Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Phoenix, AZ

Transcription

1 Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Phoenix, AZ (Pictured: ARAC s Dick Toliver and SecAF, Madam Heather Wilson, at recent reception, Luke AFB) Heather Ann Wilson is serving as the 24th and current Secretary of the United States Air Force. Apollo Baptist Church Fellowship Hall N. 51 st Ave, Glendale AZ Sept 16, ARAC MEETING MINUTES, Sept 2018 I. MEETING CALL TO ORDER By Chapter President, Ted Vactor II. WELCOME COMMENTS Welcome back summer vacationers...soon it will be October! III. PRAYER Pastor Porter IV. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE V. GUESTS (INTRO) None

2 VI. BIRTHDAYS FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER Don Chapman 2. April Hall 3. Mike Webb 4. Ivan Thompson VII. MOMENT OF SILENCE: LONELY EAGLES, FAMILY MEMBERS/FRIENDS Report deferred to 21 October 18 Meeting VIII. HEALTH ISSUES/CONCERNS Report deferred to 21 October 18 Meeting IX. TREASURY REPORT Report deferred to 21 October 18 Meeting X. PRESIDENT S COMMENTS 1. As we look to the upcoming months, our busy periods are now approaching for ARAC--looking for volunteers to pre-plan upcoming events. XI. VICE PRESIDENT S COMMENTS NONE General Meeting XII. CHAPTER DIRECTION/FUTURE ENDEAVORS A. LOOKING FOR CHAPTER INPUTS (INDIVIDUAL) 1. Looking for any/all ideas, new concepts or direction and a theme (to support the Chapter s Mission Statement) for maintaining the Chapter s existence and how we can do it better! a) The Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter Mission Statement is to Honor, preserve and promote the legacy of the Tuskegee Airman s accomplishments in military aviation, self-determination, service to our nation, and education through community outreach and youth programs. B. OPEN FORUM/DISCUSSIONS

3 1. A group discussion was held to determine the direction of the Chapter. Comments centered around how we can bring in more members and...highlighting the Youth/TAI Legacy! 2. What is the Chapter selling in-way of; what product is being offered to entice direction, membership and future programs (Ivan Thompson.) The following is a synopsis of the discussion; - Gail Toliver suggests (her written comments are as follows): - - It is always hard to get active participation, and the age-old question always come up: How? First, I liked April s idea of starting with what s working well. A couple of thoughts around this topic: We are an International Chapter our Canadian members and our involvement with those members in Canada and here in Phoenix Our Commemorative Day how this is an annual event, and there was much work that went into bringing this about Our Commemorative Paver at the State Capital Our static display of the F-16 red tail at Luke AFB and the annual ceremony ACE Camp successful annual event done in conjunction with OBAP Our Scholarship fund (even though there was much discussion as to whether or not this is actually successful?) Gail s Toliver s thoughts: 1. Set up a conference call with the Detroit chapter (and perhaps one more?), and have a set of questions to ask them as to what they do well, how they are succeeding and how they measure success. We can share with them our challenge of getting people to participate, especially the younger folks (under 40). 2. We can also share with them (Detroit Chapter) of our ideas of engaging with local ROTC units or even the Junior ROTC Programs 3. Have the Board (Board of Directors) meet to determine a Top 3 priority list. The idea here is to focus on the Top 3 and to do these well, versus trying to get involved in too many things (results: not so well ) Maybe there are 3 main programs (ACE Camp may be excluded as this is more of an on-going commitment, so it should not be one of the top 3?) Ivan s Thompson s thoughts, Ivan suggests (his written comments are as follows): 1. First idea is to ask the Western Region President how other chapters measure success. Ask for an open forum on what makes a chapter successful. I will do that today. See at the bottom after the second idea.

