JULY 1977 TO JULY 1978
REA National President sent letter to all Senators on the Temporary Select committee expressing REA's hope that the Committee will not recommend the abolishment of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
National Convention held in Colorado Springs, Colorado on July 21-23, 1977. Officers elected/appointed:
President - Lee Newton
1st Vice - Leo Acosta
2nd Vice - Floyd Stevens
3rd Vice - Lynnie Samms
Treasurer - Dean Sorell
Secretary - E. J. Grayckowski
Chaplain - Johnnie White
Sgt-At-Arms - Floyd Fletcher
3-Yr. Trustee - Vic Mercer
2-Yr. Trustee - E. J. Grayckowski
1-Yr. Trustee - Cameron Blagg
President Mercer appointed a Chapter President Award Committee of Delegates F. Fletcher (Chapter 1-Chairman), Murray (Chapter 18) and Patterson (Chapter 9) to determine the recipient for the current year according to the recommendations received from the Chapters.
President Mercer appointed a Trophy Committee consisting of Delegates C. Blagg (Chapter 20-Chairman), L. Samms (Chapter 4) and Headley Chapter 1) to determine the best Chapter according to the membership statistics.
Old Business
Membership: Vice President Newton reported many inquiries were received this past year for forming new chapters and membership in the REA. New Chapters were formed in Atlanta, Georgia (21) and Killeen, Texas (22). There is a great potential for Chapters in Topeka, Kansas, Abilene, Texas, Salinas, California and Wichita, Kansas.
Our Man in Washington : Vice President Newton noted a potential increase of membership with an offering of office space by The Retired Officer's Association (TROA) in their new building at Arlington, Virginia about September of 1977, which would put Our Man in the Washington area to represent the REA. Col. George F. Hennrikus, Jr., USAF, Retired, the present legislative counsel and the present REA spokesman in Washington, has offered to assist the REA in total support of the new endeavor to put enlisted personnel on the Washington scene.
Auxiliary: Vice President Newton spoke of the fine team work of the Chapter Auxiliaries to make the National Auxiliary strong and the potential of a larger development to assist in the REA rallying to be number one in the nation.
Legislative: Vice President Stevens reported on the action of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) to unionize the Armed Forces and the congressional attempt to create legislation prohibiting all Armed Forces Unions. Dual Compensation relief looks pretty bleak due to the high costs. Rehiring rights provisions of the Veterans Act, a veteran not being a veteran, has not come to the floor of Congress as of this date.
President Mercer called a three minute recess to congratulate the delegate from Chapter 4 of Junction City, Kansas as the 1977 Chapter President Trophy recipient President Lynnie Samms. Subject committee was dissolved at the same time.
Scholarship: Vice President Lee Newton reported that only one application was received by the committee during the past year and the committee did not find it favorable in granting a scholarship. He further encouraged the delegation to support the program with continued subscriptions by the membership.
Service: Chaplain White stressed the serous problems of the eroding retiree benefits and the cut in staff and treatment by the Veterans Administration Hospitals.
Publicity: Trustee Grayckowski reported that many chapters did not forward news items for the bulletin. A search for a publication to put out a retiree magazine, such as VFW and DAV, has been started and this publication should put new life in the REA. Our Man in Washington should lead to better legislative reporting and greater scope of news for the membership.
Colorado Military Council: Trustee Sorell gave a brief report of the Council's action which has been beneficial to the Colorado Retiree and Veteran. He stressed all chapters to institute this action in their respective states to maintain the benefits and gain better recognition in their state veteran affairs.
New Business: Delegate Fletcher (Chapter 1) moved that paragraph 1, Article XXIV - Auxiliary be added to read: National Auxiliary was authorized and approved on June 26, 1972 at a National Convention held in Junction City, Kansas.
Delegate Gutierrez (Chapter 20) moved that paragraph 2, Article XXIV - Auxiliary be added to read: Each chapter of the REA is hereby authorized to establish an auxiliary to function at the discretion of each chapter.
Delegate Headley (Chapter 1) moved that paragraph 3, Article XXIV - Auxiliary be added to read: A chapter auxiliary can be disbanded by eighty percent (80%) of the membership present at a general membership meeting.
Chapter 22 was formed in Waco, Texas during June of 1977.
MINUTES OF EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 25, 1978
Convention minutes were reviewed and corrected as follows:
Page 1: Membership Chapter 1 516 Chapter 4 90 Chapter 7 19 Chapter 9 90 Chapter 16 9 Chapter 18 21
Chapter 19 73 Chapter 20 43 Chapter 21 73 Chapter 22 Deleted MAL 42 TOTAL 1,282
Delegate present Chapter 4 1 TOTAL 23 Authorized proxies Chapter 4 2 TOTAL 3
President Newton made a short review and accounting of Our Man in Washington and advised of the delay TROA was having in moving into their new building.
President Newton brought the subject of larger publication for National Headquarters, which a motion by Vice President Lynnie Samms to table until such time as there is sufficient funds.
Trustee Grayckowski moved the promotional calendar of the scholarship program be discontinued due to non-support. ($440.00 was donated against a bill of $1,498.00).
Trustee Grayckowski moved that we investigate the trade-marking of the national emblem due to the conflict with Carman and Associates. Chaplain White will pick up the necessary instructions and paperwork at the Federal Building in Denver, Colorado.