THE SAMS OF PUGET SOUND FIRST CAME TOGETHER AT A MEETING OF THE TACOMA CHAPTER OF WASHINGTON STATE GOOD SAMS IN NOVEMBER 1972. AT THAT MEETING, HELD IN THE TACOMA PUBLIC LIBRARY, IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE TACOMA HAD BECOME TOO LARGE AND UNWIELDY, AND THE ADDITION OF NEW MEMBERS DESIRING TO JOIN WOULD ONLY ADD TO THE PROBLEM. IT WAS PROPOSED AND AGREED TO THAT THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY BREAK UP INTO SMALLER GROUPS AND BEGIN FORMING NEW CHAPTERS.

AS A RESULT OF THE RESHUFFLE, SIX COUPLES AND A SINGLE FOUND THEM IN A SMALL GROUP, LOOKED ONE ANOTHER OVER AND AGREED TO ORGANIZE A NEW CHAPTER. IN DECEMBER OF 1972, THE GROUP HELD THEIR FIRST MEETING IN A MEMBERS HOME AND ELECTED A TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN, JOHN KOWALYK, AND THE CHAPTER WAS BORN.

IN THE NEW YEAR, 1973 THE GROUP MADE FURTHER MOVES TO ORGANIZE IN JANUARY WITH THE HELP OF STEVE WENDTLAND AND LES ALLEN. IN FEBRUARY IT WAS AGREED TO ELECT OFFICERS/DIRECTORS PROTEM TO SERVE UNTIL A REGULARLY ELECTED COULD TAKE OVER IN JULY. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED AND THE DIRECTORS GIVEN THE TASK OF WRITING PROPOSED BY-LAWS. ALSO, AT THAT TIME THE CHAPTER ADOPTED THE CURRENT NAME, SAMS OF PUGET SOUND.

IN MARCH 1973, CAME THE CHAPTER’S FIRST CAMPOUT AT PLEASANT ACRES, LACY, WASHINGTON. AT THAT TIME, AN IMPORTANT STEP WAS TAKEN WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE BY- LAWS. A VISIT BY THE STATE WAGON MASTER WALTER EMSLEY AND HIS WIFE, MARGE, WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE FIRST MEETING.

FROM THOSE EARLY BEGINNINGS, THERE HAS BEEN NO TURNING BACK. THE CHAPTER HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT, (AND STILL IS), IN THE STATE MEETINGS AND RALLIES FROM THE START.