December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 1.:
Thank you Brothers for placing your trust in me as Camp Commander for 2009 as we embark upon our Centennial year and the Bicentennial year commemorating the birth of our greatest President, Abraham Lincoln. On behalf of all the Brothers of RI SUVCW Elisha Dyer Camp No. 7 and I, let me congratulate Sister Linda Payne, PAP, for her re-election as President of RI ASUVCW Elisha Dyer Auxiliary No. 2. I look forward to working with Sister Linda in the coming year for the Good of the Order. I also extend the Camp’s congratulations to all of the ladies of Auxiliary No. 2 who were elected to their positions for the coming year, including Sister Mary Mierka, PDP, as Secretary-Treasurer. The coming year, 2009, looks to be an exciting period for Camp 7 and Auxiliary 2. I would like to give my special thanks to Past Camp Commander Gregory H. Payne for the work he has done during his many years of service to Camp 7, especially for his leadership in 2008. I also extend my sincere thanks to Camp No. 7 Brother/RI SUVCW Jr. Vice Department Commander Henry C. Duquette for the very kind words he spoke so eloquently about me at our 99th Annual Veterans Day Bivouac. I will do my best to fulfill his perceptions and his vision, as well as the expectations of the Camp membership. I also congratulate Brother Paul F. Cairrao, elected Camp Sr. Vice Commander, Raymond Ankrom, elected Jr. Vice Commander and all the Brothers elected and selected to their new positions. I believe Camp 7 has selected a very good leadership team to assist me in serving the Camp for 2009.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 2.:
The following Camp 7 Brothers are hereby appointed to the following Camp 7 positions: Henry C. Duquette, Quartermaster, GRO & Chief of Staff; Gregory H. Payne, PCC, Patriotic Instructor, Education Officer & Military Affairs Officer; Raymond J. Ferrick, Chaplain & Archivist; RI State Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank J. Williams, Camp Councilor & Camp 7 RI Lincoln Bicentennial Advisor; Michael Buco Guide; Maxwell Griel, Color Bearer, David Leach Guard; Charles D. Blanchette, GAR Highway Officer; David Procaccini, Monuments & Memorials Officer; Raymond J. Ankrom, Welfare Officer & Eagle Scout Officer; Paul F. Cairrao, Assistant Webmaster & Signals Officer; Robert L. Renehan, PCC, Bivouac Planning Officer; Jan M. Ouhrabka, PCC, Robert J. Mierka, PCC, and Robert L. Renehan, PCC, Personal Aids de Camp. Note: As soon as the Camp 7 Website can be moved to its new location on the Internet, Brother Paul Cairrao shall assume full duties as Camp 7 Webmaster.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 3.:
The Camp 7 Chief of Staff is hereby directed to "individually" notify all appointees in writing by US Mail and/or by e-mail as to their newly appointed positions in Camp No. 7, FY-2009, and explain all duties related to their new positions no later than January 30th 2009. If any Brother declines his appointment the Chief of Staff shall contact the Camp Commander right away and advise.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 4.:
A Camp Historian will not be appointed for 2009. As Camp Commander, I will assume these duties to try to finish the 12 year research project of writing the Arnold Post 4-Camp 7 history from 1877 to 2009. To do so I hereby direct the Chief of Staff to immediately communicate with Department Commander William Vieira to arrange a meeting with me, the Chief of Staff, Camp Council No. 1, and the Camp Archivist at the RI GAR Civil War Museum meeting hall in early January (prior to the January Camp 7 monthly meeting) to ask Department support for the recovery of all Camp 7 and Post 4 material held at the RI Historical Society in Providence, so the Camp 7-Post 4 history project can be completed by November 2009. Following this meeting, I plan to contact Mr. Bernard P. Fishman, Executive Director RIHS, Mr. Russell De Simone, former RIHS Board of Directors, and Mr. Donald C. Carleton, Jr., RIHS Development Officer, to meet in January with Camp 7 Officials prior to the January Camp 7. The Camp 7 Officials asked to attend the meeting with RIHS shall be myself, Brother Ferrick, Brother Duquette, Brother Payne and hopefully Department Commander Vieira. The agenda of this initiative shall be to begin negotiations for the return of said property to Camp 7 to be permanently housed under the perpetual care of RI SUVCW Camp 7 at the RI GAR Civil War Museum & Library facility at the Governor Sprague Mansion Carriage House. This order shall receive top priority so all results can be reported at the January 2009 Camp 7 meeting. The Chief of Staff is hereby authorized to re-word this order if necessary upon conciliation with the Camp Commander so as to effectively communicate this initiative and its proper intentions to the Department Commander then advise the Camp Commander prior to official Camp 7 communications with RIHS, however it should be made clear that a meeting with RIHS concerning this issue will be scheduled prior to the January Camp 7 meeting and all results shall be reported to the Camp at that time by the Camp Commander, the Camp Archivist and the Camp Chief of Staff, whether or not the Department gets involved, because Camp 7 will exercise its legal rights in January 2009 as stated in the 1926 Camp 7 Post 4 agreement certified in the New York City District Court system through actions taken by the last members of RI GAR Arnold Post No. 4.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 5.:
