Monday, May 13, 2013

Chapter Meeting Notes - 20 April 2013

Next Meeting: Saturday 18 May 2013, 1300 hrs at VFW Post 812.

SOG EXPO 2013: Held 1-2 May 2013.  SOG Law Enforcement Technology and Equipment Expo (SOG MWR Expo for short) was a great success. We had over 210 vendors representing 115 companies. The whole purpose of the expo is to expose both military and law enforcement agents to emerging technology and I’m glad our men and women in uniform have these tools to help in their fight. Chapter 9’s bank account is a little healthier because of his.

8th Annual CSM(R) John McLaughlin Memorial Golf Tournament: Chairman Greg Brown. Tournament will be on 7 September at the FT Bliss Underwood course. We will need the same sort of golf bag giveaway items as in the past for 100 participants, and raffle prizes. Prizes for winners will be the same as in the past. Greg handed out fliers. Committee Meetings are held at 1200, before the general meeting.

Billy Waugh’s book “Isaac Camacho, an American Hero” is still available. Website .

Isaac Camacho Head Start School: 125 students in the school. Any school supplies that you wish to donate please bring them to the meetings. Chapter is donating up to $100 per month as needs arise.

SFA National 2013 in San Antonio: Registration deadline is 15 June! SFA 15 is hosting the convention and we need to support them. The HQ hotel is sold out but they secured an additional 100 rooms at the El Tropicano Hotel (877-214-9768). It is located a few blocks away from the Hyatt Regency but is still on the Riverwalk. It is a great deal at the $106.00 rate plus free full breakfast, free parking, and free wi-fi. A city bus shuttle that will take you to the main hotel is available in front of the Tropicano every 15 minutes, plus a river taxi is also available. Some are staying at rooms at the O’Brien Historic Riverwalk Hotel, thru Choice Hotels (800/521-2121) and if the 100 additional rooms fill up this may be the only reasonably priced option. Their rooms are available at $85 a night with $15 parking fee for the week. It is within walking or boating distance. Send in your registration form which can be downloaded here.   

Jerry Rainey Scholarship: Chairman Greg Brown. We are promoting 2 x $500 scholarships.

Christmas Food Drive: We voted to pay $300 to the school for all the classes to use.

SFA 9 Sign: SFA 9 will pay for a 4 x 8 foot sign once the VFW approves it. Numerous groups will be on the sign and share the costs.

SF Room at VFW: Negotiations have begun – no decision yet. We want to build a room onto the existing structure that will be available for use by the VFW. We are getting quotes and we voted to select an engineer to begin plans.

Soldier Mentors Program: Mentor program is in progress with the El Paso Courts system for Soldiers who have no violent offenses for 8-12 months. See Tom Brady.

Veterans Summit: 38 organizations are now involved. They are building a co-op. FT Bliss is very involved.

Donation to VFW 812: Al moved that we donate $1000 to the VFW to help upgrade their AC system– Passed.


Politics: Discussion about a complaint of the political announcements at some of the meetings. Decision that candidates/supporters can make announcements but Chapter can not formerly support any political issue or candidate. If people want “face time” after the meeting, that is OK. However we can announce that Chapter member Sam Morgan (MAJ, ret), despite being heavily out spent campaign wise, will be in a run off election for El Paso City Representative District 4. Thats Sam's last official photo, at left, when he was in uniform.



VFW 812 Golf Tournament: Scheduled for 15 June 2013. .

Message from President Pete:

Another busy month for Chapter 9 and VERY productive. The Expo was the big event this month and I want to thank everyone who was able to come out and assist. I received more compliments than I can count about the support that you provided the vendors; everything from getting them coffee, relieving them for lunch or a bathroom break and just visiting and spending a little time talking to them. The majority of the vendors were veterans’ so seeing all the “green” polo’s running around making it work was impressive. I counted 16 different chapter members most helping on both days, thank you.


I won’t list the dollar figure that we made on this expo but we doubled our current holdings!!! Everyone did an outstanding job supporting this event but I wanted to give a special SF Hymn to Naipo Robertson. Franzoni threw him outside and told him to “handle it” and he did. Thanks brother. The picture above is Ike and his bride Gracie Camacho signing books at the Border Patrol SOG Expo. The ugly guy standing at right is the nefarious Steve Franzoni.  The complimentary snack bar at the SOG Expo reported a shortage of pigs in blankets for which Steve is a prime suspect.  I saw "Check his pockets!".


We are working harder and harder with Post 812, our home, to enhance the post and increase our foot print. We need everyone’s help with making Post 812 the best post in El Paso. The post is closing down from 5-9 June for renovations of the bar area, small conference room and pool room. If you can help during those days from 0900 to 1800 we can use you. If it’s taking pictures down, patching holes, painting, or fixing plumbing anything will help.

De Oppresso Liber!

Pete

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