VR Veterans Club Secretary Secretary Reports

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