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Minutes The
meeting commenced by teleconference at 1000 EST. Present were
Schwehm, Ray, Hocker, Rabe, Kovel, Gadd, Golden, Ramsden, and
Schorr. Absent were Sadler and Smith. Former AOG
Advisor Voorhees also attended.
1. Kovel was commended on his recent Class eNotes. He reported that he had run into some minor problems on format, but that it had eventually gone off well. 2. On the subject of hanging things on the walls of Library coffee shop, Schwehm mentioned that Stevens had assessed the situation on a recent visit to the Academy, and found that there was only one wall with the necessary space, but that it was a curved structure, ill-suited for hangings. A suggestion was made to mount unframed posters; however, Schwehm noted that it would be difficult to protect whatever you might put up in that fashion. Schwehm closed by saying that he would personally look into the matter at the earliest opportunity, and specifically that he would check with the DCA to see if they could help. 3. Schwehm advised that the AOG has a list of those who need to receive notification of funerals being held at West Point, and wants to know if there is anyone who should be added. It was noted that this is a list of all graduate funerals, not just those of ’57 graduates. Several Board members asked to be added to the roster. Stevens has already proposed Ray Bell and Carl Waldenmaier, who both live a short drive from the Academy. Schwehm asked if there were any others who needed to be added. None were offered. 4. Regarding Memorial articles to be included in the TAPS magazine, Schwehm noted that there would be five more of our classmates recognized in the next edition. He added, however, that we are way behind in our efforts to get every classmate so eulogized. Ramsden suggested that we make a push to get everyone to prepare their own and submit them to the AOG (and/or make sure that the spouses and/or other family members have a copy, and know what to do with it). Kovel then reminded everyone that they would only receive the future editions of TAPS if they ordered and paid for it ($20). Ramsden noted that obituaries are available on the AOG web site. Hocker added that some are also available on the Class web site. 5. Re West Point oriented license plates, Schwehm asked Golden to collect pictures of such plates from classmates. He also asked Kovel to publicize this in his next Class Notes, and for Regional Reps to also put out the word, urging everyone owning such plates to send photos to Golden. He then asked Golden to write something up for him to send out on the net, including a sample picture. 6. Schwehm reported that Lou Circeo is eager to have our Howitzer scanned and reproduced for distribution on DVDs. Kovel observed that this had already been done with the 50 Year Book. Schwehm then asked if the Board thought that this was a good idea. Stevens offered that he thought it was, because the single family copy of the Howitzer would eventually go to only one of the surviving offspring. In future years, other offspring might want to have access to the book, if, for example, they became involved in the family genealogy. Schwehm countered that they would be able to obtain a copy on eBay. Considerable discussion ensued concerning how reliable a source this would provide in later years and how many descendents would ever find a use for them. Ramsden, seconded by Hocker and Kovel felt that it was unlikely that enough other offspring would care, such as to make it a useful expenditure of our funds. Voorhees agreed with Stevens. There was then much discussion about whether the Board should turn Circeo down flat, or advise him that the Board was not prepared to pay for this action, but that he could do it himself, if he wished (with no help from the Board). Finally a motion was made and seconded, to support Circeo’s proposal, and a vote was taken. The result was 7 nays, 2 yeas, and 1 abstention. Further discussion ensued as to whether the Board should agree to let Circeo do it on his own, with possible support from other classmates. Schwehm finally submitted that he would tell Circeo to do it on his own if he wished, but that he should not do anything without keeping the Board advised. This was let pass without objection. 7. Treasurer’s report: Rabe reported that there was $22,077 in the Admin Fund. This is considered sufficient to get us through the next reunion. Schwehm allowed as how, with the AOG running things, not much money was needed. He said that the way the AOG operates, everything is handled by email and credit cards. Kovel countered that there are other expenses, like the costs of printing and mailing announcements and schedules to all classmates. Schwehm assured him that these costs are covered by the total we pay the AOG for their services. Rabe then advised that Leigh Ogden was prepared to conduct an audit of our accounts. Rabe is scheduled to meet with Ogden at the Class luncheon in DC on 2 October, to hand the books over to him. 8. Re disposition of the remainder of our Class Gift Fund (approximately $150,000). Schwehm suggested that there are three options we should consider: a. Move it all to the Memorial Maintenance endowment. b. Let it ride. Thereby, if this Board does not find a worthy use, it will be available for later Boards, should they come upon a good and worthy cause. c. Make a final donation