Old Business:

-Treasurer’s Report: The Butler Guards’ current account balance is $1,020.13.

-Secretary’s Report:
 
 *In the re-discussion of the winter event in Abbeville, Mike Looper said that most likely there will be a battle through the square of the town in the upcoming years.  More information will come later.
 
 *Zach Morris, Tom Fowler, as well as some of the other members of the Butler Guards attended the Palmetto Expo Center’s gun show in December.  We picked up a new, young recruit: Justin Presley.  We would like to welcome Justin to the Butler Guards, as were are very delighted he has decided to join.
 
 *The movie focused on the life of Manse Jolly, being filmed in the Anderson area, is planning on filming in the mid to late summer of this year.  More information will come from John Vaughn at our next meeting.  A reading of the script is also planned for late February.

 *We reviewed the Battalion’s attendance roster for the Butler Guards at Secessionville, compared to the secretary/treasurer’s.  All names match up, and no one who  attended seems to have been left of the list.

New Business:

-The Butler Guards voted and decided to purchase 2 large pairs of brogans  for our new recruits, who often have very large feet.

-The Palmetto Battalion’s NCO school this year is planned for January 13-14.  About 6 of the Butler Guards plan to attend, as this year’s NCO school is sure to be a great event.  There will be new recruits planning to attend, who will need some of the company’s gear.

-Brett Nix announced to the Butler Guards that one of our young guys, Sherman Adams, is now planning on joining the army, and should be leaving within the next few months.  On behalf of the Butler Guards, I would like to thank Sherman Adams for all the hard work and dedication he has given to the success of the Butler Guards.  We are looking forward to you returning to our ranks, and our thoughts and prayers will be with you, no matter where God takes you.
-A special thank you to John and Sharon Vaughn for hosting the Butler Guards’ Christmas party.  It was a great deal of fun, with great food, fellowship, and a good game of Dirty Santa.

-John and Sharon Vaughn reported back to the Butlers on the Fairview Camp SCV meeting last month.  The way the Fairview Living History 2007 will be handled is still up in the air.  If the Butler Guards were to take control of the event, a lot of hard work and time would needed to be dedicated.  Julia Barnes then mentioned that the Greenville County ATAX money requests were due January 8th.  Julia said with a new work course coming up, it would be almost impossible to complete the form by then, as much data and statistics would be needed.  It appears that the Butler Guards will try to get ATAX money from the county next year.  In regards to the schedule of Fairview 2007, the Butlers would like to have a lantern tour on Saturday night, but not a play on Friday night.  The possibility of a tactical on Saturday morning was discussed.  We will need to invite units individually  to the event in order to make it a success.

-It appears the Battle of Aiken this year will interfere with the reading of the Manse Jolly script. Thus, the Butlers most likely will not be attending  the Battle of Aiken.

-This year’s Palmetto Middle School’s “Civil War Day” will be held on January 17th.  Chase Heatherly, Joel Pominville, Bob Kaemmerlan, Seth Johnson, Jo Evans, and Marty Evans are planning on attending. In addition, several of the Butlers are going to see if work permits them to attend.

-Mike Barnes spoke on the book dealing with the evolution of sharpshooters.  The following question:  should the Butler Guards think of portraying sharpshooters?  We would need true buglers to do this.

-Bob Kaemmerlan mentioned a rarely-heard legacy of body armor in the War between the States, found in a magazine article.  During the war, some Federal soldiers wore body armor.  However, apparently the body armor wasn’t very effective, as one example of the body armor, found in the Connecticut museum, was taken off the body of a dead Federal soldier at Gettysburg.

-Closing prayer by Lt. Mike Barnes

-Meeting adjourned: 8:00 PM
 

*A big thank you to president Chuck Yeager for leading the monthly meetings.  We really appreciate what your contribution and working to the success of the Butler Guards.