Columbia River Chapter (AUSA)
EXCOM Meeting MINUTES
Date: 13 Feb 14
1. Opening:
a. COL (R) Bond called the meeting to order at 1407 in the conference room of
Benchmade, one of our corporate members manufacturing site in Oregon City.
b. Attendees: COL (R) Don Bond, MG (R) Curt Loop, COL (R) George Lanning, SGM (R)
Charles Beauchamp, MAJ (R) Don Olson, Chaplain (R) Terry Schrick, COL (R) Alaine
Encabo, MSG (R) Nancy Pine, LTC Kevin Dial, LTC Alisha Hamel, David Warden, M.S.,
COL (R) Bob Windus, LTC (R) Dale Billups, COL (R) Robert Mouw, Mr. Ralph Walker,
COL (R) Joe Williams, Ms. Christine Vu, CPT Giles Wright, COL (R) Mike Foss and
CSM (R) Jack Cartwright.
c. Special Guests: Six members of the Oregon City Station Recruiting team and Mr. Steve
Turner, Military and Government Sales Manger, Benchmade Knife Co, Inc.
d. Invocation: Chaplain Schrick led the group in prayer
e. Approve previous meeting’s minutes: The 9 Jan 2014 EXCOM Minutes were approved
as written by consensus.
2. Chapter Officer Report:
Chapter Report Card (COL (R) Don Bond): COL (R) Bond reviewed the list of the 2014 EXCOM
meeting dates and asked the members to add those to their calendars. He also reviewed the
updated Chapter Merit Award Status and CAR spreadsheet.
Treasurer’s Report (COL Bill Schutz): Absent – no report. Funds approved included $500.00 for
the North Salem JROTC program, the same amount donated last year. The chapter approved
an amount not to exceed $500.00 for the Oregon City JROTC program. Finally, $500.00 was
approved for the WWII Memorial and the deposit of $262.50 required for the Friday luncheon
deposit to Custom Event Creations at the Sixth Region Conference.
Secretary’s Report (Linda Johnston): Absent – no report
Corporate Membership Report (Suzanne Lam): Absent – no report; however, COL (R) Bond
reported that the Oregon Historical Outreach Foundation was our newest corporate member.
MG (R) Loop reported that the Portland Recruiting Battalion was in process of renewing their
corporate membership.
Individual Membership Report (CSM (R) Mike Kalberg): Absent – no report; however, COL (R)
Bond reviewed the list of those members with membership expiring this month. The National
AUSA office has provided five additional individual memberships to our chapter that are not
being used as corporate designees. Current membership is 547 with eight expiring this month.
Our goal is 560 members.
Army History (LTC Alisha Hamel): In her absence, LTC Hamel submitted the following report.
LTC Hamel reported on the WWII Memorial ground breaking that both MG (R) Loop and her
attended. She was complimented on the recent news article in the Statesman Journal that
reflected all her work in reviewing and compiling the list of WWII Veteran’s that had made the
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ultimate sacrifice and names are to be engraved on the memorial. The WWII Memorial
dedication will be in Salem on June 6, 2014. Put it on your calendars to attend.
They have created a Veteran's Legacy database to capture every veteran's story. Please check
out the website at www.veteranslegacies.com. LTC Hamel would like to work with the Veteran's
Homes in Oregon and have volunteers capture every story in those homes. They are also
looking for pictures, video, film etc. This isn't only for WWII veterans so please go the website
and upload your stories and pictures.
Army Recruiting Command (CPT Giles Wright): CPT Wright reported that they are very busy at
the Portland Recruiting Command. He said their priority is not about numbers, but about
building a stronger community, a better productive citizen and community outreach. He is
encouraging his team to think outside the box and think critically.
Army Reserve (COL (R) Herb Hirst): Absent -- No report
Awards Report (LTC Kevin Dial): In LTC Dial’s reminded the members that it is time to start
submitting award nominees with the upcoming 3 Mar deadline. This is an excellent opportunity
for us to recognize individual and corporate members that are doing great things for our
Chapter.
ESGR (COL (R) Laine Encabo): He introduced Nancy Pine as a new individual member and
explained a little about the ESGR program. He mentioned the ESGR Conference will be held
27-30 Apr at the Shilo Inn in Newport. He also indicated there would be a Jobs Fair at the
Salem Convention Center on 13 Mar with other job Fairs in both LaGrande and Springfield. He
also talked about ESGR Employer Awards and the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program. COL
(R) Encabo also indicated they did informational briefings for the Congressional Offices.
Family Programs (Mrs. Michelle Kochosky): Absent – no report
Oregon National Guard Association (COL (R) Roberta Janssen): Absent -- No Report
National Meeting (COL (R) Larry Studer): Absent – no report
NCO/Soldier Programs (SGM (R) Charles Beauchamp): SGM (R) Beauchamp said he attended
the Albany City Council meeting where Albany was recognized as a Purple Heart City. He
indicated Roseburg will be designated as a Purple Heart City and Salem was working on their
nomination.
Newsletter Report (vacant): COL (R) Bond indicated Linda Johnston has finished the newsletter
article and that Suzanne Lam was doing the layout and it should be published in the next few
days.
