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| RECIPIENT LIST SUPPRESSED This is a BLIND CC sent to the entire POC LIST ================================================================= USSVI ZAP NOTE 05-008 Date: Tuesday, 15 March, 2005 From: Greg "Gunner" Stitz - webmaster@ussvi.org TO: POC LIST For distribution USSVI Convention 2005 http://www.ussvi.us/2005_Conv/2005conv.htm Base & Nat'l Officers Forum http://www.ussvi.us/o-forum.htm The COMPLETE POC LIST http://www.ussvi.us/poc-cmbo.htm All BROADCASTS http://www.ussvi.us/webmastr/brdcasts.htm 2005 BROADCAST LISTINGS http://www.ussvi.us/webmastr/2005.htm This BROADCAST http://www.ussvi.us/webmastr/2005/05-008z.htm STATE OF USSVI MESSAGE ================================================================= STATE OF USSVI MESSAGE ================================================================= Submitted by: Tom Conlon, National Commander ================================================================= Each year the president of the United States presents to the congress a "State of the Union" message. Since I'm nearly six months into my tenure as your National Commander, I figure it's a good idea for me to provide you with a "State of USSVI" message. DUES Since the end of the convention in Saratoga Springs, we have had numerous members take advantage of Life Membership at the old rates. Because of this we have added almost $100,000 to our national treasury. These funds will be invested to support future operations. Also, of the date that I'm writing this message, we are 450 members ahead of where we were last year. I believe that this is a good trend. NATIONAL OFFICERS As you know, Gordy Clark resigned as National Secretary. Gordy had some business and personal issues that he had to deal with. Accordingly, I appointed John Markiewicz as National Secretary. John was a candidate for National Secretary in the last national election. Since taking over as National Secretary, John has contributed much to the Board of Directors. Also, Jim Terrell has resigned as Editor of The American Submariner. Jim has been editor for quite some time. During his tenure as editor, The American Submariner has grown into a first class magazine. I believe that it is the equal of any other veterans organization's publication. Jim has done excellent work. We will miss him as editor. Jim has said that he will stay on until the end of this year while we find a new National Editor. National Senior Vice Commander Jim Foote and I are conducting the search for a new National Editor. NATIONAL OFFICE AND LIBRARY We are considering the purchase of a building to house our National Office. As you know, we established our national office about 5 years ago. We did this to centralize our organization's operations. Over the years those operations and responsibilities have increased. Since we established the office we have moved from our original small space to our current one. Currently, we rent 500 square feet of office space in Silverdale, Washington. We are outgrowing that space. Additionally, over the last few years we have "inherited" several library collections. Their donors are holding them until we can find a place to put them. In September, during the convention, NSVC Jim Foote and I discussed the possibility of purchasing a building to house our national office and the libraries. Jim is researching properties in the Silverdale area. If we purchase a building, we will be able to expand our National Office and establish a small museum and library to house our collections. We will discuss this at our Mid-Term Meeting in Little Rock. There are many issues related to purchasing a building. We will discuss items such as establishing a building fund within our national treasury for members and Bases to donate to assist in the purchase, mortgages, down payments, maintenance costs, etc. I want to assure you that these are preliminary discussions. This is a "long term" project. There are many things to be considered. I do not want to make this decision hastily. I will keep you, the members, informed at every step of the process. I do not believe in keeping secrets from the members. RE-DISTRICTING Our membership is growing rapidly. We are also establishing more and more Bases. Because these Bases are more widespread through our organization, it's becoming harder and harder for the District Commanders to visit all the Bases in their areas. Last year you voted to allow the Board of Directors to modify the existing District structure. At the Mid-Term meeting, we will discuss how to do this. The goal is to make it easier for District Commanders to visit the Bases in their district. For example, in the Central Region, there are ten Bases in the State of Texas. Texas is in District 5, which already comprises the States of Arkansas Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Bret Cortright is the current District 5 Commander. It is very difficult for him to visit the other Bases in the district as well as those in Texas. Therefore, in an effort to "streamline" the District and make it easier for the District Commander to get to the Bases for which he is responsible, I have "carved out" a new District 5A from the current District 5. District 5A will comprise the State of Texas. It has its own District Commander who is responsible for administering the State of Texas. The new District 5A Commander is Ray Wilgeroth. Ray will take care of the ten Texas Bases. I believe that he will do a great job as the new District 5A Commander This situation also exists in the Eastern and Western Regions as well. We will discuss re-districting at the Mid-Term Meeting in Little Rock. We will also solicit comments from the current District Commanders. EAGLE SCOUT AWARD In November, Basil Kio of NJ North Base raised the possibility of having a National Eagle Scout Award for Bases to award to Boy Scouts who attained the rank of Eagle Scout. I then tasked Basil, National Award Chairman Art Randall, Paul Orstad, Tom Denton and Jim Christley to come up with a suitable award. They devised an award that we have made available to the Bases to present to Eagle Scouts in their areas. This will get us out into the community even more. ELECTION ISSUES Last year the organization voted for two-year terms for National Officers. Recently some members have asked if there will be balloting this year for Constitution and Bylaw issues. I consulted with Ed Yoder, our National Parliamentarian, to get a clarification. The national constitution says, in part, that: (and I'm paraphrasing here) "Constitution and Bylaw issues shall be considered in election years." I asked for Ed's opinion. This year is a non-election year. He agreed that, since will not vote for National Officers, we will not be considering Constitution and Bylaw amendments. We will, however, consider and vote on C&B issues in the next election cycle. REGIONAL AND DISTRICT ELECTIONS NSVC Jim Foote will conduct Regional Director elections over the next several months. Jim will post a request for nominations in the American Submariner. PNC Steve Russo will receive the nominations. A ballot for Regional Director elections will be printed in the American Submariner. Steve Russo will receive the ballots. Ballots will be counted and the election results will be announced atthe KC convention. The Regional Directors and District Commanders will conduct their District Commander elections as they have done in past years. I hope that you find this "State of USSVI" message to be informative. I believe in keeping the members informed. As I've indicated on past occasions, you can always give me your opinions, either by email or in person. I may not always agree with you. Sometimes I may not respond. But I'll always read your emails or listen to what you have to say. Running HSN, Tom Conlon, NC ================================================================= ........END ZAP Note No. 05-008.......... |