1JMHSJN /FXT Spring 2016 In This Issue Greetings from Governor Gretchen Harvey Greetings! I am looking forward to seeing everyone at our Spring Meeting on Sunday, April 24. We are so honored to have our Governor General Lea Filson as our guest. Lea has done a terrific job leading our organization at the national level and her enthusiasm and love for the General Society is evident in all of her accomplishments. We hope to see all of you at our meeting with Lea on the 24th so we can show her what a great group we have in Nebraska. I am excited to announce we have a new location for our spring meeting. The Marriott was unable to accommodate us this year. Thanks to Kathryn Morrissey for hard work in researching a new location. We will be meeting at Embassy Suites Omaha in the Old Market. This turned out to be a cost-efficient option as well and a fun location for Lea to enjoy during her stay in Omaha. Parking should not be a problem as the Embassy is making a parking lot available to us which is close to the hotel. We do ask that you let us know by April 10 if you are attending as we need to confirm our reservation total with the Embassy earlier than we have in the past. I hope to see everyone at our new location! Last fall, I was appointed to a committee to help out with planning General Society meetings. We are now planning the 2017 General Congress meeting in Plymouth and I am assisting with making preparations for attendees to participate in the Pilgrim s Progress March from the Mayflower House in Plymouth to opening ceremonies at the church. This committee gives me the opportunity to work with the Mayflower staff in Plymouth. Any Nebraska member is welcome to attend the General Congress and we have open seats for delegates. Let me know if you want to attend. The General Society Board of Assistants will meet in Indianapolis from Sept 8 to 11 this year. If anyone is interested in attending, please get in touch with me. 2 Meeting Minutes 2 RootsTech 2016 3 Spring Meeting 4 New Members 4 In Memoriam 5 Scholarship Update 5 Treasurer s Report 6 Juniors Update Wanted: Editor Pilgrim News needs a new editor. This is great way to get involved in the Society and get to know Society leadership and other members. Pilgrim News is published two times annually and much of the newsletter content is developed by the Governor, Historian, Secretary and Treasurer. Gretchen Harvey, Governor To learn more, contact Marty Beerman at mwbeerman@cox.net or Gretchen Harvey at gkharvey01@aol.com Photo Caption goes here Photo Caption goes here
2 Annual Meeting Minutes November 2015 The mee0ng was called to order by Governor Gretchen Harvey. The Invoca0on was given by Elder Ann Reinert. Members and guests aaending were introduced. Charles Harmon lead the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Mayflower Compact was read by Bob Harvey, and a roll call of the passengers was conducted. John Howland had the most descendants aaending. The Governor presented Charles Harmon with a State Officer s Title Bar. The Report of the Treasurer and the Minutes of the last mee0ng, as published in the Pilgrim News, were approved, on mo0on and second. Upon mo0on, second and vote, the following officers and members of the Board of Assistants, as published in the Pilgrim News, were elected: Governor, Gretchen Harvey; Deputy Governor, Kathryn Morrissey; Secretary, Charles Robinson; Treasurer, Karen Saunders; Historian; Marty Beerman; Elder, Ann Reinert; Counselor, Robert Laughlin; Captain, Charles Harmon; Public Rela0ons, Thomas Masters; Photographer; John Keller. Board of Assistants: Cheryl Clark 2017; Berry Albanez 2017; DiAnna Schimek 2016; John Reinert 2016; Robert Harvey 2016; Dr. Pricilla Grew 2018; Stephanie Donsig 2018; and Judith Moore 2018. General Society Officers: Deputy Governor General, Gretchen Harvey; Assistant General, Kathryn Morrissey. The Governor indicated that Vicki Westerhaus is resigning as editor of Pilgrim News, and a new editor is needed. Marty Beerman discussed our new website, NebraskaMayflower.org, and Facebook page. Kathryn Morrissey was thanked for her educa0on program and the table decora0ons. The goal for the Burt and Becky Whedon Memorial Scholarship for 2016 is $1,620. The Governor General will aaend our mee0ng April 24, 2016. The board and others