VR Veterans Club Secretary

Jan 20, 2015

Veteran's Club Meeting Minutes from January 11, 2015

Meeting opened at 0900 with 52 members in attendance. This is the first of our periodic Sunday morning breakfast meetings. Total club membership is now 163 members

An informal "Meet and Greet" featuring a light breakfast was held from 0900 to 0945.

Formal business commenced at 0945 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Treasurer's Report was submitted. It was noted that in the last twelve months the Veteran's Club has donated over twenty thousand dollars to the Wounded Warriors of South Florida.

The Secretary's Report was presented and the minutes of our last meeting were voted on and accepted by the membership. A moment of silence was observed for the Secretary's father-in-law Leon Cohen, a World War Two veteran who served as a combat aircrewman on B-24 heavy bombers in the Pacific, who passed away last Friday.

The President's Report was presented. It was noted that this was our first Sunday morning breakfast meeting, and that we will continue to hold them several times a year, while maintaining our usual second Thursday of the month meetings for most sessions. The original dates for our Sunday quarterly meetings have been adjusted based on Social Hall availability as indicated in the revised meeting schedule for the year appearing below. The new schedule may also be viewed on our website under the President's tab.

The two hour CPR/AED class sponsored by our Veteran's Club has been confirmed for January 27, 2015 from 1600 to 1900 in the Social Hall. Graduates will receive a certification card good for two years. Spouses are invited to attend. The class cost is $45.00 per person. Those interested in attending who have not yet signed up should contact President Jules Harper as soon as possible. Seats are limited.

Several local magazines will feature articles on our Flagpole Dedication Ceremony and Veteran's Day Program. Details will be provided as they become available.

An update of our Veteran's Club website has been completed.

It was noted that Fred Paul has begun his watch as our new Mess Officer.

It was noted that the Amazon "Smile" program provides that one-half of one percent of purchases go to a charity specified by the purchaser. The Wounded Warriors of South Florida was one of the selected charities that donations may be directed to.

Vice President Goody Morrison provided a briefing on preparations for a club visit to Navy Fleet Week activities to be held in Fort Lauderdale from May 4 to 10, 2015. Goody is chairing the Fleet Week Committee and volunteers were solicited to help. It is anticipated that six ships will be available for visiting, and it was noted that visitors must be pre-cleared for security by the Navy in advance of the visit. The number of people who will be allowed to board the vessels will be limited to a total of 2,000 over the course of the event. A pre-screening form should be available for distribution at our next meeting. It is anticipated that we will arrange for a bus to take us to and from the event. Cost is estimated to be approximately $30.00 for the trip. Additional details will be provided as soon as they are available.

Treasurer Steve Rosenthal presented a check for $500.00 to Wounded Warriors of South Florida Vice President LTGEN Robert Chelberg and Executive Director Howard Golin. The check represented the funds raised from our BJ's Card Project initiative. Following the check presentation a group photo was taken of our members in attendance.

President Jules Harper introduced our guest speaker Wounded Warriors of South Florida Vice President LTGEN Robert Chelberg. LTGEN Chelberg graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1961 and began a 32 year active duty Army career as a Field Artillery officer, including two tours in Vietnam, retiring in 1993 as a Lieutenant General. His decorations include 5 Bronze Stars and 10 Air Medals. LTGEN Chelberg made an interesting and informative presentation, focusing on the mission of the Wounded Warriors of South Florida and the specifics of the help they provide to returning wounded veterans. He explained how they collaborate closely with the Veteran's Administration to identify and meet specific veteran's urgent needs. He noted that the organization strives to keep it's overhead costs low, and that their administrative costs for the last tax year were only 9%, much lower than most veteran's support operations. He indicated that the needs of returning wounded veterans continues to be great, and that funding was the Wounded Warriors of South Florida's only limitation. He advised that the WW of SF provided $600,000 of support to wounded veterans in 2014. He concluded by expressing appreciation for the support that our Veteran's Club provided to the organization, and emphasized the impact of our contributions in improving the lives of wounded warriors and helping them and their families with their transition back to civilian life. A question and answer period followed the presentation.

Scheduled events for 2015 include the following:

--Car Show: March 8; Chairman Roger Ruddick

--Blood Drive: March 13; Chairman Marty Merluzzi

--Canned Food Drive: March 19; Chairman Steve Osterman

--Fleet Week in Fort Lauderdale: May 4-10 (exact visit date TBD); Chairman Goody Morrison

--Pool Party with HOA: May 2; Chairman Goody Morrison

--Heat Wave Dance Party: August 1; Chairman Goody Morrison

--Veteran's Day Dance: November 11; Chairman Goody Morrison

Scheduled Sunday breakfast meeting dates for 2015 are indicated below:

--Sunday April 26, 9-11:30

--Sunday June 14, 9-11:30

--Sunday September 13, 9-11:30

--Sunday December 13, 9-11:30

All meetings will be held in the Social Hall.

Scheduled Second Thursday of the month meetings for 2015 are as indicated below:

--Thursday February 12, 4-6 PM

--Thursday March 12, 4-6 PM

--Thursday May 14, 4-6 PM

--Thursday October 8, 4-6 PM

--Thursday November 12, 4-6 PM

All meetings will be held in the Social Hall.

The President noted in his concluding remarks that our next meeting would be on Thursday February 12 in the Social Hall.

The 50/50 drawing was held.

The meeting concluded at 1110.

Minutes Submitted by Tom Nowak, Club Secretary

Dec 14, 2014

Veteran's Club Meeting Minutes for December 11, 2014

Meeting opened at 1600 with 41 members in attendance. Total club membership is now 155 members.

An informal "Meet and Greet" with refreshments was held from 1600 to 1620.

Formal business commenced at 1620 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

President Jules Harper and Treasurer Steve Rosenthal presented a check for $2750 to Wounded Warriors of South Florida Board Member Sharon Baker. Sharon accepted the check on behalf of the Wounded Warriors and thanked the Veteran's Club for their continuing support. She briefly discussed the various types of support the organization provides to wounded veterans in need, and noted that as a result of their very low overhead 92 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to help wounded warriors. She indicated that the Wounded Warriors of South Florida has provided over half a million dollars to help wounded warriors this year.

