Activities and Minutes of January 2017 Meeting

Activities and Minutes of the January 2017 meeting of the Central Coast Chapter of CASSAR.

The meeting was called to order at 1308 hours followed by The Pledge of Allegiance SAR Pledge and invocation by Gary Cooper.

 

Attendance, (note spelling) was 12,  which included  guests wishing to become members;  Michael Wright, Bill Harris and  Jerry Allen.

 

A visiting dignitary; California Executive vice President Jim Fosdyck and his wife Un Hui,  installed our President,  Russell Haynes and our Treasurer,  Steven Scully.

Jim brought us up to date on the National Convention to be held in Costa Mesa,  at which we note happily that Jim will be inducted as President.  Un Hui introduced us to the National Youth Awards Program  and offered raffle tickets as part of a money raiser for that project.  She also introduced two medals which could be purchased.  Those proceeds will help defray convention expensed.

 

Our speaker was Pete Pepper,  a veteran who works with an organization called Central Coast Veterans Helping Veterans.  These guys help all veterans who seek their help to cope with and hopefully solve myriad problems they’ve encountered.   An astonishing number of returning vets struggle to adjust to civilian life.   Pete also provided pins to anyone who’d served during the period 1955 to 1980.  The pins indicated Vietnam War Veteran.  These pins were created by George W. Bush.  It could be argued that U. S. involvement began in the mid-50s,  during the Eisenhower Administration.  Ergo, the 1955 date.  We awarded our SAR cannon to Pete for his enthusiastic presentation.

 

The Treasurer’s report showed an opening balance of $4,413.29  Checks written for state and national dues;  $1,265., and to DOJ for $25.

 

Under old business,  a payment of $43.10 was awarded to President Russell for postage expenses.

 

There was no new business.

 

Following a benediction By Gary Cooper,  we did the closing pledge.

 

We adjourned.

 

Respectfully

David Atlee Tissue

Installation of President Russ Haynes (c) and Treasurer Steven Scully (r), by Exec. Vice President of CASSAR Jim Fostyck (l).

Presentation of Vietnam Era Veteran pin to individuals present, by Jim Fosdyck, Exec. Vice President of CASSAR (r)

Presentation of Certificate of Appreciation to Pete Pepper (r), by President Russ Haynes (l).  Pete's presentation was about the Veterans Helping Veterans program to give assistance and support to Vet's returning from all conflicts and trying to simulate back in to civilian society.  The message was the wide majority of returning vet's are able to return to civilian live without much difficulty, but many have difficulty with PTSD, which leads to alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic abuse and other problems.  Veterans Helping Veterans helps the vet's with mentoring and other support.

If you would like to help the Veterans Helping Veterans, you can contact them by sending an email to:  ccvetshelpingvets@gmail.com, or calling 805-242-5575, they need mentors and always need donations to fund their activities.

Next meeting, February 18, 2017, same time and place.
Guest speaker will be Jeff Stulberg, attorney at law, and the subject will be scams perpetrated on seniors and financial abuse.

The Partners in Patriotism Certificate

The Partners in Patriotism Certificate, awarded to the Central Coast Chapter of CASSAR.  Presented to Russ Haynes, President (l), by Jim Fosdyck, Exect. Vice President of CASSAR.

Next meeting, Saturday, Jan 21, 2017, 1:00 PM, IHOP Restaurant, Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo

Next meeting, Saturday, Jan 21, 2017, 1:00 PM, IHOP Restaurant, Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo.

Our guest speaker for the January meeting.  Don't miss Pete Pepper's talk.  And, bring a friend or relative that is interested in joining SAR. 

In addition to Pete Pepper, we will be honored by our CASSAR Representative, Jim Fosdyck, and Jim will be presenting an award to the Central Coast Chapter.

