Meeting Minutes 13 May 2025

1.  The Shipmates monthly meeting of FRA Branch 208, Camp Lejeune, NC was called to order at 1800 on 13 May 2025 by Shipmate President Raymond Applewhite.

2. The Pledge of Allegiance, Opening Prayer and Preamble to the FRA Constitution were waived. 

3. The following Shipmates were present:

     Raymond Applewhite – President

     Lou Alers – Chairman, Board-of-Directors

     Al Austin

     John Caskey

     George Cleveland

     Cornelius Dozier

     Al Farrell – Director

     Jerry Gray – Master-at-Arms

     James Hill – Treasurer

     Tim Manchester – Webmaster

     Paul H. Miethker – Secretary

     Alexander Nevgloski – Chaplain

     Tom Punda

     John Rooney

     Mike Rooney

     Terry Scott

     Darrell Taylor

The following guests were present:

      N/A

4. NEW SHIPMATES

     N/A

5. MINUTES

     The minutes of the 8 April 2025 meeting were accepted. 

6.   FINANCIAL REPORT   Approved Pending Audit

7.  COMMUNICATIONS

a.  S/M Secretary Miethker indicated the Branch received the following:

(1)  List of paid S/M’s for May 25 from National HQ.

(2)  List of deceased S/M’s for May 25 from National HQ

(3)  Letter from the Salvation Army requesting a monetary donation.

(4)  Letter from Special Olympics, North Carolina requesting a monetary donation.

8.  OLD BUSINESS

a.  The Branch appreciation letter for the MCB Commissary will be presented soon. We are

waiting to hear back from the commissary on a good day to present the letter.

b.  The FY 25-26 Branch Officers were sworn in by PRPEC S.D. Martin via telephone.

c.  The Quarterly Road-Side-Cleanup will be rescheduled for a future date.

d.  S/M President Applewhite, informed the Branch that he is still waiting to hear back from

the various civilian police departments for a date and time for the Branch, Coffee-With-A-Cop Program.

e.  S/M PAO Tim Manchester provided an update on the Branch “Beach Package” raffle.  A

total of $1080.00 has been raised. 

 9. NEW BUSINESS

      The FY 25-26 Branch Officers were sworn in by PRPEC S.D. Martin via telephone.

10.  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. Memorial Day Observance, Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery 26 May 25 @ 1100.

e. Regiment of Retired Marines breakfast, Hilton Garden Inn, Jacksonville, 7 Jun 25 @ 0700.

f. 9/11 Memorial Observance, Lejeune Memorial Gardens, 11 Sep 25 @ 0800

g. MCB CL Retiree Appreciation Day, Marston Pavilion, 27 Sep 25 @ 0900-1400

h. Beirut Memorial Observance, Lejeune Memorial Gardens, 22 Oct 25 @ 1030

i. City of Jacksonville Veterans Day parade, CCCC, 8 Nov 25 @ 1000

j. Regiment of Retired Marines Ball, 8 Nov 25, New Bern Convention Center @ 1730.

11. BIRTHDAYS   

           2 May – Paul H. Miethker

           8 May – Dean Hawkins

           9 May – George Cleveland

         13 May – James Hill

         13 May – Charles Johnson III

         13 May – Keith Overton

         13 May – William St John

         19 May – Paul Levesque

         27 May – Stavros Chantles

         31 May – James Rowntree

12. TWO BELL CEREMONY

     N/A.

13. 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 1940. The next meeting will be held on 10 June 2025 @ 1830 at DAV Chapter 16 Building Jacksonville, NC.

                       Paul H. Miethker

                          Shipmate Secretary