WAR MEMORIAL BUILDING

JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

10 AM, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2009

Our highly efficient Recording Secretary has not yet typed up these minutes

MISSISSIPPI DIVISON EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

WAR MEMORIAL BUILDING

JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI

10 AM, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2008

Minutes

CALL TO ORDER

Comdr. Larry McCluney called the meeting to order.

Division Chaplain Brother James Taylor gave a moving opening prayer.

Division Secretary Jim Huffman led the pledges and salutes to the US, CS, and MS flags. (Note: Compatriot Daryl Ladner of the Gainesville Volunteers Camp, attending his first EC meeting, held up a Republic of Mississippi “Bonnie Blue” Battleflag for the CS Flag salute.)

Division Adjutant Jim Strickland called the roll of Division Officers, with the following results:

Present Comdr. Larry McCluney

Present 1st Lt. Comdr. Jeff Barnes

Present 2nd Lt. Comdr. Bill Atkinson

Present Adjutant Jim Strickland

Present Chief-of-Staff Dan McCaskill

Present Judge Advocate Carl Ford

Present 1st Brigade Comdr. Arlin Pearson

Absent 1st Brigade Councilman Alan Palmer

Absent 2nd Brigade Comdr. James Williamson

Present 2nd Brigade Councilman James Taylor

Present 3rd Brigade Comdr. Sam Price

Present 3rd Brigade Councilman Allen Terrell

Present 4th Brigade Comdr. Bill Hinson

Present 4th Brigade Councilman Louis Foley

Absent 5th Brigade Comdr. Troy Savoie

Absent 5th Brigade Councilman Dr. Karl Smith

Present Beauvoir Chairman Rick Forte, Sr.

Present Recording Secretary Jim Huffman

The Division Adjutant declared a quorum present.

AGENDA

DIVISION COMMANDER’S REPORT

Larry presented a new Life Membership Certificate to Earl McCown, Jr., of the B.G. Humphreys Camp. (Applause.) We now have 25 Life Members in the MS Division. Larry encouraged everyone to consider a Life Membership, as such Memberships save Members a lot of money in the long run.

Larry updated the Division on the MS car tag case, which involves a Division Member being fired from a TN medical facility for refusing to remove or hide his state-issued, legal SCV car tag from his vehicle, which, as an employee, he parked in the facility's parking lost in Memphis. The case is entitled McLaren vs. Compass Intervention Center. The case was filed in October 2008, the day before the statute of limitations ran out. The Center was caught completely off guard. The parent corporation is trying to get the case moved from TN to Pennsylvania as a Federal case. It seems as if the parent corporation is hoping to stretch out the case's time frame, hoping that we will tire of it or run out of money to pursue the case. National SCV gave us $7000 for the case. The Division gave $1000 toward the case. SCV lawyer Kirk Lyons has assured Comdr. McCluney that the case will remain in TN because we're not suing the parent corporation but the TN-based sub corporation, Compass Intervention. The incident took place in TN, and it needs to stay in TN and not go to a Federal court in PA. We will know in a week of two whether we have been successful in keeping the case in TN. It is to our advantage that the case stay in TN because of certain provisions in the TN State Constitution.

Comdr. McCluney reminded the Membership that 2009 is an election year in the MS Division. He quipped that he could step down after the 2009 Convention. (Laughter.) Some candidates have already announced their intention to run for Division offices: Bill Atkinson is running for Commander; Bill Hinson is running for 2nd Lt.-Comdr.; Alan Palmer is running for 1st Lt.-Comdr. Comdr. McCluney asked that anyone intending to run for office please contact Chairman Louis Foley of the Candidates Credentials Committee to arrange for a short interview to make sure that they meet the requirements of the office they seek. It is also important that the Candidates Credentials Committee have the names of everyone running for Division Offices so that those names can be published in the Editor Allen Terrell's most excellent Division newsletter. Allen said that the Spring newsletter (the one in which the names will be published) will come out around the 17th of March, so he will need candidates' names from the Candidates Credentials Committee before that date. Division By-Laws require that candidates' names be published in the newsletter at least thirty days before the Division Convention.

Each Brigade will meet separately in caucus at this year's Division Convention and elect its own Brigade Commander and Brigade Executive Councilman. Brigades are free to meet prior to the Convention in meetings of their own choosing to select their own Officers. New Brigade Officers will be sworn in along with new Division Officers at the Convention.

JEFF DAVIS LEGION (DIVISION NEWSLETTER)

Comdr. McCluney asked that Members please consider receiving the JDL by email in order to save the Division a lot of money. Electronic receipt is more reliable than snail mail receipt, plus the newsletter is already in electronic format for cutting and pasting, etc. The JDL -- current and back issues -- can also be viewed on the Division website at www.mississippiscv.org thanks to our capable rebmaster -- Jim Strickland, Sr. Jim reminded the Membership that the electronic newsletter comes out about two weeks earlier than the snail mail version. Editor Allen Terrell stressed that the electronic JDL is in full color, whereas the printed version is black & white.

Adjutant Jim Strickland asked beloved octogenarian and legendary Member George Church of the Meridian Camp whether he was having any trouble receiving his electronic version of the JDL, to which George quipped (without missing a beat), “Well, I’ve got a great big computer, but I haven’t plugged it in, so I’ll require a hardcopy. I’ll draw the colors in from the website!” (Laughter!) Jim then told George that we had several computer gurus present who would be more than glad to get him online.

Comdr. McCluney again stressed that Camp Commanders should encourage every possible Member to take the JDL by email in order to save money for the Division. Members can sign up for the electronic version using a link on the Division website. It’s very easy and quick.

Comdr. Larry reported that the Division’s Speakers Bureau. Members can check the speaker listing on the Division Website and arrange for speakers for Camp meeting and other functions. Larry asked Members to please come forward and join the list to help Camps provide quality programs to their Membership. Contact Rebmaster Jim Strickland to have your name put on the Speakers Bureau list. Larry said that the Bureau is an excellent method for putting knowledgeable speakers in front of receptive audiences and is an excellent way of sharing our common cultural and intellectual resources. Please promote the Bureau among your Members.

When you contact Jim (which you can do through the Division website), just tell him your name, your Camp name/number, the topics you’re interested in speaking on, date/times you’re willing to speak, any travel/mileage restrictions, any equipment you might need in order to put on your program, and any compensation you might request of the hosting Camp. Many speakers simply ask for fuel costs. Several simply ask that the audience make a donation to the MS Division and/or Beauvoir. Larry said that a key component of successful Camps is having regular, strong speakers.

Comdr. McCluney reminded the EC that the 150th anniversary of the War for Southern Independence is fast approaching. Larry is the National Historian-in-Chief for the SCV. A new National committee is being created -- the Heritage Promotion Committee, chaired by former Army of TN Executive Councilman Ed Butler of the TN Division. Larry said that we need a representative from the MS Division to serve on the committee, and that he will be looking around for the best appointee for same. Larry said that this committee’s work will be important in that it will stress the interpretation of the War from a Southern perspective. This is especially important, as the sesquicentennial will follow hard on the heels of the 2009 bicentennial of the birth of Federal President Abraham Lincoln (of “Lincoln’s War” fame), which will grab virtually sole possession of the media’s attention for most of 2009; of course, most of the media’s reporting about Lincoln’s life will be from an anti-Southern/anti-Confederate point-of-view.

Larry said that his successor to the Division Commandership will be challenged to make sure that our pro-Heritage message gets out during the sesquicentennial, and that the Membership should make every effort to have our people on local and regional sesquicentennial committees and task forces to make sure that our voice is heard and that anti-Confederate voices don't drown out the true history of our glorious Confederate forebears. Larry said that, beginning in 2009 with the Lincoln bicentennial, we can expect a strong and growing chorus of attacks on our heritage, and we must be prepared to respond to these attacks. Not only that; we must have our own program of positive messages already in place and ready to use when the Lincoln bicentennial and the War's sesquicentennial arrive. We have to start getting ready now.

Beauvoir Director Rick Forte opined that 2009 will be the 120th anniversary of Pres. Jefferson Davis' death, so we can continue promoting his legacy and life throughout the year.

Larry said that, while he didn't want to tie the hands of his successor, he was going to try to go ahead and organize a Division War for Southern Independence Sesquicentennial Committee of some sort to help us try and get ready to promote our ancestors and Heritage during the 2011-2015 celebrations. The Commander asked Members who might be interested in serving on this Committee to be thinking seriously about what they might be able to contribute to this effort and to please let him know that you might want to serve on it.

Larry warned us that some anti-Heritage things are "in the wind." One indicator was the recent "Flag Forum" held in Jackson, wherein our cherished State Flag was discussed by a group of mainly anti-Flag activists. Given the Lincoln celebration and the sesquicentennial, our opponents will surely take every opportunity to try to make us look as negative as possible, and we can't let these attacks go unanswered. Larry said we need to get a jump on these eventualities and get some of our own people in key spots on local, regional, and state sesquicentennial committees and boards in order to help these entities present the fairest possible image of the Confederate Soldier. Larry said we already had some great people in place on key committees, like former Commander Wayne McMaster, who is on the State's Civil War Battlefields Commission. We need people like Wayne in other positions, people with energy, determination, drive, and a good grasp on the facts of Southern and Confederate history and Heritage. Larry said the enemy will try to make our ancestors look wrong, look like traitors, and look as if they were motivated solely by slavery.

