Chapter Meeting Notes_ 18 February 2017

SFA Membership: 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 is $40, New Member dues are $50. Reinstatement is $45 for Annual Members who did not pay in January are now late.

2017 1st Group Reunion, El Paso: Ike Camacho – Chair. Committee – Gus, Chuy, Duke, Steve, Leo, Jerry and Bill. Dates are 5-10 June 2017. This will be the 3rd time we hosted the 1st Group. The Chase Suites has rooms for $69, registration is $120 until 15 May, then it will be $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.

2017 SFA National Convention, Fayetteville, NC: The HQ Hotel rooms are already filled. http://www.2017sfaconference.com The Holiday Inn across the street seems to be the best bet. Many of the 2018 Committee will attend to promote our convention.

2018 SFA Convention – El Paso: Chair, Brian Kanof; Committee Bill, China Boy, Roy, Steve, Joe Kerwin JR, 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 asked the members to start seeking $5K sponsorships now. Committee is meeting before the general meetings at 12 noon. All committee Sub-Chairmen will be selected by March meeting. Honorary Members and Associate Members may be Sub Chairs and Assistant’s, volunteer now. 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.

SF Room at the VFW: Chair Tom Brady, Committee Leo, Brian, Chuck and Al. Plaques and contents will be decided by the committee.

Announcements for the Good of the Order: Tom Melgares presented certificates for those members who wee key to the success for the food drive.

John McLaughlin Memorial Golf Tournament: Scheduled at Fort Bliss for 9 September. Committee members are Gus, Al, Ike, Leo.

US Border Patrol SOG Expo: Our major fundraiser is scheduled for 2-4 May, 2017 (Dinner at VFW 2nd 1800; Expo 3rd; Range Day 4th).

Pack 58 Pinewood Derby Track: Pack 58 sent a request for SFA 9 to buy them a new track for $1700. Chapter voted to authorize $500 but directed Bill and Steve to find out more information. A meeting with the Cubmaster determined that the old track, which SFA 9 purchased about 6 years ago, just needs repairs. He will get back to us with the repair quotes.

Bataan Death March – Waterpoint 7,  19 March, White Sands:  SFA 80 needs us to assist with workers from 0900-1500, at Mile Marker 17 on HWY 70. After the event Mike Burleson will host a stand down party at his house, 8936 Lisa Lane, Las Cruces NM. SFA 9 Member Tony Beltran should be in town to participate in the trek as he always does. USASMA SF students are competing in the Military Heavy category. Chapter 9 is sponsoring their team and paying the $680 entry and shirt fee.

Jerry Rainey Scholarship: Greg Brown is Chairman again. Applications are being accepted – need transcripts thru current semester – Mid June deadline; policy was updated at the meeting. The Chapter voted to put 10% of SOG Expo profits into Jerry Rainey Scholarship fund.

VFW Elections: Pete Peral is running for Commander. Elections are April.

Chapter member Sam Morgan is running again for City Representative of District 4 whicvh is Northeast El Paso where a larger percentage of active dity and retired militarty live. Sam requests support from the Chapter. His website is http://www.sammorgan.org/ where you can donate, view volunteer information or find voting information.

 

 

 

 

President's Message:

 

Guys, sweet and short. We have a BUNCH of STUFF going on. Support as much as you can.
 
Pete Peral, President SFA Chapter IX  

Chapter Meeting Notes - 20 November 2015

20th Annual Jerry Montoya/Ralph Dominguez Food Drive: Chair - Tom Melgares. Committee members are Chuy, Steve, Leo, Pablo, Alberto. 16 December at 1900 hrs boxes will be packed & distributed. El Paso JR ROTC supported us this year. $1500 allocated for hams (Chuy) and other required expenses. Ike worked with a produce company and got the Head Start school to collect cans. Rod also got a school to participate. Total boxes will be known after publication of this newsletter.

