THE BRIDGE
Governor William Bradford Colony
Florida Society of Mayflower Descendants
Volume 15, Issue 1
Winter 2016
IT’S 2016 AND I HOPE FOR AN EXCITING NEW YEAR FOR YOU AND
OUR COLONY!
Right after our November meeting, a new Bradford Colony member who has
transferred from Minnesota volunteered to become our Captain! She is Theresa
McGoldrick living in Apollo Beach. WELCOME THERESA!
Helen and I attended the State Meeting held at The Villages. Helen made us proud
as the new State Captain! Reports were given and we are still #1 in Membership
of Adults and Juniors!!
It’s important that EVERY MEMBER who has a son, daughter, grandson or
granddaughter graduating High School Senior encourage them to apply for our
Florida Society State Scholarships! We are awarding two $1500 scholarships. The
deadline is April 1, 2016.
They are also eligible for the four General Society Scholarships of $6000, $4000,
$3000 and $2000. Florida’s Andrew Mange was the 3rd winner of $2500 in 2015.
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS!!
For details, contact me: [email protected]
Smiles,
Laura S. Brock
Colony Governor
727-823-9258
Meeting Schedule
Feb. 6, 2016
May 7, 2016
Nov 5, 2016
SEE YOU AT OUR MEETING TO ENJOY OUR EXTRAORDINARY
SPEAKER: DR. PETER WALDRON (STEPHEN HOPKINS)
If you have paid your 2016 dues, thank you! If you haven’t paid your dues,
please see remittance form on the last page. Thank you in advance!
William Bradford Colony of Florida, Society of Mayflower Descendants
General Meeting Minutes
Date: November 7, 2015
Location: St. Petersburg Yacht Club
Call to Order: Colony Governor Laura Brock called the meeting to order at 12 noon.
Invocation: Colony Elder Margaret Christie gave the invocation.
Pledges: Lynda Schoonover led the pledges to the American Flag and the Mayflower Flag.
Presentation of New Member: State Historian Muriel Cushing announced that Beatrice Cayzer and
Cathy Rayburn had been approved in Plymouth on October 30.
Introductions: Governor Laura Brock introduced our speaker former State Governor and current
Captain General Ren Cushing and his wife State Historian Muriel Cushing. She introduced new member
Terri McGoldrick (transfer from Minnesota) and her family. Jon Stubbs will help Laura with applications
during the six months he is in Florida. Other guests included Lt. Col David Gibbs, Rev. John Peterson and
Juli Ormsby.
Lunch: The meeting recessed for lunch from 12:20 to 1:10 pm.
Minutes: The minutes of the May 2 meeting were approved as published in the newsletter and will be
filed.
Treasurer’s Report: The checking account and the scholarship balances were presented and filed.
GSMD Coin Project: Muriel Cushing encouraged all of us to write to our senators and representatives
to ask them to vote in favor of bills authorizing U.S. Mint produce a commemorative coin of the 400th
anniversary of the Mayflower in 2020. She provided letters that we can send. Muriel also reported on
the Bridges Project to link DAR patriots back to their Mayflower passenger ancestors. She also reported
that the funds collected from the 1620 Club will fund publication of the silver books and preservation, the
scholarship fund and fundraising. NEHGS will now publish The Mayflower Descendant.
Scholarship Report: Laura announced that the State will have two $1500 scholarships and National has
scholarships of $6000, $4000, $3000 and $2000.
Junior Membership Chair: Elizabeth Whitehurst has a goal to increase contact with our junior
members and their sponsors. She placed junior membership applications on each table. Junior members
can join for a one-time $30 fee. They will be eligible to join FSMD at age 18, but must join by age 25, in
order to not have to pay application fees to GSMD.
Program: Helen Bennett introduced Ren Cushing who spoke on life in the American colonies from 1700
to 1776.
Governor Laura Brock asked for a volunteer to take the new Brewster and Standish silver books to the
Largo Library. She had extra June and September Mayflower Quarterlies to give away. Captain George
Pratt resigned and needs to be replaced. Terri McGoldrick volunteered.
50/50 Winner: 50/50 drawing was won by Juli Ormsby who gave her winnings back to the scholarship
fund.
Roll Call of Ancestors: Margaret Christie and Kathleen Rottino conducted the roll call of ancestors.
Richard Warren came in first place with ten descendants. John Alden and John Howland tied in second
place with eight descendants.
Benediction: Elder Margaret Christie gave the benediction.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 2:30 pm by Colony Governor Laura Brock.
