Vietnam Veterans Of America

General Meeting called to order at: 18:10 (6:10pm) by Vice President Mike Slocum

Pledge of Allegiance by: Mike (and Donna T.)

Invocation by & Moment of silence for POW/MIA by: Chaplain Lonnie Rose

Roll Call of officers:                                                           term expires

          David Orona, Pres                                     A                 2027

          Mike Slocum, VP                                      P                 2027

         Tom Grinstad, Secretary / Treasurer      P                 2027

          David Loomis, B of D                                P                 2027

          Lonnie Rose, B of D                                  P                 2027

          Sam Houston, B of D                                P                 2027

          Charles Muggy, B of D                             P                 2027

          Duane Holliday, B of D                             P                 2027

          Dan Norvelle, B of D                                P                 2027

Guests: Gertie Jenkins, Bonnie Parton

New members present:

Secretary’s report: Moved, 2^nd & approved after a short joke session

Treasurer’s report: Moved, 2nd & approved. Tom explained that moving the meeting day to late in the month makes presenting the bank reconciliation moot. The reconciliation report is available to anyone requesting.

Membership Update: VVA –  444, AVVA – 191

Old Business: Briefly ran through donation allocations between VVA and AVVA.

New Business:

1. Doc H presented donation(s) from the Gearheads car club in the amount of $802.
2. Dave Loomis reported that VFW 1585 will not complete construction until after the turn of the year. So we still have to wait for breakfast to resume.

Rosemarie conducted a “guess who” contest of Vietnam pictures. All those presented went unidentified. I guess we’ve changed in the last sixty or so years. Those in the photos were presented with certificates.

50/50 Raffle: Won by Donna T.

Donations: $138.00

Good of the Order: Leftover yarn bring to Eileen Stehr for vet lap blankets. Used ink cartridges to Rosemarie Loomis.Motion to Adjourn:  18:57

Minutes of 26 August 2026

General Meeting called to order at: 18:05 (6:05pm) by President David Orona

Pledge of Allegiance by: V.P. Mike Slocum

Invocation by & Moment of silence for POW/MIA by: Chaplain Lonnie Rose

Roll Call of officers:                                                           term expires

          David Orona, Pres                                     P                 2027

          Mike Slocum, VP                                      P                 2027

          Tom Grinstad, Secretary / Treasurer      P                 2027

          David Loomis, B of D                                P                 2027

          Lonnie Rose, B of D                                  P                 2027

          Sam Houston, B of D                                P                 2027

          Charles Muggy, B of D                             P                 2027

          Duane Holliday, B of D                             P                 2027

          Dan Norvelle, B of D                                P                 2027

New members present: Mike Hackett-Army, Jim Barns-Air Force

Secretary’s report: Moved, 2^nd & approved

Treasurer’s report: Moved, 2nd & approved

Membership Update: VVA – 428, AVVA – 197

Old Business:

1. Help for VA card Brent Waggoner 360 733 9226, help with VA claim call Shawn Dalgram 360 410 5280.

2. Now meet on fourth Wednesday of the month At AL Post 7.

New Business:

1. Motion from the floor to equally divide donations with AVVA. Short discussion, tabled to next month to investigate any possible snags. Steve and Tom will research.
2. State Council President gave a short rundown of national proposed acts. A. National Leadership Conference discussed “Mission 75” proposal by which would open membership to vets who served after 1975. They would become members after one year probation. National Convention next year will decide on relocation HQ to Pittsburgh.  State and national membership increasing. Travelling wall coming to Ocean Shores 9-15 September. Our state VSO is still the best in the nation. State Council meeting will be 17 October at Snoqualmie summit.
3. Steve went to Spokane to discuss opening an AVVA chapter to support the VVA over there in the east. He delivered goods for fire victims as well as a check for $500

Melanie Flink had a silent auction for James Williamson art work.

