United States Submarine Veterans
Mid-Atlantic Base
September Regular Meeting
September 17, 2005
Delaware Military Academy, Newport, DE
Note: The Regular meetings for the months of July and August were cancelled as in the past. The September Regular Meeting of Mid-Atlantic Base was held as a joint meeting with the Delaware Valley Chapter of the U.S. Submarine Veterans of WWII. Commandant Charles Baldwin of the Delaware Military Academy graciously provided the facilities for the event.
Commander Charlie Dauphin called the September Regular meeting to order at 1130 with 50 members and guests in attendance. Dive was sounded, and all personnel in attendance stood for the Pledge of Allegiance lead by Delaware Military Academy (DMA) Commandant Charles Baldwin.
All personnel remained standing for the invocation delivered by Chaplain Bill Galloway and the Tolling of the Boats, conducted jointly by Mid-Atlantic Base Chief of the Boat Chuck Walker and the Delmarva Chapter of the U.S. Submarine Veterans of WWII.
Commander Dauphin read the USSVI Creed and all personnel were 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 Roll of Officers and Appointees was completed. Not present were Vice Commander Roy Anstead, Chief of the Boat Ed Simpson, Past Commander Roger Reeves, Newsletter Editor Jim Harlan, Photographer John Matheus, and Trustees Jim Grilli and Bill Hadden.
Commander Dauphin delivered the Oath of Office to the incoming Officers and Trustees of the Delmarva Chapter of the U.S. Submarine Veterans of WWII (USSVWWII).
All personnel stood for the Presentation of Colors and the singing of our National Anthem by DMA cadet Ltjg Bethany Jackson.
Personnel were seated and Commander Dauphin yielded the podium to USSVWWII Delmarva Chapter President Ken Spaar for their business meeting. At the conclusion of USSVWWII business, President Spaar returned the podium to Commander Dauphin.
The reading of the minutes of the last meeting was bypassed and the minutes were accepted as published.
The Treasurer reported the starting balance for June was $3717.36. There was no income to the treasury during June. $1000.00 was disbursed from the treasury, $600.00 for contribution to the USSVI Charitable Fund, and $400.00 to the Dover Sheraton as payment for services rendered. The ending balance as of June was $2717.36.
There were no reports from the Chaplain, Storekeeper, Secretary, Chief of the Boat, Membership Chairman, Board of Directors, or Trustees.
The Commander reported that Coast Day is scheduled for October 2, 2005 in Lewes, Delaware. Volunteers are needed to help man the booth.
The Commander presented Base Webmaster Ron Olson with a Runner Up Certificate to the Class II Base Web Site of the Year award received by the base at the 2005 USSVI National Convention.
The next meeting will be held on October 15, 2005 at 1130 at the Dover Sheraton Hotel.
Chaplain Bill Galloway led the membership in a closing prayer. There being no further business, Chief of the Boat Chuck Walker sounded Surface and the meeting adjourned at 1220.
After adjourning the meeting, Commander Charlie Dauphin introduced the guest speaker, Commandant Charles Baldwin of Delaware Military Academy. Commandant Baldwin started his presentation by describing his link to the submarine community while attached to Submarine Squadron 22 in Sardinia, Italy.
The Commandant then described the event leading up to the founding of the Delaware Military Academy, the only Navy ROTC charter school in the country. He also described how the Academy, while only in its third year of operation, now has an enrollment of 510 students with another 200 on a waiting list. The school is second only to Wilmington Charter in its Delaware State Testing Program scores, has the lowest rate of disciplinary problems in the state and boasts a daily attendance of 96.7%, the highest in the state. In Commandant Baldwin's words, "Attendance is based on desire, not previous academic performance."
Following the introduction and the meal, the Commandant, assisted by two of his cadets, led the assembled members and guests on a tour of the facility.