Monday, April 14, 2014
Hale Farm Civil War promo makes its debut
Western Reserve Historical Society has created a series of short videos to promote the Civil War reenactment at Hale Farm and Village. In the next couple of months we will be rolling out the videos on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, on our website, and sharing it with others to generate additional buzz about Hale and the largest annual Civil War Reenactment in the state.
Here is the link: http://bit.ly/1qFHM1a.
We will be in contact with community partners in the Akron and Cleveland areas, the reenactor community, and others to help us share the video. We will also be providing the link to reporters who covered the event last year. Additionally, we’ll have it available for viewing at this year’s Legacy Award Benefit on May 17.
If you use social media, we encourage you to include the link in your preferred channels. And, feel free to share with friends and colleagues via email, as well!
We want to thank our good friends at Lost Tribe Media who shot the video and who edited it so beautifully. Additionally, we want to thank the Akron-Summit CVB who provided a grant to support additional promotional of the Civil War event at Hale; a portion of the grant was used in the production of the video.
If you are like I am, you’ll just want to watch it over and over!
Jane Mason
VP Communications & Marketing, CMO
Western Reserve Historical Society
Friday, March 21, 2014
Birney's Division School in May
Birney's Division 2014 NCO/Officer School of Instruction
May 2-4, Perryopolis, PA
All members of Birney's Division are asked to attend, Company Commanders BRING YOUR TROOPS! This will be an opportunity for the entire Division to learn and practice together without the duties and time restraints at an event.
Birney's Division welcomes all units to participate in our Spring School of Instruction. This will be a weekend series of short classroom instructional sessions, coupled together with field drill experience. We know that many of you are experienced veterans with many years in the hobby and we hope that you will share than knowledge and experience with others. What we hope to accomplish is to allow as many recently promoted NCOs and officers the experience of conducting the maneuvers and practical tactics we will use on the reenactment field.
Perryopolis is a facility located about 15 miles from Exit 75 (New Stanton) on the PA Turnpike. The training camp was designed and built by reenactors for reenactors with seven period heated buildings. This includes a two-story barracks that sleeps about 30. We will assign sleeping quarters on a first come first serve basis. There is an abundance of camping areas for others.
DIRECTIONS: Exit the PA Turnpike at New Stanton. Take I-70 West to the Rt. 515 Exit. Follow Rt. 515 to the 3rd light and make a left. Follow the signs to the CW camps in the back of the park. A light lunch will be available Saturday for a small fee.
Please send your Company information (including the number attending) to General Maffei at general_maffei@verizon.net NO LATER THAN April 25, 2014.
May 2-4, Perryopolis, PA
All members of Birney's Division are asked to attend, Company Commanders BRING YOUR TROOPS! This will be an opportunity for the entire Division to learn and practice together without the duties and time restraints at an event.
Birney's Division welcomes all units to participate in our Spring School of Instruction. This will be a weekend series of short classroom instructional sessions, coupled together with field drill experience. We know that many of you are experienced veterans with many years in the hobby and we hope that you will share than knowledge and experience with others. What we hope to accomplish is to allow as many recently promoted NCOs and officers the experience of conducting the maneuvers and practical tactics we will use on the reenactment field.
Perryopolis is a facility located about 15 miles from Exit 75 (New Stanton) on the PA Turnpike. The training camp was designed and built by reenactors for reenactors with seven period heated buildings. This includes a two-story barracks that sleeps about 30. We will assign sleeping quarters on a first come first serve basis. There is an abundance of camping areas for others.
DIRECTIONS: Exit the PA Turnpike at New Stanton. Take I-70 West to the Rt. 515 Exit. Follow Rt. 515 to the 3rd light and make a left. Follow the signs to the CW camps in the back of the park. A light lunch will be available Saturday for a small fee.
Please send your Company information (including the number attending) to General Maffei at general_maffei@verizon.net NO LATER THAN April 25, 2014.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
History Day in Cleveland needs judges
Western Reserve Historical Society is recruiting new members for their Board of Judges for this year’s District 3 History Day Contest, scheduled to take place in Cleveland’s University Circle on Saturday, March 15th. This year’s contest will center on the theme of “Rights and Responsibilities.”
For those of you new to judging for History Day, it is a valuable experience year-long experience that engages students from area public, private and parochial schools with the study of history in a “science fair” type of atmosphere. The student who goes on to win the National History Day Contest receives a 4-year scholarship to Case Western Reserve University. Please go to www.nhd.org for more information about National History Day.
Volunteering as a History Day judge will entail your presence at the District 3 contest on Saturday, March 15th. Following a brief orientation, teams of three judges will disperse to evaluate student papers, student-constructed websites, performances, documentaries and exhibits at various sites in the Western Reserve Historical Society History Center or on the campus of Case Western Reserve University.
Lunch is provided for judges, during or after which judges finalize their evaluation forms and confer with other teams in their category to select finalists for the state competition. Judges are invited, but not required, to attend the awards program at 2:30 p.m.
If you are interested in participating as a History Day Judge, please complete the form at the following link:
http://www.wrhs.org/explore/Want_Participate_History_Day#for_judges_and_volunteers
Email it to historyday@wrhs.org - Subject Line-HD Judge as soon as possible, preferably by February 28th. We appreciate your consideration in performing this service in the cause of history education.
For those of you new to judging for History Day, it is a valuable experience year-long experience that engages students from area public, private and parochial schools with the study of history in a “science fair” type of atmosphere. The student who goes on to win the National History Day Contest receives a 4-year scholarship to Case Western Reserve University. Please go to www.nhd.org for more information about National History Day.
Volunteering as a History Day judge will entail your presence at the District 3 contest on Saturday, March 15th. Following a brief orientation, teams of three judges will disperse to evaluate student papers, student-constructed websites, performances, documentaries and exhibits at various sites in the Western Reserve Historical Society History Center or on the campus of Case Western Reserve University.
