General Meeting 16 August 2018

Meeting called to order.  Prayer and pledge conducted.

Role call of officers. All present.

President welcomed guests: Zac and Heather Wipf with One Lane – service dog trainers.  They gave a presentation on their services.  Veterans may apply for a service dog. Please work through the Veterans Service Officer.  Spread the word to all veterans. A bucket was passed for donations.

Also welcomed American Legion commander, Denny and the VSO, Al.

Secretary report was read and approved.

Treasurers report:  $9,471  in checking,  $77,108 in  savings

A breakdown of income and expenses was provided.

Honor guard:  Jerry reported they helped the VFW with a funeral.  Spoke to those who wish to be part of the honor guard to see him about uniforms.  The Chapter will pay for half.  Honor guard practice 9/22 0900 in Marrieta, MN. They will provide lunch.  Also did Larry Rudebusch funeral.

Membership committee:  Denny reported 523 with funerals for 3 members.  We are thinking of offering free membership ($20) for one year to attract new members and hope they can be retained.  Or if they wish a lifetime membership, we offer to pay half.

We are now #13 in the nation.  Bring prospective new members to the picnic.

Finance committee:  Earl created a donation request form.  The first one was given to the dog trainers.  Proposed an electronic newsletter to save postage.  Looking at ways to make this chapter more efficient.

Chapter bylaws – Don Zaft is chairman.  Currently being reviewed.  They will be rewritten and presented in draft at the next meeting.

Phil Brager reported 9/13 4:30 – 7:00 PM is Veterans and First Responders Appreciation Day.  There will be a program at the Armory, Readiness Center. Suggest we have a table/flag.

He also, needs the name of the Veteran of the Year nomination and reported on the Sioux Falls Veterans cemetery endowment goal deadline.  This is a state cemetery.

State fair is 8/30 – 9/3.  We have a requirement by the State Veterans Council that we be there every day from 9-6.  This involves all of the organizations.  Needs volunteers, if only for a few hours.

Doug Modica, is the webmaster.  He sent out emails for members and associates who need to send in pictures of themselves.  Please reply to email.  Or send photos to Vets@NESDVVA.org. To check if your photo is on our website NESDVVA.org, click on “Membership” & use password “brothers”.

Don Reconnu reported new newsletter pages are available at the back table.  Also reported that Rich Felberg fell and broke his hip.  He is currently in a nursing home in Arlington.

Any interest in going on another Washington, DC trip?  Raise of hands indicate a good show of interest.  Looking at September next year.

Sickness & distress: Rich Felberg

50/50  $273/$136 (all donated back)

64 members

Adjourned

General Meeting July 19, 2018

Meeting called to order.  Prayer and pledge conducted.

Roll call of officers:  All present and/or accounted for.

President welcomed VIPs, guests and new members, including the new State Legion Commander, Denny Brenden,

Secretary read both May and June minutes.  Approved.

Treasurers report:  read and approved   $77,108 Checking    $6,568 Savings

Finance committee report & Public Affairs:  Donation task force met and went over the first policy draft.  Don Zafft is leading a group to review the by-laws and bring them current.  Also, asked for pictures of the Elk Hunt winners for the paper.  Made a pitch for Patriots of Nation raffle.  Squares are still available for $20.

Denny – reminder of the VVA picnic on August 25 at 11:30.

Honor guard report:  Both Honor Guard units were busy, including recent funeral for our member, Larry Rudebusch.

Don read a Thank You from his wife, Judy.

Results of Ride and Drive – $4,100.

Decision on the memorial bench is still in limbo.  Requested to have a bench and a flag as a package deal.

Jim reported on the dedication of the Sisseton cemetery, indicating it was a very nice ceremony and appreciated our participation.

Denny had the bus inspected and passed. He has 5 new members for the honor guard.

New shirts were displayed and available for order.  Most cost $20. Larger sizes $25.

Denny reported on the local cemetery.  Will be different that the Sioux Falls veteran cemetery.  Ours will be open to anyone who has an honorable discharge.  Our cemetery will be funded through private funding. A notebook was passed around for signing if you support the cemetery.  It does not mean you are committing to be buried there.

Sick and distressed:  President Jack had leg surgery and says he ‘hurts like hell’.

Allen Reil is in hospice.

$318/$159 – $100 donated back.

75 members

Motion adjourned.

General Meeting June 2018

Meeting called to order. Prayer and pledge conducted.

