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New Video June 26, 2013 |
At the 122nd Continental Congress held in Phoenix on July 6, 2012 the delegates voted unanimously to begin construction on phase two of The Center for Advancing America’s Heritage (CAAH). Two years ago at the Fall Leadership meeting in 2010, phase one was completed with the dedication of the new SAR Library on Main Street in Louisville. The decision to begin construction on the administrative and museum sections of our new National Headquarters was motivated by the announcement of two donations: a one million dollar bequest to the NSSAR and a $1.5 million donation by Compatriot Samuel C. Powell of the North Carolina Society. In addition to Compatriot Powell's generous monetary contribution, his donation is a matching challenge. Every Compatriot, chapter or state society that donates funds since the Congress will receive an additional credit for the same amount. A donation of $100.00 will credit a member of the Society as having donated $200.00. The delegates voted to acquire a one million dollar line of credit while continuing fund raising. The five hundred thousand dollar line of credit acquired for the completion of the construction of phase one has already been paid off.
Since the completion of phase one and the library’s relocation, the SAR Library had 2,000 patron visits in its first 18 months after reopening and SAR Library staff has participated in regional and national genealogical and Library conferences. The SAR launched a new outreach program about the history of the United States Revolutionary era in the rural areas of Appalachia that has been well received and will eventually extend to other areas of the country. The program had over 1,000 5th and 8th grade students from the poorest Kentucky counties attend the program where they engaged in specially designed video games about the Revolution, the proper way to fold the US flag, early US geography and history lessons designed with hands on samples of early US life. Teachers were not left out either. As their students participated in the daylong event, workshops were conducted for teachers on ways to improve classroom instruction and all of these activities were offered free to both the students and to the teachers.
The SAR has not ignored our present and future veterans during this time either. Numerous JRROTC, ROTC and active military units have visited NSSAR to receive instruction on historic fighting methods, to view and try on replica uniforms and have a better understanding of our military history. One of the more recent and successful programs was the launching of Operation Ancestor Search. In partnership with Ancestry.com, the largest online genealogical subscription database company, SAR began to assist military personnel who have been wounded in the Iraqi and Afghanistan theaters to do genealogical research while they undergo rehabilitation. The project was launched at both Walter Reed Army and Bethesda Naval Hospitals where it was greatly appreciated by the military personnel receiving treatment. Ancestry.com generously donated 1,000 subscriptions to their database to assist with this project and donated $180,000.00 towards the project at this year’s Congress. Operation Ancestor Search has since expanded to any State Society or Chapter willing to participate.
Since the Congress in Phoenix the CAAH has received another grant for $200,000.00 from the James Graham Brown Foundation in Louisville, Kentucky and numerous Compatriots, chapters and State Societies have donated additional funds. Unfortunately, the Intermountain District has been one of the least supportive areas of the CAAH in the SAR. While we may not have as large a membership as some of the other districts and are relatively isolated from the larger society, Intermountain District participation is important. Below you will find both the CAAH pledge form and a series of talking points on the importance of the Center for Advancing America's Heritage. Please consider making a contribution to the CAAH this year and take advantage of Compatriot Powell's generosity of providing a matching donation. You will also find a history of SAR National Headquarters property and its development and finances since our founding in 1889. We have also provided a letter from Compatriot Powell, who is the chairman for the NSSAR Foundation.
Since the completion of phase one and the library’s relocation, the SAR Library had 2,000 patron visits in its first 18 months after reopening and SAR Library staff has participated in regional and national genealogical and Library conferences. The SAR launched a new outreach program about the history of the United States Revolutionary era in the rural areas of Appalachia that has been well received and will eventually extend to other areas of the country. The program had over 1,000 5th and 8th grade students from the poorest Kentucky counties attend the program where they engaged in specially designed video games about the Revolution, the proper way to fold the US flag, early US geography and history lessons designed with hands on samples of early US life. Teachers were not left out either. As their students participated in the daylong event, workshops were conducted for teachers on ways to improve classroom instruction and all of these activities were offered free to both the students and to the teachers.
The SAR has not ignored our present and future veterans during this time either. Numerous JRROTC, ROTC and active military units have visited NSSAR to receive instruction on historic fighting methods, to view and try on replica uniforms and have a better understanding of our military history. One of the more recent and successful programs was the launching of Operation Ancestor Search. In partnership with Ancestry.com, the largest online genealogical subscription database company, SAR began to assist military personnel who have been wounded in the Iraqi and Afghanistan theaters to do genealogical research while they undergo rehabilitation. The project was launched at both Walter Reed Army and Bethesda Naval Hospitals where it was greatly appreciated by the military personnel receiving treatment. Ancestry.com generously donated 1,000 subscriptions to their database to assist with this project and donated $180,000.00 towards the project at this year’s Congress. Operation Ancestor Search has since expanded to any State Society or Chapter willing to participate.
Since the Congress in Phoenix the CAAH has received another grant for $200,000.00 from the James Graham Brown Foundation in Louisville, Kentucky and numerous Compatriots, chapters and State Societies have donated additional funds. Unfortunately, the Intermountain District has been one of the least supportive areas of the CAAH in the SAR. While we may not have as large a membership as some of the other districts and are relatively isolated from the larger society, Intermountain District participation is important. Below you will find both the CAAH pledge form and a series of talking points on the importance of the Center for Advancing America's Heritage. Please consider making a contribution to the CAAH this year and take advantage of Compatriot Powell's generosity of providing a matching donation. You will also find a history of SAR National Headquarters property and its development and finances since our founding in 1889. We have also provided a letter from Compatriot Powell, who is the chairman for the NSSAR Foundation.