On a very positive note, Editor Allen Terrell noted that the State has already put together a Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee and that one of their stated goals is to refurbish the dilapidated Confederate Monument that stands on the grounds of the Old Capitol! This is excellent news, indeed. The much talked about statue of Jefferson Davis that has been in storage in a closet at the Old Capitol is also going to be refurbished and again placed on display in the Old Capitol Building! More great news! Allen said that Members might want to contact their local State Representatives and State Senators and both support these restoration efforts and see if they can get a spot on the committee itself.

Larry mentioned the upcoming AOT meeting in Birmingham, AL. All Members are welcome to attend. Info about the meeting is on the MS Division website. The meeting will be held on February 15, 2009. Larry encouraged Members to attend the meeting if they were interested in knowing what was going on at the army-level.

Comdr. McCluney then asked Beauvoir Director Rick Forte to give his report.

Rick said this was his third Beauvoir report in a week, but that giving such reports was a pleasure as it was an honor to be part-owner (along with the entire Membership of the Division) of such a cultural and historic treasure as Beauvoir. Rick had earlier given reports to the meeting of the Combined Boards and at the 5th Brigade Christmas Social.

As an aside, Rick mentioned that he was increasingly impressed with what a military leader Jefferson Davis was, especially after reading "The Training Ground," a book about various US military leaders during the Mexican War. Davis is credited with turning the Battles of Buena Vista and Monterrey into American victories, and he was widely lauded at that time as a military genius. Rick said that he wished that Davis had been able to be a Confederate field commander, rather than President, as Ole Jeff would surely have made a positive contribution to the Confederacy's military efforts.

Moving on to Beauvoir, Rick reported that Beauvoir has a new wooden gate in front of the property, which replaces the old metal one, and that it has taken some time to get this gate approved and built. Rick said that FEMA was moving slowly on things related to Beauvoir, but this was only because FEMA, as standard procedure, knows it will be audited and wants everything to be shipshape. FEMA is providing about 80% of the restoration monies to restore Beauvoir House and the other historic building on the property. Rick asked that we be patient with FEMA, as good things are coming from their slow, methodical methods.

Rick said that approval of the Presidential Library plans has been delayed for about six months now due to waiting on certain approvals from the MS Dept. of Archives & History. Rick said that Beauvoir is one of the most interesting attractions in the United States, and that people like to come to Beauvoir for many reasons, not just Jefferson Davis. However, if Jefferson Davis had not lived in the home, it would not be standing today, because people like us have made sure that the house survived. The site would just be one more hotel if we hadn't taken care of it all these years (and hurricanes!). We also have strong attachment to the site because of its role as an Old Confederate Soldiers Home and the huge Confederate Cemetery that is located at the back of the property. Over 760 CS vets and their wives are buried at Beauvoir.

Rick said that he hoped that all the drawings will be finished by April 2009 and the Library can be put up for construction bids. There will be a thirty-day period during which the bids will be out, then a forty-five day period before the winning construction team actually begins work. So, construction on the Presidential Library should start in 2009 and should take 1 to 1.5 years to complete. Rick shared copies of the latest architectural drawings with the EC. FEMA will not pay for a paved parking lot for the Library, since one was not there before Hurricane Katrina, and FEMA only pays for what existed before a disaster. Rick said we'll have to make our own parking lot. There was originally to have been a portico on the building, but it had to be deleted in order for the entire Library to be located outside of the flood zone, as well as the fact that the original Library didn't have a portico, so FEMA will not pay for the addition of one to the new Library. Neither will they pay for a building in a flood zone. Beauvoir Board Member and former Division Commander Ed Funchess related the fact that we could add a portico later, should we choose, but it would be at our own expense.

Rick is pushing for our fantastic architects -- Albert & Associates of Hattiesburg -- to have the plans ready for bidding during April, since that month is Confederate Heritage Month and it would be a kick to make the announcement from Beauvoir at that time.

Rick said that we were in a pretty big rush with the rebuilding of Beauvoir House because of the existing damage to the house and the threat of further damage from weather, insects, etc. We were also in a hurry because we still had Compatriot/US Senator Trent Lott in Washington helping us out with approval of Federal aid dollars. He said it would be different with the Presidential Library, which will have a price tag of $9-10 million. "Hopefully $9-10 million dollars!" Rick quipped. He said, "I thought that was a lot of money until I heard about $700 billion for some of these bailouts!" [Laughter.]

The Hayes Cottage and Library Cottage are finished. The Hayes Cottage cannot be occupied by guests yet because the sewerage and water connections haven’t been made. These are tied into the sewerage and water for the new Presidential Library, so there is no sewerage at all at the front part of the property. (There is sewerage and water at the back, where we have two post-Davis houses that are used by Beauvoir staff.) Rick hopes to have the sewerage/water systems put up for bids in January 2009, with work commencing in February 2009.

Rick said that pesky delays keep cropping up, which is to be expected on a project as massive as this. For instance, the maintenance crews at Beauvoir have always just made their own repairs to whatever was broken. The City of Biloxi always allowed this, because Biloxi thought that Beauvoir was owned by the State of Mississippi. When Biloxi learned recently that the SCV -- and not the State of MS -- owned Beauvoir, the property suddenly has had to comply with all of Biloxi’s various building and maintenance codes.

The Hayes Cottage has power already and will hopefully have sewerage/water by February 2009, at which time Members will be able to rent the facility as in days past. Only Division Members and VIPs will be allowed to stay in the Hayes Cottage. Rick said that weekend-long stays are ideal, but that folks would be encouraged to not to stay for more than three days at one stretch. Plus, the rental of the cottage should be focused on enjoying and appreciating Beauvoir and not simply using the cottage as a place to stay while you visit other Coast attractions. Rick said that staying in the cottage in the spring and fall and getting up early and walking the grounds will make you feel the presence of the Confederate President and Confederate Soldiers at the historic site.

The Hayes Cottage is already furnished. A lady donated a period bedroom suite, and when workers were putting a mirror on a dressing table, they discovered a secret drawer, complete with a sterling silver lady’s manicure set, including an antique hook for fastening the laces of ladies’ shoes. Rick said this was just one of the many interesting little things you experience/discover while working at Beauvoir. He said you never know what you’re going to find down there.

The cottages are beautiful and are constructed exactly as they were when Pres. Davis lived there. The entire House area is an “historic zone,” which designation is required in order to get help from FEMA, MDAH, etc. The zone includes the new green wooden front and the historic UDC Arch, which used to grace the front entrance to Beauvoir but will be reassembled at the CS cemetery.

Rick is convinced that the President Casino, torn loose from its moorings by Hurricane Katrina, knocked down the UDC Arch because a metal cleat of the type used to moor such barges was found under the oak tree next to the toppled arch. Nothing else came close to Beauvoir except the President Casino barge.

The brick retaining wall so often knocked down by 18-wheelers turning north onto Beauvoir Road from west-bound Hwy. 90 has been rebuilt. MDOT wanted a little of the corner in order to make turning easier for the trucks, which we agreed to as long as our retaining wall would be rebuilt and a steel sign saying “BEAUVOIR” would be mounted in the new wall. This was agreeable to MDOT, so we now have the new wall and the new, beautiful steel “BEAUVOIR” sign, which will help draw attention to the site and draw more visitors in.

Rick said that, as he was helping center the “BEAUVOIR” sign, he noticed some coins in the sand, which he surreptitiously picked up. [Laughter.] It turns out they were poker chips from the President Casino, another telltale sign that the barge did, indeed, take out the UDC Arch and nearly knock down Beauvoir House itself! (Workmen said they found dozens of the chips at the site.)

Rick said that we have an interesting relationship with the President Casino, which is planning to build a $2 billion casino on the Coast. Apparently, the casino needed several sorts of permission from Beauvoir relating to some of its permits, which Beauvoir granted. Additionally, the casino leases 14 acres from Beauvoir for its golf course, which is located immediately adjacent to and just north of the property. Rick said that, given these relationships, and given the fact that their barge not only knocked down the UDC Arch but may also have knocked down the Old Hospital Museum, we may have some bargaining chips to use when we hold future negotiations with President Casino.

Rick said that there is the possibility of a long-term lease of the 14 golf course acres to a large Mississippi construction firm. Rick be meeting in early 2009 with the possible leasor to discuss the lease. Rick said the appraised value of the 14 acres was recently set at just over $1.5 million. These 14 acres of land came back to Beauvoir in the 1940’s. Jeff Davis originally owned some 600 acres as the original Beauvoir tract. We currently have a little over 51 acres at the site. The 14 acres mentioned above was actually swamp when it was returned to Beauvoir. When the Broadwater Hotel and its marina, etc., were built, the plot was filled in and turned into part of the golf course. Rick said that the only way the 14 acres would ever be sold would be for the MS Division to vote for such a sale in Convention.

