I am Bob Greene and was elected to the presidency of the Pilgrim John Howland Society at its annual meeting in August 2003. As vice president I moved up to fill the vacancy caused by Brad Gorham’s resignation.

Brad has been nominated for U.S. Attorney General for Rhode Island and is required by the Justice Department to relinquish all officer positions, either public or private while serving as U.S. Attorney. He has still to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Filling Brad’s shoes won’t be easy, as he was the spark plug behind the building and outfitting of our shallop, Elizabeth Tilley. Two years ago it seemed like a major undertaking, but with Peter Arenstam’s knowledge of shallops and boat building, plus Brad’s determination to have a major activity for our membership, the Howlands can be proud of the historic reenactment of John Howland’s trip in 1628 to open a trading post at Cushnoc (Augusta) on the Kennebec River in Maine.

The adventure took two weeks and the participation of 26 members, with lots of publicity for the society. This program and the continuing dig at Rocky Nook are a wonderful opportunity for our members to participate with a “hands-on” activity of younger members.

Derek Wheeler is planning to return next year to continue exploring the property. We also have appointed Charlotte Mader as Archeological director to catalogue and organize out artifacts from past digs. Dick Maxwell, custodian of Rocky Nook, noted the necessary retirement of Tommy Van, our caretaker for 20 years at the age of 91. We will again have an all day Saturday board meeting on April 12, 2004 as we did this past year.

In closing let me again thank Brad for the Elizabeth Tilley and his vision of what could be accomplished. Thanks also to all the officers for their dedication and to Susan Shaw and the staff of Howland House. Also to Merwin Almy for his many years of service as treasurer and to Tommy Van for his dedication. To Bob Huber goes the Society’s continuous thanks for his years of dedicated service as editor of our Quarterly, his numerous tours to England and especially his very generous decision to fund “the Lura Sellew Mayflower Medal” with our President Emeritus Harry Walen being its first recipient.

This article appeared in the September 2003 issue of The Howland Quarterly.