Donations to the Muzzleblast fund at the
reunion increased our bank account by $135.00.
MINUTES OF THE BUSINESS MEETING OCTOBER 11, 2003
The meeting was called to order by Frank Gruden.
The pledge of allegiance was said in unison followed by a prayer
for our veterans who could not attend or were recently deceased.
The financial report, which was accepted by the group,
was given by Juanita Waldrep as follows:
| Year Balance
Lancaster PA Reunion 2002 |
$2128.55
|
| Host
check to Jane Ober |
-
25.00
|
|
$2103.55
|
| Mail in Donations |
485.00
|
|
$2588.55
|
| Interest
Deposit |
20.84
|
|
$2609.39
|
| 2002 Fall
Muzzleblast Expense |
-
171.22
|
| 2003 April
Muzzleblast Expense |
-
162.52
|
| 2003 September
Muzzleblast Expense |
-
168.70
|
| Total
Balance October 2003 |
$2106.95
|
Frank announced that the pictures would be $15.00
each and dinner $26.00 each including gratuities.
The host for 2004 reunion will be Ken Manning with
daughter Letitia Manning assisting.
A motion was made by Gerald St. Amand , seconded
by Francis Roush, to give the host a check for $100.00 from
the treasury to help defray the expense of the banquet. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Gerald St. Amand, seconded
by Francis Roush to keep Juanita Waldrep as Muzzleblast
Editor. The meeting was then adjourned.
Juanita Waldrep, Secretary
Frank and Virginia planned wonderful spots to
eat, a tour of Fort Myers, and included Thomas Edison's home. It was
good to be in Florida in October before winter set in at home and
to get some needed rest.
Helen and Francis Roush almost did not make the
reunion. Helen's white blood count was low; she was hospitalized
until Tuesday and then picked up in Oklahoma by family and they flew
to Florida from Dallas. We hope she is still doing as well as she
looked when we left her on Sunday.
Christmas cards were received from Joseph and Jewell
Johns (yes, Joseph has remarried to a lovely lady Jewell
and sent us a happy picture), Charlie and Ethel Mohn, Gerald St.
Amand, Mary Jayne Pratt (tell all the 419th hello was her request),
Wanda Cluck, Jim Bierce, Jewell B. Pray (who was a retired
school supt.), Ken Manning (to all the Tigers), Frank and
Virginia Gruden (who were all ready for Christmas December 10),
Henrietta Fox (who would have liked to be at the reunion),
Ernest Word and Edith Grubb (who writes just about every season).
Malcolm Cohen wrote a thank you note and sent
a donation.
Ernest Word sent a donation in his Christmas
card.
Henrietta Fox sent a donation along with her
Christmas card and note.
Ernest Willoughby wrote a note with a donation
and would have liked to have been at the reunion but is on oxygen
and both he and Betty are "slowing down".
Elvin Stiles' MB was returned unable to
forward; if anyone knows his address, please advise.
We received a note from Frank Shandor's daughter
stating that both of her parents were deceased. Our sympathy to the
Shandor family.
A telephone call came from Jack and Marjorie Lunden
(B Battery) stating both are in ill health. A donation was received
shortly after the call.
Sarah Boone, daughter of Mabry Huggins,
wrote that her father was killed in an automobile accident April 12,
2002 and her mother was severely injured and is an invalid. Our sincere
sympathy goes to the family.
In October James and Eleanor Orange wrote a note
thanking us for the MB. They stated they were sorry not to
be able to go to the reunion. They stated "The way you can tell
you are getting old - when you bend down to tie your shoes - you figure
out if there is anything else you can do while you are down there."
A donation was included.
The "Autumn Time" card created by Virginia Rapp
had a note that she and Bill would 3 be celebrating their sixth anniversary
on November 8th while they were "at sea on our way to Bora Bora".
They included pictures and a donation to MB.
Lola Carmichael called in September and had back
surgery in the summer and two weeks before had knee surgery. Harold
was taking good care of her; hopefully they are enjoying the warmth
of Florida now.
We have had a number of E-mails and I will mention
some of them; sometimes I fail to print all of them. Harold Laity,
Jr. wrote and thanked us for the MB and stated that he
also was a veteran. He thanked the group for all the thoughts and
prayers on his father's behalf.
We also hear from Bonnie Porter who has been
having some rough days, but we hope by now all is better.
Joanna Gebhardt keeps me up to date and she
is quite busy on the 419th website. I also hear from her mother Jane
Ober. Thanks for all the cheerful words from all my E-mail friends
of the 419th.
Doria Grimes, daughter of Gerry St. Amand
and husband Vincent, will be attending with Gerry the WWII
Memorial Dedication in the Mall in Washington D C. Lois Hall
will also be attending with a group of veterans and family from Kentucky.
If any of you are going, you might let Doria know by E-mail
- doria.grimes@noaa.gov
Rose Lemberg wrote in October that Larry
had his gallbladder removed and a few days later had a TIA (mini stroke).
He was doing fine at the time she sent the E-mail.
Herman and Leila Dalke sent an E-mail in September
after the MB, stating they would not make the reunion.
Marianne Healy E-mailed us in late September
that Edward P. Healy, Jr. passed away in 1989. I am sure the
Healy family still misses their loved one and our belated sympathy
goes to them.
In late December, Jewell Mapes, daughter of Basil
Scharff wrote that her father passed away on December 15, 2003.
We appreciated hearing from her and our sympathy goes to all the Basil
Scharff family.
Get your bags ready; we are going to have a reunion.
Ken Manning has sent me the news for Norman, Oklahoma. Ken states
the dates are Wednesday June 16th, June 17th, June 18th, June 19th
amd leave on Sunday June 20th, 2004. We will be at The Guest Inn,
double rooms $42.00 plus tax, King Singles $38.00 plus tax. Ken says
that they are nice rooms, each have 4 a small refrigerator, microwave
and coffee pot. Smoking rooms are available. Guest Inn & Suites of
Norman is located 2543 West Main, I-35 and W. Main Exit 109, Norman,
OK 73072. Telephone number is 405-360-1234.
There is not a banquet room; Denny's is attached to
the Inn and both Waffle House and Golden Corral are within walking
distance. He is working on a location for the banquet.
He sent brochures and if you don't get one, (I can leave
one out occasionally Ha! Ha!) let me know. Make plans to attend the
2004 reunion in Norman, Oklahoma June 16th - 20th.
This little poem appeared at the end of an E-mail:
PRAISE: Now a bit of praise isn't much to give - But
it's dear to the hearts of all that live, And there's never a person
on this good earth That doesn't like to be told when they've been
of worth. And a kindly word, when the work is fair, Is welcomed and
wanted everywhere.
Thanks to all of you for your concern for each other.