Mormon Battalion Association

Transcription

1 Mormon Battalion Association Minutes Executive Leadership Meeting 10:00 AM, Saturday, 16 December 2017 LTC Max Jamison Residence, 189 E South Orem, UT The Mormon Battalion Association Executive Staff meets at least once per quarter on the third Saturday the month at 10:00 am, except when that day is a holiday or conflicts with another event. In that case, the meeting will be re-scheduled and the Executive Leadership will be notified of the change. Members of the public are invited to attend. Policy: As with U.S. Congressional minutes, anyone can read appropriate items into the minutes. In the interest of expediency, all participants should be familiar with our proposed minutes before each meeting. We will only address items requiring discussion and decisions. The Action Item Review may refer to more detailed discussion in Membership Reports, Member Advisory Committee Reports, and New Business. Executive Staff Attendance: The following were present: LTC Max W. Jamison (Battalion Commander), MAJ Laura Anderson (Senior Historian), and Mike Anderson (Chair of HERB). The following were excused: COL Carl V. Larson (Battalion Executive Officer) and Margaret Larson (Membership Officer) who are working at the Payson Temple, and Steven L. Rinehart (Judge Advocate General) who is hosting a radio program. Board of Directors Attendance: The following were present: James Waite (Vice Chair), Ashley Hall (Board Member), and COL Jerome Gourley (Battalion Commander s Chief Advisor and Executive Secretary of the Board of Directors). Local Leadership Attendance: The following were present: CPT Blaine Bachman (Albuquerque Squad). SGT David Jamiel was excused to attend another meeting at the same time. Associated Organization Attendance: The following was excused: Peter Guilbert (California LDS Living History Mission, Northern California Area). Welcome / Call to Order / Recognize Guests / Administrative Items Invocation LTC Jamison As hley Hall Minutes of 25 November 2017 Executive Leadership Meeting Approved as Amended Minutes were posted on Battalion website for review. Corrections will be included. General Business: Recognition & Awards None Service Opportunities See website. Project Request Forms and Annual Budget Requests We have received no Project Request Forms and Annual Budget Requests from local units. We can only allocate funds to you if we know your plans and needs. Action Item Review: Leadership: All: Recruit civic and community leaders to serve on our new Board of Directors. We have two remaining unfilled positions. Page 1 of 10

2 All: Find viable candidates to run for offices of Battalion Commander (ex officio President of Board) and Battalion Executive Officer (ex officio Vice President of Board), who will stand for election for two years. Section 2.02 of the Articles of Incorporation states that they coordinate and direct all member activities. Their roles are that of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Operations Officer (COO). There was a resounding silence. All: Find individuals willing to serve as 1 st Executive Director (S1 - Adjutant General) and 2 nd Executive Director (S7 - Public Relations Commandant) of the Battalion Continental Support Staff. Section 2.02 of the Articles of Incorporation states that they manage all administrative support business matters. Their roles are that of Chief Business Executive (CBE) and Chief of Business Operations (CBO), supervising the Battalion Continental Support Staff. Graves Memorialization: COL Larson and Kevin Henson: Work on preparations for graves memorialization for Lewis Dent, Milton Smith, Thomas P. Dutcher and William Reynalds (Reynolds). Finances: CPT Crappa (Chief Finance Officer): Prepare documentation for IRS Form 990. CPT Crappa (Chief Finance Officer): Prepare documentation to forward to Board of Directors for internal audit. CPT Crappa (Chief Finance Officer): Create new Payment/Reimbursement Request Forms. Mormon Battalion Historic Trails Award: Kevin Henson: As soon as possible, lead Mormon Battalion Historic Trails Member Advisory Committee in providing the data to LTC Jamison and CSM Munford for publication of Requirements booklet. See Member Advisory Committee Reports, 1. Mormon Battalion Historic Trails Award Committee. LTC Jamison: As soon as requirements booklet is finished, coordinate new patches, lapel pins/pendants, requirements list, booklet, and other documentation with LDS Primary-Young Men-Young Women and LDS-BSA coordinators to start publicity. COL Gourley and Greg Christofferson: Continue coordination with Elder D. Todd Christofferson regarding continued association between LDS Church and Mormon Battalion Association, including historical research and LDS participation. Honorary Memberships: LTC Jamison and Kevin Henson: Send honorary membership certificates to those who have so kindly assisted Mr. Henson in his historical research for and about the Mormon Battalion, particularly Tim Kimball and Terry Latey. LTC Jamison: Provide honorary membership certificates to current and past SNMP members. LTC Jamison: Contact Mormon Battalion Historic Site, San Diego for list of current and past missionaries for honorary membership certificates. Gail Holmes Research Files and Metadata in Omaha, Nebraska: Terry Latey and MAJ Anderson: Organize Gail Holmes extensive library of Mormon history in the Middle Missouri River Valley prior to its donation to the Church or BYU. MAJ Anderson reported that the library is being sent to her home, where she and Ms. Latey will review and digitize selected documents for the Association prior to their donation to the LDS Church Historian s Office. Website Updates: LTC Jamison: Create new recruiting materials (brief background of Association and donation page with receipt) for website to go with Membership Application. Forward copies to David Jamiel. Greg Christofferson: After receiving details, pursue funding for digitizing of Muster Rolls, etc. with donors, including the LDS Church when we know how much it will cost. See Senior Historian s Report. LTC Jamison and SGT Jamiel: Complete four Historical Fact sheets and post on website: The Mormon Battalion Monument, Pueblo, Colorado. Page 2 of 10

