November Meeting Notes

We started the November meeting with Tolling the Boats lost in November and December, followed by birthday wishes for our members, introductions, and officer reports.

We also had a short recap of the Veterans Day parade and events (remember you can see photos from the parade on the blog).

Old and New Business: 

John Mansfield, Jim Harper, Karl Krompholtz, Doug Abramson, Bob Morris, Bob Opple, and John Roberts at Cebela's on Veterans Day

Cabela's Event - The two-day event at the Cabela's Tulalip store was another great opportunity for the Seattle Base to get out into the community to explain our organization and meet some fellow submariners. Additionally, we also took in almost $600 in donations from the event.

Cabela's Tualip store is also holding a special dedication ceremony for the 'Wreaths Across America' program at 11:00 AM, Saturday, December 7.

Holiday Luncheon - The Seattle Base USSVI and Lockwood Chapter, Submarine Veterans of WWII Joint Holiday Luncheon is set for Saturday, December 14 at Anthony's HomePort Kirkland restaurant. The registration form is in included in the current newsletter or you can download a single-page copy of the registration form here.

Due to the success of the Base fund-raising events this year, we will provide a $10 refund on your Holiday Luncheon costs. If you have questions, be sure to talk with Jim Harper (his contact information is on the registration form).

We will also be doing some Holland Club presentations at the luncheon. It will be a fun time and we hope to see you there.

Bylaw Changes - The list of changes and updates to the Seattle Base Bylaws were presented at the meeting (you can read them here). Most of the changes are to put us into alignment with the National Bylaws, but we are also looking to change Base Officer elections to even years and extend the terms to 2 years (which is how long most people serve) and officially make the Base dues $10 (the current Bylaws say $15). The change will be voted on at the January meeting, so be sure to review the changes and come to the meeting.

Kaps 4 Kids - John Roberts gave a short presentation on the Kaps 4 Kids program and Seattle Base's involvement. John has organized a trip to Seattle Children's Hospital in December. If everything goes well, we are hoping to have more visits with children next year. If you are interested in joining in the effort, contact John Roberts at the next meeting.

Seattle Base Elections - Base elections are coming up in January. Our base needs men like you to stand for the necessary positions to keep the base running, and we want to invite you to throw your name in the ring for one of the Base Officer positions. Even if you aren’t ready to be a Base Officer, you can still help out as one of the committee chairs or appointed officers for the base. Committee chairs and appointed officers are really needed to handle the necessary base functions that make our base valuable to us all. Please consider stepping up for an officer or committee position.

Dick Gonzales has been nominated for the Base Commander position, but we still need people for the Sr. Vice Commander, Jr. Vice Commander, and Storekeeper positions.

Membership Dues - If you are on the annual membership plan, it is time to look at paying your dues. Please contact Jim Harper to pay your dues or if you have questions.

Meeting Time Changes - Our meeting attendance often drops during the winter months. An idea was brought up to think about shifting the weekday and times for winter meetings to a weekend afternoon. No decision has been made, but it is something for the base members to think about. If you would like to see a change in the meeting days or time, please contact a Base officer or one of the past Base Commanders.

November Program:

Don starting out his presentation

Don Ulmer provided the program for the November meeting. Don first heard the story from his best friend at age 11 and it stuck with him. Don continued to research the story, wrote a book based on the story and helped create a musical play based on this tale produced by the Seattle Museum of Flight. The story was about his friend's Aunt Marge Van Sciver and 1st Lt Malcom Gunn, of the embryo US Army Flying Corps. The young couple did not want to wait until the war was over to get married and, over objections of both their families, they decide to get married on the eve of Malcom's deployment to France. Malcom was shot down over France and after the war Marge went to the area to try to find where he was buried (while holding out hope he might still be alive). In the end she was not able to find his grave (although Don think he knows what happened to the young aviator) and she returned to America to marry and live out the rest of her life. It was a great program, punctuated with images and recordings from the play.

Good of the Order:
Lois Mezek let us know about a special invitation she received to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC. Lois talked about her trip, all the memorials she was able to see, and the wonderful people she met. The trip was very unique and we thank Lois for sharing her experience with us.

Base Storekeeper Bill Giese let us know that we are sold out of the 2014 calendars.

Remember there is no meeting in December, but don't forget the Holiday Luncheon. The next meeting is January 15, 2014!

November Meeting Reminder

This is a reminder that the next Seattle Base meeting is this coming Wednesday, November 20.

We will meet at VFW Post #2995 (4330 148th Ave N.E., Redmond WA 98052). Social hour starts at 6 PM with business meeting at 7PM. Don't forget to review the previous meeting minutes, you can find them here on the blog or on the Seattle Base website, just click the Minutes button on the left.

We have a number of items on the agenda for this month:

There is revision to the Seattle Base bylaws that will be presented at the meeting for discussion and seconding and voting will occur at the January 2014 business meeting.

The 2014 National Calendar “The Boomers” is sold out nationally and Bill Giese, our Base SK still has a small number of calendars on hand. If you want one, he will have them at the base meeting. If you cannot make the meeting, email Bill to purchase. The calendars are $10.00 each, plus mailing cost if not picked up at the meeting. When they are gone, that will be it.

