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Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association
Rhode
Island
Chapter
“Veterans Supporting Veterans and our Community”
March 2007 Meeting Notes:
Call
the Meeting to order and Salute the Flag.
Pledge of Allegiance to the flag
New Membership Applications or Members
Chaplains Opening Prayer
Reading
and Approval of previous Meeting Minuets
Order of Business:
This
morning we packed and moved forward boxes of donations to the 1207th
Transportation Company stationed in
Iraq
. I would like to thank all those who assisted in this event. I sent out a
box to them a few weeks ago containing the PGR flag for them to sign and
return to fly on missions this year. A
Rhode Island
flag and CVMA flag to fly over the unit, and on missions. I also sent CVMA
coins to all of our members deployed.
I would like to thank
Frank McDurman for his assistance in providing boxes and his generous
donation up to $100 in shipping for this event.
I
had e-mailed out a request to members to ask spouses or immediate family
members of who may be interested in becoming an auxiliary member. Please
let me know if there are any interested parties out there.
Last month I proposed we
add a Position to our B.O.D. as a Chaplain Position.
Do we have anyone who may
be interested in this position? I know I sent Todd jerdee the Chaplain
prayer from which I had amended from the VFW ceremonies book and he was
interested in revising this? This addition must be voted on first by our
B.O.D. and may become a requirement for Chapters in the future with the
By-Law Change. I had read the prayers last meeting. Any takers on reading
the opening and closing prayers? If we still have no takers on the
position. I will ask a different Individual each meeting to read the
Opening and Closing prayer.
“Gathering Of Eagles” Counter Protest in DC on March 17th.
A
Big hand to John Westlake who made the trip…was there anyone else?
Biker Blessing Flyer received for
April 29th 2007
benefiting Veterans
I would like to get this
on our calendar of events.
“Purple Project”: I contacted the family after not hearing
anything for a while, and
Susan
(The daughter of Normand Croteau had contacted senator Reed’s Office and
they are attempting to set up a time when the Senator will be in R.I…She
will not leave us out of this and will contact me within a few weeks.
Spaghetti Dinner Information:
The date is set for next
weekend…March 31st. Mike,
Melissa, and I met with Bob at the Hall on the 10th and did a
walk through of the kitchen etc…and details.
Myself and Barbara met
with Kathy Keighley from the Bristol Veterans Home who has volunteered to
cook for us and help assist in the event on the 17th (last
Saturday)
Bob will open the hall for
us at
4pm
and the dinner kicks off at
6pm
.
We will need servers,
raffle ticket handlers, desserts donated, and a few more gift baskets made
up for the raffle. In-expensive.
I have received e-mails
that the PGR members will attend, Blue Knights, and Ma. CVMA members
including the Chapter Commander. Possible American Legion members from
Warren, and I sent out a message through the vet’s page in the projo,
east bay section and east bay newspapers for this event. This may get
bigger than expected. I will need as many R.I. members as possible to
attend for help. This may be our biggest fund raiser to start the season.
Also. As you know the hall was donated and we only have to cover a $30.00
fee for the bar tender. I would like to donate an additional cash donation
to them at the end of the evening for their support.
2007-2008 Annual dues: Mike is collecting the dues for members this
month as you may have read in his e-mail. The options are to Log-in and
pay through the CVMA store or by check to Mike and he will send the
Chapter dues forward.
Progress on the Regional Meeting in the August: The date is August
12th (Sunday)
The meeting will start on
Sunday at
12pm
noon
. We have secured the caterer from Wolf rocks country Kitchen and planned
a ride through
Newport
on Saturday by the mansions and 10 mile drive. I am currently looking into
rates at the downtown Marriott hotel on
Orms street
just a few blocks from the armory. And have had e-mails asking about a
place with a pool.
Memorial Day Parade in Warren/Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Warren
:
Again, I have been asked
to be a committee member in this years Warren Memorial day events. I will
express my concerns as far as the parade by members who had heat problems
with bikes sitting idle through the route, but do not want to turn down
the opportunity as our presence was such an impact last year on the town
and especially the children. Also, the
Vietnam
wreath laying the day before the parade, we showed with eight bikes. One
of the
Vietnam
vets pulled me aside and said that was the biggest showing he had ever
seen…that meant a lot to them, with only eight bikes. Peter (Vice
Commander) read the prayer. I hope we can double that showing this year.