The Secretary's Report was presented and the minutes of our last meeting were voted on and accepted by the membership.

The Treasurer's Report was submitted. It was noted that the check for $2750 presented to the Wounded Warriors of South Florida today brought the total amount donated by our club to the Wounded Warriors of South Florida since the Veteran's Club inception to approximately $20,000.

The President's Report was presented. It was noted that in addition to the ongoing monetary support provided by our club to the Wounded Warriors the opportunities for social interaction the club provides to it's membership is also an important function of our club.

A two hour CPR/AED certification class sponsored by our Veteran's Club has been scheduled for January 27, 2015 from 4-7 PM in the Social Hall. Graduates will receive a certification card good for two years. Spouses are invited to attend. The class cost is $45 per person. Attendees were solicited during the meeting and interest was high. Those interested in attending who have not yet signed up should contact President Jules Harper as soon as possible. Seats are limited.

An advertisement of upcoming Veteran's Club events has been developed and will be run on VR Channel 63. A reflections article is also in process featuring highlights of our Flagpole Dedication Ceremony and Veteran's Day program.

Veteran's Day Flagpole Dedication Ceremony photographer Jim Penderson has prepared a 16x19 photograph of the outside dedication featuring the assembled Veteran's Club members. The photograph will be framed in a 25x29 frame and permanently hung in the clubhouse. President Jules Harper has successfully negotiated a significantly reduced price for the picture frame with a local vendor and has coordinated the effort with VR HOA President Gloria Zak.

Our annual Canned Food Drive is scheduled for March 19, 2015. Steve Osterman has volunteered to be the Food Drive Project Chairman. This year the Veteran's Club will coordinate with other VR clubs in order to maximize VR Community participation, and toward this end an aggressive PR campaign will be launched to promote the program.

Our annual Car Show will be held on March 8, 2015 at the same venue as last year. Roger Ruddick provided an update on preliminary plans for the event.

The next date for our twice yearly Blood Drive is tentatively scheduled for May 1, 2015. Board Member Marty Merluzzi is once again chairing this program. The date is being reviewed and may be adjusted to optimize participation by our snow bird community members.

Our summer dance is scheduled for August 2. 2015, and our Veteran's Day dance is scheduled for November 11, 2015. Vice President Goody Morrison will once again coordinate both events.

A discussion was held to determine the desirability of scheduling quarterly breakfast meetings on a Sunday morning to provide an opportunity for members unable to make our usual second Thursday afternoon meetings due to conflicting commitments to attend. The membership was surveyed and was interested in trying this approach. Accordingly, quarterly Sunday morning breakfast meetings were scheduled for January 11, April 12, July 12 and October 11, 2015 from 9-11 AM in the in the Social Hall. All other meetings will be held in our usual second Thursday from 4-6 PM time slot.

An update on the final phase of the Flagpole project was provided. Temporary flagpole lighting has been arranged for until the permanent lighting electrical work is completed. The electrical work is being donated by an electrical contracting firm run by electricians who are veterans at no cost to our club. After the permanent lighting is installed the area around the flagpole and the monument will be landscaped by the VR contracted landscaping firm at an anticipated cost of approximately $700. Efforts are being made to encourage the landscaping firm to donate the landscaping costs but this awaits final resolution.

BJ's Card Project Chairman Chuck Duboise provided an update on the completed project. BJ's memberships sold through the program yielded $565. An additional $100 in cash donations was also collected at the BJ's sign-up table in the clubhouse lobby. A total of $665 was generated by the program to be donated to the Wounded Warriors of South Florida.

A volunteer was solicited for the position of Program Chairman. Roger Ruddick, who has done an outstanding job in this role since the club's inception is stepping down. Interested members should contact President Jules Harper directly.

A volunteer was solicited for club Mess Treasurer. Vinnie D'Aquino, who has done an outstanding job in this role since the club's inception is stepping down due to health reasons. Fred Paul has volunteered to assume this role. Volunteers were solicited to assist Fred in this role and a number of members stepped forward to help.

Norm Beck, Chairman of the Election Committee, briefed the membership on the specific details of the election process and solicited any additional candidates that were interested in running. Since no additional candidates were forthcoming, officer and board elections were conducted for all four officer positions and all seven board members. Voting was conducted by acclimation, and all four officers and all 7 board members were unanimously voted in for another term. Since voting was conducted by acclimation instead of written ballot due to the limited number of candidates, the membership agreed that the board would apportion which officers/board members would hold one year and which would hold two year terms in order to maintain staggered terms in accordance with our by-laws.

Vice President Goody Morrison made an interesting and informative presentation, complete with photos, on the development and employment of the Jeep since it's inception early in World War II through it's post war career. The presentation was well received by all present.

Outgoing Program Chairman Roger Ruddick was recognized for his exceptional efforts during his two year tenure as Program Chairman with a letter of appreciation presented by President Jules Harper.

Outgoing Mess Treasurer Vinnie D'Aquino was recognized for his exceptional efforts during his two year tenure as Mess Treasurer with a letter of appreciation presented by President Jules Harper.

Most meetings for 2015 will be held on the second Thursday of most months from 4-6 PM in the Social Hall. In addition, quarterly meetings in lieu of the usual Thursday meetings will be held on the second Sunday of the months indicated below from 9-11 AM in the Social Hall. A breakfast of bagels and coffee will be provided during the quarterly Sunday morning meetings. The dates of the Sunday morning meetings for 2015 are indicated below:

-Sunday January 11: 9-11 AM

-Sunday April 12: 9-11 AM

-Sunday July 12: 9-11 AM

-Sunday October 11: 9-11 AM

Please note that in months where Sunday morning meetings are scheduled no Thursday meetings will be held. In months where a Sunday morning meeting is not scheduled the usual second Thursday meeting from 4-6 PM in the Social Hall will be conducted.