3 Peaceful Valley Sign Mormon Battalion Interpretive Panels adjacent to Kiowa County Courthouse, Kiowa, Colorado. Trapper Trails Monument in the Adams County Historical Site, Brighton, Colorado. California Trail Interpretive Center in Elko, Nevada. All Things Mormon Battalion Project: Greg Christofferson: Reach out to our friends with deep pockets ASAP to fund $20,000 for two BYU students in Jill Crandall s BYU Center for Family History and Genealogy to find and digitize original cradle to grave documents of the approximately 2,000 members of the original Mormon Battalion and their laundresses, guides, and family members. Jill said that LDS Philanthropies can be approached if needed. In October, Mr. Christofferson reported that he was contacting a potential donor. COL Gourley will reach out to all members of Board to help find more donors. Research Mormon Battalion Association Documents in BYU Special Collections: LTC Jamison: Research missing history of Mormon Battalion Association from late 1940s through late 1990s in the Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University. Membership Reports Board of Directors: No report. Affiliate Organization Reports: 1. Battalion Trek/MapNTour.com (Michigan Contingent) Kevin and Denny Henson: No report. 2. Boy Scouts of America: No report. 3 California LDS Living History Mission, Southern California Area Mission Presidency: No report. 4. California LDS Living History Mission, Sacramento Area (formerly referred to as Sierra Nevada Mormon Pioneers) Peter D. Guilbert: We opened the Mormon Cabin for Holiday Open Houses in Coloma in early December, and we have a Mission conference on January 14th, Gold Discovery Day in Coloma on January 20th, Mormon Battalion Day in San Diego the following Saturday. 5. California Pioneer Heritage Foundation Dennis Holland: No report. 6. Daughters of Utah Pioneers: No report. 7. Early Saints Research Group Dr. Brandon Plewe: No report. 8. FamilySearch : No report. 9. Friends of the Battalion & Ship Brooklyn President Donald L. Eastman: No report. 10. Heritage Trails Association Marilyn Mills: No report. 11. Mormon Battalion Arizona (Mesa Company) CPT Owen Garner: No report. 12. Mormon Battalion Historic Site, San Diego, California: No report. 13. Mormon Battalion Volunteers, Historic Reenactment Group, Utah Living History Association. CPT Jared Cornell: No report. 14. Mormon History Association President Brian Cannon: No report. 15. Old Spanish Trail Association (OSTA) Ashley Hall: The last Mormon Battalion contingent released from duty was the first known group to take a wagon over the part of the Old Spanish Trail between Southern California and Salt Lake City, converting it into a wagon road known as the Mormon Road! This road was used until the railroad was established in the early 1900 s. Over 250,000 immigrants traveled the road during its approximately 50 year history. Nevada OSTA members and Eagle Scouts have been re-marking this section of the Old Spanish Trail. To date, we have conducted 22 Eagle Scout Projects, and have two more Eagle Projects scheduled the first part of Mr. Hall completed his two year term as President of the OSTA in October Sons of Utah Pioneers: Received monthly report from Lehi Chapter. 17. Oregon-California Trail Association (OCTA), Southern Trails Chapter Doug Hocking, Chair: No report. Page 3 of 10

