PIONEERING YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW
Official Newsletter of the
National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers
January 2010, Volume 6, Number 1
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
My Friends,
Thanks for being members of SUP. We are starting our 77th year and continue to build a wonderful heritage. What a great year this will be for SUP.
We start Saturday, January 9th, with the Chapter President’s Council meeting where we will get to know each other; talk about past meetings, activities or events and share new ones; make plans and set goals. We will also be sharing and calendaring major chapter and national events, projects and activities.
Our theme this year is “What Do We Owe our Pioneer Ancestors”. Look forward to a bookmark we will be giving out with our mission statement and our 2010 goals. Let’s remember what makes our chapters fun and full of the pioneering spirit.
We have over 160 new life members. Thanks to those who converted from annual membership and to those who invited friends to join as life members.
Thank-you to those who gave gift subscriptions to the Pioneer Magazine. We had over 350 gifts given.
Remember the Trail Marker is our monthly newsletter for all members. This is the forum where chapters can talk about past meetings, activities or events but we can also share upcoming meetings, activities or events in the Trail Marker. The Trail Marker is available by email (if you have given us your email address), or by going to our website at www.sonsofutahpioneers.org.
Welcome to a great pioneering year,
Dil Strasser
2010 SUP National President
thesassers@hotmail.com
NATIONALNEWS
Send national news to: rogerflick@comcast.net
THANKS TO AVP’S
Outgoing Area Vice Presidents include Homer LeBaron, George Adamson, Doug Loosle, Jerry Glenn, LaMar Adams, and Richard Horrocks. Many thanks to these AVP’s who have served so well. -- Thank You.
LYNN BRADSHAW RECOGNIZED
President Roger Flick recognized SUP member Lynn Bradshaw at the monthly Eagle Rock chapter meeting in Idaho Falls for his generous contribution of the large metal SUP medallion which hangs in the gathering room of the SUP National Headquarters Building. It has been there for several years.
ANGUS AND NATE BELLISTON THANKED
Many thanks to Angus Belliston for being the director of the SUP Web site. His son Nate has served as the webmaster. Angus and Nate have done a great job. Roger Flick will be overseeing the SUP website and Susan Lofgren has been appointed as the new webmaster.
NATIONAL INSTALLATION OF SUP OFFICERS
The Area Vice Presidents had their Board Meeting on December 8, which was followed by the annual installation of National Officers. Booth Maycock, Immediate Past President, administered the “Swearing In of Officers” (below). The Mountain Jubilee Chorus provided Christmas music.
Above, left to right: Booth Maycock administering oath, Bob Deboer (AVP), Brett Woodard (AVP), Dil Strasser (National President), Milton Jones (AVP), Roger C. Flick (Immediate Past President), LaMar Adams (National President-Elect).
TRAIL MARKER NEWSLETTER
For those new to the Trail Marker newsletter, it can be found on the SUP website at: www.sonsofutahpioneers.org . Please review it each month to get ideas for chapter activities. Also, please send Louis Pickett information on your chapter meetings each month. His email is: louwill@utahbroadband.com
CHAPTER NEWS
By Louis Pickett: louwill@utahbroadband.com
COTTON MISSION (St. George, Utah) The December Trail Marker included a report of J.L. Crawford’s (right) visit to the chapter. Additional information about him and his experiences as he grew up in the area are given this month. He told of the first automobile in Zion’s canyon. He also related memories of the construction of the Zion tunnel which was completed when he was a teenager. He talked about the importance of the timber industry in the development of the area. The timber was on the top of the mountain and a crane was built up there to lower the timber to the valley floor. He also told of some of the early movies made in the park. Entertainment for the December meeting was provided by Abe Young who sang several Christmas songs and told the story of the writing of “Far, Far Away on Judea’s plains”. John Macfarlane, a St. George resident, was the author. Abe also told a few Christmas stories that were new to most of those attending. These stories directed focus to the birth of Jesus as the central theme for the celebration of Christmas. Russ Bateman and
Eldon Hafen were recognized and given Modern Pioneers Awards for their service. (below are Bateman on the left, Hafen on the right)
HOLLADAY (Holladay, Utah) The Mountain West Chorale came to the December chapter meeting and entertained the group and helped to get them into the spirit of Christmas. It is a large group with about 45 members who sang Christmas songs. It was a great evening. The leaders of the chapter are encouraging support from all members as they prepare to host the 2011 National Convention. It has been a very long time since the convention was last hosted by a chapter from the Salt Lake Valley and every effort will be made to see that it is a special one.
HURRICANE (Hurricane, Utah) Following a very delicious Dutch Oven dinner with all the trimmings the members and guests were entertained by Colleen Simkins at the piano and vocalist Margaret Cravey. They played and sang Christmas songs. Also a video was shown which provided a pictorial history of treks taken during the past two years and early pictures of Hurricane.
JORDAN RIVER TEMPLE (Southwest Salt Lake Valley) The combined Jordan River Temple and Temple Quarry Chapters were entertained by the Riverton High School “Cadence Choir” (right) at their December dinner meeting. The choir sang various favorite and some little known carols and songs to the enjoyment of all attendees. JRT President, Phares Horman, told of an incident that happened to his great, great grandfather in which he was nearly roasted in his own bakery oven while fleeing persecution in France one hundred and seventy years ago.
