Minutes of the July 26, 2003
Steel Tigers 77th Armor Assn. Business Meeting:

President Jerry Brown opened the meeting. Chaplain Jim Spiller gave the invocation.

Old Business: Treasurer's Report by Chuck Winslow Beginning Balance $4,314 Dues 4,415 Reunion Receipts 8,410 Total $17,139 Expenses: Legal 2.56% Newsletter 13.12% Patricia Johnson 55.18% Web Site 21.57% Other Exp. 7.58% Total expenditures: $6,253

Discussion:

• Reunion has very a small margin so ending balance will be close to $4,000.
• Jerry asked that everyone look for old movement/promotion orders to get social security numbers for buddy searching.
• Chuck noted that 100% of the refunds due for cancelled activities had been donated to the general assn. fund.
• Treasurer's report was accepted.
• Question was asked about what happened to the leaders that had been elected at the last reunion. Jerry Brown answered the question stating that other priorities had come up and that they had resigned.

New Business

• A motion was made that dues be increased by $10 for a total of $30. The extra $10 would be for website maintenance. Discussion suggested that we have various fundraisers and have more involvement with active 1/77 for shirt and hat sales. The motions passed for the $10 increase.
• A motion was made that we offer a 50% discount for active duty 1/77 soldiers, E5 and below. Motion was amended to offer all active 1/77 soldiers a membership fee of $20 and a free hat. An anonymous donor offered to pay for the first 50 hats @ $10 each. Motion passed as amended.
• A motion was made to establish a Benevolent Fund. It would be funded with donations from our membership and would be used to assist our members in financial need. The Fund would not be a part of our operating funds. The executive board would administer the fund. The motion passed.
• A motion was made to establish a "Buddy System" with the active 1/77 on a 1 to 1 basis for the purpose of establishing closer ties with them. Motion passed.
• Mike Chaney volunteered to handle the inventory and shipments of items carried on the website including any hat and shirt orders. His offer was accepted and Jerry appointed him Quartermaster.
• LTC David Hubner from the active 1/77 talked about the appointment of an honorary Col and CSM of the regiment. He talked about their duties and said that they would be flown to Germany for a formal installation ceremony. Jerry Brown asked for nominations. Max Pickarts was nominated for honorary Col. George Showell, Joe Offutt and Len Renoux were nominated for CSM. Len asked that his name be removed. Joe Offutt was elected as CSM with Col Pickarts being selected as honorary Col.
• Jerry Brown read Redd Carr's Bronze Star citation that had recently been awarded.
• It was decided by vote that the next reunion would be in 2004 at Ft. Knox, KY. Date to be determined.
• Much discussion followed on the approval of our new constitution. A motion was made and passed that a new audit committee be appointed to review assn. finances. Bird Nagel volunteered to chair the group. A decision was made that our legal name remain "Steel Tigers 1/77 Armor Association" but that all letter head and other devises that might display it use "Steel Tigers 77th Armor Association" so that other units of the regiment might not feel excluded. The constitution was approved as presented.
• Election of Officers: Jerry asked that anyone who would like to serve as an officer should make it known at this time. Tim O'Neill volunteered for President, Redd Carr for VP, Bruce Goldsmith for Secretary, Chuck Winslow for Treasurer and Walt Evans for Membership. All were elected to serve. Jim Spiller will remain as Chaplain, Bob Rushforth will remain as Historian and Hap Trainor will remain as Judge Advocate.
• Joe Malloy volunteered to review and make suggested changes to the constitution, working with our new president, Tim O'Neill.

Respectfully submitted, Bruce Goldsmith, Secretary