Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW)

Series of 2005-2006

Department Order No. 3

Headquarters Department of Maryland July 1, 2005

1. Whereas having increased membership is desirable for the sustained effort of our Order and:

2. Whereas it is the desire of the Department Commander to assist the local camps in carrying out this function of their mission:

3. I hereby issue Department Order No. 3, which provides for a membership drive program within the Camps of the Department of Maryland.

4. Each Camp shall between now and the Maryland Department Encampment in April 2006, plan and carry out a special membership drive event. This event may be in conjunction with other groups or government bodies but should focus on the Civil War and the mission of our Order in relation to the memory of the GAR. The Camps shall make the Department Officers aware of the date and time of their events so that they may attend if possible. In addition these events shall be posted on the web page of the Department of Maryland for all brothers or prospective brothers to see. Each Camp should make an effort to have records of local Union units on hand as well as the nearest location of resources where other records are located. A committee shall be formed in each Camp that will be charged with following up with each identified prospective brother and provide him assistance in getting through the process. In addition if the prospective brother is from an area served by another Camp this committee shall assist him in contacting the Camp closest to him if that is his desire.

5. In conjunction with this event each Camp shall provide information regarding the Allied Orders and assist in promoting membership in those orders for eligible females within the Maryland Department Territory.

6. Each Camp shall make every effort to have the local media publish or cover the event both before and after it so that the public at large may gain a better understanding of our Order.

7. Each Camp Commander shall make a report to the Department Commander within sixty days of the event advising of the outcome of the event and any membership gains arising there from. Please include copies of any press the event received as well.

8. So that friendly competition might assist the camps in carrying out this duty I am hereby creating the Membership Merit Certificate competition. Each camp that gains at least a ten- percent net increase over this year will receive a Membership Merit Certificate. The Camp that gains the most net new members as well as the Camp that gains the highest percentage of new members will receive a Membership Merit Certificate with a gold seal as well as a streamer for their camp flag.

In Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty,

James R. Hanby, Sr., Maryland Department Commander