Although it was a ways for some to travel. We topped it off with a ride
through
Newport
last year.
Bristol Veterans Home car and Bike show: Again, I will sit as a
committee member representing the CVMA for the Veterans Home car and Bike
show this year. I am not sure of the timeframe and await the call from
Bill Camara on this event. (August Time frame again).
Combat Infantrymen’s Memorial:
The combat Infantry
memorial will be unveiled in the spring. As you know we bought a paving
block at the site in
Exeter
Veterans
Cemetery
, and I have placed a call to get a timeframe for this dedication and I
was told it will take place on or around June 2nd.
PGR Info:
There is a PGR four corners ride coming through
Rhode Island
around the 20th of May.
This will be touch all four corners of the country and be conducted by a
PGR Ride Captain also a Veteran and a dad who lost his son in
Iraq
. They are riding and pulling a PGR trailer in memory of those who have
lost their lives in the war on terror.
Dee
will be communicating with them on their way up the coast and we will more
than likely welcome them to RI somewhere near the border. I am not sure if
we will have an official escort or just a welcoming party, anyone wanting
to ride some of the way with them is more than welcome and I am sure a few
PGR members will jump in for some of the ride towards
Maine
. I thought it would be great to see the CVMA there in force welcoming
them to the state as well as the PGR.
Also on May 19th Armed Forces Day Buglers across
America will be holding a special ceremony called Echo Taps Across the
World, Taps will start on the Beaches of Normandy and be picked up on Cape
Cod and from there one after another Taps will play at battle sites,
memorials and cemeteries across the country. Barbara is the PGR contact
for us attending the event in RI and will keep you posted when more
information develops.
Charlie
Battery
Deployment:
It looks
as though Charlie battery along with members of other units is putting
together a security mission and will deploy in the fall (September)
timeframe. I met with the Commander and First sergeant on March 3rd
in
Warwick
to assure we will have the opportunity to escort them to the airport as we
did for the 1207th Transportation Co.
Many of these members had deployed with me, and my
eldest son will also go with this unit. I will ask the PGR for Support on
this as details get closer... the PGR support for the 1207th
escort was overwhelming for the families of the 1207th and this
will be a difficult time for me personally, but the mission is important.
Upcoming
Events:
As you know. In the past year we have attended rides
to benefit Veterans and children and community efforts to improve the
quality of life for those in need. That is our Job as veterans and our
existence as a Veterans Association. This year as we pay our ride
registrations for support events…I would like also to give a gift to
these charities from our Chapter. For example: when we are invited to the
Annual POW/MIA ride in New
Bedford
to support the Veterans of that city. We pay a $10.00 per bike fee. At the
end
Of the ride when we enjoy a meal put on by the VFW,
and the band is up on stage. I would like to give them an additional check
from us for let’s say $100 to the cause.
This not only makes citizens aware of our existence,
but puts the exclamation point on just why we exist and what we do!
CVMA Renewal:
For those who will ponder on the renewal of
membership, remember what we stand for
And ask yourself if this is what you want to do.
Our rewards are not paid through money or monetary.
We are rewarded through our support of veterans and community here and
abroad. The support we provide to those who have served before us, who
serve now, and those who may serve in the future.
To escort a soldier to and from a deployment, to
escort a fallen comrade home who has given the ultimate sacrifice for his
country.
To a child who suffers from a disease who may never
see the future but can live for the moment.
To those who have served and have nothing here, but
to provide a bed and food for them or help to get them back into society
and medical treatment.
To help a family welcome home a soldier, or retrieve
the honors a soldier has earned.
If as a member, you feel as though your schedule
conflicts with rides, meetings, etc…
Then remember this…you give only what you can and
when you can…and that is not a negative reflection on an individual. As
an elected officer, we do need your participation.
Treasures Report:
Set
a Date for the April Meeting….
Chaplains Closing Prayer….
Andrew J. Martel
R.I.
Chapter Commander
Combat
Veterans Association
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