Rick said we definitely need an endowment fund started for Beauvoir. Monticello (home of Pres. Thomas Jefferson) has an endowment of $25 million.) Rick says we were just very lucky that nothing happened to Beauvoir between Katrina and last March because we simply wouldn’t have had the funds to deal with it. Rick said an endowment fund would allow us to run Beauvoir off the interest generated by the endowment. He said the two biggest expenses at Beauvoir are maintenance (mitigating the effects of sun, salt, air, and wind on the wood) and personnel (security, maintenance, staff, etc.). Rick said we could even partner with another group to develop our 14 acres, as suggested by Comdr. Ed Funchess. At any rate, the 14 acres is a source of income for Beauvoir’s future.

Rick said this is the slow time of year for tourism on the Coast. He had reported to an earlier EC meeting that it cost $30,000 a month to operate Beauvoir before reopening. It now costs $65,000 per month to operate the facility. We are only making $25,000 per month, so there is a $45,000 per month shortfall that we have to make up from other sources until tourist season begins again in March or April.

Rick said that Beauvoir was trying to come up with some events other than Fall Muster to advertise the site and bring in tourists. This last Fall Muster was great, with about a $15,000 profit. The weather, crowds, and re-enactor turnout was fantastic. However, the thought of money is always out there, lurking.

Rick said that he has 28 years worth of Beauvoir Board Minutes, and that the discussion is always the same: Where is the money going to come from to keep the facility operating? Rick said our annual State appropriation of $110,000 helps a lot. Rick said he is very grateful to MDAH and the State of Mississippi for doing this for us. Rick said that the constant need for money at Beauvoir is unfortunate, but he would never hide anything from the Membership. Rick said that we're currently paying $7000 a month for insurance for Beauvoir.

Rick said that we're actually going to have two museums in the new Presidential Library -- one for Pres. Jefferson Davis and one for the Confederate Soldier. The Confederate Soldier museum was housed in the old Hospital Building/Museum/Bookstore, which was flattened by Katrina. The Jefferson Davis museum was housed in the old Presidential Library and was virtually destroyed by Katrina. FEMA money will pay for the majority of both new museums.

Rick said that he was more than appreciative of FEMA, but that FEMA had its own language and way of doing things which he has had to learn. He wants to be very careful acting as our agent with FEMA, because he's the "one who could go to Leavenworth" [laughter] if everything isn't done correctly.

The Rednet Security System is currently being installed at Beauvoir. This laser system covers the front and east and west sides of the property all the way back to Oyster Bayou. The system automatically tells Beauvoir Security where an intruder is located on the covered property and then notifies the police. Rick said that security is our number one job at Beauvoir -- the house must be protected. Rick said that he only wished that we could pay our very dedicated security personnel more than they're making and that the casinos are paying much more than Beauvoir can. Rick said that he had been blessed in being able to find historically-minded security personnel who were willing to work for a little less money in order to help protect Beauvoir. He said, "Beauvoir means more to them than just a job. We have some good employees!"

The British artists are almost finished with the frescoes inside Beauvoir House and have started on the faux painting on and around the doors. Three doors have already been completed. The work painting faux oak grain on the doors is outstanding and beautiful and employs techniques dating back to ancient Egypt.

The large marble and granite Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway marker has been returned to its accustomed place on Hwy. 90 in front of the property, thanks to MDOT. [See www.beauvoir.org for installation photos.] The marker was knocked down during Katrina.

AAA has recognized Beauvoir as an official Southern Travel Treasure. The local [Biloxi] Sun Herald newspaper continues to report positively about Beauvoir.

Ms. Pauline Watkins was the UDC President for the last two years, and, in that capacity, she served on the Board at Beauvoir. Rick asked the EC to present Ms. Watkins with a proper proclamation or resolution commending her for her outstanding service on the Board, on which she was exceedingly active, showing her intense love for Beauvoir. Ruth Albritton is the new State President for the UDC, and Rick feels like this accomplished lady will also make a great UDC President.

Comdr. McCluney said that he could send in a recommendation for a special award for Ms. Watkins, an award entitled the SCV Army of Tennessee Ladies Appreciation Medal. He asked if it was the desire of the EC to nominate Ms. Watkins for this award.

Motion to nominate Ms. Pauline Watkins for the SCV Army of Tennessee Ladies Appreciation Medal made by Division Judge Advocate Carl Ford. 2nd by Division Adjutant Jim Strickland. Motion carried.

Division Chief of Staff Dan McCaskill opined that the Division itself should also give a plaque to Ms. Watkins in appreciation of her efforts to maintain and restore Beauvoir, as well as her general pro-Confederate activities and accomplishments. Comdr. McCluney mentioned that Ms. Watkins “has raised thousands and thousands of dollars for Beauvoir.” The idea of a Division plaque was taken under advisement by Comdr. McCluney.

Continuing with his report, Rick said that Jay Peterson is the Beauvoir Security Chief, and that Jay has taken on the job of being the Beauvoir Rebmaster. [See www.beauvoir.org.] Jay volunteered for the job, without any extra pay, and is just one more example of the dedication of the folks who work for us at Beauvoir. Jay keeps the site updated, based on info that Rick supplies to him. We've had over 90,000 visits to the website in less than a year. Web experts tell Rick that this is a very high number of "hits."

Adjutant Jim Strickland and others in the assembly strongly and enthusiastically echoed Rick's praise of Jay's work on the Beauvoir website.

Rick said that he had just wanted to touch on the highlights regarding Beauvoir. He said that “we’re not broke.” We received a settlement on the insurance for the artifacts in the amount of $1 million and we got a settlement with another insurance company on our lawsuit, in addition to savings already in the bank. Rick said that, despite all of this money, he wanted the Membership to be aware of the financial drain currently affecting Beauvoir’s financial health. Rick asked all Members to “keep their ears to the ground’ and let him know if they became aware of anyone wanting to contribute to Beauvoir, as we certainly now (as always) need all the fiscal help we can get.

After lauding Division Adjutant Jim Strickland for being “the most serious” adjutant the Division has ever had, Rick said that Beauvoir: A Walk Through History, which the Division advanced $6000 to finance, has gone to the presses. 600 copies will be made. They will sell for $30 each. The book should be out in April 2009. Rick said to our serious, penny-counting adjutant, “This is my report to you.” [Laughter.]

In response to a question from esteemed Compatriot George Church, Rick said that the cost of the new Jefferson Davis Presidential Library should be somewhere around the $9 million that FEMA has allocated for same. Responding to 1st Lt. Comdr. Bill Atkinson’s query, Rick said that FEMA will pay for 80-90% of the total tab, with MDAH picking up most if not all of the remaining 10-20%.

In answer to a question from Adjutant Jim Strickland, Rick said that the current admission charges at Beauvoir are $9 for adults and $5 for children. Jim said that he had been embarrassed a few days earlier by not being able to answer this question. SCV Members with a valid Membership card get in free. Friends of Beauvoir get an admission discount. Rick wanted to make sure that Division Camp Adjutants issued cards to their Members, as he was aware that some Camps didn’t even issued Membership cards.

Rick noted that AT&T had put Beauvoir on the cover of it's 2009 Gulf Coast telephone directory. Rick said that, by way of barter, AT&T's website was listed on www.beauvoir.org. He said the phone book also had a short history of Beauvoir on the inside. Rick said he really loved this kind of coverage.

Rick concluded his remarks by thanking the EC for its support. [Applause.]

Comdr. McCluney asked for the EC to look over the Minutes (Short Version) of the last Executive Council Meeting, held on August 23, 2008.

Motion to approve Minutes of the August 23, 2008, EC Meeting made by Adjutant Jim Strickland. 2nd by Division Chaplain James Taylor. Motion carried.

Comdr. McCluney offered some overly-kind words of appreciation for Sec. Huffman, which remarks were much appreciated.

Comdr. Larry restated in the strongest possible terms the National prohibition on Camp raffles. No if’s, and’s, or but’s -- no raffles. Any raffle could endanger our non-profit status with the IRS. Larry asked Camp and Brigade Commanders to please stress this at every level of the organization -- no raffles. Any raffle could endanger us at the Camp, Division, and National level, plus, our National Commander could go to jail! No raffles, please!

Recording Secretary Huffman reminded the meeting that Camps could legally sell merchandise (like flags), as per a recent bulletin from National Headquarters. So, Camps can continue to set up booths and offer Confederate Heritage merchandise to the public. Just no raffles or any other games of chance, bingo, etc., as Comdr. McCluney clarified.

However, any Order of the Confederate Rose Chapter can conduct raffles to benefit their sponsoring SCV Camp. This, too, was clarified by Comdr. McCluney, whose lovely wife, Anne, is President of the State OCR. Larry said this might be encouragement to local Camps to help start a local OCR Chapter. Adjutant Jim Strickland quipped that this could situation could continue “until the IRS catches up to” the local OCR Chapters and requires them to follow the same rules as SCV Camps. [Laughter.]

Comdr. McCluney mentioned that our outstanding Division Genealogist, Hon. Earl McCown of the B.G. Humphreys Camp, was being under-utilized. Earl has a link on Jim Strickland’s outstanding Division Rebsite [www.mississippiscv.org] and Members are encouraged to utilize Earl, especially to help prospective Members find their a Confederate ancestor to join under.