Lunch is provided for judges, during or after which judges finalize their evaluation forms and confer with other teams in their category to select finalists for the state competition. Judges are invited, but not required, to attend the awards program at 2:30 p.m.
If you are interested in participating as a History Day Judge, please complete the form at the following link:
http://www.wrhs.org/explore/Want_Participate_History_Day#for_judges_and_volunteers
Email it to historyday@wrhs.org - Subject Line-HD Judge as soon as possible, preferably by February 28th. We appreciate your consideration in performing this service in the cause of history education.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Holiday wishes from the General
TO ALL MEMBERS OF BIRNEY’S DIVISION
A MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL:
This past reenacting season we have seen many changes and celebrated some historical events together. Talk around the hobby was “all I want to do is make the 150th Gettysburg and then I’ll call it quits” and there were some who did leave the hobby. Understandably health issues took precedence over any desires of those who wanted to remain in the hobby and for others age and mobility might have caught up with them.
The question that I often wonder about is how do you leave the hobby? After so many years of doing what we do, planning your vacations, free time and family outings around a schedule of events and functions unrelated to anything in today’s world. Over the long season of winter quarters we look for any reason to put on the wool and spend some time with our reenactor friends, planning our next great adventure and reminiscing all the great battles and events of the past. Many of us have been in the hobby for most of our adult lives (some even longer) and we continue year after year to enjoy the hobby and the company of our friends.
For those who have left the hobby we wish them the best and hope that the transition from reenacting to civilian life goes easy for them, as they should always remember our special brotherhood of Civil War reenactors will never forget them.
2014 will be another special season with 150th year events and we hope that all our members will be there to commemorate them with us.
May all of you and you’re families have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
Respectfully,
Michael D. Maffei
Commanding General Birney’s Division
A MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL:
This past reenacting season we have seen many changes and celebrated some historical events together. Talk around the hobby was “all I want to do is make the 150th Gettysburg and then I’ll call it quits” and there were some who did leave the hobby. Understandably health issues took precedence over any desires of those who wanted to remain in the hobby and for others age and mobility might have caught up with them.
The question that I often wonder about is how do you leave the hobby? After so many years of doing what we do, planning your vacations, free time and family outings around a schedule of events and functions unrelated to anything in today’s world. Over the long season of winter quarters we look for any reason to put on the wool and spend some time with our reenactor friends, planning our next great adventure and reminiscing all the great battles and events of the past. Many of us have been in the hobby for most of our adult lives (some even longer) and we continue year after year to enjoy the hobby and the company of our friends.
For those who have left the hobby we wish them the best and hope that the transition from reenacting to civilian life goes easy for them, as they should always remember our special brotherhood of Civil War reenactors will never forget them.
2014 will be another special season with 150th year events and we hope that all our members will be there to commemorate them with us.
May all of you and you’re families have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
Respectfully,
Michael D. Maffei
Commanding General Birney’s Division
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
2013 Ohio Civil War Reenactors Conference
November 2, 2013 - Ohio Historical Society, Columbus, OH
The Army of the Ohio and the 2nd Battalion of Birney's Division are once again hosting the Ohio Civil War Reenactors Conference. This event was a great success last year and is open to all ranks, military and civilian. All branches, Union and Confederate.
The conference will again be held at the Ohio Historical Society. However, we will be in the main history center utilizing the large auditorium inside for the main sessions. We are grateful to OHS and the Columbus Blue Jackets for sponsoring this years conference which helps to absorb some of the costs.
You can download the Conference flyer and registration form at www.birneysdivision.org/schedule. Please take note that the registration fee is based on you staying for the Saturday evening dinner or not. There will also be entertainment in the evening and a chance to view the "Follow the Flag" exhibit featuring original Civil War battle flags and their stories.
More details to follow as we build the schedule and you can get the latest news at www.facebook.com/OHCWRC.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Fall in for Zoar!
As Birney's 2d Battalion heads away from a greatly successful Hale Farm, next on our schedule is another huge regional event in Zoar, Ohio, September 7-8, 2013. This year the reenactment will be based around the Battle of Chickamauga as it is the 150th anniversary.
The website has all of the pertinent information and you can register right online! Go to www.zoarcivilwar.com.
As you know, this will be my last event as the commander of the battalion and we will be holding a Change of Command ceremony on Sunday during dress parade. I sincerely look forward to seeing all of you there.
Your Servant,
Christopher L. Smith, Colonel
2d Battalion, Birney's Division
The website has all of the pertinent information and you can register right online! Go to www.zoarcivilwar.com.
As you know, this will be my last event as the commander of the battalion and we will be holding a Change of Command ceremony on Sunday during dress parade. I sincerely look forward to seeing all of you there.
Your Servant,
Christopher L. Smith, Colonel
2d Battalion, Birney's Division
Friday, August 02, 2013
1st Call! Hale Farm
At this time, we are calling all Birney's Division units and units who will participate with Birney's Division at Hale Farm to report their estimated numbers to the 2d Battalion Adjutant. Please send the following information to Capt. Strichko at strichkod@yahoo.com ASAP.
1. Is your unit attending?
2. How many military personnel are participating?
3. How many civilians are attending?
4. How many tents do you have and what kind?
Looking forward to seeing all of you there. Remember, the National Park Service has the road north of Hale Farm closed due to repairs. Go to www.halefarm.org and download the new driving directions map.
1. Is your unit attending?
2. How many military personnel are participating?
3. How many civilians are attending?
4. How many tents do you have and what kind?
Looking forward to seeing all of you there. Remember, the National Park Service has the road north of Hale Farm closed due to repairs. Go to www.halefarm.org and download the new driving directions map.