T The Newsletter of the Salt Creek Civil War Roundtable Vol. XLXIV No. 4 December 2010 436th Regular Meeting The display of Memorabilia and Show and Tell is an old feature of Salt Creek meetings that has been resurrected by popular demand. It allows members to share items of special interest and their stories relating to their acqusition and historical significance. It is also a time to sit back, relax and munch on a few holiday treats (members are encouraged, but not required to bring) Those scheduled to present are Gale Pewitt, Roger Bohn and Don Sender. Anyone else who wishes to participate just bring your items to the meeting. December also means election of officers. The present officers are President: Jan Rasmussen; Vice-President: Rob Girardi; Secretary: Rick Zarr; Treasurer: Jean Cairns; Board Members: Cindy Heckler, Gil Mitchell, Chuck Kurtz and Len Overcash. So far there are no volunteers for the president position. Jan Rasmussen is willing to stay on for ONE FINAL YEAR. (Anyone chanting four more years at the meeting will be shot). Rick Benson has volunteered for the Vice- President position. Rick Zarr is willing to stay on as secretary. Jean Cairns is willing to stay on as treasurer. Cindy Heckler, Gil Mitchell, Chuck Kurz, and Rob Girardi are willing to stay on as board members. Nominations will be accepted prior to the meeting and from the floor. Active membership has been on the decline. The future of the round table is dependent on the membership's participation and support. If you are interested in having a voice in this group, we could use the help. The Outpost DATE: 17 December 2010 PLACE: Fairview Village, Downers Grove, IL. 60532 TIME: 8:00 p.m. TOPIC: "MEMORABILIA DISPLAY and SHOW AND TELL NIGHT" NOVEMBER MEETING BY RICK BENSON On Friday November 19, 2010, the Salt Creek Civil War Round Table held its’ Annual Book Auction at the Glen Ellyn History Center. As you know, this is our groups primary source for obtaining funds that are then donated to various Civil War Preservation Trust sites. This year we had a different auction format. When you first walked into the auction room, there was a long banquet table that was covered with various books on assorted aspects of the Civil War, that were all priced out at $10.00 each. To the far right were several tables that were covered with Civil War related books that were all priced out at $5.00 each. There were also several tables adjacent to these $5.00 books that were covered with various Civil War magazines. There were many issues of Blue & Grey, Civil War Times, North and South, Americas Civil War, Civil War Historian, plus there was one older magazine that I cannot remember the name of as I write this, and that I had never heard of before. There was also a table in the back of the room that had more $5.00 each books. Both prior to the auction, and after the auction, you were allowed to pick up these $5.00 and $10.00 each books and purchase them. Between the $10.00 book table, and $5.00 book tables, there were several tables of the books that would be auctioned off. All the attendees had the opportunity to thumb through these books for auction prior to the actual auction, to determine “if” they wanted to bid on that book. All bidding started at $10.00 per book. Prior to starting the auction, a drawing was held for the 48 CD lectures on the Civil War by Professor Gary W. Gallagher. These CD’s were graciously donated by Don Sender. A total of 40 tickets were offered for sale. Don Sender had a drawing to determine the winner, and the winner was Roger Bohn! A total of $205.00 was raised by this raffle. All 40 tickets were sold, plus there was an anonymous $5.00 donation. A hearty “Thank You” to Don Sender for this $205.00 donation to Civil War Preservation Trust! Dan McCarthy, and Jerry Feinstein. For those of you that were not able to attend, you missed a fine effort by Rob Girardi of slipping in innumerable one liners, whenever the opportunity presented itself. These can be exemplified by a comment of a book dealing with Civil War sea battles, & Rob chimed in with a comment “that this particular book made a splash when it came out”. As usual, this event was a lot of fun for all that attended! The book auction realized $1,367.00 for Civil War Preservation Trust. Coupled with the $205.00 realized by Don Sender’s Gary W. Gallagher CD raffle, Salt Creek CWRT generated $1,572.00! Again, the writer left happily with more books and magazines purchased at the auction, than books and magazines donated prior to the auction. A special “thank you” also goes out to all the individuals that were involved in the setup of all the books to be sold or auctioned off. Due to shear volume alone, this setup alone was a significant amount of work. PRESERVATION REPORT BY LEN OVERCASH, SR. For the second consecutive year, Charity Navigator, America’s leading charity evaluator, has awarded the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) its coveted 4-star ranking, indicating