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Class of 1958,
These are the minutes of the last Class Executive Committee meeting. Please read them and feel free to comment, suggest, criticize. Your input is always welcome and encouraged. You can communicate directly with the members on matters in their areas of responsibility, and with me, of course, at any time. The work of the committees is ongoing and your inputs will be appreciated whenever you get a good idea.
Palmer McGrew
Minutes of the Executive Committee (EC) meeting, December 6, 1999, at Palmer McGrew's house.
Members Present:
Members Absent:
The meeting was primarily devoted to discussing committee assignments. Each member of the EC, except the Chairman and Past Chairman, is a committee chair. McGrew led a discussion of committee responsibilities. The core message for all committees was that they should think strategically, developing goals and means to achieve those goals. Results are summarized below:
The Secretary (Dick Reidy) chairs a committee which has responsibility for recording, storing and summarizing class policies. This committee is also responsible for nominations to the Executive Committee, other class leadership positions, AOG offices, and for [recognition by the] AOG and USMA AWARDS. This committee should develop procedures for nominating and for supporting nominations by others, when appropriate.
The Treasurer (Al Chase) chairs a committee responsible for accountability for class funds, and for class gifts. With respect to class funds, the committee should analyze income-producing activities and known or expected expenses to fully understand their impacts. Such activities as the Art Committee, classmate memorials funded by the Class, and normal class activities should be included. The desirability of converting the Class to a "Veterans Organization" for tax purposes should be investigated. With respect to class gifts, the committee should develop procedures to ensure regular awareness of the state of our class gift, the First Class Club, and to remedy problems when the occur.
The Class Social Committee is chaired by John Nun. John was absent due to a business commitment. This committee consists of Tony Bauer, John Herren, and Dale Hruby. This committee is responsible for developing and executing a schedule of social activities for the Washington-area classmates, for reunions and mini reunions, for the CCQ notification system, and for special events (such as golf tournaments). With Lawton's help, the 2000 social calendar is nearly complete and will be included in the Class Newsletter that will be distributed this month. The committee must immediately consider AN activities for next year when the game will be held in Baltimore with probably greater than usual attendance. Ed Weckel has investigated several tailgate opportunities and will have to act upon one of them before long.
The Class Communications Committee is chaired by Jerry Mitchell. A standing committee comprising the Scribe, the Webmaster, the Email Honcho, and the printer should be the goal setter and methodology developer. Jerry feels that he needs the flexibility to employ ad hoc committees to respond to specific communications needs, such as mailings for onetime events. The standing committee should strategize the best combination of means to ensure that every member of the Class receives information about class and USMA activities, and should superintend the implementation of that.
The Class History Committee is chaired by Alan Salisbury (absent due to illness.) This committee is responsible for development of a class history product for the 50th Reunion as well as an enduring set of historical resources for future use by classmates, descendants and historians. The medium (media) will be determined as information technology continues to rapidly develop.
The Class Initiatives Committee is chaired by Pete Brintnall. It is concentrating on the Military Health Care problem for the time being, and is responsible for developing a strategy for class activities aimed at improving military health care and restoring health care for Medicare-eligible retirees. The Health Care committee includes Pete, George Lawton, Art Mace and Paul Vanture. It was charged with determining a way to become proactive rather than reactive, ensuring a coherent program involving all interested classmates.
Al Chase reported on the First Class Club and discussed some changes recommended by The Cadet Activities Officer, LTC Enders, to extend the bar, replace the bar rail (which had broken and was difficult to maintain) with a wooden step. The EC took the position that before we went along with any modifications to the club we would go to Dale Hruby and ask him to examine the proposal. The club has been used to entertain outside (non cadet) activities The EC has no problem with this use, it enhances the importance of the facility and helps West Point. The Sports TV is very popular and is appreciated. The overall reaction is that the club is in good shape. Chase indicated that we should officially designate Bob Pointer as the Class of 58 IG of the club and that the class should improve it's participation at the annual turnover ceremony that is conducted during August. The EC concurred.
Chase also indicated that the class gift fund balance was at $88,000 and the investment was earning less than 4%. Last year he had instructed AOG to invest our funds in a 65/35 mix of equities and fixed income instruments. The AOG did not change their investment policies Association-wide until 1 July 1999, which explains the low rate of return. There was an $8000 decrement to the Fund that was for the George Walker
Endowment and the Walker Room furnishings. This expenditure was authorized by the EC and Bradshaw had instructed AOG to withdraw that money from our Gift Fund account in a letter dated 27 January 1999.
Mitchell proposed use of class funds to reserve a tent for a class tailgate party at next year's Army-Navy game which will be played in Baltimore Raven's Stadium. The money will be reimbursed to the class after the game from proceeds from the tailgate party. The EC was favorably inclined, but deferred a final decision pending a survey of the class by Ed Weckel to determine how many would attend the festivities.
Brintnall reported that an article on health care signed by the EC will be published in the Jan/Feb issue of Assembly; a talker was sent to our three and four star classmates to use with senior military and civilian leaders; and we are attempting to get AUSA to take a strong stand on the issue. These efforts are being coordinated with both TROA and NAUS. We are also working with the McCain campaign committee and will attempt to get the Bush campaign committee to support it. If anyone is working with either the Gore or Bradley campaigns, please let us know. It is important that all the candidates support this issue. NAUS supports us fully in these efforts and is more than willing to work directly with the campaign committees of both parties. Our grass roots efforts can make a difference as evidenced by the fact that H.R. 2966 picked up 191 co-sponsors in just two months.
The meeting ended at 2130 (9:30 PM).
Dick Reidy
Phone: (202) 496-2589
Email: reidyr@nasdaq.com