President welcomed VIPs, guests and new members.

Role call of officers: Zaft and Braeger absent.

Secretary report read and approved.

Treasurers report read and approved.

Membership report: 457/68 = 525 members.

Honor guard report: Jerry said they did the cancer walk, and funerals at Howard and Huron.

Floyd says they did a funeral in Milbank. Cemetery dedication July 12 at Sisseton.

Flag day and Ford Drive fundraiser raised about $5,000 each

Denny reported on the VVA picnic August 25, 11:30 at the Elks. Looking for volunteers.

Welcomed to bring additional dishes and desserts. Thank you to Denny and Kay for organizing the picnic.

Fishing tournament report – a good time was held by all. Encouraged all to go. Suggested a $500 donation to Warriors Never Give Up and a plaque be presented to them.

Jack made a pitch for the Veterans books on the back table for sale and also new Vietnam Veteran Tshirts. There are replacement pages for the History Book. New books will be available next meeting.

Jack made award presentation to Rich Felberg – Above and Beyond the Call of Duty.

Old business:

Donation committee has not met yet and set guidelines. Can still make nominations for donations. Those requests pending include donation for the quilting ladies.

Earl made a pitch about doing a better job of promoting ourselves. Get more pictures about our activities in the local newspapers as well as Watertown’s. He is our Public Affairs officer.

New business:

Dr. Sneden said the old “Choice” program is now the less-restrictive “CITC” (Care in the Community) program where unavailable CBOC medical, dental & optical care is now available here in Watertown outside the CBOC.

VVA State Council – we will still send 1 delegate to the meeting.

4^th of July parade – Denny is looking for participants. Meeting will be held immediately after the general meeting.

50/50 was $177 with $50 donated back

87 members present

May 17, 2018

General Meeting of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1054

Meeting called to order at 7 PM.

Prayer and pledge conducted.

Roll call of officers.  All present and/or accounted for.

President welcomed VIPs, guests and new members, including the new State Legion Commander, Denny Brenden.

Secretary’s report was read and approved.

Treasurer’s report read and approved.  Savings balance: $67,066.06, Checking balance: $13,948.52 and total balance:  $81,015.48.

Honor guard report: 5 funerals were done by Milbank with one pending.

Guest speaker:  Terry Paulson of South Dakota State Veteran’s Organization, spoke on the passing of Senate Bill 91.  The engineering and construction of the new Veteran’s cemetery in Sioux Falls will fall under the SD Dept of Veterans Affairs.  They hope to have the design approved by Nov 2018 with construction to begin in Mar 2019.  Completion time is 12 -18 months.  Eligibility will fall under the current federal guidelines for federal military cemeteries.  As a condition for passing this bill, an endowment fund was established to raise $3M for maintenance of which ¾ of a million has already been raised.  The time period to raise the funds in 5 years.  The plot allowance in $762 for veterans.  The location is on 50 acres donated between I-229 and I-90, ½ mile north and ½ mile east.  The first phase will be 13 acres which will include the administration buildings.

Old business:

Earl inquired as to the status of the committee which was created to review and determine requests for monetary assistance to needy veterans and other requests for donations.  The committee has not met.

New business:

Mark Schroeder spoke on the availability of 4 granite benches by Gibson Memorials which can be used at the Veteran’s Memorial Park.  The cost is $1750 per bench and can be inscribed for an additional cost of $75.  He justified the cost of a bench versus $1500 for flags by indicating that flags must be replaced each year whereas the bench will last many years.  There is no decision at this time.  It may also be an individual purchase.

Jack made a pitch for book titles ‘Point Man’ by Robert Owens.

A motion was made to donate $500 to Nancy and the quilters so they can continue to make quilts for veterans.  The motion was tabled until the donation committee meets.

Upcoming activities:

5/28 – Memorial Day.  Programs at the cemeteries at 9:15 and 10:15.  Practice is 5/27 at 2 PM.  There will also be a Memorial program and the Veterans Memorial Park at 2:30 PM.  The speaker is former Army Officer Paster Craig Whirling.

5/29 – The Nation of Patriots will be riding to the Veterans Memorial Park for the flag raising ceremony at 7 PM.  Earl requested a color guard and rifle squad.  All veterans are invited to attend.

6/9 – Volunteers are needed to help hand out flags for Flag Day at various places.

