1. The meeting was called to order by British Brigade Brigadier Mike Grenier at 11:00 am January 19, 2008 in the town of Rosendale, New York as scheduled.

2. After the Chaplain’s Prayer, the proposed agenda was reviewed. Added to the Agenda was the Roll Call immediately after the prayer; moving #8 immediately after #6 to continue the events discussion (Seconded by the 23rd) and approved.
1. Call to Order by Commander, Chaplain’s Prayer, Roll Call
2. Introduction and Review of Agenda
3. Election of Officers
4. Reading of the 2007 Minutes
5. Vote on Applicant Member Units – 9th Foot (sponsored by 29th), 63rd Foot (sponsored by 22nd)
6. 2008 British Brigade endorsed events for re-confirmation:
- May 17-18, Daniel Boone Homestead, Birdsboro, PA
– June 21-22, Monmouth, NJ
2008 British Brigade proposed events:
- October 18-19, Gloucester Point, VA – BB/CL event
7. Discourse on Proposed 2009 British Brigade events
8. Decision on:
a. Proposal – Changes to Terms of Offices and Election Procedures (Amendments to By Laws) (43rd Regiment)
b. Proposal – Changes to The British Brigade‘s Safety Regulations (Coldstream Guards)
9. 2007 Officer Reports – Paymaster, Quarter Master, Provost Martial, Judge Advocate, Sergeant Major, Drum Major, Master Gunner, Chaplain
10. Review of 2007 Events
11. State of the British Brigade Address – Brigadier Grenier
12. Nomination of New Applicant Units - 47 Foot (sponsored by 42nd),
13. 2008 Appointments
14. Proposed events for 2010
15. Unit recommended events (non-British Brigade events to which all are invited)
16. New Business:
a. Camp Requirements (Delos Wheeler)
b. 2009 Meeting Location (Michael Grenier)
c. Maritime Congress boat squadron (information - Damian Siekonic)
d. Passports (Daniel O’Connell)
17. Adjourn

3. 42 voting member regiments were present and active for the roll call. In attendance were Batteries C, F, H, M, and W of the 4th Battalion Royal Artillery; Royal Irish Artillery, Pausch’s Company Hesse Hanau Artillery, 1st Foot Guards; 5th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 29th, 40th, 42nd, 43rd, 60th, 62nd, 63rd, 64th, 74th, and 84th Regiments of Foot; 16th Light Dragoons, 17th Light Dragoons; 1st New Jersey Volunteers; 4th New Jersey Volunteers; Loyal American Regiment; Kings Rangers; 1st Battalion Delancy’s Brigade; Maryland Loyalists; Butlers Rangers; Company of Select Marksmen; Claus’ Rangers; Regiment von Donop; Hanau Jaeger Corps; Company von Prueschenk Hessen-Kassel Jaeger Corps, Marines, and The North American Squadron. More than one-fifth the active member units had voting officers present, therefore the meeting continued as a legally constituted meeting of the British Brigade.
Absent were: Battery N, P, Coldstream (2nd) Guards; 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards, 4th, 7th, 20th, 21st , 33rd, Queens Rangers, Kings Royal Regiment of New York, Capt. Bull’s War Party, Royal North Carolina Regiment, Brant’s Volunteers, Regiment von Knyphausen, Von Bose Regiment, and Detached Hospital. All absent units except for Brant’s Volunteers, Queen’s Rangers, and Royal North Carolina Regiment assigned proxies. Proxies were recognized.

4. Prior to the reading of the 2007 minutes, a correction to the minutes was noted by the Brigadier. The 55th Regiment were voted on as an Applicant Unit last year for full membership – motion from the 23rd to accept; seconded by 43rd – unanimously accepted. Motion that the minutes be accepted with the correction by the 23rd; seconded by 43rd – unanimously accepted.

5. Election of Officers - motion from the 23rd to accept all incumbent officers for another term; President/Commanding Officer (Brigadier – Michael Grenier of the 64th Regiment of Foot; Vice President/Adjutant General – Richard Amsterdam of the 10th Regiment of Foot; Corporate Secretary of the British Brigade – Horst Dresler of the King’s Rangers; Judge Advocate General – Thomas Vilardi of the 22nd Regiment of Foot; seconded by 43rd – unanimously accepted.

6. Vote on Applicant Member Units – 9th Foot - motion by 29th, seconded by 23rd - unanimously accepted; 63rd Foot - motion by 22nd, seconded by 43rd - unanimously accepted. Remaining applicant members that have not met full membership requirements: The NY Volunteers, Anspach Bayreuth Regiment, and the 4th Regiment, 2nd Battalion (St. Lawrence) of the Jersey Militia - were each granted continuance.

