Meeting called to order at 3:01PM: Total present: 73 (66 members and 7 guests)
Guests: Katy Vickers and several members of the Quilts of Valor briefed the membership that 197 quilts were made from Greg (Ebay) Hansen memorial funds. Those funds have now been depleted. 486 quilts have been made over the past four years and presented to Wounded Warriors. Additional funds are needed. The discussion of any donation was addressed under New Business.
Melinda McDonough, wife of ALR 136 member, Dennis McDonough, donated a beautiful quilt to the ALR in appreciation for our attendance at a family member’s funeral and to raise money and continue our cause. We will find an appropriate time to auction the quilt during a future fundraiser. Our thanks go out to Melinda and Dennis and their family for their generous contribution.
Betty Jean Pulliam, Gold Star Mother, thanked all those who were present at the Honor and Remember Flag Ceremony at Fort Leavenworth. Betty displayed the flag and explained each color’s meaning.
New Members: Nathaniel Bush, Robert Clasen, Irona Cliver, David Crone, Jerry Elscott, Douglas Grant, Gail Hacker, Russell Wallace, and Phillip Wellemeyer
Minutes: Motion to suspend reading of June minutes. Motion carried. Minutes posted.
Financial Report: Monika Barshney read the financial report; accepted as written.
Veteran’s Coordinator Corner: Ron Vangas advised the next VA Banana Run will be August 15.
Commander’s Corner:
· Dan Benson advised volunteers were needed for Old Settler’s Day. Planning meeting will take place Wednesday, July 21, at 7:00PM, at the Post. Ben Roloff and Jerry Allen will coordinate Rider involvement.
· August Legion meeting moved to Monday, August 9, at 7:00PM.
Co-Director’s Corner:
· Greg Bauer read a thank you card from Kaye Watkins (VA) for ALR member Don Carey’s bicycle donation for the homeless. Letter received from the Honor Flight thanking us for our $500.00 donation to sponsor Benjamin Brooks. Shanda Vangas donated $40.00 to the ALR on behalf of her father, Ron Vangas.
Director’s Corner and Old Business:
· Sherry Evans briefed the membership on our support of the Gold Star Families’ float for the Wichita Veterans Day parade. Dan Benson volunteered his truck and trailer. Rick Babinger advised the Post has a Soldiers Cross that can be used on the float. Charlie Nguyen volunteered to be in uniform and guard the Soldiers Cross. Skirting, banners, flags, etc, being worked. Motion made to obligate up to $100.00 for costs. Motion carried.
· Doug Lehman reminded everyone of the 2nd Annual Rip’s Bikers against Diabetes Ride, Saturday, July 31. One of the stops is our Post.
· Advised the car flags orders were cancelled due to not enough orders being received.
· Clarified the difference between donations to the Legacy Run and Legacy Fund.
· Reminded membership of our donation of $350.00 to Lynn Murch, Wounded Warrior.
New Business/Discussion Items:
· Discussed Quilts of Valor’s (QOV) need for additional funds. Motion made to donate $550.00 to QOV. Motion carried. Additionally, ALR members Jim Finneran and Dan Vickers donated $100.00 each. Total donation of $750.00 will be presented to the QOV at our Veterans Appreciation Day on September 11.
· Solicited discussion about the possibility of hosting the 2013 ALR State Rally. Obstacles addresses: insufficient room for approximately 200 Riders, shower facilities, hotels. Open.
· Briefed membership on Prairie Rose Chuckwagon/Kansas Cowboys WWII Veterans benefit Saturday, July 31, to raise money for the Wichita Honor Flight. Consensus was to support this effort by our attendance. Email will be sent to obtain list of those interested.
· Advised that Asonjia Stewart will head up our planning for Veterans Appreciation Day. Initial planning meeting date pending. Discussed ALR covering costs. Motion made to cover all costs of food, soda, and water. These items will be free to all attendees. Volunteers obtained for committees: food- Monika Barshney, Barb Giovanni, Terri Lehman, and Ben Roloff; games-Dan and Carol Benson; horseshoes-Greg Bauer and Doug Lehman. Tom Stoy (Winfield) donated 120 hotdogs, polish sausages, and hamburgers.
· Provided information about the McConnell Open House/Air Show on Saturday/Sunday, September 25/26. ALR will do a high-speed (about 35-40mph) and low-speed pass down the runway by the spectators with flags on bikes. Solicited volunteers to proceed with planning. Greg Bauer, Doug Lehman, Ed Watson, and John Wise volunteered. More details to follow.
· Rick Babinger advised SAL will do a Post clean-up on Sunday, August 8, 1:30PM and periodically as needed. Connie Berry invited Ladies Auxiliary to help.
Tuesday Rides: (Meet at Post at 5:30PM, depart at 6:00PM)
· July 20 – Quigley’s Steak House Bar & Grill, 1001 N. Rose Hill Rd, Rose Hill – Ron Herndon
· July 27 – Dudley’s Sports Bar & Grill, 8550 W. 21st St, Wichita – Mark McKenna
· August 3 – Buffalo Wild Wings, 1918 N. Rock Road, Derby – Charlie Nguyen
· August 10 – True Lies, 601 Oil Hill Road, El Dorado – Asonjia Stewart (due to distance, we’ll meet at the Post a 5:00PM and depart at 5:30PM)
50/50: Collected $118.00 - half ($59.00) won by Carol Benson
Meeting adjourned: 4:45PM
Next Meeting: Sunday, August 8, 3:00PM
Doug (Grey Eagle) Lehman
“The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.”
Norman Schwarzkopf
