Next Meeting is Tuesday February 10,
2009 5:33 pm
Region 1 Headquarters 27800 George
Merrelli Drive
Warren, Mi. (586) 427-9200
UAW Region 1 Veterans Council
Meeting Minutes of 13 January 08.
- Meeting opened
Region 1 Headquarters Warren in due
form at 10:05 am by Brother Al Opra.
- Agenda approved
as read.
- Pledge of
Allegiance.
POW\MIA Prayer
by: Brother Jerry
McKinney.
- The prayer was
given by Brother Jerry our sky pilot
in fine form.
Roll call of
Officers: 7 present 1 excused
and 0 absent.
Roll call of
Locals Present: 51, 160,
228, 314, 400, 771, 869, 889, 961 and
2280.
Locals
Absent: 7, 22,
44, 140, 155, 212, 235, 246, 251, 369,
375, 412, 594, 653, 812, 909, 1149,
1248, 1264, 1374, 1700, 1777, 1781,
1796, 1869, 1979, 2071, 2200, 2211,
2334, 2342, 2381, 2411, 2500, 5960,
6911, 7777 and 9699.
Host Local:
- Brother Tom gave
us greetings from the officers and
members of Local 869. A big thank you
from us to you and your Local 869
membership.
Guests at the
meeting.
Reading of
the Minutes:
Brother Harry “Les” Croyle.
- The minutes of
December 13, 2008 were approved as
published.
Motion made and
passed to accept.
Region 1
Veterans Committee Coordinator:
Brother Tony Feyers.
Brother Tony gave
us greetings from Joe and Mike and
stated that there’re still behind us a
hundred percent. He thanked us all for
voting and helping this country to
change course. The new leadership can
give us hope for our future and that of
our families. Contract negotiations
needless to say are very difficult at
this juncture of our history. A question
was asked of Brother Feyers why people
are unaware of the charity and other
help that our union gives to the
communities in which we work and live.
He then talked about this and the
conclusion I think is we as a union need
to do a better job letting people know
what we do. He also stated that United
Way had to lower or cut some charities
off because there are not enough people
left with jobs to give them money to
give away. A discussion ensued and many
good points were brought up by several
brothers and sisters. Tony announced his
new baby girl born news years morn.
Brother Feyers then took his leave.
Financial
report:
Brother Jim French Jr.
- Honor Flight
Michigan
($ 100.00)
In our Veterans
Activity Account we
have:
$ 9973.63
Motion made and
passed to accept.
Trustee
Report:
Brother Tony Licari.
- Trustees
report to be given at the quarterly
meeting.
VAVS
Report: Brother
Larry Goike VAVS Dep. Rep.
Brother Larry read
the written report high lights follow.
- Brother Larry
thanked all who helped take down the
Christmas Trees. Approximately 10
hearty people showed up as the
weather was a little dicey.
- Its
Scholarship Program time again and
the council did a five hundred
dollar one last year. It should also
be noted that your Local Union can
also donate to this worthy cause.
They will accept any amount you may
want to give as well as your local
union and add them all up until they
get a full scholarship. I would hope
we can get approval for our council
scholarship so we can let them know
at the VAVS meeting of 5 February
09.
- Thank you Mary
Merritt and the GM Lake Orion Local
5960. The work packing the bags and
all your donations for the
Domiciliary were greatly
appreciated. Also UAW Local 1248 and
Sister Delores Prantera helped by
donating four hundred and eight
dollars to purchase some needed
items. Inclement weather was due to
strike the area again so we took the
goody bags to the Dom. a little
earlier than planned. Brother Pace,
I and the Dom residents helped
unload a very full van of stuff.
Nanette the social worker at the Dom
wanted to thank everyone who helped
make the gifts possible and also to
wish us all a merry Christmas.
- Coffee Hour at
least two people are needed to do
this duty but many hands make the
work easier for all. While you’re
there get a program of the morning
service and you will find your Local
number as the coffee sponsor for the
day. We get a nice thank you letter
sent to the reps from the chaplain’s
office. If you want a copy sent to
you or your Local Union give Larry
Goike the email address and he’ll
forward you a copy. Lists of the
Host Locals are in the minutes on
the second to last or the last page.
- The Sterling
Heights DPW 7200 18 Mile Road is
collecting old used cell phones for
ReCellular a Michigan Group that
recycles them. This group pays for
each phone collected and the money
is used to buy calling cards for our
troops overseas. For more Intel call
the Community Relations Department
at (586) 446-2475.
- The next
meeting of the VAVS is February 5,
2009 at the VA Hospital
Motion made and
passed to accept.
Vice
Chairman’s
Report:
Brother Carlton Pace.
·
Dr. Martin Luther King
Volunteer Opportunities; President Elect
Obama is requesting that all Americans
come together and serve their
communities on the 19th and
20th of January 2009. Even
the smallest of efforts like dropping
off can goods, food stuffs and donating
toiletries at food banks for the needy.
If possible donate a pint of blood to
the American Red Cross. Try to make this
more than a single day of service make
it the beginning of an ongoing
commitment to your community. Dr. King
taught us to live a life of service and
he led by example.
Motion made and
passed to accept.
Chairman’s
Report:
Brother Al Opra.
- Greetings and
thank you all for attending our
meeting.
- We received a
letter from the Dom thanking us for a
great Christmas and I want to give a
special thank you to Local 5960 and
Mary Merritt for spearheading this
event. Next on the wish list is a WII
with games and accessories for the
Dom.
- I want to thank
all that attended the viewing or
funeral of Sister Delores Prantera’s
brother Heavens gates are guarded by
one more marine.
- Brother Joe
Curatolo and I both came through our
respective surgeries in good shape.
(Lead in Dr. Martin Luther King quote
HLC.)
