United States Submarine Veterans
Mid-Atlantic Base
January Regular Meeting
January 21, 2006
Sheraton Hotel, Dover, DE
Commander Charlie Dauphin called the January Regular meeting to order at 1135 with 37 members and guests in attendance. All personnel in attendance stood for the invocation by Chaplain Bill Galloway.
The membership remained standing as Chief of the Boat Ed Simpson led the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by Commander Dauphin reading the USSVI Creed.
The membership remained standing as Vice-Commander Roy Anstead and Chief of the Boat Chuck Walker performed the Tolling of the Boats.
The membership was seated. Recognition was given to members who are veterans of the Second World War, Korea, Vietnam, and all subsequent hostile actions including the cold war. Special recognition was given to members of the Holland Club who stood to be recognized by the membership.
The Chief of the Boat sounded Dive.
There was one member in attendance for his first meeting. Bill Parry has been a member of Mid-Atlantic Base since May of 2000 but had never attended a meeting
The reading of the minutes of the last meeting was bypassed and the minutes were accepted as published.
Vice Commander Roy Anstead reported on the progress of House Bill 248, "An Act To Amend Title 21 Relating To Motor Vehicles And Special Registration Plates". The bill was sponsored by Representative Robert J. Valihura on June 16, 2005. Despite several letters sent to various elected officials, the bill remains in the House Public Safety Committee. Any further progress through the Delaware Assembly seems unlikely.
The Treasurer reported on the status of the Annual Financial Report. The report is complete and ready for transmission to National. Mid-Atlantic Base started 2005 with a balance of $2233.55. 2005 receipts totaled 12,146.66, disbursements totaled $11,038.35, leaving a final balance of $3341.86.
There were no reports from the Chaplain, Storekeeper, Trustees, or Board of Directors.
Past Commander Reeves presented the membership report. Mid-Atlantic Base membership stands at 78. Seven members have yet to pay their 2006 dues, despite having had letters sent to them. It is likely that two or three of these will not renew their memberships.
Chief of the Boat Chuck Walker reported that Jim and Beverly Brown have not been attending meetings recently because they are caring for Jim’s mother, who has Alzheimer’s Disease.
Chuck Walker also addressed the membership on the subject of the Service Award presented to him by the base at the Christmas Party. He told the membership that in over forty years of service to our country, he had received many awards. The award given to him by the Base for "doing what I like to do" was the only award that ever left him speechless and he expressed his heart-felt appreciation to the Base.
The Commander reported that there is a growing trend of members coming to the meetings but not staying for the meal. This is perfectly acceptable, the base is always delighted when members come to meetings. In order to make serving the meal easier for the staff of the Sheraton, beginning in February there will be a separate table for folks who will not be staying for the meal after the meeting.
The Commander read the text of a card received from Jean-Marie Matheus expressing her appreciation to the members of Mid-Atlantic Base who conducted the funeral service for her late husband, John Matheus, a long-time member of Mid-Atlantic Base.
The U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II will be holding their 50th National Convention in Atlantic City from May 9th to May 12th. Members interested in attending should contact either the Commander or Chief of the Boat Chuck Walker for more information.
Applications are now being accepted for USSVI scholarships. Interested members should contact the Commander for application forms.
Mid-Atlantic Base members have been marching in the Newark Armed Forces Day Parade each year, and 2006 will be no exception. The Army National Guard Band has marched and played in every parade in recent years. Regulations prohibit the band from participating in any parade where any other Service band is participating. As this year’s parade is set to honor the Marine Corps, the Marine Corps band is scheduled to play. In previous years, other service bands have been scheduled to play, but have failed to attend. Should this happen this year, it is possible that the parade will be without a military marching band. The Armed Forces Day Committee is attempting to resolve the situation.
The Armed Forces Day Committee has another problem and is appealing to parade participants for help. The Committee obtains $9,000 in funding from the City of Newark to host the event. The bulk of activities in the event take place on Sunday, including a brunch for parade participants, a memorial service, the parade, and a post-parade reception. The committee must pay for all these activities and also for the buses for the high school bands. Last year, the committee had a budget shortfall and is asking parade participants for help. The base membership approved the donation of $200.00 to the Parade Committee.
After six years as Editor of the Newsletter, Jim Harlan has retired. The Base newsletter is an important communication tool for the base and its loss will have a detrimental effect on the base. A volunteer is desperately needed to continue Jim’s work. Jim has done all of the layout work, so continuing the project will not be very time-consuming. If there is any possible way that you can take over this vital base function, please contact the Commander as soon as possible.
The next Base Public Outreach activity is the USS Kete Memorial Ceremony at the Air Transport Command Restaurant in New Castle, Delaware at 1100 hours on Saturday March 25, 2006. The cost is tentatively set at $20.00 per person and will be collected at the door. More information will follow, so mark your calendars for this event now.
The next Regular Meeting will be held on Saturday, February 18, 2006 at 1130 hours at the Dover Sheraton Hotel.
Under New Business, Chaplain Bill Galloway reported on a meeting with Commandant Charles Baldwin of the Delaware Military Academy. The Academy provided the facilities for the first joint meeting between Mid-Atlantic Base and the Delaware Valley Chapter of U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II. The Academy also provides cadets for our Color Guard for the Newark Armed Forces Day Parade and Memorial Ceremonies.
The Academy is a Charter High School affiliated with the Navy ROTC program. It boasts a 96% attendance rate with no discipline problems. Of the 70 cadets in the 2006 graduating class, colleges or the military have already accepted 68. Three cadets have been accepted by service academies, two by Annapolis and one by the Merchant Marine Academy.
During the meeting, the Base presented the Commandant with a check in the amount of $2,000.00 to be used for two $1,000 scholarships, one for a man and one for a woman. Chaplain Galloway proposed that the Base commit to providing $2,000.00 each year to continue funding these scholarships. The proposal was seconded and overwhelmingly approved.
Chief of the Boat Ed Simpson reported on the CSS H.L. Hunley. Hunley became first submarine ever to launch a successful attack on a ship when it sank the USS Housatonic on February 17, 1864. The submarine was lost after completing its mission. It was finally located on May 3rd, 1995. Following extensive preliminary work, the H.L. Hunley was raised on August 8th, 2000 and taken to a conservation facility at the former Charleston Naval Base.
The Friends of the Hunley have a travelling exhibit that describes the history of the Hunley. The exhibit features a full-size model of the Hunley. Chaplain Galloway will be contacting Commandant Baldwin of the Delaware Military Academy about bringing the exhibit to DMA.
Membership Chairman Roger Reeves reported that a bill was introduced in the Delaware State House of Representatives to give the Delaware Commission on Veterans Affairs oversight of the new Delaware Veterans Home under construction in Milford. Consisting of 15 members appointed by the Governor, each for a 4-year term, the Commission provides assistance to Delaware's veterans, their spouses and dependent children. Mid-Atlantic Base does not have a member on the Commission.
Under Old Business, base member Charlie Cooper was presented with his Senior Submariner Certificate. The remaining members eligible for the certificate received theirs during the Christmas Party, which Charlie was unable to attend.
There being no further business, the Chief of the Boat sounded Surface and the meeting adjourned at 1230.
After adjournment, the Commander introduced Jim Werner, Director of Delaware’s Air and Waste Management Division. Mr. Werner described his experiences working for the Department of Energy and with the Paldiski Environmental Review Group. He presented a series of photographs illustrating the disposal of submarine reactor compartments and stabilization efforts at a former Soviet submarine training facility in the Balkans.