Splice the Mainbrace August 2018 Iowa Base Meets 3 rd Sat of Even Months THE USSVI PURPOSE/CREED Section 1: To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit of their duties while serving their country. That their dedication, deeds and supreme sacrifice be a constant source of motivation toward greater accomplishments. Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America and its Constitution. Section 2: In addition to perpetuating the memory of departed shipmates, we shall provide a way for all Submariners to gather for the mutual benefit and enjoyment. Our common heritage as Submariners shall be Strengthened by camaraderie. We support a strong U. S Submarine Force. Section 3: The organization will engage in various projects and deeds that will bring about the perpetual remberance of those shipmates who have given the supreme sacrifice. The organization will also endeavor to educate all third parties it comes in contact with about the services our submarine brothers performed and how their sacrifices made possible the freedom and lifestyle we enjoy today. National Commander: John Markiewicz National Sr. Vice Cdr: Wayne Standerfer National Jr. Vice Cdr: Bill Andrea Iowa Base Officers 2018-19 Commander: Harold Losby Vice Commander: Ralph Rosenberger Secretary: Shirley Losby Treasurer: Art Sullivan Storekeeper: Ralph Rosenberger Chaplin: Larry Strayer Unit Jag: Peter Welch Newsletter Editor: Jeff Dettmer
June Meeting We had a meeting on June 16, 2018 at the Long Branch in Cedar Rapids. There were 19 members and guest in attendance. The next meeting will be August 18, 2018 at the Long Branch. The minutes from the June 16, 2018 are attached at the end of this newsletter. From the Base Commander The USSVI national elections are underway. The candidates and constitution amendments are detailed in your latest issue of American Submariner which also contains a paper ballot to send in. You can also get the information AND VOTE on the USSVI website. Online voting is the preferred method as it saves our members at the national office a lot of work and is more accurate. Go to http//www.ussvi.org to vote online. The polls close at 2359 hours on October 10, 2018 but there is no need to wait, get it done NOW. Harold Losby Iowa Base Commander From the Base Chaplain If you want a friend, be a friend. Ask God to send a true friend your way and He will faithfully provide. practice hospitality, extend a welcome hand. Show kindness, love, and mercy. Hold firmly unto loyalty by being true in heart and soul. Remember the Golden Rule. Remember the Sabbath-Attend church. Larry Strayer Base Chaplain 2
From the Central Region Director The Iowa Submarine Veterans Memorial Highway has just one hurdle left to be cleared. We need to complete the fund-raising so we can buy the Signs and pay to have them installed. The total cost estimate is $5000.00 or $2500.00 each for Iowa and Placoderm. We discussed this at the last meeting and I know that 2 pledges for $500.00 each were made there. It is now nearly 2 months later and I hope that we are at or very near our $2500.00. Placoderm is working on a pledge from Prairie Meadows that if granted will cover their half. If we reach our $2500.00 goal will be able to place the order for the signs. It has been stated that any Excess funds will be turned over to the USS Iowa Commissioning Committee. If you disagree it will be up to you to see that excess funds are returned to the donors. STATE FAIR NOTE: THE PARADE ENTRANCE GATE FOR THE FAIR IS DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. You MUST be traveling EAST on University and enter at 32nd Ave. The Iowa State Fair Veterans Day and Parade will be prior to the August meeting. The parade will be at 1100 on Monday, 13 August and the meeting is Saturday 18 August. If you are planning to attend you need to get a parking pass from Jerry Stockbauer at Placoderm or you will have to pay to park and get into the fairgrounds. The parade route and procedure will be different this year so if you want to attend check in with me ASAP. (It may already be too late to get a pass.) ELECTION TIME Voting in the 2018 National Election is currently underway. The only point of contention on the whole ballot is the acceptance vote for the combined Constitution and ByLaws. BUT it is my opinion that communication within USSVI has deteriorated to the point of DISASTER. The whole issue associated with Groton Base and the Club House is an example of a total lack of accurate COMMUNICATION. Communication theory states that communication involves a sender and a receiver (or receivers) conveying information through a communication channel. When the sender is sending there is communication ONLY if the receiver is receiving. You need to be a receiver and after receiving, you need to 3
