POCONO BASE –USSVI-MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, Flag Day, 14 June 2005

Meeting called to order at 1612 at the American Legion Post 413, Pocono Pines, PA by Commander Jeff Owens. The Purpose of the Organization was read. The Base Bell was tolled once for each of the boats and their crew members lost during the month of June, and a moment of silence followed. A prayer was offered by Chaplain Vaughan. Members present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll call: Members present were: John Saeli, Jeff Owens, Tom Shields, Rich Holmes, Bill Klose, Robert Vaughan, Gerald Zeman, Dennis Opiela, Frank McDevitt, Stan Merker, Joe O'Hara, Harold Franklin, Rod Brown, Bob Smith, Bill Hannon

Guests: Three wives/guests were present

It was confirmed that a quorum was present.

The Minutes: The Secretary was absent.  Printed copies of the minutes were available at the meeting, and had been previously posted on the internet.  Motion was made by Frank McDevitt to accept the minutes.  All in favor by voice vote.
 
Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer reported a current bank balance of $2, 832.51
Motion made to accept by Bob Smith;  all in favor by voice vote.
Later discussion about the absence of a formal, printed report not being available revealed that Bill never received a complete financial turnover when taking office, and had to construct amounts from incomplete bank records and the last financial report which was a few months old at the time.  He further indicated that he doesn't have a computer program to produce a financial report, or system for producing a journal or monthly report in the format of past reports.  He indicated he would try to work on producing a more conventional report either manually or by using something with his computer.

Committees Reports:

Membership: John Saeli reported the current member count is 44.  He mailed out 4 possible new member introduction packets in the past month.

Ball Game: John Saeli reported 75 tickets sold and 25 remaining.

Ways and Means: Rich Holmes reported on his continuing investigations regarding finding a suitable subvets vest producer, and he will continue to followup.
     After discussion of details regarding having a food booth at the Coolbaugh Twp. Community Day Event on Saturday 10 September, Tom Shields made a motion for the Base to participate. Which was seconded and the majority voted in favor by show of hands.
     Pocket calender sales program was reported that calenders would be ordered soon.

Webmaster: Jeff Owens outlined the USSVI Natrional Web Site of the Year contest and related that the Pocono Base site would be entered.

Newsletter:  Jeff Owens announced, that based on discussions with John Saeli, the Base newsletter would also be entered in the National contest.  John said he would review the past four issues to decide which would be used as the entry for judging.

Welfare Officer:  Rich Holmes reported that no progress has been made to produce greeting type cards for mailing to sick members, or for pupose of contact to inquire why they haven't been attending meetings.

Recruiting:  Jeff Owens brought up the subject of the production of a base recruiting poster or other material suitable for posting and use at public events, especially for posting in veterans organization's meeting places in N.E. PA.  There was some discussion about the effectiveness of this.  Some addition suggestion was made that something suitable could also be posted in the area supermarket's or community bulletin boards.

Parades:  Jeff Owens reported the details for the 4th of July Flag Honoring ceremony at Nay Aug Park in Scranton and invited members to participate.  The event is hosted by the City of Scranton, and at least 29 different veterans organizations from the area will participate.  There was a lack of response, and only Bill Hannon and Jeff Owens indicated they would represent the Base in the program.

No other committees had reports.

Correspondence: None presented

Old Business:

Jeff Owens asked whether the Marine Corps League and the Post 413 annual donations by the base to cover use of meeting space had been disbursed by the treasurer and the response was affirmative.

New Business:
Jeff Owens reported that communications from Doug Stevens indicated that he would not be able to perform his duties of Publicity or Base Historian due to employment schedules.  Bill Klose volunteered to assume the function of Base Historian.  All materials and documents which might be found or have been accumulated should be given to him to be maintained in a base archive file for historical reference in the future.

Jeff Owens related that Ed Barr had only attended 6 of the last 14 meetings during his term as Secretary, and has been incommunicado.  Frank McDevitt volunteered to visit Ed and check on his status.  If Ed will no longer serve, then a volunteer is importantly and urgently needed.

The subject of reducing the Base dues to $10 per year was brought up for discussion with various men offering opinions pro and con. A motion was made by (not recorded) and seconded.  The vote by show of hands was 5 in favor and 5 opposed with remaining members present abstaining.  The matter was tabled for possible future consideration.

Good of the Organization:
Bob Vaughan reported he will be going in for a knee replacement operation on 27 June.

Next meeting will be held at 1900, 20 July at the Marine Corps League Museum, Scranton, PA.

A closing prayer was offered by Chaplain Vaughan. 

Tom Shields made a motion to adjourn, and all in favor by voice vote. 
The meeting was adjourned.  Time not recorded.

No record of whether a 50/50 was held.

Following the business meeting, the members enjoyed an excellent buffet meal catered by Tom Shield's, Candlite Caterers.  After the meal, at approximately 1800, members proceeded outside for the joint flag retirement and burning program with the Legion Post members. It was a bright, sunny evening and fairly warm which was made even warmer by the large fire which consumed more than 1,500-2,000 collected flags of all sizes from cemetery marker flags up to a huge flag which had flown over one of the local car delaerships.

 
[NOTE: These minutes were reconstructed from notes recorded by Jeff Owens, Base Commander due to absence of the Secretary.  The original notes were misplaced until these minutes werecomposed from them, and memory of the events by Jeff Owens on 23 May 2006.  They have not been presented to the membership for official approval.]