Chapter Meeting Notes - 19 April 2014

SFA National Convention:   Coming up from 9-15 June in Columbia , SC. If you plan to go, you had better make your reservations now. I am attaching the Registration form here.

5th Special Forces Group Reunion:  Near Fort Campbell, KY 17-21 SEP 2014

11th Group Reunion:  At Fort Meade, MD on 9 AUG 2014.

Member Tony Beltran marched in the Bataan event last month: He was in town from Oregon solicited sponsorships at the March meeting. 50 cents per mile for the 14 mile half march is $7 – see Pete or Tom if you pledged. He will donate the proceeds to Wounded Warriors in the name of SFA 9.

Border Patrol Special Operations Group Law Enforcement Equipment and Technology Expo:  Was held on 29 and 30 April 2014.  GREAT turnout - see President's Message below. 

Team House Committee: Chairman is Steve Franzoni; Committee - Gus, Brian, Chuck, Tom, Tony and Chuy; the committee is hard at work listing requirements for the 2800 sqft steel building (2 bath, office and kitchen). Brian Kanof gave us a current aerial photo.

Chapter IX Shirts, Coins, Mugs and Blazers: Shirts, mugs and coins are available. Coins are $10 each. Anyone needing a blazer needs to talk to Pete. We currently have a 36R and a 38R blazer on hand for purchase. We are also selling golf balls for $2.00 each and the new Chapter 9 shirts for $25.00. Ties are also available at $25.

R and R Center Fort Bliss: PTSD Soldiers still meet with Chuy every Monday from 1100 hrs to 1600 hrs in Bldg. 48 at Fort Bliss. Chapter donates $200 each month for arts & crafts. Chuy announced that key chains are available.

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 donates up to $100 per month, as needs arise.

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.  Judge Angie Barill who is running this program from the judicial side spoke to the Chapter asking members to serve as mentors. 

Chapter Historian: Jerry Campos Historian, Committee Bill Snider and Fidencio Gonzalez. If you have historic information for SFA 9, please get it to Jerry.

Billy Waugh’s book “Isaac Camacho, an American Hero” is still available:   Through the book website.  

DROP Magazine is Online:   Access it here. 

Chapter Sign at the end of the road: Tabled, we need to decide the Team House status first.

San Antonio SFA 15 Annual Jack Houge Picnic: To be held at the Fort Sam Houston Recreation Area, Canyon Lake, Texas, May 16 thru 18, 2014. Chairman, Bob Hand 210-336-1102 or through e-mail.  SFA 15 has reserved 30 trailers so far, but can obtain additional trailers if needed. The cost of the trailer is $85.00 a night or $170.00 for the weekend. Contact Bob ASAP if you want to attend.

9th Annual CSM(R) John McLaughlin Memorial Golf Tournament: Scheduled for Saturday 13 September 2014 at the Fort Bliss Golf Course. Ike Camacho and Gus Gonzalez Co-Chairmen. Ike said, “Sell Sponsorships”!

Jerry Rainey Scholarship: Sam Morgan, Chair. Applications are now available. Application period is 20 May thru 20 June 2014. This will be the 8th year we have honored Jerry in this way.

Other Announcements:  Al reported that AUSA golf tournament has changed to 10 October 2014.

Fort Bliss ASYMCA Junior Enlisted Center: Fred Hoffman sent some information about donations. Nina Carey, Program MGR – her son Patrick is currently in SF School.

Mexico Paratrooper Reunion: China Boy will attend in July – if anybody else is interested, see China Boy.

SF MAJ Chester Garrett Project: Steve gave us an update. New dining facility at MacGregor Range will be named in his honor. Chapter voted to pay for the 18 x 30 building plaque not to exceed $1.5K. Dedication will be in mid June.

82nd News: Benavidez-Patterson All Airborne Chapter: Chairman Lee Walker. Chapter meets the 4th Saturday’s, lunch at 1300 and meeting at 1400. Chapter bar is open every Friday and Saturday from 1500 until whenever. Chapter is gearing up for Fiesta 7, July 1-4, 2015, El Paso Wyndham.

VFW Post 812 News: New Commander Al Hobbs. 1st Sunday of every month is a fish fry from 1100-1400. Bar is open every evening. June = hosting Heavy Equipment Rodeo. 812 Golf Tournament is 17 May at Sunset Course - $80 a player – 0800 T-Time. Dinner on 16 May for all VFW and SF.   

President Pete’s Oval Office:

The Law Enforcement and Tech. Expo that we supported was a huge success. Steve Franzoni did a great job organizing the set-up, relief, and outside demo area. With the help of the members who were able to attend, the event went off like a well-planned mission and your support was noticed by all of the vendors. I received numerous compliments on how well the expo went, from set-up to tear down. Danny and his group of future long tabber’s did an excellent job of getting the show items to the right table and helping where needed. One vendor mentioned that at some expo’s, the “help” are union workers and the vendors can’t even move their own items and the cost is outrageous. The vendors who were here for their first or second time could not believe the amount of support they received. Another vendor said “The simple task of watching my table while I took a bathroom break was by itself, worth the price I paid”. Because of your efforts, we are one step closer to getting our own team house. Thank you.

We have two major events coming up; the scholarship in August (See Sam Morgan for more info) and the golf tournament in September. If you have a relative or know of a local student who you feel is worthy of the scholarship, please get the chapter info to them. I will not be at the May meeting as I am playing….ok, I’m hitting balls in the VFW golf tournament. According to some “friend” I’m shy of actually playing golf, but I will drink mucho adult beverages. If I don’t get to see you until June, take care, God bless and keep your head down, power dry and aim true.

De Oppresso Liber!

Pete Peral