Christmas Party: Chair - Steve Franzoni. Scheduled for 19 December at VFW 812. The meal is going Chicken or Roast Beef. Again members and 1 guest are free, additional guests are $10 each. $2,500 allotted for expenses. Door prize donations are being accepted in the $25-$100 range. Uniform is Blazers and Berets. Timeline: 1800 hrs gather, 1845 hrs SFA 9 meeting, 1900 hrs dinner, followed by dance by Villa Band.

Wreaths Across America: Debbie (Rolando) Torres Chair for CAP. Chapter sponsored 31 Wreaths this year. We paid for all SF and SFA 9 Members who are interred in the Fort Bliss Cemetery. Only a few members attended - we need to have a better showing in the future.

1st Group Reunion: 1st Group Reunion is scheduled for El Paso in 2017. This will be the 3rd time we have hosted this event. Ike Camacho is the Chair. We will assemble the committee very soon.

SFA 9 Installation of Officers: Elected: Pete Peral, President; Steve Franzoni, VP; Bill Snider, Secretary; Ike Camacho, Treasurer. John Szilvasy remains the Chapter Chaplain. Installation will be at the Christmas Party. Pete and Bill are starting their 9th year in office.

Viet Nam Memorial: Recently they broke ground on the El Paso Viet Nam Veterans Memorial at the flag pole. They are raising 50K for the memorial. Chapter donated $1400 towards the monument. China Boy said fundraising is going fine – shirts are for sale for $20, Hoodie is $35.

2nd Annual Joshua Mills Challenge: Held 18-20 November. The range portion was held at Tactical Ranch, a private training facility owned and operaeted by SF SGM (ret) Tom Buchino. A ceremony honored the top 3 teams on the 20th. Danny and his Recruiters asked for Gatorade support again. We paid $100 and supported with manpower. See photos below of the winning team. China Boy presented the award.

 

SFA Convention 2018 – El Paso: Exploratory Committee Chair, Brian Kanof; members Bill, China Boy and Joe Kerwin JR. We will reach out to SFA 80 to assist. “Visit El Paso” attended the November meeting and we are very close to a decision. The best date for the City seems to be 11-17 June, 2018.

USASMA Reunion 2016: Al Hobbs – Chair. El Paso is hosting the reunion 14-17 July, 2016. Not an SFA project but many of our SGM members will participate. More to follow.

Chris Lewis Christmas Request: Chris asked the Chapter to send letters and Christmas packages for 50 of his deployed Soldiers. Voted to pay $200 for gift packages – VFW 812 and the 82nd also supported the project. Glen Clove school provided us with 157 hand made Christmas cards. Sendcards to SGM Christopher G. Lewis, HQ, TAAC-E, TB Gamberi, Afghanistan, APO, AE 09354

US Border Patrol Special Operations Group Law Enforcement Technology and Equipment Expo: Scheduled for 20 April 2015. The Chapter supports with manpower to unload and load equipment, manage the gate, etc. This is our top fundraiser each year.


Chapter President's Message:


Greetings all. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!! As we close the years I want to thank everyone who makes this Chapter one of the best in the world, thank you. To the Officers and those who have chaired committees, Thank you. It’s those who pick up the sword and lead the way that make my job easy. To all the members and their spouses, thank you. It takes a village to raise a child and we all know we have a bunch of children in Chapter 9, right ladies? (Just kidding).


At this time of the year, I try to recap all of the great events that this Chapter supports but we all know what those are so I won't bore you. What I will do is say, get ready for 2016. I don’t see this Chapter slowing down so keep the boots laced, and weapons at the ready. Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday to all. May 2016 bring you the wishes that you deserve.


De Oppresso Liber!


Pete Peral, President, SFA Chapter IX

Chapter Meeting Notes - 16 August 2014

Jerry Rainey Scholarship: Sam Morgan, Chair. Committee Gus, Don, Chuy and Ike. We presented 2 recipients $1000 scholarships, after this meeting (one could not attend). They are attending NMSU and UTEP. Jerry Rainey passed away in March 2007. We had the first scholarship in August that same year, so this was the 8th year of the scholarship. COL Thomas E. Munsey, Fort Bliss Garrison Commander made the presentation. Picture at right: L to R: Sam Morgan, Roxanna Valdez, Carol Rainey and COL Munsey.