7. Events endorsed for 2008 by the British Brigade:
• Paul Loane (43rd Regiment) brought the Brigade up-to-date on the Boones Homestead, Reading, PA event on May 17-18, 2008.
• Tom Vilardi (22nd Regiment) brought the Brigade up-to-date on the Monmouth, NJ event on June 21-22, 2008.
• October 18-19, 2008 Gloucester Point, VA - this event was made a British Brigade event at the meeting contingent on approval by the Continental Line.

8. The following events were presented for consideration for 2009/2010:
- Jim Maughey presented Jerusalem Mills, MD – May 16-17, 2009 for consideration. The Brigade voted to support this event contingent on approval by the Continental Line.
- Ft. Ontario, Oswego – withdrawn.
- Cooperstown, NY – TBD (Aug/Sept), 2009 for consideration. Motion by the 23rd and seconded by the King’s Rangers to support this event contingent on approval by the Continental Line.
- Brandywine Creek State Park, Wilmington, DE for consideration. The Brigade recommended to the sponsor that it be held on Columbus Day weekend in 2010. Motion by the 23rd and seconded by the 40th to support this event contingent on approval by the Continental Line.
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- A proposed event in England, the 230th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of the Isle of Jersey is in planning for 2011.

9. Proposal – a) - Changes to Terms – Submitted by the 43rd a proposal sheet – A Method of Electing Officers (Attachment 6). Discussion included: strike item 6, 7, and with #10 – “of those units present at an annual meeting”. Item #9 should read – If there is a vacancy, the board will appoint for the interim until an election can be held at the next annual meeting. The elected candidate will complete the term. A motion to accept by 40th; seconded by Company of Select Marksmen; unanimously accepted. b) The British Brigade‘s Safety Regulations (Coldstream Guards) – Attachment 7. Discussion included: strike from the first motion – “that we can then impose on state historic sites the generally accepted regulations by all reenactment units”; strike from the second motion – “unless the tent is free of straw” and add – “or other exposed flames or embers”; and on the final motion replace “muskets or rifles” with “flintlock weapons”. A motion to accept by 43rd; seconded by 23rd; unanimously accepted.

10. Officer’s Reports were presented:

The Paymaster’s report was submitted (Attachment 1,2). The British Brigade began 2007 with assets of $6,672.94. Gross Revenues in 2007 of $2,392.00 were from member regiments dues. Total operating expenses were in the amount of $1,211.56. The Brigade ended the year with a balance of $7,976.25.
Also noted was the upcoming change in the web hosting site.

The Quartermaster Report (Delos Wheeler) asked that his report be moved to New Business.

The Provost Marshall (Paul Belyea) report (Attachment 3).

The Judge Advocate (Tom Vilardi) reported 100% compliance on insurance coverage with all units supplying copies of their policies.

The Brigade Sergeant Major RSM Glen Lunde presented a brief report.

The Chaplain’s report is provided in Attachment 4.

The Drum Major Report (Attachment 5) was submitted to the secretary after the meeting, as he could not attend.

11. The Review of 2007 events – Bordentown/Saratoga

12. Nomination of New Applicant Units:
1- 47 th Regiment out of Michigan sponsored by 42nd Regiment of Foot .

13. 2008 Appointments - tabled in the interests of time.

14. Unit recommended events for 2008 - tabled in the interests of time.

15. New business:
a. Camp Requirements - Delos Wheeler asked advisement on placement of wall tents and
non-officer marquees in the camp. Consensus was to maintain historical feel of the camp with tents placed where appropriate (regardless of who inhabits them). If there are too many wall tents (in Delos judgment), they can be placed in a petty sutler area.
b. 2009 Meeting Location - The members authorized scheduling the next British Brigade Annual Meeting at the same time and location as the Continental Line meeting, with a joint session to review proposed events, if costs and other arrangements are reasonable.
c. Maritime Congress boat squadron - information presented by Damian Siekonic and Peter Condrick.
d. Passports: Dan O’Connell presented a very brief paper on the current Passport requirements. Members must have passports not only for the proposed Canadian events but also for the proposed England trip in 2011. Paperwork from Parcs Canada was included in the member packets and Horst Dresler stressed that there are no changes to the Canadian Firearm regulations and our firearms are still considered as “Antiques”. Also, Passports are not required to enter Canada but are required to reenter the US.

Motion made, seconded, and passed to adjourn the meeting at 4:30 in the afternoon.

Respectfully submitted,
Horst Dresler
Secretary of the British Brigade