The Camp Secretary is herby authorized to follow up with the Department and the National SUVCW to try to secure the Camp 7 Charter by the February monthly Camp meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 25th in hopes that it might be presented to the membership of the Camp at that time. This is particularly important because the February 25th, 2009 Camp 7 monthly meeting will be the official 100th anniversary meeting of RI SUVCW Elisha Dyer Camp No. 7. The Camp Secretary is also hereby authorized to invite the national SUVCW Sr. Vice CnC, the RI Dept. Commander, and the Camp Commanders of all other RI SUVCW Camps to attend the February 25, 2009 Elisha Dyer Camp 7 100th Anniversary meeting to be held at the RI GAR Civil War Museum. All arrangements should be made to make the facility heated properly and comfortable to hold this historic meeting. Brother Duquette is also hereby authorized to ask Brother Nyberg to attend and bring the items he intends to display if he wishes to do so. Brother Cairrao is likewise authorized to do the same if the Peck Family wishes to display their items for this important occasion. Thomas Casey Greene will be invited to bring his piece of the Abraham Lincoln burial shroud, and Brother Perry should be encouraged to attend and bring his piece of the General Sherman burial shroud and any other items he wishes to display. The Secretary is hereby authorized to send out a communication to all Camp No. 7 Brothers announcing this extremely important meeting asking for their attendance. Brother Payne is likewise authorized to muster the Camp 7 Camp Guard for this occasion to present the colors in uniform. The Camp Secretary is also authorized to send out a personal communication to invite Brother and RI State Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank J. Williams to attend and speak about President Lincoln. A further initiative shall begin by the Commander and Chief of Staff to ask all RI Federal Legislators, the Governor, both Houses of the State of Rhode Island General Assembly, and the City of Cranston for official proclamations. Special invitations should be sent to all appropriate public leaders. The general business for this meeting shall be suspended. If it appears we will get a good turnout, and we need more room, contingency arrangements shall be made to reserve the Governor Sprague Mansion for a portion of this meeting. This camp meeting as well as our next Camp Bivouac will be two of the most important events of 2009. The Chief of Staff shall contact News Media about this occasion as well.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 6.:
Brother Gregory H. Payne, PCC, is hereby appointed to Chair the Camp 7 New Member Applications Review Committee. This Committee shall consist of not more than three members of Camp 7. The other two appointed members of the committee shall be Brothers Ferrick and Duquette. The committee shall be asked to report at each camp meeting through 2009 and present a final written report at the next Bivouac. The Camp Secretary shall place the final report in the 2009 Camp 7 Proceedings Book along with all other end of the year reports. The Chief of Staff shall make sure that all elected officers of Camp 7 for 2009 submit end of the year written reports at the next Bivouac by monitoring and/or periodic reminders about this obligation as stated in the Camp No. 7 Bylaws. This committee is also directed to aggressively engage in recruiting new men for Camp 7.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 7.:
The Camp 7 Chief of Staff, Brother Duquette, shall review the Camp 7 Bylaws and Chair a Bylaws Committee to make formal proposals for amending and updating the Camp Bylaws so they may be voted approved at the next Bivouac in November 2009, and so the updated Camp 7 Bylaws can be submitted to the Department Commander prior to the 2010 RI Department Encampment. The duty of the committee shall be to make all recommendations for changes at the next Bivouac. After the Bivouac the committee shall generate a final printed version of the Camp Bylaws prior to the December 2009 Christmas Gathering completing the project. This committee shall consist of not more than three members of the Camp. Other members of the committee shall be Brothers Gregory H. Payne, PCC & Camp Council No. 1; and Paul F. Cairrao, Camp 7 Sr. Vice commander. The Chief of Staff shall arrange committee meetings at his discretion throughout 2009 and make sure a current copy of the Camp 7 Bylaws (needing work) shall be distributed to all Bylaws Committee Members for review use through the year. A progress report shall be presented by the Chief of Staff at Camp meetings.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 8.:
