NEW FRONTIER CHAPTER #137
CONFERENCE CALL
March 19, 2008
The meeting was called to order at 8:05 AMby Gil Mothershed.
ROLL CALL
PresentPresentAbsent
Gil MothershedBob BurnhamMargaret Meadows
Joe BonauitoPaul PerezHelen Loyd
Debbie GradyPat McCoolSherry Lynn Riddle
Steve MillerDan Katze
Patty Bodwell
MINUTES
CORRECTIONS:Joe Bonaiuto –
Page 1, Attendees Margaret Meadows was listed as “Present” and “Absent”. She was absent for this conference call.
A motion was made to accept the minutes as corrected by Joe Bonauito and seconded by Pat McCool.
Motion carried.
FINANCIAL
Gil Mothershed – The Chapter financial report for the end-of-year, 2007 is $6873.67
The new financial report has not been received.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Highlights and Media Mentions
Steve Miller – There were 165 attendees at the Heartland Council March luncheon. The display on Project Connect drew a lot of attention.
The board is trying new ways to collect donations.
Bob Burnham – Mountain Range Council is getting ready for the Special Needs event with the Boy Scouts. On May 9th we will take them to
Membership
Steve Miller – There are no new members in Omaha this month, but next month’s Blood Drive should allow us some new opportunities.
Paul Perez – We should strive to educate the new employees on Pioneering.
Pat McCool – We need to make a DVD to show at Pioneer functions showing who we are and what we do.
Debbie Grady – Jerry Golmanavich has some brochures. I will get some and see if the information is current.
Patty Bodwell – Sancie Rupple of Wells Fargo and her husband will attend the Channel 6 Auction on April 26th. UBS has also promised to send a representative.
Participation
There were no reports available this month.
Monthly Reports
Bob Burnham - Mountain Range Council
In February we started looking at recycling cansat the North Avaya location.
Pattyrepresented us at the annual meeting.
Sherry Lynn Riddle – Western Horizon Council
Bear Hug A U.S. Soldier for Memorial Day
Operation: Care and Comfort to ship 140,000 “Bear Hugs” to U.S. Troops
For immediate Release: January 17, 2008– San Jose, CA.
Operation: Care and Comfort, an all volunteer military care package program, is teaming with Operation Gratitude, to ship 210,000 special “Bear Hug” gifts to U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan for Memorial Day. This online campaign, dubbed “Bear Hug a U.S. Soldier”, is kicking off today, and for $1, you can help send a specially packaged bear to our troops. An additional 90,000 “Bear Hugs” will be distributed to patients in Veterans hospitals throughout the United States. David Hamblett, a retired east coast businessman, developed and financed this campaign. Dave’s goal is two fold - to get a “Bear Hug” into the hands of every service member in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to raise $1M for Operation: Care and Comfort and Operation Gratitude.
Operation: Care and Comfort's unique program invites members of the community to use their time, talents, and treasure to show our Troops serving in harm’s way that they are not forgotten. "Our program's strength is in the fantastic volunteers who have come forward to help in all areas, including fund raising, product donation drives, letter writing campaigns, etc. We are included in the Department of Defense America Supports You program, so folks all over the country contact us with questions regarding supporting our Troops" said Julie DeMaria, co founder of Operation: Care and Comfort.
“Through the efforts of so many great citizens like Dave, we have sent care and comfort to tens of thousands troops who volunteer to serve our country. Sending this special “Bear Hug” is just another way folks can say THANK YOU for your service!”
With the help of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Post Office and volunteers, Operation: Care and Comfort will package and mail 140,000 “Bear Hugs” on Saturday, April 5th in San Jose, CA. Information including campaign details, product specifications, and donation information is available at www. .
About Operation: Care and Comfort
Since April 2003, the all-volunteer Operation: Care and Comfort program, unique to the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, has shipped 350,000 pounds of care packages for distribution to Marine, Army, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard personnel deployed in conflict regions. Adopted military units receive care packages monthly, until they return home. Operation: Care and Comfort is a member of the Department of Defense “America Supports You” program. For more information on how you can support this worthy program, please visit:
About AmericanRedCrossSanta ClaraValley Chapter
The American Red Cross Santa Clara Valley Chapter is a non-profit, humanitarian organization that depends on the generous contributions of time and money from Santa ClaraValley residents and companies to help the community prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.For more information on disaster preparedness, health and safety classes, volunteer opportunities, and financial contributions, visit
About Operation Gratitude
Operation Gratitude ( the 501 (c) (3), all-volunteerorganization that sends care packages of items and letters addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed in hostile overseas regions. Its mission is to lift morale, bring a smile to a service member's face and to express to all troops the appreciation and support of the American people. Since its inception in March, 2003, Operation Gratitude has shipped more than 315,000 packages to American troops deployed overseas.
