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News and Events from Around the Division
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McCluney for AOT Councilman
Heritage Education Poster
Upcoming Events
Executive Council Meeting
Electronic Jeff Davis Legion
Future Conventions
Dues Changes
Mississippi Heritage Defense Suit
Latest Developments
The Infernal Revenueer Service
Member Renewal System
Officer Elections
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Past Mississippi Division Commander McCluney announces his Candidacy for Army of Tennessee Coucilman    Larry McCluney Candidate for AoT Councilman
My Fellow Compatriots,
The eve of the Sesquicentennial of the War for Southern Independence is upon us. All around our Confederation events are being planned that will put the Sons of Confederate Veterans in the limelight of this celebration. We must seize this opportunity to recruit members in our organization, educate the general public about the true Cause our ancestors fought for, and promote our organization in our communities. To accomplish this, we need the proper leadership to see this carried out in a gentlemanly and orderly fashion. To meet this challenge we need men who have new innovative ideas to the table, and who willing to work hard at bringing our membership together under a common Cause, and to meet the demands that the "Charge of General Stephen D. Lee" has laid before us. Our "enemies" are growing strong and have been preparing for these next five years to paint a picture that the Cause our ancestors fought for was immoral, illegal, and unjust. The SCV is the largest and most recognizable organization for the promotion of Confederate Heritage and it is time we capitalize on that fact. Now, on the eve of the Sesquicentennial we must make a stand and make our organization something that will make everyone proud. What we do these next five years will perpetuate our organization for future generations so that they too may take pride and celebrate a rich Confederate heritage that we have inherited. But, there is serious work before us that needs to be done in an aggressive and imaginative manner, emulating the principles that our ancestors fought so hard for. It is time to look at our problems with new eyes, keeping in place the wisdom gleaned from the lessons of the past. As a high school and college teacher for seventeen years, it has been my job to teach students our nation's history. I have seen political correctness infiltrating our history books. It has been a struggle to teach the "truth" in our classrooms. Yet, the youth of today are eager to know the truth when it is presented. As a Southerner and a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, it is my duty to teach the truth about the Cause our ancestors fought for and to uphold the "Charge" they have left for us. This, I am faithfully carrying out. I feel I have the energy, the experience, and the right attitude to lead represent the interests of this Army. Thus, I would like to formally announce my candidacy for the Army of Tennessee Councilman for 2010 and ask you to make me YOUR Councilman and voice on the GEC. To learn more about me please feel free to visit my website - www.mccluney2010.homestead.comDefending the Cause for the future, Larry A.
McCluney, Jr., Historian-in-Chief Contact
information: |
Upcoming Events
General ExecutiveCouncil (GEC) meeting
March 13, 2010
Elm Springs, Columbia,TN
4th Brigade Carey Lee Johnston Memorial Picnic
March 20, 2010 beginning 10:00AM
American Legion Post 89
Decatur, MS
All Mississippi Division Compatriots are welcome.
Admission Price: Bring your favorite Covered Dish
Mississippi Division Annual Convention
June 4, 5 & 6, 2010
Grenada
Get Registration Form
SCV National Reunion
July 21 - 25, 2010
Anderson, SC
Schedule
Registration
What's happening in the First Brigade?
What's happening in the Fifth Brigade?Heritage Education poster to be distributed in March
The first of an
annual series of Heritage Education Posters was distributed to the 5
brigades at the recent EC meeting. Designed to tell "real history"
these
posters will be distrubted to all schools and public libraries
throughout the state during the month of March. Designed by Gen William
Barksdale Camp 1220 Commander Jim Strickland
©2009 Mississippi Sons of Confederate Veterans |
 is available electronically. |
If you are presently receiving hard copy JDL by snail mail
and
would prefer to receive your newsletter by email simply send an email to:
electronicjdl@cableone.net
with JDL in the subject line and
your camp number, your SCVID number and your name in the body.
You will receive your email notification as soon as a new full color issue is placed online,
probably about ten days to two weeks prior to when you would receive by Snail mail.
