Stan Wolcott’s Chairman’s Report
The meeting started with a look at CHG and unit headcounts. Specifically the issue of “walk-on” members who hook up with a unit, in order to go to an event, disappear and then do the same thing with the same unit or another unit. Acting like ghosts, never paying their CHG dues. There was a short discussion about the 9thID only having nine paid members. Bob Blair felt that this figure was incorrect and would send Stan an updated roster.
Treasurer’s report
Ralph Preston passed our a set of financials statement for the CHG.
Dave Prieto from the 442nd shared an idea of selling a CHG T-Shirt at Camp Roberts. He explained that national average price for diesel has gone from $3.00 last September to $4.11 as of the last week. That is a 25% increase in fuel, and if we don’t start supporting the armor units, we going to find no armor or less and less armor. Dave passed out sample artwork and also a actual T-Shirt with his proposed design.
Ralph Preston shared that he had a contact who did T-Shirt, and could lower the base cost of the T-Shirts. He felt he could get the T-Shirts for $1.00 a piece. John Marketello said that someone suggested a T-Shirt in the past, but something never came of it. Jackie shared that at the Chino Airshow one of the German units sold “Hetzers” T-Shirts and they were all sold. John suggested selling CHG T-Shirts at the upcoming Chino Airshow.
Sample Picture of the idea
Meeting continue with some general comments from Bob Blair
President’s Report
Bob started by saying that “safety” has become critical. With the amount of armor moving around safety is very important. We have been lucky, but in the past we have had safety issue, if it wasn’t blanks being too hot, BFA size, it safety around armor. We has a live ammo incential which blew off the BFA.
Chairman’s Report
Stan share the issue of insurance as it deals with “guest units” coming to a CHG event. Ralph Preston told the group that when the CHG was a bunch of loose fitted units, insurance wasn’t an issue. The point Stan was making was a unit from the RPS or elsewhere come to one of our events, the CHG insurance does not cover them, and it is recommended that they purchase their own “one-time event” insurance.
At this point a short discussion about having a “annual membership meeting”. Stan explained that Officers who have been voted in are inducted in, and other positions not voted on are voted on by the board at the annual meeting. Bob shared that the president resides over this meeting. In the past this meeting has been catered, one time we had 300 people for BBQ at Fort Mac. John Marketello made the point that given the cost of fuel these days spending CHG funds for a catered function, that he would not want to see the money spent.
The idea of having a separate meeting, separate and apart from the standard month-end meeting, for the full membership to induct new officers, could be done just as well and for less cost than having an annual meeting. All that needed to be done is to designated one of monthly meetings as the “annual meeting”
Stan continued by sharing the new California Law that was going to require pre 1972 trucks and cars to be smog, has been withdrawn.
Next Becca Metzger from the 45th Field Hospital, asked for articles for the newletter. Davep asked, “It seems you ask ever month for articles and never get any.” It would seem to me that will over 300 members that each unit should be able to come up with a ton of articles. Can we just make it a requirement that every unit turn in one article by the next meeting? Becca shared that this was hobby and we can make those sorts of demands. One gentlemen raised his hand and said that he enjoyed writing and asked how she need to get the articles. Becca told the group that she would prefer MS Word Doc, although she will convert the whole newletter to a PDF.
CHG 30th Annniversary
Dave Prieto share an idea for a 30th Anniversary logo for the CHG. He explained that the CHG was formed in 1979, and that next year 2009 was 30 years, it what a great way to take advantage of such a milestone.
He passed out sample artwork to help people to conceptalize a look. It was decided that he would come back to the next meeting with several more ideas for the group to pick.
Desert Battle
For the battle we had 108 people. Woody shared that we had one minor battle, and then open it up with battle ideas from the various units in attendance. John Marketello voiced his concern that his unit was representing 40% of the German forces.
At this point a short discussion started on the subject of minor battles, and how they help to absorb the deficit from the Camp Robert Battles. Bob Blair interjected that at some Airsoft Battle weekends on an Army base they can go for $175. Bob continue that when he hears people complaint about a $35 or $40 Battle fee has being to expensive, maybe it’s time to tell them that this may to expensive of a hobby for them.
Upcoming Greek Battle
Not much was discussed expect that the sponsoring club plan for the scenario was to have several Greek Princesses that had to be protected, and it was the German objective to capture the women.
New Business
Bob Blair propose a bylaw change which would give the president of the CHG the power to veto any individual unit’s choice of a safety officer. Stan asked that we have a “code of conduct” which is general in order to give the individual unit’s their own control and say. The question, Stan presented to the unit leaders, “Do you want to give up your ability to have your selection overruled by the president?
This start a debate back in forth, and actually got heated at several points. Bob tried to tie his request in have a greater level of safety. John Marketello made the point having the president vetoing safety officer, isn’t the issue. The issue is having people who can do the work, and are trusted by all the unit leaders. John shared that safety officers should have knowledge of arms and the tools to check rifles.
The general consiscense became that Jerry Berry was the CHG’s head saftety officer, and it should be he would set safety policy and he alone should be approving or overseeing the various safety officiers. Also Jerry Berry added he would like to see a resume of a listing of abilities, background, qualificiations that would make the individual a good safety Officer.
Richard Bledsoe with the 442nd, got up and made the comment that there were three levels of safety, one was the general safety over the until by a safety officer, but then next comes the responsibility of each person to check safety and not just rely on someone else. And finally each person should be looking off at the safety of others.
