2008 REUNION

General Membership Meeting
17th Signal Battalion Association
20 September 2008
Shilo Inns Suites Hotel, Killeen Texas

Board of Directors Attendees: Jim Bondi , President, Arlo Janssen Public Affairs, Darrell Riding, Hospitality, Sam Lietz Secretary, Monroe Manning Historian, Emmett Autry Chaplain, and Henri Vellmure Webmaster. Not available were Joe Donovan, Treasurer, Bob Steere VP, COL Brian Moore Member at Large, Al Smith Member at Large and Bill Moore Membership
WELCOME: Jim Bondi called to order at 0900.
New Members =- first reunion - Jim Welsh, Chuck Bealmear, Bob Lowden, Wayne Loomis, Bill Burham, Jim Gould, and family members Chuck Grady, Janine Ramirez, and Mike Loomis.
SECRETARY'S REPORT:
a. 120 Fall 2008 Newsletters printed and 120 distributed with 130 out via email. Will need to have a few more printed to keep up with the new members.
b. 2 renewals awaiting processing and two new members as result of Arlo's Public Affairs Plan. Reminder with anyone with names of others in unit to provide to Bill Moore -(thanks to Don Roupe for a whole list for Bill Moore of 102nd folks). .
c. Two recently requested DFRs - Mrs Rene Gaudette and Paul Ruppel. 7 more with no contact for over a year. Will follow up with phone calls before DFRing.
d. Correspondence - in addition to notes from many members who could not attend this year -, we have GO letters from BG Jeffrey Foley (Commander, US Signal Center & Fort Gordon) and BG(P) Susan Lawrence (Commander NETCOM) that I would like to read. Email to Henri.
e. Memento - We Got Sole - SPC Rene DuClos - Museum at home wants to get the guideon. Recommend we ship to him for his home town museum. I have gotten some historical data and photos from Rene. Put on the website. Henri motioned. Emmett seconded. Ayes passed. Need to know where Rene lives for the website.
TREASURER'S REPORT: Sam for Joe
a. Current balance $ 5111 - however approximately $4000 of that is reunion costs that will go to the hotel, etc. Expect post reunion balance of $1K.
b. Expect Jan 09 newsletter printing/postage costs of $320 + printing and mailing of roster of $400.
c. Project Compassion $377. Donation table for this at the Banquet.

HISTORIAN'S REPORT: Monroe Manning -
a. Taking oral histories = four from last reunion, two more from this reunion thus far. A couple more scheduled. Please see Monroe for more history sessions.
b. Berlin Airlift Medal Research - Asking at this General Membership Meeting ask for affidavits from any members. Charles Girolamo. Need to write to the U.S. Army Signal Center. Jim Welsh provided a little overview of the 7776/17th participation in the Berlin Airlift Campaign.
c. Jo Becker sent a large box of history from Chuck Becker and provided a shirt from the '88 reunion.

HOSPITALITY: Darrell & Judy Riding
a. Raffle during Banquet dinner and the quilt will be auctioned off. The hotel has donated a great gift basket. German beer glasses & hats for sale along with Association coins in the hospitality room until 1500, along with raffle tickets.
PUBLICITY and GOLF: Arlo Janssen. Public Affairs report -
a. Public Affairs Plan been quite successful. Multiple announcements out in multiple military publications, as well as the Pentagram, Belvoir Briefs, Military Officer's Magazine, Monmouth Message, American Legion Magazine & Web site, Army Times (4 time), Veterans of Foreign Wars, DAVA, Retired Enlisted Association, NonCommissioned Officers Association, Fort Hood Sentinel, and the Killeen Herald. At least two new members from Arlo's publications.
b. Golf tournament - Golf scramble - two winners, Darrell Riding Champion (low score) and Ray Elderd (best drive)

CHAPLAIN - Emmett Autry: Memorial Service directly after this meeting. If you want to assist in honoring a loved one, after we call the person's name, come up and light the candle. If not, Henri will light candle.
WEBMASTER - Henri Vellmure: Webpage - not getting a lot of input. Anything that you have that is fit to print. Photos, reports, family information, Encouraged to keep emails up to date. Web site was mentioned in email from the Deputy CIO of the White House.
SPECIAL PROJECTS: Hal Taylor by Sam
a. Coins for sale at the 2008 reunion that were Hal's project - great Association coin! Get them in the Hospitality Room.
b. Insurance contract paid to Hartford. No change of coverage or premium
PRESIDENT'S REMARKS: Jim Bondi - -At the General Membership Meeting - Ask for an amount of yearly donation for a returning signal unit coming back from Iraq so the BOD can donate without going to the General Membership each time. In the next term, we need to do our homework for a project to put our hat on.
Reminder of rest of day schedule:
1045 - 1100 -Tree planting ceremony Killeen Convention Center
1115 - 1500 - 2nd tour to Fort Hood - meet in Lobby
1700 - 1800 - Happy Hour - (cash on the bar) at the hotel bar - make sure you are wearing your nametag.
1700 Group photos, individuals after the group photos - Portraits for the Memory Book and Group Photos (Don Roupe) in the Alamo Room , BOD 2008-2010, 17th 50s 17th60s, Past Presidents, 90s, 102nd
1800 - Banquet - won't be an honor guard.
SUNDAY
0730-0800 -- Ecumenical service Room 450 Lone Star Room
0800 - 0900 - BOD Meeting for 2008-2010 Directors
0600 - 1000 - Breakfast - pay as you go. (Note: Shilo Inn provides a complimentary breakfast for hotel guests)
0900 -1100- Get acquainted with new BOD & 2010 reunion location announcement.
Voting for the 2008 - 2010 Slate of Officers following volunteers:
President Bob Ironside
VP Jim Bondi
Secretary - Sam Lietz
Treasurer - Joe Donovan
Public Affairs - Arlo Janssen
Chaplain - Emmett Autrey
Special Projects - Hal Taylor
Historian - Monroe Manning
Membership- Bill Moore
Hospitality & Member at Large 1 -Darrell Riding
Member at Large 2 -COL Brian Moore
Member at Large 3 COL John Koivisto (Philly guest speaker - member of Association since 1998)
Web Master - Henri Vellmure