John Roberts has made tentative arrangements for a Kaps4Kids visit to Children’s Hospital. He will provide a brief presentation explaining the program at the meeting.

Find your ‘round-tuits’ and get your Christmas Holiday lunch reservation at Anthony’s Home Port in Kirkland in to Jim Harper as soon as possible. The view is great, food is wonderful and the company cannot be beat! You can find a copy of the registration form in the latest newsletter or download it here.

Dues renewal notices have been sent to all those who need to renew their national and/or base dues. Please pick up that ‘round tuit’ and git r’ done by getting your dues to Jim Harper.

November Program:
Don Ulmer will spin a true bittersweet saga of World War I told him by his best friend at age 11. The friend's Aunt Marge Van Sciver and 1st Lieut Malcom Gunn of the embryo US Army Flying Corps marry on the eve of his deployment to France over objections of both families. Film clips excerpted from a musical play based on this tale produced by the Seattle Museum of Flight spice Don's PowerPoint presentation. A good one for wives and significant others, so bring 'em. A heart string tugger, kleenex advised for the ladies.

2013 Auburn Veterans Day Parade Photos

We had a nice turnout for the parade with members from Seattle, Bremerton, and South Sound Bases showing up. It was a cloudy and cold day for the parade, but the crowd was bundled up well and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Here are some photos from the event.

Seattle Base Float ready for the parade

The Bonefish Float with her new 'guns'

We arrived early and had to spend a little time telling 'sea stories' before the parade.

Pat Householder and Doug Abramson

Ric Hedman, Bob Haslan, and Dick Gonzales

Ralph Sterley and Bob Opple

Bill & Diane Giese, Bob Haslan, Keith Watson, Dick Gonzales and Ralph Sterley

The Silent Service Motorcycle Club members

Sam Ronnie brought his limo along

Bremerton Base members

there were some other Navy veteran groups there too

With their own floats

and trucks

There was even a little meeting between the groups (Admiral Horton Smith talks with Chief Larry Smith)

The parade started with a helicopter flyover

And then we got ready to move

As did Bremerton Base

A view of the parade

A group photo of the USSVI Members

It was a fun time and don't forget to check the next issue of the newsletter for more photos.

Reminders for Veterans Day and Other Upcoming Events

Here are some reminders about the upcoming Veterans Day events.

Auburn Veterans Day Parade 
Saturday, November 9th, is the Auburn Parade Veterans Day. Auburn has hosted the Veterans Day Parade since 1965. Now in its 48th year, the parade has grown into one of the largest Veteran's Day parades in the United States of America.

Seattle Base USSVI will meet at the staging area near the corner of K Street and Main Street between 10:00 and 10:30 AM. We suggest getting there early since there are over 206 entries involved in the parade and parking might be limited. The parade will start at 11:00.

There are lots of other events going on in and around Auburn, including the Vietnam Traveling Wall (which will be open 24 hours a day). Check the Auburn website for more information about the other events. 

Cabalas Events
There are events happening at the two area Cabela’s stores.

Seattle Base has another fund raising ‘meet and greet’ opportunity at Cabela's Tulalip store on November 11th and 12th. (This is not a misprint, Monday and Tuesday are Cabela's Veteran Appreciation Days ). Show times are 08:00 AM until 5:00 PM daily. Jim Harper will be bringing the Seattle Base float to the event.

If you plan on participating at the Cabela’s Tulalip store, please contact Seattle Base Commander Doug Abramson by phone (425-231-0784) or email.

Cabela's Tulalip store is located at 9810 Quil Ceda Blvd., Tulalip, WA 98271

South Sound Base will have exhibits and a table at Cabala’s Lacy store from 10 AM to 4 PM on Sunday November 10th.

If you plan on participating at the Cabela’s Lacy store, please contact South Sound Base Commander Al Smith by phone (253-631-5010).

Cabela’s Lacy store is located at 1600 Gateway Blvd. NE, Lacey, WA 98516

Tahoma National Cemetery Veterans Day Ceremony 
For those of you not participating in other events on Veterans Day, Monday November 11th, plan on attending the Veterans Day ceremony at Tahoma Cemetery at 11:00. Be a member of the Color Guard, or be a spectator and enjoy meeting other Veterans and grateful civilians. We need 4 sub vets to carry the flags.

Tahoma Nation Cemetery is location at 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, WA 98042

Veterans Appreciation Week at University of Washington Bothell Campus 
Seattle Base will participate in Veterans Appreciation Week the at the University of Washington's Bothell campus on Wednesday, November 13 from 10:00 – 3:00.

If you are interested attending and talking with some of the students, please contact Seattle Base Commander Doug Abramson by phone (425-231-0784) or email.

Veterans Day Specials
Many businesses are offering specials for veterans on (or around ) Veterans Day. As always, we try to get information about these offers out to our members and other veterans. Here is one from McCormick’s & Schmick’s Restaurants.

Click here for Reservations