THE BRIDGE Governor William Bradford Colony Florida Society of Mayflower Descendants

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1 THE BRIDGE Governor William Bradford Colony Florida Society of Mayflower Descendants Volume 15, Issue 1 Winter 2016 IT S 2016 AND I HOPE FOR AN EXCITING NEW YEAR FOR YOU AND OUR COLONY! Right after our November meeting, a new Bradford Colony member who has transferred from Minnesota volunteered to become our Captain! She is Theresa McGoldrick living in Apollo Beach. WELCOME THERESA! Helen and I attended the State Meeting held at The Villages. Helen made us proud as the new State Captain! Reports were given and we are still #1 in Membership of Adults and Juniors!! It s important that EVERY MEMBER who has a son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter graduating High School Senior encourage them to apply for our Florida Society State Scholarships! We are awarding two $1500 scholarships. The deadline is April 1, They are also eligible for the four General Society Scholarships of $6000, $4000, $3000 and $2000. Florida s Andrew Mange was the 3 rd winner of $2500 in IT DOESN T MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS!! For details, contact me: mayflowersharpe@tampabay.rr.com Smiles, Laura S. Brock Colony Governor Meeting Schedule Feb. 6, 2016 May 7, 2016 Nov 5, 2016 SEE YOU AT OUR MEETING TO ENJOY OUR EXTRAORDINARY SPEAKER: DR. PETER WALDRON (STEPHEN HOPKINS) If you have paid your 2016 dues, thank you! If you haven t paid your dues, please see remittance form on the last page. Thank you in advance!

2 William Bradford Colony of Florida, Society of Mayflower Descendants General Meeting Minutes Date: November 7, 2015 Location: St. Petersburg Yacht Club Call to Order: Colony Governor Laura Brock called the meeting to order at 12 noon. Invocation: Colony Elder Margaret Christie gave the invocation. Pledges: Lynda Schoonover led the pledges to the American Flag and the Mayflower Flag. Presentation of New Member: State Historian Muriel Cushing announced that Beatrice Cayzer and Cathy Rayburn had been approved in Plymouth on October 30. Introductions: Governor Laura Brock introduced our speaker former State Governor and current Captain General Ren Cushing and his wife State Historian Muriel Cushing. She introduced new member Terri McGoldrick (transfer from Minnesota) and her family. Jon Stubbs will help Laura with applications during the six months he is in Florida. Other guests included Lt. Col David Gibbs, Rev. John Peterson and Juli Ormsby. Lunch: The meeting recessed for lunch from 12:20 to 1:10 pm. Minutes: The minutes of the May 2 meeting were approved as published in the newsletter and will be filed. Treasurer s Report: The checking account and the scholarship balances were presented and filed. GSMD Coin Project: Muriel Cushing encouraged all of us to write to our senators and representatives to ask them to vote in favor of bills authorizing U.S. Mint produce a commemorative coin of the 400 th anniversary of the Mayflower in She provided letters that we can send. Muriel also reported on the Bridges Project to link DAR patriots back to their Mayflower passenger ancestors. She also reported that the funds collected from the 1620 Club will fund publication of the silver books and preservation, the scholarship fund and fundraising. NEHGS will now publish The Mayflower Descendant. Scholarship Report: Laura announced that the State will have two $1500 scholarships and National has scholarships of $6000, $4000, $3000 and $2000. Junior Membership Chair: Elizabeth Whitehurst has a goal to increase contact with our junior members and their sponsors. She placed junior membership applications on each table. Junior members can join for a one-time $30 fee. They will be eligible to join FSMD at age 18, but must join by age 25, in order to not have to pay application fees to GSMD. Program: Helen Bennett introduced Ren Cushing who spoke on life in the American colonies from 1700 to Governor Laura Brock asked for a volunteer to take the new Brewster and Standish silver books to the Largo Library. She had extra June and September Mayflower Quarterlies to give away. Captain George Pratt resigned and needs to be replaced. Terri McGoldrick volunteered. 50/50 Winner: 50/50 drawing was won by Juli Ormsby who gave her winnings back to the scholarship fund. Roll Call of Ancestors: Margaret Christie and Kathleen Rottino conducted the roll call of ancestors. Richard Warren came in first place with ten descendants. John Alden and John Howland tied in second place with eight descendants. Benediction: Elder Margaret Christie gave the benediction. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 2:30 pm by Colony Governor Laura Brock. Respectfully submitted, Elizabeth Werner, Secretary