Comdr. McCluney again asked that any Camps that have not done so please file electronically with the IRS to help us maintain our non-profit status. It only takes five minutes to file -- ten minutes if you want to print every page for future reference. Adjutant Jim Strickland said that any Camp needing assistance could simply email him at the link on the Division Rebsite. Jim said he had all the numbers Camps might need in order to file. [Note: Monday, December 15, 2008, was the last day to file.]

Indispensable former Comdr. Ed Funchess rose to give a report on the Bricks for Beauvoir program and Beauvoir Confederate Cemetery enhancement. Ed is the Facilities Chair on the Board of Directors, making him responsible for the 52 acres of property excluding the buildings on the site. Ed said we've come a long way toward getting the grounds back to normal since Hurricane Katrina. Ed said the front part of the property is more beautiful than ever, with the restored mansion and the white fence.

Ed is currently working on three major projects at Beauvoir. One is the Bricks for Beauvoir project. Ed said he'd only learned in the last three weeks that any work at Beauvoir beyond repair and maintenance requires an official application for same which, in turn, must be approved by the MDAH. This circumstance has momentarily stalled every grounds project that Ed is currently heading requiring construction, earth movement, etc. MDAH requires this because of Beauvoir's historic site status and not to deter or delay our activities.

The entire 52 acres is an historic site, not just the mansion. Ed noted that nothing had been done on the north side of Oyster Bayou in years. Ed did note that everyone was surprised that even the non-mansion portions of the property fell under the MDAH mandate. However, since we've never really made any major changes north of the bayou in many decades, MDAH's attention was never brought to bear on that area. Now that we are wanting to make changes in that region, MDAH necessarily must be involved. For this reason, MDAH must approve our cemetery enhancement program, including the installation of the old UDC arch and the Bricks for Beauvoir plaza and Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier enhancements. Ed does not anticipate any problem with MDAH approving these projects because they are appropriate from a memorial and historical perspective. MDAH didn't say they didn't like the project; they simply said they'd like to look over the plans and approve them, if appropriate.

Ed's second big project is the walking bridge over Oyster Bayou. This is the small bridge that is located on a line running directly between the mansion and the cemetery. As background, Ed noted that, last year, we had a contractor who was supposed to remove the silt from the bayou, install a catch basin, etc. When this contractor's contract had expired, some portions of the work had not been completed, particularly the removal of silt from the bayou, with the goal of returning the bayou to its usual six-foot depth, rather than the 1-2-foot depth it has had since Katrina. Ed had another contractor working at this time, so, while the water was drawn down in the bayou, he had the pilings for the foot bridge put in. The pilings of Jeff Davis' older foot bridge, leading across the bayou from Beauvoir House to Beauvoir Station on the railroad, are visible due to the low water. Hopefully, MDAH won't make us re-route the footbridge from its current location to its historic location, due to the tremendous amount of work that would entail.

Another part of the Oyster Bayou project is the installation of a catch basin and flow control device where the two eight-foot culverts enter the property from Beauvoir Road. This is the hydraulic source of Oyster Bayou. There is about 2.5 acres of tangled downed trees, vines, etc. beginning at Beauvoir Road, which impedes water flow. All sorts of trash, from plastic bags to railroad ties are among the debris, as almost everything imaginable comes onto the property from the culverts. At creek flood stage, water comes shooting through the culverts, delivering an incredible amount of water to the bayou.

We have to have a MS Dept. of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) permit to proceed with the catch basin/clearing Oyster Bayou project. Also, our Corps of Engineers permit has expired, so Ed has engineers working on the design of the flow control device, which Ed also characterized as a flow mediator. The mediator would slow the flow of culvert water, especially during peak flow, and allow the water to spread out, rather than blasting through Oyster Bayou. The catch basin's purpose is to catch most of the debris that enters the bayou; otherwise, we'll be removing silt from the bayou "till Doomsday." [Laughter.] Ed made some hilarious remarks about the permitting processes he's seen in other parts of the country, which caused the assembly to guffaw. He said the permitting process here in Mississippi and along the Gulf Coast is nothing compared to other areas of the country, and that we should be glad we don't have to go through the paperwork that other parts of the country do. Ed said that the estimated cost of the basin/mediator is $20,000, of which $9,600 is permit fees!

Ed's third major project is the cemetery enhancement project. Ed said that Lt. Comdr. Bill Atkinson had suggested that, since we're enhancing the cemetery, it would be a great idea to install headstones in the Beauvoir Confederate Cemetery for the 153 Confederate POWs who died and were buried on Ship Island and whose graves were washed away by Hurricane Camille. Their graves were located in what is now the "Camille Cut," a waterway between two parts of the island. Bill would like to see these stones placed outside of/alongside the proposed brick entrance to the cemetery. Ed said he thought this was a grand idea, since the entire cemetery/memorial for the Ship Island POWs is lost. If we don't memorialize these POWs at Beauvoir, their sacrifices and lives won't be remembered anywhere.

Ed said we only have one permit to obtain for the cemetery work, which is the aforementioned MDAH permit. Our memorial design has been completed and submitted to MDAH for approval. The flagpoles and columns have been chosen. We're going to have six-seven-foot tiered fountains at each wing, along with a "monster" fountain right at the entranceway. Ed said that he had originally wanted a couple of mirror pools at the site, but that they had proven too expensive, or, as he phrased it, "that was just too much sugar for a dime." [Laughter.] Ed said the tiered fountains were cheaper and easier to assemble and maintain than mirror pools. They are beautiful, Roman/Baroque-style fountains. They are made of a concrete composite material that should "last forever."

There is a problem with the old UDC arch. FEMA is supposed to pay for the restoration or replacement of the UDC arch at a cost of some $400,000. Because they're paying for it, FEMA has to agree explicitly with the location of the arch. This is because the arch isn't going to be located where it was pre-Katrina (at the front of the property), but, rather, will be located at the new/enhanced entrance to the cemetery. FEMA doesn't mind paying to restore something where it was, but, when you start moving things around, you have to go through a lot of bureaucratic hoops. Thus far, FEMA has been really good about assisting us, and the UDC arch has been the only thing that has given FEMA pause during the reconstruction phase at Beauvoir. The arch situation is the only thing that has slowed down the cemetery project, and we can’t do anything at the cemetery until FEMA approves the location of the arch at the new entrance to the cemetery. The arch will lead to the renovated Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier and the Bricks for Beauvoir plaza. Ed said that this is the only place for the arch at Beauvoir. He said the Beauvoir Board of Directors needs to address the arch issue specifically, even in the midst of the whirlwind of other, pressing issues it has to deal with. Ed said that he would personally see that this gets done.

Ed said that he and Comdr. Larry McCluney had discussed the issue of potential purchases of Bricks for Beauvoir that didn’t honor single Confederate ancestors. Ed said that the bricks that will immediately surround the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier could only be for individual Confederate soldiers. However, he said that the walkway leading to the Tomb could certainly be paved with bricks honoring UDC and OCR Chapters, SCV Camps, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, General Barksdale, etc.

In response to a question by Division Editor Allen Terrell, Ed and Comdr. McCluney said that we’ve sold about 750 bricks. Ed said that we need about 35,000 bricks to pave the area around the Tomb. Comdr. McCluney said that we needed to bear in mind that the bricks project is an ongoing project. Blank bricks will be put in place that can later be engraved in situ by the engraver. Ed opined that it will be a lot easier to sell bricks once the plaza is in place, because people will be able to see the real results of brick purchases. Ed praised Larry for his work to date on the project. Ed said that the completed project/enhancement is “going to be a beautiful thing.” Ed said that we would all be proud to have been a part of the project once we see the results.

In response to a question from esteemed elder Compatriot Hon. George Church of the Meridian Camp, Ed reiterated that individual ancestral bricks would surround the Tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier, while ancillary honorary bricks (for camps, chapters, etc.) would be on the walkway leading up to the Tomb. Ed and Larry confirmed that individual ancestral bricks would be placed in order of purchase beginning at the Tomb and radiating out from there. Ed emphasized that every brick purchased would be either immediately around the Tomb or on the walkway leading up to the Tomb.

The colonnade of flagpoles will be raised up about three feet from the walkway, with the flagpoles being about eighteen feet tall and 22-24 inches in diameter. There will be six poles on each side of the Tomb, with a Mississippi flagpole immediately behind the Tomb, yielding a total of thirteen poles/columns. Ed said that there would also be a “mirror image” set of flagpoles opposite these thirteen, including a Mississippi Secession Flag, the Bonnie Blue Flag, and the Confederate Battleflag. Ed said that he was vigorously pursuing this project because it was an important one and because so many people had put so much time, effort, and money into it. Ed said that he and Comdr. McCluney were ready to start “turning dirt” as soon as the required written approvals were received. Ed thanked the assembly for their support of Beauvoir, of him personally, and of “our collective effort to honor our ancestors.” [Warm applause.]

Comdr. McCluney asked Save the Battleflags Committee Member Jim Huffman to give the Battleflag restoration report. Huffman's report is reproduced here:

The newly restored Battleflags of the Burt Rifles and the 33rd MS Infantry have been returned from the conservator to MDAH.

