Veteran's Club Meeting Minutes From June 12, 2016
Our meeting opened at 0900 with 54 members and invited guests in attendance.
An informal "Meet and Greet" and breakfast was held from 0900 to 0920.
Formal business commenced at 0920 with the "Pledge of Allegiance".
The Secretary's Report was presented and the minutes of our last meeting were voted upon and acepted by the membership.
The Treasurer's Report was presented. We currently have $3,516.00 on hand, including $357.00 collected at the Memorial Day event which will be forwarded to the Wounded Warriors of South Florida. We have a $45.00 sales tax liability payable this month, and a liability of $187.00 payable to cover the costs of this morning's breakfast.
The President's Report was presented. Jules recognized Car Club President Lou Orenstein and the Car Club members in attendance today and extended a special thanks to the Car Club for jointly sponsoring the Car Show with us.
Jules also recognized the members of our Hospitality Committee and thanked them for their hard work organizing and handling all of the arrangements for our breakfast at today's meeting.
The President also recognized a World War II South Pacific veteran guest and thanked him for his service. He will be 91 years old this August.
Jules let the members in a moment of silence to honor the memory of Micheal Schwartz's mother who recently passed away, and noted that Michael's family will be sitting Shiva today from noon to 1600 at their home. Members were asked to attend if possible.
The President noted that the annual PAP Football Pool will kick off next month with Rich Callas as the point of contact.
Board Member Mike Heiserman noted that our April 10th Car Show held in conjunction with the Valencia Reserve Car Club yielded a donation of $2800.00 to the Wounded Warriors of South Florida. Mike welcomed the invited guests in attendance from the Car Club and thanked them for their support of the project.
Jules Harper provided a update on his book about his experiences as a combat Navy carrier pilot in the Vietnam war. The final edit of the book will be going to the publisher on Monday. Signed copies will be made available to Veteran's Club members for purchase as soon as they are available from the publisher.
Vice President Goody Morrison led members in a moment of silence to commemorate those lost on D-Day in the invasion of Normandy in World War II.
Goody also noted that we plan to participate in Fleet Week again in May of next year.
The President discussed the success of our ongoing fund raising activities and noted to date that we have generated over $35,000 for the benefit of the Wounded Warriors of South Florida. $7,000 was generated from last year's Veteran's Day dance and auction, and we hope to exceed that amount with this year's event. In order to make this year's auction a success each member is requested to solicit at least one item suitable for auction from a local business or restaurant. The donation letter that can be used in soliciting auction items from businesses is available on our Veteran's Club website, and a copy will also be forwarded to all members via E-Mail.
November Veteran's Day Dance Auction Chairman Les Ungerlighter presented a briefing on his ongoing efforts in soliciting auction items, and urged all members to make every effort to solicit at least one item from local businesses in order to make the auction as successful as possible.
The President noted that the Wounded Warriors of South Florida does not accept donations of furniture, clothing or related items. They have found that cash donations are by far the most effective way to help the largest number of wounded veterans.
Jules also noted that he is working with the HOA, the Wounded Warriors of South Florida and others to explore the possiblilty of using the old HOA pool furniture, which the HOA is willing to donate, if it can in some way to benefit wounded veterans. Although the WW of SF does not directly accept furniture donations, various other approaches to this are being explored.
President Jules Harper reviewed the schedule of upcoming events for 2016:
Scheduled Sunday breakfast meeting dates for 2016 are indicated below:
--Sunday September 11, 2016, 9:00 AM--12:00 noon
--Sunday December 11, 2016, 9:00 AM--12:00 noon
All meetings will be held in the Social Hall.
Seheduled Second Thursday of the month meetings for 2016 are as indicated below:
--Thursday October 12, 2016, 4-6 PM
--Thursday November 10, 2016, 4-6 PM
All meetings will be held in the Social Hall.
2016 Projected Schedule of Veteran's Club Events is indicated below:
--Blood Drive: October 28, 2016
--Veteran's Day Dance: November 11, 2016 (3-11 PM)
Mike Kapel made an interesting and informative presentation about his Air Force experieces managing the flightline maintenance of the C-141 "Starlifter" during the Vietnam War. The presentation was well received by our membership.
The President noted in his closing remarks that as per our usual practice we will not meet in July and August, and that our next meeting will be a breakfast meeting on Sunday September 11th, 2016 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon in the Social Hall. Vice President Goody Morrison will chair this meeting since Jules will be on travel.
The meeting concluded at 1045,
Minutes submitted by Tom Nowak, Veteran's Club Secretary