Minutes of Meeting 3 January 2017

General Meeting called to order at: 18:45 (6:45 pm for civilians)

Pledge of Allegiance led by President Gene Goldsmith

Invocation by: Lonnie Rose

Moment of silence for POW/MIA

Roll Call of officers:

Gene Goldsmith, Pres.                           Present

Dave Loomis, VP                                     Present

Randy Elmore, 2^nd VP                            Excused

Bill Cox, Secretary                                   Excused

Tom Grinstad, Asst. Sec.                        Present

Ken Richardson, Treasurer                    Excused

David Scattum, B of D                             Excused

Bill Wilcox, B of D                                    Present

Richard Martinez, B of D                        Excused

John Bradshaw, B of D                            Present

Tom Modica, B of D                                 Present

Greg Bremer, B of D                                 Upstairs

Kirk Lyon, B of D                                       Excused

Guests:  Liz Rose, Agnes Kenny

New members present:  Tony Spagnola, David Stamps

Secretary’s minutes November minutes approved motion by Gene G, seconded by Ed S. Read the spectacular account of the December dinner on the chapter website.

Treasurer’s report Ken was absent sent report by e-mail. Summarized by Gene, moved by Ed S, second by David L, approved

Membership Update: by Gene, 272 members with two late in payment. Gene will follow up with letter or phone call. Seven members of AVVA.

Old Business:

1. a) Bellingham Technical College memorial fund at $6,115 which will gain a plaque on the wall.
2. b) 11 February is the date for the bottle auction and dinner. Or should that be the other way round? Reserve that date for fun and food. It will be a salmon dinner with the cost a paltry $10 / head.
3. c) The VASH party had 23 attendees.

New Business:

1. a) President Gene is trying to recruit drivers for the VA van.
2. b) Car show date is established as 23 July 2017. The venue is not finalized yet.
3. c) Dr. Brown was appointed to the Women’s Veterans Committee in Washington D.C. The state of WA now has two members of the six on the committee.
4. d) Speaking of committees Randy Turnbull head of the nominating committee is seeking nominations for the election to be held in May.
5. e) Tom Modica announced that VASH will be seeking $400 in funds from the Chapter for this year’s operations.

Next meeting is, 7 February 2017.

Good of the Order:

1. a) Check your VFW calendar.
2. b) Veteran’s Advisory Board will transport veterans to and from Skagit. Gene distributed cards with contact information.
3. c) Gene and David L have VVA business cards and membership application forms. Get out and recruit.
4. d) Gene mentioned that the WW1 memorial at Greenacres is looking good thanks to an Eagle Scout Joseph Meuller. The Korea memorial is next in line, then Vietnam a year after. You can buy a brick for the Vietnam memorial at any time. Talk to Gene about process.
5. e) Doc has VN Vets baseball caps for sale. David L has VN cowboy hats for sale. Nothing makes you look as good as a Stetson.
6. f) VFW #9301 breakfast 21 January 8:00 – 11:00

Motion to adjourn: Moved by Ed S. second by Lonnie, passed with ease

Gary Lysne received a Letter of Commendation from the Whatcom County Council and the Whatcom County Executive for his many years of service in assisting veterans. The chapter is proud of Gary’s work in not only assisting all veterans but his years of active service benefiting the local chapter and the Washington State Council. The Letter of Commendation follows.

The 6th Annual VVA Car Show will be held Sunday, July 24th between 10am and 2pm at Sunset Square Shopping Center in Bellingham. The center is at the intersection of Orleans and Sunset and  the show will be between the K-Mart and Office Max. Vehicle preregistration is available. Registration on site begins at 7am.

Everyone is invited and all spectators are free. There will be music, food, memorabilia sales, raffles and trophies for the best cars, motorcycle and truck. All proceeds support Whatcom County veterans. Bring the family and spend a fun day together.

For more information please contact Tom Modica at (360) 738-3842 or 175rrvn@gmail.com.  Or, contact Dale Boe (360)739-2969 or thaihouse187@yahoo.com.

For the last thirteen years Bellingham, Washington, Chapter 165 has presented three $500 scholarships annually to deserving veterans in college. This year the chapter decided to make a big change to ensure the continuance of the scholarship program: the creation of a $36,000 endowment at Bellingham Technical College called the Chapter Legacy Scholarship Fund. Former Chapter Presidents Bill Bowen and Gary Lysne and Scholarship Committee member Kirk Lyon presented the check to Peter Donovan of the BTC Foundation on February 12, 2016. The chapter, which has grown in two years from 117 to 280 members, retains control over the scholarship criteria.