Any others? If not need motion to vote for this slate: Henri moved. Emmett seconded. Unanimously passed the slate

Adjornment:



 
Arlo Janssen sends the golf report for the Reunion: Five golfers (Arlo Janssen, Darrell Riding, Mel Strickland, Ray Elderd and Emmet Autrey) played at the nearby Stonetree course in Killeen, TX, on Friday, September 19, 2008 in perfect weather. The cost for each senior player was $21.90 for the cart and green fees. Each player received a gift towel from the Killeen Civic & Conference Center & Visitor Bureau. Sam Lietz also provided a box of logo golf balls for the players. Our tee time was 8:04 AM, and the starter allowed us to play in one group.

We used a modified format for scoring. The best drive from each hole was used to start the game, and we played to the green from that point. We also used the double bogey rule on each hole to speed up the play. Using this format, Darrell Riding had the low score, and we used seven of Ray Elderd's drives during the game. There were several chip-in birdies among our players during the game.

Although we had a small group, we had fun in the sun at the Stonetree Golf Club.


REUNION REPORT. In 2008 our 12th Reunion was held as planned in Killeen/Fort Hood, TX area from September 18th to September 21st, 2008. Those members and guests that attended had a most enjoyable time. Many members began to arrive on Wednesday, although two members did arrive on the 10 of September so as not to run in to Hurricane IKE which was coming up through the Gulf of Mexico. Registration began promptly at 0900 on Thursday the 18th in the hotel lobby under the supervision of Sam Lietz and Pat Ironside. A few minutes later the Hospitality Room was beginning to take shape under the supervision and direction of Darrell and Judy Riding. Some of our paraphernalia was transported by Ray & Agnes Eldred in their motor home. Thanks very much, it saved us a lot of postage. Our resident photographer Don Roupe and his ubiquitous camera were very much in evidence through out the reunion, Don got a lot of excellent pictures and will be working with Sam to create our Memory Book. You will see many of his pictures posted here as you browse the Web Page. On Thursday evening we enjoyed dinner at various restaurants and finished up in the Hospitality Room. On Friday morning the golfers left before sunup to accomplish their ritual of ground pounding and verbalizing severe profanity. On Friday morning we had a tour of Fort Hood and lunch in one of the Dining Halls (aka Mess Hall). During the tour we visited the 1st Cavalry Division's Horse Cavalry Detachment and were briefed on ;equipment they used in the 1800's and made themselves, Some of the soldiers on special detachment are still making saddles, boots and are maintaining wagons of the era. Next we were treated to a Command Briefing at III Corps Headquarters that was very impressive. The briefing was followed by lunch; boy these guys and gals do eat well in a very modern facility. We closed out the afternoon with a drive down the 7mile motor pool road and a visit to the 1st Cavalry museum with all of its attendant displays and vehicles dating back to WWII. Friday evening 40 of had dinner in the Texas Land and Cattle Company Restaurant followed by a talk by Bob Bearden on his adventures and subsequent POW in WWII. Saturday morning began with the Board Meeting and our Memorial Service lead by Chaplain Emmett Autrey, remembering our comrades that had departed our worldly abode since the last reunion. Next on our Agenda was the General Membership Meeting. We elected a new slate of officers. In the field adjacent to the Shilo Hotel we planted a tree in memory of our departed members. In the late afternoon we had pictures taken for the Memory Book, another Open Bar Happy Hour and then our Banquet, raffle and 50-50 drawing. There were a lot of great prizes and everyone that won were very happy with their winnings. On Sunday morning at the Final Board meeting the most important item was the location of the 2010 Reunion, which is scheduled to be held in Baltimore MD area.

Below are some of the pictures from the Reunion.

THE HOTEL

Our Hotel
Hotel
Korean War Memorial

HOSPITALITY ROOM

FRIDAY EVENING DINNER

 

1st. Cav. HORSE CAVALRY DETACHMENT

COMMAND BRIEFING

 

DINING FACILITY

 

1ST CAVALRY MEMORIAL

1ST CAVALRY MUSEUM

 

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

 

MEMORIAL SERVICE

Chaplain Emmett Autrey at Memorial
Henri Vellmure at Memorial
Candle Lighting by Arlo Janssen
Candle Lighting by Sam Lietz
Candle Lighting by Mel Strickland
The Memorial Candles and Bell
Candle Lighting by Bob Ironside

Candle Lighting by Pat Ironside &
Mickey Moon

Candle Lighting by Henri Vellmure

TREE PLANTING

We planted a tree and placed a plaque at its base in the open park area between the hotel and the Killeen Civic Center.

 

THE TOAST

BANQUET

Judy Riding & Pat Ironside our ticked sellers
Officers 2006-2008
50's Members
60's Members
50's Ladies
60's Ladies
 
Stonetree Golfers
Former Company Commanders

Someone tell me what the caption for the above 3 pictures should be. If any of the above are misnamed also let me know.

Webmaster

Jim Bondi & SGM Everidge,
Our Distinguished Speaker, SGM James R. Everidge, Operations Sergeant Major, 57th Signal Battalion, Ft. Hood, TX.
 


FAREWELL BREAKFAST


FINAL BOARD MEETING

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