Department of Pacific Areas Minutes of the 4 th Annual Convention Angeles City, Philippines 15-18 June 2015 OPENING CEREMONIES The opening ceremonies of the 49 th Annual Convention were held beginning 1000 hours on Monday, June15, 2015. Department Commander William Hudson asked everyone to be seated after the Salute to the Colors, and officially opened the convention. Adjutant Combs introduced the following VIPs: Past Commander in Chief, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ed Banas Veterans Affairs Commission of Republic of China Representative, by Mr. Liu National Council Member - Pacific, Jerry Kraus Supreme District 15 Council Member Military Order of the Cootie, Jim Malott Past District Supreme Commander Military Order of the Cootie, Marty Ellingwood Commander, Grand of the Pacific, Military Order of the Cootie, Shawn Watson Emcee Combs then asked the true VIPs our active duty military to and be recognized. Emcee Combs next introduced the following Past Department Commanders (PDCs): Jerry Kraus, Joe Carsley, Bob Zaher, Frank Sass, Paul Gasperson, Bill Wichmann, Ken Shaeffer, Rhett Webber, Larry Lyons, Jim Malott, Darin Combs, Shawn Watson Next, he introduced the following Past Grand Commanders (PGCs): C. Marty Ellingwood, Jim Malott, Bill Wichmann, Frank Sass, Jerry Prinz, Ken Swierzewski, Orville Humfleet, Kevin Mitchell, Darin Combs The head table guests addressed the members with a few words of greeting. The Convention went into recess for the VIP Luncheon with the First Business Session scheduled to begin at 0900 hours on Wednesday, June 17, 2015. FIRST BUSINESS SESSION Opening Ceremonies: Commander Hudson re-opened the Convention at 0900 hours, Wednesday, June 17, 2015 IAW VFW Ritual. He appointed Comrade Casey Roberts as Guard and Officer of the Day. Distinguished Guests: Adjutant Combs introduced: Past National Commander in Chief, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Ed Banas National Council Member -Pacific Jerry Kraus Supreme District 15 Council Member, Military Order of the Cootie, Jim Malott Past Supreme Commander, Military Order of the Cootie, Marty Ellingwood
He then introduced the following PDCs: Jerry Kraus, Joe Carsley, Bob Zaher, Frank Sass, Paul Gasperson, Bill Wichmann, Ken Shaefer, Rhett Webber, Larry Lyons, Jim Malott, Darin Combs,Shawn Watson Finally, he introduced the following PGCs: C. Marty Ellingwood, Jim Malott, Bill Wichmann, Frank Sass, Jerry Prinz, Ken Swierzewski, Orville Humfleet, Kevin Mitchell, Darin Combs, and Current Grand Commander Shawn Watson Rules of Order: Judge Advocate Wichmann informed the convention that the Rules of Order were published and distributed. Motion to accept was made, seconded and carried to accept the rules as published. Roll Call of Officers: The Adjutant conducted the following Roll Call of Officers: Commander Bill Hudson Present Senior-Vice Commander Homer Kemper Present Junior-Vice Commander Robert Moses Present Quartermaster Pete Callaghan Present Judge Advocate William H. Wichmann Present Surgeon Patrick Higgins Present Chaplain Brian Merenda Present Chief of Staff Bob Zaher Present Inspector Gerald Prinz Present Jr. PDC Shawn Watson Present Commander, D1 Stanley Stewart SVC Brandon Commander, D2 Ricky Farris Present Commander, D3 Casey Roberts Present Commander, D4 Jim Ascencio Present Commander, D5 Alfred Serrato Present Commander, D6 Bill Bradford Present Commander, D7 John Gilbert Present Adjutant Darin Combs Present The Roll Call of all Committee Chairpersons and Posts was also conducted. Absent Posts were: 9985, 10249, 11575, and 12074 Minutes: The Adjutant informed all that the minutes of the 2014 Convention and 2014 Mid-Term Council of Administration had been electronically distributed to the Council Members on two different occasions and that no corrections had been received. Adjutant Combs moved to accept the minutes. Motion was seconded and approved. Quartermaster s Report: Quartermaster Callaghan reported that the Department once again had a good year financially and produced and Income/Expense Report (Attachment Z). The audit will be conducted in July. Correspondence: Adjutant Combs read the following: a. Letter from the National Office appointing the following Comrades to National Committees: Barry Moshinsky - Post 10217 Veterans Service Resolutions Mike Castro - 1054 Veterans Service Resolutions Clifton Wilsey - Post 2485 General Resolutions Committee Bob Zaher - Post 2485 General Resolutions Committee Kenneth Swierzewski - Post 12109 National Military Services Committee Casey Roberts - Post12147 By Laws, Manual of Procedures and Ritual Pete Callaghan - Post 3457 Finance and Internal Organization
