442ndRCT Soldier's Forum

[davep]

June 29th Meeting (Note there was no May Meeting)

Roll Call
While many unit have increase in counts, several units have drop and two were in jeopardy of being deactivated. The two largest units in the CHG are 2nd Armor with 40 paid members and the 12th SS with 42 paid members. The 442nd is tied with the 9thID, but this will change shortly as two more member checks had not been recorded. Both the 442nd and the 12th SS both reported that they would be adding more memebers. In the case of the 12th SS they will be at 60 given the recruits the have. The 9thID which in less than a year ago had over 40 paid members, dropped to 25 members.

Within the CHG the number of members in a unit determines the number of votes a unit holds in CHG administrative votes. For every 11 members a unit receives 1 vote, until you reach 25 members at which the unit receives 3 votes. At 50 members it becomes 4 votes and at 75 paid members the unit gets 5 votes.

Most units in the CHG have less than 10 paid members. The emphasis is “paid members”; you will notice some units will show pictures of their members, it appears they have 20, 30, or 40 members. But most are stale or dormant members who haven't paid their dues or are simply not active in the hobby any longer.

All toll the CHG current has 307 paid members.

Treasurer’s Report (Ralph Preston)
Ralph was not present at the meeting
Stan Wolcott shared the following
- CHG needed to paid it’s Insurance for the next year. Insurance for the CHG is purchased through the NRA
- The CHG would purchase (10) Ghost Warbird Calendars to pass out as thank you gifts, to vendors and Camp Roberts
- Approval of $50 donation to the USO

President’s Report
Bob Blair was not present at the meeting – Was away on business

Stan Wolcott share the “Procedural Steps for Administering Battles at Camp Roberts”. This document represents the “Standard Operating Procedures” for putting on a Camp Roberts Battle. The document explains all the steps, checklist items and procedures to perform. It includes Phone Numbers, Checklists, Contact Names, plus the Battle zone maps. The document is very detailed and complete. For example walking the barracks, and making note of how many beds, mattresses, lockers, smoke detectors, water fountains there are.

These were all the steps that Stan Wolcott and Bob Blair used to perform, and now the Camp Roberts committee would be taking care of.

Chairman’s Report ( Stan Wolcott)
- The CHG was contacted by the “History Channel” about a dinner they were planning on the Queen Mary in 2009
- Stan went to the Laurel Pines site in the San Bernardino Mountains. Because of it's very steep terrain, it was determined to be unsatisfactory site.
- Stan shared that CHG mailing cost about $275 to print, and about $80 for postage
- Stan inform the members, that a World War II group called the World War II Military Commemorative Association wanted to join the CHG or to be associated in such a way to participate in our battles. The group was referred to as the WW2MCA and their website is http://www.goldenwestflyin.org/photogal ... /WW2MC.htm
- It was noted that the CHG was a member contributor to Camp Roberts. Stan showed a certificate of appreciation from Camp Roberts to the CHG and it’s members.

At this point Stan share his summary of the recent Supreme Court ruling on the DC banned of handguns. Stan shared that from a legal standpoint, this was a watershed opinion on the same par as Roe vs. Wade, the landmark abortion ruling

Editor's Report
Becca Metzer announce that she had complete “The Front” the newletter of the CHG. Also that the newletter would be going out to the membership. (Not sure if this will be a paper mailing or electronic)

Battle Reports
May Desert Battle –
Only had 29 people attend, most leaving on Saturday at 4:00. The organiziers had Greek catered meal for dinner, scheduled for 30 people, for which only about 9 people were left. Those who stayed were very disappointed by the number that left. The organizier was unable to attend due to person issues with house.


June PTO Battle
Tim shared that the event went very well. Stan Wolcott read and e-mail from a unit leader who had attended as a guest. The event was a real successful, the weather was great, and we had two complete days of action. There about 60 people, 16 Japanese against 43 Allied members. Stan share that given all the obstalcles put in front of Tim and Woody, it’s amazing how well it went off.

Also Tim shared that “range control” found Fernie’s missing rifle grenade. They didn’t know what to do with it, blow it up, or let the cow’s eat it.

New Business
It was at this point that the whole safety officer issue was "resurfaced", approval and disapproval and the associated rules and regulations dealing with such, were discussed. What the members did not like with Bob Blair’s proposal was his naming the president as the supreme law of the land over the dismissal of an individual unit’s safety officer. Also most members felt the new proposal over safety officers was extremely cumbersome, hard to enforce, and potential unworkable, not to mention the political nature which created it in the first place.

This lead to the discussion and debate on what is and what are the qualifications for someone to become a safety officers, and the requirement that all safety officers must be approved by the CHG in order to be active.

Jerry Berry and John Marketello put it simply, a person in order to be a safety officer should have some or all of the following:
- Experience and knowledge of our hobby
- Knowledge of Blank Adapted Weapons
- Rubber grenades and their use
- Aware weapon distances
- Someone familiar with weapons
- Someone who may have had a Hunter safety course
- Gun Collector or previous Military Experience

It was agree rather than approving the length document that Stan crafted, that the following would take place
1.All unit leaders would provide Jerry Berry with who their unit safetly officiers were and have a short “bio”
2.The safety officer “bylaw document: would be implemented in the spirit of the document, and at the next CHG board meeting to have a vote.

Another member suggested, that for safety purposes that units should bring and maintain a list of members and pertinent safty information, such as emergency contacts and phone numbers, Special Medical needs and medicine that people might be allergic to


Future Battle
- Summer Russian Battle – August 8-10
Discussion about the battle being at Camp Jubliee. In the past the CHG hasn't used the entire property. At this next battle they will use an area with Aspen trees, and a creek. The plan on providing rides to the top.

- September Battle – Sept 19-21 – Holcomb Valley
- A sponsor was needed for this event, to which 2nd Rangers said they would take on the event

-October Battle – October 17-19 – Ozena
This event would be sponsored by the 2nd Infantry

- November Battle – Nov 7-9 – Camp Roberts
This is will be a National Falm
Senario – Normandy to St. Lo
Batlle area would be in the Tango or Uniform area. The Twin Bridges area is not opened to vehicles and the Sherwood Forest area only allows wheeled vehicles.


December Battle – Dec 12-13
This event is being sponsored by the 442nd. They are planning a “lost battalion” scenario.


Membership – There were two units up for deactivation due to low membership counts. Both of these units brought enough payments to reestablish their units.

Given the fact the 442nd at reach the 25 paid member level, it was allowed to promoted on of it’s members to the rank of Lieutenant. It was shared that this person would be the unit leader Tim Kano.

Report on Public Relations

- Weekend for Heroes

- Chino Airshow
Ron Lane share how well the event was recived and the reference in an National Airshow Newspaper. Others though felt the “mock battle” area was to small, and the ranges were too tight, and that the battle was hokey.

-Huntington Beach 4th July Parade
- CHG will be division 125-126
- Meet at 9:00AM in the Orchard Parking Lot, meet next to the MacDonalds.