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Dear Compatriots: I trust this message
finds you well and that your spirits, as mine, are high as we work hard
together to protect our precious Confederate Heritage. It gives
me great pleasure to formally announce the establishment of a
Division-wide Membership Renewal System. Much serious thought and
consideration has been given to this decision to advance our Division's
ability to better function in a business-like manner. The "life
and blood" of the SCV depends on the strength of our membership.
As such, we must improve the manner by which we encourage our members
to renew their SCV membership annually.
Beginning with this year's renewal period your Division will issue a professionally produced Membership Renewal Statement for each member of the Division mailing it in mid to late July. This will relieve all Camps from the initial renewal solicitation regardless of how each Camp has accomplished this annual task in the past. Until now we have simply relied on Camps to handle member renewals on an individual basis. Some Camps have, in fact, done well in their efforts, while too many others do poorly in this essential function. We must establish a uniform and effective way for all Camps to initiate the renewal process. The Division MRS will take the annual task of "invoicing" Camp members off the Camp Adjutants backs,while keeping Camp autonomy intact. Camps will still receive all remittance funds directly from their members as in the past, then forwarding the appropriate funds to Division and National as usual on a scheduled basis. The Division Adjutant will be sending further information and specific instructions on the MRS details to your Camp Adjutant. Please acquaint yourself with this exceptional new system. The MRS will be a tremendous help to all Camps insuring that every Division member receives at least one professional and business-like renewal statement. Our members deserve no less. Your humble servant, Bill Atkinson Division Commander For further information and instructions go to Membership Renewal System |
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Executive
Council
Meeting
An Executive Council meeting was held on February 20, 2010 at the War Memorial Building in Jackson
Among the accomplishments of this meeting were:
Financial and Membership reports
Update by Paul McClaren on his litigation against
his former employer for not removing his Mississippi issued vehicle tag
An update of Division support for Vicksburg
to be named as the location of 2013 National Reunion
Past Commander McCluney announced his candidacy for
AOT Councilman
2010 Mississippi Division Reunion
Brigade Reports of Activities
Flag Restoration Program
Ms Cindy Garrdner, Director of Collections, MDAH
spoke about the restoration and accepted a check from Chairman Huffman
for the restoration and preservation of the 22nd Mississiippi Infantry
Beauvoir Report
Distribution of Confederate Heritage Month (April 2010) posters
http://www.mississippiscv.org/ECMinutes
An Executive Council meeting was held on February 20, 2010 at the War Memorial Building in Jackson
Among the accomplishments of this meeting were:
Financial and Membership reports
Update by Paul McClaren on his litigation against
his former employer for not removing his Mississippi issued vehicle tag
An update of Division support for Vicksburg
to be named as the location of 2013 National Reunion
Past Commander McCluney announced his candidacy for
AOT Councilman
2010 Mississippi Division Reunion
Brigade Reports of Activities
Flag Restoration Program
Ms Cindy Garrdner, Director of Collections, MDAH
spoke about the restoration and accepted a check from Chairman Huffman
for the restoration and preservation of the 22nd Mississiippi Infantry
Beauvoir Report
Distribution of Confederate Heritage Month (April 2010) posters
http://www.mississippiscv.org/ECMinutes
Jefferson Davis Brochures
We have two brochures which are available for download, printing and distribution
One, written by Cassie A. Barrow, the beautiful bride of Army of Tennessee Commander Kelly Barrow,
is a short biography of Jefferson Finis Davis
© 2008 Atlanta Chapter #18, UDC
The other written by Mississippi Division Third Brigade Councilman and Commander of Gen William T Martin Camp 590, Natchez Allen Terrell
pictures and describes four Mississippi landmarks closely associated with President Davis which are now open to tourists.
© 2008 Mississippi Division SCV
Both brochures are designed for tri folding a standard letter size sheet and may be freely downloaded, printed and distributed for the purpose of promoting the Year of Davis.
Or for quantities of one thousand or more at a very reasonable price contact Commander Terrell .
©2008 Permission is hereby given to any Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp or any United Daughters of the Confederacy Chapter to copy (without editing), sell or otherwise distribute these brochures for the furtherance of their cause of supporting, promoting, and defending Southern Heritage.
