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The General Society of Mayflower Descendants holds Congress in Plymouth, MA every three years during the month of September. Between those years a September Board of Assistants meeting is held in various states. Below you will find information on items of business to be voted on by the upcoming September 2011 Congress.
1) Letter from Constitution and Bylaws Committee
2) New combined Constitution and Bylaws as proposed by the Board of Assistants
3) Proposed changes by state societies
4) Announcement of 2011—2014 General Officer slate from the GSMD Nominating Committee
Click here to download proposed combined constitution and bylaws and new state amendments to the bylaws
Announcement from the GSMD Nominating Committee
General Officers for 2011 – 2014
The GSMD Nominating Committee is pleased to recommend to the General Congress the following members for nomination as General Officers to serve for the term 2011 to 2014:
Governor General – Bruce C. MacGunnigle of the Rhode Island Society
Bruce has given many years of service to the Mayflower Society. He joined the Rhode Island Society in 1972 and served as Governor, Deputy Governor, Treasurer, DGG and AG. In 1987 he was elected Captain General followed by 6 years as Member-at-Large before he was elected Assistant Governor General in 1996. He has attended 21 General Board of Assistants meetings and 10 General Congresses serving as Chair of the Congress Planning Committee 4 times and working on Registration 6 times. He is the primary researcher for the 5Gs Mayflower Families volume 4 Edward Fuller and has written numerous articles on history and genealogy. Bruce has often demonstrated his leadership abilities by his numerous successful projects in the community such as 15 years as Colonel Commanding of the Varnum Continentals, a historic state militia group, and as Director of the Varnum House Museum for which he received the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor of the State of Rhode Island for his outstanding management and restoration of the museum. He was recommended to us by many of those who have worked with him. After concentrating his efforts in the last few years to his family and business, he is now able to give the necessary time to lead the Mayflower Society for the next three years. We will be fortunate to have him as Governor General.
Assistant Governor General – Lea Sinclair Filson of the Louisiana Society
Lea has been an important part of the Mayflower Society for a number of years. She joined the Louisiana Society over 10 years ago and has served as Governor, Treasurer, Newsletter Editor, DGG, AG and currently Corresponding Secretary. In 2003 she was asked to reorganize the GSMD Insignia program which she did and added it to the website which has increased the volume of sales many times over. Most of you know Lea through her outstanding efforts with Insignia but she is now primarily involved with the reorganization of the GSMD website that will modernize our education efforts and member communications. She is currently finishing her second term (6 years) as Member-at-Large of the Executive Committee. Lea is a go-to-it person as is evident by her more than 20 years as a broadcast journalist in radio, television and print before creating her own consulting company LEAF Communications that specializes in media marketing and public relations. She has written, produced and hosted numerous radio programs and is a field producer for ABC, CBS, and NBC network television as well as countless cable channels. She writes a regular column “Sinclair Loves Cats” published in Louisiana. She is also a consultant for the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation for which she negotiates contracts with national television shows bringing them to New Orleans to increase tourism. Lea leads a busy life but always makes time for the Mayflower Society which she says is a labor of love. We are confident that Lea will draw on her vast divergent experiences and be an outstanding Assistant Governor General.
Secretary General – Susan E. Roser of the Canadian Society
Susan joined the Mayflower Society in 1981 when the Canadian Society was first being organized and has served as Governor, Deputy Governor, Newsletter Editor, DGG, AG and currently as Historian. Her research and writing abilities were used as the author of a series of Mayflower reference books published by Genealogical Publishing Company and she has written various articles for several genealogical journals. In 2003, Susan developed and wrote a Mayflower research course that is offered by the University of Toronto Genealogical Institute of Online Studies. She served a three year term on the General Society Computer Committee, and was involved with the then new General Society website for which she received much praise from Governor General Richard Howland Maxwell. In 2000 she created the Canadian Society website that she continues to maintain. Her experience and writing abilities make her a natural for Secretary General. She will be able to be involved with the efforts to centralize our records in Plymouth and improve our electronic communication and storage of General Society information and documents. We are confident that Susan will be an excellent Secretary General.
Treasurer General – Donald T. Studley of the Connecticut Society
Don joined the Connecticut Mayflower Society in 1991 and became actively involved. He has served as Governor, Deputy Governor, Assistant, AG and is currently Governor. He has worked with the finances of the Connecticut Society and helped put them on the right track while improving their income and asset valuation. He received an AB degree from Holy Cross and an MBA from Dartmouth. In 1973 he passed the CPA exams and became a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Connecticut while working as a Tax Manager for Price Waterhouse & Co in Bridgeport CT. In 1977 he formed his own CPA firm as a senior partner in Studley, White & Associates, P.C. in Danbury CT where they specialize in accounting and auditing for not-for-profit organizations. He has volunteered his services to various activities and organizations in the Newtown area and held offices such as Chairman, President, Treasurer, etc. For the past 6 years he has been a member of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Audit Committee of the Union Savings Bank in Danbury with over $2.5 billion in assets. His knowledge of accounting and the Mayflower Society gives him special insight to draw on his experiences with other organizations to establish a special relationship with State and General Society activity and help centralize our records in Plymouth and improve our electronic communication and storage of General Society records and reports. We believe that Don is uniquely qualified to be Treasurer General.