Respectfully submitted,
Elizabeth Werner, Secretary
November Meeting Highlights
Our speaker was Ren Cushing, Captain
General of the National Society of
Mayflower Descendants and past
Governor of the Florida Society of
Mayflower Descendants. The subject of
his presentation was "If you were a
Colonist" and describes what it was like in
the period between 1770 and 1776 and the
Road to the Revolution. His wife, Muriel
Cushing, who is the Florida State Historian, gave updates on several items. There
is an effort underway to obtain an authorization for the U.S. Mint produce a
commemorative coin of the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower in 2020. She
provided letters for us to send to our Senators and Representatives. Muriel
discussed the Bridges Project which will help document DAR patriot’s link back to
their Mayflower passenger ancestors.
Welcome New Members
New Members since November Meeting
Beatrice Fairbanks Cayzer
Catherine Margaret Rayburn
Paul Arad Dunham
Ancestor
John Howland
John Howland
William Brewster
Transfers in to Bradford Colony
Rebecca Ann Bandy
Beverly Ann Ward Wood
John Adair
Ancestor
Richard Warren
Richard Warren
William Brewster
Reinstatement
Lee Alan Peterson
Ancestor: Myles Standish
Deceased
Nov 17, 2015 - Life Member: Lois Nangle Crossley
Junior Members
New Junior Members
Skylar Lea Rottino
Emily Rottino
Daniel Michael Rottino
Alcien Marie Lynch
Sponsor
Kathleen Rottino
Kathleen Rottino
Kathleen Rottino
Alice Thompson
Ancestor
William Bradford
William Bradford
William Bradford
Thomas Rogers
Please send your Junior Member Applications to:
Liz Whitehurst
11365 - 70th Ave
Seminole, Fl 33772-6202
For More Info: E-Mail: <[email protected]> Or 727/735-8711
Lunch Meeting
Our guest speaker is Peter Waldron, fellow Mayflower
descendant, international political consultant,
businessman and humanitarian. Long before the Sons of
Liberty or Sam and John Adams or the modern-day TEA
Party there was Peter Waldron’s ancestral grandfather,
Stephen Hopkins, the New World's first patriot. Those
loyal to the Crown of England have not treated him well
in history or in literature but when the facts are presented
as evidence, and the truth brought to light, an entirely new
understanding and appreciation for one of the Pilgrim's
greatest heroes is introduced to the thinking Mayflower
descendant. Peter will bring Mr. Hopkins' passion,
integrity, and courage to the audience. He will also
convince us there is not another man like him for 150+
years and very few like him in all of American history. Stephen Hopkins remarkable man, and extraordinary human being.
Meeting Information
Location: St. Petersburg Yacht Club
11 Central Avenue
St. Petersburg, FL 33703
727-822-3873 (Call for directions)
Date:
February 6, 2016
Gathering: 11:30-Noon
Noon:
Call to Order
Lunch Menu
House Salad, Mediterranean Chicken:
Herb Seared Chicken topped with C
Kalamata Olives, Roasted Tomatoes,
Crumbled Feta, Orzo Pasta
New York Cheese Cake
(Indicate below if Vegetarian Menu is
preferred.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Luncheon Reservations: $30 (including valet parking). Make checks payable to
Governor William Bradford Colony. Send reservations by Monday, February 1
to:
Libby Werner, Secretary/Treasurer
2625 State Road 590 #222
Clearwater, Florida 33759-2210
(email: [email protected])
727-797-8488
Member’s Name: ___________________________________________________
Number of Guests and Guest Names: ___________________________________
____ If preferred, indicate number of Vegetarian Meals.
Enclosed is a check for $____ for ___ person(s).
____ (Optional) Enclosed is $15 for the purchase of an official name badge.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 Dues Remittance Form:
Member name: ______________________
Address: ___________________________
___________________________
Email: ____________________________
2016 Dues Total: $34
If you haven’t yet, please send check for
$34 made payable to Governor William
Bradford Colony to:
Laura S. Brock, Colony Governor
430 Bay St. NE #705
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-3040
Governor William Bradford Colony
Florida Society of Mayflower Descendants
Laura S. Brock, Colony Historian
430 Bay St. NE #705
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701-3040
SUPPORT OUR BRADFORD SCHOLARSHIP. BUY 50/50 TICKETS AT
THE MEETING. Tickets: $3 for 1 ticket, $5 for 2 tickets and $10 for 5 tickets.
50% of the proceeds go to the winning name drawn and the remaining 50% goes to
the scholarship fund.