Fall Cheminot Minutes October 17 & 18, 2008

Killeen, Texas

Locale Chef de Gare Gabe Cina opened the fall cheminot in due form at 1:00 pm in the locale’s chateau. A welcome to Harker Heights was given by mayor pro - tem Randy Robinson. He ask all present to enjoy the two cities that you do not know when you leave one and enter the other. There are lots to see and do in both. Chef Cina turned the program over to Grand Chef de Gare Milton Chatham. Grand Chef Chatham called on Aumonier Lowell Mix for the memorial for deceased voyageurs and dames.

Chef Chatham called for a 10 minute recess so dames and guest could leave the room.

Grand Chef de Gare Chatham reconvened the cheminot at 1:35 pm. Chef Chatham appointed T. J. McDermott acting conducteur for this cheminot because Jack Winslow could not attend the cheminot this weekend. Chef de Gare Chatham suspended business to perform a formal wreak of two P G’s from locale 312. Voyageur McDormott and voyageur Murphy helped with installation of the steps to become a voyageur. Chef Chatham seated the new voyageurs and started the business of the cheminot.

Roll call of Grand officers and voiture locales was given by Grand Correspondant Barfield. The call showed 39 officers present, 4 absent and 3 excused, also 12 locales present and 5 absent. The correspondant declared a quorum was present to do business.

The cheminot call was read and the rules of the cheminot was give. Grand Chef Chatham called for reading of previous minutes. 

A notion was offered by V - Brady to not read the minutes seconded by V - Givens. Grand Chef Chatham called for a voted on the notion voted on and passed. Chef Chatham called for reports to be given.

Chef de Train Div. 1 - Ron Mick - The first Div. is standing at about 25 % at this time. Renewals coming in slow.

Chef de Train Div. 2 - George Murphy - No report at this time.

Chef de Train Div. 3 - David Knutson - No report at this time. I have one locale at zero. That will be corrected soon.

Chef de Train Div. 4 - John Pepin - I have not visited any locales yet. At this time Div. 4 is at about 50% on renewals.

Americanism Report - Clifton Guillory - I received 6 reports from locales. They did a great amount work in the program. I wish the other locales would report their work.

Child Welfare Report - Daniel Zmroczek - I have no report at this time. I do have pins for sale, see me after the cheminot.

Box Car Report - Ronnie Wheeler - I have new pins and cards you can get on consignment. Every voyageur in your locale should have a boxcar card. At Nationale each year the boxcar committee donates over $10,000 dollars to the other programs. So you see your dollars goes to a good cause.

Disaster Relief Report - Glen Cobb - I have not received any request for help.

Constitution & By-Laws - John McKinney - At the Nationale Promenade in September the resolution on membership requirement change was voted on and passed this time. You can now invite any honorable discharged veteran with a DD214 or any active military service man or woman to join the 40 - 8. Nationale has changed their Constitution and it overrides the locale’s constitution so there is no need to change the locale’s just for this change. At the Grand Promenade next year we will change the two sections that relates to membership requirement. If any locale changes their constitution you need to send me TWO COPIES to read and approve. I have to sign them and the Grand Correspondant signs them and sends them to Nationale for approval.

Commis. Intendant Report - Javier Patron - The check book was looked at by checks written and deposits made. As of today the check book has $7,439.56 in it. The budget line items was gone over showing three items over budget, but the total monies spent was under the budget. A notion was offered by V - Wheeler to except the report, seconded by V - Fowler. Notion voted on and passed.

Finance Committee Report- John McKinney - The meeting was called to order at 9:00am. Div. 1 Jack Winslow absent, Jim Shannon seating in, Div. 2 Jabe Cina present, Div.3 John Powell present, Div. 4 John McKinney present and acting chairman.

A prayer was offered by V- Lowell Mix for guidance. A budget for 2008 - 2009 was worked up by V - McKinney, V - Patron and V - Barfield Friday afternoon to speed up this meeting. We will have an estimated income of $5,325.77 and the budget line items add up to $ 5,075.00. The income is based on monies from Nationale plus interest on Cds and raffle money which will given out tonight at the banquet. The budget line items are - Flowers/ Memorials $100.00, History Book $125.00, Bond $100.00, Office Expense Correspondant $150.00, Office Expense Commis. Intendant $100.00, TVN Newsletter $200.00, Travel Expense Law Officer $400.00, Grand Chef Travel $2,250.00, Past Grand Chef to Nationale Promenade $300.00, Cheminot Nationale to Nationale Promenade $300.00, Guest to Grand Promenade $250.00, Other Expenses $800.00 There being no further business for the committee it was adjourned 10:10 am. A notion was offered by V - Wheeler to except the finance report seconded by V - Chevalier voted on and passed.

