Pat Donahue opened the meeting at 3:10 p.m.  It was moved and seconded that the meeting follow Roberts Rules of Order. 

New Business.  There was discussion on whether the Association should make Steve Howell an honorary member.  Skip Poindexter reported that Steven was already an honorary member. 

Membership.  Skip Poindexter reported that there are currently 169 members of the LZ Russell Association, including 10 honorary (no voting rights) and 10 associate members. 

Finance.  Robb Mitchell reported that the Association’s fund balance was $3,714 with about $400 coming in.  The Association had 22 contributors totaling $4,065 this past year.  Robb reported on some expenses that needed to paid from the Association funds and asked for Board approval.  Expenses included: 

            $480    Continue scholarship for Vietnamese girl

            $1,325 East meets West Foundation for playground / kitchen upgrade at the

                        School

            $300 (approx.) for LZ hats and floral wreath for Vietnam Memorial Wall

            $700    Humanitarian projects

 A motion was made and seconded to accept the finance report as presented.  Passed.

Web Site.  Skip reported that the website was over 2000 pages.  He encouraged everyone to submit any pictures from the reunion so he could post them on the web site.  Pictures should actually be forward to Tom Tilque who will process them for posting.

Skip is currently in the process of streamlining the web site. 

Web site hits are coming from all over the world, including Italy, Germany, France just to name a few. 

If you haven’t submitted “My Story”, please try to get that to Skip so he can get it posted to the web site.  The LZ web site is a Living History in everyone’s own words/pictures.  This is a great resource for information. 

Skip has on file all items from the Discussion Forum from the very start. 

The Board thanked Skip for his continued good work.  Charles Culton was also thanked for his support of providing the internet service.

Humanitarian.  Greg Bachnik reported in Larry Hammer’s absence.  There were several humanitarian projects this past year that members participated:

Care packs to Iraq, an Eagle Scout project of Nick Hammer (Larry’s son)

$500 to Josh Lively (son of Ted) to assist with supplies for college

$500 to L/cpl Terry Bachnick (son of Greg) to help subsidize dress blues

$400 to Nygun Tuy Ann to help with expenses at Ho Chi Min University.  Ms. Nygun Tuy Ann is majoring in business/finance.  Robb Mitchell said he hopes through some ties, that the University of Florida may be able to bring her over to the United States for school.

 $1,175 to CamLo District School House for a paved playground and kitchen upgrade (money for this project came from anonymous donor(s).

Reunion 2005.  The Board voted unanimously for Greg Bachnick to continue as reunion chair.  There was discussion on whether a reunion should be held again next year.  Concensus was that it should.  Next year’s reunion will be held at Las Vegas.  Next year’s annual meeting will include further discussion on location and how often reunions should be held. 

Old Business.  Pat Donahue asked members to identify any humanitarian projects and submit those to Larry Hammer.  Projects don’t have to be something in Vietnam, but can be something in our own country.  Several ideas were discussed as possible projects:

 Care packages to Veteran’s hospitals

Kitchen Table Gang (by magazine subscriptions, socks)

Veteran needs, in general

New veterans

Navy League

Major impact items

Non-profit organizations

Work though the VA and find out, if possible, family’s that need help.

Fundraising & Grants.  Pat Donahue reported that as a 501© 3 organization, federal funding is available.  Doc Smith volunteered to give it a try to help with this project. 

New Business.  There was discussion on whether the Association should be a dues-paying organization.  At $20 per year dues for 100 members, the Association would generate $2,000 revenue.  After much discussion of pros and cons, a motion was made and seconded that the Association remain a non-dues paying organization for now.  A donation page is available on the web site for anyone who wishes to make a contribution.

LZ Russell Memorial Project.  A suggestion was made that a plaque be placed at a specified location.  Previously it had been discussed but never moved forward.  Several ideas were H 3/12 and E 2/4 parks.  Perhaps San Diego and Parris Island, two recruiting stations.  Pat Donahue, Dudley Payne, and John O’Connell will work as a committee and pursue.

Medals and Medal Upgrades.  Pat Donahue reported that he is working with others to see about getting medals for some deserving individuals.  There is a lot of bureaucracy in this whole area.  Get a hold of Pat if you know someone who was overlooked at receiving medals.  Pat, Skip, John and Kenny will work as a committee and pursue through Pat.  It was discussed that no member should be using LZ Russell to try to obtain medals for themselves.

License Plates.  Kenny Heins showed a sample license plate he had made up which included the LZ web site address on the bottom.  He pointed out several changes he was going to recommend to the vendor, but the consensus was that people liked the plate design. 

Election of Officers.  A motion was made that officers will remain the same with the exception that Kenny Heins become president and Pat Donahue become vice president.  A motion was made, seconded and approved.

A reminder that the banquet started at 6:00 that evening. 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Carla Heins

© 2004 LZ Russell Association, Inc.  All rights reserved

Contact Webmaster for comments and corrections.