become a sender and transmit your evaluations, questions and/ or opinions. That is an example of Two Way Communications. As a first step to establishing meaningful communication we ALL need to participate in this election as a means of demonstrating that we are receivers and that we are capable of being Senders! THINK ABOUT IT! You can vote via paper ballot or by electronic ballot, the important thing is that you acknowledge that there is an Election and that You are the Electorate, so study the candidates and issues and VOTE! FUTURE USSVI members need to become involved in the operation and function of their bases and can do so only if they attend the regular meetings. If your only inputs from USSVI are the 4 Magazines sent to you each year you are not active! USSVI National is there 24/7. You can sign into the website and get, request or provide information at any time. Base attendance and action is the beginning but it needs to continue through other bases in the District, Region and in fact all the bases in USSVI! Your Brothers of the Phin are NOT restricted to those in your BASE. Communicate with your base Officers, they can communicate with the District Level and on up to the NC if needed, but someone has to get it started. For your base to be something you want to be involved in you have to communicate what it is that you want the base to do. Your leadership is not issued a special ESP hat that lets them know what you are thinking. You have to speak up and tell them what you like AND what you DON T LIKE. Grumbling at your family, your computer or at your coffee cup will not change anything. The Schedule for the October meeting puts in on 20 October, that is the day that I will be flying to Florida for the 2018 USSVI National Convention so input from the convention won t happen before the December meeting. David Farran Iowa Base/CRD 4
From the Editor This year s National Convention will be a Caribbean Cruise. I hope those of you planning to go have a great time. October will be here quick. Voting in the 2018 National Election is currently underway. Go to the USSVI website to vote or vote via a paper ballot which is available in the American Submariner magazine. Jeff Dettmer Iowa Base Newsletter Editor 5
The 16 June 2018 meeting of the Iowa Base of USSVI was called to order at 1100 by CDR. Losby who read the opening invocation. Larry read the opening prayer. 18 members and guests recited the pledge of allegiance. Tolling of the Boats service for June and July was performed. John Bowler was the reader and the bell ringer John Stapley. Shawn Clark of Waterloo a first time attendee spoke about himself. Members introduced themselves. Minutes of the last meeting were read. Sully gave the treasures report: $1,729.32 in checking and $952.67 in savings. Sully reported the insurance he just paid this year is actually for next year. Old business: 1. Jeff commented on the Sub Fest in Manitowoc. No staying on the boat Thursday night. 2. 13 August is Veterans Day at the Iowa State Fair. Rosie, Dave and Harold will attend. Others are encourage to attend if possible. New business: 1. Dave led discussion revised by laws. Jeff made a motion, Larry seconded to accept by laws. All in favor to accept these by laws. 2. Sully asked what to do with Richard Herter s membership dues check, since he passed earlier this year. Dave will call his next of kin and ask what they want to do with the check? 3. Capt. Welch spoke on construction of the USS Iowa SSN 797. He received the lessons learned from the USS Colorado commissioning and planning. He reported that Iowa is divided into five areas for information and fund raising (corporate donations). Need a design contest for the ship s coat of arms, coin, etc. The ship s crew will have final vote. Groton is the location of the USS Iowa commissioning ceremony. 4. Dave gave an update on the Memorial highway status: IDOT has accepted information, Safety Engineer mapped out number and location of signs. If we can get the signs by August they will install this fall. We need approximately $5,000 for 28 signs that will be 30 X 24 plus installation. Rosie suggested using the 50-50 drawing for the sign fund. Capt. Welch made a donation. 5. Dave suggested a joint function with Placoderm base this fall maybe in Marshalltown? Motion to adjourn by John Bowler, Jeff seconded, motion carried. Closing prayer by Chaplain Larry. John bowler won the 50-50 raffle and donated to the sign fund. Next meeting will be August 18, 2018 at the Long Branch in Cedar Rapids. 6
Respectfully submitted, Shirley Losby, secretary 7