Nurses Training Report - John McKinney - The meeting was called to order at 10:20 am by chairman John McKinney.

Div.1 Ron Mick absent, Seating in was Lanny Givens, Div.2 Doug Pendleton, Div. 3 Javier Patron, Div. 4 John Long. Grand Aumioner Lowell Mix offered a prayer. I have pins for consignment see me after the cheminot.

The money market checking account has $6,693.54, and a 15 month CD of $6,000.00 in San Antonio. We have a CD in Killeen that has $12,760.15 in it. This is a total balance of $25,601.15. A notion was offered by V - Givens to remove the CD from the Killeen bank and place in San Antonio with our other monies seconded by V - Long. The notion was voted on and passed. The bank in Killeen will not release the CD until V - Rick Overturf goes to the bank and tells them to get his name off and put Javier Patron on and move the CD to San Antonio. V - Jim Fowler said he would get Rick by his little hand and take him to the bank to change things. The scholarship fund has $3,000.00 dollars that can be spent this year. Voiture locale 939 turned in a request for $250.00 for a student. They have spent all of their scholarship monies that was budgeted for this year. The committee members looked the application over and after discussion approved the request. There being now further business the meeting was adjourned at 10:55 am. A notion offered by V - Givens to except the nurses training committee report seconded by V - Wheeler.  Voted on and passed.

Ritual Report - Oral Van Sickle - Not present and on report.

Youth Sports Report - Jack Winslow - Not present and no report.

VAVS Report - Darrell Gibbs - Total hours turned in 1,253, miles traveled 10,021, money spent $2,700.00 this is my report.

POW/MIA Report - Tom Larsen - There is a list of thousands names you can check out. More information soon.

Voiture Activities Report - Jim Fowler - Ain't no body sent me nothing so I have no report to give.

Time and Place Report - Johnnie Washburn - Merci boxcar and cheminot in Austin the third weekend in February 2009. The Grand Promenade will be in Beaumont the third weekend of June 2009. We have no one to host the fall cheminot in 2009.  Go back to your locale promenade and see if you can host a meeting and let Grand know at the cheminot in Austin.

Ways and Means Report - George Bannon - I understand the raffle fund raiser by V - Wheeler was very successful, so if it isn’t broke don’t change it. V - Wheeler will provide me with the details and I will be sending out information soon. I will be submitting grant requests to many Wal-Mart Stores since they recognize 501(C) (19) veteran groups for that program.

Resolutions - None was turned in to the correspondant.

Cheminot Nationale - Jim Fowler - I have no report since I did not go because of illness.

Alt. Cheminot Nationale - John Long - I went the Nationale Promenade and was installed when they called Jim Fowler’s name.  We did not have many voyageurs and dames go because of the long trip. The resolution on membership requirement was voted on and passed . They installed a new Nationale Correspondant Bernie Sampson. David Rabius retired suddenly this summer.  The password is still “vets”. This is my report.

Grand Chef Report - Milton Chatham - I also went to the Nationale Promenade. I went to the membership committee meeting.  The next day the session was mostly giving out awards and speeches. The next day was the vote on changing membership requirement. There were 454 delegate votes total and it took 306 votes to pass. One counter has 309 votes and the other had 311.  The correspondant split it and recorded the vote as 310. Each locale still controls who they ask to join.

Old Business - No old business.

New Business - You can down load the new membership application form at the 40 - 8 web site. Check out these web sites.  Voiture locale 542 - www.voiture542.us and voiture locale 175 - www.texasboxcar.com they both have information about things going on in Texas.

Good of the Voiture - V - Givens spoke on the Central States Promenade coming in May 2009 in Wichita, Kansas. Texas has to put on the party around swimming pool. We need lots of voyageurs and dames there to make bloody marys and margaritas.

All voiture locales needs to turn in a income tax exemption. You can fill on line go to - www.irs.gov - Click on business forms and click on non - profit organizations and follow instructions.

There being no further business Grand Chef de Gare Milton Chatham closed the cheminot in due form at 3:25 pm.

Banquet - Held at American Legion Post 573. Grand Chef Chatham introduced Grand Officers and guests. Grand La Presidente Carol Cina introduced Grand Officers and guests. The meal was very good and plenty for seconds. The raffle winners was drawn and the winners liked the money. Locale 1031 had their door prize drawing and the banquet was over. Grand Chef Chatham wished all a safe trip home.