USS TOPEKA (CLG 8) ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
August 17,2000 at San Diego
Meeting Minutes


Present: John Reynolds (President), Don Anderson, Dudley Cass, Jack Connery, Tom Eagling, Don Nellis (Chairman), Irad Parkhurst, Jerry Pennington, Jim Ownby, Jerry Judge, Jack Timmons, Allen Jefferis.

1. John Reynolds called the meeting to order at 3:40 PM.

2. Minutes of the Advisory Board meeting April 16, 2000 were not available due to tour just being completed and so were not reviewed.

3. Treasurer’s report as of August 15, 2000 and the current membership report were presented. Copies attached. Noted we are in excellent financial condition and we have in excess of 800 persons in active status (800 newsletters were sent in August 2000), but we will in the future have a declining base of members. Only one of the new members gained in the past year from other than the web page. Over 350 members paid up currently. 106 members expected at this reunion.

4. Old Business:

A. Review of Reunion Guidelines. Jack Connery and Jim Ownby will present recommendations for changes and improvements at the next advisory board meeting.

B. Baka Hachi Revision Report: Jack Connery expects to be able to take the updated Baka Hachi Revision to the printers in December 2000. Jack Connery will present information regarding costs and proposal for funding for the Baka Hachi revision at the next advisory board meeting.

5. New business:

A. Jerry Craig made an oral presentation with a proposal for raising funds to allow higher cost items to be included in Atlanta Reunion at no added costs for the membership:

(1) Jerry proposed a 100 ticket raffle at $100 a ticket to raise $10,000 additional funds to allow having more expensive items to be offered for the membership at the Atlanta Reunion. Yield to winner: $5,000,Yield to organization: $5,000 less some minor costs.

Discussion:

1. Jack Connery raised concerns re Post Office regulations, does not want to put anything in the Topeka Reunion Association Newsletter regarding a raffle due possible violation postal rules.

2. Jack Timmons- concerns re legality; a raffle currently would not be legal under California Law, as he understands it. The authorities have even prosecuted churches for holding raffles.

3. Jerry Pennington thinks might be a good idea, thinks CA Law had recently been changed to allow raffles under CA Law.

4. Don Nellis, interesting proposal, has potential.

5. Tom Eagling wants us to know the details of what high cost items Jerry is proposing for the Atlanta reunion that would necessitate having a raffle to pay for.

6. Jerry Judge- if we don’t need the additional money, why would we want to get involved with something like this.

Motion was made by Don Nellis to ask Jerry Craig to make a detailed proposal in writing on this raffle concept within 30 days to the Advisory Board. To provide specific details of what he is proposing, how it could be accomplished, including a discussion of what the high expense items would be at the Atlanta Reunion.

Jim Ownby seconded motion.

Vote on the motion was all for except Jack Timmons who voted against, Motion carried.

B. Jack Connery wants to be replaced as the Newsletter Editor, wants to make an announcement at the General Meeting asking for a replacement.

C. Tom Eagling re declining membership in future. Membership in the USS Tucson Reunion Association is open to the CL, the CLG and the SSN. They in the Tucson CLG group voted to provide $300 to allow membership by all current members of the SSN. If a SSN member leaves the ship, they are offered the opportunity to then pay the current rate of dues to retain current status. Tom Eagling thinks we should consider opening our field of membership to the CL group and to the SSN Topeka.

Discussion: Jack Connery is for opening the membership, to get more members, Dudley Cass and Jack Timmons don’t see that we have anything in common with the CL or SSN folks. Jack Timmons thinks even the Tucson group will have to take some time to see what benefits ensue, i.e. whether they actually gain active members from the SSN members.

No action was taken on Tom Eagling comments.

D. New item: This item was actually taken up after the General Meeting on August 19,2000, all advisory board members who were at the Aug 17 meeting were present. John Reynolds made a motion to make a charitable donation of $150 to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Noted we had made a similar contribution of $100 last year. Motion was seconded and approved. To the Treasurer for action.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Submitted: Jack E. Timmons, Secretary Treasurer