4 Local Unit Reports: Headquarters (HHC) Company MAJ Clark Olsen: No report. Utah North Platoon CPT Robert Olson: No report. Eastern Idaho Squad CPT Thomas Griggs: No report. Logan Squad (aka Company D) James Waite: No report. Ogden Section (aka Company C) MAJ Clark Olsen: No report. Salt Lake Squad (aka Companies A and B) LTC Jamison: Made four Eagle Scout slide presentations. Utah South Platoon LTC Jerry Harris: No report. Albuquerque Squad CPT Blaine Bachman: No report. Cedar City Squad SGT Larry Bilyeu: No report. Colorado Squad SGT David Jamiel: On Saturday, 5 September, I spent the day at the Fort Vasquez Museum in Platteville, Colorado sharing the story of the Mormon Battalion Sick Detachment at Pueblo and its connections to Colorado and the early days of Salt Lake City. I visited with approximately 75 people at Fort Vasquez. It is a very small museum located along the route taken by both the Battalion Sick Detachment and Mississippi Saints on their way north to the Oregon Trail. The site is part of the Colorado History Department. I am also working with the museum director to put together a program to be presented as part of National Trails Day in 2018 that will focus on the story of the Pueblo Colony and the Trappers Trail. That event will be both a living history presentation and formal lectures. We have just begun to work on details. I will keep the Association updated as details develop. I am currently finishing up a presentation for the Colorado Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution that is scheduled for 13 January. The topic will be the Mormon Battalion Sick Detachment and the 1846 Mormon colony at Pueblo, Colorado. I am also continuing to work on the event for Fort Vasquez that is scheduled for June I was contacted by Brother Doug Polson from Colorado Springs, Colorado who has an idea to replicated the Mormon Battalion Statue that is Yuma, Arizona and place it somewhere along the Trappers Trail including maybe at Peaceful Valley Scout Camp Near Kiowa, Colorado. I sent him a document sharing some of the challenges he could face creating and installing a large-scale bronze sculpture. The information I sent was based on my seven Page 4 of 10

5 years of creating and installing these types of bronzes at the last place I worked. He has not replied since I sent the , so I don t know what is the current status of the project. St. George Squad (aka Dixie Company) CPT Robert Wood: COL Gourley and CPT Wood made several Eagle Scout slide presentations. White Mountain Squad CPT David Crockett: No report. Field Company CPT Lynn Tegland: No report. California Detached Section LTC Frank Szeles: No report. California South Squad (aka B Company): No report. Arizona Detached Section LTC Lloyd Smith: No report. Yuma Squad CPT Gary L. Smith: No report. At Large Members No report. Membership Advisory Committee Reports: 1. Graves Memorialization Committee Kevin Henson: No report. 2. Mormon Battalion Historic Trails Award Committee Kevin Henson, Chair: Still working on text for the Requirements Booklet. Here s what s left to do: Section 1. History of the Battalion Finalizing rewrite of articles by BYU History Professor Larry Porter. Section 2. Trail Segment Resources and Maps A short two-page introduction, mini-map, and selected readings for each of the seven Mormon Battalion Trail Segments: a) Iowa Mormon Trail Segment b) Main Command Segment c) Higgins Family Detachment Segment d) Brown Sick Detachment Segment e) Willis Sick Detachment Segment f) General Kearny Escort Segment g) Pueblo to Salt Lake Segment 3. All Things Mormon Battalion Project LTC Jamison, MAJ Anderson, and Dan Roper: (For details, see Board of Directors Report in our 21 January 2017 Minutes.) Phase 1: 1.Fund two BYU student researchers part time through Jill Crandall s BYU Center for Family History and Genealogy to find and digitize original cradle to grave documents of the approximately 2,000 members of the original Mormon and their laundresses, guides, and family members, i.e., original birth, christening, marriage, property, census, death, and probate records.. After receiving approval of our Industrial Cooperation Proposal, Greg Christofferson reported in October that he was contacting a potential donor with deep pockets. We need an update from him. Jill said that LDS Philanthropies could be approached if needed. COL Gourley will reach out to all members of Board to help find more donors. 2.Fund digital copying of: a. our growing collection of primary and secondary Mormon Battalion data, i.e., Muster Rolls, Pay Rolls, Post Reports, medical reports, finance reports, LDS Church records, etc. To date, we have spent over $5,000 of the seed money in our Historical Research Fund. We need more donors. MAJ Anderson donated $ for a stipend to Kindex for a software update to their program which would allow indexing and transcribing hand written tabular data like our Muster Rolls and Pay Rolls. As soon as they deliver the software upgrade, volunteers can start to work, much as FamilySearch has done with their Records Extraction Program. MAJ Anderson is well into prototyping this process, and knows of a group of trained volunteers she can approach to assist in this work. b.digital copies of the Mormon Battalion Association library we donated to the BYU Special Collections. MAJ Anderson reported that the Special Collections needs letters of release sent to her from anyone who might have documents in the archives we donated. She has already received a letter from MAJ Val John Halford. Page 5 of 10