The President noted in his concluding remarks that our next meeting would be on Sunday January 11 from 9-11 AM in the Social Hall. This will be the first of our Sunday breakfast sessions. He also noted that a Board meeting would be held immediately following the general meeting today.

The 50/50 drawing was held.

The meeting concluded at 1710.

Minutes Submitted by Tom Nowak, Club Secretary

Nov 23, 2014

Veteran's Club Meeting Minutes for November 13, 2014

Meeting opened at 1600 with 35 members in attendance. Total club membership is now 153 members.

An informal "Meet and Greet" with refreshments was held from 1600 to 1620.

Formal business commenced at 1620 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

The President's Report was presented. It was noted that our Veteran's Day Dance and Auction was a great success, and that our Veteran's Day Flagpole Dedication ceremony was particularly well attended by our veterans and members of the Valencia Reserve Community. A six minute video of the ceremony, complete with soundtrack, was shown and was very well received by our members. The video was prepared by Jim Penderson, who provided photo and video coverage of the event. Jim was recognized for his exceptional work and his quick production of the video.

The Secretary's Report was presented and the minutes of our last meeting were voted on and accepted by the membership.

The Treasurer's Report was submitted. It was noted that a check for $3,500 was presented to the Wounded Warriors of South Florida at the Veteran's Day Flagpole Dedication, and that an additional check for $6,000 would be presented to them at their Formal Military Ball on Saturday November 15. Since the Veteran's Club inception a total of $16,500 has been donated to the Wounded Warriors of South Florida.

BJ's Card Project Chairman Chuck Duboise provided an update on the project. To date 80 memberships have been sold through the program yielding $400 to be donated to the Wounded Warriors of South Florida. An additional $100 in cash donations was also collected at the BJ's sign-up table in the clubhouse lobby.

Project Chairman Joe Franze provided an update on our Flagpole project. It is anticipated the the electrical work for the flagpole lighting will be completed within the next four weeks. The electricians doing the work are donating their time and will not charge the Club for their work. Until the permanent lighting is installed we are looking at the possibility of arranging for interim lighting by re-directing an already installed spotlight at the clubhouse. In the interim, volunteers were solicited to raise and lower the flag each day. After the permanent lighting is installed the area around the flagpole and the monument will be landscaped to complete the project.

Norm Beck, Chairman of the Election Committee, provided an update on the upcoming officer and board elections to held at our December general meeting. Seven board member and four officer positions will be filled by the election. Any member is eligible to run. Those interested in running should contact Norm and advise him of their interest.

A volunteer was solicited to for club Coffee Mess Manger. Vinnie D'Aquino, who has done an outstanding job in this role since the club's inception is stepping down due to health reasons.

Program Chairman Roger Ruddick introduced our guest speaker Command Sergeant Major Eric Gressy. Eric recently retired from the Army after 26 years of service, including 11 years overseas. An Airborne Infantryman, Eric holds the Silver Star and three Bonze Stars. He spoke about highlights of his military career, and offered insights into his combat experiences in Iraq. He underscored the importance of the veteran's assistance and recognition activities undertaken by our club. His presentation was particularly well received by our members and led to an lively question and answer session. At the conclusion of his talk a 911 Flag was presented to Eric by club President Jules Harper in appreciation for his service and his participation in our Veteran's Day Flagpole dedication ceremony.

The meeting schedule for the balance of 2014 is as follows:

-December 11: 4-6 PM

The meeting will be held in the Social Hall.

Meetings for 2015 will be held on the second Thursday of every month from 4-6 PM in the Social Hall.

The President noted in his concluding remarks that our Second Annual Car Show will be held on March 8, and our next Blood Drive will be on May 1. He also noted that our next meeting will be held on December 11 in the Social Hall, and that our annual board and officer elections will be conducted at this meeting.

The 50/50 drawing was held.

The meeting concluded at 1715.

Minutes Submitted by Tom Nowak, Club SecretaryMeeting opened at 1600 with 35 members in attendance. Total club membership is now 153 members.

An informal "Meet and Greet" with refreshments was held from 1600 to 1620.

Formal business commenced at 1620 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Secretary's Report was presented and the minutes of our last meeting were voted on and accepted by the membership.

A volunteer was solicited to for club Coffee Mess Manger. Vinnie D'Aquino, who has done an outstanding job in this role since the club's inception is stepping down due to health reasons.

The meeting schedule for the balance of 2014 is as follows:

-December 11: 4-6 PM

The meeting will be held in the Social Hall.

Meetings for 2015 will be held on the second Thursday of every month from 4-6 PM in the Social Hall.

The 50/50 drawing was held.

The meeting concluded at 1715.

Minutes Submitted by Tom Nowak, Club Secretary

Oct 11, 2014

Veteran's Club Meeting Minutes from October 9, 2014

Meeting opened at 1600 with 50 members and guests in attendance. Total club membership is now 153 members.

An informal "Meet and Greet" with refreshments was held from 1600 to 1620.

Formal business commenced at 1620 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

The President's Report was presented. It was noted that member Jim Armstrong recently passed away, and a minute of silence was observed in his memory. A donation will be made to the Wounded Warriors of South Florida by the Veteran's Club in his memory, and a certificate recognizing the donation will be provided to his family.

The Secretary's Report was presented and the minutes of our last meeting were voted on and accepted by the membership.

The Treasurer's Report was submitted.

BJ's Card Project chairman Chuck Duboise provided an update on the project. Volunteers were solicited to man the sign-up table in the clubhouse lobby from Monday November 3rd through Friday November 7th. Those interested in volunteering to assist should contact Chuck directly.

Joe Franze provided an update on our Flagpole project. The hole for the flagpole has been dug, and as soon as the permit is available to post on the construction site the work completed to date will be inspected and the concrete work will begin. It is anticipated that the flagpole installation will be completed by the end of next week and the monument will be delivered and installed as soon as the flagpole work is completed, followed immediately by the electrical work to install the flagpole lighting. All work should be completed well in advance of the flagpole dedication ceremonies on November 11th.

