United Patriotic Bodies
27 March 2007

Suggested deletions in red, additions in green.

Those present at meeting: Commanders: Terry Richardson, Wayne Ellefson, Jim Haukedahl, Wayne Wermager, John Lopez, Bob Long, Jan Jorgensen, David Rice, Ed Milligan, Keith Kerbaugh, Bob Hanson, Bob Jacobson and guest D.J. Malm

Meeting started at 1900. Pledge led by Commander Richardson

Minutes from last meeting. Motion made by Wayne Ellefson, seconded by Jim Haukedahl. Motion carried to accept minutes.

Veterans Memorial Bridge. Commander Kerbaugh spoke about doing a raffle. License is $35.00, file papers with the city. The city wants documentation to show we have a charter, purpose and date of origin, plus by-laws with article of organization for UPB.  They also want us to tell how long raffle is going to last. Another option is to hook up with another veterans group who has gaming then give 49% back to UPB. The Legion has a raffle permit. Commander suggests he pose question to AL, then they could just pay for city permit at $35.00, for 10 or 12 week raffle.   Raffle-for cash. Motion by Commander Lopez, seconded by Ed Milligan to move forward with raffles. Discussion- motion carried.  Moorhead VFW has raffled off television in past raised over $3,000. Committee asked for suggestions.

Bridge sign account-$15,298.30, we need $30,000 for sign. We have $5,000 by June from the Teamsters.

Treasurer report:
Regular checking account-$4,572.65
Bridge sign-$15,298.30

Guest speaker-D.J. Malm- in regards to the sign. Doug- has done wall in Bismarck, and D.J. has worked on this. There is an organization that does the black granite. The prices went up after 21 Feb. for the granite.  Melrose, black granite, 8 inch could not be installed until august- $28,000 made overseas. Includes shipping and handling from.  Cold Springs- prior to 23 June at price of $59,900. Fabricated in Cold Spring, Minnesota.  May not get in until after 4 July.

The Red River Valley Fair 23 June- veterans free. “Splash,” a musical event that D.J. would not elaborate on would be in the evening after we have done the bridge sign dedication.

Blue Angels will be at Minot, thinking we could get them specifically for Fair night for the veterans. Air National Guard- flies over for bridge dedication.

Joint press conference with UPB, Color guards, and Red River Valley Fair Association with hopes the money would start flowing in. Concert starts at 2030. Color guards presentation before concert starts, maybe do something for an hour.

Cableone will do promotional; Radio Fargo-Moorhead, McDonalds-Steve Lind will help with his marquees.  Could we get sign up by 23 June without having all money?

19 June Is RedHawks game for military appreciation. Tuesday evening, color guards, jersey auction.  Now the jerseys are $5.00 more this year. Part of the jersey collection will be used for the silent auction with more well known player’s jerseys auctioned after game. The RedHawks are willing to do raffle during the course of the game with proceeds going to bridge sign. Media sponsor-$1,500.  We buy jerseys, and then let someone else do publicity. We need approval to buy jerseys.  Ed Milligan makes motion-to buy jerseys. Seconded by Commander Kerbaugh, Motion carried to buy jerseys at over $1,500.

Need approval to put signs up whether we have the money or not. Let’s get the signs, find out cost, get a loan, and put the signs up.  Motion made by Ed Milligan, seconded by Wayne Ellefson. - get funding for signs, put them up. Let’s get them up by 4 July 2007. Motion carried.

We need to start looking at monuments to be placed on both sides of the bridge as well as the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge sign. D.J. talked to Doug about the Corian- changes in sun...etc. Bob Long suggests we look at material such as Corian, how long this lasts, quality, durable, etc. Let’s have another meeting so we can learn about material.

Honor Flight—bridge sign fund is suffering.
12 April-telethon at West Acres, WWII veterans from trip will be interviewed all morning.
22 April-Victor’s Ball Room dancing at the Venue at Playmakers. Great fun and there will be lots of his students there to help you learn if you don’t know how.
Honor flight information. 3-5 May for trip taking 101 veterans.

New Business- Memorial Day- Commander Haukedahl has gotten info out to Boy Scouts to get flags out to Riverside Cemetery. Cemetery office will provide the flags. Last year we only had three groups of 18 people to put out flags. There will be extra flags for those graves missed so no one is left out. He also wants to ask different veteran organizations to put out flags. Holy Cross is already taken care of putting flags out. Jewish cemetery is also taken care of. Commander Richardson – this is a big headache.

MAMC banquet- UPB is a sponsor of. 5 April-Thursday, Noon, 1130-registration at the Ramada Suites.  $100.00 sponsorship, get 2 tickets, need 2 representatives- Bob Long and Terry Richardson will be going.  Ed Milligan, Keith Kerbaugh, John Lopez, Jan Jorgensen, Wayne Ellefson.  Need motion to make donation- Wayne Wermager made motion, Milligan seconded. Motion carried.

Former Prisoner of War Recognition- Monday, 9 April 2007, 1900. at the fairgrounds. Run by Lyle Wells. Commanders talk to your color guards about this.

We need election of officers- department convention officers will be coming in.

President Wayne Wermager- Veterans Vietnam Week…28 April to 6 May at Fargo Air Museum.   9 day event. Special guest- Sisseton-Wahpeton will do the color guard.  Moving Vietnam Wall, Huey Helicopter, and John Hovde will be speaking. Long shot in the dark to see if we could get John McCain for the event.  Ed Schultz may be doing his national show at Air Museum. Talk to various posts to encourage folks to attend. Several schools will be coming in; we need to contact many schools. VVA #941 will be there selling pins etc.

Patriotic Guard- has been out at airport when troops come home. Large percentage of folks are veterans. Can they become associate members of the UPB, non voting? Patriotic Guard could become associate members with no voting rights. Commander Haukedahl makes motion to make them moved to include the Patriotic Guard and American Legion Riders as associate members here. Ed Milligan seconded. Motion carried.  Keith Kerbaugh will add the American Legion Riders to the American Legion family as non voting members. Patriotic Guard are offshoots of this first biking group.

Memorial Day- MC- Keith Kerbaugh, Ed Milligan- Riverside speaker, Sunset Memorial.

Lisbon Veterans Home- will probably go through, no problems

DAV convention- 27, 28 and 29th April, Grand Forks

VVA- picked up new members, 28 Feb-7 May 1975, 5 August 64- May 1975 eligible.

12 April- telethon, sell pins, need more volunteers.

MAMC- Commander Richardson has submitted names. AL has selected Bob Long.  This list needs to be updated. Harold Trimmer and Rick Olek, from AMVETS.

Next meeting-1900, 2 APRIL American Legion

Motion to adjourn-Milligan, second by Dave Rice. Passed. Meeting ended at 2015.

Secretary: Jan Jorgensen, Commander AMVETS