Mount Vernon Chapter SAR - Speakers Bureau

the Mount Vernon Chapter
Sons of the American Revolution

MountVernonSAR.org | Speakers Bureau | Traveling Trunk ↓

Speakers Bureau

The SAR's Speakers Bureau program is available to fellow C.A.R., DAR & SAR Chapters, other genealogical or historical societies, Rotary, Kiwanis, or other community service groups that can utilize speakers. Our Mount Vernon speakers have interesting presentations that promote patriotic, educational and historical interests, that are related to key figures and events from the American Revolution or post war development of the United States.

Contact Us:
If you are interested in our speakers program, use this link to Contact Us.

Kevin Baker - Georgia Society SAR Form

Biography:
Kevin Baker has been a member of the Children of the American Revolution since the age of 5 and at one time, a fourth generation family member affiliated with CAR/SAR/DAR. Kevin held various offices on the Local, State and National level, eventually becoming the first National President from the state of Georgia in the C.A.R.’s history at just 17 years old. He was installed as President on the historic grounds of Mount Vernon in New York state.

Ancestry:
His ancestry includes Calvary Captain James Benson, who fought at the battle of Cowpens and pursued British forces who were in route to Kettle Creek; Captain Thomas Bradford who later became a Justice of the Peace; Arthur Lee II of Blenheim Hall from Charles County, Maryland the descendant of Richard Lee also known as Richard the Immigrant and other various Captains, Naval Officers and militia privates, many of which have a SAR marker placed at their tombs.

SAR Lecturing Credentials:

28 years of public speaking experience for groups of 10 to 1,000 +.
Professional storyteller and historian.
10 years of colonial and antebellum reenactment experience.

Prepared Lectures:

C.A.R (Who are we?)
Roswell history, haunts and legends.
2nd Virginia Convention ("Give me Liberty or Give me Death")

Fees: No fees to school, church, veteran, Scouts, DAR, CAR and SAR groups.
Travel Range: Preference is within 50 miles of metro-Atlanta. Will consider distant travel if travel expenses are covered.
Speaking Conditions: Audio-Visual Equipment – Will need you to provide LCD/Projector that connects to my laptop for display of PowerPoint slides. Microphone/speaker system should be provided if venue is larger.

Tom Chrisman - Georgia Society SAR Form

Biography:
Tom has been a resident of Atlanta since 1968. Earned his AA and BA degrees from Emory University in Clinical and Experimental Psychology. His career included mental health counseling, and 45 years in sales of eye-related surgical systems. Tom has been a genealogist since 2004, specializing in Colonial and Medieval history. Member in 30 hereditary societies including colonial and medieval societies. Member - Georgia Chapter, Association of Professional Genealogists.

Current and Past Offices Held in Societies:

Registrar General/Genealogist, National Society, Sons & Daughters of the Pilgrims

State Registrar/Genealogist, GA Society of the War of 1812

Genealogist, Georgia Society of Colonial Wars

Genealogist, Georgia Society, Sons of the American the Revolution

Registrar/Genealogist, Mt. Vernon Chapter, SAR (Dunwoody, GA)

Past SE District Registrar/Genealogist, Order of the Founders of North America

Past State Registrar/Genealogist, GA Branch, National Society of Sons & Daughters of Pilgrims

Past Registrar/Genealogist, Nathaniel Greene Chapter, Georgia Society, Sons of the Revolution

Past Registrar/Genealogist, Piedmont Chapter, Sons of the American the Revolution

Registrar/Genealogist for Piedmont Chapter SAR (2009-2014)

Registrar/Genealogist for SR (2014-2016)

Registrar/Genealogist for 1812 (2009-present)

Registrar/Genealogist for Founders of North America (2014)

Registrar/Genealogist for Colonial Wars (2009-present)

SAR Lecturing Credentials:

Member of Toastmasters International.

Experienced Speaker specializing in Genealogical Research.

Published author

Specialty Lecture Topics: Various Genealogy and Revolutionary War topics, can build specific presentations upon request.

Prepared Lectures:

Colonial Migration before the Revolution
Basics in Genealogy Research
Our Traveling Trunk Team

Fees: No fees to school, church, veteran, DAR and SAR groups.
Travel Range: Preference is within 50 miles of metro-Atlanta.
Speaking Conditions: Audio-Visual Equipment – Will need you to provide LCD/Projector that connects to my laptop for display of PowerPoint slides. Microphone/speaker system should be provided if desired if venue is larger.