Preside Jules Harper provided an update on the Flagpole dedication ceremonies to be held on Veteran's Day November 11th. The ceremony will begin at 1300 in the social hall of the clubhouse. Featured speakers will include an Army Master Sergeant with a Silver Star from Iraq, USMC Captain and Wounded Warriors of South Florida board member Sharon Baker and Valencia Reserve Home Owners Association President Gloria Zak. An Honor Guard from Del Ray High School has been scheduled to participate. A flag raising ceremony outside will immediately follow the dedication. All Veteran's Club members are encouraged to attend. Those attending should wear their club shirts and hats and khaki trousers if possible--no shorts please. A group photo will be taken immediately after the the formal flag raising ceremony is completed. All members of the Valencia Reserve community are invited to attend. After the dedication and flag raising ceremony Veteran's Club members are encouraged to help the board members and officers set up the social hall for the dance and auction to be held that evening.

Program Chairman Roger Ruddick provided an update on the November 11th dance party and auction preparations. Members were reminded that their efforts to solicit donations of auctionable items from vendors, restaurants and other establishments, whether gift cards from restaurants or merchandise or tickets from businesses, would go a long way to ensure the success of the event. Each member is encouraged to solicit at least one item for the auction. Our goal is to exceed the amount of funds raised for the Wounded Warriors of South Florida at last year's event.

Norm Beck, Chairman of our Election Committee, provided an update on the upcoming officer and board elections to be held at our December 11th general meeting. Seven board member and four officer positions will be filled by the election. Any member is eligible to run. Those interested in running should contact Norm and advise him of their interest in running.

Blood Drive Chairman Marty Marluzzi provided an update on the upcoming blood drives to be held on October 24th and May 1st, from 0900 to 1600 on both days, Donors are being scheduled by appointment to minimize waiting time. Members interested in assisting at the event should contact Marty as soon as possible. Two to three members volunteering to assist would be ideal.

A Chairman for the upcoming food drive was solicited and Steve Osterman volunteered to assume the position. HOA Chariman Gloria Zak has asked us to coordinate with all of the other Valencia Reserve clubs with a view towards maximizing participation in the event across the VR community.

The 50/50 drawing was held.

Program Chairman Roger Ruddick introduced our guest speaker Congressman Ted Deutch. Congressman Deutch made an interesting and informative presentation providing background on the 21st Congressional District, and detailing his successful efforts to spearhead legislation that resulted in the award of the Congressional Medal of Honor to twenty-four Korean veterans who had earned the Medal through their heroic combat actions but who were denied the Medal as a result of discriminatory policies that were prevalent at the time. He also discussed the current Veteran's Administration scandal and steps that were being taken to address it.

At he conclusion of his remarks Congressman Deutch presented the Veteran's Club with a United States flag that was flown over the United States Capitol building. Veteran's Club President Jules Harper greatfully accepted the flag on behalf of the Club. It will be flown on our newly installed community flagpole when it is formally dedicated on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2014.

The meeting schedule for the balance of 2014 is as follows:

--November 13: 4-6 PM

--December 11, 4-6 PM

All meetings will be held in the Social Hall.

Meetings for 2015 will be held on the second Thursday of every month from 4-6 PM in the Social Hall.

The President noted in his concluding remarks that our next meeting would be held on November 13th in the Social Hall.

The meeting concluded at 1715.

Minutes Submitted by Tom Nowak, Club Secretary

Sep 17, 2014

Veteran's Club Meeting Minutes for September 11, 2014

Meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance at 1600 with 40 members in attendance. Total membership is now 150 members.

Vice President Goody Morrison presided over the meeting today. In his opening remarks he noted that we would reverse our usual meeting order today and have our guest speaker's presentation first, followed-by our "Meet and Greet" and then our formal business meeting.

Program Chairman Roger Ruddick introduced our guest speaker World War II veteran Tom Kaiser. Tom made an interesting and informative presentation on the history of our flag, and also talked about the Veteran's Memorial in Veteran's Park in Boynton beach. He also discussed procedures whereby veterans could obtain copies of their service records and apply for medals and service ribbons that they may have qualified for but never received. He indicated his willingness to help veterans in their efforts to accomplish this. After his presentation he made available to members various forms to assist in this process. Tom also noted that the free trips to Washington, DC for World War II Veterans to see the World War II memorial and other historic sites have been recently expanded to include Korean Veterans.

An informal "Meet and Greet" with refreshments was held after the presentation prior to the commencement of the formal business meeting.

The formal business meeting commenced at 1630.

A moment of silence was held in memory of our veterans of all wars.

The Secretary's Report was presented and the minutes of our last meeting were voted on and approved.

The Treasurer's Report was submitted. Treasurer Steve Rosenthal noted that our club has now been registered with the Florida Department of Revenue to collect sales tax.

An update was provided on the BJ's Card Project by our Vice President. Chuck Demosy has volunteered to be the Project Chairmans. BJ's is offering new members who join via our Veteran's Club program a 15 month membership for $40. Normal membership fees are $50 for 12 months. Current BJ's members may also extend their membership and enjoy the same discounts. In addition, BJ's will donate $5 to the Wounded Warriors of South Florida for each member signed up and for each current membership extended. The sign-up period will run for two weeks from November 1st to the 15th, and a sign-up station will be set up in the lobby of the clubhouse and manned by our members during this period. The program will be publicized throughout the VR community in Reflections, on VR Channel 63, via posters and E-Mail blasts. Members were solicited to help during the sign up period. Members willing to help should contact Chuck Demosy.

It was noted that our "Heat Wave" desert and dance party yielded a $1193 profit that will be added to our donations fund. We will run the summer party again next year.

