MONTHLY MEETING

EZRA S. GRIFFIN CAMP #8

April 15, 2023

The meeting was called to order in ritualistic manner by Commander Jerry Skotleskia at our new location at the Marketplace at Steamtown Mall, Scranton.

Other members in attendance were:

Officers Excused: Patriotic Instructor Jerry O'Malley

Guests: Paul Rogan

Minutes from the March meeting were read.  A motion to accept the minuteswas made by Bob Shaffer, seconded by Giovan Lisi, all were in favor.

TREASURER'S REPORT:  

Howard Wolfe gave a balance, alhtough $1696 has been sent to the Department Secretary for Per Capita.  The Camp decided to postpone discussion until the May meeting in to what is the appropriate amount for the Camp to pay in support of utilities geiven that the Camp only meets at the Museum once a month.  A motion was made to accept the Treasurer's Report by Tim Chase and seconded by Rich Ryczak.  All were in favor.

ILLNESS/DISTRESS:

Jerry O'Malley continues to have lingering health concerns.

Prayers for Mark Myers wife who resides in a skilled care facility.

APPLICATIONS:

John Zadzura contacted Commander Skotleski about being re-instated.  Bill Fischer emailed him about being re-instated, but has not heard back from him.

Paul Rogan has been volunteering at the Museum and wants to join the Camp as an Associate member.  Bill Fischer will work with him on his application.

CORRESPONDENCE: 

All General and Department Orders have been emailed to members. 

EAGLE SCOUT COMMITTEE:

Jim Jones has forwarded two applications he received to the appropriate Department Coordinators (none for our AOR).

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 

The Annual Lincoln Ceremony will be held after out meeting today at the Lincoln Monument in Nay Aug Park, starting at 12:30pm.  Bill Fischer prepared and distributed a media release to the Times Tribune and other several community calendars.

The Annual Memorial Day Ceremony will be held on Monday, May 29th at the GAR Plot in the Dunmore Cemetery at 10:30am.

Flag Detail will be held at both the Forest Hill and Dunmore Cemeteries on Saturday, May 6th (with a rain date of May 13th), starting at 10am at the Dunmore Cemetery GAR plot.  New flags may not be availbale from the Lackawanna County Veterans' Organization by May 6th, but we have enough flags to do the work.  We will still get more new flags when they become available.  Also, there are no new GAR flag holders available either.  However, the Veterans' Organization may repair damaged holders.

Commander Skotleski has not heard back from the Dunmore Band director.  The Commander is also coordinating the agenda and still needs a keynote speaker.  Contact the Commander if you have any ideas for a speaker.  Tim Chase is able to borrow a sound system for the Ceremony.  Dale Keklock will check and see if he can get flower petals from the florist he works with.  Guest Ed McMullen said last month that he would check to see if he could get his VFW post's electronic bugle for the playing of Taps; no further information at this time.

The second reading of the proposed Camp by-laws changes was done and a discussion was held.  A third and final reading will occur at the May meeting (amendments again are attached to the minutes).  No comments were received from members who are unable to attend the March meeting.

Departed Brothers Ceremony will be held at the May meeting.  Craig Kelly provided an overview while Bob Shaffer has a spreadsheet listing members from the laste Griffin Post #139 and of Camp #8 members.  In total there will be 20 members from Post #139 and from Camp #8.

A motion to purchase a full-page ad for the PA Department Encampment booklet was made by Cragi Kelly and seconded by Bob Shaffer.  The cost is $60 and the deadline to sunmit is by May 16th.  Bill Fischer shared that all Department Encampment info is now on the PA Department website.  Business sessions will be held on June 22nd and 23rd in Altoona, PA.  If you plan to attend the Encampment, you must obtain a credentials card from Bill Fischer in order to vote.

There are two public Facebook pages associated with Camp #8.  The Lt. Ezra S. Griffin, Camp #8, PA Department, SUVCW was last post on July 1, 2014 and is unclear who the site admin/moderator is.  The second one is Ezra S. Griffin - Camp #8, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.  Dale Keklock is the site admin/moderator.  Time Chase and Commander Skotleski as well as others have agreed to become admin/moderators to help control content.  With this being a public site, there have recently been posts made that are inappropriate and reflect poorly on the Camp.  Entries such as clothing for sale with the SUVCW and SUVCQ CinC logos, which are proprietary to the National Organization, and are not authorized.  A discussion was made concerning whether this site should remain public or made private.  Any changes made are permanent per Facebook rules.  The PA Department page went private more than a year ago to have better control on content.  The members decid3ed to keep our page public in order to better serve the public.

NEW BUSINESS:

Bill Fischer submitted the required Anual Camp Report and Roster to the PA Deparment Secretary/Treasurer in advance of the April 30th deadline.  Camp Treasurer Howard Wolfe has submitted the required National/Department Per Capita.

