April 2012 Meeting Minutes
Chief Petty Officers Association of Miami, Inc.
Thursday, May 3, 2012

Meeting called to order: 1930.  Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence. 
 
Officers:

Ø     President:          QMC Arthur Drago

Ø     Vice President:  ETC Rick Schuchman

Ø      Secretary:         ITC Karen Leonard, USSOUTHCOM

Ø      Treasurer:        OSCS Ronald B. Roy

Honorable members and guests present: (20)

Minutes from the Previous Meeting.  Motion to accept minutes as posted.  Duly seconded and approved. 

Treasurer’s Report:  

Ø     Checking balance:  $ 19,334.00

Ø     Savings:                  $ 3,137.70

Ø     Money Market:       $ 10,158.51

Ø     Total:                      $ 32,630.21

 (1) Outstanding Check(s): $71.97 (Trophy Land)

Total Outstanding: $71.97

Ø      (1) Outstanding Deposit: $3,375 (Coral Ridge Yacht Club)

Total Outstanding: $3,375

Normally the amount of donations raised is between $13-15K. This year, over $21,400 was donated. Majority of food was donated and a good amount of the alcohol.

Ø     Ring fundraiser is currently at $1,025.

Ø     $100 in dues collected online.

Ø     Motion to accept Treasurer’s report.  Duly seconded and approved.

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Committees:

1. Race – (Mike Short/Norm Powell)

·      NASCAR will be 14-18 NOV so start planning to save those dates to volunteer!

·      TIP training will need to be redone for everyone online. Cost is approx $40.00 but reimbursable by the CPOA.

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2. Scholarship –   (Rick Tedlow)

·       One application submitted.

·       Deadline for applications is June 30, 2012

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3. Philanthropy –  (Norm Powell)

·       Reminder that we support on a quarterly basis:

1.     Armed Forces Center at Miami International Airport ($2,000/yr)

2.     Thanksgiving Dinner for “needy” Sailor/Soldier/Coastie

·       Norm stated he was looking for new opportunities to support (must support sea service). Ideas were suggested to think about included:

(1)  Wounded Warrior Project

(2)  New Armed Forces Center at FT Lauderdale Airport

(3)  Sea Cadets

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4. Ship Liaison –  (Al Starr)

·       Fleet Week :

1.     Approximately 350 showed up for the Fleet Week Reception.

2.     Sea Cadets did a great job and the 10 “gun” salute was a nice touch.

3.     Al read several emails from the Ship CMC’s that are available online. BLUF: They had an awesome time and loved the yacht rides.

4.     Lessons Learned discussed:

a.      CON: T-Shirts were not distributed properly. Next year need ensure CMCs from ship get shirts for all their Chiefs on watch.

b.     PRO: Was nice to have a head count of Chiefs onboard in advance for planning purpose.

c.      CON: Some Chiefs left w/o goodie bags. Need to have bags out in front vice in a side room and someone needs to be available to distribute when it appears people are leaving to ensure they get one.

d.     CON: Raffle items were left over because not enough raffles were drawn. Maybe have the DJ call out the numbers and have the table closer to reception tent vice out front by the door.

e.      PRO: We have list of donators so we can use this for next year.

f.       CON: Advertise to the ships to stock pile on their Mess items so they can sell at the reception (they ran out of item while in New Orleans).

g.      PRO: Excellent food (and free drinks a plus)!

h.      CON: Sound system needs to be louder. Could not here if you were out on the lawn.

i.       CON: Reshuffle the agenda because too many people thought the party was over at 2100 because announcements stopped etc.

j.       CON: Need better lighting under tent to read raffles and announcements

k.      Suggestion was to make Yacht rides an official Navy  event.

5.     Fly by was a nice touch by the Coast Guard. Nice and low.

6.     Blimp did make it after they finished with the Latin Music Awards. They circled around for almost 10 minutes around 2145, unfortunately, only some of the CPOA members and CRYC were present. Blimp read, “Thank You US Navy Chiefs and Coral Ridge Yacht Club”

7.     Al meets with Broward Navy Days on 8 May to discuss events.

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5.      Induction –  (Chris Marcello/AJ Drago)

·       Every Thursday night during Induction season we will meet at the VFW.

