Americanism Committee

The SAR Americanism Committee is responsible for organizing and directing the SAR’s efforts to promote the principles of freedom and liberty for all Americans. This includes dissemination of SAR programs and resolutions relating to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

Contest Forms

The Americanism Committee sponsors the following:

Allene Wilson Groves Award

This award, named for Allene Wilson Groves (1896 – 1986) of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, who was President General of the Daughters of the American Revolution (1956 – 1959), is presented to the SAR state-level society which conducted the most complete programs or activities during the previous calendar year (January 1 to December 31) that created, supported or promoted a better understanding in its own community of such SAR resolutions and of the fundamental American traditions which governed their formulation and adoption.

In 2008, the Americanism Committee began the process of revising the criteria for this contest at the suggestion of the Medals and Awards Committee. Beginning with the 2009 contest year, the Allene Wilson Groves Americanism Award is awarded to the state-level societies that demonstrated the best program of outreach to their local community in support of the Sons of the American Revolution.

The award is divided into four categories based on membership size: 10 to 199, 200 to 499, 500 to 999, and 1,000 or more members. Determination of which category an entrant competes in will be determined by membership on January 1 of the contest year. The Americanism Committee judges the contest at the Spring Leadership meeting and the award is presented at the following Annual Congress. An Americanism Streamer will be presented to the winner of each membership category. The streamer is made of cloth, carries the National Society’s colors with lettering in gold to state “Allene Wilson Groves Americanism Award” and the years involved. It is approximately 1 1/2” wide and 3’ in length, with a grommet in the end so that the award may be affixed to the top of the society’s or chapter’s flagstaff. A certificate signed by the President General accompanies the streamer. Second and third place winners will receive a certificate signed by the President General.

The deadline for submission is March 15. Participating state-level societies and chapters report accumulated points to the Americanism Committee Chairman in accordance with the contest guidelines set forth by the Americanism Committee and published as part of the Americanism Award / President General’s Streamer Combined Score Sheet. This Score Sheet may be downloaded from this page. The Score Sheet must be submitted in its entirety to qualify as a valid entry for this competition.

Liberty Bell Award

This award is presented to the SAR chapter that conducted the most complete programs or activities during the previous calendar year (January 1 to December 31) that created, supported or promoted a better understanding in its own community of such SAR resolutions and of the fundamental American traditions that governed their formulation and adoption.

In 2008, the Americanism Committee began the process of revising the criteria for this contest at the suggestion of the Medals and Awards Committee. Beginning with the 2009 contest year, the Liberty Bell Americanism Award is awarded to the chapter that demonstrated the best program of outreach to their local community in support of the Sons of the American Revolution.

The award is divided into four categories based on membership size: 1 to 40, 41 to 90, 91 to 150, and 151 or more members. Determination of which category an entrant competes in will be determined by membership on January 1 of the contest year.

The Americanism Committee judges the contest at the Spring Leadership meeting and the award is presented at the following Annual Congress. An Americanism Streamer will be presented to the winner of each membership category. The streamer is made of cloth, carries the National Society’s colors with lettering in gold to state “Liberty Bell Award” and the years involved. It is approximately 1 1/2” wide and 3’ in length, with a grommet in the end so that the award may be affixed to the top of the society’s or chapter’s flagstaff. A certificate signed by the President General accompanies the streamer. Second and third place winners will receive a certificate signed by the President General.

The deadline for submission is March 15. Participating state-level societies and chapters report accumulated points to the Americanism Committee Chairman in accordance with the contest guidelines set forth by the Americanism Committee and published as part of the Americanism Award / President General’s Streamer Combined Score Sheet. This Score Sheet may be downloaded from this page. The Score Sheet must be submitted in its entirety to qualify as a valid entry for this competition.

NOTE: The Allene Wilson Groves Award and the Liberty Bell Award allow points for publicizing chapter or state-level society activities. The news release information is designed to help chapters and societies get articles about the groups’ activities published in newspapers or other periodicals.

