Camp Minutes 2018

Col. Louis R Francine Camp # 7

Meeting Minutes

November 3, 2018

A very productive meeting of the Camp was held on Saturday, November 3, 2018, with 24 Brothers and 2 guests present. A number of items were brought up for the Camp’s consideration.

Minutes approved.

Treasurer’s report $1,421.84 Checking: $1,245.58 Benevolent Fund: $176.26

Brother in distress/sick report: Please keep Brothers Dan Lewis, and John Kenny

in your thoughts and prayers.

Moment of Silence for Past Department Commander Bill Horn.

Correspondence: We received a donation of $35.00 and a note of thanks from Brother Norm Ervine, for the sale of some of his old reenacting equipment. Thank you Brother Norman!

We received an application from Robert Evans Jr. We will vote on him at the next meeting.

Old Business: The Light House Challenge event slated for October 20^,was cancelled due to a lack of space. The staff at the Absecon Light House is open to the idea for us setting up there for another event.

Commander Tomasello looked into having hat pins made that we could sell as a fund raiser. This was revisited at the meeting and the Camp approved the purchase of 100 pins.

Commander Tomasello spoke about the “Good Cemeterian” a gentleman who has made it his mission to clean the headstones of veterans. Since then Commander Tomasello has cleaned three headstones. The result is fantastic!! It is hoped that we can soon get more Brothers involved and clean more headstones.

New Business: On the subject of the “Good Cemeterian” Brother Bryan Sigmund has been very busy raising funds towards the purchase of cleaning products. Through his efforts more than $300.00 has been raised. The Camp approved the purchase of five gallons of product. Brother Gordinier volunteered to pick up the product for us to save the shipping and handling charges. Thank you Brother Charles.

Commander Tomasello would like to know how many Brothers would be interested in a tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery, in Philadelphia. Laurel Hill holds the remains of a number of Civil War soldiers including our own Camp namesake Colonel Francine. The tour is $15.00 per person with all proceeds going to the cemetery.

The Gettysburg Bus trip is on! The cost is $65.00 per person and includes dinner at Picket’s buffet and a tour. One of the tour ideas is to walk the movements of the 7^thNew Jersey at the Battle. The date of the trip is Saturday March 16, 2019. We will leave from the Shoprite parking lot in Hammonton. We must sell out the bus to make this worthwhile. We will not hold seats without payment! If we cannot sell out the bus, there will be no trip. Please send your checks made payable to Col. Francine Camp # 7 to Scott Hann, 205 Vail Court, Mays Landing, and NJ 08330.

At the last meeting the Commander instituted a Camp tee shirt contest. We came up with some rules and they are as follows. You can wear your Camp polo shirt, and the two categories are as follows. The first is a minimum of five pictures all in a different location. The second is either the furthest or most unusual place. All pictures will be posted on Facebook. The winners will receive a $15.00 gift card to a place of their choice.

Speaking of tee shirts will still have tee shirts and polo shirts for sale. The tee shirts are $15.00 and polo shirts are $20.00. I know we have a number of Brothers that live out of state. If you would like a shirt, I could mail one to you for an additional $5.00 postage and handling. If interested please let me know.

The Camp is looking into having Camp jackets made. It will have the Camp name on the back along with the SUVCW logo. The Camp has authorized the money for the setup fee and the jackets will run about $140.00 apiece. The jackets are quilted and made in the USA. They are available in red and blue. I would like to get an order together in January as the jackets are a special order and will run about 4 to 6 weeks to get the jackets in.

An expenditure of $18.63 was approved for the purchase of a luminary for the annual Remembrance Day illumination.

We have a Women’s Auxiliary that is in desperate need of members. I’ve asked a friend of mine Gerri, who is a member of the Ladies of the GAR to take over and help to get the Auxiliary going. At present the Auxiliary is down to 3 women. Wives are welcome to join. If you wish to join dues are $20.00 a year with a onetime application fee of $15.00. Membership in the Auxiliary to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War May be obtained through eligibility in the following ways:

As the wife, sister, daughter, legally adopted daughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughter and so forth, niece and grandniece and so forth, not less than twelve (12) years of age, of a deceased or honorably discharged Soldier, Sailor or Marine who served in the Union Army, Navy or Coast Guard (including Revenue cutter Service) during the Civil War of 1861 to 1865.

