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April 98 - Executive Committee Meeting

The Executive Committee met at Lawton's on 27 April. Present were Brintnall, Hansult, Lawton, McGrew, Mitchell (new member), Nun, Reidy and Scribe Sibert. Chase was absent.

The first item of business was approval of the minutes of 6 April.

The second item discussed was reinstituting the Class gift honoring George Walker. Carpenter has had several discussions with USMA regarding naming of the debate room and an annual gift of books to the two top cadet debaters. The George W. P. Walker Debate Room would include a bronze tablet, door sign and trophy case. The one-time cost of these three items is estimated by the Social Science Department to be $3,000 to $4,000. Cost for the books would be $200 to $400 annually, or a one-time cost of $8,000 if they were endowed.

The Executive Committee agreed to accept Carpenter's recommendation to fund the cost of refurbishing the debate room and the award of the books. The only question was whether to approve the gift of books annually or to establish an endowment. After some discussion it was agreed that the best way to assure the perpetuation of the award and memory of Walker was to establish an endowment. The Executive Committee voted unanimously to provide $3.000 for the debate room and $8,000 to endow the cost of the books which will be awarded annually. The committee noted that by this action the class had competed the project to restructure all awards to deceased classmates (Capelle, Malone and now Walker) that had fallen into disuse for one reason or another. The Class has sufficient money in the AOG Gift Fund.

The third order of business was to consider the proposal by Bradshaw that the class elect its officers every five years. Several members stated that things were working welll as is. The class president is doing a fine job and the duties and responsibilities of the other elected officers are being performed adequately by the Executive Committee. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The thought was also expressed that the five-year reunions were not the time or place to vote for a new president and that the issue could become divisive. At this point in the discussion a motion was made THAT A RECOMMENDATION BE PRESENTED TO THE CLASS THAT THE CONSTITUTION BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE CLASS PRESIDENT EVERY FIVE YEARS. The motion was defeated by a vote of 5 to 2.

There was then discussion of what do in the event the president were to become incapacitated or no longer wished to serve. There was also discussion of who represents the class in day-to-day matters. Who does the AOG contact for specific information? AOG records still list the original officers. On one issue there was no disagreement, Bradshaw should continue as class president. A motion was made THAT A RECOMMENDATION BE PRESENTED TO THE CLASS AT THE BUSINESS MEETING DURING ITS 40TH REUNION THAT ARTICLE IV OF THE CONSTITUTION SHALL BE AMENDED TO READ: "CLASS OFFICERS. THE CLASS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS: CLASS PRESIDENT, WILL REMAIN AS ELECTED. OTHER CLASS LEADERSHIP SHALL BE FILLED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. WHEN THE CLASS PRESIDENCY BECOMES VACANT BY RESIGNATION, DISABILITY OR DEATH, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL NOMINATE A SUCCESSOR FOR APPROVAL BY THE CLASS The motion was approved unanimously. It was suggested that following presentation to the Class, a committee be formed to re-draft the applicable portions of the Constitution and By-Laws to bring them into agreement. These proposed changes would then be submitted to the class for their vote and approval. There was also discussion of whether to reduce the time to amend the constitution from 90 to 30 days. The sense of the Executive Committee was that it should be reduced, but there was no motion to recommend to the Class.

The last item was a discussion of the topics to be included in the 40th reunion business meeting. In addition to the above topic on amending the class constitution, it was agreed that these would be 1) financial report, 2) establishment of a perpetual endowment fund, 3) a proposal to compile an oral an/or visual history of the Class by the 50th reunion, 4) report on what the Executive Committee is doing with the AOG. Finally, Lawton provided a brief review of efforts to bring the Class widows into the Class activities. For various reasons, the outreach effort has met with little response. The effort will be continued.

Pete Brintnall

Secretary


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