General MeetingFebruary 22, 2009
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS PRESENT
CHAIRMAN M. NORTHROP
VICE-CHAIRMAN R. SINGLER
SECRETARY/TREASURER R. PORTUNE
OUTSIDE COORDINATOR F. LEMUS
MEMBERS AT LARGE
NORTH BLOCK S. BAER
H-UNIT A. PARKER
Chairman Mr. Northrop calls the meeting to order at 8:15 hrs. Roll was called, 38 members were present; a quorum. 2 members were excused and 3 members were absent. 'Gloria Godchaux' from Operation:Mom was present.
Members were asked to remove their hats for a moment of silence for the American Prisoners of War, those Missing in Action, those Killed in Action, and for our troops deployed around the world.
Members were asked to indicate if they received their minutes of the last months meeting. A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes from the September meeting. A vote was taken and passed to accept the minutes.
TREASURER'S REPORT: (R. Portune): We have a balance of $2.049.19. From this money $200.00 is reserved for the Hat Fund, which leaves $1,849.19 for useable funds. BR>
OUTSIDE COORDINATOR: (F. Lemus): read a list of correspondence.
| Between the Lines VVA Chap. 20 | Publication - Rochester, NY | |
| Ron Trovato | Writes Incarcerated Section for Between the Lines | |
| U.S.A. (Ret.) Col. J. Ross Franklin | Letter - Pensacola, FL | |
| Rev. Dugdale | Letter - N.I.V.N. - Ridgefield, WA | |
| Bill Anderson | Letter N.I.V.N. - Ephrata, WA | |
| Tony Thompson | Letter N.I.V.N. Hays State Prison - Trion, GA | |
| Mara L. Taylor Ph.D. | Letter Getting Out By Going In - LA, CA | |
| Operation:Mom | Gloria Godchaux & Dotty Selmeczki | |
| Luis J. Gutierrez Command Sergeant Major U.S. Army Special Forces (Ret.) | Fort Bragg | |
| Sgt. Maj. Millard R. Ball U.S. Army (Ret.) | Fort Campbell, KY | |
| Jeffrey J. Brodeur KWVA National Director | A special thanks for the National Membership in the KWVA of America for one of our members | |
| Zig Boroughs | 508th Assn. | |
| Richard J. O'Donnell | Chairman, F&F 508th Assn. | |
| Mr. Richard G. Becker | 82nd Airborne Div. Assn. Past National President | |
| Fran Lafferty | 82nd Airborne Association | |
| American Airborne Association | Airborne Quarterly | |
| Colonel William E. Weber (U.S. Army Ret.) | ||
| Gerret, Wilma and Nancy | Hope & Help Prison Ministries | |
| Vietnam Veterans of America | Chapter 205 Attn: Dennis Conway 93-B-1755 | |
| Robert W. Hayes | 508 Airborne Association | |
| Tracy J. Cascio, LCSW Community programs Supervisor | Oakland Army Base Clinic | |
| Congressman Bob Filner United States House Of Representatives | Committee on Veterans Affairs | |
| Ketteth J. (Rock) Merritt | CSM 508th Airborne Assn. - Fort Bragg | |
| The Rakkasan Shimbum | 187th Airborne Association | |
| Barney McClendon | N.I.V.N. | |
| Frank Schoch | Veterans Corner Columnist | |
| Annette Purcell | Editor Airborne Static Line | |
| James Weber Veterans Workforce Specialist | James will be with us on June 27th | |
| VVA Chapter 20 | Between the Lines | |
| The Veterans Administration | Washington, DC |
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
BY-LAWS: Mr. Hagan: there is nothing to report.
FOOD SALE: Mr. Portune: the food sale is on track. Portune read a list of the workers for this event, and asked for volunteers to unload the truck on Saturday February 28 at 9:00 AM.
SOCIAL: Mr. Portune: As soon as we have confirmed the ARK Building for this event, we will put out the narrative and ask for donations for this event.
COLOR GUARD: Mr. Baer: there has been no word on the accounterments for the Color Guard yet. We do have a member who is willing to donate $200.00 to help pay for these items. The group thanks him for his selfless donation and continued support of our group.