6/9 – Ride & Drive being held at Montgomery’s parking lot 9 – 4 PM.  Please complete a test drive waiver and release in black ink.  If you include your email on the form, you will receive an email offering a $750 discount off a new vehicle.  For every car that is test driven, a $20 donation will be made to our chapter.  If you test drive a SUV, a $30 donation will be made.  Encourage all friends and family to take a test drive.  Need volunteers to help with registration and drivers.

6/18 – Pro Am fishing tournament – looking for combat veterans who would like to go.  See Bob Syring.

Awards:

‘Above and Beyond’ awards were presented to:

Herb Carsten, Roger Skatvold, Rich Felberg, Dean Halajan, Ed Tim and Paul Day

‘Soaring Eagle’ award for membership – Al Janzen

‘Soaring Eagle’ award for fundraising – Randy Holiday

Sickness & distress:  member Honabaker’s wife with cancer

50/50: $320/$160  $70 donated back

76 members present

THE APRIL MEETING OF CHAPTER 1054 OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA WAS HELD AT THE ELKS ON APRIL 19, 2018.

THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY PRES JACK.

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS SHOWED ALL PRESENT OR ACCOUNTED FOR.

JACK WELCOMED VIPS, GUESTS AND NEW MEMBERS.

SECRETARY’S REPORT WAS GIVEN AND APPROVED.

TREASURER’S REPORT SHOWED A CASH BALANCE OF $12,687.09 & SAVINGS OF $67,066.86 FOR A TOTAL OF $79,754.05.

THE NATION OF PATRIOTS ARE SELLING RAFFLE TICKETS. THEIR PARADE TO THE VETERANS MEMORIAL WILL BE APR 29 AT 6:30.

THE HONOR GUARD REPORTED 2 FUNERALS WITH 3 MORE TO GO.

PHIL AND DON ZAFFT HAD PRESENTED SCHOLARSHIPS WITH 1 MORE TO BE PRESENTED IN RAPID CITY.

THE DEDICATION OF THE NATIONAL CEMETARY IN SISSETON IS JULY 12.

MEMBERSHIP STANDS AT 534

A PLAQUE WAS PRESENTED TO THE ELKS.

ELECTION WAS HELD WITH THE FOLLOWING WERE ELECTED: 

JACK KEMPTER PRESIDENT

PHIL BRAGER 1ST VICE

DARRELL BIRNEY 2ND VICE

DON ZAFFT CHAPLIN

DON RECONNU TREASURER

SHERRY JANSSEN SECRETARY

EARL CASS DIRECTOR

JIM STROM DIRECTOR

BOB SYRING DIRECTOR

THERE WERE 87 MEMBERS PRESENT.

50/50 DRAWING WAS $187 & IT WAS ALL GIVEN BACK.

A  MOTION WAS MADE AND PASSED TO GIVE $500 TO WATERTOWN TRANSIT.

MEETING ADJORNED AT 8:30

THE FEBRUARY MEETING OF CHAPTER 1054 OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA WAS HELD ON FEBRUARY 15, 2018.

THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY PRES. JACK. PRAYER WAS FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN THE POW MIA PRAYER.

PRES. JACK WELCOMED EVERYONE INCLUDING THE VIPS, NEW MEMBERS & GUESTS.

SECRETARY READ MINUTES OF LAST MEETING & THEY WERE APPROVED.

TREASURERS REPORT SHOWED A CASH BALANCE OF $17,941.95 AND SAVINGS OF $47,066.96 FOR A TOTAL OF $65,008.91.

THE HONOR GUARD REPORTED 2 FUNERALS IN MILBANK AND ONE MORE COMING UP.

MEMBERSHIP STANDS AT 507.   (443 VVA AND 64 AVVA)

CEMETERY BOARD REPORTED THAT FUND RAISING WILL START SOON

WE RECEIVED A CHECK FROM COMMUNITY CORNER FOR $1,300. EVERYONE SHOULD PATRONIZE THEM.

VVA STATE CONVENTION WILL BE IN MAY.

ELECTION WILL BE IN APRIL WITH DENNIS SOLBERG IN CHARGE.

A MOTION WAS PASSED TO GIVE DONATED QUILTS TO ROSLYN NURSING HOME.

ORRIE SWAZEY TALKED ABOUT PTSD AND SUICIDE OF PTSD VETS’ CHILDREN.

JURGENSON MEAT PACKING WAS GIVEN AN APPRECIATION PLAQUE.