b. Letter from the National Office appointing the following Comrades to National Unpaid Committees: Bob Zaher - 2485 National Deputy Chief of Staff Alex Roese - 12130 National Special Aide-de-Camp Eric Larsen - 9876 Assistant Inspector General James Bosch - 10216 Gerald Brown - 2485 Mike Castro - 1054 Thomas Friend - 9951 Mike O Kelley - 3457 Billy Quintero - 10216 Robert Reyes - 9892 Gary Shearing - 1054 Stanley Stewart - 9723 David Wykes - 9612 c. Letter from Comrade Nick Guest asking for support in his bid for National Chaplain. d. Letter from Comrade Tom Darling asking for support in his bid for National Chaplain. e. Letter from Comrade Janie Miller asking for support in her bid for National Chaplain. All-State Posts: Posts 1054, 3457, 9555, 9612, 9723, 9892, 10217, 10223, 11447, 12130 d. All-State Districts: Districts 1, 2, 7 Comrades or a Family Members of a Comrade in Distress were remembered: Alex Roese is in bad health Woody Woodruff, All State Commander Post 3457 passes away on his way to this convention Morris Sapp passed away Jim Leak is in serious health Tom Jones is down in his health Chris Coyle is sick in Korea National Home was Remembered. Officer and Chairperson Reports: Officers, District Commanders and Chairpersons gave their reports as follows: Senior-Vice Commander/Membership Chairman: Senior-Vice Commander Kemper reported that the Department is presently at 100.32%. Junior-Vice Commander/Programs Chairman: Junior-Vice Commander Moses stated that program reporting for the year had been a great success. Awards will be given out under Good of the Order. National Councilman: Comrade Krause provided an oral and written report. (Attachment Y) District Commanders Reports: District I Senior-Vice Commander Brandon reported on Post s Community Service, and stated that all reports were submitted and inspections were successfully completed (Attachment A) District II CDR Farris reported on the (Attachment B)
District III CDR Roberts reported on community projects within District III (Attachment C) District IV CDR Ascencio gave a report on the District activities (Attachment D) District V CDR Serrato stated that District V (Attachment E) District VI Commander Bradford reported (Attachment F) District VII Commander Gilbert (Attachment G) Chaplain: Chaplain Merenda reported (Attachment H) Surgeon: Surgeon Higgins presented a written report. (Attachment I) Judge Advocate: Judge Advocate presented a written report to the Adjutant and gave an oral report on the handout given to all present. In the oral report he made three motions as follows: (Attachment J) 1. Motion was made to support Clark Veterans Cemetery by Bill Wichmann out of committee.- Motion Passed 2. Motion made to support Post 10217 Resolution on Herbicide Exposure in Thailand by Bill Wichmann out of committee. Seconded. Motion Passed" 3. Motion was made for Inclusion of Veterans Traveling and Residing Abroad All-Inclusive Medical Service Under the Foreign Medical Program. Motion by Bill Wichmann out of committee. Motion passed Service Officer: DSO Portis presented a thorough oral report and also reminded everyone of the Service Officer Training session scheduled. (Attachment K) Chief of Staff: An oral report was given by Chief of Staff Zaher. Two Posts were installed during the year; one in Thailand (Post 12146) and one in Korea (Post 12147). The Convention Book was a big success as the only Department fund raiser. Department Inspector: Department Inspector Prinz informed membership that all Posts and Districts in the Department had been successfully inspected. (Attachment L) Jr Past Department Commander: JPDC Watson presented a written report (Attachment M) as well as a Webmaster Report (Attachment N). He reminded everyone of the importance to use the Department Email address to conduct department business. Grand Commander: Grand Commander presented an oral report. He thanked everyone for making the Grand and All Star Grand this year. Buddy Poppy Chairman: Buddy Poppy Chairman Moses presented a written report. (Attachment O) Americanism/Loyalty Day Chairman: Chairman Billy Quintero presented an oral and written report. (Attachment P) National Home: Chairman Himes provided a written report. (Attachment Q). A check for $2,000 was presented as a gift to the National Home by Post 1054. Post 1054 discussed the possibility for the Department to sponsor a Home at the National Home. No motions were brought forth on the matter.
