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Newsletter - March, 2023

 The Sage Society

March 2023 Newsletter

Dear Sage Society Members,

Our March meeting will begin at 4pm on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 in the Pat Conroy Literary Center, 905 Port Republic Street, Beaufort. Member Peggy Pickett is the author of several history books and has roamed about in period dress as a living historian for many years. I am very much looking forward to her upcoming presentation about “Dressing the 18th Century Woman”.

In honor of Diane Gallagher’s entertaining presentation about pirates, I share this little ditty:

Pirates Pirate

Some pirates pirate rubies

Some pirates pirate gold

Some pirates pirate diamonds

All that thar hands can hold.

Some pirates pirate spices

They steal without a care

Some pirates pirate pirates

Arrrrghhh, matey, best beware!

- Anonymous poet

According to the By-laws of the Society, membership is capped at 24. I have received nominations for two fine ladies to be added to our number: Maude Hornsby and Nora Kresch. Both have attended at least one of our Sage Society meetings as a member’s guest.

SAGE SOCIETY Newsletter March 2023

• Maude Hornsby is nominated by Jerry Stocks. Maude’s submitted biographical sketch is attached.

• Nora Kresch is nominated by Martha Thwaite Weeks. Nora’s submitted biographical sketch is attached.

Though COVID affected our membership procedure in practice, there has been no formal change to the ballloting process in the By-Laws last updated in February 2022. Now that we are back to meeting in person, we will vote by paper ballot for member approval to add Maude and Nora to our society.

Should both nominees be elected, this would bring up our membership to 21. As you go about your daily lives, think of other accomplished women who will add to our merry little band. Feel free to invite one or more of them to our next meeting on April 11th or the one on May 9th. The more, the merrier – or at least up to the room’s capacity! Programs for 2023: • April 11: Grace Cordial, Organizing Family Archives • May 9: Alvesta Robertson, Beaufort’s First Methodist Church • September 12: Vicki Mix, TBD • October 10: Catherine Stewart, TBD • November 14: Bonnie McCardell, Public Art Thanks to all those who signed up on the presenter schedule for September – November 2023 and February – May 2024. The Sage Society needs you to share your interests for the benefit of us all. See you at the meeting!

Agenda - 3/14/2023 Meeting

Agenda for Sage Society Meeting

March 14, 2023, 4:00 PM

Pat Conroy Literary Center, 905 Port Republic Street, Beaufort

1. Welcome by President by Grace Cordial

2. Introduction of Guests

3. Roll call by Secretary by Sandi Atkins

4. Approval of February 2023 minutes

5. Re-cap of March 2023 Newsletter

6. “Dressing the 18th Century Woman,” a presentation by Peggy Pickett

7. Election of New Members

8. Next meeting: Tuesday, April 11, 2023, Pat Conroy Literary Center, 4 pm at which we will learn from Member Grace Cordial about some practical preservation tips for family archives

Minutes - February 14, 2023

 SAGE SOCIETY MINUTES

Date: February 14, 2023

Members in attendance:

Armer, Donna

Atkins, Sandi

Cordial, Grace

Gallagher, Diane

Gray, Debbie

Hathaway, Barbara

Heath, Stuart

Lawson, Ruth Ann

McCardell, Bonnie

Mix, Vicki

Pickett, Peggy

Robertson, Alvesta

Stewart, Catherine

Stocks, Jerry

Thomas, Melba

Weeks, Martha

Grace Cordial called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm.

Minutes of the January 10, 2023 meeting were approved.

Members introduced their guests, Linda Hawes and Maude Hornsby.

General business discussed:

Sandi gave an update on Hopeful Horizons. Several members, led by Barbara Hathaway, went to the women’s shelter on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 to shelve the children’s books and get the room set up. It was a very successful morning. We took the opportunity to talk to the shelter director, Tonya Doctor, and the development director, Erin Hall, about needs for next year. They have $153 from the 2022 funds which are to be used to supply the children’s room as needed. We agreed that we would give them the funds from the 2023 dues which will be designated to provide enhancements for the women in the shelter, including magazine subscriptions and other reading materials.

Diane Gallagher presented a program on Lady Pirates:

Diane provided a very entertaining talk about pirates and pirateers from the yearly 1700s. Although she was focused on the female pirates, she also introduced us to Blackbeard because of his connection to Charleston.

At one point, Blackbeard had over 300 ships in his fleet operating all over the oceans including the Caribbean and in the waters off the Low Country. He blockaded Charleston harbor and also was active in the Williamsburg area. The British Navy sent ships after him and he was eventually killed in a sword flight.

The women who became pirates were from China, Ireland, England, France and many other countries. Some partnered with their husbands but others were on their own and were known to be quite ruthless.

Grace O’Malley was from Ireland and considered herself to be royalty since she ruled the area around the Cliffs of Moher. Mary Read dressed like a boy and joined Jack Rackham on his ship. She served there with Annie Bonny and the 2 women became very famous. When they were eventually captured, Jack and the crew were hung but the 2 women claimed to be pregnant and were spared.

The era of pirating ended around 1740.

The meeting adjourned at 4:50 pm.

The next regular meeting will be on March 14, 2023 with Peggy Pickett as the presenter.

Updated list of presenters:

2023

March 14: Peggy Pickett – Dressing the 18th Century Woman

April 11: Grace Cordial – Organizing Family Archives: Practical Tips

May 9: Alvesta Robertson

Respectfully submitted by Sandi Atkins, Secretary, on February 16, 2023

Newsletter - February, 2023