As the wife, widow, mother or legally adopted daughter of a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, with lineage, in good standing.

Associates: Those ladies who do not qualify for membership under #1 or #2 above, but who desire to affiliate with the ASUVCW. If interested please let me know. I fear that if we do not get some new members for the Auxiliary soon it will disband.

Anyone who is interested please let us know!!

Commander Tomasello reminded the Brothers that he would like to see more ancestor biographies on the website. Please write something up and send it to me.

Commander Tomasello has asked that we look into a pay pal or a vemo account that would allow Brothers to pay but debit or credit card. These accounts are in the process of being set up. Please note that there may be a small service fee when this is used.

The camp received a donation of a unique of a Civil War dental pocket scalpel at the Annual Country Living Fair. The item was donated by Stan Pryblyski. Thank you for the donation.

We are looking at setting up a dinner meeting at Fred and Ethel’s Restaurant in Smithville.

We are now collecting dues for 2019. Dues are $30.00. Please send your checks made payable to Col. Francine Camp # 7 to Scott Hann, 205 Vail Court, Mays Landing, and NJ 08330. Dues must be paid by no later than April 6 or you will be dropped.

There was no Patriotic Instructors report

Good of the Order. Brother Bryan Sigmund spoke about these genealogy program. It is going well. Brother Bryan also brought in a number of paintings for the Camp to enjoy.

This is a partial list of events for 2019

Saturday February 2, 2019: Camp meeting. 10:00 a.m., at the Atlantic County Library West, located at 451 South Egg Harbor Road in Hammonton.

Saturday March 16, 2019: Gettysburg bus trip. 7:00 AM. We will leave from the Shoprite parking lot in Hammonton. Seats are on a first come first paid basis. Cost is $65.00 per person.

Saturday April 6, 2019: Camp meeting. 10:00 a.m., at the Atlantic County Library West, located at 451 South Egg Harbor Road in Hammonton. This ends the collection of dues for 2019.

Saturday May 4, 2019: SUVCW/SCV Memorial Service Fins Point National Cemetery. 10:00 AM. Please meet at the Finns Point Cemetery parking lot at 9:45

Monday May 27, 2019: Memorial Day Parade Hammonton. We need to assemble at South Egg Harbor Road at 10:15 a.m. We can meet at the Hammonton Historical Society at 9:45. All SVR members in parade dress. All Camp Brothers in Camp polo shirts and khaki pants.

Wednesday May 30, 2019: Traditional Memorial Day Program Greenmount Cemetery, Hammonton. Ceremony starts at 6:00 p.m. We need to assemble at the cemetery by 5:30. All SVR members in parade dress. All Camp Brothers in Camp polo shirts and khaki pants. Let’s have a good turnout for this.

Saturday June 8, 2019: Annual New Jersey SUVCW Department Encampment, Toms River. More details to follow.

Saturday August 6, 2019: Camp meeting. 10:00 a.m., at the Atlantic County Library West, located at 451 South Egg Harbor Road in Hammonton. This begins the Commander’s Annual Challenge.

Sunday October 20, 2019: Country Living Fair Historic Batsto Village. Set up time 8:30. Event runs from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Saturday November 2, 2019: Camp meeting. 10:00 a.m., at the Atlantic County Library West, located at 451 South Egg Harbor Road in Hammonton. This ends the Commander’s Annual Challenge.

With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 12:45 p.m., with the next meeting slated for Saturday February 2, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., at the Atlantic County Library West, located at 451 South Egg Harbor Road in Hammonton.

Submitted in F, C & L,

Dave Hann PDC

Camp Secretary

Col. Louis R Francine Camp # 7

Meeting Minutes

August 4, 2018

A very productive meeting of the Camp was held on Saturday, August 4, 2018, with 16 Brothers and 4 guests present. A number of items were brought up for the Camp’s consideration.