They may not be reproduced, sold, nor otherwise distributed by any other organization, nor any individual for any purpose, commercial or otherwise, without the express written permission of the author.
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Effective August 1, 2008
national SCV dues
increased to $30. The basic cost for new members and reinstating dues
delinquent members is $35 which is the new dues amount plus the
processing fee. Renewing current members need to pay only the $30. By reducing some costs and utilizing a new source of income, the Executive Council has been able to "hold the line" on Division Dues and presently sees no increase in the foreseeable future. Like National dues, Division dues can be prorated in the third and fourth quarters of the fiscal year. For full explanation and amounts see ByLaws Article 5 Section 5 National Life memberships which are tied to annual dues are now $750 through age 64, $375 for age 65 through 79, and $187.50 for age 80 and up. In the past Mississippi Division Life Memberships were a flat fee; however, the 2008 convention approved age graduated rates tied to the annual dues (actually a decrease in most cases). The application form may be obtained on the this website: http://www.mississippiscv.org/membership.html#Life_Memberships & http://www.mississippiscv.org/ByLaws.html#ARTICLE_4 § 4 C & 4D Speaking of Dues!!!!!! - - - - - If your dues haven't been paid you are now delinquent; to be reinstated as a member in good standing your annual division dues plus a $2.50 processing fee must be paid. The following camps have not paid any Division dues: 879; 1197; 1230; 1748; 1915 Our fiscal year began August 01 and dues were payable at that time. Of course a 90 day grace period is granted making them delinquent on October 30. |
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SCV
camps with gross receipts less than $25,000 a year are not required to
file an IRS Form 990 tax return; however,
beginning August 1, 2009,
the
day after the previous fiscal year ended, ALL
camps are required to
submit an annual electronic
notice by December 15, 2009. The Bad News Shown below are some simple instructions to assist you in the task of completing the IRS E Notice: 1. Obtain your camp's tax ID number and copy it into your computer memory or have it written down and readily available. GHQ <aotdesk@scv.org> or the Mississippi Division Adjutant <MSAdjutant@cableone.net> can provide this number to you if needed. 2. Go to this site and follow the instructions: http://epostcard.form990.org/ Important Notice: You must register first, and then be patient and wait for the IRS to immediately send you a return email with a link for you to log back on line to actually complete the E postcard. If you use zip plus four put a dash in between the first five and last four digits. 3.
Take
your
time
and
carefully
enter
the
numbers.
The
entire
process
should not last more than about 5 to 10 minutes.
Please note: This report MUST be filed electronically! It cannot be filed by snail mail, telephone, facsimile, carrier pigeon nor pony express. It must be filed
electronically.
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Future Reunions
| As outlined in the above, the 2009
Convention was held in Greenwood hosted by Brig Gen Benjamin Grubb
Humphreys Camp 1625. The Division wishes to express it's thanks to all
members of 1625 for the outstanding
planning and execution of all facets of the Reunion! The 2010 Convention will be held in Grenada hosted by Maj Gen E C Walthall Camp 211. The 2011 Convention will be held in Rankin County hosted by Lowry Rifles Camp 1740 . The 2012 Convention will be held in Brandon hosted Rankin County Rough and Readys Camp 265 . Any camp wishing to host the 2013 convention should contact: Earl McCown,
Chairman
Time and Place Committee 120 Rosemary Road Cleveland, MS 38732 rebsoldier@cableone.net |
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Friday, January 30, 2009
JUDGE SCHEDULES McCLAREN CASE FOR FEBRUARY, 2010
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MEMPHIS, TN – Federal Judge Samuel
H. Mays today set February 16, 2010,
as the trial date in the case of McClaren v. United Health Care d/b/a
Compass Intervention Center, a lawsuit filed by a staff therapist
against the Memphis clinic which fired him for failure to comply with
demands that he either remove Confederate-themed license tags from his
vehicle or park off company property.