Chairman Ron Stowers has met with the new MDAH staff in charge of the flags and is encouraged by their attitude.

The 4th MS Infantry Battleflag is at the conservator being worked on now. Ron got us a better picture of this flag for use with the STBF program from the conservator.

MDAH, for the first time ever, is now willing to explore seeking the competitive services of other textile conservators who might be less expensive than the one currently being used.

Ron asked MDAH to research and recommend the next flags most needing conservation. In response MDAH has obtained a price quote from the conservator to evaluate the entire collection, but Ron feels it to be price prohibitive and unrealistic at $9100.

The 11 MS Cavalry Battleflag may be in the hands of the conservator by the time the authorization for its cup production can be obtained from the EC. We can get a better shot of the 11th MS Battleflag once it gets to the conservator.

Conservation of the Liberty Guards Battleflag (Co. E, 22nd MS Infantry) will follow the 11th MS Cavalry Battleflag.

Ron asked that Division Adjutant Jim Strickland keep him apprized as to how much money we have available for flag restoration, as this is useful info to have when negotiating with Archives. He says that he will definitely keep our Adjutant informed well in advance regarding when funds expenditures will be needed.

See attached handout for our recommendations for two new STBF commemorative coffee cups.

Thanks to everyone for their support of this vital Heritage program.

With the advise, consent, and energetic assistance of STBF Committee Ron Stowers, the STBF Committee recommended creating two new STBF cups -- one for the 11th MS Cavalry and one for the 4th MS Infantry.

After the EC reviewed the pictures available for production of these two cups, it was determined that the production of cups for these two Battleflags would be approved pending obtaining a better picture of the 11th MS Cavalry Battleflag from the textile conservator. Huffman noted that these two flags were of a pattern not previously restored by the Division -- the Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and East Louisiana Pattern Battleflag, which intentionally has no center star because the master pattern/template from which these flags were made was the original Army of Northern Virginia Battleflag prototype which was also a twelve-starred flag.

Motion to authorize production of Save the Battleflag commemorative cups for the 11th MS Cavalry Battleflag and the 4th MS Infantry Battleflag once a better picture of the 11th MS Cavalry is obtained from the conservator by Judge Advocate Carl Ford. 2nd by Bill Atkinson. Motion carried.

1st Brigade Comdr. Arlin Pearson said that he had a better picture of the 4th MS Infantry Battleflag and asked Huffman if he would rather use that better image. Huffman thanked Arlin for the kind offer but said that it would be better if we use an MDAH-approved or supplied photo since that protocol was long established and we didn’t want to do anything that might cause MDAH any problems. MDAH fiercely guards its photos of the Battleflags and basically licenses the Division to use the images, so it’s safer for us to just use MDAH’s images for cup production.

Huffman advised the EC and the Membership that we were down to only about 30 cups each of the Burt Rifles cup and the 41st MS cup and that any Members wanting these patterns should order them in a hurry. He also reported that the STBF Committee had gotten more cups into the hands of the Membership/Camps more quickly than has ever been done before, with over 200 cups being distributed in less than a year. He noted that 100% of cup sales proceeds go to restoring our ancestors' Battleflags, less cups production costs, which amount to about 20% of total sales. This is a much cheaper production cost than previously available because we are using a different manufacturer.

Huffman closed by thanking the Division and its Members for their continued support of the Save the Battleflags program.

4th Brigade Comdr. Bill Hinson reported that he had discovered the reason that few tag offices displayed our SCV car tags: The offices simply sell every SCV car tag they get, including ones formerly used for display. Bill said that the only way a local tag office is likely to have an SCV car tag for display is for a Member to donate his old tag to that office specifically for display. And, of course, the more tag offices that have SCV tags on display, the more SCV tags we will sell, and the more money we will generate for Battleflag restoration (80% of tag dividends), Heritage promotion and protection (10% of tag dividends), and Division operating funds (10% of tag dividends). Bill said that, if you will notice, all of the vanity tags on display in various tag offices are old tags. Bill said that, to further SCV tag sales in his county, he is going to donate his old tag to the tag office in Brandon, MS. He said the tag office will allow you to put your name and contact info on the back of the tag, just in case you need the tag back or they have to return it to you for some reason or other. Comdr. McCluney concurred that Members need to donate their old SCV tags to their local tag offices in order to have SCV tags on display. Adj. Jim Strickland affirmed that purchasers of SCV car tags do not have to be Members of the SCV or prove SCV Membership.

Comdr. McCluney called on our impeccable Division Adjutant/Rebmaster Jim Strickland to deliver the Adjutant’s Financial Report.

Jim had passed out his report prior to the meeting and asked if there were any questions. He noted that there was one new Division fund, the McLaren Lawsuit Fund, set up to keep the Memphis Car Tag Case’s monies separate from other Division accounts. This fund was established using $7000 from the National GEC and $1000 from MS Division funds. Jim quipped that “lawyers can be efficient sometimes; the day after the suit was filed in Memphis, I got the bill from the lawyer!” [Laughter.]

Regarding Life Memberships, Jim noted that there had been comments about our losing current income by offering Division Life Memberships. He said that we should remember that we’re only here on this Earth for a short time, and that the Life Membership (and the interest it generates) stays with the SCV forever. Jim said he hoped that we could eventually get the Life Membership Fund built up to the point where the Division could live forever off of the interest in the fund and not have to always be scratching around for a dollar here and a dollar there to make ends meet. Thus, our Heritage efforts would be funded unto posterity. Joking with Hon. George Church that their two Camps (Meridian and Columbus) had a large percentage of the Division‘s Life Members, 80+ year-old George replied that the Division “was going to lose money on me because I’m going to live until the year 3000!” [Lots of laughter.] Jim responded that he was “planning on staying a little longer than that!” [More laughter.] George said, “I hope so!”

Jim asked Members to please consider taking the JDL newsletter electronically, as each paper subscription costs the Division a lot of money. The newsletter is our major expenditure in the MS Division. Jim noted that the AOT newsletter, which is excellent and regularly issued, isn’t even offered in a hardcopy version anymore, being available only by email. Jim noted that many other Division newsletters were also only available by email/electronically.

Regarding Membership retention, Jim noted that our overall renewal rate for the current year stands at 79%, meaning we’ve lost 21% of our Members to non-renewal, death, or moving to another state/community. Jim said that was not good, and that four Camps had not paid at all. However, he said one of those Camps was going to pay at the end of the EC meeting. He said we’ve lost 10% of the Members of the Camps that have already paid their dues. Jim said we needed to do a better job of recruiting and retention. Jim let the Brigade Commanders present know which Camps in their respective Brigades hadn’t paid dues. Apparently, at least one Camp has paid National but not Division dues. At least one Camp is going to be asked to turn its Charter back in because it is now defunct.

Moving on to the great Division Membership pins and decals Jim designed, he reiterated that all funds from the sale of each of these $5 items went 100% to our Heritage Education & Defense Fund. He had copious amounts of both available at the meeting for Members to take back to their Camps/Brigades. Jim then went through a list of Members who had taken pins/decals on consignment and who had not yet sent in any money for same. Jim urged Members to turn in any money they had gained from these sales.

Jim pointed out that, thanks to our Division leadership, our Operating Budget had an additional $2000+ in it due to interest income from the Life Member and other idle accounts. Jim said that we’d never had this type income before.

Comdr. McCluney interjected that one of the goals he had for the Division during his term was to end his term with the Division on a firm financial footing. He said it looked like we were well on our way to achieving this most important goal.

Jim said that he would request that Members didn’t spread details about our financial position to anyone outside the organization. Share our organization’s fiscal picture with your Camp Members, but don’t let anyone else have access to our financial reports and don’t share details of our fiscal health with anyone outside the MS Division. This is just a matter of pragmatism and sound fiscal and organizational policy.

Along that same line, Comdr. McCluney said that we’d be surprised at just who all among our enemies would be very interested in how much money we have, especially in case they are planning a new State Flag attack and want to know how much money we have to oppose their efforts in the courts, on radio, on TV, and in the newspapers. “Absolutely,” concurred Adj. Strickland. He said that he’s actually had some inquiries about the Division’s financial status, but that he didn’t share such info unless the questioner was a bona fide Member of the Division in good standing.

Motion to accept the Adjutant’s Report made by Carl Ford (or, as Carl put it, “I move that we let Jim slide on this one!” [Laughter.]). 2nd by Sam Price. Motion carried.

Comdr. McCluney said that Adjutant Jim Strickland was another of those Members of the EC that are overworked and under-appreciated at times. Larry asked the EC, “When was the last time you saw our Division reports so detailed and accurate?” Larry joked that Jim and he were a lot alike: “We’re both tightwads, aren’t we, Jim?” “You got that right!” replied Mr. Strickland. [Laughter.]

Comdr. McCluney then called on our capable and talented Division Editor Allen Terrell to update the Division on the Jefferson Davis brochures that Allen originated and that the Division has funded. (See Minutes of the 8-23-2008 EC meeting for a copy of the brochure.)

