| Announcements |
Posted by: Kate on 10/19/2007 08:44 PM
Updated by: admin on 10/30/2007 02:13 PM
Expires: 01/01/2012 12:00 AM
Draft Minutes for Thursday, September 27, 2007
DRAFT *** DRAFT *** DRAFT *** DRAFT *** DRAFT
Veterans Memorial Foundation Committee (VMFC) Meeting Minutes
September 27, 2007
Chairman Larry Davison was absent. The meeting was called to order at 7:09 PM at the Oconee Commission Chambers by Co Chairman Bill Gilmer. After a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance to our US Flag, he passed around a sign-up sheet and called the roll.
Members Present :
1. Jeff Benko
2. Ed Kennedy
3. Don Walter
4. Kate McDaniel
5. Bill Gilmer
6. John Roberts
7. David Kilpatrick
8. Jim Alexander
9. David Williams
10. Matt Alexander
11. Pete Shelnutt
12. Ed McConnell - DAV Representative
Members Absent:
13. Bob Smith
14. Beth Gilmer
15. John Gentry
16. Larry Davison
17. Mike Ginn
REPORTS FROM THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES
1. Memorial Committee
No report.
2. Finance Committee
Donations are coming in slowly. A donation from Mrs Lee increased the total to $54,275.38. No funds were spent during the preceding month.
3. Fundraising Committee (November GALA)
Beth Gilmer, chair of the Fundraising Committee was not present. A general discussion ensued concerning last minute details related to the GALA dinner. The other 2 members of the committee, Ed Kennedy & Kate McDaniel had no action to report. See Discussion under Old Business.
Ed Kennedy reported that as a member of the Oconee Lions Club, his group is waiting on a letter from the Veterans Memorial Committee requesting a donation. He felt sure that other clubs in the county were waiting for such a letter also.
David Kilpatrick reported that he had asked the Oconee Pilot Club for a possible donation. They make their yearly plans in the month of October and would set aside a donation at that time.
4. Publicity Committee
No report.
5. Program Committee
No report. Chairman of this committee, John Gentry, was not present. John did send word that he had procured a commitment from Printz Plus to print the banner sign announcing the location of the memorial site (in Oconee Community Center Park). John would see that the banner was supported on appropriate framework to be erected at the memorial site in the near future.
It was learned that the Oconee Community Center will be completed next year and will conduct a grand opening sometime in March ‘08. Could the veterans memorial be started sometime near that date?
6. Old Business
Discussion - GALA. The scheduled date is November 8, 2007. In a general discussion, the group was very concerned that with only 2 months left to make preparations, the committee might not achieve the results desired (a huge effort, but very little proceeds).
The design as now planned would cost approximately $150,000. The committee has on hand a little more than $54,000 leaving the balance to be collected as large donations and/or from a highly successful fundraiser.
The committee has not been successful so far in signing on a guest speaker. Until that has been confirmed, other phases of the plans cannot go forward; per se, letters of invitation, tickets for a banquet, printed programs, auction items confirmed, etc.
Although, very concerned that it would be difficult to accomplish all that needed to be done in such a short time, Kate McDaniel felt that it was possible to continue as originally planned and encouraged members to make commitments tonight to various tasks and get them done within the next month. However, she did concede that without a named Guest Speaker, some plans could not go forward.
Comments were made that the time it takes to get all the above done is at least 8 to 10 months. So far, plans have materialized for only the following: the banquet location (Civic Center reserved); confirmation of the vendor for the meal (Tom Little); confirmation of the auctioneer (John ?); confirmation of a military band (UGA ROTC); and decision on the dress code.
Discussion ensued on the possibility of making a loan from one of the local banks for the $100,000. Should the committee as a whole sign for the amount as a group in which each individual would be responsible for the total amount even if any one individual canceled his membership. Some members thought this could be done; others did not.
Some suggested that we scale the size of the memorial down to an affordable effort. Others suggested that we postpone the date of the main fundraiser (GALA).
Ed Kennedy suggested that perhaps the structure of the committee should be changed to enlarge it’s membership so that more of the community would be involved. Chairman Larry Davison had stated at the creation of this committee that he thought it wise to keep the committee membership at a workable number (12) rather than have an unmanageable number. Since that time, a few members have dropped off the roll (Bubber Wilkes, Vinnie Williams and Barbara ? ) and a few have been added (Jim Alexander, John Gentry, Pete Shelnutt and Ed McConnell).
Ed Kennedy at the podium expressed a solid commitment to make the building of the memorial succeed whatever it takes. He stated that the young (26) solider, Spc. Joshua H. Reeves, a native of Oconee County, who was killed Saturday by a roadside car bomb in Iraq sacrificed his life for all on this committee. He therefore made the motion to postpone the GALA until next Memorial Day in May of 2008. Ed McConnell seconded. After discussion in which David Williams stated that someone needed to do date research to ascertain what other events might be scheduled in the community and set our new date so as not to conflict, Kennedy amended the motion to state that the GALA be postponed and a date certain be decided upon at the October meeting. The amended motion carried and was approved.
New: Committee members felt that since the Veterans Memorial Committee is to build a memorial to all veterans from Oconee County regardless of political leanings – soldiers serve to preserve the freedom of all US Citizens – that the committee remain neutral. Any member may express their opinions as individuals but not as representatives of this committee.
7. New Business
None
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 pm
Kate McDaniel
Secretary, OCVMFC
September 28, 2007
______________________________________________________________________
|
|
|
