News About The Grande
Minutes
and Notes from the 2006 Fall Grand Cheminot in Santa Clara
Courtesy
of Grand Correspondant Joe Donovan
GRANDES CHEMINOTS MEETING November 5, 2006
Santa Clara
CA
The Grandes Cheminots Meeting
was called to order at 9:00AM at Mission City Post 564, the American Legion in Santa Clara
CA by Grand Chef de Gare Robert S Mattson. Colors
were advanced by the Grand Color Guard from San Mateo Voiture 393. POW Empty Chair was draped by Grand Chef de Train
Carl E Asher Jr. Grand Aumonier Jesse Love
draped the Altar Cloth and offered the opening prayer.
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Grand Conducteur Courtland Bradbury.
Roll Call of officers by Grand Correspondant Joseph R Donovan
Grand Chef de Gare Robert S Mattson
Grand Cheminot District 1 Veryl Wortel
Grand Chef de Train Carl E Asher Jr
Grand Cheminot District 2 Vince Rios ABSENT
Grand Conducteur Courtland Bradbury
Grand Cheminot District 3 E.C. Brady
Grand Commissaire Intendant Daniel Dumas
Grand Cheminot District 4 ABSENT Whip Wilson
SI
Grand Chef de Gare Passe David Meridith
Grand Cheminot District 5 John M Lighthill Sr SOUS
VOICE but no Vote Grand Avocat Earl Chinnock Grand Cheminot District 6 Jackson G Pressey
Quorum declared present
Jack Pressey introduced our National Appointments: Directeur special Awards Ted Pasnak, Sous Avocat
Wayne Schwartz, Sous Americanism Robert C Brown, Sous Carville Star Gordie Foley. All Grand Officers were requested to stand. All Past Grand Chef’s de Gare were requested
to stand.
Grand Chef Bob Mattson announced R.T. Lee V-109 had been
elected as Grand Cheminot District 4 and Michael Stednick V-1179 had been elected Sous
Cheminot by their District. Grand Chef Bob
appointed a Resolutions Committee consisting of Sonny
Quinn, Tony Dias, and Fred Walton. Chef Bob
also announced he has two tickets to this afternoon’s San Francisco Fortyniners Game. Who wants them?
REPORTS OF OFFICERS:
GRAND CHEF de GARE Robert Mattson conducted 2 installations, attended Yountville Picnic, accompanied Chef de
Chem de Fer Tom Stockmal on his visit to Palo Alto VA and the reception following by
Voiture 365, attended 2 District Cheminot Meetings and Area 1 Meeting, attended services
for Past Grand Chef Bob Gunkle and attended Promenade Nationale in Traverse City MI.
GRAND CHEF de TRAIN Carl Asher accomplished 127 hrs on behalf
of the Grand valued at $635, traveled 2168 miles valued at $1084 and will attempt to visit
each District Cheminot Meeting. On Membership,
Carl congratulated Voitures 573 and 1112 for attaining 100% of their goals. Personal contact will aid in renewals. Grand Ways & Means has raised $553 so far this
year. Donations are still needed from some
Districts. Carl accompanied Chef de Chemin de
Fer Tom Stockmal on his visit to La Jolla VA Hospital, Balboa Naval Hospital, and the
Wounded Warrier Center at Camp Pendleton Hospital. About
40 Voyageurs attended the reception banquet for Chef Tom hosted by Palomar Voiture 1406.
GRAND CONDUCTEUR Court Bradbury attended the Yountville Picnic,
since Yuba won the State Tournament he traveled to the National Regional playoffs in New
Mexico, attended National American Legion Convention in Salt Lake City UT, attended Area 1 American Legion meeting and the
State PCC Convention in Redlands, traveled
5000 miles valued at $2500.
GRAND CHEMINOT DISTRICT 1 Veryl Wortel : 2 Voitures reporting;
NO AUDITS from Voitures 268, 358, 557, 799, 858, and 1203. 4hrs = $20, 100mi = $50, District total $450
GRAND CHEMINOT DISTRICT 2 Vince Rios: NOT PRESENT – NO REPORT!
GRAND CHEMINOT DISTRICT 3
E. C. Brady: 5 Voitures reporting 154 members, $53,888 donations, per cap
$361.66
GRAND CHEMINOT DISTRICT 4 Whip Wilson reporting: NO AUDITS from
Voitures 47, 109, and 1450. Consolidated
report not available
GRAND CHEMINOT DISTRICT 5 Sous
John Lighthill: 8 of 8 Voitures reporting, ALL AUDITS are IN, 345 members, 23,778 hrs,
101,660mi, donations $194,217, per cap $4825
GRAND CHEMINOT DISTRICT 6 Jack Pressey: 4 of 5 Voitures reporting, 56 members,
NO AUDIT V-1504; $358,652 in donations
for per cap $6408. Cabane 338 folded and
donated $3500 to the Locale.
GRAND DIRECTEURS REPORTS
AMERICANISM Report by Ken Newman:
be sure to include loco miles & activity in Americanism report
Reports will be due to Grand Directeur Bob Brown by July 1.
CARVILLE STAR Gordon Foley:
Received Best Grand Program Award and Best Star Locale Program Voiture 365. Be sure to visit the
Carville Museum when in the area. Gordon
picked up 400 more pins at National. He is
still emphasizing the “Buy a Country Program”.
CHILD WELFARE Ray Alli: 31
Voitures reported last year. Voiture 732
submitted a grant request for $10,000 from the Lingal Fund to refurbish the Boy Scouts
clubhouse in Balboa Park, San Diego. Motion
to approve the report, including the expenditure from the Lingal Fund by Sous Grand
Cheminot District 5 John Lighthill, 2nd by Grand Cheminot District 1 Veryl
Wortel, CARRIED
LOCO & BOX CAR Jim Palsrok:
Locales need to sell pins for the program to work.
