Dear Fellow Members of the South Carolina Society Sons of the American Revolution,

On behalf of the SCSSAR, we extend our deepest gratitude to Mike Monahan for his dedicated service and outstanding leadership as President of our Society. Mike’s unwavering commitment, vision, and tireless efforts have strengthened our organization, advanced our mission, and left a lasting legacy that will benefit the SCSSAR for years to come. We are truly appreciative of the time, energy, and passion he invested in guiding us through his term. Thank you, Mike, for your exceptional leadership and stewardship.

We also warmly welcome and express our sincere appreciation to Gary Blanpied, who was elected President on April 18, 2026. Gary, we are grateful for your willingness to serve and lead the SCSSAR. Your dedication to the principles of patriotism, historical preservation, and education that define our Society is deeply valued. We look forward with great confidence to the continued growth and success of the SCSSAR under your leadership.

Together, we will build upon the strong foundation established by our past leaders and carry forward the important work of honoring our Revolutionary War ancestors and promoting the ideals of liberty and good citizenship.

With sincere appreciation and fraternal regards,

Address by President Elect: Gary Blanpied to SCSSAR Members

Thank you for the opportunity to lead our State Society. As we look to the future, I challenge each of you to actively participate in our National, State, and local patriotic events, including Wreaths Across America, the National Congress, and our upcoming leadership training sessions.

My primary goal this year is to prioritize interpersonal communication within the SCSSAR. To support this, we are developing an enhanced, interactive, and dynamic State website. This platform will facilitate better engagement between members and officers while providing a comprehensive calendar of events. I encourage you to visit the site frequently for updates.

Additionally, I aim to strengthen our community presence by encouraging chapters to co-sponsor events with the NSDAR, C.A.R. Societies, veterans organizations, and local governments. The SCSSAR will actively support South Carolina’s 250th committees and participate in grant processes to fund projects celebrating our nation’s history.

Your service remains vital to our success. We are currently seeking volunteers for chapter leadership, committees, and the Color Guard, and I ask every member to help promote SAR youth programs within your local communities. Furthermore, I urge Chapter Presidents to ensure all member contact information is accurate in the Blue Database. We currently have over 100 members with invalid or missing email addresses; if a member’s phone is also disconnected, please arrange a personal visit to check on their well-being.

Regarding our operations, the State Society currently receives only $20 per member to cover all administrative costs. Due to the expenses associated with manual dues collection and online payment platform fees, we are proposing a $5 increase in state dues, bringing the total to $25. This adjustment is necessary to stabilize our budget. We will pay all the costs of collecting dues and events and pass on 100% of the National and Chapter share. Fifty cents of the increase will go to the color guard fund as a supply fund to go along with the $400 that exists for uniforms.

To improve member retention, I recommend assigning new members to chapter committees immediately to ensure early engagement. Additionally, each chapter should appoint a dedicated liaison to coordinate with genealogical and historical societies as we focus on America’s 250th Anniversary.

Finally, Past President David Smith has reorganized our Bylaws to clarify officer duties. Over the next year, the Board of Governors will review these changes individually. We look forward to presenting a comprehensive and user-friendly document to the body next year.

I appreciate your dedication and look forward to working together to make this a successful year for our Society.