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FORT RUCKER CHAPTER

MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

12 December 2011

 

The meeting was called to order at 11:40 am, 12 December 2011, at The Landing, Fort Rucker.

Attendees were Scott Larese, Charlie Block, Marie Wilkins, Loel Ewart, David Miller, Ben McKee, Jim Mellish, Larry Turnage, Charlie Wigglesworth, and Lucy Fields.

Ben McKee opened the meeting with a prayer.

Old Business

Minutes of the November meeting were approved as written.

Loel Ewart presented a written Treasurer’s report showing a current balance of $15,123.69 and $954 in the Scholarship Fund. A thank-you note was received for the chapter’s contribution to Wreaths across America. The Board approved the Treasurer’s report as submitted.

Scott Larese reported that we will not get an exemption of room fees when meeting at The Landing. The Board discussed the importance of continuing to hold our meetings at The Landing as it is a central location convenient to our membership rather than finding another meeting place. The Board voted to continue to meet at The Landing for our Board of Directors monthly meetings and our chapter dinner meetings and that the room fees will be added to our 2012 budget.

New Business

Charlie Marvin, President of the Alabama Council of Chapters, will speak at our December dinner meeting, conduct the installation of the chapter officers, and present the 5-Star Chapter of Excellence streamer. Scott will ask Mary Rutkowski to provide table decorations for the meeting. Earle Thompson sent an e-mail to Board members asking for suggestions for 2012 programs. Some suggested program recommendations are: the FAA String Band, speaker Roosevelt Lewis from Tuskegee, Fort Rucker CG or Garrison Commander, and perhaps a luncheon meeting to invite Representative Martha Roby as speaker when Congress is out of session. It was suggested that an amount be added to our 2012 budget to offset any costs incurred with any particular program.

Membership is currently 206. David Miller advised that there are still approximately 30 members who have not renewed their memberships.

David Miller has volunteered to do the newsletter until a permanent editor can be found. He requested that input for the February 2012 issue be e-mailed to him NLT 9 January 2012. Charlie Block suggested using a free program called Survey Monkey to e-mail 100 of our members with 10 questions on how to improve our newsletter. One suggestion that has already been received is that some of the newspaper articles are too long.

Charlie Wigglesworth gave board members a schedule of upcoming Warrant Officer Candidate Class graduations for FY2012. It was suggested that Charlie schedule volunteers helping at the graduation ceremonies no longer than three months in advance of the ceremony.

Jim Mellish reported the recent death of CW4 Robert Marsh from Ozark. Marie Wilkins has already visited with Mrs. Marsh and offered her assistance.

Again members are encouraged to send responses to their legislators when legislative alerts are received from Charlie Block via e-mail.

Marie Wilkins reported that ROWA meets tomorrow at The Landing. The program will be a Christmas ornament exchange and tour of the on-post homes of the Fort Rucker Command Group.

Marie also reported on information learned at the most recent Retiree Council meeting. Wal-Mart will not renew their contract with TRICARE for filling prescriptions. A new system will be instituted on post whereby no vehicle registration will be required, and new ID cards will be issued that can be scanned when entering post gates. Copies of earlier Retiree Council Meeting Minutes can be found online at http://www-rucker.army.mil/imcom/rso/councilminutes.html.

Scott Larese will check with the club management to determine where in the club our 25-year and 50-year framed chapter certificates are, plus the document originally establishing the Fort Rucker Chapter of MOAA. Scott will invite a club spokesman to our next meeting to explain the new MWR policy requiring room fees.

The Board voted to finish paying off our $25,000 designated scholarship fund in an amount not to exceed $9000. The Board also voted to give$500 to ACS for the food locker or in support of Fort Rucker soldiers who have needs during the Christmas season.

There being no further business, the Board was adjourned at 12:45 pm.

Lucy Fields

Secretary