MINUTES
OF MEETING
ALBANY-SARATOGA
BASE, USSVI
Location: Mohawk American Legion Post 1450 Clifton Park, NY
Meeting
Date: March 16, 2005
All
members present stood and introduced themselves and the boats they served on.
All
WWII Veterans present were asked to stand and be recognized. Ray Koch and Walt
Bydairk stood and were applauded.
The
Base Secretary reported there was a quorum present.
The minutes of the previous months meeting have been either mailed or
e-mailed to the members and therefore the reading of these minutes of was
waived. A motion was made and passed to approve the minutes.
Also,
copies of the proposed schedule of the Base’s activities for the coming year
were passed around for all to see.
The
Base Treasurer’s report gave his report for the month of March. The ending
bank balance for the Base is $8659.46. A motion to approve the report was made
and passed.
The
Base Treasurer also gave a quick report on the Convention finances. The account
balance is approximately $20,500.00. We owe National 10% of this money for their
share of the Convention. We are also waiting for the final vouchers from NY
State to be paid to us which should result in several thousand additional
dollars. When this amount is received and all is accounted for, we will send
National a supplemental check for the difference. This was discussed with the
National Treasure and is an acceptable arrangement.
At
this time Base member Ed Luther was called forward and was inducted into the
Holland Club. He was congratulated by his fellow Holland Club members and the
rest of the members in attendance.
The
Bell was tolled for Boats lost during the month of March
CDR
Ondek announced that he had invited the Base Chaplin Fritz Feldhaus to become a
member of the Base Executive Board.
Old
Business
CDR
Ondek reported that John Cook, Frank Hardick, and he had met with Saratoga
Springs Mayor Lenz to discuss our needs for the proposed memorial. We requested
a letter of support from the city for us to forward along with our request for a
sail which the city agreed to do. We also requested the city set up a meeting
with Niagara Mohawk, Saratoga Springs, and the SubVets to discuss our plans for
the memorial. They were also supportive of this idea and agreed to set up the
meeting.
CDR Ondek
announced that there will be two Tolling the Boats ceremonies. The first will be
held on Monday April 11, 2005 at the NY State Capital at 1:00 pm. The second
will be held on Thursday April 14, 2005 in Ballston Spa at the Cornell
Co-operative Extension Building on 50 West High St. at 1:00 pm. Each ceremony
will require the participation of several members so a sign up sheet was passed
around.
CDR
Ondek requested that members volunteer to take photos and videos of the
ceremonies. Al Singleman, Frank Hardick, and Ed Luther agreed to help out.
We
are continuing ahead with our plan to incorporate our Memorial Fund. Ben Torrey
agreed to look at the application paperwork to see what is needed to get
everything moving.
Fred
Carlson reminded everyone that if you had not as yet paid your dues for 2005
please do so as soon as possible to avoid being dropped from National.
New
Business
CDR
Ondek read a letter from Groton Base that listed the details of their upcoming
Golf Tournament.
CDR
Ondek reported on the Books for Boats program and asked if any Base members
wished to participate. He reported that renowned author and Base member Joe Buff
has offered to participate with a donation of books and also with financial
assistance.
The
NY State Submarine Service license plate program is overseen by Mike Carmody
from Long Island Base. He forwarded Bob Ondek a list of plate numbers that
indicated what plate numbers are available/taken. Bob reported that the list was
rather confusing but he offered to help any base member with trying to decipher
it.
A
motion to adjourn was made by Mike Stoneback and seconded by Fritz Feldhaus.
The
next regular meeting will begin at 7:00 on April 20, 2005. This meeting will be held at the American Legion Mohawk Post 1450 on Grooms Road in Clifton Park, NY.
Submitted
by:
Jim Irwin
Albany-Saratoga Base
Pride Runs Deep