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In 1983, I got involved in the Missouri Civil War Reenactors Association in a very unexpected way. The annual business meeting is held at Loman's Landing in Jefferson City. Events are voted on, issues discussed, and elections held. Members elected to the board include the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. These members only hold office for one year, then new people are nominated. Additional people are elected to serve the board in a one, two, and three year capacity as pants presser's-basically sit on their ass until called upon to cast a vote. The membership of the MCWRA includes both Union and Confederate reenactors, and sometimes these meeting's become heated. One can easily compare these meetings to any held by a bunch of strutting peacocks.
I would depend on Hig to tell me what happened at these board meetings as I had no desire to go to Jeff City in January. He'd tell me what events were planned for the upcoming year and any other highlights that came out. He called me that evening to tell me that I had been elected MCWRA treasurer! I was floored! I had no idea I was even nominated! I had been doing a capable job as Holmes Brigade treasurer, and that may have been the deciding factor as Dick Stauffer and other Holmes Brigader's probably pushed for my appointment. I was flattered they had so much confidence in me, however I thought it would be too overwhelming. The MCWRA included a membership of several hundred men and women from 5 states.
In a few days I received a phone call from new MCWRA president Doug Sloan, commander of Shelby's Cavalry. He had the past treasurer's account book and I needed to come by his home to receive it. Plus, I was informed that I was selected to serve as co-editor of the WESTERN CAMPAIGNER with David Bennett. Another surprise! I scratched my head on that one, trying to figure the reasoning behind my appointment to the MCWRA newsletter. Maybe it was because I worked at a print company that decided the issue. At Sign-Craft we did have a litho department and I had had recruiting poster's and event flyer's printed there. Not sure what the deciding factor was, but I agreed to meet Mr. David Bennett at the home of Doug Sloan. I met these guys before-from the other side of the firing line as it were-the first time they bushwhacked us at Pilot Knob in '80. For a brief moment I felt as if I was a fly going into the spider's lair as I was greeted warmly by Sloan and Bennett that Saturday afternoon. After a spell we got down to business, Doug briefly discussed my treasurer's duties and handed me the account book. He had already collected some dues while at Jeff City and handed the checks and/or cash over with the book. I would have to start a bank account soon and deposit the money. The account book had names and address', plus it listed what unit the person was a member of.
Dave Bennett began outlining what he hoped the newsletter would become. He wanted the Campaigner to the be the voice of the MCWRA, but not a gossip column. In the years that followed, the Campaigner became more than a vehicle to list upcoming events. It began carrying articles of historical importance relating to upcoming event's, including the reprinting of soldier's letters and articles from 100 year old historical quarterly's. The MISSOURI HISTORICAL REVIEW was a fine example as articles from the 20's and 30's were rediscovered, all written about the war in Missouri or this region. Gregg Higginbotham was a collector of soldier photograph's including many of them Missourian's and Kansan's who fought in the war. He loaned us several that were reproduced in our newsletter over the years. The WESTERN CAMPAIGNER became a model of what a reenactor's newsletter should be. During the 3 years Dave and I co-edited the newsletter, we received several subscription's from local historical societies and libraries in the area.I had learned how to make camera-ready artwork while in lithography class at CMSU, so I purchased transfer type/rub-on lettering from an art supplier and began reworking the masthead for our newsletter. The first newsletter was a single 13" x 19" piece of medium grade stock folded in half and printed on all four sides. Two additional printed pages-acquired from another source-were inserted to the finished product then folded over and stapled. I don't recall how many newsletters I had Sign-Craft print for me-five hundred? As the newsletter was folded over to be mailed I felt there should be something on the back fold-opposite the mailing information. The back of the first newsletter contained a cartoon I had drawn to accompany a paragraph on fighting lice taken from John Billings classic book "HARDTACK AND COFFEE". Later issues contained how-to construction ideas for such things as rope beds, camp chairs, and candle lanterns. The before mentioned Higginbotham photographs also graced the back pages of future issues and in most cases coinciding with an inside article.
