Col. Louis R Francine Camp # 7
Meeting Minutes
February 8, 2020
A very productive meeting of the Camp was held on Saturday, February 8, 2020 with 19 Brothers, and two Auxiliary member present. A number of items were brought up for the Camp’s consideration.
Minutes approved.
Moment of silence for former PC-in-C Lowell Hamer, Shelia Prince and Gloria Lewis.
Treasurers report Checking: $1,506.63 Benevolent Fund: $186.26 Total $1,692.89. PayPal account $ 30.05
Brother in distress/sick report: Brothers John Makos PDC, Fred Mossbrucker PDC, Sandi Grant and Barbara Tomasello.
Old Business:
Remembrance Day Committee would like to than the ladies for the hospitality extended on Friday and Saturday night. It was a great time with great people. We are looking changing the Friday night dinner get together from Hoss’s to another location.
New Business:
Dues are now due for 2020. Dues are $30.00. Please make your check payable to Francine Camp # 7. You can bring your check to the next meeting or mail it to: Scott Hann 205, Vail Court, Mays Landing NJ 08330.
As you all know Brother Fred Mossbrucker has been a one man Army in trying to get a bill to declare May GAR/SUVCW. Finally after 6 years and many e-mails, phone calls, and letters Governor Phil Murphy finally signed the Bill into law. May will now be as Civil War month in New Jersey. The Camp will receive two copies of the signed Bill that we can display at events. For all of his hard work and dedication to this wonderful cause, Commander Tomasello awarded Fred the “Commander’s Award.”
Just a reminder to please wear your Francine Camp shirts at all events. We still have a number of Camp polo and tee shirts for sale.
The Camp discussed the possibility of getting a “Road Trip” together. Some of the places discussed was Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, the Surratt Escape Tour and Fort Mott/Fort Delaware just to name a few.
We are happy to report that all of the hat pins have been sold. Looks like the Camp made about $380.00 from this venture.
Speaking of fund raisers Brother Shawn Kenny has two Civil War themed lamps that he would like to donate for sale. He will have them at the next meeting.
In looking for ways to increase membership the Camp will submit articles on certain big events that we do to publications like Civil War News and the Courier.
There is a Cemetery in Cape May County, Union Bethel, where a number of African-American Civil War Soldiers are buried. The Camp is looking into have the caretaker at future meeting to talk about what is going on with the cemetery.
We are looking into having five meetings a year to try to get more things done. One possibility is to have a dinner meeting like last year.
The following are the events so far for next year. More events will be added as the year progresses
Saturday April 11, 2020: Camp meeting. 10:00 a.m., at the Atlantic County Library West, located at 451 South Egg Harbor Road in Hammonton. This will end dues collection for 2020.
Saturday May 9, 2020: Joint SUVCW/SCV ceremony at Finns Point National Cemetery. We will meet in the Finns Point parking lot at 10:00 AM.
Monday May 25, 2020. Memorial Day in Hammonton.
Saturday May 30, 2020 Traditional Memorial Day Service Greenmount Cemetery, Hammonton. 6:00 PM. Rain or Shine.
Saturday June 13, 2020. New Jersey Department Encampment (138th).Toms River, NJ
Saturday August 8, 2020: 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 challenge.
Saturday, September 26, 2020. 125th anniversary of the dedication of the DA Russell Post # 68, GAR monument located Greenmount Cemetery. We are going to start working on the commemoration of this event.
Sunday October 18, 2020. Batsto Country Living Fair. Set up time. 9:00 AM
Saturday November 14, 2020: 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 challenge.
As this meeting we installed new Camp Officers. Our thanks to Commander Tomasello for his dedication and hard work.
The new officers for 2020-2022
Commander: Wayne Grant
Senior Vice Commander: Charlie Morgan
Junior Vice Commander Bryan Sigmund
Secretary David Hann PDC
Treasurer Scott Hann
Patriotic Instructor’s Report: We need to keep green the memory of our ancestors. We need to find ways to recruit and advance our cause.
With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m. with the next meeting slated for Saturday April 11, 2020, 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
DUE TO COVID-19 THERE WAS NO
MEETING ON APRIL 11, 2020
Col. Louis R Francine Camp # 7
Meeting Minutes
August 8, 2020
A very productive Zoom meeting of the Camp was held on Saturday, August 8, 2020 with 25 Brothers, present. A number of items were brought up for the Camp’s consideration.
Minutes approved.
Moment of silence for former PC-in-C Richard Orr.
Treasurers report Checking: Checking Account: $1,966.08 Benevolent Fund: $364.80
Total: $2,330.88. The Brothers of the Francine Camp reacted generously during the COVID-19 pandemic and contributed $200.00 to the benevolent fund. The dues for three brothers were covered through this fund. Also, the Camp sold two t-shirts through its teespring.com store for an additional $58.54 which temporarily has been deposited in the benevolent fund as well.
Brothers sick or in distress Brothers Daniel Lewis, Brother Bryan Sigmund and all those battling cancer and Covid-19
Old Business:
On Saturday September 26, at 10:00 Am we will rededicate the D.A. Russell Post #68 GAR Monument in Greenmount Cemetery. Time 10:00 AM. This event will happen rain or shine.
