MINUTES
OF MEETING
ALBANY-SARATOGA
BASE, USSVI
Location:
American Legion Post 70, Saratoga Springs, NY
Meeting
Date: September 17, 2005
The Bell
was tolled for Boats lost during the month of September.
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, Lou Drapalski,
Vito DeLeonardis, and Bill Whitney stood and were applauded.
The Base
Secretary reported there was a quorum present.
The Base
Treasurer gave his report and the Base has a bank balance of $7774.41 in the
treasury.
CDR Ondek
reported that the funds for the Foundation Fund have been moved to an interest
bearing account and the balance is $40,431.27.
CDR Ondek
also suggested we transfer the money in the Base Memorial Account (approximately
$700.00) to Trustco Bank stock. A motion was made by Fritz Feldhaus and seconded
by Frank Dorchak and was passed by the base to liquidate that account and
purchase Trustco stock.
Committee
Reports
Nomination
committee chairman John Cook reports the following members have been recommended
for 2006 Base Officers:
Base
Commander
- John Cook
Sr. Vice Commander -
Fritz Feldhaus
Jr. Vice Commander -
Ray Koch
Base Secretary -
Bill Preece
Base Treasurer -
Fred Carlson
Nominations
from the floor will be accepted at the October and November meetings. You must
be present at the meeting to nominate someone from the floor and they must
accept the nomination. Elections will take place at the November meeting and
installations will be at the January 2006 meeting.
Old
Business
Base Web
Site – The Base received a third place award at the Convention for its web
site. We most likely would have placed higher but there were some areas where
conflicting information was shown and there were a number of links that had no
information. The Base Web master Paul Hartnagel has been unable to keep the web
site current due to personal obligations. CDR Ondek has received a copy of the
software program that will allow him to gain access to the web site. He will be
able to assist Paul with keeping the site current.
Niagara
Mohawk Brownfield – We are still pursuing this issue. Our attorney and
Congressman Sweeney’s staff are trying to work things out so our plan is
acceptable.
We are
still looking at some land in Saratoga Springs on South Broadway across from the
Dance Museum that might be suitable as an alternative. Frank Hardick will have a
land surveyor check out this property to see if it is suitable.
Base
meetings – Beginning with the October regular meeting, all meetings will be held
at the American Legion Adirondack Post 70 on West Avenue in Saratoga Springs.
Again, this is because of the increased attendance at meetings held there.
As
reported last month Base member and renowned author Joe Buff will give a
presentation on “Submarines, Today & Tomorrow” on Saturday October 29th
from 1 – 3 pm at the NY State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs. He will
also do a book signing of his latest book “Straits of Power”
New
Business
Holland
Club eligible members Bill Whitney, Gene Harvey, and Vito DeLeonardis will be
inducted at the October meeting.
CDR Ondek
reported that he has extra copies of the latest edition of American Submariner
magazine and that the new editor of the magazine has made it available on line.
Base
member Bob Moore’s daughter Kelly sent word that he is recovering from his
recent successful surgery and if anyone would like to send him a card his
address is as follows: Bob Moore, 187 Bel Aire Drive, Mystic CT
06355.
If anyone
is interested in working on the trailer float please contact Bob Ondek. We need
your ideas and hope to begin work on it next spring.
Saratoga
County will conduct Veterans Assistance Night and Job Fair on November 2nd
from 6-10 pm at the Saratoga City Center. We have had a booth the past few years
– if anyone is interested please contact Bob Ondek.
Fred
Carlson gave a report on the 2005 USSVI Convention. Some people thought it was
good other thought it was about average. Our Base members who attended wore
their orange Convention shirts and were easily recognized.
Frank
Dorchak asked about the possibility of setting up a “sunshine fund” for in
house use when members are ill or otherwise incapacitated to let them know the
Base and its membership is thinking of them. Frank agreed to help set up this
fund.
There will
be a presentation on Submarines at the North Pole given by Ray Misiewicz at the
Clifton Park Public Library on November 4th at 10:30 am. The program
is free. Call the library at 371-8622 for addition information.
We had
several requests for donations. It was decided that the requests would be made
available to the members if they chose to donate individually but no donations
as a Base would be made at this time.
Frank
Dorchak spoke about a possible recognition program for those who participated in
the Cuban Missile Crisis and about a pin for fast attack submarine deployments.
A motion
to adjourn was made by Tom Glenn and seconded by John Cook.
The next
regular meeting will begin at 7:00 pm on October 19, 2005.
This meeting will be held at the American
Legion Adirondack Post 70 in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Submitted
by:
Jim Irwin, Secretary
Albany-Saratoga Base
Pride Runs Deep