Vietnam Veterans of America
Fargo-Moorhead Chapter 941
www.tristateveterans.com/fargovva

MINUTES


CALL TO ORDER
14 MEMBERS PRESENT
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
MOMENT OF SILENCE

TREASURER REPORT: READ AND APPROVED
SECRETARY REPORT: READ AND APPROVED
MEMBERSHIP REPORT: READ AND APPROVED
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR RUSS REPORTS THAT PRESENTLY OUR CHAPTER HAS 72 MEMBERS. THIS NUMBER MAY VARY DUE TO NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS SOMETIMES HAS PAPERWORK SNAFU'S.

OLD BUSINESS:
OUR CHAPTER COLOR GUARD HAS BEEN ATTENDING VARIOUS FUNCTIONS. ALSO REMEMBER THAT ANY CHAPTER MEMBER CAN ATTEND VARIOUS FUNCTIONS. ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO NECESSARILY HAVE THE CAMO UNIFORM ON TO GIVE SUPPORT TO AND WELCOME HOME TROOPS, OR, ATTEND OTHER FUNCTIONS. WE WANT NUMBERS, NOT FLASH !!!!

PRESIDENT WAYNE HAS CONVERSED WITH MR. FRANK ANDERSON, HEAD OF AMERICAN LEGION COLOR GUARD IN MOORHEAD. MR. ANDERSON STATES THAT MOST OF THE LEGION COLOR GUARD ON THE MINNESOTA SIDE ARE COMPRISED OF OLDER VETERANS, AND THEREFORE CANNOT DO AS MUCH AS THEY WOULD LIKE. PRESIDENT WERMAGER STATED THAT THERE SHOULD BE TEAMWORK DONE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER THAT WOULD BENEFIT ALL. PRESIDENT WERMAGER ALSO STATES THAT HE WILL CONVERSE WITH THE VFW IN MOORHEAD.

LARRY NICHOLSON STATES THAT MANY YOUNGER VETERANS RETURNING TO THE AREA, ARE NOT GETTING INVOLVED IN THE ORGANIZATIONS. THIS IS AN ONGOING CONCERN PRETTY MUCH ALL OVER.

POSSIBLE DATES FOR THE 5K WALK/RUN WERE TOSSED OUT. THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE RESEARCH DONE ON DATES AND TIMES SO THAT MANY WILL WANT TO PARTICIPATE.

JIM HAUKEDAUL AND/ OR JACK BARROWS, FROM THE VA VOLUNTEER SERVICES, ARE GOING TO BE AT SOME MEETING SOON TO EXPLAIN FURTHER ABOUT VOLUNTEERING AT THE VA.

LESLIE LEWIS STATED THAT HER HUSBAND HAD A GREAT TIME AT THE MEET AND GREET AT OUR KELLY INN IN FARGO ON 28 DECEMBER, 2009. OUR THANKS GO OUT TO HER AS SHE PICKED UP THE TAB FOR ALL THAT ATTENDED.

THE PRESENTATION DATES FOR THE HONORARY MEMBERSHIPS WILL HOPEFULLY BE IN FEBRUARY.

NEW BUSINESS:
AT OUR NEXT MEETING ON 15 FEB., 2010, PLEASE HAVE IN MIND A NAME OR NAMES THAT WOULD BEFIT OUR CHAPTER AND THE LARGE EXPANSE OF TERRITORY THAT WE ARE STARTING TO COVER. REMEMBER, WE ARE COVERING A LARGE PART OF WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA AT THIS TIME ALSO.

LARRY N. AND RUSS S. WILL WORK TOGETHER TO FIND OUT WHEN ANY VVA MEMBERS, OR, AVVA MEMBERS ARE HOSPITALIZED, AND GET CARDS AND/OR VISITS SET UP.

PLACING OF SMALL FLAGS OR SERVICE CONNECTED EMBLEMS IN OBITS WAS DISCUSSED. AT THE TIME OF PLACEMENT OF THE OBIT, THE FAMILY HAS TO REQUEST SUCH AN ITEM BE PLACED THERE.

THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG IN SCHOOLS, MOSTLY THE LACK OF, WAS DISCUSSED. DAVE RICE STATES THAT ANOTHER ORGANIZATION HE BELONGS TO, THE 40 AND 8, PLACES FLAGS WITH 1ST GRADERS, AND EXPLAINS TO THEM THE MEANING OF THE FLAG AND PATRIOTISM

6 MARCH, 2010, IS THE ANNUAL R.O.S.S. EVENT TO BE HELD AT THE WEST FARGO VFW.

20 MAY, 2010 IS THE FUNCTION AT BONANZAVILLE. YOURS TRULY WAS THERE LAST YEAR FOR GREAT FOOD, GREAT FELLOWSHIP, AND A GREAT PROGRAM.

MEMORIAL DAY IS ADVANCING UPON US.

25 JUNE, 2010, IS THE LEGION CONVENTION IN FARGO.

4TH OF JULY

MORE INFO WILL BE FORTHCOMING ON ALL THESE FUTURE EVENTS.

HOMETOWN PARADES, WITHIN AN ACCEPTABLE DISTANCE, AND DATE ARE SOMETHING TO BE THOUGHT ABOUT. EXPOSURE AND POSSIBLY MORE MEMBERS !!!!

NEXT MEETING, 15 FEB 10

SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER !!!!!!!!!!!

PREPARED AND SENT THIS 25TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2010
SECRETARY
RONN DURAND