Frequently asked questions regarding membership

1. How much are dues?
2. How do I join?
3. Do I have to buy a uniform?
4. My ancestor did not serve in Michigan. Can I still join?
5. Do I have to have a direct line (ie great-great-grandfather) to join?
6. Do I have to live in Michigan?
7. Which camp do I have to join?
8. I have many ancestors who served. Can I use them all for membership?

1. How much are dues?

Yearly dues are determined by each individual camp. Some of the more active camps charge more than others in order to cover their operating for the year. Others only charge the minimum amount needed to cover per-capita tax required by the Department of Michigan and the National, which is currently $26. Dues typically range from $26 - $40 per year.

2. How do I join?

See our page on "How To Join " for more information.

3. Do I have to buy a uniform?

Absolutely not! One of the most common misconceptions is that the Sons on Union Veterans is a reenacting group that participates in mock battles every weekend. The SUVCW is a patriotic and fraternal organization who's goal is to keep alive the memory of the "boys in blue" who fought for our nation during the Civil War.

Individual camps may have a Camp Guard and the SUVCW has a national military department called the Sons of Veterans Reserve. Each of these serve as special ceremonial uniformed military units and you would likely need a uniform if you desire to join them.

One last item, many of the Members of the SUVCW participate in reenacting. If you have an interest in reenacting, they should be able to provide you with guidance.

4. My ancestor did not serve in Michigan. Can I still join?

Absolutely! The only requirement for Membership is that your ancestor honorably served the Union forces during the Civil War. Descendants are free to join any Camp or Department they wish. However, we do encourage people to join their local Camp and Departments in order to derive the full benefits of active membership.

5. Do I have to have a direct line (ie great-great-grandfather) to join?

No - You can be descended through the brother or sister of a Civil War veteran to claim Membership. If you haven't been able to locate a Civil War ancestor yet, then you can still join as an Associate, so long as you subscribe to the principles and ideals of the SUVCW. See our Membership page for more information.

6. Do I have to live in Michigan?

No - our camps have members throughout the United States. However, we do encourage people to join their local camp and departments in order to derive the full benefits of active membership.

7. Which camp do I have to join?

You are free to join any camp you wish. However, we do encourage people to join their local camp in order to derive the full benefits of active membership. That being said, some camps are more active than others in various areas of the SUVCW. You may want to visit several local camps to get a feel for their activities.

You also have the option of joining the Michigan Camp-At-Large, Russell A. Alger Camp No. 462. The membership of the Russell A. Alger Camp is composed of Brothers who do not reside near a local camp or choose not to participate on a camp level.

8. I have many ancestors who served. Can I use them all for membership?

Unfortunately, no. The current membership application does not allow for listing multiple ancestors. You must pick one to serve as your primary ancestor for eligibility.