The Military Affairs Officer Brother Gregory Payne, PCC, shall immediately organize and muster the Elisha Dyer Camp Guard by calling a meeting of all men who have or want to have Civil War Period Uniforms. A meeting for this purpose shall take place at the RI GAR Civil War Museum meeting hall. The Military Affairs Officer shall report to the Camp the status of the Camp Guard by no later than the January 28th Camp meeting. All members of the Camp (other than the Camp Commander) possessing or wishing to possess a Civil War Period uniform shall form the Military Affairs "Standing" Committee, or the Camp 7 Camp Guard. Both shall be one and the same. The 2009 mission of the Camp Guard shall be to field at least a color guard at all Camp sponsored Lincoln Bicentennial events starting in February, the Camp Memorial Day Ceremony, the 100th Anniversary month and meeting of Camp 7 on February 25th, as well as all Camp 7 Centennial events. The Camp Guard must be prepared for any and all other situations requiring the needs of the Camp Guard, such as organizing, supervising and commanding funeral details, special escort details, the February 25th Camp Meeting, and the November 14th 2009 100th Bivouac color guard for the Camp, as well as lending service to the RI GAR Civil War Museum for the museum educational tours and outreach school visitation programs. The Military Affairs Officer shall be the field commander of all events requiring the need of uniformed personnel by the Camp. The Camp Guard must be trained and ready to respond at a moments notice. Note: The Military Affairs Committee must keep in mind that its most important duty is its service to a fallen Camp 7 Brother. If the family agrees, the Camp Guard is duty bound to never leave a fallen Brother’s casket unattended through his funeral wake and if need be, enough Brothers of the Camp who are members of the Camp Guard might be asked to take time out of work to attend and participate in a burial detail at a cemetery. Simply stated the main mission of the Camp Guard is, "Camp 7 NEVER Forgets One of Its Own". The Camp Guard shall not be required to muster for a deceased member of a Brother’s family, but encouraged to attend all wakes in such cases in regular cloths to pay respects and show support for the grieving Brother. The Military Affairs Officer shall make sure that all Camp members including members of the Camp Guard shall wear a swatch of Black ribbon behind their SUVCW Badges for the period so ordered by the Camp Commander. He shall also select whom he wants as his uniformed subordinates and designate all ranks in the field and report all such decisions to the Camp Commander. The Military Affairs Officer shall coordinate all activities with the Welfare Officer, the Patriotic Instructor, the GRO, the Memorials Officer, the Education Officer and the Camp Commander.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 9.:
The Welfare Officer, Brother Raymond J. Ankrom, shall chair a "Standing Committee" re-named the "Veterans & Camp 7" Welfare Committee. The new name shall be temporary for 2009, however the Camp Commander hereby recommends the name be officially amended in the Bylaws and approved at the next Bivouac. The Veterans & Camp 7 Welfare Committee shall consist of no less than six men. The committee shall start with Brothers Raymond J. Ankrom, Raymond J. Ferrick, Paul F. Cairrao, Henry Duquette, Charles D. Blanchette and Donald S. Skuce. The Welfare Officer shall be responsible for coordinating all Camp functions concerning funeral details, reporting and making recommendations to the Camp Commander and the Camp concerning the needs of all sick or distressed Brothers (such as Brother Perry Denham), sending cards and flowers, working with Auxiliary 2 in the planning of the Annual Christmas gathering memorials and activities, organize the Welfare Committee to work with Auxiliary 2 on all charity drives and possible Holiday visitations to the Bristol Veterans Home, as well as assist the Camp Chaplain with necrology reports.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 10.:
The Chief of Staff is hereby authorized to send out a communication to all members of Camp 7 inquiring if members wish to purchase the updated Ritual Book and/or replace lost items such as the SUVCW Membership Badge, then coordinate this matter with the Camp Quartermaster. The Chief of Staff shall remind all Brothers the SUVCW Membership Badge is for all intents and purposes the uniform and primary symbol of the Order. He shall encourage all members to have it and wear it correctly. As stated in the SUVCW Ritual and C&R, the badge should be worn on the left breast in proper hereditary order if worn with other hereditary insignia. He should make all Brothers aware the Camp Commander wishes that all Brothers wear their SUVCW Badges at all SUVCW functions and events sponsored by Camp 7. In this communication the Chief of Staff shall further emphasize that all members of Camp 7 refrain from wearing the Badge of the Order on T-Shirts and Sweat Shirts, out of respect for our GAR heritage and the dignity of the Order. He shall have the authority to speak and act on this matter by the Camp Commander if he sees any Brother not wearing the Badge of the Order tastefully and if necessary ask the Bother to remove his Badge if it is not appropriately worn, because if we do not show our respect for the meaning of the SUVCW Badge, how can we expect others to do the same. The Camp Commander shall rely on the Chief of Staff to enforce this order so neither the Camp 7 Commander, Department Officials, other RI SUVCW Camp Officials and/or National SUVCW Officials see any member of Camp 7 wearing his SUVCW Badge incorrectly.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 11.:
