GEMS
Gem state branch 382 - fra
Branch Elected Officers
President: Jim Doering 331-1265 Bd. of Directors: Glen Dittman 466-7002
Vice President: Hazel Bettencourt 463-4682 Bob Keith 336-3342
Secretary-Treasurer: Keith Cottrell 283-2342 Ken Nungesser 467-5686
Financial Secretary: Larry Schmitt 463-1452 Jack Rhoads 342-8422
Secretary E-Mail [email protected] Jim Shadwick 468-0036
James Taylor 921-3038
CALENDAR
December 2008
6 Saturday 1000 Branch and Unit decorate VAMC ward and Veteran’s Home
7 Sunday 0900 Pearl Harbor Remembrance service at the Idaho Military History Museum.
13 Saturday 1800 Branch and Unit Christmas dinner and Award presentations
17 Wednesday 1400 Bingo at the VAMC Community Living Center
18 Thursday 1930 Recreation night at the FRA Hall
27 Saturday 1000 Branch and Unit take down decorations at VAMC and Veteran’s Home
January 2009
10 Saturday 0930 Branch and Unit BOD meetings
10 Saturday 1000 Branch and Unit meetings
15 Thursday 1930 Recreation night at the FRA Hall
21 Wednesday 1400 Bingo at the VAMC Community Living Center
NEWSLETTER DELIVERY VIA EMAIL
This edition of the newsletter is being sent by regular mail to all hands in order to run a check on the addresses of email recipients. Also, we have had delivery problems to the following members: David Odom, Robert Finney, and Jennifer Rasmussen. If you are willing to receive future copies via email in Microsoft Word format, please email the Secretary at [email protected]. Each newsletter sent via email saves the Branch 32 cents in printing costs plus 42 cents in postage.
SEA CADET NOTES
On 8 November, Shipmates Steve and Barbara Scott and their Sea Cadets hosted a spaghetti dinner as a fund raiser. Several Branch and Unit members attended and were favorably impressed with the initiative and bearing of these teens. On 15 November, these same young people spend a “free” Saturday raking and bagging leaves and other trash on the hall grounds. A big Thank You to Steve, Barbara, the other leaders, and the Sea Cadets for your service to our Branch and Unit. They are also planning on helping out at our Christmas Dinner.
VAMC/VETERAN’S HOME DECORATION
On Saturday, 6 December, the Branch and Unit will put up decorations at the VAMC and Veterans Home. At 1000, we will meet in the Third Floor of Building 67 at the VAMC (the 3-story building in the middle facing the parade grounds). From there we will go to the Veteran’s Home. We then traditionally go to the Perkins Restaurant where the Branch will buy breakfast. On Saturday, 27 December, we will follow the same schedule to take down the decorations and the Unit will treat.
PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE SERVICE
The Naval Reserve is presenting a Pearl Harbor Remembrance service at 0900 on Sunday, 7 December, at the Idaho Military History Museum. On Thursday, 4 December, Larry Gebert of Channel 7 will be presenting a preview of the service during his weather segments of the Morning News from 0500-0700. The Morning News is also repeated until noon on 24/7 (Digital 7.2, UHF 49, or cable 28)
CHRISTMAS DINNER AND AWARDS PRESENTATION
The annual Christmas dinner and membership awards presentation will be held on Saturday, 13 December at the FRA Hall. Social Hour will start at 6 PM, Dinner will be served at 7 PM, with a short meeting and awards presentation at 8 PM. The dinner will be catered at a total cost to the Branch and Unit of $16.30. At the November meeting, the Branch and Unit voted to charge members 50% of the cost, rounded up to the next dollar. Accordingly, members will pay $9.00 at the door, and non-members will pay $16.00. Dinner entrees will be Turkey, Ham, and Prime Rib. You may have one, two, or all three. You do not need to make a decision ahead of time. However, please call Keith at 322-5553 by December 8 to let us know how many will be in your party.
CONTINUOUS MEMBERSHIP AWARDS
The following membership awards will be presented at the Christmas dinner. If you are unable to attend the dinner, your award will be mailed to you after the first of the year. These awards are based on the data in the official roster from National. If you feet you should be credited with longer continuous service, call Member Services as detailed below and state your case. You can also send an email to Member Services at [email protected].