6 3.Approach BYU computer experts about hosting Items 1 and 2, periodically syncing with our own domain/website. Ms. Crandall reports that BYU would only be willing to host data from Item 1, but only those documents from Item 2 that could be shared with others. 4.Join the recently formed Early Saints Research Group/BYU computer working group. If we find out where they are headed, we can map out what we want to accomplish without duplicating their efforts. We hope to refine our own Content Management System (CMS) well enough to become the default standard for sharing access to data from Items 1 and 2. There hasn t been much activity in the working group since Mr. Roper joined in January. We may well become the default. Phase 2: 5.Rehost and build Release 4.0 of our website, replacing the current limited proprietary CMS with a portable more flexible and user friendly one, and hosting it on a cloud based server such as Amazon, Google, or A2 Hosting. Mr. Roper is selecting an open-source CMS and has selected Google as our new host server. This change will be transparent to our users, and will provide the flexibility we need for our dynamic historical research programs. LTC Jamison just discovered that he has not been receiving s via i4 Solutions since 12 October. We need to migrate as quickly as possible. 6.Using the new CMS from Item 5, develop and implement a program for indexing and transcription of all digital records in Items 1 and 2. This can be done by volunteers, much as FamilySearch has done with their Records Extraction Program. The new Kindex software update should be able to handle this. MAJ Anderson is looking for volunteers to help with the indexing and transcription. LTC Jamison: We are learning lots about the Battalion membership from the Land Warrants, and expect to learn even more from pension records, Muster Rolls, Pay Rolls, and Jill Crandall's research. Our current online Battalion Roster is quickly becoming obsolete. In 2016, we proposed updating the Individual Histories linked to the Roster into a "switching station" template, with further dynamic links to current data being added to Dan's Master Database. (See next page.) That never happened. Now is an excellent time to implement our "new look" as we switch over to our new server and replace their proprietary programing with Mr. Roper s new CMS. I propose that he and I work out an updated online Comprehensive Alphabetical Listing and Individual History templates based on your research, with you entering the actual data into his Master Database. If we do this right, Dan and our webmaster (me) would handle the administrative glitches and typos, while our researchers would plug in the scholarly stuff. As they learn and enter new data, it would automatically update our templates. Dan and I would start with an improved Roster using all the names from MAJ Anderson's master spreadsheet, and an improved Individual History template. What changes would you like? Update our links to BillionGraves, FamilySearch, and MapNTour (red buttons 1-3 on the mockup). This is what Maj Anderson is so amazing at. I suspect she will have to build a permanent team just to correlate our mutual info so that one doesn't undermine the other. How do you suggest we handle bogus/inaccurate names and spellings? Pull the information in the gray box on the left from Jill's research database, and gravestone pictures from Carl's images and/or BillionGraves. Ranks/Positions/Duties (red button 4 on the mockup) linked to successive side-by-side Muster Rolls and Kindex transcriptions. Replace Carl's dated Database, Annals, and Graves databases/books (red buttons 5-7 on the mockup) with current information from Jill's research and our own. Dan would have to provide links to the individual in online versions of the 75+ original diaries and journals. This could be quite a challenge. We may want to just point to the person in a universal index full of links. Other Sources (red button 9 on the mockup) could include images of the Land Warrants, Pension Records, and supporting documentation from the NARA. Page 6 of 10

