Minutes

1st Marine Division Association | Central Florida Chapter
Winter Park, Florida | February 7, 2009

Our president Mike Galyean opened our February meeting at 10:30 A.M. with 25 members attending. Vice-President Phil Ray led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and we continued to stand as Bill Tate presented our opening prayer. Jim Peringer sold raffle tickets while each member introduced themselves and told of their Marine Corps experience. Treasurer Art Dreves presented his financial statement with a balance of $1,517.88, and Secretary Rick Kennedy reported that his minutes for our December 6 meeting were printed in the January “Ooo Rah” newsletter.

Featured Speaker:
Major General Frederick C.”Boots” Blesse, USAF, is a great American hero and a fantastic speaker for the Central Florida Chapter of the 1st Marine Division Association. He was a fighter pilot supreme during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. It was very interesting to learn about the skills and techniques employed by this fighter pilot who became the leading ace when he returned from Korea to the United States in 1952. We enjoyed hearing about his daring landing of his P-51 in poor visibility when he hit a truck on a grass runway and another time he ejected from his F-86 into the China Sea out of fuel after shooting down a Mig-15 and damaging another.  “Boots” received 36 decorations during his 30 year service including the Distinguished Service Cross, and 2 Silver Stars.  President Galyean presented MajGen. Blesse with a Certificate of Appreciation and a 1st Marine Division “challenge coin.”

Old Business:
●  New officers announced for 2009-2010: President-Mike Galyean, Vice President-Phil Ray, Secretary-Rick Kennedy, Treasurer-Art Dreves, Sgt.Arms-Elmer Hawkins, Chaplain-Don Schyberg, and Chapter Representative-Elmer Hawkins.  
●  Bill Tate gave us a report that the Central Florida Monument Committee has selected a 5 sided pyramid design with globe and anchor heading for the military park at Lake Baldwin that we can all take great pride upon completion. This new all Marine monument will be dedicated on November 10th in 2009 at a total cost of $15,000. The Central Florida Marine Corps Foundation will be handling the finances. Donations should be submitted to CFMCF, Attention Monument, Suite 212 PMB 321, 4250 Alafaya Trail, Oviedo, FL 32765-9426.
●  The Valentine “Sweetheart Dinner” will take place on Friday, February 13, at Tolla’s Italian Restaurant starting at 5:30 p.m.
●   John Adamson and Harry Clarke have agreed to continue handling membership, and they announced that we have 78 members with 12 life and 66 annual. Everybody should be paid up by end of February.  
●  We discussed the 1st Marine Division Plaque for the Marion County/Ocala Veteran Memorial Park. Tony Johnson made a motion that the chapter accept engraved bricks on both sides of the metal plaque. This was seconded by Jim Peringer, and the entire chapter approved the motion.  The chapter agreed to go with engraved red bricks, but price of brick was not finalized. Jack Paxton accepted the position of project chairman and will gather more information from the Veterans Park.

New Business:
● Mike Galyean presented a certificate to Rick Dreves for his outstanding service to the Central Florida Chapter. Rick owns Acuity Marketing Communications out of Nashville, TN and has contributed many hours redesigning and improving our chapter website.  Rick is the son of chapter Treasurer Art Dreves.
● We voted to contribute $25 per month to Acuity Marketing Communications for maintaining our website www.CFC1stMarDiv.com.
● The next 1st Marine Division Association Reunion will be in Anaheim, California August 26-29.
● We will present Awards to Apopka H.S., Edgewater H.S. and University H.S Marine JROTC cadets in the Spring.
● Our next VA Nursing Home Project will be Thursday March 12, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.  
●  Mike Galyean presented a Certificate of Appreciation and a 1st Marine Division Association “challenge coin” to Ray McWilliams for his excellent contributions and service as chaplain of our chapter.

Announcements:
● Don Schyberg is recovering satisfactorily from his knee operation and will soon be back as our chaplain. Bill Tate led us today in Benediction and verse 4, 5 of Navy Hymn.

Semper Fi
-- Rick Kennedy, Secretary
Central Florida Chapter, 1st Marine Division Association