Chamberlin, Keith J (30) Ellis, Carl G (40) Eseltine, John W (15)
Graham, Paul F (5) Jennings, Ronald V (25) LeBlanc, John O (15)
Lechtenberg, William C (40) McGinnis, Donald H (35) Nungesser, Kenneth D (5)
Odom, David D (5) Pinson, Harold E (35) Privette, Joseph J (25)
Rossean, John H (25) Schum, William S (15) Snyder, Daniel K (10)
Tuffield, Mary B (5) Wolfe, Fred S (5)
MEETING MINUTES
Instead of the Secretary reading the minutes of the previous meeting, printed copies of the minutes will be available next to the sign-in book. When you sign in, take a copy and read it before the meeting. During the Branch meeting, the branch will be asked to approve the minutes as written.
MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN
The Membership Chairman, James Taylor, needs some members to help contact former Branch members, Members-At-Large, and prospective members. If you can make a few calls a day, contact James at 921-3038.
VETERANS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
The Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa is participating in the Veterans Oral History Project, which is sponsored by the Library Of Congress. In this project, veterans are video-taped telling their stories of their service to the country. Volunteers are also needed to interview veterans, operate the video recorders and edit the videos. For more information, sign up to tell your story, or volunteer to help, call Sue Paul at 208-465-6446 or email her at [email protected]. Information about the project and the museum is available on their website, www.warhawkairmuseum.org.
The dues payments of the following shipmates are due during the next two months and had not been received by National as of 18 November. If your check is in the mail, disregard this list. Dues notices are normally sent out the first week of the month before your dues expire. For example, if your dues expire on 31 January, you would receive your notice in early December. If you don’t get your dues notice by the first of the month in which your dues expire, contact the Secretary. Dues should be sent directly to National using the envelope provided with the dues notice. The Secretary can forward dues in special circumstances.
Bettencourt, Hazel Cavaiani , Charles Finney, Robert B Heintz, William L Johnson, Ken W
Kennedy , Paul L Loop, Stephen B Mansfield, Larry S Nungesser, Kenneth D Odom, Dale L
Rasmussen, Jennifer R Sanuy, John A Schum, William S Thompson, Ron J Vaughn, Jay R
Wagner, Fred D Wilson, Bruce
To check your record if you do not have access to the internet, or to make other changes to your record, call National at 800-372-1924 between 0900 and 1700 Eastern Time (0700 – 1500 Mountain Time) on regular workdays. In the opening menu, press “1” for member services. Having your membership number available is helpful, but not necessary.
To check your record via Internet, go to the website, www.fra.org. In the upper right-hand corner of the home page, enter your 9-digit membership number (including leading zeros, if applicable) in the “username” block and enter your first initial and last name (e.g., jdoe) in the “password” blank and click on the blank next to the “username” blank. Then click on the “MY FRA” block near the top of the page to show your personal record. You can make changes to your address or telephone number by clicking on the “edit” block. You can also change your username or password.
MEETING NOTES
10/11/08 JOINT MEETING
Branch Vice-President Hazel Bettencourt and Unit President Jena Shadwick presided. LAFRA Regional President Northwest Mickey Talley was making her official visit to the Unit. Her daughter, Northwest Region Secretary/Treasurer Debbie Pike, was also in attendance.
Announcements of upcoming events were made. A motion to purchase a popcorn machine that was available on clearance was approved.
10/11/08 BRANCH MEETING
Branch Vice-President Hazel Bettencourt presided. The minutes of the 13 September meeting were approved as written. The Treasurer’s and Financial Secretary’s reports were presented.
The Veterans Day parade and flag raising and lowering at the Veterans Cemetery Avenue of Flags was discussed.
The name drawn from the membership list for $200 was Robert Day, who was not in attendance. The winner of the consolation drawing from the sign-in book for $25 was Oscar Rogers.
11/1/08 JOINT MEETING
Branch President James Doering and Unit President Jena Shadwick presided.
The Christmas dinner was discussed. A motion was approved to charge Branch and Unit members 50% of the total cost of the dinner, rounded up to the next dollar, with the Branch and Unit covering the balance.
11/1/08 BRANCH MEETING
The Branch charter was draped in memory of Shipmate Norris Lynch.
Branch President James Doering presided.
A Two-Bell Ceremony was held in memory of Norris Lynch, RT3, USN Veteran
The following personnel were initiated into the Fleet Reserve Association and Branch 382:
Mary Clow, PFC, USMC Veteran
Denny Croner, NCCM, USN, Retired
The minutes of the 11 October meeting were approved as written. The Treasurer’s and Financial Secretary’s reports were presented.
Final discussion on the Veterans Day parade and flag raising and lowering at the Veterans Cemetery Avenue of Flags was held.
Decoration of the VAMC and Veterans Home was discussed.
The name drawn from the membership list for $200 was Dale Odom, who was not in attendance. The winner of the consolation drawing from the sign-in book for $25 was Wayne Burian.