·       Committees have not been set up yet.

·       More to follow

Notes:_____________________________________________________________
 

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6.      Awards –  (Harvey and Dave Cohen/Mike Short)

·       NTR

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 Old Business:

·       Mobile Canteen: Mike Short has not been able to catch up with the guy who has the unit as it is locked away on a lot.

1.     Event insurance will not work as you must pay for a policy for a full year, not per event.

2.      Seafood Festival in Oakland Park charges $2,000 just to be a vendor. Don’t think that would be a venue we could profit on.

·       Ring Fundraiser: Company said they would donate some $ to our Mess.

·       25^th Anniversary Cruise: Have to book at least 8 rooms for the group rate.  $50.00 deposit would be due by 1 June per cabin and remainder by 15 August. AJ put out the total cost with port fees ($99.) and taxes and those in attendance did not seem to think that a weekend cruise was worth that much $. New cost with port fee and taxes are:

o      $189.00pp    inside cabin → $375

o      $229.00pp    outside cabin → $385

o      $369.00        balcony → $765

o      $799.00        suite → $765

Need to know by 15May if anyone wants to still go or we will canx and try to plan a weekend hotel getaway or something. Paul LaCousiere has some contact for this and will see what he can find out.

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New Business:

·       Mike Short put out that he can get plain white ceramic coffee mugs with our CPOA logo only on them for $12.00. If interested, respond to website request.

·       Rick Tedlow made a motion that we increase our donation to split our Thanksgiving dinner donation to one Sailor at Thanksgiving (vice 2) and one Sailor at Christmas (to include the Sea Cadets). Motion was seconded and approved.

·       Rick Tedlow recommended we start doing Mother’s Day and Father’s Day picnics  (starting next year) to try and get everyone together. Motion was seconded and approved.

·       Chuck Black mentioned he was on the committee for the new commissioning of the USCGC Richard Ethridge in the Port Everglades. He made a motion to request we make a donation and/or plaque. CPOA asked if he would please provide  the different award level “fees” so we can see what they are asking for funds. Decision will be made next meeting.

·       Need to check and see when our annual donation to the VFW is due.

·       Al Starr made a motion that Gayle Malone remain the VFW/CPOA liaison. Seconded and approved.

·       Before Tim Neary passed, he had made it quite clear to Gayle that he wanted a party in his name. Motion was made to donate $500.00 towards a reception in Tim’s name. More to follow on date and venue.

·       When Joe Verderber returns from NY (CRYC Reception Chair), an after action report meeting will be set up.

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Good of the Order:

·       Military Monday with the Marlins: Attend free games on below dates as long as you have a military id card. Just go to the Marlins box office. Games available are:

1.     May 14 vs Pirates     (1910 game time)

2.     May 21 vs Rockies   (1910 game time)

3.     May 28 vs Nationals (1310 game time)

4.     June 25 vs Cardinals (1910 game time)

5.     July 16 vs Nationals  (1910 game time)

6.     July 23 vs Braves      (1910 game time)

7.     Aug 13 vs Phillies     (1910 game time)

8.     Sept 3 vs Brewers      (1310 game time)

9.     Sept 17 vs Braves      (1910 game time)

10.  Oct 1 vs Mets             (1910 game time)

·       AJ Drago mentioned to Gayle Neary that we had a moment of silence at the CRYC Chief’s Reception for Tim and she appreciated it. She seems to be holding up well considering. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her and the family.

·       Friday, May 11^th, the Riverwalk will be hosting a Burger Battle. There will be cover charge to participate and taste all the burgers.

·       Sang Happy Birthday to Stan Lesser, our WWII Vet.

·       Paul Douglas won $7.00 at the 50/50 drawing.

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·       MAY BIRTHDAYS:

·       MAY ANNIVERSARIES:

Motion to adjourn:  2100.  Duly seconded and passed.

//SIGNED//

ITC(SW/AW) Karen Leonard

2012 CPOA Secretary