The University of Scranton ROTC Award Ceremony will be held on Thursday, April 27th at pm in the Pearn Auditorium in Brennan Hall, 800 Linden Street, on the University Campus.  The Camp needs a presenter for the SUVCW ROTC Award.  A seperate email will go out to the local members in hopes that someone can persent in person.

FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER:

Bill Fischer attendeed the Appommatox Luncheon sponsored by Isaac Eaton, Camp #504 in Grove City, PA on Saturday, April 8th.

Bob Shaffer has completed the Griffin Post #139 photo/bio project with four binders provideing known information on Post #139 members.  Thanks to Bob Shaffer, Hal Myers, Howard Wolfe and others who have long worked on this project.

Thanks to Danielle Shaffer for her efforts to restore the Camp website with past photros that were "lost" when the website was temporarily shut down.

Mark Myers stated that the Jermyn Historical Society holds presentations monthly on the 3rd Sunday in the basement of the First United Methodist Church, 520 Washington Avenue.  Tomorrow (April 16th) will be a program on the Revolutionary War.  On Sunday, May 21st at 6:30pm, Mark Myers and Hal Myers will offer a program on the Civil War.  All are invited!

PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTION:

Assistant Patriotic Instructor Giovan Lisi presented on South Carolinian Richard Rowland Kirkland, the "Angel of Marye's Heights," who provided water to ther CSA and USA wounded lying on the field during the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Next Camp meeting will be held on Saturday, May 20th at 10:30am.

With no further business or discussion, the meeting was closed in ritualistic fashion by Commander Skotleski.

Respectfully submitted,

William E. Fischer Jr., PCC

Secretary

BY-LAWS RECOMMENDED CHANGES:

Recommended changes to the Camp #8 By-Laws proposed by William E. Fischer Jr., PCC

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

SECTION 2. The location of the meeting shall be the G.A.R. Memorial Library and Museum, Lower Level, Scranton City Hall, 340 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, PA 18503, unless changed by a majority vote.

     Change to Read:

SECTION 2. The location of the meeting shall be the G.A.R. Memorial Library and Museum, Room 220, The Marketplace at Steamtown (Mall), 300 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503, unless changed by a majority vote.

**At the time (October 2023), the recent By-laws changes were offered, the camp did not know where it was moving to, only that it was leaving City Hall.  Although the clause, "unless changed by a majority vote" allows for camp meetings at other locations, the camp will likely never again hold a meeting in the Scranton City Hall.  Therefore, given that another amendment is being offered (below), it makes sense to change the location in the camp By-laws.**

ARTICLE VI - MEMBERSHIP

     Add to By-laws:

e. The camp does not allow Junior Members or Junior Associates

**Camps may have Junior Members/Associates (ages 6-13) per the PA Department By-laws Article XVI.  However, PA has added many requirements such as an FBI Background Check, Child Welfare Check, and others following the Jerry Sandusky conviction for all (such as Scout leaders, youth group leaders, child care workers, etc.) who may come into close contact with juveniles during organized activities.  It is best to codify in the camp By-laws an addition that clearly states no junior membership.  A camp member (or a member of the public) with children under 14 years of age is not prevented from bringing those children to appropriate camp activities (such as Memorial Day flag placement/ceremony) but must maintain loco parentis status (the term used in the PA Department By-laws) during the event.  This addition protects the camp and its members.

The Lisa Marie Vari & Associates, P.C. (Pittsburgh Area Law Firm) provides the following:

     The Pennsylvania custody statute does not define "in loco parentis," but Pennsylvania courts have found a person to stand in loco parentis to a child when they have taken on parental responsibilities and duties, with the consent of the biological parent.**

ARTICLE XVI - AMENDEMENTS

SECTION 1. All amendments to these By-laws must be made in writing and/or email and read on two (2) consecutive meeting nights.  Action on any amendment shall be taken the next meeting after the last reading, notice being made to membership.  A majority of those voting shall be sufficient to make an amendment a part of the By-laws.

     Change to Read:

ARTICLE XVI - AMENDMENTS, ALTERATIONS, OR DELETIONS

SECTION 1. All amendements, alterations, or deletions to these By-laws must be made in writing and/or email and read at two (2) consecutive meetings.  Action on any such changes shall be taken immediately after the second reading and discussion, notice of proposed changes having been previously made to camp membership via email following the first reading.  A simple voting majority of members in attendance following the second reading shall be sufficient to make amendments, alterations, or deletions a part of the By-laws.

**The requirement for two readings and waiting another month to vote on recommended changes is unduly burdensome given the opportunity for all camp brothers to participate in discussion during the two readings as well as the opportunity non-attendee camp brothers have to offer comments via email to enhance meeting discussion.  The two readings provide sufficient time to review, discussion, and then immediately voting on any proposed camp By-laws amendments, alterations, or deletions.