to the AOG/Supe, selecting from a list of established needs, recently compiled by the AOG. Schwehm began by postulating that, if not spent early-on, and assuming that it would continue to grow at approximately 5% (a figure the AOG has been successful in maintaining over the long haul – through good times and bad), the money could mount to a very substantial figure (it could grow to $350,000 in 12 years, $680,000 in 25 years and $2.3 million in 50 years – to which Kovel interjected that we would all be dead by then; and the money would have long since been handed over to the AOG). According to Schwehm’s scenario, it would eventually become far more than the Class would ever possibly need (particularly considering that our numbers would be falling, while the dollars were increasing). Schwehm then asked that someone make a motion, before any further discussion. Ray made the motion that we give all of the money to the AOG, specifying, however, that it be used for only those activities that would provide additional training to selected cadets. It was not seconded. Kovel then made a counter-motion that we take no action; rather, keeping the money for future potential use. Schwehm refused to accept Kovel’s motion. A lively discussion ensued. Schwehm finally agreed to allow Kovel’s motion to stand. And it was seconded. At that point, Stevens offered that there were several reasons not to spend the money now, to wit: a. There is some likelihood that the endowment funds would prove inadequate in the near-to-medium future; and could therefore require additional input. b. If we don’t come up with a specific use that is so appealing that the Board feels it to be particularly worthy of our giving it our last dollar, we can pass it on to the next Board, with the possibility that this group might discover such a specific use. If such a need were never to arise before we have all passed on, it would go to the AOG for their discretionary use. Which is not that bad of an eventual outcome. c. Stevens then cited an example of the kind of program that might draw the interest of a Board, now or later. He reported that he had recently briefed such a program to the AOG CEO, who received it enthusiastically, immediately directing that it be investigated in depth. However, it would not be cheap, with its production likely to involve many hundreds of thousands of dollars. Given that the idea originated within the ranks of the Class of ’57, should it eventually see the light of day, it could well be dedicated to our Class, particularly were we to make a major contribution to seeing it accomplished. Ramsden then asked Ray if, in his professional opinion, the Honor Plaza would need significant additional repair in the future. Ray replied that it is hard to predict this kind of thing, but that in all likelihood, it would require continuing refurbishment into the future; but that it should be able to go long enough that, barring a major problem, there should eventually be sufficient funds available from the endowment. There was then some discussion as to just what the motion had called for, and it was agreed that it was, “to not do anything with the Class fund at this time.” A vote was then taken, and the motion passed 10 yeas to 1 nay. 9. Concerning the position of a Widows’ Representative, Schwehm reminded the Board that this had been discussed at length at an earlier Board meeting, that Ramsden had been made the POC for the pursuing the plan, and that a candidate had been selected. However, she later resigned, due, according to Kovel, to a disagreement on the prescribed duties of the position. Gadd asked if she was to be a member of the Board. Schwehm responded that she would not; she would be an advisor, simply because making her a Board member would require amending the Constitution. Kovel suggested that many of the duties originally suggested for the position were inappropriate or unnecessary, to wit: provide support to the conduct of reunions; represent the spouses, as well as the widows; to send separate invitations to attend the reunions; to send a separate condolence letter to widows of recently deceased classmates, etc (I trust that Ramsden kept detailed notes of these and all of the many additional issues discussed). Schwehm finally decided that the issue be tabled, and that Ramsden should take action to revise the list of duties, distribute the new list to all Board members, and then bring the matter up at the next Board meeting. 10. Re the Class Flag, Schwehm reminded the Board that pictures of the flag had been sent out to everyone. He then mentioned that the flag had its initial use at the Vardamis funeral. The suggestion was made that we need to put out additional information on the use of the flag. Schwehm responded that an AOG staffer named Baskerville has the responsibility for the care of funeral family members, providing aid, advice, etc. She will arrange for a class flag to be displayed at a chapel or the cemetery (not both). And she will fully brief whoever has the responsibility for handling the flag at each funeral. Additionally, she will, if requested, mail a flag to other locales, for funerals or other events. This would be at Class expense. 11. No date was established for a subsequent meeting. 12. The meeting adjourned at 1121 EST. Respectfully submitted, F. R. Stevens, Jr Class Secretary
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