will meet her for dinner Saturday night, April 23. A video regarding the Pilgrims, en0tled: One Small Candle was presented. Ann Reinert delivered the Benedic0on. The bids in the silent auc0on, to benefit the scholarship fund, were tabulated and the winners announced. There being no further business, the mee0ng was adjourned. Charles Robinson, Secretary RootsTech 2016: Mayflower Success! Nebraska Governor Gretchen Harvey, General Society Director of Genealogy Mar> Bobertz, and Marty Beerman, Nebraska Historian helped staff the Mayflower Society booth at RootsTech in February in Salt Lake City. The GSMD booth at RootsTech was a great success. Over 350 visitors stopped by, most of whom knew they had Mayflower ancestry, but were not yet members. Staff at the booth did preliminary reviews for poten0al members and volunteers spoke of the benefits of belonging to the Mayflower Society. Socie0es in western states should see an increase in inquires for membership! Visitors on Thursday and Friday picked up copies of the Mayflower Compact. On Saturday, the children were given books and sheets to color which told the story of the first Thanksgiving. The four- day conference held in Salt Lake City drew 13,000 registered par0cipants, as well as an addi0onal 22,000 who registered to par0cipate in Saturday s Family Discover Day. We are already looking forward to next year! 2016 Directory of Officers Governor Gretchen Harvey (402) 679-1964 or gkharvey01@aol.com Deputy Governor Kathryn Morrissey (402) 558-9895 or kathryn@cwsomaha.com Secretary Charles L. (Rob) Robinson (402) 558 6808 or husker99999@aol.com Treasurer Karen Saunders (402) 269-2259 or ksaunde5@hotmail.com Historian Marty Beerman (402) 553-4118 or mwbeerman@cox.net Elder Ann Reinert (402) 483-1590 or mar68434@gmail.com Counselor Robert Laughlin (402) 397-0868 or rallaw@radiks.net Captain Charles Harmon (402) 290-2701or cmfiddle1@cox.net Public Relations Thomas Masters (402) 488-6004 or bec_corp@inetnebr.com Surgeon Vacant Board of Assistants DiAnna Schimek (2016) (402) 423-0262 or dschimek7@gmail.com John Reinert (2016) (402) 432-9168 or jr6@aol.com Robert Harvey (2016) (402) 679-8232 or rharvey120@gmail.com Cheryl Clark (2017) (308) 325-3849 or cherlyclark@q.com Betty Albanez (2017) (402) 292-9532 or balbenez@cox.net Priscilla Grew (2018) (402) 472-3779 or pgrew1@unl.edu Stephanie Donsig (2018) (402) 465-5493 or sdonsig23@gmail.com Charles Harmon (Past Deputy Governor General) (402) 290-2701 or cmfiddle1@cox.net General Society & Other Officers Deputy Governor General Gretchen Harvey (402) 679-1964 or gkharvey01@aol.com Assistant Governor General Kathryn Morrissey (402) 558-9895 or kathryn@cwsomaha.com Pilgrim News Editor Vacant Photography John Keller (402) 489-2238 or jfk120@me.com Webmaster Marty Beerman (402) 553-4118 or mwbeerman@cox.net
3 Governor General is Spring Meeting Speaker Meeting is Sunday, April 24 at Embassy Sites Omaha/Old Market Once she learned she was a descendant, Lea Filson joined the Mayflower Society in the state of Louisiana, a rela0vely small society, which gave her the opportunity to get involved in many areas. She was public rela0ons chair at the state level before becoming the State Treasurer and Corresponding Secretary. From May 2002 to 2005, she served as the Louisiana State Governor. She has also been Editor of the Louisiana Drumbeats newsleaer, and is presently Louisiana Deputy Governor. In 2002, she volunteered to help with the na0onal insignia program and Governor General Bob Davis appointed her General Society Insignia Chair. Lea aaended Congress in 2005 aker being evacuated from New Orleans due to Hurricane Katrina. While there, she learned she had lost her home, but luckily the GSMD insignia was safe on the 4th floor of a storage unit. She sold insignia that Congress with the help of her Mother, Ellen Sinclair of the Illinois Society, using only photos. She con0nued as Insignia Chair un0l 2012. In 2010, she volunteered to take over the GSMD website and rework it. She oversaw its changes un0l it could be taken over by Plymouth staff. TheMayflowerSociety.org con0nues to be updated with new content and over 4000 members have registered as of December 2014. Lea was elected Execu0ve CommiAee Member at Large at the 2005 Congress and reelected in the same posi0on in 