KOREAN WAR VETERAN S ASSOCIATION DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA

KOREAN WAR VETERAN S ASSOCIATION DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA Minutes of Executive Council Meeting 25 January 2014 Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs 350 South Northlake Blvd. Altamonte Springs, Florida 32701 PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS: The colors were presented and posted by an honor guard from Chapter 173. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG: The membership was led in the pledge of allegiance to our flag by DOF Sergeant at Arms, Mickey Tutolo. CALL TO ORDER: Meeting was called to order by DOF President Bob Hebner at 10:30 am. OPENING PRAYER: The opening prayer was conducted by DOF Chaplain Harold E. Sievers. WELCOME: President Bob Hebner welcomed the Executive Council membership and guest. ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: DOF Secretary Charles Chuck Husbands Executive Board Six Members Present Appointed Officers/Staff Seven Members Present Chapters 13 Chapters Represented REPORT OF QUORUM: A quorum was reported by Secretary Chuck Husbands. (3 Officers and 8 Chapters are required for a quorum) INTRODUCTION OF THE DOF OFFICERS: President Bob Hebner introduced the Department of Florida Officers on the Dias, and personally thanked the Honor Guard from Chapter 173 for their participation in our meeting. REPORTS: 1. Financial Report: Joan Arcand, DoF Treasurer, provided for informational purposes, the end of the year 2013 financial report on the Department of Florida. The $2.00/person fee for each Chapter Member was reinstated in 2013 with payment due on 1 January 2014. She indicated that five chapters had submitted their Annual Assessment Fee by the close of 2013. It was requested that the other chapters submit their annual assessment, as early as possible, as the current operating funds are at a very low point. In 1

finishing her remarks Joan indicated that she will not be seeking reelection as the Treasurer for the KWVA Department of Florida. 2. Correspondence Report: The KWVA DOF Secretary indicated that there are currently no outstanding correspondences to report at this time. The minutes for the Executive Board Meeting and the Executive Council Meeting held in September was submitted to the membership, for their inspection, in their packets. A motion was made to approve the Minutes of both the Executive Board Meeting and Executive Council Meetings on 28 th September 2013 as written. The motion was made by Donald Van Beck and seconded by Mickey Tutolo. The membership unanimously approved the motion to accept the minutes as written. 3. Chaplain s Report: Chaplain Seivers provided a list of activities in which he had participated, in his capacity as DOF Chaplain, during the last reporting period. Harold indicated that after the Convention he will step down as the Chaplain for the Department of Florida. Harold has been serving as DoF Chaplain for the last 10 years. 4. National/DoF Liaison Report: Jack Feaster the Assistant Secretary for the KWVA and the DoF Liaison with National provided a brief report on the current status of membership in the DOF Chapters. He indicated that there are a large number of Inactive Members, on the Department of Florida roles. This includes Life Members. The Department has not been able to reach these people as they do not respond to status requests. Jake asked that each of the Chapter Presidents examine the DOF Database and see if they have Members who have been placed on inactive status and make an effort toward either reinstating them or removing them from the roles. The DOF database indicates there are 702 active members in the State of Florida. He also indicated that 8 Chapters are listed as non complaint and are operating with some level of deficiency. These deficiencies include election dates not posted or officers missing from the roster. Jake encourages each chapter to examine the DOF database on a regular basis to make sure the information is current and correct. 6. DOF Judge Advocate Report: Jim Bradford, the DoF Judge Advocate presented a revised set of Bylaws. These were distributed to the Chapter Presidents in attendance. The DoF Secretary was request to send copies of the revised Bylaws to the Chapter Presidents not present. These revised Bylaws will be presented for approval at the May Convention. No changes in content will be accepted from the Convention floor and it will be an up or down vote. Jim Bradford also indicated that in the current bylaws the seat filled by the 2 nd Vice President (due to a resignation) cannot be left vacant. He proposed moving the existing DoF 3 rd Vice President (Maxine Parker) to the 2 nd Vice Presidents position leaving the 2

3 rd Vice Presidents position vacant. The motion was moved by Jim Bradford and seconded by Tom Thiel. Maxine Parker indicated she would accept the new position and the membership unanimously approved the motion. 7. DOF Newsletter/Website Report: Tom Thiel requested that more Chapter information is necessary for the DOF Newsletter. He has been also working on the History of the Department of Florida and has boiled down the contents of 3 large boxes to the size of half a box. At the conclusion of his remarks Tom indicated that he will be resigning his positions as DOF Newsletter Editor, Website Guru and DoF Historian after the May Convention. 8. American/Korean Liaison: Eddie Ko the DOF American/Korean Liaison provided a short presentation on the current state of the political conflict between North and South Korea. Eddie has been successful in tracking down a source of the Coffee Table Book Korean Reborn. This is a beautifully prepared book on the Korean War and the wonderful development of the Nation of South Korea since the end of the War. Eddie has already provided a number of DoF Chapters with allocations of this book and requested Chapters who do not yet have the books contact him. 9. National Secretary s Report: Frank Cohee the National KWVA Secretary reported on the upcoming National KWVA elections. The resumes of the candidates for National Office are currently posted on the National Website. He indicated that we can expect to see some changes in the National Bylaws. There are still concerns about the status of the KWVA with the IRS as a 501 (c) corporation but this item is being worked. A question was raised about the status of taking in Korean Service Medal candidates as the tone of the Website and the application forms has been modified in recent months. The advice received was to encourage Korean Service Medal candidates to join the KWVA and the National Organization will worry about any subsequent problems. The Korean Peace Medals are currently out of stock but can be ordered through the Korean Council in Atlanta, Georgia. Richard Arcand will send out an email indicating how Chapters can obtain these Peace Medals. Frank also indicated that Past DOF President Bill McCraney and his wife Laurie recently moved to Lakeland, Florida. In addition the Past DOF President Bob Balzer is very ill and could use our prayers. 3