4 2. Second idea. Define what we want the military to do to assist each year and formally present it to them in October of each year. Present it to the Active Duty and Reserve Wing Leadership and whoever our Col BJ Beard (Chapter Vice President) is that year. And whoever our Senior NCO rep is that year. Instead of pressing the junior enlisted and possibly even some of our officers, to join the chapter and become members, request their support of a defined, predetermined slate of events each year: 3. Request a presence at our annual Tuskegee Airmen Day commemoration (whether that is a big dinner or just a luncheon with a speaker 4. Request to be invited, escorted and involved in whatever the base s observance of Black History month is 5. Request active duty and or Reserve support of our ROTC, JROTC and other school visits. I envision this working as follows: we secure dates at schools far in advance and we invite pilots, maintainers to go with us. We do the leg work and see if they can come along. 6. Request a representative a liaison in the field grade and Senior NCO ranks (active and Reserve) that we can work through to work support for Tuskegee Airmen Day, Black History Month, Air Show booth support, high school visits mentoring, etc. 7. If we are no longer going to Luke for our aviation camp, then we should invite pilots and maintainers from Luke to our camp. - I would be willing to chair this effort and work with active duty and Reserve reps on coordinating school visits. I don t think we should expect them to come to all of our speaking events at schools (e.g. all of Col Toliver s speaking events). But I do think if we gave enough notice we could ask them to partner with us at visits to the college ROTC detachments and some of the notable JROTC detachments (such as South Mountain) 8. Restore the partnership with South Mountain JROTC, Phoenix s only aviation magnet school. Bob Ashby said that we used to go there a lot. I have been trying to restore it myself. I went last year in uniform and have been working to get back on the calendar this year. I have already gone this year in uniform to Betty Fairfax Army JROTC and spoke to 5 classes, helped people with application procedures for the Service Academies, questions about becoming a pilot, etc. 9. Summary: I believe we should focus less on getting active duty members to come to our meetings, join our chapter but solicit their direct support in a few activities each year: Tuskegee Airman Day, Black History Month luncheon, going and speaking to their airmen, and getting them to partner

5 with us three to four times a year (with dates advertised well in advance) at school visits and our aviation camp. April Hall s thoughts, April suggests (her written comment are as follows): 1. There were several sites with teacher resources that could be used pre and post school visit and during Black History month. Maybe there could be a link on our website. Our neighbor, Patrick Heigl, who is a manager for Sanderson Lincoln Mercury has been a guest at a previous meeting and Chapter Social. Sanderson sponsors many veterans events, one of which is the Veterans Project (some chapter members have been interviewed). Patrick is also responsible for the veteran s tent at the Waste Management Open (some chapter members participated in this also). He also works directly with Patrick Peterson (Az Cardinals) and his local elementary school reading program. - Teacher Lesson Plans (TAI) located on the Web: nowitall.org/document/tuskegee-airmen-teacherresources&ved=2ahukewiw1ai2wcldahuiknwkhvwwa9wqfjaaegqi BBAB&usg=AOvVaw00nWhpg_A9uXz1gtFxKzyj - teransheritage.org/&ved=2ahukewjl_6xewsldahxqr1qkhsyqageqf jamegqicbab&usg=aovvaw1r0x5yqeamqfhvphukjvnq Al Tulle suggested, during the meeting; 1. As a Legacy activity, provide historical (learning activities) training/guidance, in the form of addressing the Professional Military Education (PME) classes at Luke (Airmen/NCO.) This effort not only would provide Legacy lessons but, could possibly create an interest in a new Chapter membership. XIII. HOLIDAY SOCIAL 1. A Reservation for 16 December 2:00 P.M. is scheduled for the upcoming Chapter Social (Pay as you go.) 2. The reserved room can accommodate up to fifty (50.) Additional details will be forthcoming...stand-by! XIV. NEXT CHAPTER MEETING 1. Scheduled for 21 October 2018, third Sunday of the month XV. MEETING ADJOURNED 1. 3:00 P.M.

6 XVI. MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE 1. Harold Carter 2. Carol Weaver 3. Ivan Thompson 4. Ted Vactor 5. Pastor Porter 6. Paul Smiley 7. Gary Fabri 8. April Hall 9. Gail Toliver 10. Peggy Toliver 11. Diana Gregory SIGNED Ted D. Vactor, President Nate Carr, Treasurer B.J. Beard, Vice President David Toliver, Sr., Secretary Bill Norwood, Past President REACHING OUR YOUTH - ENSURING THE FUTURE! NEVER FORGET!