A meeting of the Lt. Nathan Gann Chapter, S. A. R., was held at 7 PM Thursday,   May 17, 2007 at the Golden Corral Restaurant in Lufkin, Texas. Members and guests arrived after 6 PM to eat prior to the meeting.

President Fred Preston called the meeting to order and asked Chaplain Lester Sparks   to give the invocation.
Preston then led the assemblage in the pledges to the American Flag and the SAR Flag.

Members present were:  Fred Preston, Fred Jacobs, Tom Gann, Jeff Corbett, Vance Roberts, Fred Hutson, John Windham, Woody Gann, Mike Everheart and Lester Sparks. . Preston introduced the guests which included Betty Preston, Honora Jacobs, Vicki Gann, Sue Roberts*, Agnes Hutson, Mildred Sparks *,  Stella Frances Naranjo *, June Everheart, Harold and Geneva Newsom, Ramona Bagley, Connie and Johnny Weismuller, Inez Gardner and Kenneth Weismuller.   In all there were 10 members and 15 guests. (* denotes DAR)

Preston forgot to mention the minutes !.

Jeff reported that we had over $6,817.18 in the CD account which matures July 7, 2007.   The checking account was $237.82.  Tom Gann made a motion that we withdraw   $1500 from the CD account on July 7th. Fred Jacobs seconded, motion carried.    Preston reported that the chapter received a grant from Walmart for $250.  He also indicated there is no reason we can't offer more awards and do more for local schools.

OLD BUSINESS:

Still need to get autobiographies written and submitted.  Have about 6 but need one from everyone.  Give detail but keep it less than one full printed page.   Birth place, schools attended, places lived, work places and positions, military service, something about your ancestor, hobbies and interests.

Handouts are available for members if they don't already have them.  These include a list of officers, a complete list of our membership and 5 or 6 of the autobiographies.   They will be available to any member who wants one after the meeting.

At the last meeting, Preston appointed Woody Gann, Tom Gann and Lester Sparks as a committee to make recommendations on how to spend some of the money in the CD account.   There was no report.  Woody Gann is officially appointed as Chairman of this group.  Naranjo wasn't present but he wants to purchase copies of the Bill of Rights.   Frame them and place them in local schools where students can see them freqently.

Preston asked each member who has served in the military to get him a copy of their DD-214 they received at discharge, this contains the necessary information to determine which medal the member should receive.  Everyone who served can receive a medal even if they did not leave the country.   The plan is to present the medals at the September meeting. 

NEW BUSINESS:

Preston and Naranjo are going to put on uniforms and present certificates of appreciation to 13 students at Pineywoods Academy for participating in the poster contest on 'Yorktown'.  This will be done at 8 AM Monday morning the 21st.  Preston also encouraged the members to look for schools that might participate in the Poster Contest for 2007/2008.  Harmony Hill Baptist was mentioned along with St. Cyprians Episcopal and Pineywoods Academy.

Preston talked about SAR-Talk.  To subscribe go to http://www.sar.org/hq/SARtalk.html    You will need your national number because it is only open to SAR members.   Good way to see what is going on or ask questions.  Preston recently asked how do you know someone is displaying the flag properly without watching their place of business day and night.  Answer was that this is essentially what you have to do.   The majority of businesses do not know how to display a flag at half staff.

Since Eagle Scout Chairman, J. Neal Naranjo had not arrived Preston introduced Tom Gann who gave the talk about the 'History of the Lt. Nathan Gann Chapter'.  Tom talked about Ignatious Nathan Gann, his 19 children by 4 wives and his role in the Revolutionary War, in particular the battle of King's Mountain.   There were 18 members at the organizational meeting and 2 more immediately after were also considered charter members.   Of these 20 members, 12 were descendants of Ignatious Nathan Gann.     There was discussion about where Ignatious originated and it was Washington County which included most if not all of Tennessee.  Jonesboro was mentioned as home.

Tom Gann talking about Ignatious Nathan Gann and the history of the chapter.

After thanking Tom for his talk, Preston asked Kenneth Weismuller to come forward and read his essay written for the scholarship.  The talk was on 'The Battle of Saratoga, the Turning Point of the Revolutionary War'.  This battle took place in October 1777.  

Kenneth Weismuller reading his essay on the Battle of Saratoga.

After the talk, Preston presented Ken with a Certificate, an Eagle Scout Patch, an engraved Eagle medal and a check for $100.

President Preston presents Certificate to Kenneth.

Preston pointing out the difficulty in engraving the medal with Kenneth Weismuller.

Preston led the assemblage in the Closing Admonition and asked for a motion to adjourn.   Meeting was concluded about 7:50 PM

Respectfully submitted, Fred Preston

Addendum:  Mike Everheart, Dist. 10 Vice President said he was also now a member of the Lt. Nathan Gann Chapter.  Also, Harold Newsom, almost a charter member, is going to rejoin and has paid his dues.  This will bring the membership to 36.