THE HISTORY OF THE RETIRED
ENLISTED ASSOCIATIONTHE HISTORY OF THE RETIRED
ENLISTED ASSOCIATION
JULY 1972 TO JULY
1973
REA National president Tom Abbott
first REA member appointed to Army Retiree Council.
Establishment of Chapter level
CHAMPUS Referral Center to provide information about the CHAMPUS program to REA members.
National Convention held in Junction
City, Kansas on June 22-24, 1972. National Auxiliary formed at this Convention. Officers
elected/appointed:
President - Tom Abbott
1st Vice - Johnnie White
2nd Vice - Gene Henning
3rd Vice - John Harrell
Treasurer - E. J. Grayckowski
Secretary - Viola M. David
Chaplain - L. R. Tankersley
Sgt-At-Arms - R. C. McNeil
3-Yr. Trustee - David Mosher
2-Yr. Trustee - Dean Sorell
1-Yr. Trustee - William Chambers
Officer Administration: Office
administrator at present receives no remuneration for services. Messrs. Suskind and Sorell
(MSC) requested that Officer Administrator be paid $10.00 per month retroactive to 1 July
1971 and will be paid a minimum of $10.00 per month henceforth.
Dues remain at the present $2.00 per
Chapter member payable to National.
National Bulletin: Having received
the resignation of the Editor, the assistance of all is solicited to seek a suitable
replacement. It was recommended that a TAPS column be instituted in each issue to list the
names of our departed members for that period of time. Also that a Membership Scoreboard,
by Chapter, reflecting the percentage increased in membership, be inaugurated in the
Bulletin.
Proxy Votes: After much discourse,
this Committee recommends the usage of proxy voting to be revised to permit the usage of a
proxy vote on all voting throughout the convention and to remove the alternate year
restriction.
National Convention Committee: This
Committee recommends the increasing of the Convention from two days to three days, and the
first day (Thursday) to consist of Executive Board Meeting and registration of delegates
in the morning and the calling of the Convention to order at 1300 hour.
Insurance Program: After much
discussion, it was decided to bring this subject up on the Convention Agenda for
discussion as New Business.
National Chapter (H.R. 7470): Mr.
Orsak reported that H.R. 7470, the bill to grant REA a Congressional Charter is still
pending before the House Judiciary Committee.
Lifetime Membership: It is resolved
that 20% (1/5th) of the fee for Lifetime Membership is to be sent to National
Headquarters.
National Historian: National
Historian Rosser (Chapter 3) requests Chapters to send items of National news and photos
to him for inclusion in the National History of REA.
Proxy Voting: A motion by Mr.
Chambers (Chapter 11) and Mr. Perez (Chapter 17) that Chapters which are located 500 miles
or more distance from the Convention site be allowed to exercise their full proxy vote
throughout the entire Convention. The motion was carried. Delegate registration fee will
remain at $5.00 per delegate and per proxy vote.
Membership: Treasurer Grayckowski
read the total membership per Chapter, with a recorded membership in REA as of the
Convention at 1,386 members.
Convention Site for 1973: Motion by
Mr. Robinson ( Chapter 9) and Mr. Wyse (Chapter 1) to extend Convention time from two days
to three days for the 1973 Convention. The motion was carried.
Scholarship Fund: Mr. Orsak announced
that Chapter 1 has a Scholarship Fund and that they are considering make funds available
to National Headquarters for a National Scholarship Fund.
A motion was made by Mr. Wilson (
Chapter 4) and Mr. Turner ( Chapter 3) that a National Scholarship Fund be established.
After considerable discussion as to guidelines, and after a four minute caucus, a vote was
taken on the motion. The motion was carried. The National Executive Committee will
investigate the legal aspects of such a fund, and will prepare a proposal of guidelines
for Chapter ratification.
By-laws: Mr. DePew (Chapter 4) moved
that Article 19 be amended to permit the amending of National By-laws be done by National
Execute Committee only, since they are under the laws of Colorado.
Chapter Reports to National:
President Abbott announced that Internal Revenue Service Form 990 must be executed by each
Chapter by 15 July, and sent to National along with a roster of Chapter Officers for
1972/1973 fiscal year. The Chapter Annual Finance Statement (period of 1 July 1971 through
30 June 1972) must be sent to National by 15 July 1972.
Convention Site for 1973: Chapter 3,
Denver, Colorado volunteered to host the 1973 National Convention. The motion was carried.
National Officers Travel Expenses: A
motion by Mr. Burke ( Chapter 6) and Mr. Stevens (Chapter 18) that National Executive
Committee establish the amount of travel pay to be paid National Officers attending the
National Convention. The motion was carried.
NATIONAL EXECUTE COMMITTEE MEETING
JUNE 24, 1972
A. A preliminary discussion was held
on the establishment of Work Shops to be included in the Agenda for next year's
Convention. The concept was acceptable to all Officers present.
B. The Service Officer committee is
established to develop a program whereby there will be an individual in each Chapter who
will be knowledgeable as to Veterans' benefits, widows' benefits, etc. and will be able to
give counseling in these areas to members, widows and orphans.
All National Officers were advised
that they are contributing editors to the National Bulletin and will be expected to
frequently write articles, within the scope of their respective committee assignments, for
publication in the National Bulletin.
An Executive Committee meeting by
telephone conference was held on January 27, 1973.
Unfinished Business: National
Scholarship Fund - Mr. Abbott addressed the Committee to the fact that he did not feel we
have funds to finance such an operation. The National treasury has a balance of $1,500.00.
This item should be pursued to determine the legality of how we can meet the State of
Colorado requirements. Since we are chartered in Colorado, we have to answer to their laws
as pertaining to a non-profit organization. I will appoint two members from the Colorado
area to investigate and report their findings on how such a venture is financed by other
organizations and the legality. Mr. White (Chapter 3) and Mr. Sorell (Chapter 1)
volunteered to serve in this capacity. Mr. White (Chapter 3) was appointed Chairman.
Convention: After considerable
discussion, it was determined by all committee members that a rate of $.06 per mile each
way would be paid, with no travel pay in advance. Mr. Mosher suggested a letter of
appreciation be sent to the Armed Forces Committee and President Nixon for the passage of
the Survivor Benefit Plan, which we all worked so hard for. President Abbott pleaded with
all members of the Committee to assist in finding an editor for the National Newsletter.