it to be one of America’s best managed nonprofit groups. Moreover, with a score of 68.84 out of a possible 70, the evaluation was the most favorable CWPT has yet received. “Civil War Preservation Trust consistently executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America,” noted Charity Navigator President and CEO Ken Berger, in his December 3, 2010, letter announcing the honor. “This ‘exceptional’ designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Civil War Preservation Trust from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.” CWPT President James Lighthizer expressed appreciation for the award, saying: “During this difficult economy, donors seek out charitable causes that are careful stewards of their generosity, and CWPT goes the extra mile to make sure every donated dollar counts. Receiving the Charity Navigator 4-star rating again this year is a testament to our constant effort to pursue our mission — saving hallowed ground —in a responsible, transparent, cost-effective manner.” Berger echoed Lighthizer’s remarks, stating: “In this competitive philanthropic marketplace, Charity Navigator, America’s premier charity evaluator, highlights the fine work of efficient charities … and provides donors with essential information to give them greater confidence in the charitable choices they make.” Charity Navigator is the nation’s largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities. Its professional analysts examine tens of thousands of non-profit financial documents each year. Forbes, Business Week, and Kiplinger’s Financial Magazine have profiled and celebrated Charity Navigator’s unique method of applying data-driven analysis to the charities. Charity Navigator uses its analysis to develop an unbiased, objective rating system that assesses the financial health of more than 5,000 of America’s best-known charities. According to Charity Navigator, its rating system influenced over $10 billion in charitable gifts last year. In making the announcement, The Battle of Franklin Trust Chairman Marianne Schroer said, “We have joined forces with The Heritage Foundation to bring two of Franklin’s Christmas traditions together for a fabulous visitor experience. Following ‘Dickens,’ guests can visit a neighborhood of decorated historic homes to punctuate a true, nostalgic Christmas.” In final documents filed this week with the state’s Gaming Control Board, developers proposing a $75 million casino resort near Gettysburg argued their top competitor is “ineligible” for the gaming license that it covets. The proposed Nemacolin Resort Casino in western Pennsylvania falls short of meeting the 275-room requirement, according to a report by Mason Dixon Casino investors, because the resort does not meet the state-mandated room requirement for a Category Three “resort” license. ALL FOR THE UNION Many thanks to all who participated in the annual auction: * Jerry Feinstein and Dan McCarthy for an entertaining evening. * Jean Cairns and Cindy Heckler for running a smooth cashier table. * Jan Rasmussen, Rick Zarr, Roger Bohn and Rob Girardi for organizing and setting up. * Weldon Johnson and the staff at the Glen Ellyn History Center for their setup help and support. *Don Sender for donating and selling the raffle tickets for the Great Courses in Modern History CD Series. *All the members who donated items and purchased items. Rob Girardi's new book Gettysburg in Art & Artifacts is FINALLY HERE Copies will be available at the next meeting (just in time for Christmas) Softcover $30 and hardcover $45. (This is Rob's 8th book) UPCOMING CIVIL WAR EVENTS DECEMBER 21, 2010 LINCOLN-DAVIS CWRT Speaker: Tom Flagel "Appomattox: Place of Surrender and National Resurrection" Country House Restaurant 5400 W. 127th Street Alsip IL Lincolndavisroundtable@yahhoo.com JANUARY 7, 2011 NORTHERN ILLINOIS CWRT Speaker: Leslie Goddard Topic: "Clara Barton" Arlington Heights Memorial Library 500 N. Dunton Ave. Arlington Heights, IL 60004 www.nicwrt.freehostia.com JANUARY 14, 2011 CHICAGO CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE Speaker: Lawrence L. Hewitt Zarr Topic: "Slandered Heroes: Deserters Who Didn't" Holiday Inn Mart Plaza Chicago 350 North Orleans Street Dinner 6:30 p.m. (630) 460-1865 to make reservations chicagocwrtdinner@earthlink.net JANUARY 27, 2011 SOUTH SUBURBAN CWRT Speaker Cathy Schultz Topic: "Civil War in Films" National Bank of Frankfort LaGrange Rd (Rt. 45) & Lincoln Hwy (Rt. 30) pw279@sbcglobal.net reservations FUTURE MEETINGS 2011 (3RD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH) Jan 21, 2011: Speaker: Roger Bohn "Zebulan Vance: South Carolina"s CW THE SALT CREEK CWRT www.saltcreekcwrt.org President: Jan Rasmussen Vice-President: Rob Girardi Treasurer: Jean Cairns Secretary: Rick Zarr Historian: Cindy Intravartolo Meeting Liason: Mary Lord Newsletter Editor: Jennie Warner jenniewarner@gmail.com Newsletter Staff: Rick Benson, Rick Zarr, Len Overcash Sr. Rasmussen Webmaster: Stephen Munier