United States Submarine Veterans
Mid-Atlantic Base
October Regular Meeting
October 15, 2005
Sheraton Hotel, Dover, DE
Commander Charlie Dauphin called the October Regular meeting to order at 1135 with 24 members and guests in attendance. All personnel in attendance stood for the invocation by Base 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.
The Roll of Officers and Appointees was completed. Not present were Newsletter Editor Jim Harlan, Base Storekeeper Phil Puschel, Base Photographer John Matheus, and Trustees Jim Grilli and Bill Hadden, and Bill Kraus.
There were no members in attendance for their first meeting. There were no new guests in attendance.
The reading of the minutes of the last meeting was bypassed and the minutes were accepted as published.
There were no reports from the Vice-Commander, Chaplain, Storekeeper, Chief of the Boat, Trustees, or Board of Directors.
Past Commander Reeves presented the membership report. The newest member of Mid-Atlantic Base is Jaclyn Stewart of the Independence Seaport Museum. The addition of Ms. Stewart as an Associate Member brings our membership total to 78. Two members have moved out of Delaware. Howard McElroy has moved to West Virginia but intends to renew his membership for 2006. Bill Nisbet is moving to Florida and has yet to decide whether or not to renew his membership for 2006 or to transfer to a local base.
Membership renewals for 2006 have begun. Annual dues for Mid-Atlantic Base remain at $10.00. Annual national USSVI dues are $20.00.
The Treasurer distributed the financial report for September. The Treasury started at $2717.36. There were $1102.40 in receipts and $774.83 in expenditures for the month, leaving an ending balance of $3044.93.
The Commander presented a report on Coast Day 2005. He recognized the people who attended the event, the most successful for Mid-Atlantic Base to date. The Officers of Mid-Atlantic Base extend their sincere appreciation to the following people who attended:
Don Boyle; Charlie, Sheila, and Connor Cooper; Charlie Dauphin; Skip and Susan Lemieux; Ron Miller; Ray Musciano and Carol Mooney; Ron Olson; Phil Puschel; Roger Reeves; Chuck Walker and his granddaughter Theresa, and Buck and Betty Warner, along with one of their daughters.
The Commander reported on two Veteran's Day (Friday, November 11) ceremonies. Sussex County will be holding its annual ceremony in Georgetown again this year, and the State of Delaware will be holding its annual ceremony at War Memorial Plaza, New Castle, DE (across from the Delaware Memorial Bridge) commencing at 1030 hours. A luncheon in Newark is scheduled to follow. Interested members should contact the Commander for more information.
The Commander recognized Past Commander Roger Reeves for his outstanding work in getting a $1000.00 donation from Wal-Mart.
The Secretary reported the Commandant Baldwin of the Delaware Military Academy (DMA) has agreed to produce medals to be given to his cadets, provided Mid-Atlantic Base provides funding. Design and production of the medals will be performed by DMA with oversight by Mid-Atlantic Base. The membership approved a donation of $500.00 to DMA. Commander Dauphin will interface with Commandant Baldwin and report progress at a future meeting. After the membership approved the donation, Chief of the Boat Chuck Walker and Chaplain Bill Galloway pledged $500.00 each to match the contribution.
The Commander recognized Past Commander Roger Reeves, who reported on another request for donation, this time from the Korean War Veterans Association. The Association has received a commitment from the City of Georgetown, Delaware for the placement, maintenance, and lighting of a memorial to Sussex County veterans who made the Ultimate Sacrifice while serving in Korea. The memorial is scheduled to be dedicated on Memorial Day, 2006. The base membership approved a donation of $300.00 to the memorial. Past Commander Roger Reeves will handle getting the donation to the Association.
The Sixth Annual Mid-Atlantic Base Holiday Social will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2005 at 1130 hours. Vice-Commander Roy Anstead will be in charge of the gift/door prizes this year. Past Commander Roger Reeves will handle producing the Gift Letters and will send a copy to Newsletter Editor Jim Harlan for inclusion in the newsletter. Anita Dauphin will be taking care of the corsages for the ladies attending.
The next meeting will be held on November 19, 2005 at 1130 hours at the Dover Sheraton Hotel.
Chaplain Bill Galloway led the membership in a closing prayer. There being no further business, the Chief of the Boat sounded Surface and the meeting adjourned at 1210.
After adjournment, the Commander held an open discussion among the assembled members about Officer succession. The Base Officer ranks have remained essentially unchanged since the base was sanctioned five years ago, and new blood is needed to fill leadership roles. Vice Commander Roy Anstead has stated that he does not intend to become Commander when his term expires. Commander Charlie Dauphin stated that he will not accept another term as Commander. As Mid-Atlantic Base is a volunteer organization, officer responsibilities cannot be appointed, people must be willing to step up and accept responsibility.