THE HISTORY OF THE RETIRED
ENLISTED ASSOCIATIONTHE HISTORY OF THE RETIRED
ENLISTED ASSOCIATION
SEPTEMBER 1993 TO SEPTEMBER 1994
The National Convention was held in
Colorado Springs, Colorado on September 9 - 11, 1993. Officers elected/appointed:
President – Albert G. Ybanez
1st Vice - Jack N. Cotton
2nd Vice - Dottie Holmes
3rd Vice - David "Dave"
Pahl
Treasurer – William H. Evert
1 Year Director – Tom DeWesse
1 Year Director – Robert A.
Navarra
1 Year Director – Collins D.
"CD" Rice
1 Year Director – James
"Jack" Jackson
2 Year Director – Jorge Blondet
2 Year Director – Faye
Custenborder
Parliamentarian – George W.
Miles
PPAC Chairman – George Smith
This National Convention represents
the 30th. Anniversary of The Retired Enlisted Association.
The Mortgage for the National
Headquarters building was burned in a ceremony at the National Convention at 8:50pm on
September 9, 1993. The mortgage was paid in full on March 31, 1993 through the efforts of
TREA members, chapters and the TREA Auxiliary.
As of June 1993 TREA boasted
approximately 67,000 members and the Auxiliary approximately 8,000 members.
On October 23, 1993 TREA was
Chartered by Congress in Public Law 102-484.
As of March 1993 TREA maintained 45
chapters.
MID TERM BOD MEETING MARCH 13, 1993
John Adams reported that only 10 or
11 volunteers stepped forward as TREA Legislative Volunteers. A new effort to obtain
volunteers took place in the fall of 1992 and only one volunteer, Bob Navarra, stepped
forward. Mr. Adams suggested that this program not be perused any further. He also
reported that there was a possibility of freezing COLA's and that he had a copy of the
base closure list.
President of AGE John May briefed the
board on the following: Membership should be about 66,000 as of this time. Renewals were
77%, life members total 14,616 plus 577 people in the QPL program. Mr. May reported that
most organizations were having problems getting their memberships to grow. TREA has done
very well. The calendar program was budgeted to net TREA $100,000 this year. This amount
has already been exceeded. The newest fundraiser this year has taken place outside of TREA
membership. The cost of this effort has been about 97% of the revenue collected. We have
managed to give TREA $11,000.
Foundation Chairman Orsak commented
to the board that the foundation will be meeting to organize a casino night to be held at
the Red Lion in May. He also stated that they need members of the board to be active with
the foundation. He also discussed the possibility of a car raffle in the coming year and
that a bingo license is required in the State of Colorado
Director Jorge Blondet updated the
board that Past President Lee Newton will be installing the New Chapter 72 in Pittsburgh.
Jerry Sterrenburg in Manitowoc
Wisconsin stated that they now have a completed petition for Chapter Charter. Director
Blondet stated that he will plan to go to Wisconsin to swear in this new chapter and visit
other chapters in the state. Petitions should be received for a new chapter in Florida and
Puerto Rico.
1st. Vice President Jack Cotton
updated the board on the Tampa Convention expenses. He reported on the expected losses on
the Colorado Springs convention and reminded the board that attendance at Colorado Springs
is extremely important because of the number of room nights that have been guaranteed.
This convention will probably operate at a loss of $70,000.
President Ybanez stated that the
Finance Committee did not approve the complete request but has allocated $10,000 to hire
someone part time to assist in the GAO office.
$20,000 was originally approved for
the remodeling of the National Headquarters. The City of Aurora is requiring the building
be brought up to current fire code. Finance Committee has recommended that the remodeling
be postponed for the time being.
President Ybanez stated that the
Finance Committee recommended disapproval of a feasibility study. He stated that TREA at
this time does not have money to bring membership in-house. He feels that TREA will need
$300,000 before we can do so. The motion carried.
President Ybanez read a letter of
complaint that he received from Al Mandel regarding the policy of reserving tables for the
Board at the Banquet. He stated that this policy is not going to change in the future.
Dean Sorrell stated that the Standing Rules state that there will be reserved tables at
the Board Luncheons.
Highlights from the Pre-Convention
Board of Directors Meeting September 8, 1993
John Adams told the board that TREA
is the Executive Committee for the National Veterans Day Parade. He suggested that $1,200
per year be put into escrow account so that we will have sufficient funds to be the host
during the year 2015.
John May reported that AGE membership
of 67,832 broke don as follows: 54,116 MAL's, 11,493 Chapters, and 2,223 Complimentary.
There are more Air Force retirees than any other service. Membership is about 77% renewal
rate. AGE expects to generate $335,000 in revenue.
Julius Orsak advised the board that
the Auxiliary will elect one member to the Foundation Board. The Foundation donated $1,200
this past year. The biggest donors were the Auxiliary. The foundation gave out 30 $1,000
scholarships this year.
George Smith stated that the PPAC
main concern was that the Chapters still are not nominating members for awards in a timely
manner. He received only 15 letters from Chapters with requests for awards.
Dottie Holmes spoke to the board
about short-sleeved white shirts with our logo on one shoulder and the American Flag on
the other shoulder; also TREA on one collar and the chapter on the other. Approval for
this was motioned and approved. George Smith motioned that the chapter number be worn on
the tie. The motion was approved.
Highlights from the National
Convention 1st. Business Meeting
President Ybanez stated that TREA
currently has 67,832 members and the Auxiliary has approximately 8,000. Four new Chapters
were chartered this year. We received a 3% COLA increase.
Highlights from the National
Convention 2nd. Business Meeting
President George Smith made a motion
that the $1,600 that were paying on the mortgage for the National Headquarters building be
put in an escrow account to purchase a building in the Washington DC area. The motion was
seconded and carried.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was chosen
as the convention site for the 1996 National Convention.
Julius Orsak advised that the
Auxiliary donated $15,000 for scholarships and $3,000 for the widows.