Mid-Winter Meeting of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States February 11, 2001 The meeting was called to order at 2:08 p.m., Sunday, 11 February 2001, at the Channel Inn, Pier 7, 650 Water Street, SW, Washington, DC by Commander-in- Chief Robert J. Bateman. The Invocation was made by Past Commander-in-Chief Robert Carroon, and Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Gordon Bury led the attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief Douglas Niermeyer read the Preamble of the Order. Recorder-in-Chief Steven Wright read the roll call of officers and commanderies: Roll Call of Officers Commander-in-Chief Major Robert James Bateman Present Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief Gordon R. Bury Present Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief Douglas Reed Niermeyer -- Present Recorder-in-Chief Steven James Wright Present Treasurer-in-Chief Lee Allen Tryon Present Registrar-in-Chief Barry Laird Cornell Absent Chancellor-in-Chief Jerry Zillion Present Judge Advocate-in-Chief Benjamin Charles Frick Present Chaplain-in-Chief Rev. Dr. William Randolph Robbins Absent Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Courtney Fleenor Absent Editor-in-Chief LTC Thomas Pelham Curtis Absent Counselors: McClernand Butler Crawford Absent Rev. Dr. Christopher Mack Agnew Absent David Ladd Absent Roll Call of Commanderies California Absent Nebraska Present Connecticut Present New York -- Present District of Columbia Present Ohio Present Florida Absent Pennsylvania Present Illinois Present South Carolina Absent Indiana Present Texas Absent Iowa Present Virginia -- Present Kansas Absent Wisconsin -- Present Maryland Absent Massachusetts Present Michigan Absent
Recorder Wright read the Minutes of the 115 th Annual Meeting, held Saturday, 14 October 2000 at the St. Louis Frontenac Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri. The Minutes were approved with the following change: In the fourth full paragraph of Page 2, the second sentence should be changed FROM: Chancellor Zillion led a lengthy discussion concerning the actions of the Finance Committee, suggesting that a more aggressive investment policy be adopted TO: Chancellor Zillion led a lengthy discussion concerning the actions of the Finance Committee, suggesting that a more actively managed investment policy be adopted MOTION: That the Minutes be accepted as amended. MOTION: Chancellor Zillion; SECOND: Senior Vice C-in-C Bury; MOTION CARRIED. C-in-C Bateman read his Commander-in-Chief s report. He also read the resignation letter of Recorder Wright, effective 12 February 2001. Commander Bateman thanked Recorder Wright for his efforts and dedication to the Order, and announced that Jack Kent Kane, Senior Vice Commander of the Virginia Commandery, will replace Recorder Wright until the elections at the 116 th Annual Meeting this fall. In addition, Commander Bateman announced that Editor-in- Chief Thomas Pelham Curtis has agreed to serve as Quartermaster of the Order, and will be responsible for the processing of merchandise orders. The report of the Commander-in-Chief was accepted as presented. Senior Vice C-in-C Bury presented the Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief s report, which was accepted as presented. Junior Vice C-in-C Niermeyer presented the Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief s report. He announced that the 116 th Annual Meeting will be held at Richmond, VA, 19-20 October 2001. He also noted that modifications to the website have been made so that referrals for both new hereditary and associate members. The Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief s report was approved as presented. Recorder Wright presented a short Recorder-in-Chief s report that was approved as presented. Treasurer-in-Chief Tryon presented a detailed written Treasurer-in-Chief s report. He noted that the Maryland and South Carolina Commanderies are now two years in arrears with their payments to the National Commandery. Judge Advocate-in-Chief Frick reported on several matters concerning the Order: The lawsuit filed against the Order, and others, by an Associate member of the California Commandery was dismissed with prejudice, meaning that it cannot be refiled.