50/50 Raffle: $65, $33 to Doug Hudson

Donations: $200

Good of the Order: Get yarn donations to Eileen Stehr 360 384 3928

Motion to Adjourn:  at 18:42 (6:42pm)

General Meeting called to order at: 18:25 by President David Orona

Pledge of Allegiance by: David Orona

Invocation by & Moment of silence for POW/MIA by: Chaplain Lonnie Rose

Roll Call of officers:                                                           term expires

          David Orona, Pres                                     P                 2027

          Mike Slocum, VP                                      A                 2027

          Tom Grinstad, Secretary / Treasurer      P                 2027

          David Loomis, B of D                                P                 2027

          Lonnie Rose, B of D                                  P                 2027

          Sam Houston, B of D                                P                 2027

          Charles Muggy, B of D                             P                 2027

          Duane Holliday, B of D                             P                 2027          

Dan Norvelle, B of D                                A                 2027

Guests: three brought by Dr. Park, I did not get their names.

New members present: Dan (was in the bar)

Secretary’s report: Bylaws amended for day/ venue. Minutes moved, 2^nd & approved

Treasurer’s report: A preliminary car show report was shared, to date income statement and balance sheet moved, 2nd & approved

Membership Update: VVA 425, AVVA 192

Old Business: The rough income statement for the car show indicated a good return. Not all income has been reported and not all the bills have arrived. But these results were included in the balance sheet for the chapter.

New Business:

1. August 1, the Welcome Home Veterans’ Picnic in Sedro Woolley, 6254 Fruitdale Road. It begins at 11:00
2. Motion, second and approved to donate $1,000 to the Sedro picnic.
3. Gene Goldsmith shared the returns on the BTC scholarship fund, which appears to have resulted in a nice return. He then asked for a motion to fund the scholarship account $10,000. It was made, 2^nd ed and approved with one no vote.

Steve reported the AVVA chapter now has more members than the combined other states in the region. Vanessa Bosch (?) has volunteered to be secretary of the AVVA chapter. Officers will be sworn in next month.

Dave Loomis was responsible for a $5,000 donation to the AVVA.

Donna Trecker was recognized for cash count after the car show.

Doc and Sam also were recognized for their efforts on the show.

50/50 Raffle:  $25 to the winner

Donations: $125

Good of the Order: No breakfasts at the VFW until the kitchen floor is fixed. Motion to Adjourn:  made at 19:04

General Meeting called to order at: 18:08 (6:08pm) by President David Orona

Pledge of Allegiance by: V.P. Mike Slocum

Invocation by & Moment of Silence for POW/MIA by: Lonnie Rose

Roll Call of officers:                                                           term expires

          David Orona, Pres                                    P                 2027

          Mike Slocum, VP                                      P                 2027

          Tom Grinstad, Secretary / Treasurer      P                 2027

          David Loomis, B of D                                P                 2027

          Lonnie Rose, B of D                                  P                 2027

          Sam Houston, B of D                                P                 2027

          Charles Muggy, B of D                             A                 2027

          Duane Holliday, B of D                             P                 2027          

Dan Norvelle, B of D                                P                 2027

Guests: Nicole Richard, Tobin Hargreaves, USCG

New members present:

Secretary’s report: Moved, 2^nd & approved

Treasurer’s report: Moved, 2nd & approved

          AVVA Treasurer’s report: Victoria reported

Membership Update: VVA – 435, AVVA -179

Old Business:

1. Pres gave a brief recounting of the Memorial Day’s festivities

New Business:

1. Motion to change meeting venue to the American Legion Post 7, second, approved by acclamation
2. Motion to change meeting day to fourth Wednesday of the month, second, short discussion, approved.
3. We will honor our commitment to the VFW to financially assist with the kitchen floor.
4. The 4^th of July is America’s 250^th birthday – celebrate.
5. Car show date is 19 July. On the 17^th at 18:00 (6:00pm) will be a “walkthrough” for parking and other officials. On the 18^th the set-up crew will pick up chairs and tables at VFW to transport to show venue, 17:00 (5:00pm).
6. Korean War Armistice Day 27 July
7. For help in applying for V.A. card – call the Vet Center 360 733 9226 – Brent Waggoner. VSO Shawn Dalgren will help with your filing. 360 410 5380.
8. Any Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans – documentation of whether their ship & service may qualify for presumptive VA Disability benefits related to Agent Orange exposure can be found at: https://www.hillandponton.com/blue-water-navy-vietnam-map

