Compatriots,

     I am writing my last news letter during my term as president.  I want to thank all of you for all of your help, contributions and kind words during the past 39 months while I was vice president, acting president and president.  I wanted a more viable and visible chapter which we now have.  Our membership has increased from about 33 members to 45 members.  I wanted to help the veterans of Galveston County, and we have contributed many personal items, magazines and books to them.  Let all of us help the new officers keep our chapter moving forward during the year of 2012.   
    
     Compatriots, we had a great meeting, and there were a total of 42 people in attendance.  We had 14 chapter members, 6 SAR Auxiliary members, 2 DAR members, 7 compatriots from other chapters, 1 prospective member, 1 prospective DAR member (our bar tender), and 12 guests attending the meeting.  The members attending are as follows: Pete Lenes, George Dersheimer, Ron Whatley, Bill Adriance, Bill Whatley, Ron Mason, John Mason, Paul Noble, George Williamson, Jason Adriance, Jim Cantrell, Asa Whatley, Samuel Whatley and David Peterson.  The compatriots from other chapters were as follows: TXSSAR President Bill Marrs, Past State President Jim Jones, Steve Tanner, Tom Jackson, Larry Stevens, Ray Cox and Russell Dart.  The prospective member was Shaun Gulley who is Compatriot John Gulley’s nephew.

     We rededicated our historical marker commemorating the 115th Anniversary of our chapter.  It is located on 23rd Street in Galveston where the old Tremont Hotel was located.  Compatriot and our former state president, David Peterson, read a proclamation from the County Commissioners Court of Galveston County.  There were 12 members in uniform for this event.  We rode the small train belonging to the Railroad Museum to and from this event.  Compatriot George Williamson was the engineer!

     We participated in the Dickens on the Strand Queens’ Parade.  We had 9 chapter members in Revolutionary War uniforms and period clothing.  We also had 5 Auxiliary members in period clothing.  There were 6 members in Revolutionary War uniforms and 2 Auxiliary members in period clothing from other chapters participating in the parade, too.   It was a great parade to be a part of!

     TXSSAR President Bill Marrs installed the new officers for the year of 2012.  Ron Whatley will be President, George Williamson – Vice President, Paul Noble – Secretary, Jim Cantrell – Registrar, Gordon Robinson – Treasurer/Chaplain and Pete Lenes – Immediate Past President.

     We held our meeting at the Railroad Museum in Galveston.  George Williamson did an outstanding job in setting up the meeting at the museum, and the excellent sea food lunch which was prepared by Gaido’s Restaurant. 
      
NEW BUSINESS:    

     Pete Lenes reported our chapter now has 7,860 points on the President’s Report and 1,379 Stark Report points which equates to 14 points added to the President’s report. 

     Pete Lenes presented Bill Whatley, George Dersheimer, George Williamson, David Peterson, Tom Harmon (absent) and Ron Whatley Certificates of Appreciation for their outstanding support of the Fall BOM meeting in Galveston.

     Pete Lenes was presented a Certificate of Appreciation for his distinguished service as President of the Bernardo de Galvez Chapter # 1 and his Past President Pin by TXSSAR President Bill Marrs.

Our next meeting will be held on the 21st of January!  See you there!  
 
John P. “Pete” Lenes
President
Bernardo de Galvez Chapter # 1,
Texas Society,
Sons of the American Revolution

Prospective members:  Remember to bring prospective members to our chapter meetings!  We need to build up our membership during 2012!