General MeetingOctober 25, 2009
| CHAIRMAN | K. HAGAN |
| VICE-CHAIRMAN | E. RENTERIA |
| SECRETARY/TREASURER | D. LEAVITT |
| OUTSIDE COORDINATOR | J. LANGNESE |
MEMBERS AT LARGE
| NORTH BLOCK | C. SCHUHMACHER |
| H-UNIT | A. PARKER |
Chairman Mr. Hagan called the meeting to order at 8:15 hrs. Roll was called, 30 of 36 members were present, a quorum. 6 members are excused. Our Chief sponsor Lt. Cramer 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.
All members were asked if they received their minutes of the last months meeting. Mr. Lemus made a motion to accept the minutes of our last meeting and Mr. Baer seconded the motion. The vote taken passed the motion to accept the minutes.
TREASURER'S REPORT: D. Leavitt:
We are currently trying to get a print out of how much money we have left from the food sale. We will retain the $200.00 for the next hat purchase that we started off with, and the balance will be divided evenly between Operation Mom’s and the Veterans Holiday Toy Program. In addition, we sent the Operation Mom’s trust withdrawals in the amount of $907.05 to the inmate trust office from the general population.
OUTSIDE COORDINATOR: J. Langnese:
Jeff stated that he received the below listed correspondences:
| VVA VETERAN The VVA’s national Publication. | |
| VVA Chapter 20. A letter from Ron Trovato, Rochester, New York. Thanks for speaking about incarcerated veteran’s health care at the VVA national Convention. | |
| VVA Chapter 190. The Eagle Speaks, and a letter from Craig McLaren, Atmore, Alabama. Thank you. We enjoyed the summary of all the information on incarcerated veterans groups and the note from John Higgins. | |
| N.I.V.N. A letter from Bill Anderson, Ephrata, WA | |
| A letter from Col. J.R. Franklin (USA Retired), Pensacola, Florida | |
| N.I.V.N. a LETTER FROM Tony Thompson, Trion, Georgia | |
| A letter from Sgt. James Smith, (USA Retired), 4th Inf. Div., Hickory Valley, TN.< TD> | |
| A letter from Vincent Milo, 4th Div Artillary, Hillsboro Beach, Florida |
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
BY-LAWS:
Mr. Fernando Lemus: Nothing new to report at this time.
FOOD SALE:
Mr. Leavitt: We did a really great job on the food delivery. We could have been finished by 11:00 AM if everyone had arrived to pick up their orders. We had 24 members working this food sale. We opened the floor for a discussion about ways to improve the food delivery. Several members remarked that inmates from the general population stated that the VVGSQ is the only group that delivers on time, delivers everything that is ordered, and is prompt and courteous. Many inmates stated that the VVGSQ is the only group that they will buy from. Some suggestions for review are:
1) Reduce the number of people in the room pulling orders.
2) Increase the number of members double-checking orders after they’re pulled.
3) Continue to deliver the foods on a first come first served basis. No stacks of pre-collected ID cards will be collected ahead of time because they don’t show up anyway.
4) Explore the viability of giving refunds to the guys that end up “in da hole” and cannot pick up their orders. The rules currently state that the guy gets burned.
5) Explore a way to more fairly distribute the left over food among the members working the food sale.
SCHOLARSHIP BANQUET:
Mr. Leavitt: a date in May or early June of 2010 will need to be picked after we consult with Mr. Fernando Lemus, the Scholarship Committee Chairman, Operations Mom’s the North Bay Vet Center, and other outside groups that we are a part of and/or that supports us.
COLOR GUARD:
Mr. Baer: The Run to the Pen on November 7th will be our next function.
SCHOLARSHIP:
Mr. Fernando Lemus: This has been tabled until January 2010. We are collecting 260 first class stamps for the mass mailing that we do to local high schools. Anyone wishing to donate new first class stamps for this, please drop them off at my cell, 20-N-65.
STAMPS FOR SOLDIERS:
Mr. Rooke: Over a 1,000 more stamps were collected this month.
(We would like to clarify that the stamps for Soldiers Program is used stamps still on envelops. These stamps are peeled off the envelops, then used as therapy for wounded Soldiers.)
CAMARADERIE NIGHT:
Mr. Portune: The next Camaraderie night will be Saturday, November 28, 2009. Since Mr. Portune was ill at the time of this meeting, he will announce the name of the movie when he recovers.
R.E.A.L. CHOICES:
Mr. Renteria: The next date that Team C will be working with youngsters again is Friday, November 6, 2009.
TAB'S FOR TOT'S:
Mr. Rooke: We are still busy collecting tabs. I would like to explore the possibility of receiving tabs from the outside. A discussion ensued concerning the viability of having them sent in to us, and then sending them back out, as opposed to sending them on from the outside. We are still talking and gathering information.
These are aluminum can pot tops. We collect them and send them out. The Ronald McDonald Charities organization issues credits for each pound of pop tops received. These credits are used by the families of ill children for hours of dialysis, stays at the Ronald MCDonald Houses, etc.)
TOY PROGRAM:
Mr. Renteria: The narrative is complete, copies have been made and distributed. Santa Claus and his elves will be in the visiting room handing out toys to children on Saturday, December 12, Sunday, December 13, Saturday, December 19, Sunday, December 20, and Friday, December 25.
GRANTS:
Mr. Fernando Lemus: There is nothing new to report at this time.
PRESENTATION BOXES:
Mr. Portune: 20 boxes have been sent out and another 19 are very close to being ready to be sent out.
OLD BUSINESS:
Operation Mom’s: A question was posed about when the best time would be to cut a check to Operation Mom’s. Operation Mom’s representative, Gloria Godchaux stated that because the November 21st packing day will be done in here with the VVGSQ, it is easier coming through the prison security checks with newly purchased items. A check will be cut for Operation Mom’s as soon as possible so that they can go shopping for the items to pack. The little ½ page VVGSQ letter blanks still need to be run off. This packing of approximately 100 boxes will be for the 82nd Airborne in Afghanistan. The postage cost for boxes going to military personnel overseas is $12.00. The US Postal service is the only delivery system allowed to deliver to military personnel overseas.
NEW BUSINESS
Our Chief Sponsor, Lt. Cramer is retiring at the end of the year. A plaque was presented to him on behalf of the VVGSQ for all of his hard work over the many years he has been our Chief Sponsor. A huge THANK YOU goes out to you Lt. Cramer.
As a result of Lt. Cramer retiring, we are looking for another Chief Sponsor for out group. We are currently accepting suggestions.
Chairman Mr. Hagan gave a special thank you to our Chief Sponsor Lt. Cramer for arriving at and opening the room, and making it possible to have this months meeting.
Mr. Stan Baer made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Harry Barton. A vote was taken, and the motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 0905 hrs.
NEXT MEETING: NEXT CAMARADERIE NIGHT Will be on November 29, 2009. will be on November 28, 2009.
David Leavitt 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
Brothers Helping Brothers
| November 7, 2009 | 2nd Annual Run to the Pen | November 21, 2009 | 8th Operation Mom’s Packing Day | November 21, 2009 | Camaraderie Night | November 22, 2009 | Monthly Meeting @ 0800 hr | December 12, 2009 | Toys for Tots in Visiting Room | December 13, 2009 | Toys for Tots in Visiting Room | December 19, 2009 | Toys for Tots in Visiting Room | December 20, 2009 | Toys For Tots in Visiting Room | December 25, 2009 | Toys for Tots in Visiting Room | December 26, 2009 | Camaraderie Night | December 27, 2009 | Monthly Meeting @ 0800 hr |