Upcoming events were discussed. Planned events and their dates include:

--Blood Drive on October 24, 2014 and May 1, 2015

--Flagpole Dedication Ceremony on November 11, 2014

--Dance Party and Auction on November 11, 2014

--Car Show on April 5, 2015 (tentative date)

--Canned Food Drive on March 19, 2015

Steve Metzger will be helping Marty Merluzzi to coordinate our next Blood Drives. Both blood drive events will run from 0900 to 1600 on October 24, 2014 and on May 1, 2015. Steve has begun the blood donor scheduling process for the October event.

Program Chairman Roger Ruddick provided an update on the April Car Show.He noted that Canyon Town Center may require us to obtain separate insurance for the event since we are no longer organizationally affiliated with GL Homes.

The March 19 Canned Food Drive was discussed. Plans call for the event to be more broadly advertised than last year with a view toward significantly increasing homeowner participation.

Plans for the November Dance Party and Auction were discussed. This year we will add an antipasto course to our usual desert offerings. Vice President Goody Morrison will manage the party preparation, and Program Chairman Roger Ruddick will manage the auction portion of the program. The event is scheduled to run from 1830 to 1000 on November 11, 2014. Letters to potential auction donors from our President soliciting donations with supplemental documentation certifying our not-for profit status and indicating that donations support the Wounded Warriors of South Florida were distributed. Flyers publicizing the event are being prepared. All members are being asked to attempt to solicit at least one item donated by local businesses or individuals for the auction.

An update was provided on our Flagpole Project. The project is on track and will be installed well before the scheduled November 11th dedication. It is anticipated that the flagpole will be installed within a week to ten days of the final permit approval. The permit is in process and approval is anticipated shortly.

The Flagpole dedication ceremony to be held on the afternoon of Veteran's Day, November 11th was discussed. Our President has secured an Honor Guard from the Deerfield High School to participate in the event. The initial ceremony will be held in the Social Hall, followed by a ceremonial flag raising at the flagpole site in front of the clubhouse. Home Owners Association President Gloria Zack will be a featured speaker representing the VR community at the event, and two military speakers have been confirmed, including Silver Star holder Army Sargent Eric Geressy and Marine Captain Sharon Baker. Music will be provided by members of the VR Band. It was noted that 75% of the funds donated for the flagpole installation were provided by veterans from our VR community. Flyers publicizing the dedication ceremony are being prepared. It is requested that our membership wear their club logo hats and shirts, along with khaki slacks at the event.

The Wounded Warriors of South Florida Annual Ball to be held on November 15th was discussed and a contingent of members is scheduled to represent us at the event. Additional members were invited to attend. The cost is $150 per person. Our club will present a donation check to the Wounded Warriors at the event.

Possible field trips for next year were discussed. These will be developed and firmed up after the November 11th flagpole dedication and Dance Party.

The meeting schedule for the balance of 2014 is as follows:

--October 9; 4-6 PM

--November13: 4-6 PM

--December 11, 4-6 PM

All meetings will be held in the Social Hall.

Meetings for 2015 will be held on the second Thursday of every month from 4-6 PM in the Social Hall.

In his concluding remarks Vice President Goody Morison urged our members to make every effort to solicit items for auction form both commercial and individual donors. Our goal is to have even more auction items available this year than last year to increase the funds generated at the event to be donated to the Wounded Warriors of South Florida.

The 50/50 drawing was held.

The meeting concluded at 1730.

Minutes submitted by Tom Nowak, Club Secretary

Sep 8, 2014

Veteran's Club Board Meeting Minutes for August 28, 2014

Meeting opened at 1600 with eleven officers and board members present.

Tom Wood was introduced as the new Membership Chairman, taking over for Greg Russell who has resigned the position due to health reasons. A letter of thanks is being forwarded to Greg in recognition of his outstanding efforts in this capacity since the club's inception. On Greg's watch our membership has grown to over 150 veterans.

An update was provided on the BJ's Card Project by our President. Chuck Demosy has volunteered to be the Project Chairmans. BJ's is offering new members who join via our Veteran's Club program a 15 month membership for $40. Normal membership fees are $50 for 12 months. Current BJ's members may also extend their membership and enjoy the same discounts. In addition, BJ's will donate $5 to the Wounded Warriors of South Florida for each member signed up and for each current membership extended. The sign-up period will run for two weeks from November 1st to the 15th, and a sign-up station will be set up in the lobby of the clubhouse and manned by our members during this period. The program will be publicized throughout the VR community in Reflections, on VR Channel 63, via posters and E-Mail blasts.

It was noted that our "Heat Wave" desert and dance party yielded a $1193 profit that will be added to our donations fund. It was decided that we would run the party again next year.

Upcoming events were discussed and scheduled. Planned events and their dates include:

--Blood Drive on October 24, 2014 and May 1, 2015

--Flagpole Dedication Ceremony on November 11, 2014

--Dance Party and Auction on November 11, 2014

--Car Show on March 8, 2015 (tentative date)

--Canned Food Drive on March 19, 2015

A discussion was held regarding the feasibility of adding additional veteran's organizations to the roster of programs that we currently support. It was decided to continue focusing on the Wounded Warriors of South Florida as our primary benefactor, but to also consider additional organizations on a case by case basis. The Board felt that it was important to be sure that organizations that we make donations to have a high percentage of their donations going to veteran's support with a relatively low percentage of donations going to overhead expense.

Officer and Board Member elections, scheduled for our December Veteran's Club meeting, were discussed. Norman Beck is the Chairman of our Election Committee. It was noted that our By-Laws now provide for staggered Board Member terms to prevent a situation where the entire Board is turned over at the same time resulting in a loss of continuity.

Plans for the November Dance Party and Auction were discussed and refined. It was decided that this year we would add an antipasto course to our usual desert offerings. Vice President Goody Morrison will manage the party preparation, and Program Chairman Roger Ruddick will manage the auction portion of the program. The event is scheduled to run from 1830 to 1000 on November 11, 2014. Letters to potential auction donors from our President soliciting donations with supplemental documentation certifying our not-for profit status and indicating that donations support the Wounded Warriors of South Florida have been prepared and were distributed to Board members. Additional copies are being prepared for further distribution. Flyers publicizing the event are being prepared.