McClaren, who resides in Olive Branch, Mississippi, and is a member of the Mississippi Sons of Confederate Veterans, was discharged from Compass in October of 2007 following a running dialogue with the clinic’s new management over the fact that his vehicle displayed a decorative Confederate flag tag on its front and a state-issued SCV license plate on its rear. McClaren contended he had parked the vehicle on company property for five years without comment or incident. In October of 2008 the Southern Legal Resource Center brought suit against the clinic and its parent company on McClaren’s behalf, claiming retaliatory discharge. Attorneys for United health Care then had the case moved from local to Federal court. SLRC Chief Trial Counsel Kirk D. Lyons called the removal of the case to federal court “a self-serving tactic by the defense” and said it was “designed to do nothing but delay hearing the case on its merits and cause additional work and expense on our part. Nevertheless. Lyons said the SLRC is “comfortable with our case’s new home, and we look forward to advocating on Paul McClaren’s behalf in federal court. The judge and I had a pleasant visit by phone this morning.” Lyons said the one-year lead time is “a pretty liberal application of local scheduling rules,” and that it will allow adequate time for discovery, including a number of witness depositions, in preparation for the trial. |
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SLRC SUES MEMPHIS CLINIC
THAT FIRED COUNSELOR
OVER HIS CONFEDERATE FLAG LICENSE TAGS The Southern Legal Resource Center, the nation's only organization devoted exclusively to advocating in Southern cultural and heritage cases, filed suit in Shelby County (Tennessee) Superior Court on October 07 on behalf of a marriage and family therapist who was fired from his job at a Memphis counseling center because his vehicle displayed Confederate flag license tags. Paul McClaren, who resides in Olive Branch, MS, but who worked as a counselor for Compass Intervention Center in Memphis for a total of 10 years, was terminated last October after a running dialogue with Center officials over a decorative Confederate battle flag he displayed on the front of his vehicle and a state-issued Sons of Confederate Veterans Mississippi license tag on its rear. McClaren says he had the tags on his vehicle for years without incident, but claims that in October of 2007, the clinic's recently-hired CEO demanded that McClaren either stop using the company lot as long as the tags were in place or park far enough away and in such a manner as to conceal them. McClaren contends that he made every reasonable effort to comply with the clinic's request, but that he was discharged anyway, without notice and without severance benefits. SLRC officials say the case will be filed under Tennessee retaliatory discharge. SLRC Chief Trial Counsel Kirk D. Lyons will represent the defendant along with Memphis attorney Tarry Beasley, who is acting as local co-counsel. The suit was filed at 9 a.m. Tuesday October 07 at the Shelby County (Tennessee) Courthouse, with a media conference chaired by Black Confederate activist H.K. Edgerton following. |
| HK's
Media
Conference: As Attorney Beasley and Attorney Lyons filed the lawsuit, I would deliver the following statement to the Press on behalf of Mr. McClaren: My name is HK Edgerton. It is an honor and pleasure to be here today on behalf of my good friend and brother Paul McClaren. Paul would be here himself, but is beginning a new job after being unlawfully terminated by Compass Intervention Center, one year ago for displaying a State of Mississippi issued Sons of Confederate Veteran Vanity License Plate on his vehicle that also had a Confederate Battle Flag Plate on the front bumper as well. For 5 years, since 2002, Paul has parked his vehicle in the Compass Intervention Parking lot with that License Plate of Mississippi whose insignia displayed the State of Mississippi Flag that in a voter referendum, the honorable citizens, Red, Yellow, Black and White voted not to change, 2. The National insignia of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and 3. The proud words indicating that he is a Son of a Confederate Veteran. The insignia of the same State Flag that I proudly carried across the Great State of Mississippi on the Historical March Across Dixie in 2002 and heard a young Black girl shout out as I cross a bridge in Meridian , Mississippi: “My God Johnny has finally come marching home”. For 5 long years, Paul has parked his car, entered the building of his employer that was filled to capacity with some of the most troubled inner city youth that this State has to offer. Counseling and trying to instill in these youth, the very same social values that make him Southern; Yes sir, yes mam, please, and the belief that they too could achieve social vertical mobility if they apply themselves , and importantly that he a Southern man who believes in our Father who art in Heaven, and would be there at Intervention fighting to help make it so for them. Over a period of 11 days, Compass Intervention CEO Nashon McPherson directed Paul to play hide and seek with his vehicle, so that patients and patrons could not see the Confederate flag front tag, even after discovering that the vehicle also had the Mississippi State Flag that I have described. Even though Paul is aware of no complaints from Compass patrons or patients, on October 8, 2007, Paul was terminated , even though he did his best to comply with McPherson’s Alice in Wonderland requests. Paul hopes to make a little law that will protect Confederate Southern Americans in the workplace. 