Fox Valley Helps You Join the SAR

A Few Photos of New Members Receiving Certificates

At our dinner meeting at Ashbury's in Bolingbrook on October 25, 2015, Registrar Ted Miller pinned a member rosette on a serious and proud Richard Barber. Moments earlier Ted had assisted our President Mike Campagnolo administer the oath to new Compatriot Barber.

On August 22, 2013 at a Fox Valley Board of Managers meeting, President Rod Herbig presented the Liberty Medal to our Registrar Andy Baffes. The Illinois SAR sent the medal & certificate to honor the outstanding work that Andy has done helping men join the SAR.

Sometimes new members are honored at our monthly meetings. On July 13, 2013, President Rod Herbig (far left) assisted by VP Dale Bottom (far right), presented membership certificates to David C. Kadolph (left) and Dennis E. Zavada, Jr. (right).

At the spring dinner meeting on April 25, 2010, Gordon Bidner, President of the Illinois Society of the Sons of the American Revolution presented a membership certificate and pin to a proud new compatriot Andy Baffes.

At the fall dinner meeting on October 25, 2009, Chapter President Mike Johnston presented membership certificates to five members, one of our largest groups. They are: Guy Welsh, Brad Livingston, Richard Crawley, James Newby and Rod Herbig.

At the spring dinner meeting on April 28, 2008, incoming President Mike Johnston assisted by Gordon Bidner (r), President-elect of the Illinois Society of the SAR, welcomes new members Ron Sherman, Dale Hatter and John Reckenwall. Later that year Ron Sherman joined the Board of Managers.

From left to right, new members Dale Bottom and Scott Sanders proudly display their certificates with ILSSAR President Karl Reed and NSSAR President General Nathan White. Mike Johnston delegated his official duties to President General White who swore in Dale and Scott, and to President Reed who pinned new member rosettes on them.

From left to right, Chapter VP and Registrar Mike Johnston presents new members, Keith McClow, Paul Pecharich, supported by ILSSAR President Ken Griswold and new member Clyde Futrell at our annual fall dinner meeting at the Omega Restaurant in Naperville on November 20, 2005.

ILSSAR President Ken Griswold introduces Mike Johnston, Chapter Vice President and Registrar, who awards new member certificates to Ron Smith and his sons Benjamin and Matthew during our spring dinner meeting at the Omega Restaurant in Naperville on April 17, 2005.

While Compatriots and guests enjoyed their catered dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Naperville on November 16, 2003, John A. Ruskamp (far right), enjoyed pinning SAR new members rosettes on (left to right): Illinois CAR President John H. Ruskamp, Evan Broy, Mike Johnston, now VP and Registrar of the chapter, and Jim Brandon.

How to Join the SAR

Joining the Sons of the American Revolution is straightforward. First, you determine if you are eligible. Then you fill out an application. Our Registrars John or Terry will review the application before it is sent to the Illinois Registrar who forwards it to National Society headquarters in Louisville.

The best, easiest, and quickest, way to apply for SAR membership is on-line.

To begin, access SAR.org. From that site, click on Join SAR and then click on Apply for Membership.

At that point, review Step One: Determine Eligibility and assess the condition(s) under which your Patriot ancestor qualifies you for membership.

To continue, scroll down and click on the Application Preparation Manual and review it thoroughly and print a copy for future reference. The manual discusses the documentation you will need to provide to prove your Patriot ancestor's service during the Revolution and the documentation you will need to provide to prove each generation of your line of descent from your Patriot ancestor. The manual also discusses the proper ways of entering information on your application.

Then click on Create a User Account and enter the information requested. Once you have created an account, Sign In.

At this point, scroll up to My Applications Link and click on it and begin to create your application on-line. Your changes will be saved as you progress and the Registrars (John or Terry) will have access to your application to review it.

Continue to collect the documents required to prove your Patriot ancestor’s service and to prove each line in your line of descent from him or her. By signing in you can return to your application to edit it or make additions or deletions.

You can work together with a Registrar (Terry or John) to make any needed additions or corrections.

Once you application is complete and you have assembled all the required documentation, meet with a Registrar for a final review of all your materials. Once the Registrar is satisfied that your application package complies with the requirements of the Sons of the American Revolution, he will be able to sponsor you. Finally, he will print your application on the SAR watermarked paper for submission to the state and national offices and he and you will sign two submission copies. At that time, the Registrar will collect the then current national and state application fees.

The Registrars are available to assist you as you move through the application process. They can offer suggestions to assist you on genealogical sources and research.

Please feel free to contact the Registrar servicing your area.

For applicants residing South of I88: John T. Lansing

For Applicants residing North of I88: Terrence (Terry) J. Benshoof

Their photos, emails and phone numbers are at the top of this page.