Veteran's Club Meeting Minutes from December 12, 2013
Meeting opened at 1600 with approximately 40 members in attendance. It was followed by a joint meeting with the PAP Corps for today's guest speaker's presentation that was attended by a total of approximately 150 to 200 members and guests.
Formal business meeting commenced at 1600 with the Pledge of Allegiance.
The President's Report was presented. It was noted that the Veteran's Club business meeting would be held first followed by a joint meeting with the PAP Corps for today's guest speaker presentation immediately following the end of year business meeting.
Two proposed changes to our existing By-Laws were discussed, voted upon and accepted as follows:
Section V: Number 2: was changed to "One member will be designated Program/Fund raising Chairman." The original "Two members will be designated Program/Fund Raising Chairman and Membership Chairman" was deleted. This change allows for one additional member to be on the Board of Directors and continues to keep a non-voting Membership Chairman.
Section V: Number 5: adds "As long as the club has a website the Board of Directors will designate a Webmaster to insure the site is properly maintained."
Marty Spiro has volunteered to be our Webmaster and was voted into that position.
Tom Conklin and Nelson Cusher were voted in as members of the Board of Directors.
Members were encouraged to view our new website at: http://www.vrveteransclub.com/. New members were requested to sign in as new members on the "Join Our Club" ribbon. All members were asked to create a profile for themselves in this section of the website as well so that a current profile of all members with accurate contact information could be maintained.
All members who have not yet contributed $7.00 for the development and maintenance of our website were requested to do so.
Starting next year we hope to have our members talk about their experiences in the military on an ongoing basis. Beginning with our January 9th meeting one of our own members Jeff Greehhut, who is a professional military historian, will begin the series by talking about Viet Nam. At our February 13th session Jules Harper will continue the series by discussing his Viet Nam experiences while flying combat missions from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, complete with a movie. Other members are encouraged to talk about their own experiences at future meetings.
The Treasurer's Report was presented.
The Secretary's Report was presented. Minutes from our October 3rd and November 7th meetings were voted upon and accepted.
A letter of thanks from the Wounded Warriors of South Florida for our donation from our November 11th event was read to our members by the President.
A check in the amount of $338.00 for the Wounded Warriors of South Florida was received from the Valencia Reserve Italian American Club. This represented the proceeds from the 50/50 raffle at their last meeting.
Plans for the upcoming March 9th Car Show to be held at Canyon Town Center were reviewed. The show will be jointly sponsored by the Veteran's Club and the Car Club with the proceeds donated to the Wounded Warriors of South Florida.
The joint meeting with the PAP Corps commenced at 1615. Marvin Zeitner from the PAP Corps welcomed all to the joint meeting.
Veteran's Club President Jules Harper introduced guest speakers Mort Brooks and Bill Jeffers. Both Mort and Bill were Jewish Prisoners of War of the Germans in World War II. Mort was an infantryman captured by the Germans at the Battle of the Bulge, and Bill was a B-17 navigator captured with his crew by the Germans after ditching in the North Sea as a result of battle damage from anti-aircraft fire over their target. Both Mort and Bill discussed their POW and survival experiences, with particular emphasis on their treatment as Jews by the Germans, and their later transition back to civilian life after the war. Their emotional presentations were exceptionally well received by all in attendance.
During the question and answer period that followed a member of the audience was moved to spontaneously relate his personal experiences as a Jewish infantryman also captured by the Germans at the Battle of the Bulge. His impromptu discussion was similarly well received by the audience.
Following their presentations the POW veterans received a standing ovation from all present.
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.
January 9: 4-6 PM
February 13: 4-6 PM
March 13: 4-6 PM
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 the bus trip to the Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum was a great success, and read a letter of thanks for the Club's donation from the Museum. He also noted that our next meeting would be held on January 9 in the Social Hall, with Vice President Goody Morrison presiding. He wished all a great Holiday Season.
The 50/50 drawing was held.
The joint meeting concluded at 1725.
Minutes Submitted by Tom Nowak, Club Secretary