THERE WERE 59 MEMBERS PRESENT.

A VETERANS REUNION WILL BE HELD IN MITCHELL ON THE 23RD-25^TH.

THE FORD TEST DRIVE WILL BE HELD AGAIN IN JUNE.

ABOUT 800 TICKETS HAVE BEEN SOLD FOR THE ELK HUNT.

50/50 RAFFLE WAS $127 AND $60 WAS GIVEN BACK.

MEETING ADJOUNED AT 8:36.

THE DECEMBER MEETING OF CHAPTER 1054 OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA WAS HELD AT THE ELKS ON DECEMBER 21.

THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT JACK AT 7:01 AND THE PRAYER AND PLEDGE WERE CONDUCTED. ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS SHOWED SEVERAL OFFICERS MISSING. 1 NEW MEMBER, EARL BRENNAN OF HAYTI, WAS WELCOMED.

NEW BUSINESS:

THE VIETNAM MEMORY BOOKS ARE IN.

YELLOW POST CARDS FOR A NATIONAL REGISTRY WERE SENT TO MEMBERS. DATA WILL BE COMPILED INTO A BOOK AND SOLD FOR $125. IT IS YOUR OPTION TO REPLY

MOTION WAS MADE TO BYPASS MINUTES OF LAST MEETING DUE TO ABSENCE OF SECRETARY.

TREASURERS REPORT: CASH ON HAND $21,273.95, SAVINGS $47,066.96 FOR A TOTAL  OF $68,340.91. CHRISTMAS PARTY RAISED $726.

MEMBERSHIP IS UNOFFICIALLY 503. CONNIE PRESENTED DOCUMENTS FOR 2 NEW MEMBERS

THE MILBANK HONOR GUARD DID 2 FUNERALS. WATERTOWN DID ONE (SABOE)

A REPORT ON THE CEMETERY WAS DEFERED TO NEXT MEETING. A PAMPHLET ON THE CEMETERY AND DONATIONS WAS PASSED AROUND.

OLD BUSINESS:

EARL CASS REPORTED ON THE NATION OF PATRIOTS AND THANKED THE VVA FOR IT’S DONATION.

RANDY HAS ELK TICKETS AND NEEDS HELP SELLING. EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SELL ONE BOOK

SICKNESS AND DISTRESS:  PAUL HERMANS IS DOING THE SAME BUT GORDY IS DOING BETTER

50/50 WAS $106/53 AND WON BY EARL CASS WHO DONATED $50.00 TO THE NATION OF PATRIOTS AND THE REST TO OUR VVA CHAPTER.

52 WERE IN ATTENDANCE

ADJORNED AT 7:29

THE NOVEMBER MEETING OF CHAPTER 1054 OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA WAS HELD AT THE ELKS ON NOVEMBER 16, 2017

THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:05 PM BY PRESIDENT JACK.

PRAYER BY CHAPLAIN DON WAS FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

PRESIDENT JACK WELCOMED VISITORS, VIPS AND NEW MEMBERS.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WAS SUNG FOR DEAN HALAJIAN FOLLOWED BY THE ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS.

THE SECRETARY’S REPORT WAS GIVEN AND APPROVED.

THE TREASURERS REPORT SHOWED CASH OH HAND OF $22,682.47 & SAVINGS OF $47,066.96 FOR A TOTAL OF $69,749.43.

HONOR GUARD REPORTED 2 PAST FUNERALS AND ONE MORE NEXT SATURDAY.

THE CHRISTMAS PARTY WILL BE ON DEC 2 WITH DINNER AT 6:00 FOLLOWED BY ENTERTAINMENT AND AN AUCTION.

MEMBERSHIP IS NOW AT 499.

WE WILL DECORATE THE BUS ON NOV 21 FOR THE LIGHTED PARADE ON NOV 24.

THE VET ORGANIZATIONS’ CANNED FOOD DRIVE CHALLENGE IS STILL GOING ON.

IT WAS DECIDED TO GIVE $1,100 TO THE SALVATION ARMY AND $8,900 TO NEEDY VETERANS.

IT WAS DECIDED TO HAVE A MEETING DEC 21 FOR THOSE WHO COULD MAKE IT.

THE 50/50 RAFFLE COLLECTED $150 WITH THE WINNING $75 GIVEN BACK.

63 MEMBERS WERE PRESENT AND MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:20.