Minutes approved.

Treasurer’s report $1,039.59 Checking: $863.33 Benevolent Fund: $176.26.

Brother in distress/sick report: Please keep Brothers Dan Lewis, John Kenny

and Past Department Commander Buzz Smithcors in your thoughts and prayers.

Old Business:

Commander Tomasello would like to see us set up a recruiting tent at the Absecon Light House in Atlantic City for the “Light House Challenge” the date of the event is Saturday, October 20. We have received permission to set up there and can use a couple of Brothers to help man the tent.

New Business

We initiated the following new Brothers at our meeting. Patrick McCauley, Shawn Pratt, Robert Kitz and Ted Rockelman. Welcome Brothers!

We received a transfer request from Brother William McDonald who would like to join the Lyon Camp as it is closer to him. His request was granted and we thank him for his service to the Camp. Brother McDonald was serving as Graves and Civil War memorials Officer. PCC Duane Conant will now serve in that capacity.

Commander Tomasello looked into having hat pins made that we could sell as a fundraiser. We will look into to this more at the next meeting.

At the April meeting we had a reporter from the Hammonton Gazette with us who did a fantastic article on the Camp. Copies of the newspaper were available at the meeting. The Camp was also mentioned in The Gazette, a paper from northern New Jersey, in an article by James Halloran about researching Union Civil War ancestors.

Commander Tomasello reminded the Brothers that he would like to see more ancestor biographies on the website. Please write something up and send it to me.

The Commander expressed his thanks to Brother Bryan Sigmund and PDC Fred Mossbrucker for their participation in the Egg Harbor Township Military Time Line weekend.

PDC Hann spoke about the recruiting event at the 155 Anniversary of Gettysburg re-enactment. PDC Hann along with PDC Mossbrucker along with Pennsylvania PDC Doug McMillin along with Gettysburg PCC Andy Etman, spoke to well over 500 people at the event. This recruiting event was the idea of PDC Hann to do this on behalf of National. Commander-in-Chief Day was so happy with the results he asked if something could be set up for Remembrance Day. If there are any Brothers that are going to Remembrance Day and don’t plan to march we could use you.

Speaking of Remembrance Day in Gettysburg, it is Saturday, November 17. If you plan to go for the weekend I would highly suggest that you book your rooms now.

A unique event was discussed at the Department Encampment. A joint picnic with the Sons of the Confederate Veterans will be held on Sunday, September 23rd, from 11 AM to 8 PM, at the Kearny House. Members need not stay that long. Refreshments will be provided by the Sons of the Confederate Veterans, but we should also bring some food or drink to share, with our Confederate Brothers. If anyone is interested please let me know and we can carpool.

Commander Tomasello would like to know how many Brothers would be interested in a tour of Laurel Hill Cemetery, in Philadelphia. Laurel Hill holds the remains of a number of Civil War soldiers, including our own Camp namesake, Colonel Francine. The tour is $15.00 per person with all proceeds going to the cemetery. We will discuss this further at the November meeting.

PDC Mossbrucker discussed the idea of restarting the Francine Camp bus trip. He proposed a trip to Gettysburg at a cost is $65.00 per person. This would include dinner at Picket’s buffet as well as a tour. One of the tour ideas is to walk the movements of the 7th New Jersey at the Battle. The trip would take place on a Saturday in March, 2019. We must sell out the bus to make this worthwhile.

At the last meeting the Commander instituted a Camp tee shirt photo contest in an effort to raise public awareness about the SUVCW and the Francine Camp. At this meeting we formally adopted rules for the contest. You may submit photographs of yourself wearing either your Camp polo shirt or tee shirt. Photographs will be considered under two categories. The first is a minimum of five pictures all in a different public locations. The second is for either the furthest or most unusual place. All pictures will be posted on Facebook. The winners in each category will receive a $15.00 gift card to a place of their choice.

The Camp is looking into having Camp jackets made. It will have the Camp name on the back along with the SUVCW logo. I will be looking into these as well as Camp baseball hats.

