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Meeting Minutes 10 September 2024

The Shipmates monthly meeting of FRA Branch 208, Camp Lejeune, NC was called to order at 1830 on 10 September 2024 by Shipmate President Raymond Applewhite.

  1. The Pledge of Allegiance, Opening Prayer and Preamble to the FRA Constitution were recited by all present.
  2. The following Shipmates were present: Luis Alers – Chairman, BOD
    Raymond Applewhite – President
    Cornelius Dozier
    Al Farrell
    Gerald Gray – Master-At-Arms
    James Hill – Treasurer
    Paul Levesque
    Mike Maddox
    Tim Manchester – Webmaster
    Paul H. Miethker – Secretary
    Alexander Nevgloski – Chaplain
    Tom Punda
    John Rooney
    Mike Rooney
    Terry Scott

The following guests were present:

  N/A
  1. NEW SHIPMATES
    N/A
  2. The minutes of the 13 August 2024 meeting were accepted.
  3. FINANCIAL REPORT.
    Approved Pending Audit
  4. COMMUNICATIONS
    a. S/M Secretary Miethker indicated the Branch received the following: (1) List of paid S/M’s for Sep 24 from National HQ. (2) List of deceased S/M’s for Sep 24 from National HQ (3) Letter from the Salvation Army requesting a monetary donation. (4) Letter from Special Olympics, North Carolina requesting a monetary donation.
  5. OLD BUSINESS

a. The Branch appreciation letter for the MCB Commissary and the State Veterans Cemetery
will be presented soon. We are waiting to hear back from the commissary on a good day to present the letter.

b. The Quarterly Road-Side-Cleanup is rescheduled for 14 Sep 24 at 0730.

c. The Branch approved a purchase of a full-page ad in the Swansboro MCL Detachment
1407 convention booklet for $100.00.

d. S/M Secretary Miethker updated the Branch on the food/drink donation for the
Jacksonville Station. Not required at this time.

e. S/M Secretary Miethker updated the Branch on the current tax exempt status.

  1. NEW BUSINESS

a. S//M Secretary Miethker brought up the numerous requests for monetary donations.
The Branch voted not to donate.

b. S/M President Applewhite reported on S/M’s that are ill.

c. S/M President Applewhite informed the Branch, that the Jacksonville Golden Corral has
already been reserved for 10 Dec 24 @1800 for the annual Holiday dinner.

d. The nominations for the City of Jacksonville Veterans of the year will be due soon, any
Branch member can make a nomination to the Branch.

e. Swansboro MCL Detachment 1407 is raffling off an electric Bike for $10.00 a ticket. The
drawing will be Dec 24. Also the Morehead Quilt Guild has donated 4 quilts to be used in a 50/50 raffle.

f. MCL Devil Dogs are still collecting pet food for donation to multiple Animal Shelters in
our area.

  1. GOOD OF THE ORDER.

a. First Saturday of the month: Reading of the North Carolina POW/MIA Names, Vietnam
Memorial, Lejeune Memorial Gardens @ 1200.

b. Every Friday, Veterans Coffee, Lowe’s Foods. Cape Carteret @ 0800.

c. Second Saturday of the month, Navy Retired Chiefs Breakfast, Jacksonville Golden Corral,
@ 0830

d. 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, Lejeune Memorial Gardens, 11 Sep 24 @ 0800.

e. VA Seminar, DAV Building, 19 Sep 24, 0900-1100

f. POW/MIA recognition day, Lejeune Memorial Gardens, 20 Sep 24 @1830.

g. Annual MCB Camp Lejeune, Retiree Appreciation Day, Marston Pavilion, 28 Sep 24,
0800 – 1400.

h. 41st Annual Bierut Bombing Remembrance Ceremony, Lejeune Memorial Gardens,
23 Oct 24 @ 0800.

i. City of Jacksonville Veterans Day Parade, CCCC 8 Nov 24 @ 1000.

j. Retiree Marine Corps Birthday Ball, Jacksonville Hilton Garden, 9 Nov 24, 1800-2400.

k. Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony, American Legion Post 265, 7 Dec 24 @1100.

l. Wreaths Across America, State Veterans Cemetery, Camp Johnson, 14 Dec 24 @ 1200.

  1. TWO BELL CEREMONY N/A
  2. There being no further business, a motion was made to adjourn. The Closing Prayer was recited, and honors rendered to the American Flag. The meeting was adjourned at 1935. The next meeting will be held on 8 October 2024 at 1830 at the Jacksonville DAV Chapter 16 building. Paul H. Miethker Shipmate Secretary