OLD BUSINESS 1. Review of Recent DOF Topics: DOF 1st Vice President Bob McGuire spoke to a series of topics that have occurred since our September 2013 Executive Council Meeting. Bob started off thanking Hank Butler for all of his hard work as 2 nd Vice President of the DoF. Hank resigned his position in December, but has maintained his leadership role as President in his local KWVA Chapter. Bob went on to describe the Convention Booklet being prepared for the Convention. As the budget of the DoF is in such serious condition, any income derived from the sale of advertisements in the Convention Booklet, after expenses, will be used to bolster the DoF Statement. In closing Bob McGuire encouraged the recruitment of Veterans who have served in Korea and earned the Korean Service Medal. These recruits are necessary to support the thinning ranks of the aging Korean War Veterans. 2. Outcome of September 2013 Meeting Survey: An overview of the survey forms completed at the KWVA Convention in September was presented by the DOF Secretary Chuck Husbands. A consistent complaint was that the meeting hall was too cold. Those who stayed at the hotel reported they were satisfied with the rooms and service. Another complaint was that some of the speakers reporting on Chapter Activities rambled on for too long. A copy of these survey summaries is available from the DOF Secretary. NEW BUSINESS 1. Call for Proposals for the 2014/2015 Meeting Sites: DOF President Bob Hebner put out an appeal for suggestions of meeting sites for the September 2014 Council Meeting, the January 2015 Council Meeting and the Convention Site for 2015. Joan Arcand indicated that she had been working with Dan Rathbun and the Brevard County KWVA Chapter 210 for a September 2014 Council meeting at Merritt Island, Florida. The date September 20 th has been reserved at the Merritt Island Veterans Center. Wally Jones proposed that the members present select the Merritt Island Veterans Center Site for our September Council Meeting Site. Charlie First seconded the motion and the motion passed by a unanimous vote. 2. 2014 Convention Overview: Bob Hebner the DoF President described the plans for the 2014 KWVA Convention. The Convention will be held on Saturday May 23 rd and Friday 24 th 2014 at the Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs in Altamonte Springs, Florida. On Friday May 23 rd the Executive Council Meeting will be held from 1:30 AM to 4 PM. On Saturday May 24 th the General Membership Meeting will take place from 10:30 AM to 4:00 4

PM. A Memorial Service will be held for all of the KWVA Veterans, which have died during this last year, at 4:15 PM. A Reception, featuring a cash bar, will start at 6:00 PM. The Convention Banquet Program will start at 7:00 PM. 3. DOF Nominations Committee/Elections Chairman: Eddie Ko had been appointed as Chairman of the DoF Nominations Committee at the September 2013 meeting. This committee has been tasked with selecting a slate of candidates to be nominated as DOF Officers for 2014 2015. The nomination committee selected consisted of Wallace Wally Jones of Chapter 169, Anthony Tony Polemeni of Chapter 189, and Eddie Ko Chapter 175. Eddie requested candidate applications for all offices get their resumes to him by the 6 th of March. 4. Chapter Reports: Each of the Presidents of the Chapters in the Department of Florida, present at the meeting, provided a short (5 minute) report on the activities of their Chapter over the last reporting period. The following Chapters submitted reports: Chapter 014, Chapter 158, Chapter 169, Chapter 173, Chapter 175, Chapter 189, Chapter 192, Chapter 199, Chapter 200 and Chapter 210. 5. DOF Fundraiser: DOF 3 rd Vice President Maxine Parker was appointed to establishing new fundraising concepts by the DOF President. At the January meeting she conducted a very effective multiple basket drawing. Eight separate items had been donated by Chapters and Members for the drawing. The drawing was a great success and eight lucky contributors went away with various items from the drawing. The proceeds of the drawing going to the DoF Treasury. 6. Request for Extending Chapter Assignments to Associate Members: Many of the Chapters have had trouble filling positions in their Executive Committees. In many cases Associate Members have stepped up to assume these positions but this policy is forbidden by the DoF and National Bylaws. On several previous occasions this problem has been brought before the DoF Council but no action has resulted. After some discussion Wally Jones, President of Chapter 169 President, presented a bylaw proposal to be transmitted to the KWVA National Board that would permit Associate Members to assume responsibility for a number of Chapter Offices. After some discussion Jim Bradford moved that the proposed bylaw changes be forward to the National Board. The motion was seconded by Maxine Parker. A vote was taken and the motion was passed by the Council with a unanimous vote. 5

GOOD AND WELFARE OF THE ORDER 1. Request for Meeting Survey: Chuck Husbands requested that the members fill out the meeting survey sheets found in their folders. These surveys will allow the Executive Council to make future meetings more comfortable and informative for the membership. 2. Closing Ceremony: The closing ceremony was conducted by the DOF President Bob Hebner and the DOB Sergeant at Arms Mickey Tutolo. BENEDICTION: DOF Chaplain, Harold Sievers SALUTE TO COLORS: President, Bob Hebner, Mickey Tutolo and Chapter 173 Honor Guard. ADJOURNMENT: A motion for adjournment was made by Jim Bradford and seconded by Richard Arcand. The motion was passed unanimously by the membership and the meeting was adjourned by President Bob Hebner at 3:30 PM Respectfully Submitted, Charles R. Husbands Charles Chuck Husbands KWVA DOF Secretary 6