2008. In 2011, she became Assistant Governor General un0l this past September when she was elected Governor General, a posi0on she is proud and honored to hold. Lea is descended from Mayflower passengers Isaac Allerton, Mary Norris Allerton, Mary Allerton Cushman, and Degory Priest. Her career includes many years on- air as a broadcaster in both television and radio. That was the basis for her consul0ng company, LEAF Communica0ons, where she specializes in media, marke0ng, and public rela0ons. Lea is Director of Communica0ons for the New Orleans Tourism Marke0ng Corpora0on. She is happily married to Ronald Coulter Filson. The 0tle of Lea s talk is: Progress of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants: What that means to you and why this is a really exci=ng =me to be a member! 2016 Spring Luncheon Reservation Form New meeting location: Embassy Suites Omaha in the Old Market. When: Sunday, April 24 at 1 p.m. Where: Embassy Suites Omaha, Member Name(s): 555 South 10th St. FROM THE NORTH: I- 29 to I- 480 West Across the River into Omaha. Take Dodge Street Exit. At Stoplight Turn Lek on 10th Street. Proceed ½ Mile Hotel is on the Lek. FROM THE WEST: I- 80 East Through Omaha to I- 480 North/Downtown. Take I- 480 North to Harney Street Exit Con0nue East on Harney Street to 10th Street. Turn Right on 10th Street. Hotel is on the Lek FROM THE SOUTH: I- 29 North to I- 480 West Across the River into Omaha. Take Dodge Street Exit. At Stoplight Turn Lek on 10th Street. Proceed ½ Mile Hotel is on the Lek FROM THE EAST: I- 80 West to I- 29 North to I- 480 West Across the River into Omaha. Take Dodge Street Exit. At Stoplight Turn Lek on 10th Street. Proceed ½ Mile Hotel is on the Lek Guests: Allergies/special diet needs? Call Gretchen Harvey at 402-679-1964. Adult(s): @ $28/meal Total Enclosed: $ Please send this form and checks payable to the Nebraska Mayflower by April 10 to Karen Saunders, 1213 North 30th Road, Syracuse, NE 68446. The Board of Assistants Meeting will be held at 12 p.m. before the Sunday meeting. As a member of our Society, you are always welcome to attend our Board of Assistants meeting.
4 Welcome Aboard New Members! Name Number Residence Ancestor Clifford Leroy Sawyer 88996-1089 Lincoln Richard Warren William Melvin Miller 89150-1090 Lincoln George Soule Bradley Stephen Lemke 89198-1091 Papillion John Howland Robert Lee Paeper 89258-1092 Westside, Iowa Stephen Hopkins RL Scott Lemke 89297-1093 Houston, Texas John Howland Anne Margaret (Van Pelt) Underwood 89322-1094 Omaha Thomas Rogers Bonnie Mae (Gerrard) Kolowski 89337-1095 Omaha William Bradford In Memoriam Dressing Like a Pilgrim John Standish Roberts May 17, 2015, age 79 A descendant of John Howland Elected 1972 Jacquelyn (Henry) Street October 16, 2000, age 74 A descendant of Edward Fuller Elected 1952 The Nebraska Society also mourns the loss of Colleen Robb, a member of the Illinois Society, who also attended meetings in Nebraska. She died February 4, 2015. If you have ever considered donning apre like your Pilgrim ancestors, the process is gepng easier. On a regular basis, the General Society has begun providing paaerns and informa0on for both men and women s clothing. Some ready- made pieces also are available on the plimoth.org website such as a coif (white head covering for women) or a pilgrim hat for both sexes. If you have an interest, please contact me and I will be happy to share what I ve learned from working with a talented seamstress and also what the General Society has made available. If we get enough interest, maybe we can dress like pilgrims for some future mee0ng! For those of you who like to shop at garage sales or on the Internet, a thriky descendant can find Pilgrim accessories at bargain prices. I ve found an iron cook pot, wooden utensils, pewter pitcher and porringer at thrik stores and garage sales. And, keep your eye peeled for books about the pilgrims that you can read to young rela0ves or donate to our educa0onal outreach library. Happy hun0ng! Kathryn Morrissey, Educa>on Outreach We need your help to keep our records updated. If you know of any member who has recently moved, please let us know. We also care about each of our members, so please also let us know immediately of any member s illness or death. Send updates to mwbeerman@cox.net.
