I had the opportunity to attend the NSSAR 135th Annual Congress held at the Mohegan Sun Resort in Uncasville, Connecticut, from July 13 through July 17, 2025. Here is a photo of my wife Paula and I the evening of July 16, 2025, just before the President General’s Banquet. My notes on the proceedings are after the photo.
IM Vice President Ellis Rail (2022-2025) with wife, Paula at the President General’s Banquet
ELECTIONS
President General 2024 – 2025 Darryl S. Addington presided over the Congress. Nominations of General Officers, Vice Presidents General, National Trustees, and Alternate Trustees were presented and voted upon. There were two contested General Officer positions, Treasurer General and Genealogist General. Genealogist General Gary O. Green was reelected with a substantial majority. The race for Treasurer General was won by Brooks Lyles over Edmon McKinley by one vote! Your vote matters!
Meet the new general officers for 2025-2026.
The other general offices were uncontested and elected by acclamation. Their information is available at https://www.sar.org/general-officers/.
Of interest to the Intermountain District, Compatriot Frank A. Gagliardi of the Utah Society SAR was elected as Vice President General 2025-2026 Intermountain District NSSAR and sworn in as such at the Installation Banquet on Thursday evening July 17,2025.
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS PROPOSALS
Voted on by Trustees and/or Delegates
The proposed amendment to NSSAR Bylaw No. 14 – Chaplain General – to bring the definition of chaplain into compliance with the IRS definition PASSED
The proposed amendment to Section 1. (c.) (2.) of Bylaw No. 21 – Special Advisory and Program Committees – to replace the automatic succession of the Chairman of the Council of State Presidents with a nomination and selection procedure outlined in the Council’s Bylaws PASSED
The 3 proposed changes to Bylaw No. 22 – Fees and Dues – adding Sections 11, 12, and 13 FAILED
The proposed amendment to Section 1 of Bylaw No. 22 – Fees and dues changing the term admission fee to application fee, removing the requirement “has been elected a member to a state society of SAR and”, removing membership eligibility for Sons of the Revolution (SR) PASSED
The proposed amendment to Bylaw No. 24, Fund Management – Section 2 – Investment Policy – (c) -George Washington Endowment Fund – allowing the George Washington Endowment Fund (GWEF) to enjoy similar rates of return as the other invested funds. This proposal requires 75% approval by Trustees (Passed), 75% approval by delegates (Passed), and 75% approval by State Societies (to be done).
The proposed amendment to the NSSAR Constitution, Article III – Eligibility for Membership – and Bylaw No. 1 – Membership – to expand the availability of memorial memberships PASSED
The proposed amendment to Bylaw No. 1 – Membership – Section 2 – to provide for the status of “Provisional Member” while an application is pending at national headquarter FAILED
The proposed amendment to Bylaw No. 2 – State Societies and Chapters – to provide for national at-large membership. REFERRED BACK TO MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
The proposed amendment to Bylaw No. 7 – Treasurer General – to require professional credentials for the Treasurer General and to create a presumption of two years of service; to change “insure” to “ensure” FAILED
The proposed amendment to Bylaw No. 18 – Executive Committee – to add the Executive Vice President General and one additional at-large member to maintain an odd number of voting members. WITHDRAWN
The proposed amendment to Bylaw No. 19 – Standing Committees – Section 1 (e) – Genealogy Committee – to streamline the role and purpose of the Genealogy Committee and bring them into alignment with the interests of the National Society FAILED
The proposed amendment to Bylaw No. 20 – Nominating Committee and Nomination Procedure – Section 2 – Nomination Procedure – to expand the role of the Nominating Committee to include the recruitment of qualified candidates for every office; to exempt the sitting Secretary General and Executive Vice President General from the restrictions relating to announcements and endorsements for higher office; and to authorize the committee to nominate more than one qualified candidate for each office REFERRED BACK TO BYLAWS COMMITTEE
The proposed amendment to the Constitution and Bylaws to create the position of Executive Vice President General FAILED
The Resolution to have the President General appoint a committee to consider the alignment of the National Districts every ten (10) years beginning in 2025. The Committee should consider geography and the distribution of SAR population. The Committee may recommend the realignment, deletion, or addition of SAR National Districts. PASSED
RECOGNITION
THE MINUTEMAN AWARD is the most prestigious award of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. The National Executive Committee established the award in 1951. Only those Compatriots who have made distinguished and exceptional service to the National Society may be recognized. The recipient may receive the award only once. The Minuteman Award was first presented at the 1952 National Congress…The award has been presented annually since 1952. Since 1967, a maximum of six awards may be presented each year.
This year’s honorees are:
Jay A. DeLoach – North Carolina Society
Thomas J. Jackson – Texas Society
Daniel R. McKelvie – California Society
Edmond H. McKinley – Alabama Society
Greg Ohanesian – South Carolina Society
William E. Sharp III – Michigan Society
State Society Awards were addressed in a separate article. President General 2024-2025 Darryl S. Addington presented the Gold Henry Knox Medal, to each Vice President General 2024 – 2025, including the Intermountain District 2024 – 2025 Vice President General Ellis Rail of the Idaho Society who has dual membership in, and filled the term of, John Rice of the Montana Society who experienced serious medical just before the 2024 Congress at which he was to be installed.
AMERICA 250
My wife and I attended an America 250 event at the War Office/Trumbull House located in Lebanon, Connecticut. An SAR America 250 Bench was unveiled in a ceremony that included a 3 round musket volley fired by the Connecticut Society SAR firing squad. A special proclamation was read by the Town of Trumbull First Selectman. The War Office is owned and maintained, including guided tours, by the Connecticut Society SAR. Jonathan Trumbull was named the “Rebel Governor” by the British and was the only colonial governor who was loyal to the patriot cause from before and through the Revolutionary War.
CLOSING
It has been a privilege to represent the Intermountain District as its Vice President General over the past three years at Congress, National Leadership Meetings, State Society Annual Meetings, Public Events, and to attend individual chapter meetings throughout the district. Our district is small, but we have some great leaders. It has been my privilege to learn from so many of them. Thank you for all you have done to contribute to my growth and development in SAR.
I come away from this congress more persuaded than ever that we need greater voice at congress and leadership meetings. We need State Presidents, National Trustees, and delegates committed to attending those meetings. We only have a vote if the national officers we nominate as Trustees attend the Congress at which they are elected and sworn in. If that does not happen, they, and we, have no vote. I understand the financial strain that accompanies volunteer service because there is no reimbursement from NSSAR for our travel and lodging but the work we do is so very important and necessary.
I commit myself to continued service to the NSSAR at whatever level needed. I pledge my continued support to our new Vice President General Frank Gagliardi and trust that you will too.
Grateful regards,
Ellis Rail
Vice President General 2022-2025
Intermountain District NSSAR