7 Individual Information BIRTH DATE 11 June 1826 BIRTHPLACE Paris, Henry, TN DEATH DATE 27 July 1868 DEATH PLACE Wanship, Summit, UT Thomas Leonard Frazier Private, Company D Thomas Leonard Frazier was a Private in Company D. He completed the journey to California and was discharged at Los Angeles, California on 16 July Ranks/Positions/Duties in Muster Rolls Back to Comprehensive Alphabetical Listing Age when joined the Mormon Battalion: 20 Mormon Battalion Association Sources Carl V. Larson, A Database of The Mormon Battalion Carl V. Larson, The Annals of The Mormon Battalion: Carl V. Larson, Graves Memorialization Reference References in Original Diaries and Journals Doe, John, Diary GRAVESITE GPS North ' West Other Sources Doe, John, Other Source 4. Senior Historian s Report MAJ Anderson: [Maj Anderson to more details.] a. Worked on the Gail Holmes collection with Terry Latey August. b.worked on National Archives (NARA) Land Warrants and Muster Rolls. Cindy Norton, an LDS volunteer at the NARA, is continuing our work there. LTC Jamison and I are providing hyperlinks to the actual Land Warrants on the BLM General Land Office (GLO) database which Dan Roper can use on our new website. c. Temple Records. I am researching the endowment records of Battalion veterans, which give their full name, date and place of birth, and their parents names. d.pension Files. I am making hyperlinks to Battalion members Pension Applications which have recently come on line at FamilySearch so that the BYU students have ready access to these records. Page 7 of 10

8 Continental Support Staff Reports: 1. Chief Finance Officer Report LTC Jamison: We currently have a bank balance of $16,741.17, up from last month s $16, Since our last meeting in November, we have had the following activity: a. Main Share Savings: Deposits: None Current Balance: $1.05 Pending Expenditures: None b. General Fund: Deposits: $0.05 interest, $ deposits from PayPal Expenditures: $ to Orem UPS Store for mid-october to 6 December shipping and handling fees Current Balance: $1,342.02, up from $1, Pending Expenditures: normal $39.23 monthly fee from GoToMeeting.com, normal UPS Store shipping and handling fees, and possible setup fees to Celestial Creations for new shoulder patches and bolo slide c. Arts Fund: Deposits: $1.18 interest Expenditures: None Current Balance: $10,010.95, up from $10, Pending Expenditures: None d. Historical Research Fund: Deposits: $0.47 interest Expenditures: None. Current Balance: $5,387.15, up from 5, Pending Expenditures: Stipends of about $ to MAJ Laura Anderson for her 31 October-7 November research trip to the National Archives in Washington, DC (this may be paid by the LDS Church Historians Office) New Business ( Open to Floor) 1. Proposed Changing Date and Time of Executive Leadership Meeting to a Weekday Evening MAJ Anderson suggested that, now that our host LTC Jamison is no longer working weekday evenings, we should consider having our meetings on a weekday evening when the Larson s and others could attend. She says that it is really hard for her to meet on Saturday morning. For example, she has three other obligations at the same time as our meeting today. After some discussion, the consensus of those attending was that the best new meeting date and time would be the third Thursday of the month at 8:00 PM Mountain Time. LTC Jamison will poll other members via . Projected Action Items Leadership: All: Recruit civic and community leaders to serve on our new Board of Directors. We have two remaining unfilled positions. All: Find viable candidates to run for offices of Battalion Commander (ex officio President of Board) and Battalion Executive Officer (ex officio Vice President of Board), who will stand for election for two years. Section 2.02 of the Articles of Incorporation states that they coordinate and direct all member activities. Their roles are that of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Operations Officer (COO). There was a resounding silence. All: Find individuals willing to serve as 1 st Executive Director (S1 - Adjutant General) and 2 nd Executive Director (S7 - Public Relations Commandant) of the Battalion Continental Support Staff. Section 2.02 of the Articles of Incorporation states that they manage all administrative support business matters. Their roles are that of Chief Business Executive (CBE) and Chief of Business Operations (CBO), supervising the Battalion Continental Support Staff. Graves Memorialization: COL Larson and Kevin Henson: Work on preparations for graves memorialization for Lewis Dent, Milton Smith, Thomas P. Dutcher and William Reynalds (Reynolds). Page 8 of 10

