CALL TO ORDER:

• President Tom Cole called the 2010 Annual Membership Meeting to order at 1405 hours, 16 May 2010 at the Howard Johnson Hotel in Elizabethtown, KY.  He outlined the general purpose of the meeting.  After declaring a quorum was present, a motion was made and seconded to dispense with a reading of last year’s minutes.  The motion was adopted.

Executive Vice President Frank Varljen made announcements regarding the banquet and the fallen trooper ceremony.  He then reviewed Monday's planned activities, including change to bus schedule.

OFFICER AND COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Secretary:

• Announced improvement of the website was continuing, including the establishment of a guestbook called Sound Off where anyone can post questions or make comments.
• Announced that the minutes would be available on our website on the reunion page.
• Presented amendments to the Association Bylaws, previously approved by the Board of Governors, for adoption by the membership.  A motion was made and seconded to adopt the amendments.  The motion carried.

Treasurer:

• Jim Vahle presented the Financial Report.   A motion was made to accept the report, was seconded and carried.  The report will be attached to these minutes and incorporated by reference.

Supply Officer:

• Presented annual report of sales data.  The report will be attached to the archive copy of these minutes and incorporated by reference.
• Announced the supply room was very well supported at the reunion and thanked members and the leadership for their support.
• Asked members to feel free to make suggestions as to what they'd like to see the supply room carry.

2-14 Cav Representative:  Announced the 2-14 Cav had produced over 20 new members in their membership drive.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

• President Cole reviewed current Association support of active duty squadrons and presented the Board of Governors recommended changes; adding a $500 Welcome Home fund for each squadron upon their return from deployment to be used as needed in support of soldiers.  He then asked for a consensus approving the change.  The overwhelming majority approved.
• President Cole reviewed the Association’s programs to provide an engraved saber and a set of golden spurs to the next-of-kin of each KIA and to visit the hospitalized wounded troopers.  He also announced that there is some new legislation recently passed to aid families of wounded soldiers.  He also announced we would be conferring with the Command Sergeants Major of the two squadrons to see what more we could do for the wounded troopers.
• Regarding the Association’s support for the new National Armor and Cavalry Museum at the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, President Cole  asked the membership to approve the idea adopted by the Board of Governors, to wit:  the Association will donate $1,000 now and will additionally match members’ donations up to $4,000.  The procedures for making and accounting for donations and for facilitating the tax-deductible donations will be developed by the officers and be announced on the website and newsletter.  Gordy Bratz moved the plan be approved.  The motion was seconded and carried.
• Mack Van Hook, chair of the nominating committee, presented a slate of candidates for Association offices as follows:  Tom Cole for president, Gordy Bratz for executive vice president, Max Whipps for secretary, Jim Vahle for Treasurer, and Joe Michaud for supply officer.  He then asked if there were any nominations from the floor.  There were none.  A motion was made and seconded to elect the nominating committee's slate of candidates.  The motion carried by acclamation.
• President Cole told the members that further action toward erecting a 14th Cavalry memorial will be deferred until definitive guidance is received from the Armor/Cavalry Museum or whoever will be overseeing the new memorial garden at Fort Benning.  The memorial is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $15,000.
• President Cole asked if anyone had any further old business that needed attention.  There was none.

NEW BUSINESS

• The president discussed the flag project of 1-14 Cav.  SSG Tillotson of our 1st Squadron provided details about their ‘buy a flag that has flown over their base in Iraq’ and noted that these funds will be used to support troopers after their return from deployment.
• President Cole reviewed our past reunions, pointing out that one of the original intents was to have them near our active duty squadrons, but that unit deployments and other issues have led to having some in other locations.  However, the Board of Governors recommends we have the 2011 reunion in the Fort Lewis WA area in cooperation with our 1st Squadron, probably in late October.  The majority of the members present voted by show of hands to accept the Board's recommendation.
• President Cole explained that when the question of having our reunion in Hawaii with our 2nd Squadron had been raised before, it simply didn't receive enough support.  The primary problem has been the high cost of transportation and hotels. After some discussion and in response to a proposal from the floor, the president asked for a show of hands of how many would support a mini-reunion in support of our 2nd Squadron in Hawaii in addition to our regular reunion.  2-14 CAV is to suggest dates and potential occasions. The idea received majority approval. 
• Ray Egan, Honorary Sergeant Major of the Regiment, described an "Adopt a Soldier" program and announced that he would get it started.
• President Cole then presented outgoing Executive Vice President Frank Varljen with a large box containing a trophy of a horse-mounted cavalryman with a drawn pistol.  He noted that Frank had performed the duties of XVP for many years, since the formation of the Association.
•  Frank thanked Tom Cole and the Association, reviewed the sequence of events that lead to the formation of the Association, and recognized Mack Van Hook as the person most responsible for its beginning, ably assisted by Bud Clark, Adrian St. John, Gene Wilson, and Curt Rosler..
• President Cole asked everyone to stay after adjournment for an active duty symposium conducted by representatives of both of our squadrons.

ADJOURNMENT:  The President asked if there was further business to be discussed.  None was presented.  The President then asked for a motion that the meeting be adjourned.  The motion was moved, seconded and passed.  The meeting was adjourned at 1517 hours

Respectively submitted:

Max Whipps
Secretary