A report was made concerning events surrounding The Civil War Library and Museum in Philadelphia. After extensive research conducted by the Judge Advocate and the law firm retained for this matter, a much better sense of the Order s legal standing has been gleaned. The office of Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Fumo and the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have also become involved in the matter and may result in legal action to keep the collection of The Civil War Library and Museum in the City of Philadelphia. MOTION: That the Commandery-in-Chief provide financial assistance to the Commandery of Pennsylvania to support the legal efforts to preserve The Civil War Library and Museum in Philadelphia. MOTION: Chancellor Zillion; SECOND: John Taft; MOTION CARRIED MOTION: That an initial cap be set at $30,000.00 for this financial assistance to the Commandery of Pennsylvania. MOTION: Past C-in-C Carroon; SECOND: Past C-in-C Lowell Hammer; MOTION CARRIED. C-in-C Bateman commended California Commander Richard Breithaupt for keeping involved with and following up on the suit filed by the California Associate member. MOTION: That John Jack Kent Kane be elected Recorder-in-Chief to serve until a regularly scheduled election be held at the 116 th Annual Meeting in October 2001. MOTION: Chancellor Zillion; SECOND: Past Commander Karl Schaeffer; MOTION PASSED Discussion ensued regarding the Commanderies that are in default with their payments to the National Commandery. It was noted that companions in good standing in those commanderies in default may have their memberships transferred to another commandery. MOTION: That the Maryland, South Carolina, and Florida Comanderies be deactivated until their assessments in arrears and current assessments be paid and until they are properly officered, and that there be an accounting and transfer of funds to the Commandery-in-Chief until that time. MOTION: Senior Vice C-in-C Bury; SECOND: Eric Roho; MOTION PASSED C-in-C Bateman and Chancellor Zillion presented the Investment Policy Statement. MOTION: That the Investment Policy Guidelines be adopted as presented with the proviso that they fall within the realm of Pennsylvania law. MOTION: Chancellor Zillion; SECOND: Past C-inC Carroon; MOTION PASSED.
Junior Vice C-in-C Niermeyer reported on the prospects of creating an on-line application. He noted that the signature of the Recorder on the Associate membership should suffice instead of a copy of the minutes of the meeting in which the member was passed, as is currently required. The intent is to create a universally applied application process. MOTION: That the membership application process be streamlined and that universal application standards be adopted. MOTION: Senior Vice C-in-C Bury; SECOND: Gen. Michael Greene; MOTION PASSED. Past C-in-C Carroon made a report on Union Blue, the history of the Loyal Legion, recently released by White Mane Publishing. Past C-in-C Carroon has graciously donated all of his proceeds to the Memorial Fund, so the sale of the book will be 100% profit for the Order. He reported that now that the list of original companions has been computerized, that the entire list of 22,000+ members be added to that. Past Ohio Commander Karl Schaeffer reported on the Change in By-Law Language that had been approved at the Mid-Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C., on 11 February 2000. The Investiture reads: I,, solemnly swear that I will uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, as well as the Constitution and By-Laws of The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and I make a formal declaration upon my honor, that I will faithfully perform the duties of the Office upon which I am about to enter. MOTION: That the By-Laws of the Order note the addition of the Investiture of Officers be accepted as presented. MOTION: Schaeffer; SECOND: Peter Dixon; MOTION PASSED Past C-in-C Lowell Hammer presented a short report of the Memorials and Museums Committee. He noted that Illinois Commander Paul Kinyon is compiling a list of where commanderies property is located. Discussion ensued concerning the status of the incorporation of the National Commandery, as it was discovered in the investigation of matters surrounding The Civil War Library and Museum that the National Commandery evidently was never incorporated. MOTION: That the National Commandery of The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States be incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. MOTION: Chancellor Zillion; SECOND: General Greene; MOTION PASSED
MOTION: That the National Commandery secure Director s and Officer s Insurance and Indemnification Insurance as soon as the National Commandery is incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. MOTION: Chancellor Zillion; SECOND: Past C-in-C Carroon; MOTION PASSED. Commander-in-Chief Bateman invested John Jack Kent Kane as Recorder-in- Chief. NEW BUSINESS: Discussion ensued regarding the Wisconsin Commandery s unanimous vote that the Grant Cup be renamed the Donald and Eleanor Weber Cup. MOTION: To retain the name of the Grant Cup, but offer to the Wisconsin Commandery the opportunity to develop a new cup or award to memorialize and honor the Webers at the discretion of the Wisconsin Commandery. MOTION: Senior Vice C-in-C Bury; SECOND: John Teft; MOTION PASSED. N.B. At this point I left the meeting to catch a train back to Philadelphia, so I will rely on Jack s minutes from this point. A point of order: who should sign these minutes as they were theoretically kept by two Recorders-in- Chief and reflect that transition of office?