THE HISTORY OF THE RETIRED
ENLISTED ASSOCIATIONTHE HISTORY OF THE RETIRED
ENLISTED ASSOCIATION
JUNE 1970 TO JULY
1971
Merger of the Retired Enlisted
Organization of Jessup, Maryland with the REA. This group became Chapter 9.
Membership in REA is over the 1,000
mark.
Motto: UNITED WE STAND.
Jan 12, 1970 – Press Release
– A meeting was held at Socorro, NM, with Retired Enlisted Association President Dean
Sorell, Treasure H. Sneiderman and first VP Bill Rosser with Retired Enlisted Men's Club
of America President Don Granger, Sec/Treasure M. Suskind and Chapter 1 President C.
Schmerbauch. Merger details were discussed and details concerning the transfer of REMCA
membership were agreed upon. REMCA has 250 members with chapters in six states. REA has
1200 members with chapters in nine states. The REMCA has gone to the members for a ballot
on the merger. If it is approved, then the REMCA chapters will be transferred and REMCA
National Headquarters will be dissolved with all monies being returned to the chapters
prorated on paid members. Other retired organizations are planning on merging prior to or
at the REA National Convention planned for Jun 25-27 at Colorado Springs. One of there is
the 20 ½ Enlisted Organization in Tacoma, Washington. REMCA President Granger has been
coordination the merger of the known enlisted groups into one national organization. REA
has a bill pending in Washington for a National charter. REA President Dean Sorrell stated
that this is the beginning finally of a national enlisted organization that can
effectively speak for the members on a national level. Address for REA National
Headquarters is P. O. Box 2444, Colorado Springs, CO, 80901. REMCA President Granger can
be contacted at 120 So Hill, Mesa, AZ, 85204.
New Chapter formed were:
Chapter 10 - Mesa, Arizona Chapter 11
- Glendale, Arizona Chapter 12 - Levittown, Pennsylvania Chapter 13 - Ft. Rucker, Alabama
Chapter 14 - Lawton, Oklahoma Chapter 15 - Texarkana, Arkansas Chapter 16 - Salina, Kansas
Chapter 17 - Tucson, Arizona Chapter 18 - Hayward, California
REA is still working on Recomputation
Issue.
Official REA attire was approved at
the 1971 Convention: Gold blazer, black pants, white shirt, black tie and red overseas cap
with gold lettering.
Group Insurance Program offered to
REA members.
Chapter 19 was formed on October 6,
1971 in Jacksonville, Florida.
The National Convention was held in
Colorado Springs, Colorado on June 25 and 26, 1970. Officers elected/appointed were:
President - Dean Sorell
1st Vice - Harry Reed
2nd Vice - William Rosser
3rd Vice - Thomas Abbott
Chaplain - J. J. Johnson
Sgt-At-Arms - Robert McNeil
3-Yr. Trustee - William Chambers
2-Yr. Trustee - Julius Orsak
Treasurer - Herman Sneiderman
1-Yr. Trustee - James Nelms
National President Sorell read the
list of new Chapters and welcomed them:
9 - Baltimore, Maryland 10 - Mesa,
Arizona 11 - Phoenix, Arizona 12 - Levittown, Pennsylvania 13 - Ft. Rucker, Alabama 14 -
Lawton, Oklahoma 15 - Texarkana, Arkansas 16 - Salina, Kansas 17 - Tucson, Arizona
Mr. Lane (Chapter 3) moved that the
emblem used by Chapter 3 be adopted as a patch with Chapter number and state as
applicable. The motion was seconded by Mr. Chambers (Chapter 11) and carried.
Travel Expenses: National Officers
coming from Denver will be authorized $.02 per mile round trip for this Convention. For
1971 Convention, a motion was made by Mr. Clark (Chapter 1) and seconded by Mr. Suskind
(Chapter 10) that $.10 per mile be paid to National Officers.
Mr. Chamber (Chapter 11) moved that
the Lifetime Membership plate presented be used and that National order 100 at a cost of
$.57 plus $.19 for each color. The motion was seconded by Mr. Wedel ( Chapter 1) and
carried.
Convention Registration Fee: Mr. Reed
( Chapter 10) moved to have each registered delegate pay $5.00 for the 1971 Convention.
The motion was carried.