Minutes for DAV Chapter 200 held June 18, 2009 at Oneonta Vets Club
Meeting opened at 1910 Hours in proper manner with opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
Officers present were:
CDR Keidel, Senior Vice Commander Donnelly, Junior Vice Commander Hopper.
Treasurer Henriksen and Chaplain Coates were excused.
Thirteen members were present.
Visitors were Judy Betts and Barbara Boone.
The Minutes for May meeting were read and then approved on a motion by John, 2nd by Joe Betts.
There was no Treasurer’s Report! The report will be given at the July meeting.
Bills against the Chapter for donuts, gasoline and maintaining the Chapter website were approved on a
motion by John, seconded by Lou.
Sickness and Distress John Perry passed away on May 20, 2009.
Al Masciandaro had surgery to have a heart defibrillator installed and is home, doing OK. He attended this
June meeting for a short time; we are glad to have him up and around.
Membership An application for membership by Beth Akulin has been sent to National. An application by
Harold Schalk was taken and will be sent to National. A request for transfer into Chapter 200 by William Houck
of Norwich was approved on a motion by Ron Palmer, 2nd by Lou.
Communications All correspondence was read and placed out for all to see.
Special note was made of two donations made by Mr. And Mrs. Clark of Milford and Mr. and Mrs. Binette of
Worcester, MA, in Memory of John Perry.
Committee Reports Thanks to Roger DeChiara for having Forget-Me-Not cans at his yard sale. $82.06 was
collected. Thanks, Roger!
The Forget-Me-Not drive held May 22-23 at Oneonta Wal-Mart store and Oneonta’s Southside Mall collected
over $1600. The exact amount will be in the next Treasurer’s Report.
The Memorial Day Parade preceded the Service in the Park and an Open House, held at the Oneonta’s Vets
Club. Adjutant Thompson was the Speaker of the Day and was introduced by CDR Keidel.
CDR Keidel reported June 13th was a nice day for the Sidney Home Town Day Parade. Three members rode
in a Cadillac convertible borrowed from Whit Whitaker.
June 18th - CDR Keidel and Adjutant Thompson raised a new DAV flag on the flagpole at the club.
CDR Keidel reported he has replaced yet another unserviceable US flag and Joe Betts also replaced one and
received a $40 donation. The old ones are being collected and will be burned at a later date.
No Unfinished Business
New Business Joe Betts made a motion , 2nd by John, for the Chapter to purchase three bronze and twelve
plastic flag holders to be put on members’ grave sites. The by-laws say a bronze for active members and a
plastic for all others. Bronze holders are $70 each and Plastic $7 each.
A motion to purchase a DAV flag for outdoor use was made by Joe, 2nd by John and was approved. The flag
will be kept until needed to replace the present flag.
A system for a better way of contacting Chapter members was discussed and the use of e-mail and telephone
calls was agreed to be the best. It is hoped that a method of shared contact can be worked out. Adjutant
Thompson will get a membership list by ZIP code, which should help in getting each member to know who lives
near them.
Some options for a Norman Payne Memorial Project were discussed, such as a set of steps from the parking
ot to the sidewalk or a removable wall between the bar room and the game room, to cut down on noise during
meetings. CDR Keidel appointed Joe Betts to head a committee to work out some details. Lou Palombo and
John Donnelly will work with him. It was also discussed that the Chapter could buy a new vacuum cleaner for
the club dining room. No decision was made.
Joe Betts made a request to the Chapter to make a donation to the Chenango County American Legion to be
used to help offset the cost of the Legion’s booth at the Chenango County Fair. This booth will distribute
information to any interested veteran attending the fair. It was suggested that he have a letter from the Legion
making the request and it will be considered.
Good of the Order was $42.oo
Memorial Service to departed comrades was at 2000 Hours.
Closing and adjournment was at 2055 Hours.
Presented by Ernest Thompson, Adjutant