The Treasurer's Report was presented and discussed. Treasurer Steve Rosenthal noted that our club has now been registered with the Florida Department of Revenue to collect sales tax. Our current tax liability for past sales is approximately $350 which will be remitted to the Florida Department of Revenue.

An update was provided on our Flagpole Project. The project is on track and will be installed well before the scheduled November 11th dedication. There was some discussion regarding a suggestion to install a concrete bench in the vicinity of the new flagpole, but this was voted down by the Board.

The Flagpole dedication ceremony to be held on the afternoon of Veteran's Day, November 11th was discussed. Our President has secured an Honor Guard from the Deerfield High School to participate in the event, and a donation to the school of $200 was approved by the board. The initial ceremony will be held in the Social Hall, followed by a ceremonial flag raising at the flagpole site in front of the clubhouse. Home Owners Association President Gloria Zack will be a featured speaker representing the VR community at the event, and two military speakers have been confirmed, including Silver Star holder Army Sargent Eric Geressy and Marine Captain Sharon Baker. Music will be provided by members of the VR Band. It was noted that 75% of the funds donated for the flagpole installation were provided by veterans from our VR community. Flyers publicizing the dedication ceremony are being prepared. It is requested that our membership wear their club logo hats and shirts at the event.

Congressman Ted Deutsch is scheduled to come to our October Veteran's Club meeting to present a flag that has been flown over the US Capitol to be used at the flagpole dedication.

The Wounded Warriors of South Florida Annual Ball to be held on November 15th was discussed and a contingent of Board members was assembled to represent us at the event. Our club will present a donation check to the Wounded Warriors at the event.

The meeting schedule for the balance of 2014 was finalized as follows:

--September 11: 4-6 PM

--October 9; 4-6 PM

--November13: 4-6 PM

--December 11, 4-6 PM

All meetings will be held in the Social Hall.

Meetings for 2015 will be held on the second Thursday of every month from 4-6 PM in the Social Hall.

The next Board meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, September 23rd at 1600 to review the progress of the Flagpole Dedication Ceremony and of the Veteran's Day Dance and Auction preparations.

The meeting secured at 1745.

Minutes submitted by Tom Nowak, Veteran's Club Secretary

Jun 13, 2014

June 12, Veteran's Club Meeting Minutes

Veteran's Club Meeting Minutes from June 12, 2014

Meeting opened at 1600 with 27 members in attendance. Total club membership is now 152 members.

An informal "Meet and Greet" with refreshments was held from 1600 to 1620.

Formal business commenced at 1620 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Secretary's Report was presented and the minutes of our last meeting were voted on and accepted by the membership.

The Treasurer's Report was submitted. It was noted that the deadline for Flagpole project donations has been extended to August 30th. We have collected over $6,900.00 so far in donations!

The President's Report was presented. Highlights of our past "season" were reviewed:

October--Our Website was up and running! New Website:

http://www.veteransclub.com/

November 7--Leo Gray, Tuskegee Airman was featured speaker

November 11--Veteran's Day Dance and Dessert Social: $4,645 raised to be donated

December 5--Bus trip to Fort Lauderdale to attend Museum and Lost Squadron Presentation

December 12--Mort Brooks and Bill Jeffers told of their experiences as Jewish Prisoners of War of the Germans in World War II

January 9--Jeff Greenhut, military historian, talked about Viet Nam

February 13--Jules Harper, naval aviator, presentation on "Bringing the War to the Enemy"

March 10--Army veteran Rayna Leits, Assistant Director of the National Cemetery of Lake Worth spoke about veteran's death and burial benefits

March 20--Canned Food and Dry Goods collection conducted on behalf of Wounded Warriors of South Florida

April 6--First Annual Car Show held with the VR Car Club: $2623 raised to be donated

April 10--Goody Morrison, Dan Brizel and Dennis Flier told of their military experiences

May 2--Blood Drive: 47 pints were collected

May 8--VA speakers Keri Boyd and Mary Phillips

Joe Franze provided an update on our Flagpole project.

Vice President Goody Morrison provided an update on preparations for our August 2nd Party.

Vice President Goody Morrison introduced our guest of honor, his uncle and World War II veteran Danny Rubin. Dan was drafted at the age of 18. After basic he trained with the 13th Airborne Division and the 676th Glider Infantry Artillery. He entered the war on D-Day in an Airborne Glider attack in France. He fought with the 90th Division until he was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge in the frozen Ardennes. He was awarded two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts.

Following his introduction Goody made a presentation on the history of the 90th Division in World War II highlighting Danny's experiences. The interesting presentation was well received and after it was completed Dan received a hearty round of applause in appreciation of his service.

The President noted in his concluding remarks that our next meeting would be held on September 11th in the Social Hall. He reminded all that no meetings would be held in July and August in accordance with our usual practice.

The 50/50 drawing was held.

The meeting concluded at 1730.

Minutes Submitted by Tom Nowak, Club Secretary

May 8, 2014

Veteran's Club Meeting Minutes from May 8, 2014

Meeting opened at 1600 with 40 members in attendance. Total club membership is now 150 members.

An informal " Meet and Greet" with refreshments was held from 1600 to 1620.

Formal business commenced at 1620 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Vice President Goody Morrison chaired today's meeting.

The Secretary's Report was presented and the minutes of our last meeting were voted on and accepted as written by the membership.

The Treasurer's Report was submitted. Flagpole project collections to date total $2696.00.

Goody Morrison presented the President's Report:

The results of our Community Blood Drive on May 2, spearheaded by Board Member Marty Merluzzi, were presented. Two blood mobiles were parked at the clubhouse in the pool parking area where blood donors received a mini-medical screening consisting of blood pressure, pulse and iron level. They were given a t-shirt and refreshments after their donations. Most importantly, donors were giving back to their community by making this donation. A total of 63 individuals attempted to donate blood, with an amazing 47 pints of blood collected. Although some donors were unable to give as a result of being underweight, having low iron levels, or being on certain medications, their willingness to donate was nevertheless greatly appreciated. A special thanks was given to those who donated as well as to all who contributed their time and effort to support the event.

