THE HISTORY OF THE RETIRED
ENLISTED ASSOCIATIONTHE HISTORY OF THE RETIRED
ENLISTED ASSOCIATION
SEPTEMBER 1995 TO SEPTEMBER 1996
The National Convention was held in
Rapid City, South Dakota on September 5-10, 1995. Officers elected/appointed:
President - Jack Cotton
1st Vice - Dottie Holmes
2nd Vice - David Pahl
3rd Vice - Ralph McCutchen
Treasurer - Bill Everet
2 Yr. Director – Isidoro Cerpa,
Jr.
2 Yr. Director – Fred Athens
1 Yr. Director – Tom DeWeese
1 Yr. Director – C. D. Rice
PPAC & TSCL Chair – Al
Ybanez
Memorial Foundation Chair –
George Smith
Parliamentarian – George Miles
MID-TERM MEETING MAY 18, 1996
Motion was passed to no longer accept
deficit spending from vendors in the future.
A committee was formed to assess what
can be done to assist struggling chapters.
Sites considered for the 1999
National Convention were discussed and include San Diego, Los Angeles and Seattle.
PRE-CONVENTION BOD MEETING SEPTEMBER
6, 1995
TREA Foundation Chairman George Smith
announced that when the Foundation went out on a Sunday requesting donations for the
Oklahoma City tragedy, by the following Wednesday they had collected $50,000. The
Foundation gave 29 $1,000 scholarships and one $1,500 scholarship in memory of Frank
Cusamano from AGE. That scholarship is based on need and what the applicant has done
within the community rather than grade point average.
Mr. Pacino of AGE advised that as of
June 30, 1995 TREA membership was 79,342 up from 72,280 in 1994 and 67,800 in 1993.
It was announced that the 1996
Convention would be held in Philadelphia during the first week of September.
A special project was introduced
called BANC, or Build A New Chapter. Past President Ybanez explained that TREA's efforts
to increase the number of chapters was necessary. He further stated that funds would be
necessary to accomplish this. Reviewing the steps involved in BANC he explained they were
: 1) Selection of a site for a new chapter 2) News media 'blitz' in the targeted community
to build name recognition 3) Development of a list of potential members. Development of
invitation to potential members inviting them to attend a New Chapter Seminar. After the
first seminar, the BANC committee representative will schedule another meeting in 3-4
weeks. After each meeting, those that attend will be asked to invite other retirees to
future meetings.
The primary function of BANC is to
initiate the action, and to provide encouragement and guidance as the effort continues.
Membership goals were outlined during
the discussion by the five-year plan Committee. They include: 1995 – 80,000 1996
– 94,000 1997 – 108,000 1998 – 122,000 1999 – 136,000 2000 –
150,000
In addition, having a Veteran Service
Officer in every state by the year 2000.
Following a letter sent by Bob
Gilbert, located in the Philippines requesting information on chapters available in the
Philippines, a motion was passed to contact Mr. Gilbert and give him permission to form a
chapter there as long as he abides by the laws and tax laws of that country.
September, 1996 TO September, 1997
The National Convention was held in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 4-7, 1996. Officers elected/appointed:
President - Dottie Holmes
2 Yr. Director – J. H.
"Jack" Jackson 1st Vice - Dave Pahl
2 Yr. Director – Manuel
Sanchez-Rivera 2nd Vice - Ralph McCutchen
1 Yr. Director – Oscar R. Hinson
3rd Vice - Fred Athens
1 Yr. Director – Isidoro
Cerpa-Alicia Treasurer - Bill Everet
Memorial Foundation – Daniel J.
O'Connell PPAC - Jack Cotton
TSCL Chair - Al Ybanez
Parliamentarian – George Miles
TREA Headquarters goes on-line(Jan
'96). It was announced that TREA has established a web presence. The administrative staff
looking forward to on-line membership applications, TREA Wear orders and paperless
document transfers from Headquarters to the Government Affairs Office in Washington, DC.
MID TERM MEETING MAY 16, 1997
TREA Raised $50,000 for relief from
the flood of Hurricane Hortense in Puerto Rico.
Mr. Ybanez reported that the TSCL has
recruited 437 members during the first quarter of 1997 and that TSCL has brought in a
little over $400,000.
A new award was established known as
the Community Service Award.
FIRST BUSINESS MEETING SEPTEMBER 5,
1996
President Holmes appointed Vincent
Niski as Sergeant-at-Arms.
1995 Convention minutes were reviewed
and approved.
Nominations for National Officers and
Directors were taken.
Nominated for President: Dottie
Holmes Nominated for 1st. Vice President: Dave Pahl Nominated for 2nd. Vice President:
Ralph McCutchen Nominated for 3rd. Vice President: Fred Athans Nominated for Treasurer:
William Evert & William DeBoer Nominated for 2 year Director Positions: Jorge Blondet
Isidoro Cerpa John Luperalli Collins Dupree "CD" Rice William Volm Henry
"Woody" Woodward
National Treasurer's Report:
Treasurer Evert stated that the following figures were from December 31, 1995 financial
report from the auditors: Cash on hand $ 506,202 Investments $1, 264,155 Accounts
Receivable $ 174,469 Inventory $ 30,628 Land $ 125,000 Building and Improvements $ 158,222
Furniture and Equipment $ 178,192 Less Depreciation $ 107,571 Other Assets $ 10,887 TOTAL
ASSETS $2,340,184
Liabilities: Accounts Payable General
$ 60,362 Accounts PayableChapters $ 8,400 Accrued Vacations Payable $ 11,604 Other Accrued
Liabilities $ 11,222 Deferred Life Membership Dues $1,705,270 TOTAL LIABILITIES $1,796,795
Membership as of June 30 79,308
adjusted for complimentary members. This is up 3%.
