February Meeting Notes

BLUE STAR MOM MEETING NOTES
February 13, 2007

· MEMBERS Present (at Carson Tahoe Hospital’s Aspen Rm.): Mary A., Erin A., Ana A., Carol B., Jeanne BP, Patti C., Heather C., Barbara C., Cheryl G., Marge G., Shelley I., Amy FJ, Wendy M., Jo S., Suzzie W., Sally W. Guest: Robin P.
· MINUTES: NOTES from meetings posted as Blogger Update for review. Jan. approved as posted.
· CALENDAR: Monthly Meetings (2nd Tues. 6pm Aspen Rm. Carson Tahoe Hospital) Mar. 13th; Apr. 10th, May 8th, Bowers Military Family Picnic Sept. 8th, 2007; Nat’l. Connvention: Aug. 2nd thru Aug 4th, in Albuquerque, NM - additional information available from Suzzie or Barbara.
· BLOGGER UPDATES: hard copy with pictures circulated.
· TREAS. REPORT: given by Amy FJ. Balance on 2/8/07: $564.88 – detail attached. - Projected budget for 2007 tentatively to be presented at March meeting.
· UPDATES ON SONS/DAUGHTERS:
o Mary’s son Chris is still enjoying being “home” with his wife & children at Ft. Bragg and is busy remodeling their home when not busy with military endeavors.
o Erin’s son Rosendo should be headed stateside on leave from Iraq soon. She’s eager to go visit with him, her daughter in law and grandson!
o Ana’s son Gieorag is stationed on the Uss Henry M Jackson out of Bremmerton and son Andrew is going to be on the move through ROTC in Syracuse in May ’06 on to Ft. Benning, Ft. Knox, then back to Ft. Benning for Airbourne school and then Ranger school! Mom has a lot to keep up with!
o Carol’s son Joe was discharged in early February and is now living & working in Reno. He’s going to school and is considering going to work as a policeman or firefighter!
o Jeanne’s son Jason is going to UNR and doing well. He’s taking tango lessons…ask Jeanne why!!
o Patti’s son was home for a visit! His girlfriend came to visit too. If not extended, Patti hopes to have him back stateside in the fall.
o Barb was happy to report that Patrick is in the USofA! He’s been sent back to the states due to a health issue. He’s to be seen at Balboa Naval Hospital. They are keeping positive about it. (As I write this, it has been reported that he is doing well!)
o Heather’s son Travis is a Seabee in Okinawa, Japan but she looks to have him back in the states early summer. Her older son, Trent, just joined the Marines! He’ll soon ship out to Camp Pendleton for basic and is to be going into Combat Engineering.
o Amy’s son Nick being reassigned to Patrol Squadron 46 a.k.a. the Grey Knights.
o Cheryl’s son Matt was home last month and a wonderful visit was had by all! Looks like he got a new girlfriend before heading back to Iraq!
o Marge’s son Stuart still enjoying civilian life...but still subject to being called up until June ’08. Still attending UNR, working as a teller at Bank of America and planning an August wedding.
o Shelley’s son Sean still stationed in that tough area….Hawaii! Due to deploy overseas late fall ’07.
o Wendy’s son Nicholas in N. Carolina beginning his 2nd phase of school for the Osprey aircraft.
o Jo’s son Mark is driving “monster trucks” to move equipment from northern to southern Iraq.
o Suzzie’s daughter Jacquie is scheduled to accompany the general she’s serving as an aide for to Afghanistan next month for 10 days. Tawofik (Jacquie’s husband) is still attending his Captains Career Course in S. Carolina.
o Sally’s son Sean still happily at Ft. Lewis!
o Leslie (sent word via Barbara) is off taking son Will to Navy boot camp @ Great Lakes, IL! Henry is still in Reno. Please send prayers their way.
o Donna sent word letting us know that Deirdre is working 7 long days a week in Iraq and looking forward to 3 weeks of R&R in April. Hearty congratulations to PFC Steadman on receiving the ARCOM Award!! Hooah!
· NEW BUSINESS:
o Sacramento MEPS has space on their “Hallway of Heroes: for pictures. - For additional info contact Suzzie.
o Brenn Hill concert on Saturday. Tickets donated by David & Denise Baronio of Tahoe Mortgage. Leslie, Marge, Wendy, Sally and Suzzie to attend concert at CVI.
o Discussed need to generate fundraising ideas. The following possibilities were
raised:
St. Gall Women’s Society High Teal – Table of 8 – April 21st
Carson Valley Day’s float/booth/raffle – June
Memorial Day - May 28th
BBQ @ Bowers Mansion – Sept. 8th
Nevada Day – Oct. 31st
Veteran’s Day – Nov. 11th
bring additional ideas to March meeting!

o Wendy M. has graciously volunteered to be the BBQ Committee Chair and will gather info and report back with ideas and information in March
OLD BUSINESS:

o Business card design was approved as presented at the meeting last month. Donations were taken at the meeting to help defray the cost of having the cards printed and any remaining cost is to be paid for from the treasury. Once permission is obtained from BSM National president the cards will be ordered. (At time of minutes preparation, permission for use of the logo has been granted.)
o Discussions tabled from last meeting regarding donations to the Veteran’s Guest House, individual memorial’s of fallen NV soldiers and the GSM K. Hamilton Fire Relief Fund were opened for discussion again. It is the general feeling of the members who were present that as budgets are decided upon and given to individual committees that, from those budgets, proposals can be brought forth on how to address memorials. Specifically the budget of the Blue to Gold Committee could bring forth a proposal at a future meeting addressing memorial donations.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

o Deployment Support: A wealth of donations were available and packages were put together while members visited and brainstormed.
o BSM to BSM Support: Committee responsibility was clarified to be “Mom to Mom” support.
o Blue to Gold Marge reported that there are still five families to present with Gold Star Banners. The committee is still trying to arrange for presentations, but time must be given for the families to be accepting.
o Welcome Committee: Further definition of committee objectives to include information and referral for those inquiring about membership and services of the group. Committee will consolidate membership information into a folder for prospective new members.
o Operation Postcard: Box of postcards was returned from Walter Reed. Due to the large volume of mail, they can not take mail addressed to “any soldier” . / Overwhelming support has resulted in over 12800 cards ready for next holiday season! / Barbara read a thank you from the chaplain from the USS Bunkerhill for the postcards sent to the sailors on board.
o BBQ Committee: See New Business
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned following a closing prayer.

THESE NOTES WERE FORMULATED BY Suzzie, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONTACT her at: TweetySuz@aol.com