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Washington Chapter, VHPA
Saturday, Sep. 13, 2008
Meeting Minutes, 3rd Quarter
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
Meeting at, Museum, WA.
Veterans Museum in Chehalis,
WA. 110 SW Veterans Way
Subject: Minutes of
business meeting and other notes of interest.
Opening of the meeting:
- Chapter president, Paul Fleming opened the meeting at
10:30 AM and asked everyone to put their name beside a unit in the book from
the museum. Paul asked that any of us who have any items we might like to
give the museum, please send it to them, items they don’t need they can send
back to you.
- Old Business: Doug Decker read the minutes from June
14 meeting.
a.
Paul reported 142 current members on the last group email.
b. The
McChord Air Show was held after the last meeting and Paul met a few guys who
didn’t know about our chapter. We did have a table coordinated by Paul at the
McChord air show and was manned by several members. Some photos are on the web
site.
c.
Paul asked Bob Brown to update us on the book drive for the VA hospitals.
Bob created a new stamp for the books. He asked if Bill Vaughn could put a
number on the web site to keep track of this. The chapter scribe, received a
letter from the VA American Lake thanking us for the 33 paperback books given so
far. More books were stamped today to take to the VA hospital.
d.
Update on name of man who is willing to give property in Alabama to VHPA
national. John M. “Mike” St.John who was at the meeting today. (Note: Doug
called Jack Salm to update him for this contact. Jack said he has already
replied, he will follow up again.)
New Business:
- A discussion was started, and then decided, to arrange
for us to meet at the Special Forces Picnic for the next summer meeting and
adjust our usual meet at the Olympia museum. Maybe we can drag the Huey from
the Warbird museum to the picnic in August.
- Paul said this museum has the opportunity to receive a
Huey, possibly a second one and an F4 Phantom to be mounted in a special
way, painted and set up from the events of a special situation, so history
could be written about it. The idea is to make something unique and asked if
we would like to be a part of this long-term event. We would be joining with
the museum. Ideas and discussion followed in a positive manner and to get
others involved. Paul said he would tell the museum that we are interested.
Fund raising is the next issue for this project. Paul will put this info out
to our members and others about this project to see who can help make this
happen. One member said he has access to salmon and these could be donated
and cook them for a donation by others in a picnic situation. The story that
Paul has that we can get this Huey that is to be decommissioned. The museum
is looking for manpower and dollars to help in this project.
- Bob Brown told of his high impression of the returning
of a Cav troop from Iraq and how well they were treated. We would be right
at home wearing a Cav Hat at an event like this. Cav hats can be purchased
at Renton Western Wear, a discount can be had by contacting Gina at the
Tacoma store on Tacoma Mall Blvd. Expect a 4% discount to VHPA members.
a.
Following with this Paul mentioned having a picnic with some of the units
returning after a tour in a current war zone, after they have all returned and
settled down. Something to think about for a future time, & doing it off post.
- Paul said he would scan the info provided by Pat to
put on our web site and send to us for the parade. Pat Staeheli read an
article about the Auburn Veterans Day
parade November 8, Saturday
that will be honoring the Viet Nam Veterans of America this year.
Pat Staeheli said we should wear our black windbreaker jackets. You can
contact Pat_
pgstaeheli@yahoo.com the jackets are $35. Pat is our current “PX
officer” and brought some items for sale today. Pat also thanked Bill Vaughn
for his work on the web site and putting in the extra time to add the photos
etc about the parade and other events. Thanks Bill, great work.
- Paul and Pat will coordinate for the Huey at the
Olympic Warbird Museum to tow. Some discussion followed about building a
trailer to tow it forward instead of backwards and put on rotor blades.
Nothing decided.
- Mike Brown mentioned a friend and fellow VN helicopter
pilot, passed away last night. He was not a member of our chapter. Ernest
‘Rick’ Rickenbacker, a Blue Max pilot. After action report: A copy of his
obituary and personal info about “Rick” follows in this report. “Ernest
Rickenbacker was a descendant of the famous WWI aviator Eddie Rickenbacker.
He was assigned to F Battery, 79th Artillery, 3rd Brigade (Sep), 1st Cavalry
Division (Airmobile) in 1971.
Other event notes of interest: See photos posted on our web
site.
(Only Current & New Business will be read at
the meetings.
Ongoing notes:
- Visit & use the organization web site for photos,
notices and send in your story.
www.vhpawa.org
16 members and 2 guests attended (wives of members). New members:
0
18 total on record.
WA Chapter, Secretary,
Doug Decker _date/time: 9/14/2008 8:29 PM.
E-mail:
dougdecker1@comcast.net
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