The Chapter's Annual Meeting and Washington's Birthday Dinner was held on Saturday, February 14th at Manna's Restaurant and Banquet House in Ballston Spa, NY. Fellowship was enjoyed from 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm, followed by dinner.

During the business meeting changes were approved to the Constitution and Bylaws which gives us more flexibility in the number of officers we can have; reduced of the number of required yearly meetings from 3 to1 and spells out the succession of vice presidents to the office of president in the event that the presidency becomes vacant.

Past Chapter President Richard C. Saunders, Jr. with Past Chapter President Lewis Slocum, Jr. assisting, installed the officers that we elected to serve the 2009-2011 term.

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Past Chapter President Rick Saunders installs Chapter Officers: Richard H. Fullam, President; Primitivo Africa, 1st Vice-President (pictured is stand-in Peter Fullam), Dennis F. Marr, Genealogist (photo courtesy of Dianne Fullam)

Dennis Marr; Michael S. Companion, Treasurer; Raymond W. LeMay, III, Secretary; Thomas L. Dunne; Registrar; Charles F. Walter, IV, 2nd Vice-President and, not pictured, Peter K. Goebel, Chaplain (photo courtesy of Dianne Fullam)

Chapter President Richard Hale Fullam presides over the meeting (photo courtesy of Dianne Fullam)

Click here to view article published in "The Express" published at Mechanicville, NY.

President Rich Fullam congratulates and welcomes Bob Brownell to the Chapter (photo courtesy of Dianne Fullam)

President Rich Fullam congratulates and welcomes George Malinoski to the Chapter (Photo Courtesy of Duane Booth)

Duane Booth was presented a Certificate of Appreciation from Past President George Ballard and he was also presented the Distinguished Service Certificate and Medal, a society level award. Past Empire State Society President Peter K. Goebel, who selected Duane for the award, is on active military status and was unable to present the award in person and asked Chapter President Fullam to present the award in his absence.

A society president can present one Distinguished Service Award each year to an individual who has performed at the highest level within the society. In the prepared remarks by Peter he stated that he selected Duane for this prestigious award because of his work as the Society's Database Manager and because he increased the Society's membership.

During Peter's 3-year term as ESS President Duane worked tirelessly at keeping the Society's database current and accurate. At the same time Duane was the Society's Capital Region Vice-President and Assistant State Secretary, served on several important Society committees, some as chair, played an important role in chartering two new chapters in the Capital Region and gained many new members for the Society winning the National Society's Florence Kendall award for the most new members in calendar 2006 (65).

Duane Booth (l) & Rich Fullam (photo courtesy of Dianne Fullam)

The chapter was honored to have our Eagle Scout and Knight Essay contest winners present along with their parents. Each young man received a check for their effort and each read their winning essay.

Click here to read the winning essay.

Patrick Dore & Past President Rick Saunders (photo courtesy of Duane Booth)

Marilyn, Patrick & Mark Dore (photo courtesy of Duane Booth)

Click here to read the winning essay.

Charles G. Rappazzo & Past President Rick Saunders (photo courtesy of Duane Booth)

Charles J., Charles G., & Beth L. Rappazzo (photo courtesy of Duane Booth)

Chapter President Rich Fullam congratulates newly elected Chapter Secretary Ray LeMay who is the Commander of the Col. George L. Willard Camp #154, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

President Rich Fullam congratulates Secretary Ray LeMay on his election (photo courtesy of Duane Booth)