Minutes of 2 January 2018
General Meeting called to order at: 18:55 (6:55 pm for those of you who forgot how to tell time in the military)
Pledge of Allegiance by: Gene Goldsmith
Invocation and Moment of silence for POW/MIA by: Lonnie Rose
Roll Call of officers: term expires
Gene Goldsmith, Pres Present 2018
Dave Loomis, VP Present 2018
Tom Grinstad, Secretary Present 2018
Bill Cox, Asst. Sec. Excused 2018
Ken Richardson, Treasurer Present 2018
Tom Marsich, B of D Absent 2020
Larry Martin, B of D Absent 2020
Kirk Lyon, B of D Present 2019
Peter Pavlik, B of D Absent 2019
David Osinski, B of D Absent 2019
Tom Modica, B of D Present 2018
Guests: Rosie Loomis, Benita Lipayon, Nancy Blackketter, Virginia Pace
Potential new members present: Richard Williams, Thomas Landray
Secretary’s report: After gentle ribbing regarding the lack of reportage of the December dinner, the non-report was approved by acclimation.
Treasurer’s report: moved to stand as read, the chapter is apparently 10 grand ahead.
Membership Update: at last count, 285, subject to change as 11 have deceased this year, but we have some new members not on the national roster as yet.
Old Business:
- Donation to LaFrienier family – they are doing ok. A donation is deemed not necessary.
- Bottle auction Feb 23rd, members (that means you) are encouraged to show up and participate. Gene Goldsmith will not be the auctioneer this year. After discussion Bill Bowen is stepping up to take that slot, with Ken Richardson as assistant. Those two guys should be able to strong-arm money out of us.
- The December dinner was a gustatory success. There were about 80 attendees. See the previous post for a more complete (?) report.
New Business:
- Service account issue regarding Lauri Anderson. After a bunch of discussion, the chapter decided to approve repaying Gene for the $1000 in bills he paid for her. All chapter officers, less one, were in favor of the action. Motion for approval by Randy E, 2nd by David
- The chapter received an anonymous donation of $3,000 to begin the funding of our memorial fund – to finance the Vietnam Memorial at Greenacres. The memorial is slated for construction in 2019, with a budget of $9,000, more or less.
- Nominations and election for chapter officers and Board of Directors happen next meeting. Put on your thinkin’ caps and be ready to nominate or volunteer to help run this chapter. A few men have been the stalwarts to keep this thing going and it is not fair that we rely on them exclusively. Others need to come forth and participate.
- Nancy Blackketter has volunteered to contribute membership notes to the Veteran magazine for the chapter. She and BK have become active here in the past year or so. A big “thank you” to her.
- Jim Pace proposed that the chapter buy a life membership to VVA ($100) for Caroline Davis, who is a volunteer at the Vets Center, assisting with lots of paperwork (nursing home forms etc), and she is a vet. 2nd by Ray R, approved.
- Bill Bowen has received no correspondence from the state organization regarding his letter of November. Typical of action by state.
Good of the Order:
- check your VFW calendar
- Gene has VVA business cards and applications, take them and hand them out to any Vietnam vet who is not a member of the chapter.
- the DAV needs van drivers. It takes a month or more to get the certificate. The Bellingham van is now picking up for other locations as they have no drivers to put in the driver’s seat.
- Don’ forget the breakfast on the third Saturday at VFW 9301.
Motion to adjourn: There being no other business, meeting adjourned at 19:55 (7:55 pm)