Shep Hammack

Biography:
Graduate from Georgia Tech. Career with Westinghouse.

Major SAR Awards:

Jack Martin Membership Trophy - 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

Liberty Medal - 2014, Oak Leaf Cluster 2019

Color Guard Medal - Bronze 2015, Silver 2015, State Honor Color Guard Status 2018

Roger Sherman Award - Bronze 2015, Silver 2018, Silver Oak Leaf Cluster 2021, Gold 2021

2016 - Founder of the Mount Vernon Chapter

2016 - Patriot Medal (National Award), Robert Vance, Silver Good Citizenship, Silver Meritorious

2017 - 1st President of the Mount Vernon Chapter

GA Society SAR - Treasurer 2019, 2020, 2021

GASSAR C.A.R. & DAR Liaison 2021, 2022

GASSAR Regional VP - Metro 2023, 2024

NSSAR DAR Liaison Committee Chairman 2023

Mount Vernon Chapter - 1st President of the Mount Vernon Chapter 2017, Historian 2019, 2020, 2021,2022, 2023

Prepared Lectures:

Flags of the Revolutionary War Era

Hyam Salomon - 'Financier of the American Revolution'

Tom Hewett - Georgia Society SAR Form

Biography:
Former marketing lecturer at Kennesaw State University and professional background in pharmaceutical and medical device industry segments of the Healthcare Industry. History reenactor for the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. History buff for the American Revolution, Mexican War, US Civil War, Indian Wars, Spanish American War, Boer War, WWI and WWII. Offices held in Mount Vernon SAR: Vice President (2024) and Registrar (2023).

SAR Awards:

SAR Military Service Medal (2022)
Hawaii DAR Award for serving during the Vietnam War (2015)

Lecturing Credentials:

Twenty-seven years in management training and speaking presentations in my healthcare related career
Eighteen years as a lecturer to junior level undergraduate students at Kennesaw State University.

Lecture Topics: (Can be presented in Colonial Army Uniform upon request, or as appropriate for the topic being presented)

"Prelude to the Revolution". I blend a variety of topics based on audience interest relevant to these general areas: Sons of Liberty, guerilla warfare in the South, mounted troops and their use by the patriots, artillery and how it evolved during the war years, changes in tactics by both sides during the war, and music and its impact on the battlefield and off.
Specialty Lecture Topics: A variety of topics from colonial times through the Vietnam War era. I can build specific topics upon request.
New Lecture Topics – Willing to develop new lectures with sufficient advance preparation available.

Fees: No charge to school, church, veteran, DAR, SAR and CAR groups.
Travel Range: Preference is within 50 miles of metro-Atlanta.
Speaking Conditions: Audio-Visual Equipment – Will need you to provide LCD/Projector and remote that connects to my laptop for display of PowerPoint slides. Microphone/speaker system should be provided if desired if venue is larger.

Chuck Olson - Georgia Society SAR Form

Military Awards:

Meritorious Service Medal w/2 oak leaf clusters

Army Commendation Medal w/ oak leaf cluster

Army Achievement Award

Dept. of the Army Commander’s Award for Community Service

SAR Awards:

Military Service Medal

Bronze Robert Sherman Medal

Robert E. Burt Medal

Boy Scout Leadership Awards:

Wood Badge

Vigil Honor Member

Order of the Arrow

Cross and Flame

Den Leader Award

Scout Leaders Training Award

Cubmaster Award

Cub Scouter Award

Webelos Den Leader

SAR Lecturing Credentials:

The Colonial Roots of the Georgia Courts (1733 – 1800)

Prepared Lectures:

Georgia’s Experience with Magna Carta - A Legal History

The Colonial Roots of the Georgia Courts (1733 – 1800)

William Clifton, Unsung Father of the Georgia Judiciary

Specialty Lecture Topics:

Georgia legal history (especially the Colonial and early statehood period, 1733 to 1800).

Impact of Magna Carta in Colonial Georgia.

