Meeting Minutes

Apr 29, 2000, IOOF Hall, Olympia, WA

2. Members present: Brothers Steven Fenton, Jeff Henningfield, Ted Kunjara, Ken Richmond and Hal Bellerud. Guests Present: Ted's parents and sister.

3. Minutes of the last meeting were approved as written.

4. There was no Treasurer's report.

5. Jeff Henningfield gave members present an update on the Post Project concerning the collection of GAR records. Jeff indicated that the project has slowed down over the last two months. About half of the states are completed. There is a need to review the data that has been collected. In addition, consideration is being given to having downloadable text files, and one idea is perhaps having a web-page per state. The National Office is paying for this project.

6. The Summer Camp Picnic was discussed and the date was set. The date will be Saturday, June 24, 2000 and will be held at the Odd Fellows Puget Beach Park in Olympia.

7. A brief discussion was held about the possibility of having our own Department. With the large number of members from Vancouver and Portland, there is a possibility that this could happen. There will be additional discussion at the next meeting.

8. Discussion was held concerning the ceremony for Vernon Byron Mathews. Senator Patty Murray will not be able to attend, but one of her aides will be. Clark County Police have been alerted. City and county officials have also been invited to attend. Lieutenant Mathews has had two previous incorrect headstones, and a third corrected headstone has been ordered. Parking at the ceremony should not be a problem. Ken mentioned that Commander Fleck wanted to use camp funds to mail out the formal invitations to this event. Members present unanimously approved. Ken mentioned that there still was not a Chaplin who had agreed to participate in this event and brother Henningfield volunteered to look into this, as he is aware of a Chaplin stationed locally. Ken showed a xeroxed copy of a souvenir ribbon that will be given at the event. Essentially, the event is shaping up very well.

9. Discussion was raised concerning the license plate issue. Ken reported that it has not been decided yet, but that we should know by the June picnic if we can move forward with this.

10. Hal raised the question as to whether our Camp will have a presence at the Fort Steilacoom Memorial Day even this year. A suggestion was presented that perhaps we should have someone there in a period tent, in period dress for recruitment purposes. It was agreed by all that we should have a presence at this event and that perhaps one of our re-enactor members might be able to secure a tent for this purpose. A suggestion was also made that our guest, Jennifer Kunjara, who represents our Daughters and Ladies organizations may also want to join us at this event. If she or a representative cannot attend, she will send us brochures to display on our table.

11. Hal mentioned the need for us to have our own Camp Banner to display at events such as the upcoming one at Fort Steilacoom. A small banner can be purchased for about $65. Jeff mentioned that we need official approval to use the logo.

12. The meeting adjourned at 12:05 hours.