It was announced that in a meeting on
July 13, 1996 the Past Presidents Advisory Counsel (PPAC) has changed it's name to the
Past National President Counsel (PNPC).
It was announced that the TREA
Memorial Foundation funded 30 scholarships in the amount of $30,500. 29 for $1,000 and one
for $1,500.
In a meeting on March 15, 1996 the
Bylaws & Rules Committee made changes to standing rule 8, 9 and 18 which were approved
by the Board of Directors on May 18, 1996.
The Build a New Chapter (BANC)
Committee has been considered a success with the chapter in San Antonio and the forming of
a chapter in San Diego.
The Athletic committee announced that
the bowling team did very well with two members coming in second in the doubles.
In March of 1996, Past National
President Otho Lister met with the National Association of State Directors, the Veterans
Administration and with Secretary Jessie Brown and his staff in Washington DC on the VSO
program. He shared TREA's objectives and goals for representation of TREA members. He
discussed the need for Veteran Service Officers and how important it is for TREA members.
PRE-CONVENTION MEETING SEPTEMBER 4,
1996
Treasurer Bill Evert reported that as
of 9/1/95, TREA had $1,510,238.22 and that as of 9/1/96 TREA had $1,804,793.27. TREA also
had Deferred Revenues in the membership accounts of $1,705,270. TREA made $40,000 in
interest in it's investments.
As of this meeting TREA had 79,308
members and this figure was adjusted to omit the complimentary members of 2,019. Break
down of membership was as follows: Air Force-45,000, Navy-10,000, Army-17,000, Cost
Guard-384, Marines-750, Widow-2,127 and unknown service-2,877. In the last 12 months
12,000 new members were brought in but in the same time 10,000 members did not pay their
dues.
The TREA Memorial Foundation
announced that the scholarships would be reduced from 30 to 15 next year because of money
concerns.
Al Ybanez announced that Vantage,
TSCL's insurance company donated a 12-day cruise to TSCL and that TSCL donated it to TREA
and that Squires and Heartfield are sponsoring a Hospitality night.
Three top recruiters were announced:
1st. top recruiter was Bob Holtz, Chapter 3, 2nd. Was Gerald Folansby, Chapter 29, and
3rd. was Bob Covington, Chapter 72.
Past President Otho Lister announced
an agreement with over 10 states to provide service through the VSO program. The states
included were: Arizona, Florida, Maryland, South Dakota, Colorado, Georgia, Nebraska,
Texas, New Hampshire and New Mexico.
President Holmes discussed how the
convention site selection method used this time has saved TREA approximately $10,000.
1st. BUSINESS MEETING SEPTEMBER 5,
1996 TSCL Legislative Director Mike Zabko announced a cruise donated by Vantage Travel to
be given away at this convention.
It was announced that Chapter 29 of
South Dakota donated a quilt and the proceeds of the raffle would go to the Memorial
Foundation.
During the discussion of the five
year plan, it was announced that the plan was amended to move the installation of a new
sprinkler system at Headquarters to next year to accommodate repairs to the roof.
Co-founder Dean Sorrell stated that
the bowling team did very well and that two members came in second in doubles.
It was announced that Virgil Tate
from Chapter 29 donated $500 towards hospitality.
2nd. BUSINESS MEETING SEPTEMBER 6,
1996
It was announced that the site for
the 1999 Convention would be Los Angeles, CA.
President Holmes stated that the
National Staff would purchase a POW/MIA Flag for use at the convention.
POST-CONVENTION MEETING SEPTEMBER 8,
1996:
President Holmes announced the
following Committee Chair appointments: Bylaws & Rules – Fred Athans Convention
– 1st Vice President Dave Pahl Finance – Treasurer Bill Everet 5 Year Plan
– Director Isidoro Cerpa Scholarship – Director Manuel Sanchez Membership –
Director Jack Jackson BANC – Director Ralph McCutchen Public Relations –
Director H. E. "Woody" Woodward Legislative Affairs - Director H. E.
"Woody" Woodward Athletic – Co-Founder Dean Sorell Credentials – Past
President Jack Cotton Nominations – 3rd. Vice President Fred Athans VSO – Past
President Otho Lister
President Holmes appointed George
Miles as TREA Parliamentarian.
The TREA Past Presidents Advisory
Council overwhelmingly approved an honorary life membership to be given to Representative
G. V. "Sonny" Montgomery. This was presented to the Representative, who spoke of
his appreciation of TREA and our continuing efforts to inform all about our National
agenda. Representative Montgomery, the author of the "Montgomery" G.I. Bill, has
announced his retirement from the U.S. House of Representatives when his tern ends. (Voice
Jan/Feb'96, p4) (Ed – just a few short years ago Rep Montgomery was instrumental in
getting the National Charter past for TREA)
Director Sanchez suggested that TREA
National Headquarters should have a "Hall of Flags" containing a state flag
representing each chapter.