Minutes from Monthly Membership Meeting

February 17, 2009

President Ron Smith brought the meeting to order at 10:31 a.m. He then led the group in the Flag Salute and the Invocation.

Ron asked if anyone wanted to make any changes to the minutes of the last (January) meeting. No one did, so Howard Ramshorn made a motion that the minutes be approved as written. Bob Waggoner seconded the motion and it carried.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Treasurer Howard Ramshorn reported that all Association taxes and the various required documents have been paid to and filed with the state and federal governments and are currently up to date. He distributed copies of the January Treasurer’s Report and pointed out that it states that as of the end of the month the Total Association Funds were $39,935.50.

Don Pechous moved that the Treasurer’s Report be accepted as written, Bob Waggoner seconded the motion and it carried.

DOCENTS REPORT

Director of Docents Joe Onesty was unable to be present. It was noted that Joe had not been able to contact Colonel Wray of the Civil Air Patrol regarding the possibility of some of its cadets serving as docents at the Tony LeVier P-38 Hangar Museum. Don Pechous, who had talked to Col. Wray initially, said he would attempt to contact him again. Docent Bob Waggoner mentioned that on one occasion a couple of weeks earlier he had not gone to the Museum because of the inclement weather report and therefore it was not open that day.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

Membership Director Steve Blake reported that there were currently 1,047 members on the roster. He had just deleted 18 names because those members failed to pay their dues, after three notices were sent to them over a six-month period without responses. As of this time last year, we had 1,097 active members. On a more positive note, Steve also mentioned that we have obtained 22 new members in the last four months.

WEBSITE REPORT

Director of Internet Operations Kelly Kalcheim mentioned the large number of donations that have been received recently via the Association’s website. She discussed her plans to increase website visits by (1) requesting that other, related, websites include a “banner” ad referring and linking their visitors to our site and (2) placing a “Tell-A-Friend” button on our site enabling visitors to easily inform other people of it.

HANGAR REPORT

Howard Ramshorn mentioned that the main (March Field) museum has still not repaired the phone line to our hangar, so the only outside communication there is via the walkie-talkie, to their museum only. Howard suggested that the docents have cell phones handy while on duty. Lee Northrop advised the Board that the March Field Museum could be fined for failing to keep the phone line in operation, but it was decided that it wouldn’t be worth the hassle to file a complaint at this point.

Howard also mentioned that the enclosed rear work area of the hangar has been cleaned out, and that a large number of back issues of Lightning Strikes are stored there, among other things.

NEWSLETTER REPORT

Lightning Strikes Editor Steve Blake reported that the March 2009 issue is now at the printer and would be mailed out soon, and that most of the members will be receiving their copies around the first of March.

Ron Smith moved that all the above reports be accepted as presented, Kelly Kalcheim seconded that motion and it carried.

OLD BUSINESS

Regarding our participation in the annual Chino Airshow on May 16 and 17, Kelly said that a member had asked her whether our museum will be open that weekend. This was discussed, and it was agreed that it should be, especially for the benefit of out-of-state visitors who might want to visit it in addition to attending the Airshow. Several docents who were present at the meeting volunteered to work one day at the hangar that weekend.

Some of the Board members complained about the poor location allocated to our Association’s booth at last year’s Chino Airshow. Bob Alvis promised to negotiate a much better location this year, hopefully next to the P-38(s).

Regarding the Association banners and signs that are displayed in our booth at air shows and other events, it was suggested that our website address be prominently displayed on all of them. The suggestion was accepted, and Bob Alvis said he would make sure that was the case, in time for the upcoming 2009 events.

Howard Ramshorn reported that the number of names on the volunteer plaque has grown to 80, which he assumes is the final amount. He is going to obtain a new estimate soon and hopefully the plaque will be completed in March.

Ron mentioned that Joe Onesty has given him what are assumed to be the last of the names for the docent plaque and that it is hoped it too will be finished next month.

Regarding the Archie Jackson display, Bob Alvis reported that due to the recent severe weather in the area, Planes of Fame had not been able to transport the materials for it to their Valle, AZ, facility. This will be done and Bob will proceed with the work after the weather improves.

