brother Karl Ryan for his election as Company G, 42^nd Indiana (SVR) First Sergeant. Any Brothers wishing to join Company G should get in contact with him to get an application.

We are helping the James A. Garfield Camp in Cleveland, Ohio raffle off three replica Colt revolvers. We keep one-half of the proceeds from the tickets we sell, so this may be a great way to great our planned scholarship fund up and running. The drawing is being held December 10, 2005, which gives us some time to sell plenty of tickets. Pictures of the pistols are posted on the Department of Ohio’s website: http://www.ohiosuv.com/page2.htm

Plans for the Department Encampment are coming along nicely. It will be at the Bevill Center on Sparkman Drive on January 28, 2006. The business meeting will be followed that evening by an all-you-can-eat buffet dinner for $18.95 per person. More details will be provided in the next few weeks.

Susan Weber will be addressing us at our August meeting concerning the Madison County Heritage Festival at the Hays Nature Preserve on October 8. She needs our help and will explain what she is trying to accomplish and how we can assist at that time. We have six volunteers for the Bushwhacker Johnson surrender, but more will be needed. We also need to discuss and finalize what we plan to do for a Camp exhibit for the festival.

We will also have to finalize our plans for the Madison Street Festival on October 1^st. We have already voted to participate in the parade, but we need to decide upon vehicles, etc. Additionally, it may be worth the effort to set up a booth for the festival itself as a recruiting drive. Raffle tickets for the pistols could also be sold. The cost for a booth is $35. More information about the festival and its purpose can be found on their website: http://www.madisonstreetfestival.org/

Veteran’s Day will be here before you know it. WAFF doesn’t have the registration link up on their website yet, but it won’t hurt to have our plans in the works when they do, avoiding the last minute scramble.

It is almost election time again. Elections of Camp officers will be during the September meeting and installation will be in October, the Camp’s anniversary month. With the Camp’s approval, I think that the installation ceremony for the new officers should be held on a Saturday in order for Department Commander Atchley to be able to attend. The Camp was chartered on October 14, 2000 and Saturday, October 15, 2005 is as close the anniversary date as we can get. It might be enjoyable to have a small social gathering, including families, following the official ceremonies to celebrate the Richard Taylor Camp’s fifth anniversary.

The Secretary’s Minutes:

Minutes of 11 July 2005 meeting of Pvt. Richard Taylor Camp 53.

In attendance were Commander Hackett, Senior Vice Commander Burke, Sec/Treasurer Hintze, Brothers Wright, Greene, Davis, Cottrell, Stegmaier, Karl Ryan, Hogan and Tod Jenness.

The meeting was opened at 7:00 p.m. by Cmdr Hackett. Brother Cottrell gave the invocation, Brother Jenness led the camp in the Pledge of Allegiance and Commander Hackett led the Camp in American Creed.

The minutes of the June 27 Meeting were read and approved. Commander Hackett brought up that the Junior and Associate certificates that were developed by Brother Pearce have been updated using Power Point. Commander Hackett sent the certificates to National. National liked the certificates but wanted a correction, which we agreed to make. National is going to add these certificates to their inventory.

In Old Business, Brother Greene brought some bunting for the Tables at the July 28 Bicentennial. Brother Hogan is going to purchase 200 small Flags for $46.00.

In New Business, the City of Madison will have a Street Festival and Parade on October 1. The Camp voted to take part in the parade. There will be a Madison County Heritage Festival on Oct 8, which will include a re-enactment of Bushwhacker Johnson’s surrender. On a side note, it was mentioned that the Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table is planning a trip to Chickamauga on Sept 24. Brothers are invited.

The Camp then discussed their status as a SVR Company. The Taylor Camp was on the roles as the 18^th Indiana but had voted to become the 42^nd Indiana in 2003. A motion was made to create two companies. This motion passed. After further discussion a motion was made to rescind the previous vote. It also passed. A motion was then made to abolish the 18^th Indiana and become Company G, 42^nd Indiana. This vote was passed.

Brother Cottrell closed the meeting with the benediction and the Camp then broke for a SVR Meeting.

Hope to see everyone on the August 29 at the next meeting.

Respectfully submitted in F, C, and L,

Talbot Hackett-Commander

Geoffrey Hintze -Secretary/Treasurer