Bob Blair continue, by adding that we had a live ammo incident at Camp Roberts, and when something goes wrong the incident needs to be report immediate. What happens it gets report a week later or at the next board meeting; that is just to late.
Jerry Berry said, what is the past is the past, lets set a policy going forward. So lets have all units submit the safety officers resume. And he would review all of them, ask questions and then approve them as it dictates.
Walt Hanna from the 35thID shared that in his unit everyone got a safety test. Every member is tested on knowing distance, all of which is kept in their unit’s personnel file.
Stan concluded the discussion by saying that he would draft up a proposal and present it at the next board meeting.
June PTO Battle
Woodie shared that they were current reviewing the site, and working on the scenario. Dave Prieto shared that he had taken the National Guard Base supplied map and found the google map equivalent.
Stan shared that he heard that quite a few members of the 101st were planning on coming out. Richard Bledsoe share that we had over eleven guys coming out from the 101st. Stan shared that they had 19 paid CHG members; which lead to the discussion of the issue of having unit Officers. It was point out that all units have to maintain 25 paid members in order to field a Officier.
Future Battles
Mark with the Russian unit, shared that his unit was planning a Russian Front Battle for August 8-10. He also shared that he was looking for another site. Dave Prieto told the group about a site he was familiar with that was in Oxnard, and could handle armor. It’s in southern calfornia and could save the CHG money on fuel. He continue by telling the group it was a free site for police departments that want to use it for training. Dave told several members he would e-mail them with the contact information and websites.
Stan shared that he was going to check out Lowel Pines one more time, before deciding on it has being a viable site for battles. Stan said the since Holcomb Valley was no longer under the same management, the CHG agreements would no longer probably be in affect and have to be redone with the new management group.
August – Russian Battle
September – Holcomb Battle
October – Battle of the Bulge at Ozena
November – Camp Roberts – November 1st tentative date
December – Possible Desert Battle or a Lost Battalion with the 442nd at Camp Takaie
Bob Blair said that before a date is picked and firmed up for the November Camp Roberts battle that we may sure we have a committee engaged, we find out whether Gary Harper is available, and finally whether the Chino Sherman Guy can also make it.
At this point several people were chosen and put on the committee; Jeff Meyers, Woodie, a guy from 12SS, 2nd Armor and Lori. Woodie shared there will be a large contingent of framchagers coming to this Camp Roberts. There was going to be a big convention on the west coast and that they would be coming to Camp Roberts.
At this point there was a discussion of space at Camp Roberts. As we add more people we have to start uses all the beds. We can get two more buildings if need be.
There was also a request from Mark Sevigny, that we have another “Dual Front Battle” at Camp Roberts again.
CHG Website
Stan asked Matt about any goings on with the website. Stan shared his examination of the RPS website in comparision to what the CHG has.
Matt said he had to make some updates and add the “Code Of conduct” to the site. This lead to a short debate regarding the fact there is no CHG approved code of conduct and therefore nothing should be posted to the website. So on that the matter was dropped.
New Unit
Amber Wasson made a presentation to add a new German Medical Unit, a German Red Cross unit, called the Bereitschaft Aachenstadt. Amber was currently a member of the Russian unit “150 Rifles”, and that she had eight people slated to join up with her new unit. She added that she had a tent.
Dave Prieto said, that it should be a requirement that who ever is planning the senarios, to incorporate both “medical units” into the day’s plan. He add that at the last Camp Roberts battle that it was a welcome surprise to find the medical tent in the middle of the battle. Ralph Preston added that he would like to see nurses for those of us on the dark side.
There was a discussion and debate on whether this was a primary or secondary impression, and whether Amber should just try it out without having to have a unit approved. But it was clear that those in attendance wanted a primary medical unit for the axis, and as long as Amber got all eight paid members, that it was the unanimous vote, to accept her unit.
Group Picture at Camp Roberts
Stan shared an idea that Dave Prieto had asked/suggest offline during the week. The idea was to have a full line-up of armor and unit members for one large panorama shot. Several member express and interest it doing so and participating in it.
Chino Air Show
Ron Lane told the group, that they were expecting over 30,000 people, versus last year’s 20,000. The county of San Bernardino was doing TV and Radio and putting up posters around. Ron also said that we would have an large grassy area the size of a football field. He added that this year the “public battle” would be an official event of the Air Show, and that we were given an hour to do the battle. His plan was to have three stages of the battle, with each stage being 10 minutes. The challenge was to fill up 60 minutes of battle time.
The question of when we could show up was raise, Ron said that you can setup all day on Friday. You could set up Saturday morning, but if you want to unload on Saturday morning you will have to be in and out by 7:30AM, or you can leave your car. Also you can’t start breaking things down
until Sunday afternoon. Ron put out a request for flyers; were going to 30,000 people and we need to give them something.
Stan told the group that he has put in our entry for the Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade. Ron Lane said that he was planning of having Walter Elther again, with Stan Wolcott dress as George C. Patton.
Flying Tiger Unit
A gentlemen “guest” made a request to become a new unit, and came to the meeting to find out what the requirement was for the unit leader and the other members. He was told that he would have to join an existing unit for six months, and then get six other members. The question was what a Flying Tiger unit would do, or how they could participate in battles. The gentlemen explain they want to make their uint more formal, and that they were already doing so as a freelance unit, going to schools and living history type events
corp.jpg "Cpl")
seclieu.jpg "Lieutenant")
sergfc.jpg "TSgt.")