If you want to be important-----
wonderful
If you want to be recognized----
wonderful
If you want to be great ----
wonderful
But, recognize that he who is
greatest among you shall be your
servant. That’s a new definition of
greatness.
- 19 Jan. 09 a day
for Community Unity more intel found
at this web site so you may volunteer
for duty.
www.USAservice.org/calltoservice.
- I will be
attending the Inauguration of Barack
Obama.
- Veterans Service
Officer Classes may set up for late
February or early March at the Region
1 Headquarters. Will keep you posted
if we are successful in this endeavor.
- As our Union and
Automotive Industry goes through these
trying times it is imperative that we
stay steadfast in our duty to the men
and women of the Armed Forces of the
United States. To answer our mission
we must stay active in our Veterans
Councils and Locals supporting our
Veterans no matter what happens.
NOW MORE THAN EVER!!!!!
- The Chili Cook
Off will be held on Saturday 16 May
2009. We will need your help to get
entertainment, sponsors, chili cooks
and donations. Please call Harry “Les”
Croyle at (586) 747-2104 if you can
spare some time to help your Veterans
Council earn the money it needs to
help our veterans.
- John L. Jourdan
Banquet date will be decided in the
very near future. Again with your help
this can and will be a good fund
raiser for this council.
- We need Host
Locals for the following meetings
May 12, and September 12th
Quarterly Meeting.
Please get the dates to Harry as soon
as you can. The meeting dates and host
locals for the ensuing year are
recorded in all the minutes on the
back page.
- Lastly thank you
for all you do and as always God Bless
our troops.
Motion made and
passed to accept.
Legislative
Report:
Brother Wayne Conner II.
- Brother Wayne
Conner II handed out an information
packet full of Intel for all veterans.
Motion made and
passed to accept.
Chaplain’s
Report:
Brother Jerry McKinney.
Brother Jerry said
the group was preparing for the
Conference at the Region in March and
Breakfast in April.
Motion made and
passed to accept.
Fund Raising
Committee:
Brother Wally Allport.
- Brother Wally
still selling veteran pins.
Motion made and
passed to accept.
Great Lakes
National Cemetery Report:
Brother Jim French.
·
Brother Jim attended GLNC
and reported 5600 interments and
counting.
·
Phase 2 has started
construction at the GLNC consisting of a
new admin office, 13, 000 plots for
veterans and new flag polls for the
aisle of flags to bring their number up
to one hundred.
·
Golf outing fund raiser in
the future date, time, and place to be
determined. Cost is sixty five dollars.
·
To make arrangements for
burial service you can go through a
funeral home or directly calling the
National Cemetery Administration
Scheduling Office at 1-800-535-1117.
Motion made and
passed to accept.
Old Business:
·
None.
New Business:
·
VA Hospital Scholarship
---- $500.00.
Motion made and
passed to accept.
Good
and Welfare:
- Fallen and
Wounded Solders Fund Raiser Saturday
February 14 at 1700 hrs. and conclude
at 2400 hrs. at the Imperial House
34701 Groesbeck Highway Clinton
Township, Mi. 48035. Complimentary
Valet parking provided, dinner, beer
and wine are included in the ticket
price. Tickets range from $50.00 to
$100.00. A cash bar with premium or
shelf liquor will also be available.
Three Men and a Tenor is the
entertainment. Much more intel at
www.fallenwarriorsfundraiser.com/wordpress/.
- Wild Game dinner
proceeds go to DAV $50.00 per person
advance & $55.00 at the door. January
23, 2009 at the Mirage Hall 18 Mile
and Garfield Rd. dinner starts at six
pm.
- Brother Brinker
reminded everyone that you do not have
to be a veteran to serve on the
veterans committee.
- We have four
coffee hours at the VA Hospital for
the year, all on Sundays; they run
from 9 am to 11 am. You need to be
there at 8:30 am the cost is
approximately $50.00 which includes 4
doz. Donuts, 1 gal of milk, 1 gal of
Orange Juice, and 3 lbs. of coffee.
- Coffee Hours
Feb. 08, 2009 8:30 am VA Hospital
Host Local 51
- Coffee Hours
Apr. 05, 2009 8:30 am VA Hospital
Host Local 7
- Coffee Hours
Jun. 14, 2009 8:30 am VA Hospital
Host Local 889
- Coffee Hours
Nov. 08, 2009 8:30 am VA Hospital
Host Local 2280
In the event
that you cannot fulfill your agreed to
commitment please notify the VAVS
representative or an officer of the
council with as much advance notice as
is humanly possible so we may take steps
to fill the void where needed. Brother
Larry Goike VAVS can be reached at (586)
983-3629.
The following are
all the scheduled meetings of the Region
1 Veterans Council for the ensuing year.
Tuesday, February
10, 2009 @ 5:00 pm Host
Local 228
Saturday, March
14, 2009 @ 10:00 am. Host Local 160
Tuesday, April
14, 2009 @ 5:00 pm Host Local 51
Tuesday, May
12, 2009 @ 5:00 pm Host Local
Saturday,
June 13, 2009 @ 10:00
am Host Local 228
Region 1
Veterans Council is dark for July and
August have a safe and happy vacation.
Saturday,
September 12, 2009 @ 10:00 am Host
Local
All meetings
will be held at Region 1
Headquarters
Up Coming
Events and Raffles:
- Still selling
Veterans Logo Pins.
- Christmas trees
take down VA Hospital is 4 January 09
10:00 am.
- GLNC 29 Dec. 08
rifle salutes Honor Guard.
- Chili Cook Off
Saturday 16 May 2009.
Motion to adjourn
6:37 pm made and passed.
Yours in
comradeship and brotherhood,
Harry “Les” Croyle
Recording Secretary
UAW Region 1 Veterans Council