Meeting Minutes 14 October 2025
1. The Shipmates monthly meeting of FRA Branch 208, Camp Lejeune, NC was called to order at 1830 on 14 October 2025 by Shipmate President Raymond Applewhite.
2. The Pledge of Allegiance, Opening Prayer and Preamble to the FRA Constitution were recited by all Shipmates present.
3. The following Shipmates were present:
Luis Alers – Chairman Board of Directors
Raymond Applewhite – President
Al Austin
John Caskey
George Cleveland
Al Farrell – Director
Gerald Gray – Master At Arms
James Hill – Treasurer
Tim Manchester – PAO
Paul H. Miethker – Secretary
Alexander Nevgloski – Chaplain
Tom Punda
John Rooney
Michael Rooney
Darrell Taylor
Terry Scott
Steve Tracy
The following guests were present:
N/A
4. NEW SHIPMATES
N/A
5. MINUTES
September 2025 minutes were accepted as written.
6. FINANCIAL REPORT
The financial report was accepted as given pending audit.
7. COMMUNICATIONS
a. S/M Secretary Miethker indicated the Branch received the following:
(1) List of paid S/M’s for Oct 25 from National HQ.
(2) List of deceased S/M’s for Oct 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.
(5) Letter from the City of Jacksonville requesting the Branch to sponsor a Youth Basketball Team for the 25/26 season.
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. Branch By-Laws Committee presented the recommended changes, with one additional change added to Section 1107 (Duties of the Secretary). Recommended changes were approved. S/M Chairman, Board of Directors Alers will make the changes. Once signed a copy will be provided to all Branch members.
c. S/M President Applewhite, updated 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.
d. S/M President Applewhite has been in contact with FRA National President S/M Mara
Behm about her attending a Branch meeting soon.
e. S/M Tracy’s Branch Veteran of the Year submission for the City of Jacksonville was accepted on 13 Sep 25.
f. The Branch budget review was tabled until the 11 Nov 25 meeting.
9. NEW BUSINESS
a. The Branch has submitted a request to be sanctioned under Article 1216(a) of the FRA Constitution and By-Laws, allowing the Branch to operate with a reduced number of elected officers. The motion passed at the East Coast Regional Convention and was forwarded to FRA National HQ for consideration and vote during the National Convention.
b. An updated Branch membership roster will be sent to Shipmates. The roster will be a password protected document.
c. The next scheduled Quarterly Road-Side-Cleanup is 18 October 2025 @ 0730.
d. S/M President Applewhite reminded the Branch of the Annual Christmas party on 9 Dec
25 at the Jacksonville Golden Corral @ 1800. S/M’s are requested to bring new unwrapped toys for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program and some canned food and boxed dry food for the Branch donation to the Onslow County Food Bank.
i. S/M President Applewhite presented S/M’s Alers and Nevgloski with 10 years
continuous membership pins.
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. Branch Roadside Cleanup, Onslow County Courthouse, 18 Oct 25 @ 0730
e. Beirut Memorial Observance, Lejeune Memorial Gardens, 23 Oct 25 @ 1030
f. City of Jacksonville Veterans Day parade, CCCC, 8 Nov 25 @ 1000. Applications are have been released. Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal has been selected as MGySgt Mike Dugan USMC (ret) China Marine 95 years of age
g. Onslow County Veterans Day Proclamation, Onslow County Government Complex,
3 Nov 25 @1100
h. MCB, Camp Lejeune, Joint Day Time Ceremony, WPT Hill Field 6 Nov 25 @ 1000.
i. Regiment of Retired Marines Ball, 8 Nov 25, New Bern Convention Center @ 1730.
j. Wreath Laying Ceremony for former SMMC SgtMaj McHugh at 0730, Camp Johnson State Veterans Cemetery.
k. Veterans Day Ceremony, Camp Johnson State Veterans Cemetery 10 Nov 25 @1000.
l. Regiment of Retired Marines Breakfast, Hilton Garden Inn 6 Dec 25 @0700.
m. Pearl Harbor Day Ceremony, American Legion Post 265, 7 Dec 25 @0800.
n. City of Swansboro MAC Veterans Holiday Dinner, Chamber of Commerce @ 1800.
o. Wreaths Across America, Veteran State Cemetery, 13 Dec 25 @1200.
p. S/M Tracy reminded the Branch of Operation Chow Hound, the Gunny Claus Program, the House in the Woods veteran program and the MCL 1407 Yeti package raffle.
11. BIRTHDAYS
Luis Alers 1 Oct
Al Farrell 5 Oct
Daniel Smith 13 Oct
UNITED STATES NAVY 13 OCT
Richard Gorton 17 Oct
Robert Tullos 21 Oct
Joseph Michalenko 29 Oct
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 1930. The next meeting will be held on 11 November 2025 @ 1830 at DAV Chapter 16 Building Jacksonville, NC.
14. After the meeting was closed the Branch held a cake cutting ceremony to honor the Navy’s 250th Birthday. S/M President Applewhite continued the tradition of delivering the left-over cake to the Camp Lejeune, NC gate guards.
Paul H. Miethker
Shipmate Secretary