Once the appearance and substance of the newsletter was decided, we had to determine how we wanted the newsletters mailed. After viewing all options by the US Post Office, we settled on mailing by bulk. Items with the same zip code were bundled together, then placed in a postal bag. Unlike 1st or 3rd class mailing, bulk mailing was handled last but it was a cheaper way to go. A permit number had to displayed in upper right hand corner-where the stamp usually goes. After receiving the finished newsletter's from the printer, I affixed mailing labels to each, sorted them as mentioned, etc., then delivered them myself to the Kansas City Main Post Office with the appropriate funds for mailing. Bulk mailing was not a perfect way to go. Sometimes newsletter's got lost or were not delivered. Then I'd have to mail that person a replacement copy. But all in all things went fairly smooth for the 3 years Dave and I handled it.
As treasurer, I was required to attend future MCWRA board meetings. In 1984, Gregg Higginbotham became President, and in 1985 Dave Bennett was elected. Because of my close association with these two men, I got a good look at the political machine that was behind the blue and the gray. During Doug Sloan's tenure, the notion came up for incorporating the MCWRA as a not-for-profit association. This included Federal tax-exempt status, and the ability to accept cash or material donations. Once incorporation was established, an MCWRA member could get a tax write-off for dues and uniform purchases (at least that was my understanding). When I had my taxes done in April, I used this very argument and further stated that the hobby I was in was an educational entity and thus I deserved the exemption. I even applied my gas mileage to and from an event. Never had a problem from my tax preparer or the IRS. I only made these claims for 10 years until I quit the MCWRA.
Gregg Higginbotham, Dave Bennett, and I went to Hyatt Legal Services one afternoon in 1984 and talked with a lawyer for nearly an hour, signed several documents, and sealed the deal on incorporation. This was the highlight of Hig's presidency and a source of great pride to all.
A personal highlight I'd like to mention is the MCWRA logo. In 1982, acting President Doug Seneker thought it would be 'cool' if the MCWRA had its own logo. He figured there were plenty of talented people in the association so he offered a challenge in the WESTERN CAMPAIGNER for artwork exciting enough to place on stationary and/or on the newsletter masthead. In 1984, I went to work on a couple of ideas, and at the January 1985 meeting in Jefferson City, I had a design which was unanimously accepted by all. Over the years there has been some controversy as who the creator of the logo actually was. Entrepreneur and historian Sonny Wells is a gentleman whom I like to refer as a peddler of souvenir's. With the blessing of the MCWRA, Sonny has for years been allowed to set up a table outside the authentic area and sell items like cardboard kepi's, wooden muskets, civil war board games, toy soldiers, and flag's on a stick to the unsuspecting public. Not long after the logo was introduced, Sonny began peddling t-shirts and bumper stickers with that image. A number of people have accused me of being naive saying I should have copyrighted my design. I guess I should have. At the time of the board meeting, I was only concerned with having my design appreciated and the acceptance that it received was my reward. Because their was no copyright on the design, Sonny Wells took the opportunity to profit from it and has since lined his pockets many times over with the design I created. After 1986, Sonny become the official licensed dealer of MCWRA printed material, with a portion of the sales going back to the association. Since then, a lot of water has passed under the bridge and I'm no longer bitter about the turn of events as I was back in '85. The way I see it, the design is being displayed and who better to promote the MCWRA than Sonny Wells-the original sideshow carny.
Prior to the 1986 season Dave Bennett decided he wanted to resign as editor of the WESTERN CAMPAIGNER. He was facing some personal choices in his life, including the birth of a new child, and he felt the need to step aside. When asked if I would continue the newsletter alone, I said no. Even with a new partner, I could not hope to recapture the chemistry Dave and I shared. Dave made the newsletter work, insisting on quality over quantity. Some time in 1984, Dave Bennett and I received an award from the MCWRA for a job well done on the WESTERN CAMPAIGNER. Beyond the common goal of putting out a quality newsletter with interesting stories, Dave was always looking ahead to the common goal of bringing all reenactors together in a spirit of 'cooperation' within the association. In the November 1985 issue of the WESTERN CAMPAIGNER, Dave announced his resignation as editor, but he had these words of encouragement: "I urge you to look around you; the association has reached far and beyond. Many reenactors have gone far in this enjoyable hobby of ours, fostered by a sense of family, by a caring guiding hand; from this spirit of togetherness that is so special in the MCWRA...It is a family that I respect."