Mid Winter Grand Promenade – Salina, Kansas January 15, 2005

 

Mid-winter Promenade Business Session opened at 1 p.m.

Call to order Grand Chef de Gare  Roger Bouton

Advancement of Colors

Opening prayer by Grand Aumonier Bill Christensen

Pledge of Allegiance

Welcome to Salina by James Stephens Voiture 1190 Salina.

 

Introduction of Guests by Roger Bouton included

Ernie Cooper, Department of Kansas Vice Commander

Dan Land, Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer passé

 

Roll call of Grand Officers and Directeures by Ernie Cooper

 

Minutes of Grand Promenade by Tom Emerson – Motion made to suspend reading of the minutes, 2nd. carried.

 

25 attendees at Promenade

 

 Reports of Grand Officers

  1. Membership Dan Roberson – Dan reported that Grand needed 270 renewals to be at 100%. And that all area directors need to put the pressure on so that we can reach our goal.  During his report several Locale’s reported they had some membership ready to transmit, that would drop the number of renewals to 247.

 

  1. Financial Report Bruce Kouba – Bruce reported that we are in good shape financially with a positive balance of $ 50,000.00 and all bills paid.  He reported our 200 shares of Bank of America stock had made us 6.36 % on our investment.  Bruce said that we have a one time window of opportunity to make a lot of money for Grand du Kansas if we can sell space in the Nationale program and other activities associated with the 2007 Nationale Promenade. 

 

  1. Grand Conducteur Ralph Schneider – Absent

 

  1. Cheminot Nationale Don Yothers – Absent

 

  1. Promenade Nat’l Americanism Rpt. – John Robbins – Absent

 

  1. Promenade Nat’l Box Car Report – Roger Bouton – Roger advised that Carl Gregg was presented an award and he commends him for his hard work.

 

  1. Promenade Nat’l Carville Star – Jim Schroer – Jim reported that Kansas was 3rd. in the nation for support to Carville Star.  Jim said John Lee does a good job and that Jim has 2005 pins with him to sell.

 

  1. Promenade Nat’l Child Welfare – Bill Christesen – Bill said he was embarrassed that Kansas hadn’t turned in any reports and had not sold any pins. It was decided that Bruce would write a check for the pins we received earlier this week and we would send money into Nationale early.

 

  1. Promenade Nat’l VAVS – John Robbins – Absent

 

  1. Promenade Nat’l Ritual – Willis McCorkill – Absent

 

  1. Promenade Nat’l Youth Sports – Bill Christesen – Bill said he was told that Dan Land always got his reports in on time and that he was well thought of at Nationale.

 

  1. Promenade Nat’l Nurses Training – Jim Schroer – Nationale donated $10,000 to the Charles Audrey fund.  We were in arrears in pen’s cost and we signed for 300 pins that had to be sent back.

 

  1. Promenade Nat’l Voiture Activities – Dan Roberson- Conflict could not attend.

 

  1. Promenade Nat’l Membership – Ernie Cooper – Dan Roberson attended for Ernie and said they reduced the number of Committee members from 12 to 9 and the Directeur was upset about it. He felt membership would suffer because of the change.  Another item was that the July 2005 quota for membership did not include deceased members; this should help the Locale Voitures as they do not have to make up that membership.  He also reported that the transfer form was to be changed to match the Legion forms and if you’re going to transfer you have to inform Nationale.

 

Call for reports of Grand Directeurs – Dan Roberson

 

  1. Americanism – Don Yothers – Absent
  2. Box Car – Carl Gregg – Report attached
  3. Merci Box Car – Ralph Walters – Absent
  4. Carville Star – John Lee – John advised that we had heard that no patients were left in the U.S. but that is incorrect , there are 13 treatment facilities in the U.S. and other’s through out the world and we are the only organization that provide the funds for there publication. John has pins for sell!!
  5. Child Welfare – Monta Plank – Unable to attend
  6. Historian – Tom Emerson – Report attached
  7. American Legion Membership – Ernie Cooper – Ernie feels that Grand should purchase enough ritual manual of ceremony’s so that Grand officers and appointee’s have one so they can learn more about the Forty and Eight.
  8. Special Awards – Dave O’Brien- Absent
  9. POW/MIA – Gary Davis – Absent
  10. Nurses Training – Don Peters – Don reported that only 16 nurse scholarships were used last year.  Don advised there is matching money that is available from Nationael that is not being used each year. Don said he did get some reports in late and would like everyone to have their reports in by June.
  11. Grand Organizer – Kenneth Plumberg – Absent
  12. Grand Directeur of Public Relations – Lawrence Mihelic – Report attached.
  13. Ritual – George Dolezai – advised he would give his report at Grand
  14. VAVS – Godfrey Leonard – Absent – but sent report (attached)
  15. Veterans Home – Jim Butterbauigh – Absent
  16. Youth Sports – Dan Land – Has pins for sell!!
  17. Voiture Activities – Charles Quick – Absent.

 

Unfinished Business

$4.00 in fines was given to Bruce for those who didn’t have signed 2005 membership cards with them. Roger was fined $5.00 for leaving the room with the gavel.

 

 

New Business

A notion was made to appoint Ernie Cooper as President, Bruce Kouba as Treasurer, and Dan Roberson as Secretary of a new Corporation for the 2007 Nationael Promenade . Notion received a 2nd. And after discussion, notion carried.

 

Candidate Announcements

Resolution supporting Steve Ash for Chef de Train for next year was presented.

 

Closing of Promenade

Retirement of Colors

Banquet and Grand Chef de Gare Roger and Grande La Presidente Susan’s Homecoming will begin at 7P.M.