FREEDOM THROUGH VIGILANCE ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 691616
San Antonio, Texas 78269-1616

1. OCTOBER 20, 2017 FTVA BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING: After ascertaining that we had a quorum, President Ted Colquhoun called the meeting to order at 1330 hours in the SSFCU Executive Dining Room.

2. Attendance:

3. MINUTES: The August 2017 meeting minutes were read and approved.

4. TREASURER’S REPORT: Was presented and filed for audit.

5. CHAPTER REPORTS:

1. ALAMO CHAPTER: The October meeting of the Alamo Chapter of the Freedom Through Vigilance Association (FTVA) was held on 19 October 2017 at Houlihan’s, 938 N. Loop 1604 W, San Antonio, TX 78232. The meeting was called to order by President Barnie Gavin at 6:00PM with an outstanding attendance of 32 members, spouses, and guests. It was great to have Mrs. Doyle E. Larson and her daughter Nancy present as well. The following business was completed:
   1. Election of chapter officers was held with Dennis Rassmussen as the nominating chair briefing the group on the selection process. As we are a new chapter for continuity the current officers all agreed to stay on and were unanimously voted in for another two years. President is Barnie Gavin, Vice President is Ken Gendolfe, and Secretary/Treasurer Mike Nielsen are your elected officers.
   2. We continue to look for new meeting locations. Barnie is currently in discussions with the Saltgrass Steak House on I-10 West which offers a 15% military discount a semi private area for us to meet in. If anyone else has suggestions please let us know.
   3. Treasures Report: Current account balance provided by Mike Nielsen is $450.00.
   4. The next chapter meeting will be held on November 16th.  Location is TBD but will let know as we lock down a location.
   5. Meeting was adjourned at 6:45 PM, followed by great fellowship and comradery.
2. ALOHA CHAPTER:  Awaiting input.
3. GOLD COUNTRY CHAPTER: Awaiting input.
4. HERITAGE CHAPTER:  Awaiting input.
5. MID-ATLANTIC REGION CHAPTER: Awaiting input.
6. ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHAPTER: Awaiting input.

6. OLD BUSINESS:  

1. Update on Vigilant Partner Program: No updates available.
2. USAFSS Display at the NMUSAF: After short discussion, motion was made, seconded, and approved to have Ken Maynard engage with Mike Meermans and Larry Tart to explore options; with the understanding that we may be called upon to provide some funds to support the effort.
3. SSFCU Recognition and Appreciation:  Other than annotating the SSFCU lead for Governmental and Military Affairs, no updates available.
4. Larson Awards Update: The Larson Awards committee at HQ 25th Air Force has not yet submitted a formal request for funds. After short discussion, motion was made, seconded, and approved to contribute appropriately once their request is in. Ted Colquhoun shared some of his ideas on how he wants to increase visibility and relevance of the FTVA through a presentation to 25 AF Commanders when they meet in November for their annual Commander’s Conference. Ted plans to deliver a short talk about the FTVA and include slides on many of the current projects we have funded around the NAF in the recent past.

7. NEW BUSINESS:

1. New Special Activities Chair: Now that Ted Colquhoun is FTVA President, we need a new Special Activities Chair. Ted and Lee Anthony will take this for action and submit a recommendation at our next meeting.
2. 2017 Anniversary Week Recap:
   1. Golf Tournament: The event went well, already have the course reserved for 27 SEP 2018. The FTVA Logo Balls were a huge success. Dennis will store the Vigilant Partners signs for next year (contingent upon the data remaining the same). Lastly, after a short discussion, motion was made, seconded, and approved to move the start time up to 1000 starting next year.
   2. Hall of Honor: The event went well, recommend keeping this event on Friday morning. The reserved parking was appreciated.
   3. State of the NAF:  This year the State of the NAF was not presented and many FTVA members who attended this year’s activities mentioned they want to see that event re-instated. After short discussion, motion was made, seconded, and approved to have Ted approach 25 AF leadership to request to have the State of the NAF presentation in the BALA before the Hall of Honor ceremony next year.
   4. Remembrance Ceremony: The event went well, no recommendations for change.
   5. Picnic: The event went well. All the food booth vendors want to come back again next year.
   6. Banquet: This event received mixed reviews with some saying they liked the format we had this year, and many saying they did not. There were a total of 60 cancellations. The food was excellent, and Ken Williams already has the club reserved for 29 September 2018.
   7. Banquet Programs: The Hall of Honor section of the banquet programs were loaded with too much jargon which made them painful to read and understand to those who did not serve in the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) business. Need to avoid that in the future.
   8. Gift for the 25 AF POC: Historically a nice gift card has been presented to the NAF POC. After short discussion, motion was made, seconded, and approved to simply present cash in the amount normally spent on a gift card.
3. Expanding Capabilities to Allow for On-Line Membership Payment: This item is tabled until the new Vice President, Evan Smith, is available to discuss.
4. FTVA BOD Meeting Location: After short discussion on the merits of improving access for 25 AF active duty personnel, motion was made, seconded, and approved to start holding meetings every other month on Security Hill, with the caveat that parking is reserved for our members. We will start meeting on Security Hill beginning in January 2018 and meet there every other month; with plans to work around the traditional August meeting and September Annual General Membership Meeting. Ted Colquhoun will take lead on this action.

8. CORRESPONDENCE: Received a letter from one of the first USAFSS members to go through “Cryptologic School” who shared some of the fallout he is experiencing as a result of the official records fire in St Louis, MO in 1973 and how that is impacting his ability to secure VA compensation. He also requested some information on some of the units he was assigned to back in the 1950s.

9. AROUND THE ROOM:  

1. Bob Baert: I sent out renewal reminder postcards to members.
2. Ken Maynard: I have some nametag money from the Alamo Chapter members and need to order more nametags.
3. Ken Williams: We need to discuss the Spring Social at our next meeting, because if we decide to continue holding that event we need to reserve the facility soon. Although the NAF sends may Airmen on deployments, we usually get a very low turnout of deployers for us to honor. It is an expensive event and may not be worth the return on investment.
4. Dennis Rassmussen: Suspense is 1 November for inputs to the next Newsletter.

10. There being no further business, motion was made, seconded, and approved to adjourn at 1446.  The next meeting will be November 17 at the SSFCU Executive Dining Room starting at 1330.

//Signed//
Loren R. “Phred” Sevening
FTVA Secretary