President General’s Cup Award

Former President General Edgar Williamson, Jr. originated the President General’s Cup in February 1956. It was essentially a scrapbook contest but the rules were changed in 2008 to omit the scrapbook entry. The details previously collected on the score sheets used for the Americanism and President General’s Streamer contests document the activities of the chapter in a manner similar to and, in some cases, in a more complete manner than a traditional scrapbook. It is the opinion of the Americanism Committee that the President General’s Cup remains a type of scrapbook contest without the requirement of a physical book being produced.

This award is presented to the SAR chapter (or state-level society, having no chapters) that conducted the best overall programs and activities during the previous calendar year (January 1 to December 31) that created, supported or promoted a better understanding in its own community of such SAR resolutions and of the fundamental American traditions that governed their formulation and adoption.

The deadline for submission is March 15. Participating state-level societies and chapters report accumulated points to the Americanism Committee Chairman in accordance with the contest guidelines set forth by the Americanism Committee and published as part of the Americanism Award and President General’s Streamer Combined Score Sheet. This score sheet may be downloaded from this page. The score sheet must be submitted in its entirety to qualify as a valid entry for this competition. No separate entry form is necessary as the already-submitted President General’s Chapter Activities Competition Award and the Allene Wilson Groves and Liberty Bell Americanism Awards score sheets will be used.

The award is divided into four categories based on membership size: 1 to 40, 41 to 90, 91 to 150, and 151 or more members. Determination of which category an entrant competes in will be determined by membership on January 1 of the contest year.

The Americanism Committee judges the contest at the Spring Leadership Meeting and the award is presented at the following the annual SAR Congress. To qualify for consideration for this award, the entrant must have reported points in at least 75% of the categories listed on the score sheet. The winner will be determined through a formula that includes consideration of a cap of points allowed in any single activity as well as a points-per-member ratio based on membership of the chapter at December 31. The chapter with the highest points per member based on this calculation will be the winner. First, second, and third place winners will receive a certificate signed by the President General.

President General’s State-level Society and Chapter Activities Competition Award

The President General’s State-level Society and Chapter Activities Streamer Award was initiated in 1978. State-level societies and chapters competed for the award by accumulating points awarded for various program activities during the previous calendar year (January 1 to December 31).

In 2008, the Americanism Committee began the process of revising the criteria for this contest at the suggestion of the Medals and Awards Committee. Beginning with the 2009 contest, the President General’s State-level Society and Chapter Activities Streamer Award is awarded to the state-level societies and chapters that demonstrate the best program of administrative support of the Sons of the American Revolution.

The deadline for submission is March 15. Participating state-level societies and chapters report accumulated points to the Americanism Committee Chairman in accordance with the contest guidelines set forth by the Americanism Committee and published as part of the Americanism Award and President General’s Streamer Combined Score Sheet. This score sheet may be downloaded from this page. The score sheet must be submitted in its entirety to qualify as a valid entry for this competition.
Awards recognize the most active state-level societies and chapters. Four first, second, and third place awards for state-level societies and chapters will be offered based on membership size: State-level Societies: 10 to 199; 200 to 499; 500 to 999; and 1,000 or more members Chapters: 1 to 40, 41 to 90, 91 to 150, and 151 or more members.

Determination of which category an entrant competes in will be determined by membership on January 1 of the contest year.

The Americanism Committee judges the contest at the Spring Leadership Meeting and the awards are presented at the following annual SAR Congress.

A President General’s Streamer is awarded to the first place winner of each category. The streamer is made of cloth, carries the SAR’s colors with lettering in gold stating “President General’s Activities Award” and the years involved. It is approximately 1 1/2” wide and 3’ in length, with a grommet in the end so that the award may be affixed to the top of the society’s or chapter’s flagstaff. A certificate signed by the President General accompanies the streamer. Second and third place winners will receive a certificate signed by the President General.

Publicizing chapter activities will generate points for contests, but another important benefit is that recognition by the media for those activities will generate excitement within the chapter itself. Keeping and circulating copies of newspaper articles at meetings may stimulate chapter members to engage in even more activities. It may also attract new potential members to the chapter when they see all of the wonderful things the local chapter does for the community. One additional piece available is a downloadable Microsoft Word file, which will allow a chapter to modify the information and use it as a news release.

If you would like to contact us please email Americanism@SAR.org.