The Camp plans to put up a road sign to mark the final resting place of the last Civil War soldier in Atlantic County, Pvt. Samuel Morey. We will work on this at a later date.
New Business:
Due to Covid-19 concerns the annual Country Living Fair at Historic Batsto Village has been cancelled for this year.
Just a reminder to please wear your Francine Camp shirts at all events. We still have a number of Camp polo and tee shirts for sale.
The Camp discussed creating a letter to thank a Brother for recruiting a new member. While we are on the subject of recruiting The Camp intends to create a certificate that we can give to a new Brother once he joins the Camp. PCC Tomasello and Camp JVC Bryan Sigmund will work on the new certificate.
Motion was made to purchase a Camp embosser for seals. The spending limit is $50.00
Congratulations to PCC Frank Tomasello to election as Department Junior Vice Commander.
The Department Encampment has raised the Department per capita tax. It may be necessary for us to raise Camp dues. We will discuss this at the next meeting.
As of this posting Remembrance Day is still scheduled for Saturday November 21, 2020. Many Brothers still plan to attend even if the parade is postponed due to Covid-19. We hope that some of our Junior members will turn out to march with us this and carry our Camp banner.
This meeting starts the Commander’s Challenge which is the purchase of luminaries for the annual Gettysburg Remembrance Day Illumination at the Gettysburg National Cemetery. For those that have not witnessed it is a very impressive sight. The luminaries can be sponsored in honor of a family member, your Civil War ancestor, a veteran in your family and even a member of the Seventh New Jersey. The luminaries are $18.63 apiece and the monies raised helps the Gettysburg National Park. Please make your check payable to the Gettysburg foundation, indicate who you wish to have the luminary in honor of and please mail it to me at 440 Clark Drive, Hammonton, NJ 08037.
Good of the Order:
The cleaning of Civil War soldiers tombstones continues. PCC Tomasello told us about another product that can help with the cleaning and the amount of D-2 needed. The product is called Orvus and can be purchased at most Farm and Country stores. This is not a substitute for D-2. The Orvus product helps with the cleaning of the surface dirt. The Camp will need to purchase more D-2 as our supply is getting low. We still need to finish Oak Grove Cemetery and start Greenmount Cemetery.
We would like to welcome the following new Brothers.
Daniel S Adkinson
Lineal Pvt. Cyrus G. Snover Co, H/B 58th Pa. Inf.
Christopher Baumle
Lineal Pvt. Charles H Marrow Co. F 173rd Ohio Inf
Joseph T. Conklin
Lineal Pvt. Michael Zedwick Co. A. 39th NJ Inf.
Eugene Dunn
Lineal Landsman/Ordinary Seaman Henry Ziegler
Edward Rianhard
Lineal 1st Sgt John Locke Co. "H", "L", 7th N.Y.H.A.
Junior Members
Vincent M Furlano
Lineal Landsman/Ordinary Seaman Henry Ziegler
Ryan Sean Knight
Lineal Pvt. Arthur Richmond Henry Co. C 38th NJ Infantry
Patriotic Instructor’s Report:
We need to keep green the memory of our ancestors. We need to find ways to recruit and advance our cause. Brothers, in the beginning of our camp opening we recite what the colors of officers’ stations stand for. The color red of the Patriotic Instructor’s Station denotes Patriotism, Strength and Courage. I implore all brethren to step forward take charge to fulfill our oath of obligations. It is of grave importance that we do so considering today’s climate of the Cancel Culture who seeks to re-write or destroy our country’s history!
We have sworn an oath to “do our duty,” “love and support the Constitution of the United States,” “respect the flag,” and “defend our country against all enemies.” With our media seemingly bent on helping those who seek to tear down our country, it behooves us as brothers in the SUVCW to step up and lead the charge to defend our nation and its history!
All of us know that it is the camp level where things get done. We cannot wait on our National Officers to tell us what to do. We are men and we know what has to be done. It is imperative for us as a camp to involve the media whenever we “keep green the memory of the GAR.”
What I’m saying in a nutshell is this:
Step forward.
Get others involved.
Educate, educate, educate!
Francine Camp has never been a camp to do nothing. This year marks the 15th anniversary of creating the Camp Stockton Monument in south Woodbury, NJ. It is the 12th anniversary of the plaque that was laid in front of the GAR Monument in the center of Woodbury, NJ. It was our camp who convinced our elected representatives that the month of May should be set aside to recognize the GAR veterans and the SUV. It was our camp who recognized the last CW soldier in Atlantic County. I could go on and on, brothers. Much has been done by the brothers in our camp, but there is still much more to do. If you have an idea, talk about it. Get as many brothers together and get to work. If you want to get involved, do it! The battle for our nation’s history and maybe it’s very soul is on. Let’s not sit back and say, “Well, it doesn’t involve me so I’ll just wait and see how bad it actually gets before I do something.”
The time is NOW, brothers. If not you, then who?
With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m. with the next meeting slated for Saturday November 14, 2020: 10:00 a.m., at the Atlantic County Library West, located at 451 South Egg Harbor Road in Hammonton. This ends the Commander’s challenge.
Submitted in F, C & L,
Dave Hann PDC
Camp Secretary