Meeting Minutes
Chief Petty Officers Association of Miami, Inc. 
December 8, 2022 Minutes

Officers:

President: BMCM Chuck Robertson, Retired
Vice President: HMCS Billini Benoit
Secretary: QMC Arthur J. Drago, Retired
Treasurer: OSCS Ronald B. Roy, Retired

 Honorable members and guests present: 


 

CPOA meeting was called to order by BMCM Chuck Robertson at 1932
 
Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence followed by the Sailors Creed.

Chuck – welcomed our new members or returning:

MAC Evelio Martinez – back from deployment

PSC Robert Dominguez

Chuck took a moment to thank the board and the members for their support while he’s been President.

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

Treasurer’s Report: 

Checks outstanding; Check# 1110 for $75 for Ron Z’s plaque

Outstanding deposit : None

Checking $11,497.12

MM $16,960.95

CD $15,916.41         

Total $44,374.48   

Motion to accept the treasurer’s report. Duly seconded and approved. 

Committees: 
 

·        Awards – Chief Short – Carolyn Greenlaw appreciation award for her contributions to the CPOA over the years.

·        Scholarship – Chief Tedlow, - NTR

·        Philanthropy – Chief Powell

o   Letter of appreciation read from BM2 Rodriguez for donation. 

·       Ship Liaison – Senior Chief Starr – NTR  

·        Fleet Week – NTR 

·        Season – HMCS Billini- NTR
 

·       CRYC – Master Chief LaCoursiere – NTR 

·      VA Liaison – BMCM Chuck Robertson - NTR   

·      MWR – HMC Rick Tedlow (Information by Chuck)

o   Key West trip – March 17-20, 2023

o   Lodging suggestions available: Townhouses, Fly Navy, Navy Lodge. An email with the lodging information has been disseminated and the information will be posted online as well.

Chuck mentioned that the townhouses were already booked but encouraged everyone to keep trying in case of cancelation.

February 17 is the first day where the Navy Lodge and the Fly Navy locations can be booked.

o   Holiday Dinner: $25 per person (Must sign up online) 33 seats already taken.

o   Pay options: PayPal, online, at the door

Date /Time: December 17 at 1800

Location: Tropical Acres Restaurant – 2500 Griffen Rd Ft. Lauderdale, Fl 33312

Dress: Yes please!

Anchors: Khaki’s

Partners / guests: cocktail party attire.

There will be a White Elephant gift exchange during the event. The gift should bear an approximate $25 value.

o    Cruise

o   Margaritaville Cruise promotion has either changed or is no longer in effect. Billi will follow up.

o   Members interested in the cruise: Robertson +1, Roy +1, Marcello +1, Tedlow +1, Seche, Powell +1, Herrera +1, Drago +1, LaCoursiere+1. Pam, Jessica, Matt.

·        Old Business: 

o   Juan was given the food gift cards for distribution to LS1 Bowden

·        New Business

o   Board Nominations: Secretary: AJ, Chuck.  (AJ received the majority votes)

                             Treasurer: Ron (voted and accepted)

VP: Chuck, Pam, Billi, AJ, (Pam received the majority votes)

                   President: Billi, Pam (Billi received the majority votes)

All new board members were present and accepted their positions.

o   Motion by Billi on behalf of Chief Bennet: NRA sailor’s wife has stage 4 cancer and sailor has received orders for deployment. Motion is for financial assistance for interim childcare until the sailor gets to his duty station. 1 week was discussed and agreed to for a financial donation of $750. Motion was seconded and passed

o   Motion by Paul to have anyone who hasn’t paid dues in 2 years removed from the roster. Discussion to make it 3 years. Ron advised Mess that the roster is composed of an active and an inactive component. Motion was seconded and passed. Ron will send out an email notifying those that are inactive.

Good of the Order:  

Happy birthday to Ron Z and Pam

Chuck’s departing words of advice to the new board President and VP; Please be good stewards of the funds we have worked so hard to raise.

Dave Cohen is out of the hospital and will begin going to rehab.

Veterans Access clinic has re-opened at Nova Southeastern University. This is a state funded medical clinic for veterans with a DD-214. Optical, limited dental and hearing aids are provided free of charge. Information on the website.

Motion to adjourn: Duly seconded and passed at 2044

//SIGNED//

QMC (ret) Arthur Drago
MIAMI CPOA Secretary