National Conference of State Societies

NCSS Board Meeting is Thursday night, June 12

The next governing board meeting for NCSS is Thursday night, June 12, in Room 283 of the Hall of States at 444 North Capitol Street.  The meeting will start at 6:30 pm. 

No election was held at the annual meeting on May 15 because only 15 states sent delegates and 18 are required for a quorum to do business.  The old officers remain in place but NCSS President Lou Barrett appointed persons recommended by the nominating committee to fill vacancies that existed on May 15.

Lorna Daniels of the Hawaii State Society was appointed First Vice President.  Robert Hoffman, delegate for the California State Society, was appointed as NCSS Vice President External.  John Magnuson of the Minnesota State Society was appointed NCSS Vice President for PR and Marketing.  Rachel Sullivan, president of the Alabama State Society, volunteered to serve in the vacant office of Vice President Internal starting in August and she has been appointed effective August 15 with Mark Rhoads supporting her on the web site and directory.  The 15 state societies represented passed a non-binding resolution asking that the next meeting with a quorum should ratify the nominating committee slate or make substitutions if needed.  Since it is unlikely that a quorum might attend on June 12, the next opportunity for a quorum would be Thursday, September 11, at the Hall of States.  There are no meetings normally held in July or August.  NCSS Board meetings are almost always held on the second Thursday of the month from September through March.

The final state quarters will circulate in 2008

On May 17 production began  on the first Arizona Quarters to celebrate the 48th State.  The program that started in January 1999 with the issuance of the quarter for Delaware is wrapping up with production of quarters for New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, and Hawaii in order of their admission to the Union.  Now, with the U.S. Mint's 50 State Quarters program in its 10th year, the 48th state's design became the 48th state quarter as the Grand Canyon and saguaro began their minting run in Denver.  The Arizona coins will enter circulation in June according to Michael White, a U.S. Mint spokesman. Officials at the Mint estimate that 500 million Arizona Quarters will be made with the Grand Canyon and a saguaro on the reverse side.  The New Mexico quarter is already in circulation.  The mint also estimates that 140 million Americans are collecting the state coin series. 

Richard Snow, who has written three coin-collecting books and operates Eagle Eye Rare Coins in Tucson said last week that "Artistically, for the Mint to put the Grand Canyon on a small coin is really a challenge." The quarter program has brought in some new people to the hobby of numismatics, said Richard Smith, owner of the Coin Gallery in Phoenix. When Smith got into the hobby as a kid, there were all types of coins, made out of several different metals, in circulation. Coins became standardized in 1964, bringing on the "dark days" of the hobby.

"This (program) has brought in 12-year-olds and 15-year-olds," Smith said.

A kid who started collecting when the program started would now be a teenager or young adult. By now, Smith said, they could have acquired a lifelong hobby. "Or," he said, "at least they have $12.50."

Emily Little Meets Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda

2008 U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen Emily Little of Mount Desert, Maine meets Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at his official residence in Tokyo on May 23.  In back is Ms. Sonoko Kudo of the Japan Cherry Blossom Association.  Emily was accompanied by NCSS President Lourdes Barrett and by 2008 Japan Cherry Blossom Queen Megumi Yoshida to the Prime Minister's office and to other offices of top Japanese officials last week.  Barrett and Little left for Japan on Tuesday, May 20 and will return to Dulles Airport in Virginia on Friday, May 30.  Photo courtesy of Getty Images and office of Prime Minister Fukuda. Emily was sponsored by the Maine State Society of Washington, DC to be the 2008 Maine Cherry Blossom Princess.  At the NCSS Grand Ball on Friday, April 11, she was voted as Miss Congeniality by her fellow princesses from other states.  A few minutes later, the wheel of fortune landed on Maine to select her as the 2008 U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen.  She was invited to visit Japan by the Japan Cherry Blossom Association, a key strategic partner for NCSS in Japan.

Movie Stars Are Coming to Washington, DC for the 2008 GI Film Festival May 14-18 at the Carnegie Institution

The National Conference of State Societies (NCSS) invites all state society members to help celebrate Armed Forces Weekend.  Left to right: Robert DuVall, Gary Sinise, Jon Voight, Karri Turner, Kelsey Grammer, and Capt. Dale Dye are some of the TV and movie stars coming to Washington, DC during Armed Forces Weekend for The Second Annual GI Film Festival, May 14-18, at the Carnegie Institution, 1530 P Street, NW facing 16th Street in Washington, DC.  CLICK HERE to find out how to see a movie premiere or listen to a panel discussion that celebrates the positive role models and their families who serve our country in the American Armed Forces. Photo credit for DuVall photo is Glenn Harris, PR Photos for Exposay.com and for the Voight photo is wireimage.com.

Next NCSS Board Meeting is Thursday, April 24

The next Governing Board Meeting of the National Conference of State Societies (NCSS) will be held this Thursday, April 24 at 6:30 pm in Room 283 of the Hall of States at 444 N. Capitol Street, NW.  NCSS President Lou Barrett has appointed Texas State Society President-elect Bill Christian to chair the NCSS Nominating Committee for the coming year.  A report will be sent by email to state society presidents and delegates before the annual elections meeting on Thursday, May 15.  Nominations are always permitted from the floor as well.  Please circle May 15 now on your calendar.  NCSS Bylaws require that at least 18 state societies be present on May 15 to have a quorum for elections.  If you want to volunteer for a committee or serve in an elective or appointed office next year, please send a short biography to Bill Christian at wmc1963@comcast.net.