9 Finances: CPT Crappa (Chief Finance Officer): Prepare documentation for IRS Form 990. CPT Crappa (Chief Finance Officer): Prepare documentation to forward to Board of Directors for internal audit. CPT Crappa (Chief Finance Officer): Create new Payment/Reimbursement Request Forms. Mormon Battalion Historic Trails Award: Kevin Henson: As soon as possible, lead Mormon Battalion Historic Trails Member Advisory Committee in providing the data to LTC Jamison and CSM Munford for publication of Requirements booklet. See Member Advisory Committee Reports, 1. Mormon Battalion Historic Trails Award Committee. LTC Jamison: As soon as requirements booklet is finished, coordinate new patches, lapel pins/pendants, requirements list, booklet, and other documentation with LDS Primary-Young Men-Young Women and LDS-BSA coordinators to start publicity. COL Gourley and Greg Christofferson: Continue coordination with Elder D. Todd Christofferson regarding continued association between LDS Church and Mormon Battalion Association, including historical research and LDS participation. Honorary Memberships: LTC Jamison and Kevin Henson: Send honorary membership certificates to those who have so kindly assisted Mr. Henson in his historical research for and about the Mormon Battalion, particularly Tim Kimball and Terry Latey. LTC Jamison: Provide honorary membership certificates to current and past SNMP members. LTC Jamison: Contact Mormon Battalion Historic Site, San Diego for list of current and past missionaries for honorary membership certificates. Gail Holmes Research Files and Metadata in Omaha, Nebraska: Terry Latey and MAJ Anderson: Review and digitize Gail Holmes extensive library of Mormon history in the Middle Missouri River Valley at MAJ Anderson s home prior to its donation to the Church or BYU. Website Updates: LTC Jamison: Create new recruiting materials (brief background of Association and donation page with receipt) for website to go with Membership Application. Forward copies to David Jamiel. Greg Christofferson: After receiving details, pursue funding for digitizing of Muster Rolls, etc. with donors, including the LDS Church when we know how much it will cost. LTC Jamison and SGT Jamiel: Complete four Historical Fact sheets and post on website: The Mormon Battalion Monument, Pueblo, Colorado. Peaceful Valley Sign Mormon Battalion Interpretive Panels adjacent to Kiowa County Courthouse, Kiowa, Colorado. Trapper Trails Monument in the Adams County Historical Site, Brighton, Colorado. California Trail Interpretive Center in Elko, Nevada. All Things Mormon Battalion Project: Dan Roper: Implement Release 4.0 as quickly as possible. All: Review proposed Individual History switching station template and provide comments as quickly as possible. All: Nominate indexers good at reading cursive to MAJ Anderson to help with indexing and transcription in Kindex software. Greg Christofferson: Reach out to our friends with deep pockets ASAP to fund $20,000 for two BYU students in Jill Crandall s BYU Center for Family History and Genealogy to find and digitize original cradle to grave documents of the approximately 2,000 members of the original Mormon Battalion and their laundresses, guides, and family members. Jill said that LDS Philanthropies can be approached if needed. Page 9 of 10

10 Research Mormon Battalion Association Documents in BYU Special Collections: LTC Jamison: Research missing history of Mormon Battalion Association from late 1940s through late 1990s in the Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University. Closing Remarks & Inspirational Thought None Benediction L TC Jamison M AJ Laura Anderson Next Executive Staff Meeting: tentatively set for 6:00 PM, Thursday, 18 January 2018 Residence of LTC Max W. Jamison 189 E South Orem, UT Page 10 of 10