1. That retaliatory discharge laws of Tennessee will protect Tennessee workers from being fired for inoffensive display of any State issued license plate. Most Southern states have state issued plates with the Sons of Confederate Veterans logo, including Tennessee- a favorable decision for Paul could affect how employers in TN. Treat their SCV employees with SCV tags. 2. That the public policy of Tennessee will prevent a worker from being fired for inoffensive display of a venerated object – such as the Confederate Battle Flag. 3. That the public policy of Tennessee will prevent a worker from being fired after being threatened with termination because of a bogus criminal charge of harassment. Paul is represented by the Honorable Kirk D. Lyons, Chief trial Counsel for the Southern Legal Resource center, and local attorney the Honorable T. Tarry Beasley, II of Memphis. Both are active members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The Southern Legal Resource Center is the preeminent law firm defending Confederate Heritage in the courtroom today, with current cases in South Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, and Tennessee. I will be happy to answer any questions. 1. Mr. Edgerton, could Compass have handled this any differently? Yes. Had there been any complaints from their staff, they could have followed the lead of the Alcoa Plant in Badin, N.C. who several years back offered their employees Sensitivity training that led to a complete understanding of Southern Heritage and a knowledge that it was one to be shared. 2. Was Mr. McClaren distressed over losing his job? Yes of course he was, wouldn’t you be if you loss the income that provided for you and your family. Furthermore Paul was dedicated to the public that he served and was concerned about their well being as well. 3. Do you think that the public who visited the Center was sensitive about Mr. McClaren’s license plates? Many of the patrons who visited the Center had cars that had the very same kind of plates on their cars, and probably felt they too had the same right to 1st amendment protection to do so as did Paul. Furthermore, there was not to my knowledge one single complaint expressed by a patron or staff member other than Mr. McPherson. 4. What do you think was on the minds of those Black staff members of Intervention who had to look at the license plates every day? First of all, they knew the man Paul. Kind ,considerate, hard working and dependable. For those who call themselves Southern, there should have been a knowledge that it is not just Paul’s flag. The Southern Cross belongs to any Black man of the South who wants to lay claim to it. Black folks earned a place of honor and dignity in service of this flag. It is theirs, it is what makes us Southern, no matter those who continue to try and separate us from it and our Southern White family. |
SLRC MOVES TO BLOCK CHANGE OF COURT IN McCLAREN CASEMEMPHIS, TN, December 21, 2008 – Defense attorneys in the case of McClaren vs. Compass Intervention Center have had the case removed from it a local court to a U.S. Court, and the SLRC and its local counsel have countered with a motion to return the case to its original jurisdiction. Lawyers for Compass filed the removal from Shelby County Circuit Court to U. S. Court for the Western District of Tennessee without warning on November 24. The SLRC, with the assistance of local counsel T. Tarry Beasley, is now filing a motion for remand – that is, a motion to send the suit back to Shelby County, where the suit was filed in early October. “We have found the smoking gun,” said SLRC Chief Trial Counsel Kirk Lyons. “We trust that if the court takes proper notice of the law, this case will be returned to the proper venue.” Plaintiff in the case is Paul McClaren, who resides in Olive Branch, MS, but who worked as a counselor for Compass in Memphis for a total of 10 years. He was terminated in October, 2007, after a running dialogue with Center officials over a decorative Confederate battle flag he displayed on the front of his vehicle and a state-issued Sons of Confederate Veterans Mississippi license tag on its rear. McClaren says he had the tags on his vehicle for years without incident, but claims that the clinic’s then recently-hired CEO demanded that McClaren either stop using the company parking lot as long as the tags were in place or park far enough away and in such a manner as to conceal them. McClaren contends that he made every reasonable effort to comply with the clinic’s request, but that he was discharged anyway, without notice and without severance benefits. |
