Meeting Minutes of February 15, 2014

Meeting to Order: 1:11 PM

Invocation (Cooper)

American and SAR Pledges

Attendance: 6 Members, 1 Guest Speaker

Sunshine Report: Status of Earl Adams is unknown and Gordon Willey is out of town.

Secretary’s Report: February Minutes were read. Motion (Rader) to accept the Minutes as read. Seconded (Pittman). Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report: $3,076.68 a/o end of January.

Old Business: Acting Pres. Cooper will try to confirm that Roger Koeninger will still be presenting the ROTC Medal to a deserving cadet @ Cal Poly ceremony.

Bill Siler again raised the issue of poor attendance and asked for suggestions going forward.

Guest Speaker:

Deputy District Attorney Dan Dow. Mr. Dow’s illustrious background has him with SLO Co. District Attorney’s Office since 2007 and prior to that he was a Deputy DA in Riverside Co.

Mr. Dow is a Major in the California Army National Guard, Command Judge Advocate and has served for 21 years. Mr. Dow originally attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA, where he learned Korean and finished at the top of his class.

Mr. Dow worked in the computer industry in Silicon Valley and was married in 1992. The tech bubble of the early 90’s convinced Mr. Dow to attend law school at the University of Santa Clara. Midway through school his Intelligence/Linguistics Guard unit was activated to Fort Stewart and then to Kosovo. While in Kosovo, Mr. Dow learned Albanian and was tasked with conducting the search for war criminals.

Upon his return to civilian life, Dow completed law school, passed the BAR and clerked in SLO Co.  Then in Riverside Co. Mr. Dow was twice misdemeanor prosecutor of the year and then with the felony team. The Dows returned to SLO Co. where Dan works fraud, molestation and abuse cases as well as with the Veterans Treatment Court.

In 2010, Mr. Dow’s unit was activated to Iraq for the Military Justice Trial Brigade chiefly for court-martials however, Mr. Dow was awarded the bronze star for actions during this period.

Dan Dow is originally from Massachusetts and has an ancestor who served with the 4^th Maine Regiment during the Civil War. Mr. Dow expressed interest in SAR membership and was told that our Registrar could assist with that.

Mr. Dow is running for District Attorney now that Gerald Shea is retiring.

Closing Pledge

Adjournment @ 2:25

Respectfully Submitted,

Chris Scrimiger

Chapter Secretary

Speaker for February 15, 2014 Meeting

Next meeting:  Saturday, February 15, 2014, 1:00 PM
IHOP Restaurant
Madonna Road
San Luis Obispo, CA

The program will concern operations of the SLO County District Attorney. David Dow, Deputy D/A will be the speaker. A major in the U. S. Army Reserve, Doe has spent time in Iraq and other locations and has a background in Military Intelligence. Among other educational features he is a graduate of the U. S. Army Language School in Monterey, CA. I will plug attendance when possible, Bill Siler, SAR

Minutes of Meeting of January 18, 2014

                                Central Coast Chapter Minutes, January 18, 2014

Meeting to Order: 1:05 PM

Pledges of Allegiance and SAR

Invocation by Nate Maas

Attendance: 9 Members

New Business: To order off of the full menu at the listed price or to choose from 5 items at $11.95.

Motion (Tissue) to order off the full menu, Seconded (Haynes). Motion carried.

Sunshine Report: Bill Siler was hospitalized days prior our meeting but was in attendance. Gordon Willey may be traveling as no one has been able to contact him.

Secretary’s Report: December Minutes were read. Motion to approve (Haynes),  Seconded (Maas). Motion carried.

Speaker:

John Siler was again drafted on short notice. John’s topic was 3^rd Parties in American Politics. Generally, a 3^rd party is any which is not the Democrats or the GOP. Sometimes they’re splinter parties who have deserted their own party while others are a single issue party i.e. Prohibitionists. Some 3rd parties are highly ideological as was the Socialist Party circa 1880-1920. The Electoral College protects the two major parties but 3^rd parties have influenced elections like in 1992 when Ross Perot garnered 18.6% of the popular vote or in 2000 with Ralph Nader’s Green Party. The last 3^rd Party candidate to actually receive electoral votes was George Wallace in 1968. John’s presentation was greatly appreciated.

Guest David Hanush will be working with Registrar Russ Haynes to complete his application.

Treasurers Report: Current account balance is $3098.02.

No new business but Nate Maas spoke eloquently about recently deceased Compatriot Lewis Height.

Benediction

Closing Pledge

Adjournment @ 2:05 PM

Respectfully Submitted,

Chris Scrimiger

Chapter Secretary

Minutes of December 21 Meeting

                               Central Coast Chapter Minutes, December 21, 2013

Meeting to Order @ 1:13 PM

Pledges of Allegiance and SAR

Attendance:  4 Members and 2 Guests

Sunshine Report:  Lewis Height passed away on 12/19. Status of Earl Adams is unknown and Gordon Willey was attending to some pressing business.

Secretary’s Report: October Minutes were read and approved.

Acting President Gary Cooper offered to reimburse Russ Haynes for his contributions to Wreaths Around America and the Afghanistan Flag Project but Russ declined.

Treasurer’s Report: Account Balance a/o End of November, $2896.00.