Brother Bryan Sigmund spoke about the genealogy program. It is going well and at the 4th of July he found a number of women who had ancestors that served in the Civil War. We do have an Auxiliary that is in desperate need of members. At present the Auxiliary is down to 3 women. Wives are welcome to join. If you wish to join dues are $20.00 a year with a onetime application fee of $15.00. Membership in the Auxiliary to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War May be obtained through eligibility in the following ways:

As the wife, widow, mother or legally adopted daughter of a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, with lineage, in good standing.

Brother Bryan Sigmund has a great event for us to attend. It is the weekend of September 29 and 30 at Fort Mott in Salem County. We need a good showing for this so let’s help Brother Bryan out. This a recruiting event. It is another military timeline event so no uniforms are needed. Please wear your Camp shirt and membership medal if you attend.

This meeting started the annual Commander’s Challenge. The Commander's Annual Challenge was started by Past Camp Commander Andrew Burnett during his term as Commander, as a way to honor those members of the 7th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, killed at the Battle of Gettysburg, during the annual Remembrance Illumination, held during Remembrance Day in Gettysburg, PA.

The annual remembrance illumination takes place Saturday evening from 5:30-9:00 PM, weather permitting. The luminaries are $18.63 each and the money helps to defray the cost of the luminaries placed in the Gettysburg National Cemetery during Remembrance Day weekend. Of course you can sponsor these in the name of a loved one or your own Civil War ancestor. If you are interested you can mail your check made payable to the Gettysburg Foundation to our Camp Secretary. If you wish to sponsor someone from the 7th, the list is on our website. My address is:

David Hann, PDC, 440 Clark Drive, Hammonton, NJ 08037.

The Camp still is looking into the possibility of getting a street named for Col. Francine. It is hoped that one day we will be able to do this.

There was no Patriotic Instructors report.

Good of the Order. A very Happy Birthday to Brother Adam Sigmund.

PDC Fred Mossbrucker brought in an 1835 .69 cal. smoothbore Springfield Musket for show and display. The musket belonged to Cpl. George H. Rhubarb of Co. B, 12th NJVI. He also provided pictures of Cpl. Rhubart's GAR photo and discharge. Cpl. Rhubart shouldered the musket and bayonet throughout his entire service in the Rebellion. He served three years with the 12th and participated in every major battle from Chancellorsville to Appomattox. He joined GAR Post #8 after the war. He battled dysentery the rest of his life due to war service. He also held Col. Ellsworth in high regard so much so that he gave both of his sons the middle name of Ellsworth.

There are a number of events coming up. Please refer to this list and please try to attend some of these events to help us out.

Events:

Sunday September 23: SUVCW/SCV Picnic from 11 AM.to 8 PM, at the Kearny House.

Saturday and Sunday September 29 and 30: Recruiting event Fort Mott in Salem County. Time line weekend. Set up time 9:00 AM

Saturday October 20: Recruiting event Light House Challenge. Absecon Light House. Atlantic City. Set up time 9:00 AM

Sunday October 21: Country Living Fair Historic Batsto Village. Set up time 8:30. Event runs from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 12:45 p.m., with the next meeting slated for Saturday November 3, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., at the Atlantic County.

Yours in F, C & L,

Dave Hann PDC

Camp Secretary

Col. Louis R Francine Camp # 7

Meeting Minutes

April 7, 2018

A very productive meeting of the Camp was held on Saturday, April 7, 2018, with 22 Brothers and 1 guests present. A number of items were brought up for the Camp’s consideration.

Minutes approved.

Treasurer’s report $3,002.95 Checking, $176.23 Benevolent fund. The Bank account has been changed to BB&T Bank.

Brother in distress/sick report: Please keep Brothers Dan Lewis, John Kenny

Paul Tucci and Bryan Sigmund in your thoughts and prayers.

Old Business:

Commander Tomasello had asked Brothers to come up with a mission statement as well as Brother submitting a short biography about their ancestors for the website.