9. Doc H. moved to donate $500 to Growing Veterans, second and approved.

50/50 Raffle: Did not occur

Donations: $260

Good of the Order: From State Council President:

1. State and national membership still increasing.
2. State VSO program is still very effective in processing V.A. claims
3. National board zoom meeting 20 July to discuss proposed new plan to continue the VVA. Plan M-85 will extend membership to service veteran prior to 1985 in a new division of VVA.
4. Tom Filion recognized for building another wheelchair ramp.
5. Next meeting tentatively 26 August.

Motion to Adjourn: 18:39 (6:39pm) by acclamation

General Meeting called to order at: 18:16 (6:16pm) by President David Orona

Pledge of Allegiance by: Pres. David Orona

Invocation by & Moment of silence for POW/MIA by: Darlene Carlson

Roll Call of officers:                                                           term expires

          David Orona, Pres                                     P                 2027

          Mike Slocum, VP                                      A                 2027

          Tom Grinstad, Secretary / Treasurer      P                 2027

          David Loomis, B of D                                P                 2027

          Lonnie Rose, B of D                                  A                 2027

          Sam Houston, B of D                                P                 2027

          Charles Muggy, B of D                             P                 2027

          Duane Holliday, B of D                             P                 2027          

Dan Norvelle, B of D                                P                 2027

Guests: Ernesto Plenor, Jim Filion, Ali Navarro, Allen York, Ron Wilson

New members present: none at this meeting

Secretary’s report: Moved, 2^nd & approved

Treasurer’s report: Moved, 2nd & approved

Membership Update: VVA – 435, AVVA–173

Old Business:

1. State President Francisco Ivarra gave a short update on the situation with Chapter 1109. The state’s VSO still is number 1 in the nation to process veteran’s claims.

2. Ivarra also related the struggles at national to determine the future of the VVA. Shall we be open to all service veterans? Also talk of moving the HQ to Pittsburgh.

New Business:

1. May is loaded with activities – 8 May is Military Spouse Day, 16 May is Armed Forces Day, 21 May is Change of Command Ceremony USCG at Bellingham Yacht Club 2025 N. Harbor Loop. 23 May is the Memorial Day Parade in downtown Bellingham. 25 May has the Festival of Flags noon to 3pm. This also is our Memorial Day Picnic (pot luck) at Hovander Park in Ferndale at 4:00pm.
2. 28 May is a Veterans’ Memorial Presentation in the Ferndale Public Library beginning at 14:00 (2pm).
3. Darlene Carlson explained the twisted journey of the 250 bench. The proposal was originally intended to go in Peace Arch Park; in fact, no state park would allow it. Hovander Park did not approve the design, Ferndale Plaza was approached, again to be denied. It has found a permanent place at the Pacific Northwest Air Museum Ault Field Road in Oak Harbor. The dedication will be 14 June at 13:00 (1pm) 545 Ault Fiels Rd. Be there or be square…
4. Roses were distributed to all the women.

Car show meeting will be 14 May at 15:00

50/50 Raffle: $30 won by Vicky who donated back to the Chapter

Donations: $230

Good of the Order: Doug Hudson described how he got scammed by telephone. They pretended to be from the FTC, FDA and other branches and got info from a hack of medical services. Don’t go along with any high-pressure tactics. They thieves are hitting all of Western Washington.

VFW kitchen will be out of service for a couple of months while the floor is repaired and drainage problems are solved. No food service until the kitchen is restored.

Motion to Adjourn:  at 19:05 (7:05pm)