MAPLE MOUNTAIN (Mapleton, Utah) A very interesting multi media presentation was given at the December chapter meeting by George Potter (right). He entitled his presentation “Peru, Land of the Book of Mormon”. He emphasized that no one knows where the Book of Mormon places were, and then showed evidences of why he believed the lands of Zarahemla and Nephi were in Peru. Of particular note were legends and ancient paintings about two brothers who hated each other and whose descendants fought each other until the dark people destroyed the white.
MILLS (Southeast Salt Lake City) The chapter was given a Christmas gift from the Utah Chamber Artists in December. It was a choral Christmas program from this internationally acclaimed group of singers which was led by Dr. Barlow Bradford. Dr. Bradford introduced each selection with background comments and information about the makeup of the singing group. The talented pianist originated from Armenia and displayed his talents as an accompanist and as a soloist during a piano interlude. It was stated that these “artists” rehearse six or seven times before presenting their concerts. That kind of practice was evident because of the quality of the concert. The chapter really enjoyed the program.
PORTER ROCKWELL (Draper, Utah) The chapter enjoyed a presentation by Jerry Johnston (right) at their November dinner meeting. Jerry is the religion editor and an editorial writer for the Deseret News. He writes weekly columns in the Thursday morning section, Mormon Times, and on the religion pages each Saturday morning. Jerry gave an inspirational talk about heroes in our lives and related his own motivational story about President Gordon B. Hinckley’s influence in his life. As a youth Jerry served a mission in Bolivia but later in his life he became less active in the church. Pres. Hinckley invited Jerry to join him on a trip some years ago to dedicate a new temple in Bolivia. To his surprise President Hinckley called on him in one of the dedicatory sessions to speak about his memories from his mission days in Bolivia. This was a life changing experience for Jerry. The spiritual feelings he had at that time were intensified over the next few weeks after suffering a serious heart attack in the Houston Airport while en route to Utah. He had somewhat of a near-death experience. The temple dedication and the emergency treatment for the heart attack brought about “a mighty change“ in his heart. He related the impact these experiences have had on his full commitment to the church and the restored gospel. Note: Chapter president, Doug Palmer, was also a writer for the newspaper and worked for many years alongside Jerry.
SALT LAKE PIONEER (Salt Lake City, Utah) In December the chapter enjoyed a musical treat provided by Tom Pike. Tom is a renowned singer and teacher whose remarkable tenor voice has been a community treasure for several decades. His musical gifts are enhanced by the special goodwill and spirit he brings to his performances. He gave his audience inspiring renditions and commentary which enhanced the Spirit of Christmas. The festive Christmas decorations in the Lion House added to the wonderful spirit that was felt by all who attended.
SEVIER VALLEY (Richfield, Utah) In anticipation of a trek to the area, the subject of the September meeting was about the historic Bluff area and the San Juan Mission. The trek was a very successful overnight trip to bluff on October 23-24. The group visited the fort and heard the history of the Hole in the Rock Expedition. They saw some of the original remains of cabins and artifacts from the past and also the newly constructed replica log homes (below). These homes represent homes built and used by the early settlers and have been built by their decedents and others who have volunteered to help with the project. The latest addition to the fort is a statue of President John Taylor (right) who, as Prophet and President of the church, made the call for the mission to settle the San Juan area. The group was present for the dedication of the monument by Elder L. Tom Perry on the 24th . In addition to Elder Perry, his wife and Governor Herbert (also pictured at right) were present for the dedication. The program for November featured Dr. Garth Norman, a professional archaeologist. He gave a slide presentation on “The Parowan Gap. The presentation was very interesting and was enjoyed by the chapter.
SQUAW PEAK (Orem, Utah) James Oneil Miner, a popular pianist, composer and entertainer, provided the program for the chapter’s December meeting. He has entertained audiences all over the world both in concert and recorded. His music was profoundly impacted by performers of the 50’s and 60’s including Lavar Jensen of the Julliard School of Music. All who attended the meeting were most pleased with his style of entertainment.
TEMPLE FORK (Logan, Utah) Chapter members and guests gained a renewed and expanded appreciation of the hardships suffered by the handcart companies that came to Utah in 1855-56 as Paul Willie spoke at the November meeting. Paul is a great-great grandson of James G. Willie. He spoke of the companies that made the trek with handcarts. The Perpetual Emigration Fund had run out of funds and Brigham Young got the idea to use handcarts to save money. A total of ten companies made the trip to Utah. Most of the immigrants who came with handcarts were from England, Scotland and Denmark. Paul reported that the difficulty the Willie Company experienced was due to lack of supplies where they were expected at Ft. Laramie and an early winter. In the Willie Company there were 84 children less than 12 years of age. They had 43 cattle which were to be used for food on the trail. As a result of a buffalo stampede 30 of the cattle were lost. Mostly because of the cold and weakness due to lack of food, 66 members of the Willie Company died while crossing from Iowa City to Salt Lake City. Paul was well informed and gave an interesting report.
2009 Medallions
Golden Spike
Also 2008 Headquarters
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The "TrailMarker" is the official newsletter of the
National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers
Please send or email your pictures and stories to:
National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers
3301 East 2920 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84109
Phone: 801-484-4441
Fax: 801-484-2067
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