United Patriotic Bodies Meeting
28 Jan 08

Minutes

Present: Terry Richardson - Commander, Mitch Campbell, Wayne Ellefson, Bob Jacobson, Ron Matthews, Ed Milligan, Larry Nicholson, Jim Schlenker, Wayne Wermager

Meeting called to order at 1900 by Terry Richardson, Commander.

Attendees stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

Commander Richardson called for any additions to the agenda. Larry Nicholson – Vietnam Week at the Fargo Air Museum and July 4th events, Ed Milligan – interior decorating at the VA.

The minutes of the 22 Oct 2007 meeting were e-mailed to members and distributed at the meeting. Minutes were amended to correct the spelling of Jim Schlenker’s last name. Wayne Ellefson made a motion to approve the amended minutes, Bob Jacobson seconded. Motion passed by a unanimous vote.

Bob Long, Treasurer was absent from the meeting but e-mailed his Treasurer’s report to Commander Richardson. The Commander read the financial report and stated there is $19,000 left to be paid on the Veterans Memorial Bridge signs. Reimbursement to Commander Richardson for the Veterans Day flower arrangement for the bridge ceremony was tabled until the next meeting. No other discussion on the Treasurer report. Bob Jacobson made a motion to approve the Treasurer Report as written, Jim Schlenker seconded. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Old Business:
Veterans Memorial Bridge – Commander Richardson stated the Veterans Memorial Bridge signs will be delivered by mid-April and are scheduled for late-April installation. The members anticipate the signs will be completed for a Memorial Day dedication. The city of Moorhead has taken care of all permits and the bond necessary to complete the project. $7,500 is coming from the city of Moorhead for the project. Ron Matthews stated the Red River of the North sign on the Moorhead side is loose. The city of Moorhead will take care of the problem. Ed Milligan discussed the idea of acquiring a military aircraft to be mounted and installed on the Fargo end of the bridge. Bonanzaville has one we may be able to get. It would take a little maintenance to make it ready for installation. Wayne Wermager stated he will support any member majority decision concerning this idea but expressed opposition to it. He said so many North Dakota communities have an aircraft on display in city parks. The idea has become overdone. Secondly, Wayne W. believes the aircraft would take attention away from the attractiveness of the bridge itself. The topic was tabled for a future meeting. The members discussed the details of a Memorial Day bridge dedication. The topic was tabled for a future meeting.

Honorflight IV – Honorflight IV will depart Fargo on 02 May 08 and return on 03 May 08. This will be the final Honorflight from Fargo. Ed Milligan stated our veteran organizations have not gotten appropriate attention for this project when compared to WDAY. The Commander stated $50,000 to $60,000 remains to be raised for the next flight. Larry Nicholson suggested a pancake feed like the DAV sponsored recently.

Veterans Day 2007 Recap – UPB lost their permit for the parade and audio problems in the Fargo Civic Auditorium were issues to be resolved for next year. Audio essentially did not work at all. It was unfortunate the Fargo City Mayor, the United States Congressman from North Dakota, and the keynote speaker were not heard very well and in some cases not at all by ceremony attendees.

Computer Classes – Randy Johnson with Minnesota State Community and Technical College remains willing to teach beginner and advanced computer classes at veterans clubs or at the college free of charge. The Commander stated there has not been much interest thus far. He suggested we promote this opportunity again at our respective post meetings.

New Business:
Bugler Services Available – Alex Davis has volunteered bugler services to local veteran organizations. Alex lives near the Fargo American Legion and will work with any veteran organization free of charge. She can be reached at 219-4874. Alex is blind but gets around town well. She participated in the Veterans Day 2007 parade. The Commander suggested if we use her services we should pay her a stipend similar to what color guard participants are paid.

Memorial Day Ceremonies – Memorial Day is 26 May 08. We need a Master of Ceremonies, Speaker, and Chaplain. Wayne Ellefson said Pastor Tony Schevang with one of the Baptist Churches in Fargo expressed interest in speaking at veteran events. The members decided to ask the VA Chaplain to do prayers, Pastor Schevang to be the speaker, and Alex Davis to be the bugler. Larry Nicholson said he would talk to Doug Hamilton at Minnesota State University-Moorhead about being the Master of Ceremonies.

Vietnam Week at the Fargo Air Museum – The dates for Vietnam Week are not firm but could be as early as the beginning of April and last the entire month. Larry – Moorhead V V A Commander and Wayne W. Fargo V V A Commander agree the Fargo Air Museum Director is very difficult to find and work with. Discussion focused on possibly contacting the museum board chair for information and assistance. It was suggested the UPB have a table at the Vietnam week event. Larry said Joe Galloway, the author of We Were Soldiers will be a speaker at the event.

July 4th – Larry talked about the parade in Moorhead. The parade forms up at 1215 and starts at 1245. Members talked about a picnic in the park on the Moorhead side near the Veterans Memorial Bridge. 1000 was suggested as a picnic start time but seems too early. The idea was tabled for a future meeting.

Veterans Night at the FM Redhawks – Megan stated there would be no free tickets this year. They could discount tickets for veterans. They would participate with the jersey auction as in the past. The members felt too many complimentary tickets were unused in the past and might be the reason the free ticket offer is being revoked.

Interior Design at the VA – Ed Milligan explained project to upgrade the looks of VA patient areas. The cost to complete the upgrade would be approximately $2,500 per room. Ed said he is going to contribute to this project as a memorial to his wife. The VA will match a portion of the project funding. Ed said a more home-like room may be comforting to hospitalized veterans nearing the end of their lives. He suggested the money could be used for comfortable recliners in the room for family members wanting to stay long hours near their veteran loved one.

No other new business was on the agenda.

Round Table – Mitch Campbell suggested we deliberately contact the Fargo Air Museum board of directors to establish two way communications on veteran oriented projects we may want to assist with. Larry mentioned a picnic for veterans at the Fargo Air Museum on 14 May 08. The event is free and hosted by West Funeral Home. There was some concern about attending an event sponsored by a commercial business. Wayne E. mentioned Bill West is a Vietnam veteran. The Commander suggested we donate small flags for the event.

No other business was conducted.

The next UPB meeting is scheduled for 24 March 08 at the Moorhead VFW at 1900.

The Commander called for a motion to adjourn. Ed Milligan made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Larry Nicholson seconded. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

The meeting adjourned at 2001.

Respectfully Submitted,
Wayne Wermager, Chapter #941 President
Vietnam Veterans of America
Fargo, North Dakota