The Sr. Vice Camp Commander is hereby authorized to begin plans and preparations for the 2009 Memorial Day Ceremony scheduled for the "True Memorial Day" this year on Saturday, May 30th. He shall set the time of the ceremony(s), the agenda and will be asked to report preparations at the February 25th Camp meeting. The Camp Commander hereby recommends the 2009 ceremony be held again this year to honor the Civil War Veterans of RI GAR Arnold Post 4. Several members of Post 4 are buried in Oakland Cemetery, Old North Burial Ground, and Swan Point Cemetery. The Camp has not visited two of these cemeteries in several years to honor Post 4 members for Memorial Day. It has conducted ceremonies recently at Locust Grove, Swan Point and Pocasset Cemeteries. The Camp Commander suggests a morning ceremony be conducted at Old North in the morning, and a ceremony be conducted at Oakland in the afternoon, followed by a collation at the RI GAR Civil War Museum meeting hall. If this is agreeable the Sr. Vice Camp Commander Brother Paul Cairrao is directed to plan, organize, schedule and make all necessary arrangements and coordinate his efforts closely with Brother Raymond Ferrick, Camp Chaplain, Brother Gregory Payne, Camp Military Affairs Officer, and Brother Henry Duquette, the Camp GRO, as well as Sister Linda Payne, President of Auxiliary 2. He shall make sure that all floral arrangements are made at each site and there is a reading of Logan’s Address and the reading of who will carry on after the Boys in Blue are gone. He may also wish to invite a special dignitary to attend to speak, and inform the News Media.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 12.:
The Camp 7 GRO is hereby authorized to attend any and all cemetery related meetings and functions pertaining in any way to the Veterans of Post 4, and all RI Civil War Veterans. The Memorials Officer shall be appointed to be the assistant GRO for Camp 7 and assist the GRO throughout the year with all necessary matters needed by the GRO. The GRO shall also be authorized to chair a Camp 7 Graves Registration Committee. The committee shall consist of as many members of Camp 7 who wish to participate on the committee under the direction of the GRO. Those immediately appointed to sit on the committee shall be Brothers Raymond Ferrick, Donald Skuce, Paul Cairrao, Raymond Ankrom, David Procaccini, David Leach, Greg Payne, Michael Buco, Alan Bennett, Alan Osberg, Geoffrey Colt, Charles Blanchette, Richard Flanagan, Barry Meehan, James Tavis, and Duncan Watson. Brothers Robert Renehan and Robert Allen Greene shall be Camp GRO Consultants to the committee. The GRO may add or subtract men to and from this committee as he sees necessary. He is authorized to assign all duties and report all activity and concerns to the Commander. He shall also present a progress report at Camp meetings and secure all needed flags from Exeter Cemetery and RI Veterans Council. It is desired that all flagging of graves be completed one week prior to the scheduled 2009 Memorial Day Ceremony so the GRO can take the Camp Commander on a tour of all cemeteries flagged for 2009 before the 2009 Memorial Day Ceremonies. Upon completion of all 2009 Memorial Day Proceedings a final report shall be placed in the 2009 Camp 7 Proceedings Book for future review and its historical content. He shall also make a copy of this same report available to the RI Veterans Council as they require each year for flag distribution/allocations.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 13.:
No elected or appointed officer of Camp 7 shall be authorized to commit, speak or act in any way on behalf of the Camp without the Camp Commander’s approval or a vote of the Camp Membership or approved recommendations by the Camp Council recommended to the Camp Commander. The Camp Commander of RI SUVCW Elisha Dyer Camp No. 7 on all matters shall be the primary spokesman of the Camp, especially matters of policy, commitments and events. All such matters must be referred first to the Commander. Any commitments made outside of the chain of command may run the risk of not being recognized as a commitment of Camp 7. The Commander shall also be the Camp Delegation Chair at the 2009 RI Department SUVCW Encampment. The Chief of Staff is therefore authorized to secure the final tally of the Camp 7 2009 Delegation by the time the Secretary submits the next per capita tax payment and report to the Department.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 14.:
The Chief of Staff is hereby authorized to convey to Brother Gregory Payne Camp Council No. 1, that he and the Chief of Staff shall convene a meeting of the Camp Council on Saturday November 7, 2009, and ask the attendance of the Camp Treasurer to attend with all the records and financial statements of the Camp for the year of 2009 for Council review and approval. The page of the Proceedings Books of Camp 7 FY 2009 shall be signed approved by all members of the Camp Council on this date, which is one week prior to the next Camp Bivouac, to assist the Treasurer in any way so his Bivouac report can be voted approved. The Camp Council No. 1 shall be the Brother present at the next Bivouac called upon to motion the Camp approval of the Treasurer’s end of the year report and the approval the 2009 books are in order. Council No. 1 shall also be asked to motion that all Bivouac Proceedings be approved on the day of the Bivouac so all 2009 business can be officially closed by the end of the year. The Treasury approval document must be signed by all appropriate camp officials and placed in the 2009 Proceedings Book, bearing the seal of the Camp to attest this has been done.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 15.:
The Camp Commander shall defer all matters of discipline and problems in 2009 to Council No. 1 for recommendations of resolution by the full Camp Council and a vote by the Camp membership at Camp meetings or the Camp Bivouac.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 16.:
The Camp Quartermaster shall be authorized to contact Hodges Badge to order the 2009 Bivouac ribbons. The Camp Commander shall provide the Camp Quartermaster with all the design specifications of the ribbon for the 100th Bivouac. The Chief of Staff shall be authorized to arrange a meeting with the Camp 7 and Camp 21 Commanders at the RI GAR Civil War Museum and invite Camp 21 to attend since both Camps 7 & 21 will be celebrating their 100th in 2009. In 1999, both Camps conducted a "Joint Bivouacs" for their 90th and pledged to meet again and hold a Joint Bivouac for their 100th. Camp 21 is aware of this. The Chief of Staff will therefore confirm all necessary arrangements to hold it in Cranston. Special meeting arrangements will be necessary so both Camps can conduct their business. A Joint Opening shall be planned for Camp 7, Camp 21 and Auxiliary 2. A planning meeting arranged by the Camp 7 Chief of Staff should be set for a date no later than June 09 to make sure all arrangements are made.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 17.:
The Camp Secretary and the Camp Treasurer shall be authorized to select a member of the Camp to assist them with their duties, pending approval of the Camp Commander. It is strongly recommended the men selected should be good candidates to assume these offices in the future. Candidates should have a computer and possess a reasonable knowledge about how to use it for the business of the Camp.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 18.:
The Camp Sr. Vice Commander shall be responsible for taking all photographs and writing up all Camp information sent to the Department and National SUVCW concerning articles for the Dispatch and the Banner, covering the story of the February 25th 100th Anniversary Meeting and the 100th Camp 7 Veterans Day Bivouac. He should also be prepared to send the Dispatch a story about the Camp 7 Memorial Day Ceremony and begin preparing a scrapbook or pictorial history of Camp 7 from 1991 to the present. Photos for this period of time are in the Camp 7 office at the RI GAR Civil War Museum.
December 2008 Camp 7 Commander’s Order No. 19.:
The Camp Chief of Staff and Camp Council No. 1 shall be authorized to organize work parties to assist the RI GAR Civil War Museum throughout 2009. Wednesdays have been suggested as the official work party day. The Camp Commander believes the Camp may need to schedule an additional day each week so men who cannot attend on Wednesdays can do it on another day. Therefore the Chief of Staff and the Council No. 1 shall work out another day to gather the men in addition to the Wednesday gathering to get the museum in order. Duties needed are: Set up of the GAR Sutlery (museum store), vacuuming of the meeting room, construction of the reception counter in the middle room, set up and clean up of the large carriage room, sealing all the windows and doors, set up of coming displays, organizing the GAR Sutlery so it can generate income, covering parts of the floor of the meeting room with rugs from the Mansion and cleaning them, clean up of the exterior of the carriage house facility, sign making, furniture and equipment moving and installation, and access security improvements. A call for space heaters and dehumidifiers is also necessary.
Note:
These orders shall be read and presented by the Camp Chief of Staff on behalf of the Camp Commander at the 2008 Christmas Gathering after the Department Commander has duly installed all Camp Officers for 2009. It is NOT the intention of the Camp Commander to dictate duties to any elected or appointed Camp Officer, but rather to appraise all officers as to the normal duties of their posts, since many of the officers of Camp 7 in 2009 are new or farley new to the Order. All questions concerning these orders should be directed to the Chief of Staff who shall distribute printed copies to all members of the Camp.
"All For The Union" & "The Grand Old Fellows In Blue"
Respectfully Conveyed In F,C&L,
Gregg A. Mierka, PDC, 2009 RI SUVCW Elisha Dyer Camp No. 7 Commander
Attested By: Henry C. Duquette, 2009 RI SUVCW Elisha Dyer Camp No. 7 Secretary |
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