Message from the President
Dear Friends of Battlefield Preservation,
Our 2021 Annual Report highlights the work of our members and volunteers who, despite the challenges of a continuing pandemic, were able to keep the organization working and responsive to the call for battlefield preservation in Tennessee. Covid continued to change the landscape for public gatherings, including our Three Star tours, and out of an abundance of caution, TCWPA decided to forgo in-person meetings and tours in 2021. The good news is the work of TCWPA, and preservation did not stop because of the pandemic. We are pleased to report tremendous progress has been made on the Statewide Preservation Plan which continues to be the highest priority project for TCWPA. We are grateful for the work of our all-volunteer planning team headed by board member Mike Countess who is leading the project to gather and assess site data to characterize the 122 battlefields’ current conditions and opportunities for preservation and interpretation. Grand division “captains,” Aaron Aster (East Tennessee), Jim Lewis (Middle), and Daniel Taylor / Steve McDaniel (West Tennessee), our preservation assessments are complete for Tennessee’s 122 battlefields. The plan also has an interactive map tool which will be available soon on www.tcwpa.org The plan and interactive map are positioned to be updated on a periodic basis moving forward. In addition, our volunteers made progress on several projects including our e-history program, administering four grants for battlefield preservation from sales of the “Save Our Battlefields” license plate, membership and license plate promotion. On the administrative side of TCWPA, the Executive Committee and Board conducted business throughout the year via a virtual meeting format.
With 2021 in the rear-view mirror, we are anxious to return to the field as a group and once again experience our Three Star tours and enjoy the camaraderie of those interested in the Volunteer State’s history.
And lastly, let me thank you personally for your support of the Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association. We could not accomplish our many goals without YOU and the support you provide. We appreciate your commitment and support! We always welcome your comments and suggestions.
Please feel free to contact us in writing or by email at info@tcwpa.org
C. Anthony Hodges, D.D.S. President
TCWPA Board of Directors
Vice-Presidents: Sam Huffman (Finance), Joe Smyth (Secretary), Steve McDaniel
Board Members: Dr. Aaron Astor, Ernie Bacon, Mike Countess, Sam Elliott, Dr. Curt Fields, Steve McDaniel, Lee Millar, Daniel Taylor, Phil Walker, Dr. Lea Williams
Executive Director: Mary Ann Peckham
Assistant Directors: Lee Curtis, Patricia Gray
Advisory Board: Myers Brown, Charlie Crawford, Will Greene, Norm Hill, Joan House, Patrick McIntyre, Nina Scall, Emily Parish, Jennifer Core, Dr. Carroll Van West, Susan Whitaker, Jerry Wooten, Antoinette van Zelm; TN State Representative Sam Whitson; Tennessee’s National Battlefield Superintendents: Brad Bennett, Brian McCutchen, Brenda Pennington. Site Specialists: Fred Prouty, Jim Ogden, Jim Lewis, Jim Weaver.
Leadership Team Transitions
TCWPA President Anthony Hodges recognized longtime Advisory board member Charlie Crawford who retired this year and extended a sincere “thank you” for his support and commitment to preserving and interpreting Civil War battlefields. After a long career leading the Georgia Battlefields Association (GBA), Charlie announced his retirement in 2021. Dr. Joe Trahan is GBA’s new president and has agreed to serve in the role as TCWPA Advisory board member. Joe brings important continuity to this Advisory board member role with over 10 years of experience as a GBA trustee. He also has over 40 years of public relations experience with governmental, educational, association, and non-profit organizations.
TCWPA has an ongoing recruitment program for new board members in accordance with its Board Member Recruitment Policy. The goal is to build a dynamic and effective management team that is reflective of all Tennesseans, with a broad range of knowledge and skills needed to ensure support of quality programs, and with all having a commitment to engaged and consensus-driven decision making.
The Mission: To Protect, Interpret and Make Accessible Tennessee Civil War Battlefields
The TCWPA leadership team continued its mission to protect and preserve Tennessee Civil War Battlefields with emphasis on its educational and preservation grants program. Your generous annual gifts and proceeds from the “Save Our Battlefields” license plate supported four battlefield preservation grants in 2021. Preservation and interpretation grants were given in partnership with American Battlefield Trust (ABT) for Lookout Mountain, Longstreet Museum, National Park Partners for Brown’s Ferry / Brown’s Tavern and Battle of Franklin Trust.
