GENERAL CONVENTION
The General Convention shall be held on a rotating basis within the current board approved Territories. The General Convention shall be held on one of three weekends prior to August 19, the anniversary of the capture of the HMS Guerriere by the USS Constitution.
2024: Andrew Jackson State Park, SC (near Fort Mill, SC)
2023: Fredericksburg, VA
2022: Virtual Convention in lieu of Springfield, MA
2021: Fort Moultrie, SC
2020: Virtual Convention (Annapolis, MD had been slated as the convention city before COVID.)
2019: Newport News, VA
2018: Washington, DC
2017: New Orleans, LA
2016: Toledo, OH
2015: Savannah, GA (Organizing Convention)
2024: Andrew Jackson State Park, SC (near Fort Mill, SC)
2023: Fredericksburg, VA
2022: Virtual Convention in lieu of Springfield, MA
2021: Fort Moultrie, SC
2020: Virtual Convention (Annapolis, MD had been slated as the convention city before COVID.)
2019: Newport News, VA
2018: Washington, DC
2017: New Orleans, LA
2016: Toledo, OH
2015: Savannah, GA (Organizing Convention)
President General Thomas Misiano and Senior President General Cynthia Matsumto led the virtual 2023 General Convention from a location in Stafford, Virginia. Elections were held, reports were given, and gifts were presented while the meeting was broadcast. Prior to the convention, both Mrs. Matsumoto and Mr. Misiano placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.
The General Convention, 2022, was led by President General Rhiannon Hatcher and Senior President General Cynthia Matsumoto through digital means. Attendees held elections and participated virtually in the conference. (Photo-Courtesy of Lynn Marshall.)
President General Alec Marshall and Senior President General Lynn Marshall led the General Convention, 2021, which was held as a hybrid event in Charleston, South Carolina and on electronic devices, for those who could not attend in person. Attendees attended the required meeting, held elections, watched a video of powder magazines, and then, for those in Charleston in person, toured Fort Moultrie, placed a wreath at Mount Pleasant (the site of a War of 1812 encampment), enjoyed a group dinner, and then enjoyed a ghost tour of the USS Yorktown. (Photos-Courtesy of Christos Christou.)
2020 brought a new type of General Convention to our National Society, like many organizations for the year--a virtual one. While a virtual conference presented unique challenges, the Society was able to overcome them and had a record attendance at the meeting. Although members and Seniors were not able to tour the United States Naval Academy Museum, they were able to hear about the President General's project to raise funds for their War of 1812 exhibits and exhibit items. Elections were held electronically, as well as other important votes, such as a change in the insignia ribbon for the National Society. New officers were installed and the work of the society continues! (Photos-Courtesy of Karen Misiano.)
The 2019 General Convention was held in Newport News, Virginia and began with a tour of the John Marshall House in Richmond, Virginia and a wreath-laying at the grave of Chief Justice John Marshall and his wife Polly in Shockoe Hill Cemetery (also in Richmond) before heading to board meetings in Newport News. The next day, Members and Seniors enjoyed a behind-the-scenes, private tour of the Mariners' Museum, which concentrated on artifacts from the War of 1812, including the painting which was the focus of the 2018-2019 President General's project. Following the tour, led by President General Eliza Marshall, members conducted their General Convention business meeting and elections. Later that evening, everyone enjoyed the banquet, held at The Whaling Company, in Williamsburg, and it concluded with the installation of new officers and the presentation of endowment fund pins. (Photos-Courtesy of Lynn Marshall, Eliza Marshall, and Karen Misiano.)
The 2018 General Convention was held in Washington, DC, and was presided by President General Samuel Hinckley and Senior President General Anneleis Mouring. Members enjoyed a tour of the White House, Supreme Court, the Octagon House (used as the French Embassy during the War of 1812 and where Dolley Madison sent her pet parrot for safekeeping when she evacuated D.C.), and Fort Washington. The Fort Washington visit included a wreath-laying and a mock trial for Captain Samuel Dyson, the Commander at Fort Washington when the British were coming up the Potomac River. (Photos-courtesy of Anneleis Mouring and Lynn Marshall.)
For the 2017 General Convention, members and Seniors congregated in New Orleans, LA. President General Lily Garnett and Senior President General Debbie Hinckley led the convention. Attendees toured Jackson Square, specifically the Cabildo and the St. Louis Cathedral with a wreath-laying at Chalmette Battlefield in New Orleans. (Photos-courtesy of Anneleis Mouring and Lynn Marshall.)
For the 2016 General Convention, led by President General Kaitlyn Mouring and Senior President General Debbie Hinckley, members and Seniors congregated in Toledo, OH. Attendees visited the Fort Meigs Historic Site, Ohio's War of 1812 Battlefield. (Photos-courtesy of Anneleis Mouring and Lynn Marshall.)
The National organization was founded in 2015 with an organizational meeting in Savannah, Georgia, serving as the first General Convention. Attendees toured Fort Jackson and enjoyed a program on 1812-era methods of defense. A wreath was placed at Fort Macon and everyone enjoyed dinner at the Pirate's House and a dancing cruise on a riverboat. (Photos-courtesy of Anneleis Mouring and Lynn Marshall.)
Other Events with National Officers
Senior President General Lynn Marshall presented a wreath during the annual Columbus Day celebration at the Columbus statue in Columbus Circle, Washington, DC, hosted by the Knights of Columbus.
On the Fourth of July, 2019, National Vice President Chesapeake Territory Thomas Misiano, placed a wreath in a joint ceremony with the District of Columbia Society of the National Society of United States Daughters of 1812 at the grave of War of 1812 Alexander Macombe, "Hero of Plattsburg". He earned the rank of Major General for his actions during the Plattsburg battle. Members of the two societies, as well as members of the General Society of the War of 1812 and the public attended the event. (Photos-courtesy of Karen Misiano.)
May 18, 2019: Vice President General Virginia Matsumoto visited with the Maryland Children of 1812 at Fort McHenry and assisted the MD State President in raising the flag. Virginia also participated in the Maryland organization ceremony and inducted their state officers. (Photos-courtesy of Steve Matsumoto.)