Steve Metzger, a guest at today's meeting, was recognized for his key role in helping to orchestrate the Blood Drive. Although not a veteran, Steve worked tirelessly to pre-schedule residents to donate blood, and was an invaluable liaison with the OneBlood organization who made the blood collections at the event.

Joe Franze presented an update on our Flagpole project. He reviewed the total cost of the 30 foot aluminum Flagpole, installation, granite base with inscription and associated electrical work to enable the Flagpole to be lighted at night so that the 6'x10' flag could be flown around the clock. The next step will be to submit the plans to the Valencia Reserve Architectural Change Committee for their approval. Plans call for the Flagpole to be installed well in advance of the formal Veteran's Day dedication ceremony.

The up-coming Memorial Day Party was discussed. All Veteran's Club members attending are requested to wear their club shirts for group pictures. Volunteers were also solicited to help out during the event.

Goody Morrison discussed plans for our August 3rd "Heat Wave Dance Party". The donation will be $15.00 per couple, and desert will be served at the event.

Guest speakers from the Veteran's Administration were introduced:

Mary Phillips, VA Chief of Volunteer Services and Coordinator for Homeless Veterans, made an interesting and informative presentation about the many volunteer opportunities available at the Veterans Administration Palm Beach Veteran's Hospital. She noted that there were currently 620 volunteers in the program, with an average of 80 to 100 volunteers on site every day. She pointed out that there were over 140 different volunteer assignments available across the medical center in both clinical and administrative capacities. She also detailed the volunteer administrative orientation, background check and TB tests required to in-process every volunteer. Mary offered to hold a new volunteer administrative orientation session here at Valencia Reserve if enough community residents were interested in signing up. Mary also discussed the Medical Center Donations Program, which is run through her office. The Donations Program received $650,000 in both monetary and non-monetary donations last year, all of which was used to support veteran's in need. None of the funds collected were used for administrative overhead.

Carla De Silva, a VA Licensed Clinical Social Worker, made an eye-opening presentation highlighting the programs for homeless veterans sponsored through the Palm Beach Veteran's Hospital. They included various programs to provide no and low cost housing, clothing, food and transportation assistance to veterans in need. She also discussed the Veteran's Court Program to provide alternatives to incarceration for veterans convicted of crimes.

On behalf of the The Veteran's Administration West Palm Beach Veteran's Affairs Office Mary Phillips recognized Vinnie D'Aquino for his award from the VA as "Volunteer of the Year for 2013" for his exceptional service. Vinnie was selected our of more than 700 volunteers who give their time and effort to the VA. He works for the Director and Assistant Director in the VA office and does many different projects ranging from answering the phone, filing data, organizing personnel information and helping out with any other job that might be required. Vinnie has volunteered over 1100 hours of service to the VA. Congratulations to Vinnie for his well deserved award!

Following is the schedule of Veteran's Club Meetings for 2014. All meetings will be held in the Social Hall. Please note that there are no meetings scheduled for July and August.

June 12: 4-6 PM

September 11: 4-6 PM

October 9: 4-6 PM

November 13: 4-6 PM

December 11: 4-6 PM

The Vice President noted in his concluding remarks that our next meeting would be held on June 12th in the Social Hall.

The 50/50 drawing was held.

The meeting concluded at 1730

Minutes Submitted by Tom Nowak, Club Secretary

Apr 13, 2014

Veteran's Club Meeting Minutes from April 10, 2014

Meeting opened at 1600 with 55 members in attendance. Total club membership is now 149 members.

An informal "Meet and Greet" with refreshments was held from 1600 to 1620.

Formal business meeting commenced at 1620 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Secretary's Report was presented and the minutes of our last meeting were voted on and accepted as written by the membership.

The President’s Report was presented. Members were updated on the results of the March 27^th Board meeting.

The Board’s recommendation that the Veteran’s Club sponsored Flagpole be located in front of the clubhouse was unanimously approved by vote of the membership.

The Board’s recommendation for the inscription on the plaque at the base of the flagpole was unanimously approved by vote of the membership. The verbiage adopted will read: “Dedicated to the Veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States of America by the Residents of the Valencia Reserve Community this 11^th day of November, 2014.”

Both individuals and clubs that donate funds to the flagpole project will receive a certificate in recognition of their contribution. It was noted that the Women’s Club was the first club to make a donation. They contributed $500 to the project.

Results of the Car Show sponsored jointly by the VR Veterans Club and the VR Car Club on Sunday April 6^th at Canyon Town Center were discussed. The show was a great success. 78 vintage cars were judged and 40 trophies were awarded for the various classes of vehicles. All money collected from the event was donated to the Wounded Warriors of South Florida who sent a team of volunteers to assist with the show. A presentation ceremony was held during the meeting and a check for $2623.00 was given to a Wounded Warriors of South Florida representative who joined us at our meeting.

Our Veterans Club By-Laws were up-dated by Committee Chairman Joe Franze. Joe briefed the members on the changes at the meeting. The Board’s recommendation that the revised By-Laws be accepted was unanimously approved by vote of the membership.

The President noted that our recent food drive was very successful with 20% of the VR community participating.

Board member Marty Merluzzi briefed our membership on the upcoming Blood Drive that will be sponsored by our Veteran’s Club. The drive will be conducted on Friday May 2^nd next to the clubhouse. Volunteers were solicited to help with the project.

POD Captains were solicited for several PODs within the community where no Captains have yet been assigned. Several members volunteered to fill this role for their areas.

Lou Orenstein of the VR Car Club was recognized for his work helping to coordinate the Car Show.

