Back to Officers

2010-2011 Activities

‘Tis said it’s a sign of old age when the days are long and the years are short. Nevertheless, this year has flown by and a job I really didn’t want has been a pleasure because of the cooperation of so many people. I truly didn’t do it by myself, and I appreciate all the members of the Board and the Society and want them to know how grateful I am for all their help.

We held a board meeting in July 2010 and committees were lined up. (Harriet Roberson had already done most of that work.) Ed Cawthon became a new Board Member and Chuck Bryans volunteered to serve as Books and Publications Chairman. Our August program was the Bermuda Triangle story of "Flight 19" described by Walt Raczynski. In September our own Harold Hicks spoke about his experiences at Dachau and his part in the liberation of the survivors. Field trips were arranged by Harriet Roberson to Fort McAllister State Historic Site in early October and to Wormsloe on December 2nd. Our October program was by Jim Jordan, historian and author who related "Savannah Survives Sherman’s March to the Sea."

November was our always popular "Show and Tell" with members bringing in family treasures. The December Christmas Party was hosted at Belvedere by Jean and Bob Hawkins featuring Everett Moriarty’s traditional eggnog. This is always a delightful way to socialize and get better acquainted with our members. Carol Churi has done great work with Membership and we continue to have a satisfactory membership and usually good attendance at meetings.

The New Year started with a program featuring the Cherokee Indians and their sad trek to Oklahoma. Jane Walker of McRae researched her story for three years and presented it to our society. February really woke us up with Jim Conine’s rendition of patriotic music along with his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln. Then in March we had our "toes a’tapping" when Steven Smith and his crew treated us to an evening of Scottish music. This was so much fun we hope to do a repeat next year.

However, February was really highlighted by Highlanders. Thank you, Bubba Pitts, for recruiting the Clan Donald to celebrate with us in re-installing the ARDOCH marker. Steven Smith and Fort King George worked with the placement and many thanks go to family members Richard Smith, Read Gignilliat and Bill Stewart for their generous gift. An excellent "Darien News" article by Maggie Toussaint was incorporated into a hand-out program for the occasion. With bagpipes swirling and many locals in attendance, the marker was unveiled. I was happy to preside and become acquainted with Willie Cook, the patriarch of that community. His father, Jim, and my father, Robert A. Young Jr., were contemporaries and revered historians for McIntosh County.

April’s program was "Savannah, Immortal City," a history given by Barry Sheehy. In May, I gave a slide show, "Come Fly With Me," an overview of the Georgia coastal islands. June was a picnic using ole-timey recipes that produced delicious results. I am happy to have wound down my presidency and know that Jack Godfrey is more than up to the job of carrying on our society’s goals. Our on-going use of the Archives at Fort King George is a blessing (Martha Carney and Casey McMillan) and Betty Cleveland mails out many of our publications. The "Cemeteries of McIntosh County" still serves as a marvelous resource for family studies and Howard Klippel’s programs enlighten and educate us. Carole Williams’ "Altamaha Echoes" keeps us all posted; Jim Bruce manages our website; the Clarks (Mary Virginia and Harry) treat

us with homemade cookies; and Ann Howard runs our Scholarship Committee. We are fortunate to have Buddy Sullivan as Historian with his vast knowledge on so many phases of Georgia history which he vibrantly and interestingly presents.

I leave with two projects unfilled, but hope that the DOT will correct the signage: the community is ARDOCH and the DARIEN RIVER is a river. (I can’t even bear to type Darien and creek together.) May we always be proud of our heritage and be willing to work to tell the good stories of our past to future generations.

Lloyd Y. Flanders