5 Save the Date! Treasurer s Report Karen Saunders, Treasurer Saturday July 9, 2016 Summer Picnic. Details at NebraskaMayflower.org later. Sunday, November 20, 2016 Annual Meeting & Thanksgiving Dinner at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln. NebraskaMayflower.org Have you visited our website? At www.nebraskamayflower.org you can catch up on the latest news, see past issues of Pilgrim News and read about our annual Burt & Becky Whedon Memorial Scholarship. We re on Facebook, too. Like us at https://www.facebook.com/ nebraskamayflower Scholarship deadline is March 31; recipient to be recognized at Spring Meeting The second Nebraska Society of Mayflower Descendants Burt & Becky Whedon Memorial Scholarship will be a awarded to a gradua0ng high school senior pursuing a four- year college degree at the Society s Spring Mee0ng on Sunday, April 24 in Omaha. Applica0ons are due Thursday, March 31. For more about this year s $1,620 scholarship, and to read last years winning essay, visit hap://nebraskamayflower.org/scholarship/ At the Society s Annual Mee0ng in November, an auc0on to raise dollars for the Scholarship Fund brought in $785. Thanks to everyone who donated an item or two and par0cipated in the auc0on! Special thanks to Cheryl Clark for gepng the auc0on organized and off to a great start. A second auc0on is planned for the November mee0ng. Thanks, too, to members who have donated to the Society s Scholarship Fund: In 2016, Marty Beerman, Omaha; and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska (Matching Gik). In 2015: DiAnna Schimek, Lincoln; Gretchen Harvey, Omaha; Walt Davis, Bellevue; Marty Beerman, Omaha; and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska (Matching Gik). In 2014: DiAnna Schimek, Lincoln; Charles Harmon, Omaha; and Priscilla Grew, Lincoln. To donate, send your check, payable to Nebraska Mayflower, to Karen Saunders, 1213 North 30th Road, Syracuse, NE 68846-7710.
1JMHSJN /FXT 1JMHSJN /FXT Martin W. Beerman 19509 Frances Circle Omaha, NE 68130-2982 Junior Member Spotlight: The Amazing Legacy of our Mayflower Heritage in action William Bradford, long0me governor of the Plymouth Colony sealement, penned this poem: From my years young in days of youth, God did make known to me his truth. And call d me from my na>ve place For to enjoy the means of grace. In wilderness he did me guide. And in strange lands for me provide. In fears and wants, through weal and woe. A pilgrim, past I to and fro. A gik: that is how the pilgrims viewed this new life in a new land. No, it wasn t free of troubles or woe, but it was filled with possibili0es and hope for their future. And even today as their descendants, we care passionately about the future, and we want to share this passion for our descendants as well. During the fall of 2015, two individual sponsors giked junior memberships to 4 children who can now share in the Mayflower legacy. What an amazing gik! We thank them and their new junior members for preserving the history and memories of our Mayflower ancestors and con0nuing to build on our investments in the Nebraska Mayflower Society. Thank you! We are so proud to announce 4 new junior members to the Nebraska Society of Mayflower Descendants. This brings our total junior membership to 62. We welcome them and celebrate their induc0on into this great organiza0on. It is exci0ng to watch the membership grow, and we encourage them to join our state society aker the age 18. If you know someone under the age of 18 who is related by an established bloodline to a sponsor (either a present or past member of the Mayflower Society), then consider sponsoring that person to become a junior member. There is a one- 0me applica0on fee of $20. The applica0on process is simple. Junior membership expires at age 25; however, between the ages of 18 and 25, a junior member can become a member of our state society through the regular applica0on process. You can start the process by reques0ng an applica0on form by sending me (Stephanie Donsig) an email. Feel free to ask me ques0ons. My email address is sdonsig23@gmail.com. Want to learn more about na0onal junior membership? You can check it out on Facebook at GSMD Jr Mayflower Descendants Social Networking. You will learn what is happening with junior members na0onally and find out some amazing facts. And for our Nebraska society, we plan our summer event with junior members in mind. It will be something fun for members of all ages! Stephanie Donsig, Junior Membership Chair