3 November Meeting Highlights Our speaker was Ren Cushing, Captain General of the National Society of Mayflower Descendants and past Governor of the Florida Society of Mayflower Descendants. The subject of his presentation was "If you were a Colonist" and describes what it was like in the period between 1770 and 1776 and the Road to the Revolution. His wife, Muriel Cushing, who is the Florida State Historian, gave updates on several items. There is an effort underway to obtain an authorization for the U.S. Mint produce a commemorative coin of the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower in She provided letters for us to send to our Senators and Representatives. Muriel discussed the Bridges Project which will help document DAR patriot s link back to their Mayflower passenger ancestors. Welcome New Members New Members since November Meeting Beatrice Fairbanks Cayzer Catherine Margaret Rayburn Paul Arad Dunham Ancestor John Howland John Howland William Brewster Transfers in to Bradford Colony Rebecca Ann Bandy Beverly Ann Ward Wood John Adair Ancestor Richard Warren Richard Warren William Brewster Reinstatement Lee Alan Peterson Ancestor: Myles Standish Deceased Nov 17, Life Member: Lois Nangle Crossley

4 Junior Members New Junior Members Sponsor Ancestor Skylar Lea Rottino Kathleen Rottino William Bradford Emily Rottino Kathleen Rottino William Bradford Daniel Michael Rottino Kathleen Rottino William Bradford Alcien Marie Lynch Alice Thompson Thomas Rogers Please send your Junior Member Applications to: Liz Whitehurst th Ave Seminole, Fl For More Info: Or 727/ Lunch Meeting Our guest speaker is Peter Waldron, fellow Mayflower descendant, international political consultant, businessman and humanitarian. Long before the Sons of Liberty or Sam and John Adams or the modern-day TEA Party there was Peter Waldron s ancestral grandfather, Stephen Hopkins, the New World's first patriot. Those loyal to the Crown of England have not treated him well in history or in literature but when the facts are presented as evidence, and the truth brought to light, an entirely new understanding and appreciation for one of the Pilgrim's greatest heroes is introduced to the thinking Mayflower descendant. Peter will bring Mr. Hopkins' passion, integrity, and courage to the audience. He will also convince us there is not another man like him for 150+ years and very few like him in all of American history. Stephen Hopkins - remarkable man, and extraordinary human being.

5 Meeting Information Location: St. Petersburg Yacht Club 11 Central Avenue St. Petersburg, FL (Call for directions) Date: February 6, 2016 Gathering: 11:30-Noon Noon: Call to Order Lunch Menu House Salad, Mediterranean Chicken: Herb Seared Chicken topped with C Kalamata Olives, Roasted Tomatoes, Crumbled Feta, Orzo Pasta New York Cheese Cake (Indicate below if Vegetarian Menu is preferred.) Luncheon Reservations: $30 (including valet parking). Make checks payable to Governor William Bradford Colony. Send reservations by Monday, February 1 to: Libby Werner, Secretary/Treasurer 2625 State Road 590 #222 Clearwater, Florida ( ehwclw@wowway.com) Member s Name: Number of Guests and Guest Names: If preferred, indicate number of Vegetarian Meals. Enclosed is a check for $ for person(s). (Optional) Enclosed is $15 for the purchase of an official name badge Dues Remittance Form: Member name: Address: Dues Total: $34 If you haven t yet, please send check for $34 made payable to Governor William Bradford Colony to: Laura S. Brock, Colony Governor 430 Bay St. NE #705 St. Petersburg, Florida

6 Governor William Bradford Colony Florida Society of Mayflower Descendants Laura S. Brock, Colony Historian 430 Bay St. NE #705 St. Petersburg, Florida SUPPORT OUR BRADFORD SCHOLARSHIP. BUY 50/50 TICKETS AT THE MEETING. Tickets: $3 for 1 ticket, $5 for 2 tickets and $10 for 5 tickets. 50% of the proceeds go to the winning name drawn and the remaining 50% goes to the scholarship fund.