March 28, 2005
Veterans, members and friends—
Minutes. . . elections. . . convention. . . quarrels. . . new units. . . new members. . . Federal charter. .
. budget. . . Graybeards. !!!!!!!!!!!!!
For some people time may seem to creep by; I can assure you that when you are in charge of this organization
with so many clamoring almost all the time for information, you find preparing these updates coming entirely too
soon.
The National Convention
The National Convention will be in Bossier City, Louisiana, October
2-5, 2005. The first two registrations for the Convention came from two of our Members holding the MEDAL
OF HONOR. Steve dePyssler, Retired Activities Office, Barksdale Air Force Base, will be
sending promotional materials to each Chapter in the next week. The March-April Graybeards will contain
some information, and the May-June issue will have all the information and a registration form. In addition,
the website will have the registration form available next week. You can print it and mail it in.
Special Committee on Recruiting
Up in New England Jeff Brodeur has signed up over two dozen new members in the last two or three
weeks. As he was reporting this success at Reno, Director Jim Ferris introduced the motion to have a
Special Committee on Recruiting. The President was directed to appoint the Committee and I want to do so
within the next two weeks. Anyone who wants to be considered for appointment should contact me by email or
telephone as quickly as possible.
The Executive Council
There was an overall new spirit of cooperation as we completed our meeting in Reno. Many meaningful tasks
were accomplished and future improvements set in place, as you will see in the Official Minutes when we finish
preparing them for publication. I want to express my appreciation to each member in attendance - as well as
the staff which also contributed to the success.
Director Harley Coon, Former President, resigned for reasons of health. We wish him well in solving
some health problems.
The Election
I have seen considerable interest in the nominations which will be announced in the next Graybeards
(around April 15th), which will also include the ballots for voting for four (4) of the nominees. Some
candidates are already “campaigning” and I wish them well.
Note: No member should use the KWVA website, Graybeards, or individual officers, directors, or
appointees to publicly support any candidate. That would be inappropriate and ethically suspect. All
candidates will be afforded equal administrative support from the National office.
The nominees were approved in open session at the Reno Executive council Meeting, and I am happy to
announce their names at this time (in alphabetical order):
- Robert S Banker, R028382
- Jeffery J Brodeur, LR35528
- Donald M Byers, LR03658
- John G Edwards, LR08658
- Robert F Fitts, LR25998
- William F MacSwain, LR26546
- Robert J Simon, LR19434
- Warren H Wiedhahn, LR06555
- Christ Yanacos, LR11094
In this election there are really five Director positions being voted for: the four regular
vacancies for three year terms plus a two year completion term for a Director position presently
vacant. The candidate in the election earning fifth place will fill the two year vacancy. While I am wishing
all of these candidates good luck, I am more concerned that our members vote in large numbers showing their
support of the Association.
Thanks to Dick Adams and Dick Wainwright and the Nominating Committee for their work
in developing the slate of candidates for the coming election of Directors.
Sometime in the next few weeks I will be giving a Progress Report of this first year, which will
enable all of us to measure, reflect, and set future goals.
The KWVA Calendar
Ads concerning the 2006 KWVA Calendar will begin appearing in the next Graybeards and on this website. A
members committee headed by Marty O’Brien provided input and copy to the firm that asked to publish and market
the calendar. Check with Marty for further details. The KWVA will receive a royalty on each sale. More
important, I believe, is the high quality of the calendar. You will admire it. Watch for the ads because you
will not receive personal mailings on this project.
Greetings from IFKWVA
As I was completing the posting this update I received a telephone call from The Honorable KAP-Chong
Chi, OBE, the Chairman of the UN Korean War Allies Association, and Special Advisor to the
International Federation of Korean War Veterans Associations. He asked that I greet all of our members
for the Korean Veterans Association. Mr. Chi was a war correspondent in the first three years of
the on-going Korea War and later a member of the National Assembly.
Meetings
- The Department of Virginia meets in Staunton, Virginia, April 1.
- The Department of Texas meets in Arlington, Texas, April 2.
- Jeff Brodeur and the KVA meet in Massachusetts on April 2. Jeff expects several more
additions to the KWVA to result. His Chapter 299 will be introducing the optional KWVA patch at
the event... Anyone who wants to purchase one should contact Jeff at 617.523.1441 or
KVAMANE@aol.com.
- The Department of New York meets at Turning Stone Casino Resort, New York, May 11-12.
- The Department of Florida meets at Mandarin Ramada Inn, Jacksonville, Florida, May 13-14.
- The Department of Illinois meets in Peoria, Illinois, June 10-11.
- As you know, I am committed to ALL veterans of ALL wars. Especially that means the
Korea Veteran, 1950 until today. There are several organizations of Korea Veterans with whom I deal, and
one of them is the DMZ Vets led by David Benbow. We have been requested to announce that
the DMZ Reunion which is usually held in Statesville, NC, will be held in Pendleton, Oregon August
5-7, 2005 at Wildhorse Casino Resort. They will be providing details later, and I am sure that you
can obtain additional details via email (ewagon@earthlink.net).
We wish them well and invite them to the KWVA Convention, October 2-5 in Bossier City/Shreveport, LA.
Be seeing you in The Graybeards, on the road, or on this website.
President
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