Base meeting was held at the DAV building in Sioux Falls SD.
Dinner was served at 12 noon with Louisiana Gumbo and Jambolie served by Gwen.
A BIG THANK YOU to Gwen and Al for putting on our noon meal, it was delicious!

The meeting was opened at 1pm with the reading of the creed and pledge of allegiance. Invocation was given by “Pope” Francis,
members re-introduced and the Tolling of the Bell for Nov/Dec losses.
Members attending: Jim Black, Al Small, Mike Neuroth, Tim Madden, Nick Wetzel,
Brian Schnurr, Gerold Davey, Bernard Jung, Dan Anderson, Francis Rabaey, Jim Farquahr and Kent Winter
Secretary/Treasurers reports: Tim reported we are $2435.34 in the black!
Comittee reports:
Eagle Scout program, Dan Anderson & Francis Rabaey, tasked to work with Sioux Council for next event.
Kaps4Kids program: Dan set up a K4K’s Veterans program at McCrossan Ranch with Jim Farquahr, Al Small, Kent Winter
and Dan discussed the meaning of Veterans Day and presented the kids (60) with kaps.
Later Al set up K4K’s program at Children’s Home Society with Dan Anderson, Kent Winter, Jim Farquahr and Al where we met with over 50 kids
discussing Veterans Day and our K4K program.
The Base needs to thank both Dan Anderson and Al Small for making the arrangements! Excellent work!

Old/Unfinished business:

National ($20) and Local ($10) Dues are due now. We will be contacting you if you haven’t paid up…
May Memorial service, asked members who we should get to speak? Kent brought up Sec of Vet Affairs Larry Zimmerman or Lt Gov Matt Michels.
Maybe we go after a Yankton City member as Speaker that would bring in the City more? Other names were mentioned too but we’ll need to lock one in shortly.

Thanks to Dan Anderson and Al Small for arranging the 2 Kaps 4 Kids programs over Veterans Day.
Al has also set up a Base fundraiser with the Pizza Ranch after January. Watch for more details coming.
We need to “activate” our own Base membership and search out for new prospects in our everyday functions. Where might we find our “adrift” prospect?
Is there a database of ex-submariners?
Webmaster Brian said the web site is updated for another year with more pictures of past events.

Even if you never don’t ever plan on attending the Base meetings or other functions, please send the RSVP request back to Kent Winter
so we still know you are receiving them. At least we know you are still out there, of course, understanding that not everyone wants to play.

Sioux Falls DAV is open to all veterans and would appreciate your support by joining them too!

New Business:

Discussed participation in 2015 Yankton Riverboat Days parade (Aug 2015) and Worthington’s Turkey Day parade (Sept 2015).
Dan discussed his idea to have the McCrossan’s Ranch build us a parade float and will check on costs. Jerry indicated that Warren A. also
expressed interest in building a parade submarine float. Let’s sit down and find out which direction is best for the Base and then work
towards a solution with our float. I think the interested parties should put together some drafts so we can see what it is they are building
and what the costs are upfront before finalizing with Base members.

Trying to make contact with the Midwest Regional Navy League regarding the upcoming building of the new USS South Dakota SSN-790.

Presented Jim Black with one of our Base polo shirt with USSVI logo and WWII Submarine Vets logo and thanked him for his service to our country.

Tim Madden thanked Base for flowers sent to his wife’s funeral. Four of us were able to attend the funeral in Avon,
thanks to Jerry, BJ, Kent and Brian for representing the Base.

Discussion was held on ordering submarine cards for generic purposes when we might as a Base want to send a card to someone.
Everyone thought we should purchase a box and see how they work for us.

Asked Tim and/or Jim to contact Bob Hanson’s son who had made a powerpoint presentation on Bob’s Navy years. Base would like to get copy for our records.
Dan presented Brian with an Award for his talented work on Dan’s house.
Looking for someone who would be interested in our long range plans with the City of Sioux Falls!
Our long range plan is to meet with the SF Park & Rec Dept which controls the Sioux Falls Veterans Memorial Park for a memorial plaque to submarine veterans.
With the recent National memorial plague in DC, we feel it can be duplicated and used for our memorial site in SF.

Next meeting is Saturday, January 10th, 2015 at the SF DAV.

The 50/50 drawing was held and Tim had his named pulled from the hat. He won $52.
Tim also brought 2 gifts which were drawn for and won by BJ and Jim Black.
Per Tim, thanks you for remembering to bring smaller amounts of cash!

Meeting adjourned at 2:30pm.