Historian: Historian Bergam presented an oral and written report stating Post histories are not good due to lack of updating. (Attachment R) Roving Ambassador: Jim Mallott presented an oral report. Clark Cemetery Chairman: Clark Cemetery Chairman Gilbert provided a written report on the status of the Cemetery. (Attachment S). There have been challenges in working with the American Battle Monuments Commission. Chairman Gilbert accepted the following donations for the Clark Cemetery: Post 10216 - $100 Post 12130-2,000 pesos Post 3457 - $500 Typhoon Editor: Typhoon Editor Mortimer presented an oral report. He is very concerned over the lack of inputs to the Typhoon and Around the Pacific/Rim of Fire. If the publications will not be supported with inputs, perhaps we should consider discontinuing the service. National Military Service Chairman: Chairman Swierzewski gave a written report on the National Military Service Program. (Attachment T). National Recruiter: CNR Lyons gave an oral and written report. (Attachment U) He spoke on the Korea wide Beach Bash scheduled for July. Legacy Life Membership Chairman: Chairman Zaher presented an oral report presenting the numbers of Legacy Members within the Department. Safety Chairman: Chairman Webber provided an oral and written report. (Attachment V) Hospital Chairman: Chairman Verville provided an oral and written report. (Attachment W) Perhaps there is not a need for the Hospital Chairman position. With that said, all of the Cootie Hospital visit reports should also be counted for the VFW Community Service Reports, but they are not. Life Membership: Chairman Wilsey provided an oral and written report. (Attachment X) Old Business: None New Business: Judge Advocate Wichmann went over the rules for election of officers. Nomination and election of Officers were held with the following results: Commander Senior-Vice Commander Junior-Vice Commander Quartermaster Surgeon Chaplain Judge Advocate Kemper (Unopposed) Moses (Unopposed) Gilbert (Unopposed) Callaghan (Unopposed) Higgins (Unopposed) Merenda (Quintero was also nominated) Wichmann (Unopposed) Convention Host: District 7 and District 3 presented a request to host the 50th Department Convention in June 2016 Convention voted to hold the 2016 Annual Convention in District 5 at Chiang Mai, Thailand Good of the Order: 1. All State Selections were announced: o Posts: Posts 1054, 3457, 9555, 9612, 9723, 9892, 10217, 10223, 11447, 12130
o Districts: Districts 1, 2, 7 2. Jim Malott s special presentation to Frank Sass of past Convention Books due to the loss of all that he had due to a typhoon 3. New Post $100 exchange between 12130, 12146 and 12147. Post 12147 stands ready to present the $100 to the next new post instituted as tradition calls for. 4. Darin Combs was fully endorsed by the Department in his bid for the JVCINC 2020. 5. Program Chairmen were given National certificates for their efforts 6. Past CinC Ed Banas spoke briefly on the National Organization and stated he would elaborate at the Awards Ceremony/Installation Dinner. Commander Hudson adjourned the meeting until 1800 hours in the Banquet Room for the Awards/Installation Banquet. Awards Ceremony/Installation Ceremony: Commander Hudson reconvened the assembly according to VFW Ritual at 1840 hours. Chaplain Merenda said grace before the dinner was served and Commander Hudson invited all to partake. After dinner, Master of Ceremonies Combs introduced the Head Table and VIPs present and called Junior Vice Commander Moses for the presentation of the annual awards 1. Outstanding Post 1054 2. Outstanding Post Commander Alex Roese 3. Outstanding Post Adjutant Michael Lutman 4. Outstanding Post Quartermaster Tom Burnett 5. Outstanding Member Neil McAuliffe 6. Outstanding Post Service Officer Lawrence Senato 7. Outstanding Contributor Business Medical City Clark 8. Outstanding Contributor Individual Sayuri Lutman Commander Hudson gave a heart-felt outgoing speech thanking all the DPA Comrades and especially the District and Post Commanders for their outstanding support during the 2014-2015 term. He asked them to support incoming Commander Kemper with the same effort and enthusiasm. He then called Past CinC Ed Banas forward to Install the Officers for the upcoming year. After the Installation, Past CinC Banas addressed the guests. Commander Kemper gave an acceptance speech, was presented his Commander s Warrant and then closed the convention. By order of: //signed// WILLIAM HUDSON //signed// Commander DARIN COMBS Department of Pacific Areas Adjutant Department of Pacific Areas Attachments (on file) Distribution: Council Members (w/o attachments) National Adjutant General (w/o attachments)