VVA165 Officer and Member Gary Lysne Receives Letter of Commendation From Whatcom County
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.
VVA’s 6th Annual Car Show
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.
VVA165 Endows the Future
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.
Minutes April 6, 2016 meeting
Minutes of Meeting 5 April 2016
General Meeting called to order at: 6:15 by President Gene Goldsmith
Pledge of Allegiance: Gene Goldsmith
Invocation by: Gene Goldsmith
Moment of silence for POW/MIA
Roll Call of officers:
Gene Goldsmith, Pres present
Dave Loomis, VP present
Gary Lysne, 2nd V.P. present
Bill Cox, Secretary present
Ken Richardson, Treasurer present
Tom Darling, B of D absent
Richard Martinez, B of D absent
John Bradshaw, B of D absent
Tom Modica, B of D absent
Greg Bremer, B of D present
Tom Grinstad, Asst. Secy. present
President Gene took a moment to recognize that we had a room full of guests and everyone present introduced themselves. Then it was dinner time. According to the count by Yvonne there were 67 members, wives and guests in attendance. At approximately 7:25 the business meeting began.
New members present: Two new members – did not get their names
Secretary’s March minutes published on line. Moved to approve Ed S 2nd by Lonnie r.
Treasurer’s year-end report Ken went briefly through the printouts, reported taxes done and accepted by IRS. Motion to approve by Bill W, 2nd by Curt.
Membership Update: stands at 275
Old Business:
- Discussion about representation at State. Call for volunteers to stand for WSAC officers/board. No one stepped up. A question by Randy T. is there value in having chapter exposure at state. Decided that Gene G, David L, and Bill Bowen will attend State meeting on the 23rd. Official delegates for state are: Goldsmith, Lysne, Loomis, Cox, Bowen, Elmore, Rose, Richardson, Scattum, Pettigrew, alternates: George Douglas, Richard Wilson, Bill Wilcox.
- Car Show – neither Tom Modica nor Dale Boe present so no update.
- Memorial Day – shaping up nicely. Lisa Kirk Brown to be featured speaker. Jim Nylands will do benediction. Two cakes approved to buy at Haggen’s and the beans come from Kelly’s O’deli.
New Business:
- 31 names added to e-mail list thus far.
- Receipt acknowledged of donation by the Rickenbackers in the amount of $2,400.00. Bill Cox will write the thank you letter.
Next meeting is, 3 May 2016.
Good of the Order:
- Check VFW calendar Bobby doing piano bar
- WW1 event at Lynden Museum 23 April
- DAV van Winfred Mack retired the VA has found a full-time employee to do the scheduling and driving…
- There will be a meet and greet with Elizabeth Scott running to replace Susan Del Bene. (How to remove incumbents.) Gene and Yvonne are hosting at Lairmont Manor April 21st 5:30 to 7:30
- Cards saying “thank you for your service” from Lynden Middle School, Jeff Seaholm instructor. All the cards should have found a home with someone.
- Richard will present photos of the 7th annual Chocolate Day in Vietnam next meeting.
Motion to adjourn: by Ken Richardson at approximately 8:00 pm.
Board of Directors Minutes of January 5, 2016
Board of Directors Meeting 5 January 2016
Meeting was called to order at 7:45 pm. Gene Goldsmith laid out what decisions he felt need to be made.
- Continue to do the same as we have done in the past. The money in the scholarship account would last about 13 or so years.
- Spend down the fund to a zero balance when the chapter closes.
- Move the fund to a school and let them administer it.
The Scholarship Committee (Bill Bowen, Gary Lysne and Kirk Lyon) gave their report. They interviewed three schools WWU, BTC and WCC. The committee feels that we should consider two schools at maximum.
Things to consider:
- Choose one or two institutions
- If we choose two then:
- Do we split the money between the schools and fill the endowments to the minimum per each school adding to each endowment each year?
- Do we split the money between the schools and add to each fund on alternating years?
- Do we do more fund raising to fund each endowment at the minimum now?
After much discussion about the use of the scholarship money, Ken Richardson suggested that the BOD direct the committee to:
- Choose one school
- Choose the amount to fund the endowment and
- Set the perameters for the scholarship(s).
This met with general agreement.
Meeting adjourned at 8:45.