THE HISTORY OF THE RETIRED
ENLISTED ASSOCIATIONTHE HISTORY OF THE RETIRED
ENLISTED ASSOCIATION
JULY 1964 TO JULY 1965
The new officers were as follows:
President - George Skonce
1st Vice - Julius S. Orsak
2nd Vice - Harry Glass
3rd Vice - Herman Sneiderman
Treasurer - Dean Sorrell
Exec. Sec. - Clarence Nuss
Cor. Sec. - Francis Clark
Trustee - James E. Scott
Chaplain - J. S. Mullendore
Historian - Frank Bendish
Sgt-At-Arms - Charles Rubart
The July 17 meeting was held in
Carpenter Hall. The guest speaker was Mr. Otto Severson, President of Pikes Peak Area #143
Fraternal Order of Eagles, spoke about his organization and invited REA to conduct
meetings at the Eagles Lodge on West Colorado Ave. without charge. A motion was made and
passed to hold the August meeting at the lodge hall. Letter campaign to Kermit Gordon,
appointed by President Lyndon Johnson to study the military retirement and civil service
retirement programs. A motion was passed to make each outgoing President a Trustee on the
BOD.
At the August 21 meeting it was
announced that Retired Enlisted Association Bulletin #1 had been published and sent to all
members. (the TREA Voice and the Chapter 1 News both evolved from this publication)
The September meeting was back in
Carpenter Hall with members wives attending and serving coffee and cake.
The November 20 meeting had two major
accomplishments. They approved a request submitted by 18 retirees from Columbus, GA, to
form a chapter. This is the date Chapter 2 was born. Mr. Skonce announces that changes
needed to be made to by-laws to show REA as a national organization so that an application
could be made for a Congressional Charter. Information was requested from TROA about the
procedures for this charter. Other business was to adopt a motion from Mr. Yoder to
transfer $1.00 for each new REA member into a separate fund entitled "National
Account," this was the start of the separation of the business of REA and Chapter 1.
A BOD meeting was setup in the Denver area with the purpose of establishing a chapter.
At the January 15, meeting President
Skonce discussed the purchase of a Chapter Clubhouse and a letter he had sent to TROA
about obtaining a national charter.
At the February 19 meeting a letter
was read from Senator Dominic stating that a national charter would require an Act of
Congress. Also discussed was the REA hat or cap but no action was taken.
The big announcement at the March 19
meeting was that the following month a meeting would be held at Fitzsimmons Hospital NCO
Club with the purpose of forming Chapter 3. A letter was read for Congressman Frank Evans
stating that he strongly supports REA and would assist in its efforts to obtain a national
charter. President Skonce suggested that when Chapter 1 reaches 200 members it should
consider selling shares to obtain funds to purchase a chapter home. At the time the
chapter was about 100 members.
George Skonce and others members from
Chapter 1 formed Chapter 3 on April 12, 1965 at Fitzsimmons Hospital NCO Club in Aurora,
Colorado. After an explanation of the purpose of REA, 42 of those attending formed the new
chapter.
The regular April meeting was held on
the 16th with President Skonce voicing concern about Chapter 2 not being heard from for
the past 5 months. The President also shared a letter from the Colorado Springs Chamber of
Commerce concerning future conventions in the City. Assistance from the city was offered.
What vision the early leaders had
– after just 2 years they were seeing REA growing to the point where new chapters
were being formed and a national convention might be held. It was at this time that plans
were being made to form chapters in Pueblo, CO, Grand Junction, CO, and Cheyenne WY.
At the May 21 meeting there was a
discussion about the $30 postal permit. The problem in obtaining the permit was that REA
must file an income tax return with the IRS before the permit could be issued. Because of
this requirement, application was made to Internal Revenue Service for tax-exempt status
as non-profit organization and the income tax return was filed.
Change to By-Laws passed that allowed
individuals with permanent medical retirements to join REA. Other changes included the
allowing of honorary members and Associate members, but to not extend membership to
Warrant Officers.
In each of the meeting minutes there
is a reference of the President urging the membership to write letters to their
congressman to voice their opinion on topics such as the possible closing of VA Hospitals,
of retired pay, or some other matter that concerned the membership. Even though REA at
this time was little more than a social club, it is clear that through the leadership and
vision of a few the destiny of the organization was being shaped. In the short time of
their existence, they had congressman, mayors and Governors on their side. They were
learning the power of the pen.