"Coming Home”

by Pete Pepper (leader of the Central Coast Veterans Helping Veterans Organization)

Pete Pepper leads a group of volunteers, all Veterans, who provide Mentors to the SLO Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) program.  Typically, Mentors work with Veterans who have encountered a variety of problems in transitioning from military service to a fully productive life as civilians.  All the participants in the VTC program have been convicted of non-violent crimes such DUI, public intoxication, family disputes, etc.  To be accepted by the judge into the VTC program, the court's health services team must find a "nexus" (direct connection) to traumas experienced in military service.  Some of the Veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury; all have been traumatized by combat or some other military experience.  The VTC program is 12-18 months of intensive recovery and therapy under supervision of the court and County Probation.  The Mentors are assigned to work with their Veteran as they enter the program and are available to them 24/7 until graduation.  Pete will be sharing success stories from the almost three years that the SLO VTC program has been in existence and suggesting opportunities for the audience to participate in helping to save the lives of soldiers, sailors and airmen who have honorably served their country.  Pete Pepper is the CEO of Central Coast Veterans Helping Veterans. More information is available at www.ccvhv.com or CONTACT Pete: 707-217-8657

Central Coast Chapter Minutes for December 17, 2016

Central Coast Chapter Minutes for December 17, 2016

Meeting to Order:  1:07 PM

Invocation by Nate Maas

Pledges of Allegiance & SAR

Sunshine Report: Earl Rader is still convalescing.

Secretary’s Report: Accepted as read.

Old Business: None

New Business: 2017 Chapter Officer Selection. Nominated slate is Russell Haynes, President, Chris Scrimiger, Secretary, Brian Mummert, Vice President & Steven Scully, Treasurer. Motion to elect (Tissue), seconded ( J. Siler). Motion passed with one obligatory nay.

Treasurer’s Report: Account balance per last statement is $2,531.39.

There are also two pending applications.

Guest Speaker: None. A general discussion ensued about SAR chapter activities, other lineage organizations i.e. Sons of the American Colonists (R. Haynes is a member), Descendants of the Loyalists and  the General Society of the Sons of the Revolution which is older than SAR. Also discussed, was Ancestry.com and DNA matches.

Guests in attendance were Jerry Allen of Grover Beach, a former banker in CA, NV & AZ and Bill Harris a former geophysicist for Unocal who is married with two daughters.

Closing Pledge

Benediction by Nate Maas

Adjournment: 1:20 PM

Respectfully Submitted,

Chris Scrimiger

Chapter Secretary

Central Coast Chapter Minutes for November 19, 2016

Central Coast Chapter Minutes for November 19, 2016

Meeting to Order: 1:05 PM

Invocation

Pledges of Allegiance and SAR

Sunshine Report:  Earl Rader still not able to attend.

Secretary’s Report:  October Minutes accepted as read.

Treasurer’s Report:  Current account balance $2,531.39

Old Business: Dues are needed by Dec 15.

New Business: Our Chapter received the Col. Richard Locke Jr. Membership Award for membership retention by a small chapter.

The following is our tribute to Bill Siler, thanks in large part to John Siler and Nate Maas. William Wallace Siler was born 23 Jun 1916 to Arthur and Ethyl Siler in Macon Co., North Carolina and he died 3 Oct 2016. While Bill would never admit it, what transpired over that 100 years was rather remarkable.

Following the death of his father, Bill’s family moved to Mexico, MO. In 1937, a barnstormer pilot came to Mexico and gave rides for $3.00. Bill was hooked. Bill obtained his civilian pilot’s license. Bill later attended Westminster College in Fulton MO and it was there that he met his wife to be, Ruth Louisa Beard.

Bill always interested in politics and political science was concerned by the rise of Fascism in Europe and he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force prior to Pearl Harbor. Bill was eventually commissioned as a navigator, his legs too short to be a pilot.

John shared the most ironic of anecdotes where Bill returned to MO on leave after Pearl Harbor to marry Ruth and was arrested for draft evasion all while in RCAF dress uniform. After all was sorted, Bill found himself in the US Army Air Corps as a navigator and stationed at Glatton near Peterborough, England. Bill’s B-17  crew, part of the 457th heavy bomber group, flew 37 missions over Germany. Bill then volunteered for a Mosquito Squadron stationed at Watton and flew reconnaissance until war’s end.

