It is that time again, you should all be at the annual meeting to express your views and see where we, as a company, are going in the future.    

Annual Meeting Info

Attached is the map to the Annual meeting location.  I hope to see you Saturday, Feb 23^rd, 0900 to 1600 at Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield cafeteria on Staples Mill Rd. Richmond, VA.  Plan to be there at 0900 to help set up.  Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Burger King are just around the corner if you want breakfast.  Get your breakfast if you want and bring it to the meeting.  Parking, you need to park in the regular parking lots north or south of the building.  Please do not park in the customer parking unless you have something to drop off then you can do that and then park in the regular parking lots.  You can enter the building through the patio doors to the far right of the main entrance; do not go to the guard station.  Bring $10.00 to cover your lunch.  Drink machines are close by so bring money if you want one or three.  Buzz and Ned’s barbeque will be served as usual.

Directions

From the North take I-95 South to the I-195 I64 split Exit 79, stay in the right lane.  Merge onto I-64 West and take the Staples Mill Road.  Bare Left at the split.  At the 4^th light, go through it and take a left into the Trigon parking lot.  Parking is on the left, Drop off is to the right then parking is straight ahead. 

From the South take I-95 North and follow it to the I-64 split toward Charlottesville.  The next exit will be Staples Mill Rd.  Bare Left at the split.  At the 4^th light, go through it and take a left into the Trigon parking lot.  Parking is on the left, Drop off is to the right then parking is straight ahead. 

From the West take I-64 East toward Richmond.  You will see an exit for  Staples Mill Rd and Dickens Rd. (DO NOT take this exit).  Take the next one Staples Mill Rd. East.  Follow the road.  At the 4^th light, go through it and take a left into the Trigon parking lot.  Parking is on the left, Drop off is to the right then parking is straight ahead.   

From the East take I-64 toward Richmond/Charlottesville.  After I-95 splits off to the right, stay straight on I-64, the next exit will be Staples Mill Rd.  Bare left at the split in the road.  At the 4^th light, go through it and take a left into the Trigon parking lot.  Parking is on the left, Drop off is to the right then parking is straight ahead.

Anyone wishing to arrive on Friday night can stay at my home bring a sleeping bag and let me know you are coming so I can bake a cake.

Annual meeting Agenda

0900-0930            Room Setup
0930-0945            Call to order
0945-0950            Invocation
0950-1000            Pledge of Allegiance
1000-1015            Introductions
Executive Committee and NCOs
New Members
1015-1025            Review and Approval of 2001 Annual Membership Minutes
1025-1110            Business and Committee Reports
Treasury report and review of 2001 budget
Uniform/Inventory report and review of 2001
Membership status and review of 2001
Recruiting report and review of 2001
Jackson’s Division status              
1110-1130            Old Business
Floor open to any Old Business
1130-1200            Recruiting – Plan
1200-1300            Lunch
1230-1300            Sale of goods      
1300-1445            2002 Sched of Events
Sign Up Sheet Clarification and Explanation
Camp of Instruction - Schedule and Map 
Wartime and Militia Events
Open to Floor for Additional Events
1445-1545            New Business
Fund Raising Initiatives
Floor open to New Business
Open Discussion
2002 Proposed Budget
Dues Proposal and Vote
1545-1555            Election of Officers
1555-1600            Benediction        
1600                       Adjournment     
1600-1630            Room Cleanup  

Camp of Instruction

Still happening, see last month’s newsletter for details, see next month’s for even more details and a map and check the company website for the constants of the camp.  Maps will be provided at the annual meeting.  If you have friends that want to try this hobby out, this is a great time to get them into the field and on the road to fun.  Old timers bring your extra equipment to lend.  The cost to non F Company members is $25.00, payable by March 15, 2002.  Mail to F Company, PO Box 6583, Richmond, VA 23230.  This fee covers their hot meals, straw, and wood for the camp. 

Slate of Officers

The Executive Committee has put together a recommended slate of officers for the 2001 election. The slate is as follows:

President/Captain – Mr. Jones,
Vice President/1^st Lt. – Mr. Turley,
Secretary/1^st Sgt. – Mr.  Wilson,
Treasurer – Mr. Alexander,
Member at Large – Mr. Pearson.

Please remember any F Company member, in good standing, can be nominated for any position. If the membership approves this slate of officers, the appointed corporal positions may need some realignment due to the number of members that reup. The military leadership of the company will make that decision after the meeting.  

Don’t Forget the By-laws state
Article VII-Membership and Dues Section 3. Annual dues shall be set by a majority vote of the active members present and voting at the annual company business meeting. Annual dues shall be paid to the Treasurer by March 15 of the new fiscal year.

Newsletter Editor Needed, Still!!!

 PS,  thanks to Mr. Baird for helping out with the newsletter by doing an event report or two.  

  Events?

 There is a worksheet attached with the Tentative list of events.  It will be your ballot to vote for what you want the company to attend.  Pick 6, the COI does not count.  Please make your selections for the events you are going to attend, make a copy of it and bring this sheet to the Annual meeting.  They will be tallied and that will determine what the company attends.  This selection process in no ways limits the number of events you attend.  This will be the determining factor on where we will concentrate our Company resources and hope for the best on attendance. 

 Capt. Jones

1^st Lt.’s Report

The annual meeting is fast approaching to be followed shortly by the Camp Of Instruction.  Please make plans to attend both events.  The annual meeting is where you elect the officers for F Company and determine the events we will attend this year.