Programs Report (COL (R) Bob Windus): COL (R) Windus thanked AUSA for the past support
of the Veterans Home Christmas Program. He said this is the 5th year and over $50,000 of gifts
or products have been donated to the home or directly to the Veterans. He noted that he
would be submitting two AUSA Award recommendations for the Bonneville Power
Administration (BPA). One is for Kirsten Kler, who organized and managed the Veteran
Home Christmas Gift Project, and the other is for the BPA Veterans Resource Group,
who helped to collect, wrap and deliver the gifts to the VA Home. Chaplain Schrick said
his church was also more than willing to continue to help with this project. COL (R) Windus is
planning a future membership meeting at OSHU/VA. He is also planning a General Membership
Meeting around the Army Birthday on 12 June.
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Resolutions Report (LTC Verl Miller): Absent – no report
Retirees Programs Report (MAJ (R) Don Olson): MAJ (R) Olson reported that the Veterans
Court in Clark County is almost fully funded and they will be having a fundraising concert on 22
Feb. He also indicated the Retiree Office is sending out “Good News” stories and not just the
Black Border letters and when past members are ill.
State Defense Force (LTC (R) Richard Lightfoot/LTC (R) Dale Billups): Nothing to report.
Webmaster Report (COL Kelly Smothers): Absent – no report
3.Committee Reports:
a. Golf Committee Report (TBA): COL (R) Encabo and LTC Verl Miller will serve as CoChairs for the Golf Committee. They are currently looking at different venues to host our
tournament. Other committee members include Chris Rice from Waddell & Reed, Mike
Gillett and CPT Duffy-Cavanaugh.
b. Sixth Region 2014 Spring Meeting Committee Report (Loop/Lanning): MG (R)
Loop reported that the final planning meeting with the Sixth Region President is on 26
Feb. LTC (R) Charley Smith, sixth Region President has distributed the conference
announcement and the registration form. Everything is pretty well confirmed and LTC
(R) Smith just needs to finalize the Saturday agenda, which will be sent out soon. Both
General (R) Sullivan and SMA (R) Preston will be in attendance. COL (R) Lanning said
registrations would be sent to him due to Linda Johnston’s health issues.
4. OLD Business: None
5. NEW Business:
a. COL (R) Mouw discussed a request for support for a proposed resolution
for Benchmade Knife Company that has to do with National Stock
Numbers (NSN) substitutions made by the Defense Logistics Agency
(DLA) for like products. The like products may not be the same quality as
those approved initially for the NSN’s. COL (R) Bond asked that members
send input to him in the next couple of days and we would consider the
proposal, but no action was taken at this meeting. COL (R) Mouw will
contact LTC Verl Miller that is chair of our Resolutions Committee for the
correct format for AUSA resolutions.
b. MG (R) Loop reported that the “Our Community Supports” has selected Skyview
High School in Vancouver as the venue for the 3 May 14 event. They have
discussed the possibility of dividing the event into two groups in the future, one
being held in Portland and one in Vancouver. He is currently working to get the
Governor’s signature on the certificates for those Oregon graduates going into
the military.
c. COL (R) Joe Williams reported that the USO-PDX has been approved. He said
the lease is to be signed towards the end of next week with construction to begin
on or about 1 March. It is going to be approximately 635 square feet in size.They
are hoping to open in early May with the formal dedication on Flag Day.
6. Calendar of Events:
a. Upcoming events:
1) 13 Mar 14
EXCOM Meeting, 1300 (Camp Withycombe)
2) 10 Apr 14
EXCOM Meeting, time and location TBA
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3) 10-13 Apr 14
4) 15 Apr 14
5) 23 Apr 14
6) 25-26 Apr 14
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26 Apr 14
27-30 Apr 14
3 May 14
8 May 14
6 June 14
12 June 14
14 June 14
25 Jun 14
Sixth Region Annual Meeting and Symposium hosted by
Columbia River Chapter (Shilo Inn at Portland Airport)
Deadline for submitting CARs for Jan-Mar Activities
US Army Reserve’s 106th Birthday
Oregon National Guard Association Annual State Conference at
the Bend Riverhouse Resort (Bend)
Military Ball at the Bend Riverhouse Resort (Bend)
ESGR Conference, Shilo Inn (Newport)
“Our Community Salutes”, Skyview High School (Vancouver)
EXCOM Meeting, 1300 (Camp Withycombe)
WWII Memorial Dedication (Salem)
EXCOM Meeting, 1300 (Salem ARC)
239th Army Birthday
Deadline for submitting CARs for Apr-Jun Activities
Next EXCOM Meeting:
Day/Date: Thursday, 13 Mar 14
Time: EXCOM at 1300
Location: Camp Withycombe
8. Adjourn: 1540
Respectfully Submitted:
Curt & George for
Linda Johnston
Linda Johnston
Secretary
Columbia River Chapter – AUSA
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Columbia River Chapter (AUSA)
EXCOM Meeting MINUTES
Date: 13 Feb 14
Opening:
COL (R) Bond called the meeting to order at 1545 at Benchmade, one of our corporate
members manufacturing site in Oregon City. COL Bond then welcomed the 25-30
people in attendance.
Introduction:
Mr. Steve Turner, Military and Government Sales Manger, Benchmade Knife Co, Inc.
talked about Benchmade’s history and the importance of the three “M’s”—material,
mechanism and machinery. The group was issued safety glasses, broke into four
different groups and provided a tour of their manufacturing plant. It was very interesting
and the tour ended in their company store where they provided AUSA members with a
50% discount of their products. They sold a lot of quality products and we appreciated
the tour and discount they provided our organization. Most of our members departed
after 1700 hours.
Respectfully Submitted:
Curt & George for
Linda Johnston
Linda Johnston
Secretary
Columbia River Chapter - AUSA
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