Meeting Minutes July 2025

  1. The Shipmates monthly meeting of FRA Branch 208, Camp Lejeune, NC was called to order at 1800 on 8 July 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: Raymond Applewhite – President
    Jerry Gray – Master-at-Arms
    James Hill – Treasurer
    Tim Manchester – Webmaster
    Alexander Nevgloski – Chaplain
    AL Austin
    Tom Punda
    George Cleveland
    Cornelius Dozier
    Paul Levesque
    John Rooney
    Mike Rooney
    Terry Scott
    Steve Tracy
    Darrell Taylor

The following guests were present:

  N/A
  1. NEW SHIPMATES N/A
  2. MINUTES Shipmate Mile Rooney made a motion to accept the minutes as posted. Shipmate Terry Scott seconded the motion. All in favor, the minutes of the 11 June 2025 meeting was accepted.
  3. FINANCIAL REPORT Shipmate Tom Punda made a motion to accept the financial report as given pending audit. Shipmate Jerry Gray seconded the motion. All in favor, the financial report was accepted pending audit.
  4. COMMUNICATIONS

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

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

       (2)  List of deceased S/M’s for Jul 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.

  1. 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 Branch reviewed the proposed budget for FY 2025-2026. Recommendations were
made and approved for minor changes. S/M Chairman of the Board Alers will make the changes and present the budget for the branch vote at the August 2025 meeting.

c. The Quarterly Road-Side-Cleanup was conducted on 28 Jun 2025 at 0730. 12 Shipmates
were present. Breakfast was after at the Golden Corral, Jacksonville, NC.

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.

  1. 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. Scheduled for vote during the East Coast Regional 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 will be 18 October 2025 at 0730.
  2. 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. Retiree Breakfast, Hilton Garden Inn, 23 Aug 25 @0700

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

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

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

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

i. Regiment of Retired Marines Ball, 8 Nov 25, New Bern Convention Center @ 1730 Tickets only available online at VETERANBALL.COM

j. Shipmate Steve Tracy briefed the Shipmates on the House in the Woods Retreat Center, Lee, Maine. It is a nonprofit organization offering outdoor programs to bring together small groups of active military, veterans, and their family members to relax, share, bond, and deal with the stress, loss, grief, and other emotions which can haunt the grieving soul. He will be joining 16 veterans on the 23-26 July at the retreat.

k. Shipmate Paul Levesque brief Shipmates on the latest MRC meeting.
(1) Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune Pharmacy closed until roof is fixed.
(2) Base CG and Sergeant Major aware of no standardization of Military Funerals. If you attend a military funeral please provide your feedback of the support that was present.

l. Shipmate President Applewhite ask if we could get the word to our churches and organization on supporting the reading of the North Carolina POW/MIA Names, at the Vietnam Memorial, Lejeune Memorial Gardens the first Saturday of the month at 1200.

m. Prior to the start of the 8 July 2025 meeting the winning raffle ticket was drawn for the Beach Package Raffle. Shipmate President Raymond Applewhite was the winning ticket. He forfeited his ticket for another drawing. The winner was Greg Blair.

  1. BIRTHDAYS 9 July – Garry Deatsch
    25 July – Donald Framer
    29 July – Leonard Himel
    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 1925. The next meeting will be held on 12 August 2025 @ 1830 at DAV Chapter 16 Building Jacksonville, NC. Paul H. Miethker Shipmate Secretary