Allen reported that he had the brochures with him, ready to distribute to EC Members for further distribution to Welcome Centers around the State. The Division purchased 5000 of the brochures. Allen said that the printer tried to raise the price for the brochures, but Allen reminded him of the quoted price, so the printer gave him a price only slightly higher than the originally quoted price. However, when the printer gave Allen the brochures, they weren’t sorted into counted lots, so Allen had to count out all 5000 and rubber banded them in groups of fifty. Allen said that there were twelve Mississippi Visitor Centers throughout the State. Allen had already dropped off the required number at the Natchez and Vicksburg Welcome Centers. Allen had prepared copies of the Director of the Mississippi Tourism Commission’s letter to him approving the placement of the Jeff Davis brochures in all Mississippi Welcome Centers. Allen read a list of the remaining Welcome Centers and their locations and asked EC Members to volunteer to take the appropriate number of brochures to those Centers located near them, along with copies of the Tourism Director’s approval for said placement. Allen’s excellent procurement of the Tourism Director’s letter of approval precluded any argument or difficulty for Members trying to have the brochures accepted and distributed at the Welcome Centers; this was an excellent strategic move by our outstanding Editor. Allen told Comdr. McCluney that any packets of brochures not picked up for distribution by EC Members today could be distributed as the Commander saw fit.

Comdr. Larry said that we needed to cover our major Mississippi Welcome Centers first, then, if we have brochures left over, we can distribute them to other Tourist Centers, such as city, county, and area tourism offices.

Comdr. McCluney then surrendered the podium to outstanding Camp Commander Jim Strickland, Jr., of the Columbus Camp to discuss the latest developments in the Heritage posters the EC sanctioned in August 2008.

Jim presented to the EC a couple of different editions/versions of the Heritage poster, which is designed to be distributed to schools and other educational groups for Confederate Heritage Month, but can be utilized year-round. Jim asked the EC to come up and look at the poster versions and give him their recommendations. He said that some adjustments to the font were still necessary, and that he had a couple of different backgrounds available, including the Bonnie Blue Flag and the 1894 State Flag (the current State Flag). He is working on a Magnolia Flag background, but the magnolia tree and the flag’s fringe are “giving me fits!”

Jim, Jr., had promised to make his presentation “short and sweet,” and it was!

Comdr. McCluney asked EC Members to look at the posters after the meeting and share their opinions of them with Jim, Jr.

Comdr. McCluney said that Adj. Strickland and Chief-of-Staff Dan McCaskill had both brought up several adjustments or changes that needed to be made in the By-Laws.

Adj. Strickland rose to say that we needed to make sure that any proposed By-Laws changes were ready in time for next year’s (2009) Division Convention.

One serious change that Jim brought to the EC’s attention was the fact that, according to our By-Laws, just four Members of the EC could make policy “if that deck got stacked” by using Robert’s Rules of Order (our official governing rules), quorums, etc. Under this scenario, just four of the twelve Members of the EC could literally pass any item they chose. The relevant passage in the By-Laws was amended to read “the entire Executive Council,” but Jim said that, upon reflection, we needed to tighten down this passage even more. Jim said this needed to be clarified just to prevent any future difficulties. He said the specific passage is in the Executive Council portion of the By-Laws.

Jim said that, on a minor note, he had found three or four places where there were bad references to other sections of the By-Laws. For instance, where we have amended the By-Laws, there might be a reference to Article so-and-so/Section so-and-so, but the referenced Article/Section has been changed, moved, or deleted. These references need to be clarified in the By-Laws. Secretary Huffman joked, “Who typed those By-Laws up, anyway? Never mind! It was me!” [Laughter.]

Jim said that we also had two committees with nearly identical names, which could prove to be confusing.

Jim said that we needed any proposed By-Laws changes to be submitted to the next EC meeting, usually held in March. He asked Constitution/By-Laws Committee Chairman Greg Stewart if this were correct. Greg concurred. Jim said that, just like the list of official Division Officer candidates, any proposed By-Laws changes needed to be published at least thirty days before the Division Convention.

Comdr. McCluney said that any proposed changes/clarifications to the By-Laws needed to be submitted to either Greg Stewart or Carl Ford of the Constitution/By-Laws Committee by the next EC meeting so that Allen Terrell could have that info published in the Jeff Davis Legion in a timely fashion so that we‘re not in violation of our By-Laws and so that the Membership can have time to study them before the next Convention. Contact info for both Carl and Greg can be found on Jim Strickland’s incredible Division Rebsite at www.mississippiscv.org.

Comdr. McCluney called Allen Terrell back to the podium to give the EC an update on the statue of President Jefferson Davis and two of his sons.

As background, Allen noted that the National SCV had commissioned a statue of Pres. Davis and two of his sons -- Joe, his natural son, and Jim Limber, his adopted Black son -- to be offered to the National Parks Service for placement at the site of Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond, VA, where, a few years back, a statue of Lincoln and his son, Tad, had been placed. This new statue was intended to balance the Lincoln statue with an equally humane depiction of Pres. Davis with some of his children.

The National Parks Service accepted the statue, but with none of the conditions and safeguards that the SCV requested. The NPS would not give any statement confirming where the statue would be placed or even if it would be placed anywhere in public view and not just put into a storage room hidden from public view.

SCV spokesman ANV Army Commander Bragdon Bowling has since revoked our offer of the statue to the National Parks Service. Since the revocation of that offer, the National SCV has been looking for a suitable, respectful, high-profile site for the statue of Jefferson Davis and his sons. A Member of the Natchez Camp, who had earlier been appalled that no statue of Jefferson Davis was on display at our own Mississippi Old Capitol Museum, jumped on the statue-location bandwagon. Allen said he really appreciated this Member’s enthusiasm and initiative.

This Member contacted IHQ and Bragg Bowling. After some discussion, it has been estimated that Mississippi has about a 99% chance of getting this Nationally-sanctioned and Nationally-funded iconic statue of Davis and sons and having same placed on the grounds of not the Old Capitol, but the New Capitol Complex in Jackson!

Allen and his Camp Member met about 2-3 weeks ago with members of MDAH, Sen. Jack Gordon, Sen. Bob Dearing, and a lady who is in charge of historic things at the Capitol. Everything looks good. The SCV group originally wanted the statue placed in the rotunda of the New Capitol, but that space is used for too many other activities and would take up too much room. Another option given to the SCV was to put the statue in the Old Library Room of the New Capitol, where a number of other statues are on display, but that site is too out-of-the-way for many people to see, and we want this statue to be seen by as many people as possible.

At this point, the SCV people asked about placing the statue on the grounds of the Old Capitol, not knowing that MDAH was planning to renovate the Confederate Memorial on those same grounds. Allen got the feeling that MDAH simply wasn’t interested in placing this particular statue on the grounds of the Old Capitol. Allen had even suggested placing the statue in front of the War Memorial Building on the Old Capitol grounds since Davis was a US Secretary of War, but MDAH wasn’t enthusiastic about this location.

The best available location currently is between the Garden Building and the Governor’s Mansion, behind the New Capitol, on High Street. There’s going to be a new “greenspace walkway” through this area. Discussions have been had regarding locating the statue at the entrance to this walkway, where not only passersby, but also passing motorists will see the statue. This area is heavily traveled by tourists on foot, so it would be seen by many people if located here.

In order to accept the statue and have it placed on New Capitol grounds, a bill has to be passed by the MS Legislature. Bob Davidson, a Member of the Jefferson Davis Camp of Jackson, is the attorney for the MS Senate. He basically writes all of their legislation, making sure the wording is all legal, etc. Bob is in our court and has written a draft piece of legislation that would allow for both the donation and display of the statue. Allen distributed copies of the proposed draft legislation to the EC.  Allen asked Members to look over the draft and either phone or email suggested changes to him so that he could get those suggestions to Mr. Davidson. The legislation will be referred to Sen. Jack Gordon when it goes to the Legislature. Sen. Gordon is Chairman of the Public Properties Committee. Vice-Chair is Terry C. Burton who represents Lauderdale, Newton, & Scott Counties. Jack Gordon represents Calhoun, Chickasaw, Lee, & Grenada Counties. Other committee members are Nickey Browning (Calhoun, Pontotoc, & Union Counties), Sampson Jackson II (Kemper, Lauderdale, Noxubee, & Winston Counties), Nolan Mettetal (District 10 -- Panola & Tate County), Walter Michel (Hinds & Madison Counties), and Bill Stone (Benton, Washington, & Tippah Counties). These are the initial Senators we need to contact and tell them we want this bill supported. Senator Bob Dearing (Adams, Amite, Franklin, & Pike Counties) will be the sponsoring Senator

At this point, no one thinks there's going to be any problem with this legislation or the placing of the statue at the entrance to the greenspace walkway. The Legislators seem excited about getting the statue. Allen said the statue is significant because he only knows of two other statues of Pres. Davis in Mississippi: the one at Beauvoir and the one being refurbished and which will be placed outside the Old Capitol. (This is the one that was damaged and keep in an Old Capitol closet for so many years.) Bradley Hayes, the Member who has been so adamant about this statue, was inspired after visiting Virginia and seeing several monuments to Davis and noting that there were also statues of Davis at the Kentucky and Alabama State Capitol complexes. Nearly every Southern state except Mississippi has a major statue dedicated to Davis, and it looks like we can get this one.

