SUVCW-L Archives

Archiver > SUVCW > 2008-04 > 1209583538


From: "Ernest Everett Blevins" <>
Subject: [SUVCW] membership longevity (thread off of "We still ll have lotsof work to do")
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:25:38 -0400


" A well respected brother of the Order said to me not two weeks ago that he
fears that if the Order doesn't double
it's membership over the sesquicentennial of the Civil War the SUVCW will
not be here to observe the bi-centennial. I looked around the room and saw
more grey hair than not. Of thirty brothers at the meeting 3 were under 40.
Of those three one was in his 20s and the other was a junior. This is not
a good statistic for an organization that once numbered 200,000 men." Doug
McMillin JVC

The quote by Doug above is very true, and it is not just the SUVCW that has
this problem of a majority older membership. I'm 39 now and I started
joining societies when I was about 20 or so. Mayflower, SCV were my only
two for a long time. Now I've added SAR, Founders & Patriots, several
family societies, and of course SUVCW. Some of these I'm more active than
others (SAR, SCV, SUVCW). Until only a year or so ago I was generally the
youngest in the crowd in most of these organizations. And often I still am
at meetings although not necessarily the youngest on rolls.

I think there is something to be said in this from Doug and the recent
comment by Eric on someone who found he had 5 Union and no Confederate
ancestors. A combination of lack of American history/civics on our students
today, lack of knowing where the family came from and who they were, and a
lack of the concept to do something in the community all play a part of it.
These all are larger factors than how much dues are -- which stemmed from a
similar discussion on a SCV list.

I think the most important age group to reach out to is the college age as
they are educated enough to have an interest, likely seeking involvement if
not resume enhancers, will most likely have some spending income later for
dues and donations, and they will have a longevity for the organization. I
think recruiting from all levels of the community is good, but I think some
extra in this demographic might be some fresh blood to the SUVCW. I know we
haven't but has anyone tried recruiting posters or even a booth on their
local campus? Maybe the local campus could supply a meeting space to use
and therefore attract the youth.

Ernie Blevins
List Administrator

Ernest Everett Blevins, MFA • Blevins Historical Research
110 Evergreen Way • Villa Rica, Georgia 30180
• 770-456-1876

Historic Preservation Consultant -- Historical and Architectural Research --
Genealogical (Family) Research -- Preservation Planning and Documentation --
House History

Member: American Planning Association, New England Historic Genealogical
Society, Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Sons
of Union Veterans, and member of numerous other lineage and heritage
societies.


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