He will solicit funds from National for the movement and up-keep of the Merci Box
Car.
MEMBERSHIP AWARD: Carl
Asher presented the 100% achievement award to Grand Cheminot District 6 Jack Pressey for
Marin Voiture 1112. No one present to receive
District 2 award for Contra Costa Voiture 573. It
will be held till the Spring Grandes Cheminots Meeting.
NURSES TRAINING Freddie Sisario presented the National Award to
San Tomas Voiture 365
POW/MIA Bill Reed: Grand sold 1000 pins last year, even though they
were a repeat from 2005. He has the 2007 pins
available for pick up.
RITUAL John Lighthill: New
password is
SPECIAL AWARDS Joe Handy needs nominations for Law Officer,
Hero, Voyageur, and City or Town of the Year. Each
Locale should endeavor to participate. Raffle
raised $300 yesterday, thanks to all. National
Directeur Ted Pasnak stated there were NO submissions from California last year. We need to do better.
VAVS Sous Bob Page reporting:
We need to promote the “Keep the Wheel Chairs Rolling” Program, $5000 in
grants are available from National to assist, courtesy of the National Box Car Foundation. Hence, the need to support that program as well. We’re still looking for Official
Representatives at all VA facilities. 30
Voyageurs attended the Palo Alto Trauma Center with Chef de Chemin de Fer Tom Stockmal. In San Diego area, Chef Tom visited La Jolla
VA Hospital, Balboa Naval Hospital, and the Wounded Warrier Center at the Camp Pendleton Hospital.
YOUTH SPORTS Don MacDonell:
All pins are gone. CA received Best
Report for Grand in our Size. Grant money is
available for the program. ASK for it!
FINANCE COMMITTEE Bernie
Foley: Nothing earthshaking at the present
time. Referred to Grand Commissaire Intendant.
COMMISSAIRE INTENDANT Dan Dumas opinioned that the decrease in
membership will have a direct impact on our budget for next year. He read the current fund balances. He suggested a line item be put in the budget to
purchase Service Flags for returning hospitalized service men and women. $50 item. He
noted that his records indicate the Fidelity Bond has expired. He is attempting to get it straightened out between
our Grand Insurance Committee Chairman Bob Taylor and the Insurance Company. NOTE: This
is the Fidelity Bond ONLY; the Liability Insurance is still valid, and the Locomotives
Policy has just been renewed. He suggested
moving $250 from the Reserve Fund to the Trophy Committee in order that the Grand Tropphy
Case can finally be built at Post 509. Motion
to approve the report including the budget change, 2nd Grand Cheminot District
1 Veryl Wortel, CARRIED
TIME & PLACE Joe Paynter:
Spring Grandes Cheminots Meeting Handlery Hotel, Mission Valley, San Diego February
10 & 11, 2007. Rates $109 plus tax. Promenade 2007 in Clovis utilizing 3 hotels, all
activities at Clovis Veterans Bldg; 2008 San
Diego hosted by Palomar Voiture 1406; 2009 Sacramento hosted by Sacramento Voiture 282. Incoming Grand Officers are reminded to search NOW
for locations to host their Grandes Cheminots Meetings.
CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS Earl Chinnock Avocat - Local Voitures should take no action on the change
to the National Constitution UNTIL Nationale puts out the change, IN WRITING.
RESOLUTIONS Sonny Quinn presented the Bread and Butter
Resolutions to San Tomas Voiture 365, Mission City Post 564 American Legion, Biltmore
Hotel & Suites, and Voyageurs Emmott Sharp
and Will Carney for their efforts in hosting the Grandes Cheminots Meeting.
HISTORIEN: Larry
Soher presented Best History Book Award to Stanislaus Voiture 653
CORRESPONDANT Joe Donovan presented a large picture of Past
Grand Chef Elmer Caster and Grand Chef de Train Carl Asher presenting a Grand Check for
$25,000 to the Escondido School Principal toward construction of a Veterans Memorial in
Escondido.
CORRESPONDANT Joe Donovan highlighted the activity at the
recent National Promenade, and thanked the Voyageurs from California for their hard work
and dedication toward our programs.
11:00AM Memorial
Service GRAND AUMONIER Jesse Love conducted a most inspiring service. 16 Voyageurs have transferred to the Great Voiture
in the sky since Grand Promenade.
Good of the Grande Voiture:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Ron Galvan Alameda
Voiture 257 hosts 2nd District Wreck, San
Leandro Veterans Bldg, Dec 16, 2006. PG’s
at 9:00, Wreck at 10:00, Lunch after 2nd degree.
Court Bradbury Yuba
Voiture 557 Annual Wreck, American Legion Post 807, Linda CA, Apr 21, 2007 Wreck at 10:00,
lunch at 12:00
Stationary and envelopes are available for Grand Officers and
Directeurs. Also, there are plenty of Grande
Rosters available. Come and get them.
There being no further business, Grand Chef de Gare Robert S
Mattson proceeded to close the Grandes Cheminots Meeting in proper form at 11:20. Everyone was urged to drive carefully going home.
Joseph R Donovan
Grand Correspondant
Would love to see Pictures and Announcements of what is happening in
your Area! They may be emailed to me directly at the Webmaster link below:
Webmaster
I will do my best to get them up as soon as possible. If you have an
Event coming up send it to me in a timely manner and we try to get the word out!
© Grande Du California All Rights Reserved
This site maintained By: John Lighthill |