Chief-of-Staff Dan McCaskill asked about the cost to us of erecting the statue, as the proposed bill mentions that no cost will be incurred by the State of Mississippi. Allen said that the National SCV will ship the statue, sculptor Gary Casteel of Lexington, Kentucky, will personally come down and supervise the installation. We might have to come up with the money to erect a pedestal on which to place the statue, as well as funds for a plaque identifying the work of art. Allen said we might be strapped for cash when and if the call comes to fund a pedestal and that we might have to do a fundraiser. Allen said any expenditure of funds is still some way off and that he's "riding herd" on any potential expenditures. Allen says he knows we don't have much money to spend, but that having the a statue of Davis with both his Black son and his White son exhibited on public property in Mississippi's Capitol city would, overall, be well worth the money spent.

Judge Advocate Carl Ford asked if Allen had any idea about what such an expenditure might total and should we not "get after" raising some money to fund the pedestal. Allen said he had no figures about the cost at this time. Allen said that he would keep the Division informed as cost info became available. Allen noted that other Confederate Heritage organizations (UDC, OCR, etc.) would surely lend us a hand if we need to raise money for this project.

Allen said that, if anyone opposes the placement of the statue, especially along racial lines (which is certainly not an issue with us), that we could counter with the famous speech by Black MS Representative (and Civil War veteran) John L. Harris' in defense of building the Confederate Monument that yet stands on the grounds of the Old Capitol. "It's not a race issue. He was an American, as well as the Confederate President," said Allen.

Allen said that MDAH will also have some say about the placement of the statue on New Capitol property, but that everyone in the meeting over the legislation was in favor of placing the statue there. Allen said that, at one point, before the New Capitol site became a possibility, there was even talk of putting the statue at the Old Courthouse Museum in Vicksburg, since Davis was from Warren County. MDAH didn't like this idea because Davis didn't have Jim Limber when he was living in Vicksburg.

In response to a question from the audience, Allen said that the statue of Davis that used to be outside the Old Capitol in the little masonry semi-circle was damaged and moved inside years ago, but was still on exhibit until an African-American exhibit took up the space where the statue was. The statue then went into a broom closet and, eventually, into an external storage facility. It is being refurbished/repaired and will be placed back in its original position in front of the Old Capitol when work on the statue is completed. The storage of this statue in a broom closet really angered many Members when this fact first came to light over a year ago. The restoration of the statue to its place on the Old Capitol grounds is part of Mississippi's Sesquicentennial Civil War celebration.

Mention of Black MS Rep. John L. Harris (above) caused Judge Advocate Carl Ford to mention that he has changed the requirements for this award back to the original requirements he drew up when he originated our Division awards back in the late 1980's. Carl jokingly asked Allen to get the revised requirements into the next JDL "or somebody's going to be in trouble! If you're not sure what the criteria for an award is, ask me! I'll tell you what the criteria is!" [Laughter.] Carl has notoriously been on a crusade to return all of our Division awards to their original criteria, which, for some awards, have changed over the years. Carl is also strongly of the opinion that we don't need to give very many awards to ourselves, but, rather, give awards to non-Division folks who significantly help us in our Heritage struggles. Regarding changing criteria, Carl noted that the John L. Harris Award was originally intended for any Black Mississippian who contributed significantly to furthering the appreciation of Confederate Heritage. Comdr. McCluney interjected that the last time this award was given to a deserving Black American was when it was given last year to his Black godson, Pierre Westbrook, upon his joining Larry's Camp. Carl concurred.

Comdr. McCluney noted that Chief-of-Staff Dan McCaskill is our Division Graves Award Chair and is on the National Graves Award Committee. Dan brought to Larry's attention recently that the MS Division does not have its own Division Graves Award. Larry then surrendered the podium to Dan to let Dan explain his proposal regarding a Division Graves Award.

Dan said that he would like for the EC to consider the creation of a Division Graves Award. National created its Graves Award about five years ago. Currently, cemeteries fall under the Division's J.Z. George Award. Dan said that the J.Z. George Award can cover many topics and areas of Heritage achievement, whereas a Graves Award would focus strictly on Confederate veterans. Dan said that cemetery work was vital for our Heritage because, for every marked Confederate grave you see in a cemetery, there might actually be ten Confederate veterans buried there. This is due to the fact that some graves are simply wholly unmarked, while a number of marked graves don't carry any indication of the veteran's Confederate service. Since most veterans' graves don't carry Confederate service data, cemeteries give a vastly diminished impression of just how overwhelmingly our forebears were dedicated to the cause of Southern Independence. Thus, grave-marking and documentation becomes a significant and permanent Heritage activity.

Dan said we are charged with preserving the memory of the Confederate Soldier. If a veteran's grave is unmarked (or his service is not somehow indicated), that veteran is essentially forgotten for all practical purposes. Dan says most of us have engaged in grave research and marking, and reminded the EC that the VA provides stones to mark Confederate soldiers' graves, as the VA considers Confederate Veterans to be American Veterans by Act of Congress in 1958. (We won't quibble with the VA's definition, since they're giving us headstones for free!) This Congressional sanction can also be used as leverage when a cemetery official tries to block marking a Confederate veteran's grave.

As an example of undercounted or undermarked CS graves, Dan said that, in Greenwood, an initial survey of existing records showed only 13 CS vets in the city. Dan said that further research raised that total by 80 graves, and that now they are up to 123 Confederate graves in Greenwood alone. Dan said that they are now remembering and honoring those previously forgotten and unhonored Confederate veterans each April with a Confederate flag on their graves and/or a larger memorial service. Dan said that the people who do this work in the MS Division should be recognized, and that was his sole purpose in proposing the creation of a MS Division Graves Award. Dan passed out a sheet with the proposed criteria for the proposed award.

Dan said he couldn't come up with a Mississippian to name the award after off the top of his head, so he simply called the award the Robert Lewis Dabney, who was the South's leading theologian before the War for Southern Independence. [Note: Sec. Huffman later suggested naming the award after Father Abram Ryan, the famous Confederate Chaplain, publisher, Confederate defender, poet ("The Conquered Banner"), and parish priest in Biloxi to give the award a more Mississippi flavor.] Dabney, a Virginian, was Stonewall Jackson's chief-of-staff, chaplain, and biographer.

Provisionally, Dan has adopted the Division's Graves Award criteria from the National Graves Award criteria. These criteria, of course, can be changed if the Division so desires (like all award criteria).

Dan thought it would be best, insofar as selection of award winners, to send nominations to the chairman of the Division's Cemeteries Committee, which would also serve to keep that Committee informed of what is happening cemetery-wise in the Division. The Cemeteries Committee could choose the best candidate for the award and forward that person's name and info to Carl Ford and his Awards Committee. Dan said that he would be happy to entertain a motion to create this new award.

Prior to voting on this motion, Comdr. McCluney asked for clarification from Judge Advocate Carl Ford of the fact that the Commander of the Division has the authority to create new Division Awards. Carl concurred that the Commander has this authority, saying, "That's the way it's been done in the past!" [Laughter.] Larry said that he couldn't think of a more worthwhile award with which to honor our Members who have done so much hard work in identifying and marking our noble Confederate sires' final resting places.

Discussion revealed that, for the first award, Dan would like to go back to previous years and let anyone who has done considerable Mississippi Confederate Grave marking or documentation be considered eligible for the award. Dan said that subsequent to this first year, succeeding awards would be given for graves work done in just the previous 12 months. Dan said he wanted people's work from previous years to be eligible because some folks had spent years documenting and/or marking Mississippi Confederate graves. Dan said that we might even consider -- just for this first year -- giving out one graves award for each Brigade, since some of the work to be rewarded was done several years back.

Further discussion led to a suggestion by Judge Advocate Carl Ford that we be "a little loose" with selection this first year and not limit the award to one person from each Brigade, but, rather, pick several of the most qualified awardees, even if that meant that we picked, for example (and strictly speaking hypothetically), four from the First Brigade, two from the Fourth Brigade, and none from any other Brigade. Then, in subsequent years, we could pick just one overall awardee from the Division as a whole.

Dan rejoined that there were potentially hundreds of well-deserving awardees out there, but it was unrealistic to honor each one, which was his reasoning for asking us to simply honor one awardee from each Brigade this first year, followed by a single, Division-wide honoree in subsequent years.

In a point of order, Comdr. McCluney asked Judge Advocate Ford whether the EC had the power to create the award or whether the issue should go before the Division in Convention. Carl reiterated that Larry had the power to create the award with the backing of the Executive Committee. Larry acknowledged that he has asked the question earlier, but wanted to make sure before we proceeded.

Awards Committee Member (and Division Communications Officer) Bill Hinson brought up an important point. He said that he wasn’t against the award at all, but was wondering if the awards would be in the form of a plaque or a certificate. (Bill is our liaison with the company that actually manufacturers the Division’s awards and is well-acquainted with the cost of same.) Bill said that we’re currently spending about $800 a year on the awards the Division already gives out. Quoting Allen Terrell, Bill said that if we were “to throw the doors open” and give out five (as Dan had suggested) or six or more (as Carl had suggested) graves awards the first year in the form of plaques, that could cost the Division up to $600 more in total awards costs. However, Bill said that giving the multiple, first-year awards as certificates wouldn’t be a financial burden on the Division. Bill wondered aloud if maybe we could cut out some other, little-awarded award in order to absorb the cost of this new award. Adjutant Jim Strickland concurred with Bill about opening a plaque floodgate, saying that multiple plaques would “eat up a lot of our income.” Jim liked the idea of making a nice certificate for first-year, multiple winners.