After WWII, Bill re-enlisted several times and found himself with Air Transport Command  and  was involved in the Berlin Airlift, while stationed in Guam Bill helped aerial photograph much of the South Pacific, and during the Korean War crewed on C54 transports.

During the Cold War, Bill found employment with the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center. Bill served our country for 32 years and he attained the rank of Lt. Colonel. After retirement, he and Ruth first settled in Lompoc but Ruth’s health required a move to Las Cruses, NM and then Dallas, TX. She passed away in 2001. Bill also had a home built in Morro Bay, CA where he resided until his passing.

Bill is remembered for being tenacious, patriotic, humorous, giving and gentle. Bill’s interests were bridge, history, political science and Latin. Bill’s keen appreciation for country and family led him to attend events like the 165^th Siler Descendants reunion, the last after his 100^th birthday, and many military reunions. Bill drove 8000 miles after his 98^th birthday to attend reunions in Texas and in Canada. Bill also served as SAR Central Coast Chapter Vice President. Bill is survived by his son

Bill Siler and Sect'y Chris Scrimiger

 John and sisters Ruth and  Reisa.

Personally, I’ve never known anyone who could recite Emerson’s “Concord Hymn” but Bill could. Every stanza.

Closing Pledge

Benediction by Nate Maas

Adjournment: 2:10 PM

Respectfully Submitted,

Chris Scrimiger
Chapter Secretary

               The award is for the largest retained membership growth for a chapter in the small chapter group for 2015.

Central Coast Chapter Minutes for October 15, 2016

New Members, Steven Scully (l) and Brian Mummert, (r)

and President Russ Haynes (c)

Central Coast Chapter Minutes for October 15, 2016

Meeting to Order: 1:07 PM

Invocation by Gary Cooper

Sunshine Report: The Chapter lost its most beloved centenarian with the passing of Bill Siler a couple of weeks ago. There remains the possibility of a November remembrance according to Nate Maas.

Dave Tissue is recovering from neck surgery and Earl Rader is progressing. Our best to both.

Guest: Bill Harris, a former geophysicist with Unocal in Orcutt was welcomed.

Secretary’s Report: September Minutes were read and accepted.

Treasurer’s Report: $2,409.78 account balance. Motion to pay for the purchase of dues cards (Scrimiger), seconded (Maas), carried.

Guest Speaker: Our own resident historian, Nate Maas addressed the group. Firstly, Nate spoke about visiting his friend Bill Siler and that Bill wanted us to know how much the SAR and the Chapter meant to him. Farewell to a true patriot.

Nate’s presentation was about the year 1776 and how bad it truly was. The year began with the rout of Washington’s army at Long Island, an unlikely escape and then tactical retreat. In those years, rivers were a geographical impediment and strong swimmers uncommon. As a result, the British were content to pursue and contain until surrender.

Washington blocked the British by commandeering all of the boats in his army’s wake and leaving none behind. Wintertime was not a time for warfare and hence an opportunity for surprise. The Delaware River is fairly shallow for a major artery. Washington appropriated all of the ferries and Durham boasts to make the crossing near Trenton on Christmas Eve. Christmas was not widely observed during this period in history but it was by the Roman Catholic Hessians and they were celebrating. Washington’s army surprised then easily overwhelmed the Hessians. Enlistments went up in 1777.

Nate has been to Trenton and he recommends the Old Barracks Museum. Princeton also has many historical sites including its oldest building which was hit by cannon fire and has a large star to designate the location.

Washington eventually camped at Valley Forge and it is now a national monument. There is only one grave at Valley Forge to honor all of those who died of disease and privation. Washington missed an opportunity at Monmouth due to the cowardice of General Charles Lee and it would be years before the decisive Yorktown victory.

Nate closing thought was “never give up liberty for safety” and he recommended the book 1776 by David McCullough. Nate’s lecture was much appreciated.

Old Business: None

New Business: Dues are due in November. Officer elections are also in November

New Members in attendance: Steven Scully and Brian Mummert.

Closing Pledge

Benediction

Adjournment: 2:35PM

Respectfully Submitted,

Chris Scrimiger

Chapter Secretary