9th Annual CSM(R) John McLaughlin Memorial Golf Tournament: Scheduled for Saturday 13 September 2014 at the Fort Bliss Golf Course. Wednesday, 10 September we will be packing the goodie bags at Post 812 starting around 1800. If you are volunteering for the golf tournament PLEASE make the Wednesday bag packing because we’ll be going over the assignments as well. All workers are asked to be at the Bliss golf course on the 13th at 0600 to help with the set-up.

Teamhouse Committee: Chairman = Steve Franzoni; Committee = Gus, Brian, Chuck, Tom, Tony and Chuy; the committee is listing requirements for the 2800 sqft steel building (2 bath, office & kitchen). Working on permits and need to get CEMEX to give up the land (To VFW, deeded to SFA9).

Rest and Recreation Center Fort Bliss: PTSD Soldiers still meet with Chuy every Monday from 1100 hrs to 1600 hrs in Bldg. 48 at FT Bliss. Chapter donates $200 each month for arts & crafts. Chuy announced a new class starting soon.

9-11 Celebration: VFW Post 812 will host an awards ceremony on September 11th at 1800 to honor the firefighter and policeman of the year chosen by their senior leadership. The event is open to our members with a meal afterwards. PLEASE contact Moose if you plan on attending so he has an accurate head count.

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

Christmas Party: Scheduled for Saturday, 20 December, 7 pm, at VFW 812. Joe “China Boy” Lopez will arrange the Holiday style meal and Trini Peral will do the raffles and decorations. Each Member and one guest will be no charge, any additional guest cost $10 each. Tony will provide the music.

Chapter IX Shirts, Coins, Mugs and Blazers: Shirts, Polo’s, mugs and coins are available. Coins are $10 each. Anyone needing a blazer go to this website and order: Hunter Green = from $110-$180. We 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 white dress shirts for $25.00. Ties are also available at $25.

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

Chapter Historian: Jerry Campos Historian, Committee Bill Snider and Fidencio Gonzalez. If you have historic information, pictures or memorabilia, please get it to the committee.

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

SOG EXPO 2015: Ike and Al volunteered to chair the SOG Expo Vendor golf tournament. It was a big success this year and we will repeat it.

New business: New Member Coin: Bill made a motion that all New Members receive a free Chapter Coin. 2nd by China Boy. Passed.

19th Annual Jerry Montoya/Ralph Dominguez Food Drive: Chapter needs to assemble the Committee right away. Jerry Campos will get the boxes. We need a Chair!

Announcements and Good of the Order: AUSA golf tournament will be on 10 OCT.


President's Message:

Greetings everyone. We are on short-final for the golf tournament and it looks good. We have some bugs to work out but it should be a great event. We have 27 teams and plenty of sponsors so this tournament should bring in some profit for the great things that Chapter 9 does. With that said, we are having our last meeting on the tournament on Wednesday the 8th 1800, and if you plan on helping out on the day of the tournament please try to make the Wednesday meeting. We need a lot of volunteers for the inside and outside events. Thank you to all who have secured teams and sponsors for this event.

I want to thank Sam and his committee for the hard work done to choose the two best candidates for the Jerry Rainy scholarship and also to Steve Franzoni for securing COL Munsey to be the guest speaker. I was on vacation but heard the event went very well. Next in the door is the 19th annual Ralph Dominguez/Jerry Montoya food drive. 19 years we’ve been doing this and we need a chairman to step up to the plate and take charge of this year’s event. We’ve averaged 75 boxes weighing in at around 30 pounds of food for needy families so we don’t want this to fall through the cracks. Taking responsibility of a chair position is a time consuming endeavor so if you think you can handle it, let me know. You won’t be doing it alone but you will be leading the charge.

De Oppresso Liber!

Pete Peral