Base meeting was held at the DAV building in Sioux Falls SD.
Dinner was served at 12noon with subs and pizza provided by donations that went till 1pm, then proceeded with the meeting.
A BIG THANK YOU to all attending for contributing for our noon meal, it was delicious!.......but never better than Al’s!!
The meeting was opened with the reading of the creed and pledge of allegiance.
Invocation was given and members introduced followed by the Tolling of the Bell for March/April losses.
Members attending: Dean Deuel, Roger Zarn, Mike Neuroth, Tim Madden, Jim Farquhar, Kent Winter, Nick Wetzel,
Brian Schnurr, Gerold Davey and Bernard Jung.
Secretary/Treasurers reports: Tim stated we are $2901 in the black.
Committee reports: Eagle Scout program, Dan Anderson & Francis Rabaey
Kaps4Kids program: Looking for YOU…… our new Co-Chairman!
Yankton Memorial Planning committee, Dan Anderson & Brian Schnurr were updated on meeting.
Storekeeper: Gerold Davey; ordering through Gerold (Jerry) brings revenue to Base!
Old/Unfinished business:
Meeting with the City of Yankton in Feb were Jim Black, Tim Madden and Kent Winter. Todd Larson was favorable towards our ideas
to promote the USS Scorpion memorial to the City. He spoke of upcoming changes to their historic signage across the city and will
include the memorial as they are updated. We still have ideas of finishing the memorial with a torpedo behind the memorial
and more lighting.
Retention and Recruitment of potential members and past attendees is essential to Base function.
Capt Neutron is still leading the charge on selling the small flags from the DAV! How about you? Buy some and donate
to a good organization!
Have you got Marketing and/or Sales experience? Our Kaps4Kids program will allow you to volunteer your talents to grow and expand our program!
Contact Kent Winter and bring those talents to the Base!
The USSVI Eagle Scout program has contacted Corey Davis, Sioux Council of eastern South Dakota. We will participating
in the Eagle Scout Social in Madison SD, March 29th where we will formally induct attending Eagle Scouts with their USSVI
Eagle Scout badge.
Check on email address of Base members. Ensure ALL members are receiving emails, even if you never respond,
to stay abreast of Submariners interests.
Bob Hanson turned 92 this year and Jim Black turned 90…..but I’m not saying anything!
WELL DONE, sounds like a steak…… to our WWII submarine veteran brothers!
New Business:
March 10th was the 10th anniversary of the forming of the Scorpion Base. Executive Board is planning
a special event this summer for our July 12th meeting.
USS Scorpion SS-278, lost January 5th 1944. Planning an event with Yankton for 2014 and the 70th anniversary! We have been asked by our
District Commander David to move our May ceremony back one week due to his request for a District Conference in Rochester MN that week. We did
move date to May 17th, Armed Forces Day and then Dist. Comm. David canceled the meeting due to lack of participation from Bases, but not ours,
as we had 3 attending.
Tim has lined up the Yankton VFW Honor Guard and the Yankton VFW for meals at 1pm again following service.
Do we want a band/choir for a segment?
Brian has put together a presentation on the crew of the USS Scorpion SS-278 that will be playing at the Yankton VFW during our meal
after the service.
Will be sending press releases to all local media promoting service in April and May.
We are promoting USSVI in local media during May 17th memorial, 4th of July, Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Brian Schnurr and Kent Winter have
put together an advertisement campaign for media coverage.
Concerns expressed regarding the upcoming building of the new USS South Dakota SSN-790. Contact with Representatives, Governor and
other leading contacts have been sparse. We want involvement and up-to-date information regarding the building of this boat!
All agreed and Ex Bd will make contact.
Is anyone going to the 50th Anniversary of USSVI in Washington DC May 21st ?
How about the USSVI National Convention in San Francisco in Sept?
Election of Base officers (2 year terms) will be held at the July meeting. We have 4 members requesting committee assignment!
Check with the Executive Board and see if they have “openings”!!:)
Membership was discussed using the term “Adrift Bubbleheads”. Keeping the meeting relevant with valuable informative, education and
“most important fun” keeps members coming back!
Long range plans are to meet with local Sioux Falls Veterans Memorial Park for a memorial plague to submarine veterans. With the recent
National memorial plaque in DC, we feel it can be duplicated and used for our local memorial site along with base matching others in place.
Brian Schnurr won the 50/50 drawing of $50 and donated $20 back to the Base. (The base received $45 of the $50.)
Meeting adjourned at 2:30pm.