New Business:

The Brothers came up with a mission statement that was approved by the Camp. It is as follows:

Mission Statement of the Colonel Louis R. Francine Camp #7 of the New Jersey Department of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War: To Preserve, Honor, and Commemorate the service of those Veteran Heroes who fought and labored to preserve the Union during the American Civil War; to educate the public about their lives and sacrifices; to provide Ceremonial and Commemorative services as appropriate; while providing Fraternity, Loyalty, and Charity to our Members and Communities.

We initiated the following new Brothers at our meeting. Charles Gordinier and Robert Evans. Welcome Brothers!

The Camp extended our thanks to Bryan and Gary Sigmund for their work on the Francine Camp website. If you haven’t checked out the site please do. The site is FrancineCamp7.org.

SVC Grant spoke about finding his Civil War ancestor that changed his status from Associate member to Lineal member. Congratulations were given to Brother Grant by the Camp in recognition of his perseverance in finding ancestor.

The Camp extended our thanks to the Hammonton Gazette for their kindness over the years. A reporter from the Gazette was at our meeting doing a story about our Camp.

At Commander Tomasello’s request, the Camp had a moment of silence in memory of those killed at the battle of Shiloh, as the meeting fell on the 156th anniversary of the second day of the battle.

Commander Tomasello would like to see us set up a recruiting tent at the Absecon Light House in Atlantic City for the “Light House Challenge” the date of the event is Saturday October 20.

Commander Tomasello spoke about the “Good Cemeterian” a gentleman who has made it his mission to clean the headstones of veterans. Please check out his website https://www.thegoodcemeterian.org. Commander Tomasello would like to see us do the same thing here. We have a number of Brothers who have signed up to help him with this project.

Commander Tomasello has instituted a “Fundraising Committee”. Brothers Fred Mossbrucker and Dave Hann will serve. To help with this endeavor there was a small raffle at the meeting which netted the Camp $58.00 made possible by the generosity of Brother Mossbrucker who donated many quality civil war related items to the Camp for the raffle.

Expenditures:

$1,619 to the Department of Hew Jersey for National and State per capita tax.

$180.00 to be spent on a tent fly for future events. PDC Dave Hann will donate the wood.

$50.00 to Robert Myers for the pins sold at the meeting. The Camp made $50.00 on the sale of the pins.

Events:

Saturday May 12, 2018, 10:00 a.m. Joint Honor Ceremony Finns Point National Cemetery. Please meet at the Finns Point Cemetery parking lot at 9:45.

Monday May 28, 2018. Memorial Day Parade Hammonton. We need to assemble at South Egg Harbor Road at 10:15 a.m. We can meet at the Hammonton Historical Society at 9:45. All SVR members in parade dress. All Camp Brothers in Camp polo shirts and khaki pants.

Wednesday May 30, 2018. Traditional Memorial Day Program Greenmount Cemetery, Hammonton. Ceremony starts at 6:00 p.m. We need to assemble at the cemetery by 5:30. All SVR members in parade dress. All Camp Brothers in Camp polo shirts and khaki pants. This is the 150th Anniversary of the first Memorial Day. Let’s have a good turnout for this.

Saturday June 9, 2018, 136th Annual New Jersey SUVCW Department Encampment, Toms River. More details to follow.

Good of the Order:

April 6th, was the 152nd Anniversary of the founding of the GAR. PDC Dave Hann brought in a collection of GAR medals.

Patriotic Instructor Kryszczak spoke about the Civil War Trust as it was national Park Day. So far CWT has saved well over 48,000 acres of battlefields from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War.

With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 12:45 p.m., with the next meeting slated for Saturday, August 4, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., at the Atlantic County Library West, located at 451 South Egg Harbor Road in Hammonton.

Submitted in F, C & L,

Dave Hann PDC

Camp Secretary

Col. Louis R Francine Camp # 7

Meeting Minutes

February 3, 2018

A very productive meeting of the Camp was held on Saturday, February 3, with 27 Brothers and 3 guests present. A number of items were brought up for the Camp’s consideration.

Minutes approved.