Lou Orenstein briefed our membership on the upcoming HOA vote to amend the VR Community By-Laws to provide the HOA Board with more flexibility in expeditiously handling time sensitive issues that may emerge. All were urged to vote regardless of their position on the issue.

Self-introductions were made by three of our newest Club members.

Goody Morrison, Dan Brizel and Dennis Flier all made brief presentations sharing some of their personal military experiences. These interesting presentations were well received and are part of our continuing program of periodic member briefings.

Vice President Goody Morrison showed a video presentation featuring the military experiences of major Hollywood stars that was very well received.

Following is the schedule of Veteran's Club Meetings for 2014. All meetings will be held in the Social Hall. Please note that there are no meetings scheduled for July and August.

May 8: 4-6 PM

June 12: 4-6 PM

September 11: 4-6 PM

October 9: 4-6 PM

November 13: 4-6 PM

December 11: 4-6 PM

The President noted in his concluding remarks that our next meeting would be held on May 8^th in the Social Hall.

The 50/50 drawing was held.

The meeting concluded at 1730.

Minutes Submitted by Tom Nowak, Club Secretary

Mar 15, 2014

Veteran's Club Meeting Minutes from March 13th, 2014

Meeting opened at 1600 with 55 members in attendance. Total club membership is now 152 members.

An informal "Meet and Greet" with refreshments was held from 1600 to 1620.

Formal business meeting commenced at 1620 with the Pledge of Allegiance. Our new “traveling” American flag was on display along with our new service flags representing the Army, Navy and Air Force. We are in the process of obtaining a Coast Guard flag to round out our collection.

The Secretary's Report was presented and the minutes of our last meeting were voted on and accepted as written by the membership.

The Treasurer's Report was presented.

The President’s Report was presented. It was noted that the club had purchased a new laptop computer for our web master to use to maintain our website. Our new web master Marty Spiro has proven to be very savvy in the information technology realm and has been brought up to speed on our website software. All software required for our website operation and maintenance has been successfully downloaded onto our new computer.

An update was provided on our Canned Food and Dry Goods drive that will be held on Thursday March 20^th. Collection teams were asked to commence collections around 1300 and to do a final sweep of their areas around 1400 to capture any late donations. All donations collected by the teams are to be brought to 11006 Carmel Cove Circle in Sonata where there will be a trailer to consolidate the collections from across the community and to deliver them to the Wounded Warriors for distribution.

An update was also provided on the progress of our Car Show to be held on April 6th in conjunction with the VR Car Club. All proceeds from the show will go to the Wounded Warriors. Members were requested to talk up the show with car buffs they know and to encourage them to register their vehicles to participate in the event.

Members were reminded to periodically check the “Sick Bay” section of our website and were encouraged to contact members listed there who were recovering from illnesses to wish them a speedy recovery.

It was noted that the Club’s By-Laws were recently updated and streamlined. A copy of the original and the revised By-Laws will be posted on our website to enable a side-by-side comparison. Members were asked to review them and will be asked to vote on their acceptance at the April meeting.

Jerry Edisis has been recruited to serve as our new Sergeant-At-Arms. This billet was filed in order for us to be fully compliant with our By-Laws.

Members were asked to consider signing-up to do a five to ten minute “Mini-Presentation” at our next meeting on any service related experience that they would like to share with the Club. Ideally we would like to have 5 to 6 members speak briefly at our April meeting.

Members who have not yet created a profile for themselves in the “Join Our Club” section of our website are encouraged to do so as soon as possible so that a current profile of all members with accurate contact information can be maintained. Only 22 of our members have not yet entered their information.

The President provided an update on the flag pole sponsorship issue. Discussions with the Men’s Club last year set the stage for a joint Men’s Club/Veteran’s Club donation of a lighted flag pole for the Valencia Reserve Clubhouse. Earlier this year the Men’s Club unilaterally decided that they desired to fund the flag pole themselves and “disinvited” the Veteran’s Club’s participation. No reason was provided by the Men’s Club for their decision. Subsequently, the Men’s Club put the entire flag pole project “on hold”, again without indicating a rationale for doing so.

After much discussion, the Veteran’s Club Board of Directors unanimously voted to recommend to the membership that the Veteran’s Club be the primary club to sponsor the flag pole project, subject to a vote by the general membership to move forward with the project on this basis. This proposal would welcome any donations from other clubs including the Men’s Club and would list them on the project’s brass plaque.

The proposal was put forth to the Veteran’s Club membership for a vote at the meeting and was unanimously passed with no dissenting votes. Accordingly, a petition to the new HOA for the Veteran’s Club to sponsor the installation of the flag pole at the VR Clubhouse will be filed.

Guest speaker Rayna Leits was introduced. Rayna is an Army veteran and is the Assistant Director of the National Cemetery in Lake Worth. She made an informative presentation regarding burial services for veterans at the national cemeteries. In general, veterans with an honorable discharge and at least one day of active duty (exclusive of active duty for training) and their spouses are eligible for internment in a national cemetery. She noted that the new South Florida National Cemetery at Forth Worth was one of seven national cemeteries in Florida. Florida’s other national cemeteries are: Barrancas, St. Augustine, Bay Pines, Sarasota and Jacksonville. Her session was very well received and was followed by a question and answer session. She distributed South Florida National Cemetery brochures after her presentation. Additional information can be found on the National Cemetery Administration website at:http://www.cem.va.gov/

Following is the schedule of Veteran's Club Meetings for 2014. All meetings will be held in the Social Hall. Please note that there are no meetings scheduled for July and August.

April 10: 4-6 PM
May 8: 4-6 PM
June 12: 4-6 PM
September 11: 4-6 PM
October 9: 4-6 PM
November 13: 4-6 PM
December 11: 4-6 PM

The President noted in his concluding remarks that our next meeting would be held on April 10^th in the Social Hall.

The 50/50 drawing was held.

The meeting concluded at 1730.

Minutes Submitted by Tom Nowak, Club Secretary

VR Veterans Club Secretary Secretary Reports