Minutes for DAV Chapter 200 held July 17, 2008 at the Oneonta Vet’s Club.
Meeting was opened in proper manner by Cmdr. Keidel at 7:05 pm.
Cmdr. Keidel led the pledge of allegiance and Jerry Shannon read the opening prayer.
Eleven members were present.
Officers present were Cmdr. Keidel, Sr. Vice Donnelly, Adjutant Thompson. Jr.Vice Hopper.
Chaplain Coates and Tres. Henriksen were excused.
Chapter service officers Donnelly and Payne were present.
Stanley Fish’s sister was a guest and Roger DeChiara submitted a request for transfer into Chapter
200.
The Chapter minutes for June 19th were read and approved with an addition that the purchase of the
VFW plaque and Certificates of Merit to the Band Members was done on a motion by John Donnelly,
2nd by Grant Coates. The motion had been approved but was not written into the meeting minutes.
The June treasurer’s report was accepted on a motion by Jerry, 2nd by John.
A bill of $13.48 for donuts submitted by Laura Thompson was approved.
Under Sickness and Distress it was reported that Morris Jung and Carl Drake have died.
Norm Payne reported that Ivan Winner is still taking Chemotherapy but is doing better.
Grumpy reported that his boy that had been injured is out of the service and doing ok as a firefighter in
Massachusetts.
Membership: The chapter was awarded a blue ribbon to go on the chapter colors for making our quota
of membership for 2007-2008.
The last quota number I saw was 319.
We have four new members Bruce Adams, Sherburne, Ronald Anderson, Mt. Upton, James Gould,
Leonardsville and Mark Schorer, Hartwick.
Communications were read and place out for all to see.
Committees: Adjutant Thompson reported the storage cabinets the chapter purchased from Sears have
been assembled and are in the garage down stairs under the Club; awaiting the chapter property from
Adjutant Thompson’s garage.
Service officers Payne and Donnelly both attended the training course and were recertified at the state
convention. They stressed that anyone injured on active duty and discharged without a medical discharge
should report to a VAMC. They should contact a DAV Service Officer to file a claim.
Norm reported numerous cases of veterans not filing promptly but there is no deadline on filing a claim.
One example of a Chapter 200 member waiting sixty years and then getting compensation for a hearing
loss was handled by Norm.
The point is don’t let someone talk you out of filing a claim.
Unfinished business: Lou Palumbo was reminded he needed to work on a letter to the Vision 2
director. The letter is to encourage the use of DAV vans in parades, fund raisers, public relations
promotions and etc.
Norman Payne spoke on the matter and said this problem was brought up at the State DAV Convention
and that DAV Department of New York would be asking National to make changes in the regulations.
New business: Adjutant Thompson presented a letter from a local group wanting help with their
program of sending packages to overseas troops.
It was suggested we check them out more, so no action was taken.
Adjutant Thompson brought an invitation to the 75th Anniversary Dinner Party of DAV Chapter #38.
Dinner is November 8, 2008 in Troy, NY. Anyone interested please contact Adjutant Thompson at 607-
764-8134. Reserve by October 15th.
Lou Palumbo brought up the idea of running a late van trip one day a week.
We will check this with Denny Martin our van dispatcher.
Good of the Order donations were $20.50.
A memorial service for departed comrades was held at 8:00pm.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm
Submitted by Ernest Thompson, Adjutant