DC Council Member Phil Mendelson Talks to NCSS

DC Council Member at Large Phil Mendelson spoke to the NCSS Governing Board at the Hall of States on Thursday, March 13.  Mendelson explained the ongoing Council discussions on how to improve DC schools and reported on some success in the training of fire fighters for their dual role as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).  Council Member Mendelson as been a friend to NCSS since his first election in 1999 and has come to many NCSS events.  Left to Right:  NCSS President Lou Barrett of Guam, NCSS Treasurer Brad Mantel of Ohio, Council Member Mendelson, and NCSS First Vice President Elizabeth Clement Webb, who is also immediate past president of the Tennessee State Society of Washington, DC.

Please Donate Items for NCSS Silent Auction

NCSS President Lou Barrett is asking state society members who are willing to donate items for the Silent Auction that will be held at the United States Cherry Blossom Queen Grand Ball on Friday, April 11 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. The Hotel is located at 1000 H Street, NW in Washington, DC at Metro Center.  All kinds of items are needed and your donation may be tax deductible depending on a variety of factors.  Please donate an item, come to the ball on April 11, and have a great time with good company, a sushi reception, dinner, dancing, and the selection of the 2008 Cherry Blossom Queen by the famous Wheel of Fortune and see up close the classic Mikimoto Crown.  If you have an item to donate, please write to Lou.Barrett@statesocieties.com.

Phil Mendelson Speaks to NCSS on Thursday, March 13

DC City Council Member Phil Mendelson will speak to the NCSS board meeting on Thursday night, March 13.  The meeting starts at 6:30 pm in Room 283 of the Hall of States at 444 N. Capitol Street one block southwest of Union Station.  CLICK HERE to see map.  Phil Mendelson has been a very good friend and supporter of NCSS since he was first elected as an at-large member in November 1998.  He has a perfect record of accepting invitations from NCSS to represent DC at various events including annual cherry blossom festival programs. 

Phil is the Chairman of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary and is a also a member of committees on: Health; Housing and Urban Affairs; Human Services; and Libraries, Parks, and Recreation. Along with representing the Council at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, he also currently serves as the President of the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO).  This is the last business meeting of the NCSS Board before the week of our participation in the National Cherry Blossom Festival April 6-12.  So please send a representative so that your state society will be informed about all events.

Franklin Parker is new General Counsel for NCSS

Franklin Parker, a board member of the Illinois State Society of Washington, DC, has been appointed as General Counsel for the National Conference of State Societies by NCSS President Lou Barrett.  Barrett is also President of the Guam Society of America.  "We are very happy that an attorney with Frank Parker's qualifications, including his service on the board of a state society, has agreed to serve NCSS also," Barrett said this week. "Frank is a litigation associate in the Washington, D.C. office of Winston & Strawn, LLP, a very highly regarded firm around the world," Barrett said.

Parker concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation.  He works on a variety of civil litigation matters as well as various corporate transactions. He also represents a range of governmental, municipal, and nonprofit clients on legislative issues.  Parker is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, the State Bar of California, and the American Bar Association. He is also a member of the Greater Washington Urban League, the National Urban League, and currently serves on the Board of Governors for Taylor Business Institute in Chicago.

Mr. Parker received a B.A. in Sociology from Yale University in 1996.  He received a J.D. from Stanford Law School in 1999, where he was a member of the Stanford Environmental Law Journal.  In 2004, Mr. Parker also received an M.P.P. degree (Masters in Public Policy) in Political Advocacy and Leadership from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. A native of Illinois, Frank and his wife now live in Washington, DC area.

Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky Societies Honor Lincoln

On Tuesday, Feb. 12, at 12 noon, Stefan Bailey, board member of the Indiana State Society, will be joined by Kentucky Society President Mac Riley and former Illinois Society and NCSS President Mark Rhoads to present wreaths at the Lincoln Memorial for each of the three states where Abraham Lincoln lived from 1809 until 1861. The presentation of wreaths will take place at the Lincoln Memorial on Lincoln's Birthday. Several patriotic and civic groups will honor the Great Emancipator on the 199th anniversary of his birth in Kentucky on Feb. 12, 1809. This ceremony will begin a year-long celebration of the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth that will be observed in 2009. For times and more details, check with the National Park Service web site at http://www.nps.gov/linc or call the    National Park Service at 202-426-6841.  The master of ceremonies will be Peter Dixon, President of the Lincoln Birthday National Commemoration Committee.  Among other speakers, Judge Loren Smith will recite the Gettysburg Address. Pictures above and at left were taken at the 2007 ceremony. The wreath below with the U.S. and Illinois flags was presented by the Illinois State Society in 2006. The first wreath will be presented on behalf of President George W. Bush by Maj. Gen. Richard J. Rowe, Jr., Commanding General of the Military District of Washington.  The general public will be able to see all the wreaths on the afternoon of Feb. 12.  On the same day, Lincoln bicentennial ceremonies will also start at Lincoln's birthplace in Hodgenville, Kentucky. See the Bicentennial web site at http://www.lincoln200.gov/calendar/national-signature-event-2-12-2008.aspx.