STAMPS FOR SOLDIERS: Mr. Schuhmacher: thanked the members who brought stamps to him.
We would like to clarify that the stamps for soldiers program is used stamps still on envelopes. These stamps are peeled off envelopes and are used as therapy for wounded soldiers.
REAL CHOICES: Mr. Renteria: nothing to report.
GRANTS: Mr. Singler: we had contact with one interested party and grant reuests will be looked at this spring/summer.
TAB'S FOR TOT'S: Mr. Sanders: we have collected approximately 6 lbs of tabs.
TOY PROGAM: Mr. Renteria: on stand down until next year.
PRESENTATION BOXES: Mr. Roberts: We have presented presentation Boxes to Trooper Fran Lafferty of the Niagara Frontier 82nd Airborne Association and R.E.A.L. Choices Director Vernell Crittenden Jr. We are mailing two boxes to the Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center. Mr. Jeffrey Broneur, KWVA, National Director is presenting the boxes to the Soldiers in recovery in Florida.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: Mr. Leavitt: We are not waiting for responses.
CAMARADERIE NIGHT: Thanks to Ms. Debra Sheldon for sponsoring this event. Camaraderie Night was a great success last month and all had a good time. A vote took place for the next movie. On March 28, 2009, Heartbreak Ridge will be shown.
The tentative early release for February 28th camaraderie night IS NOT FOR DINNER RELEASE but a program release to go directly to the event.
OLD BUSINESS:
No old business.
NEW BUSINESS
Two of our Members have gone home this last month - Mr. Brooks and Mr. Holloway. The group wishes them well.
Mr. Byars made an announcement, that he will be paroling soon and this is his last meeting. In addition, he said that he was proud to have been a member of our group and thankful for the help the group gave him.
The group voted to donate the proceeds from the current Fund Drive to the June 27th Operation:Mom 7th annual packing day.
Representative Shuler's Legislation Honoring Vietnam Veterans passes the House of Representatives in Washington, DC. Thirty-five years after the last American forces left Vietnam, Legislation calling on all Americans to recognize a Vietnam Veterans Day passed the House of Representatives yesterday by unanimous voice vote.
House Resolution 1231, introduced by Representative Heath Shuler, calls on the American people to recognize March 29 as Vietnam Veterans Day. The resolution calls on all Americans to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives, remember those who are still missing in action, honor those who were prisoners of war, and acknowledge all members of the Armed Forces throughout the Vietnam War for their service protecting our nation. It also acknowledges that the House of Representatives support the goals and ideals of such a day. March 29th is the anniversary of the date in 1973 when the last remaing American Forces offically withdrew from Vietnam. "I am very proud that my colleagues have joined me in passing this important resolution", said Representative Shuler. While we can never fully repay the debt we owe for their selfless service, the resolutions makes it clear that we will never forget the more than 3,000,000 brave young Americans who served our Nation and the 58,000 who made the ultimate sacrifice in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Representative Shuler introduced the legislation last month after Darrell Maxwell and the Veterans of Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 994 in Franklin, North Carolina approached him with the idea of creating a Vietnam Veterans Day. "I'd like to offer thanks to Mr. Maxwell and the other Veterans of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 994 for coming to me with this excellent idea. It was an honor to introduce and help pass this bill honoring them and all those who served during the Vietnam War", Representative Shuler concluded.
House Resolution 1231 endorsed by the VFW and the American Legion and had 66 coosponsors in the House, including Representative Bob Filner, the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.
There was a motion to adjourn the meeting and seconded. The motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 9:00 hrs.
NEXT MEETING
Will be on March 29, 2009.
Robert Portune M.W. CRAMER
Secretary/Tresurer Correctional Lieutenant
V.V.G.S.Q. Chief Sponsor
VIETNAM VETERANS GROUP of SAN QUENTIN WEB SITE http://vvgsq.tripod.com Telephone (415) 454-1460, EXT. 5309 or 5757 FAX Telephone (415) 455-5049 ATTN: D. Sheldon SIA