You have the choice of events in  front of you.  Please give them careful consideration.  Choose events you actually plan to attend.  Attendance last year for the most part was very poor.  I’m not sure why.  Maybe we had too many events?

F Company has a reputation for being an excellent unit and we are.  But we are really only as good as the number of bodies that we can put in the field.  Several times last year we had so few men at events that we were not able to be our own company.  For the life of me I can’t understand why people join a group and fork over hundreds of dollars to get properly equipped and outfitted and don’t support the unit by their presence in the field.  We can have all the names on the roster we want but if no one or only a few of us show up for an event we really have no company because we are thrown in with some other unit. 

Now I know it is said that this is a hobby and while that is in essence true, reenacting is really more than that.  If this “hobby” doesn’t have a special meaning to you then you should not be doing it.  Whether it is to honor an ancestor who fought in the war, your heritage, love for your beloved Virginia or whatever state you are from, or some other reason, reenacting must have a special meaning or no one would do it.

Now I know this does not take priority over family (of course not) and sometimes you may have to work unexpectedly, but as I said before, you have the list of events in front of you.  You have plenty of notice.  You have the dates.  So when you signup for an event BE THERE!  Support F Company in the best way you can, by being at events that we can attend as a unit.  Be committed!

Respectfully Submitted,

1st. Lt. Turley

 
Money, Money, Money  By   Mr. Alexander

At this time of the year it is about all we hear, how much this cost, how much that costs, can I afford this or that.  Well I am pleased to report that we have recently completed our commitment to the Cedar Mountain Battlefield Preservation effort.   A little over 2 years ago F Company took on the responsibility of raising $2000 to help save the battlefield.  Two thirds of the then 18 members of F Company became casualties, yet F Company as part of the 21^st Virginia won recognition on that day for its valor in battle.  As our comrades in arms of 1862 fought to maintain their honor, your part in saving this endangered site is no less important and will be forever remembered by those that come after us.  There is currently a marker on the site, in the future our effort will be marked permanently on acre 99. I plan to have pictures of  “today’s” lay of the land for viewing at the upcoming annual meeting that I hope you will attend.  I personally want to thank all our members, friends and donors for their efforts in this project and invite everyone to visit this historic site.   

Ukrop’s Golden Gift Program -  http://www.ukrops.com/save/golden_gift.asp

We will try to do a little better this year with this project.  That means we need more participation from the members to put the letters around.  Yes a little legwork on your part will help the company raise some money.  We will distribute the letters prior to the end of the campaign.

Later Breaking News

Mr. and Mrs. Woddy are New Parents!  A son was born, 7 lbs 3 oz, 19 ¾ inches, on Nov 2, 2001, Mom and baby are doing great.  Mr. Woody is doing very well too.

Recruiting News from the Source

 Gentlemen, I have spoken to a few of the member during this off time.  One stands out since he has been recruiting in the off-season to his friends, coworkers, and the like.  He has three possible members that are planning to attend the Camp of Instruction.  Even if we get one of the three I will be happy.  Mr. Wooddy is the enthusiastic member I am speaking of, hopefully I have not embarrassed him but Scott is one of the newest members and this is outstanding. The Recruiting committee cannot do it all, but this is how it should be, members talking the company up and the Recruiting committee takes it from there.  We are all recruiters if you like it or not.  We all need to do our part.  Sure old time members have already asked everyone they know, well, you can always ask again, or try the new people you run into each day.  You never know who may decide to get off the fence and try this incredible hobby.

A Pearson Moment

     My F Company friends.  You may not know this, but you will be in the presence of Hollywood “wanna-be’s” at the Annual meeting and Camp of Instruction.  Six members of the company weathered almost four months of grueling filming of Gods & me, I mean Generals.  Not to mention attending all the events last season we signed up for.  Thanks goes to Mr. Perry, Perry, Pierce, Ramsey, and Lawrence.  Despite the Alaska Crab Legs & Grilled Steaks, we ate pretty good out there in Virginia, West Virginia, & Maryland.

     Anyway, last season needed a big boost from our membership, and a lot of us, well, the same old reliables, made it a good year…BUT…the old reliables still need some of you other members to help out to keep our ranks filled.  Please do your part this season in keeping us strong and growing.  By filling out the Events Worksheet and attending the Annual Meeting to voice your vote and opinions will help in making the 2002 season a memorable one.  As always, I am looking forward to the C.O.I.  This is where I literally make the skies at night really shine.  And, with the help of Mr. Courson and Mr. Talbert, the three of us will be your short order cooks, and that usually means “NO KALE”…thank the heavens.  In finale, thank you all for putting up with my antics throughout the years….I promise to be more serious this season…NOT.

Mr. J. C. Pearson, Cpl.
F-Company Recruiter

 Possible Event!!

 Cpl. Norman has been approached by the Robert E. Lee Counsel of the BSA about performing in their version of Military through the ages.  When – 3,4,5 May 2002, Where – Camp Albright, near Chesden Landing in Chesterfield, VA.  What – Multiple 15 minute firing programs, company drill and public interaction both days.  Who – A company would be nice.  Provided – Wood, Straw, Water, Split Rails for fencing or burning (Joe) and Saturday dinner.  Tents will be provided by the company if we need them.  All these details are Tentative for now.  Ken is checking into payment (Love Offering) more details to come.