Treasurer’s report $1,764.56 Checking, $166.23 Benevolent fund.

It is our sad duty to report that Brothers Joe Cloyd and Jeff Mossbrucker passed away A moment of silence was held to honor their memory.

Brother in distress: Please keep Brothers Dan Lewis, John Lynn and John Hann in your prayers.

Old Business:

Motion to purchase 1,000 Francine Camp wooden nickels. Motion was approved. Fred Mossbrucker PCC is gathering the information to purchase them.

New Business:

The Camp received one new application for membership, Charles Gordinier, and one Brother William McDonald transferring into the Camp. Welcome to our Camp.

We initiated the following new Brothers at our meeting. Adam Sigmund, Bryan Sigmund, Gary Sigmund, Carl Hausman and William McDonald. Welcome Brothers!

The following Officers were installed.

Frank Tomasello Commander

Wayne Grant Senior Vice Commander

Charlie Morgan Junior Vice Commander

Scott Hann Treasurer

David Hann PDC Secretary

Martin Blaskey Guard

Duane Joseph Conant Camp Council # 1

George F. Gumpper Jr. Historian

Shawn Kenny PCC Camp Council # 2

Stanley J. Kryszczak Patriotic Instructor

Paul Lader PCC Camp Counselor

Jeremy B. Lacey Camp Council #3

John R. Makos Jr. PDC Eagle Scout Coordinator

William G. McDonald Jr. Graves and Civil War Memorials

Ryan P. McLeod Chaplin

Daniel Mossbrucker Color Bearer

Bryan Sigmund Recruiting Officer

Gary Sigmund Signals Officer

Paul Tucci Guide

Commander Tomasello thanked the Brothers for the honor of being elected Camp Commander, and has set a number of goals for the Camp especially in the areas of recruiting and letting the public know just who we are.

New Business:

Approved the expenditure of $50.00 for the purchase of an engraved brick for the Hammonton Historical Society Walkway.

Approved the purchase of two new Camp Commander’s medals.

Commander Tomasello would like all Brothers to submit a short biography on their ancestors, as we would like to put on the website.

Commander Tomasello would like for the Camp to come up with a “mission statement”. If you have an idea for a mission statement please submit it to the Camp Secretary.

Commander Tomasello would like to express his thanks to all of the Brothers that provided refreshments for the meeting.

At present the Auxiliary could use some help. It is down to 5 women. Wives are welcome to join. If you wish to join dues are $20.00 a year with a onetime application fee of $15.00. Membership in the Auxiliary to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War May be obtained through eligibility in the following ways:

As the wife, widow, mother or legally adopted daughter of a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, with lineage, in good standing.

Associates: Those ladies who do not qualify for membership under #1 or #2 above, but who desire to affiliate with the ASUVCW.

Brother Bryan Sigmund talked about recruiting for the Camp and has undertaken a project to distribute questionnaires to individuals to get them interested in their ancestry and possibly and Civil War ancestor they may have.

A number of ideas were pitched about possible locations for recruiting. Some of the areas are Historical Societies, local colleges and other areas where we may gather interest. Two events that will be looked into is a Military Time Line event in Egg Harbor Township, and the South Jersey History Fair.

Commander Tomasello would also like to see the Camp get involved in the “Toys for Tots” for this coming Christmas.

Good of the order:

The camp started collecting dues for 2018. Just a reminder that your dues must be paid by April 7, 2018 or you will be dropped from the Camp! Dues are $30.00. Please make you check payable to Francine Camp #7 and mail them to our new Treasurer.

Scott Hann

205 Vail Court

Mays Landing, NJ 08330

Patriotic Instructors Report:

Patriotic Instructor Morgan spoke about newspaper during the Civil War and in the North how quickly information was received due to war correspondents and even back then some papers were spreading “fake news.”

With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 12:45, with the next meeting slated for Saturday, April 7, 2018, at 10:00 AM, at the Atlantic County Library West, located at 451 South Egg Harbor Road in Hammonton.

Submitted in F, C & L,

Dave Hann PDC

Camp Secretary