About America Supports You
“AmericaSupports You," a nationwide program launched by the Department of Defense in 2004, recognizes citizens' support for our military men and women and communicates that support to members of our Armed Forces at home and abroad. America Supports You spotlights what Americans are doing all across the land, encourages others to join the team, and allows all to tell their stories by giving voice and visibility to their efforts. For More information on the program, please visit
Steve Miller – Heartland Council
I am working on the agenda and plans for my next board meeting on Saturday March 8, 2008- new meeting place only $6 breakfast buffet style, and CLOSED meeting room!
I have sent minutes and agenda out just a moment ago to all the committee members and officers.
I am working on several ideas for board approval at the March 8th meeting.
Additional newsletter to distribute, in case you didn't get one!
Sign up sheets for the newsletter making – only $5 a year
will ask appropriate committee to bring some samples of their work to the next quarterly luncheon- Hug a Bears, hook/Needles, Maps, etc.
I am still looking for a dependable meeting place on a WEEKLY basis for Hug a Bears and Hooks/Needles
and still awaiting a call back from the old manufacturing facility on some possible eBay sales and room? _GOOD LUCK!
Might need to ask headquarters for an OFFICIAL Pioneer logo- goals to make some Officer name tags – nice looking we can wear all year at meetings.
Have a goal of creating paper name tags on card stock and hanging plastic holders for the luncheon attendees... Really tacky I think of writing your own name, which no one can read!
Lots of little goals to accomplish....
And who should I contact a headquarters if needed to get a file and Pioneers logo that a vendor can put on a name tag.
NEW BUSINESS
Annual Meeting
Patty Bodwell – The Rocket display went very well. Fred Hampton, an AT&T Pioneer who works with the Conquistador Boy Scout Council in Albuquerque, NM wants us to help them with a “Rocket Shoot” in their city.
Patty committed to making the trip.
Because of the physical make-up of the Expo area – and poor meeting attendance, the sales were much lower than expected.
I will give a full report after I return home and count the remaining sale items.
Joe Bonaiuto – Everything but the Bowl-A-Thon went well. The bowlers were split into two (2) groups. After the first group finished bowling, they left for lunch and was fed well. After the second group finished, there was not enough food left. Some of the delegates were unable to eat.
I attended the break-out on Grants and Awards but heard very little on grants. The majority of the session was on award submissions.
Paul Perez–Overall, everything went well but there was not enough “free” time for delegates to visit the Expo area. Next year’s meeting in New Orleans promises to have more training – similar to the training given to New Outlook Pioneers each year.
The Saturday night Toga Party was also a great success.
MOTIONS
Gil Mothershed – Los Companeros Mixed Club, a subordinate to Western Horizon Council has requested that the Chapter pass a motion that as of April 1, 2008 their Club will become a Social Club. The motion was passed at Council level on March 4th.
The motion was made by Paul Perez and seconded by Joe Bonaiuto. The motion passed. As of March 31st Los Companeros Mixed Club will “go dark” and become a Social Club. All members of Los Companeros will become members of Western Horizon Council.
Patty Bodwell – The Chapter pays $1400 for necklaces ordered as a fund raiser. The necklaces did not sell very well at the Annual Meeting in Austin.
After the discussion, the motion was tabled. Patty will get more information as to the original dollar amount, the quantity left and the impact on the chapter.
ROUND TABLE
Steve Miller – I met a lady from “The Assistance League” in Omaha. She informed me that the League makes Hug-A-Bears and sells them.
Debbie Grady – Some of the Board Members have Pioneer lapel pins. How do I get one? (Gil will check with The Surrey Group to see if they are still available.)
Next conference call is April 16th at8AM. Pacific Time, Mountain 9:00AM, Heartland 10:00AM.
Paul Perez adjourned the meeting.