Carl Ford pointed out that, just because an award exists, doesn’t mean it has to be awarded every year. If no one meets the criteria for a particular award in a given year, that award can simply be held in reserve until a qualified candidate appears in a subsequent year. Carl said awards like the Compatriot of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement awards needed to be handed out every year. Carl said that awards had been held in reserve/abeyance in recent years because qualified candidates for those awards had not been identified/nominated. Regarding awards manufacturer, Carl humorously noted that we should remember “that it do cost money.” [Laughter.] Carl said that, along those lines, the new award was important and one should be given annually, but only when a qualified candidate had been nominated; otherwise, hold the award in reserve that year. He said that he agreed with the idea of certificates for multiple winners of the graves award. He also noted that some of the Division’s awards had “gotten carried away over a period of time.“ Carl reiterated his belief that this new graves award was really important and that he supported it and our other Division awards when they were deserved. Just because an award exists doesn’t mean that we have to try and give it every year.

Dan amended his original suggestion regarding multiple winners to intend that one award be given to an overall Division winner, with certificates being given to one additional winner from each Brigade, yielding one plaque and five certificates; thereafter, only one award (and no certificates) would be given per year. Dan said we needed “to spread the recognition around the first time around,” meaning the plaque plus five certificates.

By way of clarification, Comdr. McCluney said that the By-Laws had just been checked and that the EC had the power to create or dissolve any awards it may chose, with a 2/3 vote. Larry said that the original motion to create the award had been made, but that details on how we manage the award could be tabled until the next EC meeting.

Motion to table discussion of the details of how the new Robert Lewis Dabney Graves Award would be handled made by 3rd Brigade Comdr. Sam Price. 2nd by Adjutant Jim Strickland. Motion carried.

Having tabled discussion of the details of how the new award would be handled, Comdr. McCluney then returned to the original motion adopting the new award.

Motion to approve the creation of the Mississippi Division’s Robert Lewis Dabney Graves Award made my Judge Advocate Carl Ford. 2nd by Chaplain James Taylor. Motion carried.

Because the EC meeting had already unavoidably run over time, Comdr. McCluney asked that Brigade Commanders give a short synopsis of the most important items and events in their Brigades.

Arlin reported that the first-ever 1st Brigade Meeting held in Como was an entire success. Mr. Buchanan spoke about his biography of Holt Collier (famed Black Mississippi Confederate soldier and Roosevelt “Teddy Bear” hunt guide). The Banks Plantation and family, which generously hosted the meeting, was fabulous. Arlin can’t wait until the next 1st Brigade Meeting. Arlin suggested that all Brigades have similar meetings. Arlin was also able to have the old oak just behind the Confederate Monument at Ole Miss clipped to prevent the limbs from damaging the statue. Arlin said he’d received a lot of flak from folks upset about the oak being trimmed, as some consider the oaks at Ole Miss to be monuments of a sort themselves, but Arlin was adamant about trimming the oak, especially given all the hard work by the Oxford SCV Camp (the University Grays) in getting up donations to help recently restore the Confederate Monument. Arlin thanked the EC for its time. [Applause.]

James said that there had been great progress made in the 2nd Brigade. James said that, in April or May, his Camp would be placing three headstones for three Calhoun County vets killed at Gettysburg. He said additional stones for other family members had been purchased by descendants from South Carolina. James said that work like this was going on all over the Brigade, and that he was just proud to be a part of all of it. [Applause.]

Sam wanted to mention a “disaster” that had occurred last week in Vicksburg with the passing of renowned Mississippi Civil War historian Warren Grabau. Warren was co-author of “98 Days: A Geographer‘s View of the Vicksburg Campaign,” which Sam predicted would become the defining work on the Vicksburg Campaign. Warren served on the Civil War Battlefields Commission for the State of Mississippi, along with his friend, former Division Comdr. Wayne McMaster. Comdr. McCluney noted that Warren’s death was “a huge loss” to our Confederate society. Sam noted that Warren wasn’t a Member of the SCV, because he was from the North, but that he was certainly a friend to the SCV.

Bill noted that “we did a few things.” [The 4th Brigade did a lot more than a few things!] Bill mentioned the great turnout for the Pearl Christmas Parade. Bill said the 4th Brigade Picnic is coming up the second weekend in March. Bill mentioned that the Brigade would conduct its first Brigade Caucus to elect Brigade Officers, and that this would be conducted after consultation with Adjutant Jim Strickland, among others. [Remember: Brigades will nominate and elect their own Officers this year!] On suggestion of 4th Brigade Executive Councilman Louis Foley, Bill reported that the “Flag Forum” held recently in Jackson turned out more positively than was expected, since the event was sponsored and conducted by folks not known to be open to Confederate causes. Bill said that some of the forum members were surprisingly neutral in their views, and that one member even requested additional information about our position concerning our cherished 1894 State Flag. Bill said that “we made a little progress by being more professional than argumentative.” Bill said that some members of the forum even admitted that they were too emotional about the flag, rather than judging the banner from a factual and historical perspective. Unfortunately, however, one forum member did tell Bill that it was time to change the flag. On the other hand, a young Black member of the forum told Bill that he’d never had any problem with the State Flag. Bill said that education was the key in changing the minds of people who are anti-State Flag.

Louis Foley announced that there would be a Confederate Heritage Month Memorial Service at Hickory, April 4, honoring a deserving Confederate Soldier (hard to hear -- possibly Pvt. John L. Monk, Co. H, 38th MS Infantry Mounted). Louis asked folks to volunteer to help, not only with this memorial, but with some sort of memorial or other Confederate Heritage activity every weekend of the entire month of April. Louis said that we needed to get every possible positive image and/or article in our local papers to promote our Confederate “Heritage of Honor.”

Comdr. McCluney interjected that he would, like last year, be petitioning the Governor’s Office for a Confederate Heritage Month Proclamation.

(Note: Our amazingly dedicated 5th Brigade Comdr. works offshore and has no control over when he will be called to work. When onshore, he lights Confederate fires wherever he goes.) Huffman reported that the Brigade had a huge memorial service at Juniper Grove Baptist Church honoring nine CS vets, with over twenty uniformed re-enactors present, as well as a cannon. The Brigade strongly supported Fall Muster at Beauvoir, with at least 20 uniformed re-enactors present, as well a merchandise booth that shared proceeds with Beauvoir. Uniformed soldiers have been marching in many area Christmas parades, with more parades to come. We have quarterly Brigade Meetings, which, as had already been mentioned, every Brigade should be having. These meetings are strongly supported across the Brigade, and yield great fellowship and mutual support for our various activities. We chartered the Division’s newest Camp -- the Twigg’s Rifles -- at our Brigade Christmas Social just last night, where we had over 90 people present and raised over $500 to be split between the new Camp and Beauvoir. We have numerous Lee-Jackson Banquets coming up, as well as a major Memorial Service in February near New Augusta. Huffman reported that the 5th Brigade is strong, that Brigade Camps are meeting and having programs, and that we’re going to dedicate two State-approved historical markers. (This project has been five years in the making, with perpetual delays due to hurricanes.) This spring, the National SCV Chaplains’ Conference will be held in our Brigade, with Augusta Grays Chaplain Brother Don Heiden as coordinator and Compatriot Greg Stewart’s Airport Holiday Inn in Gulfport as Conference Headquarters. It is a real coup for the Mississippi Division to have the National Chaplains’ Conference held in our Division. Mentioning his own Camp, Huffman said that the Gainesville Volunteer give $100 to Beauvoir every month and have been strongly supportive of the Bricks for Beauvoir program, trying to purchase a brick every month. The Vols have also contributed $100 to the Jefferson Davis and Sons statue. Huffman said, “We’re a strong Brigade, very active, and we appreciate our Members.” [Applause.]

Comdr. McCluney thanked everyone who gave Brigade reports.

Comdr. McCluney reminded everyone that the 2009 Division Convention is coming up in late May. It will be held in Greenwood. Larry said that he will be asking for written reports from Brigade Commanders for the Convention. This will save time over the usual verbal reportage, since Brigades (those that haven’t held pre-Convention elections) will be busy with caucuses at the Convention to elect new Division Officers. These reports will be published and inserted into the Convention program for everyone to read.

Larry called BG Humphreys Camp Comdr. Dan McCluney to the podium to speak about the Convention. Dan invited everyone to come down to “the land of cotton” (the MS Delta) for a great Division Convention. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Best Western motel in Greenwood; Dan said everyone needed to go ahead and call in their reservation early. You need to register before the middle of March to get the cut-rate. Dan again reiterated that the Convention was going to be both fun and productive.

Saying that we had had a most productive Executive Council Meeting, Comdr. McCluney asked if there was a motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn by Judge Advocate Carl Ford. 2nd by Editor Allen Terrell. Motion carried.

END