Fees: No fees to school, church, veteran, Scouts, DAR and SAR groups.
Travel Range: Preference is within 50 miles of metro-Atlanta. Will consider distant travel if travel expenses are covered.
Speaking Conditions: Audio-Visual Equipment -- Will need you to provide LCD/Projector that connects to my laptop for display of PowerPoint slides. Microphone/speaker system should be provided if venue is larger

Gene Ray - Georgia Society SAR Form

Biography:
Gene is an honors graduate of Georgia State University and a veteran of the US Navy. He was the recipient of the Ralph McGill Memorial Scholarship and immediately after graduation, worked as a reporter for the Atlanta Constitution. His business career subsequently was centered on advertising, marketing, and general business. He has been a member of the Sons of the American Revolution since 1990. He’s a co-founder of The Boone Society, a member of the Kentucky Historical Society, the Boonesborough Society, the Filson Historical Society, the Order of Kentucky Colonels, and other historical groups.

Awards:

SAR War Service Medal

Certificate of Appreciation from The Boone Society for serving as co-founder and 1st president.

Specialty Lecture Topics:

The Life and History of Daniel Boone

Daniel and Rebecca Boone are Gene’s 5th great grandparents, and he has spent many years collecting and studying information about the Boone family and Kentucky history. He has over 70 books on the subject.

Fees: No fees to school, church, veteran, Scouts, DAR and SAR groups.
Travel Range: Preference is within 50 miles of metro-Atlanta. Will consider distant travel if travel expenses are covered.
Speaking Conditions: Audio-Visual Equipment -- I can provide all audio-visual equipment including projector and screen.

David Wellons - Georgia Society SAR Form

Biography:
History buff, particularly in the American Revolution, US Civil War, and in the Pacific in WWII. Offices held in Mount Vernon SAR: President (2023), Vice President (2022), Recording Secretary (2019-2021), Chaplain (2017-2018). Professional background in healthcare and software industries and in business consulting. Founding member of the Mount Vernon SAR Chapter, Dunwoody, Georgia (2016).

Awards:

Past President’s Medaland Sash (2024)
SAR Distinguished Service Award - 2022
SAR Roger Sherman Medal - 2021

Lecture Credentials:

Thirty years of public speaking at conferences and doing software presentations in my career.
Seven years of Sunday School lessons teaching as substitute, seven years of leading a weekly men’s Bible study.
Two years of historic presentations.
Presentation to SAR Chapters in 2022 and 2023.

Lecture Topic: (Can be presented in Colonial Army Uniform upon request)

God’s Hand on America – An exploration of the apparent hand of God in the Patriot’s success in the American Revolution, using a discussion of several battles. Or was it just luck?

Specialty or Custom Lecture Topics:

Various Revolutionary War and WWII topics, and influence of religion on the founding of America. I can build specific topics upon request.

Fees: No fees to school, church, veterans, DAR, SAR and CAR groups.
Travel Range: Preference is within 50 miles of metro-Atlanta.
Speaking Conditions: Audio-Visual Equipment -- Will need an LCD/Projector that connects to my laptop for display of PowerPoint slides. Microphone/speaker system should be provided if desired if venue room is larger.

Mount Vernon's Traveling Trunk - Georgia Society SAR Form

What is the Traveling Trunk?
It is the SAR's version of a 'Show and Tell of American Revolution History'.

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One of the most enjoyable methods of communicating our American history with school children is via the "Traveling Trunk". This is a program where members of the SAR, dressed in authentic uniforms, present articles from the Revolutionary War & Colonial period to a group of grade school or middle school students engaged in American History curriculum. Presenters explain what the items are, how they were made and used, and why they are different from today's items. This program is one of the Sons of the American Revolution missions - Assisting schools and teachers to sustain and preserve our history.

Letter to Schools
Here is our Chapter introduction letter to schools: Letter to Educators
Educators in the Sandy Springs/Dunwoody school districts can bring Colonial & Revolutionary War History alive with the Traveling Trunk !

Contact Us
Interested educators, whether in Public or Private schools, can use the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page.

The 1700's iPad ?

A few Schools Visited

Mount Bethel Elementary School

Atlanta Christian Academy

Cary Reynolds Elementary

Lake Forest Elementary

Holy Innocents Episcopal School

Cherokee Christian School

Macedonia Elementary

The Traveling Trunk (to Adult Groups)
Our Speakers Bureau Program is also offered to fellow SAR & DAR Chapters, fellow genealogical or historical societies, Rotary, Kiwanis, or other community service groups that can utilize speakers.