Chapter Meeting Notes - 15 April 2017

Chapter Treasurer: Tom Melgares volunteered for the position.

SFA Dues Increase: Dues have increased slightly for 2017. Life membership is still a good deal at $440 (current Member) $475 (Not current). It is $320 for members age 65 and over. Annual renewal = $40, New Member dues = $50. Reinstatement = $45 - Annual Members who did not pay in January are now late.

2017 1st Group Reunion, El Paso: Ike Camacho is the Chair. Committee members are Gus, Chuy, Duke, Steve, Leo, Jerry and Bill. Dates are 5-10 June 2017. The Chase Suites has rooms for $69, registration is now $140 (Hospitality Room only $50). Banquet will be at the Marriott. Billy Waugh will attend. Committee meets 2nd Saturday’s at noon at the VFW. Duke Armendariz is Hospitality Chair again. Coins will be in this week.

2018 SFA Convention – El Paso: Chair is Brian Kanof; Committee members are Bill, China Boy, Roy, Steve, Catherine from the city and lots more. Dates are set for 12-17 June, 2018. Convention Theme is “Mexican American Green Beret’s”. It will be a 5-night conference with events beginning on Wednesday. SFA 80 and the 82nd Airborne chapter will assist. Brian has asked the members to seek sponsorships now. Committee is meeting before the general meetings at 1130. All committee Sub-Chairmen have been selected – A roster was emailed to all on the roster. The Camino Real Hotel is doing a makeover (to be re-named Paso Del Norte Hotel) and will be finished about the time of the reunion. We are looking at that as a HQ Hotel.

2017 SFA National Convention, Fayetteville, NC: The HQ Hotel rooms are already filled. The Holiday Inn across the street seems to be the best bet – they are sold out for Friday and Saturday. Many of the 2018 Committee will attend to promote our convention.

SF Room at the VFW: Chair Tom Brady, Committee Leo, Brian, Chuck and Al. Plaques and contents have been put up. Chapter will decide deceased Member plaque format soon.

John McLaughlin Memorial Golf Tournament: Scheduled at Fort Bliss for 9 September 2017. Committee members are Gus, Al, Ike, Leo. Half of the teams are already signed up. Meetings will be announced, likely by email. In August we will begin to meet every week.

SOG Expo: Our major fundraiser was held on 2-4 May, 2017. Another great success, finances are being finalized.

Bataan Death March, Waterpoint 7 Support: This was an SFA Chapter 80 led project with various SFA Chapter 9 Members supporting. SFA 80 presented a thank you plaque to us at the April meeting. USASMA also thanked us for sponsoring their team.

Jerry Rainey Scholarship: Greg Brown is the Chairman. Applications are being accepted – need transcripts thru current semester – Mid June deadline.

Counter Insurgency Writing Contest - USASMA: Greg Brown announced the contest. Named after COL “Splash” Frances J. Kelly. His 5th Parachute jump was a water jump – thus the nickname. He served as Commander of the 1st Group. More info to follow.

Parkland HS JROTC: Tom M said he cannot attend their awards on 25 May 2017 and Phil is filling in to present their thank you for helping with Christmas Food Drive.

SFA Building Fund Raffle Tickets: Each paid Member should have received a book and is asked to sell the tickets and turn-in the money and stubs to SFA 9 Treasurer. Bill received 10 extra books to pass out at the May meeting for the Honorary Members and those who want an extra book. Remember, Chapter 9 gets part of the proceeds so sell, sell, sell!

Final Expenses Planning: Bill attended a seminar for final expenses and funeral planning. He and John discussed the importance of preparations and we will try to organize a seminar for the military organizations in the area. All we need is to guarantee 10 attendees – a meal is provided. More info later.

VFW 812 Installation: Pete Peral was installed as Commander in May, suceding SFA Chapter 9 honorary member Al Hobbs.

Korean War MIA: Roy announced an event honoring MIA.

Lone Star Purple Heart: Tom M. announced their Installation of Officers. This is the oldest Purple Heart Chapter in Texas.

82nd Airborne Association Carnival: Bill announced the dates and locations and asked our members to support it.

Blazers: Jake announced that the Florida Blazer company is temporarily not selling green blazers – but he will keep us up to date.



Chapter President's Message:

April was a busy month for us. Between supporting the VFW golf tournament and the SOG expo we had a full month. I want to thank all who supported the SOG expo. As Bill stated, the EXPO is our big fund raiser and we did VERY well. There were 109 vendors and I received numerous e-mails thanking the Chapter for all their help on the day of the show. For those who have not been to a Law Enforcement expo, they charge for EVERYTHING. If you want power, you pay, if you want help, you pay, if you want anything other than the space you pay so these folks who travel from all parts of the country are very grateful for the support that you provide. I’ll brief more at the meeting.

We are working the short and final for the 2018 convention but need help. Brian is the Chair so get with him on what you can do to support. We have to brief the final (or as close to final as possible) at the June 2017 SFA convention so we don’t have a lot of time. The 2018 convention is a 5 day event with hard events going on every day. There will be a lot of moving parts and everything has to be tied together; transportation, the venue, comms, publications/announcements, etc. For those who are coming from out of town, get with Brian with what you can help with. If you are going to the 2017 convention AND representing the chapter, the chapter will assist with $250.00 to help offset the cost. Also, make your hotel reservation and register for the convention itself so they have a better head count. Like always, mucho thanks to each and every one of you.

Pete Peral,
President SFA Chapter IX