2021 TCWPA Activities
Annual Membership and Board of Director Meetings
When we communicated with you a year ago, we were optimistic that 2021 would see a “return to normal” and a return to the field for meetings and tours. However, COVID spiked again and TCWPA decided to hold our Annual Members Meeting virtually on April 24, 2021. Members approved a ballot for the election of the 2021-2022 Board of Directors, all of whom returned for another year. Members also approved TCWPA’s Annual Report which is available for review here.
Board member, Mike Countess provided attendees with a presentation on the Statewide Preservation. The Annual Members Meeting also included the special presentation, Tennessee Battlefields – Preservation in 2020 which included seven presenters who gave updates on battlefields that received TCWPA grants in 2020 Presentations included imagery, maps, description, and conditions of land, as well as a short battle narrative on what happened on the land preserved with TCWPA or American Battlefield Trust funds. The presenters also discussed why saving the land was important to being able to tell the whole story of the battle, and if there is more land to be saved.
Special thanks to all our presenters for taking the time to participate in the 2021 TCWPA Annual Members Meeting. The presentations were well received, and several members stated how much they enjoyed the format, as well as the content of the presentations, and we agree – the presentations helped make the story of battlefield preservation very “real” and understandable.
2021 Battlefield Preservation Grants
Your generous annual gifts and proceeds from the “Save Our Battlefields” specialty license plate supported four battlefield preservation grants this year. Preservation and interpretation grants were given in partnership with American Battlefield Trust, Battle of Franklin Trust and National Park Partners:
- Lookout Mountain, Longstreet Museum
- Battle of Franklin Trust
- Brown’s Ferry
- Brown’s Tavern
Annual Gifts and Memberships
TCWPA received $14,575 in annual gifts and membership dues during the past year.
License Plate – Funding for Preservation
TCWPA’s “Save Our Battlefields” specialty license plate income from January 1, 2021- December 31, 2021, was $28,475. President Hodges also reported “In 2021 we have 1400 license plates on the road – even more than the first year after the initial sales of the plate. We are selling new plates every quarter and the renewals are holding steady! The plate has been on the road since September 2013, and it is wonderful to see the continued support for promoting preservation.
As part of our “Driving for Preservation” statewide campaign, TCWPA continues to distribute its bookmark to our state welcome centers where it is on display with the centers’ Civil War Exhibits, at libraries throughout Middle Tennessee, and at several museums, visitor centers and Civil War shows. The bookmarks have attracted a renewed interest in TCWPA and the “Save Our Battlefields” license plate.
TCWPA 2021 Goals
In support of the mission to protect, interpret, and make accessible Tennessee’s Civil War Battlefields and contributing landscapes, the TCWPA Board of Directors made tremendous progress on their highest priority in 2021 to complete the preservation plan assessments, begin drafting the plan narrative, and implement an accessible, interactive, website-based program about the plan. TCWPA will continue its membership and support campaigns as well as its education outreach through our monthly e-history email.
TCWPA Financial Report for 2021
TCWPA – Dec 31, 2021
Cash Accounts $ 71,662.24
Reserved Accounts Preservation Plan Publication $11,000.00
Available for 2022 TCWPA operations $ 61,662.24
2021 Income and Expenses
Income:
Membership Dues 1,655
Annual Giving Campaign 5,685
Special Donation 800
Board Gifts 4,800
Pay Pal Donations 1,700
PayPal fee Adjustment -65
Merchandise sales 0
License Plate Proceeds 23,947
________
Total General Revenue 38,522
Expenses:
Personal Services 28,875
Travel 0
General Administrative Expenses 1,234
Website Design/Expenses 1,828
Printing Expense 1,485
Accounting Services 1,246
Board Directed Grants 2,500
Bob Ragland Award 500
Insurance 877
Tennessee Battlefield Assessment 0
_______
Total Expense 38,545
2021 Income in Excess of 2021 Expense -$23
The 2021 Annual Report will be reviewed by the Board of Directors at its May 2022 meeting and was presented to the membership for approval at the meeting on May 14, 2022.