Ron Smith then mentioned that he had received an e-mail from Archie’s daughter Candace asking when the actual dedication of the display will take place. Bob indicated that it would probably be on the afternoon of June 27, after the Fly-In activities at Valle had quieted down.

Also regarding the Archie Jackson display, Howard informed the Board that Candace’s cousin, who is preparing the backgrounds for its window boxes (documents and photos), is also willing to prepare a large photo background for the fifth box that has been allocated for the Association’s use.

Lee Northrop reported that the 475th Fighter Group Association, of which he is also an officer, has donated its beautiful P-38 cockpit to Planes of Fame and that there is a good chance it will be at Valle for the Fly-In. It was also mentioned that efforts will be continuing to have 23 Skidoo there.

Lee and Fox Olson also reported that plans are going forward for the new 475th Fighter Group display in our hangar museum, and that they would be working with Howard Ramshorn on them soon.

Lee reminded those present of the April 4 event at the Chino Planes of Fame that will feature the P-38.

Bob Waggoner said he would be willing to donate a lithograph of a P-38 painting by the famous aviation artist Robert Taylor to be raffled off during the three upcoming events in April, May and June.  We gratefully accepted his offer.

NEW BUSINESS

Don Pechous asked the attendees to sign a petition requesting that the government award the Medal of Honor to a San Diego Marine who was killed in Iraq when he threw himself on a grenade to save his buddies.

Kelly Kalcheim then mentioned the Army’s Freedom Team Salute program, which is basically a “thank you” to America’s veterans, specifically in our case those of the USAAF in WWII. Approved nominees will receive an engraved certificate, a letter from the Secretary of the Army, a lapel pin and a decal. One of our new members, Air Force historian Dr. Charles Merkel, is active in the program and has requested that our roster be made available to him for this purpose. Following an agreeable discussion, Steve Blake made a motion that we do so. It was seconded by Ron Smith and carried. It is planned to have examples of the above-mentioned items on display at our General Membership Meeting in June, along with information on how to obtain them for those who have not already done so.

Kelly also brought up the Lockheed Leadership Council, comprised mainly of Southern California Lockheed engineers, which is devoted to the company’s history. It has a banquet/symposium planned for April 9 in Lancaster that will include a talk by Bob Alvis and some of our Association’s P-38 veterans, followed by a question-and-answer session. He was, in fact, going to give a presentation to the Council later in the day after the Board meeting. Bob mentioned that it is going to sponsor another event in that area in September at which they plan to have a P-38 present.

Ron called the Board’s attention to the 2008-2009 Directory of Veterans and Military Service Organizations, in which the P-38 National Association is listed. He had a copy with him at the meeting that he said he was going to place in the docent area of our hangar museum.

Ron also reminded the attendees of the annual election of officers to be held at the March 17 Board Meeting and encouraged everyone to be present and to encourage other members to attend. Ron announced that a nominating committee, comprised of him, Bob Alvis, Steve Blake, Kelly Kalcheim and Howard Ramshorn, would be meeting soon at the Ontario Hilton to decide on some recommendations. Kelly suggested that the committee also discuss the plans for the General Membership Meeting at Valle on June 26, and that was agreed to.
Bob Alvis reported on his and his son’s recent trip to Sacramento to attend the February 15 P-38 fighter aces symposium at the former McClellan Air Force Base, which now supports an air museum. The symposium was sponsored by the Northern California Chapter of the Friends of the Fighter Aces, a subsidiary of the American Fighter Aces Association. Bob also met there with members of the Forked Tail Devils P-38 group in the Sacramento area. Bob was impressed with both groups and would like the P-38 Association to emulate them in some respects as regards their meetings and special events. The latter are similar to events that were once held by our Association, including meals and guest speakers. This will be discussed in more detail at a later meeting.

Bob Alvis and Kelly briefly discussed the Association’s possible participation in a live, international internet radio show devoted to aviation topics, including interviews with some Association officers and our WWII P-38 vets. Bob is going to be looking into this further.

A motion was then made by Steve Blake that the meeting be adjourned, Howard Ramshorn seconded it and it carried. President Smith adjourned the meeting at 11:54 a.m.