Historian General – Paul S. Bumpus of the Maine and Hawaii Societies
Paul is now completing his third year as Historian General and we believe he is best qualified to continue in that position. He has managed the office in Plymouth with a pleasant and efficient manner and has worked well with the State Historians. He communicates with them on a regular basis through email, etc. and maintains a high standard of quality when accepting proof of lineage. Before becoming Historian General, Paul worked on lineage research in the Plymouth Office and when the Hawaii Society did not have a member who would work as state Historian, he joined the Hawaii Society and became their Historian while still working in Plymouth. He is an excellent representative of the Mayflower Society to various groups in Plymouth and takes an active interest in what is going on. Paul has been very well received when representing the General Society as a speaker at numerous State Society meetings and Compact Day functions. He works well with members and non members alike. We believe that it is important that Paul continue as our Historian General.
Elder General – Rev Dr C. Corydon Randall II of the Michigan and Indiana Societies
Cory was born in Michigan and received an AB degree in history from the University of Michigan in 1957. In 1960 he received a Master of Divinity in Sacred Theology from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and began serving churches in Ohio while being a full time student at Hebrew Union College from which he received a Ph.D. in Hebraic Studies in 1969. He served as Rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Richmond, Indiana 1967-1971 and Trinity Episcopal Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana 1971-1988 and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Del Mar, California 1988-2000 and then returned to Michigan in retirement where he is currently Theologian-in-Residence, Christ Church Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Cory is a life member of the Indiana Society and the Michigan Society where he has served as Historian and Governor. When illness caused Elder General Rev Jeanne Linderman to be unable to attend the meetings of the General Board of Assistants in Annapolis and San Diego, he graciously assumed the duties of the Elder General when needed. We are confident that Cory will be well received as Elder General.
Captain General – Kenneth R. Callison of the Iowa Society
Ken is the current Captain General and has enthusiastically performed every task asked of him. He has prepared a Captain’s Handbook that the Executive Committee has authorized for printing and distribution to the State Society Captains at no charge. He is dedicated to the advancement of the Mayflower Society and has been a good ambassador to the various State Societies he has visited. Ken joined the Iowa Society in 1983 and has served as Governor, DGG, AG and participated in the growth of the Society into the 21st Century. He is a Director of a nondenominational home mission ministry and has served as Deacon, Elder and Lay Pastor of his church. He is active in community service having been twice honored by the State of Iowa for historical preservation and was elected to the Winterset City Council. He is the former owner of Winterset Hybrid Seed Company with up to 300 employees and sales operations in 10 states. We are pleased that Ken will continue to serve as Captain General.
Surgeon General – George P. Garmany Jr M.D. of the Colorado Society
George is the current Surgeon General. He has quietly and confidentially performed his duties at a number of meetings of the General Society and is Chair of the Reproductive Technology Committee. He continues to be actively involved with the Colorado Society and was a member of the committee responsible for preparations for the General Board of Assistants Meeting at Denver in 2006. His services were needed more than once at that meeting and he was of great assistance to Former Governor General Cay Lanham when her daughter became seriously ill and required hospitalization. George is always ready to help whether the problem is minor or serious and we are fortunate to have his services available at our meetings. We have confidence that he will continue to be there when needed as Surgeon General.
Counsellor General – Sarah L. Clingman Esq. of the South Carolina Society
Sarah has been an active member of the South Carolina Mayflower Society and has held the offices of Governor, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, DGG, AG and is the current Counselor. She has been active in her community and belongs to a number of hereditary societies. She received a BA degree in history from Columbia College and an MA in history from the University of South Carolina. In 1990 she received a JD degree from the University of South Carolina and was admitted to the bar of the South Carolina Supreme Court. She is authorized to practice law before the Maryland State Court of Appeals, The US District Court in Maryland and South Carolina as well as the United States 4th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. She is a Certified Circuit Court Mediator for the South Carolina Supreme Court and is certified by the National Elder Law Foundation as a Specialist in Elder Law. She is also a Licensed Broker by the South Carolina Real Estate Commission. Sarah has been an instructor and professional presenter many times and belongs to a long list of professional associations. She is a member of the Clingman Law Firm, LLC in Columbia South Carolina. We believe that her experience and activities will be a considerable asset to the General Society and are pleased that she has agreed to be a part of the leadership of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.
The Nominating Committee is pleased to present these outstanding Mayflower Society Members for your consideration and election to General Office.
Assistant Governor General Harry P. Folger 3rd – New Jersey, Chair
Former Governor General Robert A. Greene – Rhode Island
Former Governor General Mildred Ramos – Virginia
Former Governor General Edward D. Sullivan, Esq. – Florida
Former Assistant Governor General Terry J. McKane – Michigan
Former Assistant Governor General Donald W. West – Illinois
Counsellor General J. Michael Phelps, Esq. – California
Mayflower Quarterly Editor Alice C. Teal – New Jersey
Former Member at Large Mary Ellen Byrne, Esq. – Michigan
Deputy Governor Charles M. Johnson – Mississippi
State Historian Emily S. Palmer – Colorado |