Speaker:

Dana M. Cummings is the San Luis Obispo Co. Veteran Services Officer. Mr. Cummings is a former Marine and veteran of the Gulf War with six years of service. Mr. Cummings hails originally from Livermore Falls, Maine and he possesses a degree in software engineering.

All Counties in CA are required by law to have a VSO Veteran Services Officer since 1938. Chief duties of the VSO are that of assisting veterans in receiving all of the benefits they and their families are entitled to i.e. filing for service connected disabilities, pension benefits, burial benefits, survivor benefits, VA loans, employment and educational benefits.

Another function of the VSO is to represent and mentor veterans who find themselves involved in the criminal justice system. Due to Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, many veterans turn to alcohol and drugs with predictable consequences. Much of the PTSD is due to too many tours of duty and there is an acknowledgment by the courts that this is a societal issue with some responsibility. Mr. Cummings was accompanied by Deputy District Attorney Dave Dow of the Veterans Treatment Court which exists to monitor and assist probation-eligible veterans. A system of trained volunteer mentors has been set up guide veterans through the criminal justice system, individualized treatment and rehabilitation.

Mr. Cummings also mentioned in parting that all veterans should obtain a VET-ID card which can be done through his office. Phone # 805-781-5766 or www.slovets.org.  A DD-214 is required.

The VET-ID allows for the vet to receive many local services and benefits including discounts at many local businesses. The presentation of Mr. Cummings and Mr. Dow was warmly received. A cannon and certificate were presented.

Old Business: VP Bill Siler was somewhat agitated by the attendance or lack thereof. It was suggested that we explore ways to enhance monthly attendance.

Benediction

Closing Pledge

Adjournment @ 2:30 PM

Dana Cummings receives a certificate of appreciation and a desk cannon from acting President, Gary Cooper.

Speaker for the Meeting, December 21, 2013

Next meeting:  Saturday, December 21, 2013, 1:00 PM
IHOP Restaurant
Madonna Road
San Luis Obispo, CA

Dear Compatriots,

Contact with Dana Cummings' Secretary at 4:30 PM today confirms that  
Mr. Cummings will be the program speaker for the meeting noted in  
subject hereof.

Bio information has not been furnished but he is Chief of veterans  
Administration Office in San Luis Obispo County. Ne served in the U.S.  
marines and saw action in the recent Gulf War. I expect an interesting  
discussion of Veterans Affairs will be developed by Dana, SAR members  
will find this program and subject of continuing interest,

Sincerely, William W. Siler,
                  SAR Program Chairman

Meeting Minutes of 16 November 2013

Sons of the American Revolution

                                             Central Coast Chapter Minutes, November 16, 2013

Meeting to Order @ 1:03 PM

Invocation by VP Bill Siler ( Presiding)

Pledges of Allegiance & SAR

Attendance:  8 members

Sunshine Report:  Gordon Willey will soon be back and acting President Gary Cooper is ill following his LAX adventure and European vacation.

Guest presentation was given by our own John Siler who provided a fresh look at the 1960 presidential election. John reminded the group that the election actually involved Kennedy, Nixon and VA Senator Harry Byrd (segregationist). The Electoral College tally was 303 for Kennedy, 219 for Nixon and 15 for Byrd. John stated that Nixon may have well won the popular vote in what was the closest popular vote up until Gore versus Bush.

John theorized that the inclusion of Lyndon Johnson on the democratic ticket was rendered unnecessary because Kennedy would have won without carrying Texas. Hawaii was originally called for Nixon but was won Kennedy when all votes were tallied. John mentioned that one of the most popular half truths surrounding the 1960 election is that the 9000 disputed Cook County , Illinois votes also turned the election but again the Illinois electoral votes would not have handed the election to Nixon. Nixon in fact would have had to win 3 or 4 of the hotly contested states to garner sufficient electoral votes.

John’s presentation was appreciated well received.

Secretary’s Report: Motion (Haynes) Waive reading of the October minutes. Seconded (Stevens). Motion carried.

Treasurers Report: Waived. Treasurer indisposed.

Old Business: Central Coast SAR Brochure – Russ Haynes will obtain bids.

Eagle Scout Medal for Tim Maas discussed and there will be follow up with Gary Cooper and Nate Maas.

Russ Haynes sent a donation to Wreaths Around America.

The December meeting will be @ IHOP as usual.

Motion (Klebs) to limit the SAR brochure production to $100.00 or revisit later. Seconded (Stevens). Carried.

Delinquent dues: 5 @ present

Closing Pledge

Adjournment @ 2:15 pm

Meeting, Saturday, November 16, 2013

Next meeting:  Saturday, November 16, 2013, 1:00 PM
IHOP Restaurant
Madonna Road
San Luis Obispo, CA

Program "Veterans Affaira" cancelled ; rescheduled for 21 December

Replaced with "Election of 1960 - Half-truths, Lies, and Myths"

Program presented by John W Siler

( bring soft tomatoes, rotten cantalope, spoiled citrus, etc_

William W Siler,

Program Chairman 

Reminder:  2014 Dues are due.  Please bring a check to the meeting or mail a check to 

Gary Cooper 
897 Oak Park Blvd. PMB#175
Pismo Beach, CA 93449-3293