Tag Archives: 2021

December eBoard Meeting Report

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The eBoard of the Bremerton Base met today.

The Float is nearing completion. While there remains some extensive work to do, things are proceeding very well with a target date of completion by the close of January.

Below is an accounting of the expense so far, although there are still still outstanding expenses to be covered, including the fabrication labor.

Float Expenses Report

Upon completion the Float will be commissioned at the Fleet Reserve. Details will be announced, but it will take place at a Base General Meeting with food provided and the public invited.

The Base Christmas Party is next Saturday, December 11th. The cocktail hour begins at 11am, with the meeting at 12pm, and dinner at 1230pm. The menu choices are Prime Rib and Salmon. The cost is $10 for a single person and $20 for a family (1+) and can be paid at the door. A headcount is needed, please respond to the COB or the Vice Commander ASAP to give your count.

The Vice Commander reported that the 2022 Budget has been submitted. You can review it –>HERE<–. If you have any questions, please contact the Vice Commander.

The Commanders Text System for meeting reminders was successful. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT:

PLEASE ADD THE PHONE NUMBER: 360-930-9556
to your Contacts List

As previously noted, this is the Base Commanders Text and alert number and will be used to remind Base Members of meetings and urgent information. Please make CERTAIN that your information is up to date in the USSVI database (you can contact the National Office to do this). In January the eBoard has elected to test an automated system to be used to contact members for reminders and urgent information. Please make sure that the number above is added to your contact list so that you do not miss the information.

You may listen to t he entirety of the eBoard Meeting below:

October eBoard Meeting Report

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The minutes of the previous eBoard meeting were approved

The Treasurer reports that we have a cash on hand balance of $62, 891.84.

We currently have 251 Members

The COB reports that everything is reserved for the annual Christmas Party. A poll will be taken of the members to decide whether the emal should be an earlier meeting with a brunch or a later meeting with lunch. The cost wil be $10 for an individual of $20 for a family.

The eBoard expressed it’s thanks to the COB for the very successful annual picnic.

The Past Commander reports that the Ivy Green work party completed the installation of the material to prevent the growth of weeds. It looks quite good and we are pleased with the results.

The float continues to progress. It may be ready for the Auburn Veterans Day parade. The Diving alarm has been received from Base Member Bob Hickman. It was tested and found to be SATISFACTORY.

No new nominations for the Base Elections have been received. If you would like to make an nomination, or to nominate yourself, please contact Steve Corcoran (eMAIL HERE) ASAP.

The Social on October 29th will begin at 1500, and will feature pulled pork sandwiches. All members and potential members are invited to drop by and enjoy the celebration.

Newsletter of the Year Editor, Dave Pittman, reminds all members that the deadline for submissions to the Newsletters next edition is 01 November 2021. when submitted photographs, please use the JPG format. 

Chaplain Fred Borgman reports that Base Member William Mulvenna went on Eternal Patrol in Florida on 9/23/2021. His family intends to return his remains to the area at some point in the future.

Base Commander Dave Bowman noted the following items:

  • He is meeting this week with a PR specialist to begin discussions on the PR efforts previously discussed. This will include the discussion of the development of a “recruiting poster” for use in the community.

  • As of today, no nominations for the WD04 Member of the Year have been received. Also, no one has stepped up to man the Awards Committee.

  • Numerous member have eMail addresses which bounce. These names will be published in the next edition of the Puget Soundings to encourage Base Members to check their information. If you are not receiving Base eMails you may check your information on the USSVI Website* or by contacting the National Office.

  • The Western District Roundup was canceled to to COVD-19 concerns.

  • Annual Base and National Dues are now due. All applicable members should have received their letter. Beginning in November the Base will accept Credit/Debit cards for Dues and Ships Store items at the General Meetings.

  • A head count will be needed for the October 29th Social. If you are planning to attend, please let the Base Commander know.

  • The Auburn Veterans Day Parade is currently scheduled for 11am on Saturday, November 6th. The Blueback Base will also attend and bring their float. We hpe to have muster information available in the coming week.

  • The Base Commander shared some of his thoughts on last months discussion vis-à-vis getting Members involved. This will expounded upon in the upcoming newsletter and a focus of the PR specialist.

The Meeting was adjourned at 0950

*It was noted that the USSVI website is experienced numerous technical difficulties. The Bremerton Base has no control over these issues.  It appears that the website works on some browsers (Opera and Firefox), but not on others (Edge, Chrome).

September eBoard Meeting Report

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The minutes of the previous eBoard meeting submitted by Secretary Wayne Siekowski were reviewed and approved.

The Treasurer Paul Theisen reported that we have a current balance of $63,409.60

Currently the Base has 255 Members

The COB Wayne Peterson reported that all is ready for the Base Picnic at the Bremerton Elks Club on Saturday, September 18, 2021. Set up for the day will begin at 0900, if you would like to help. Members are welcome to bring family members and side dishes if you would like to do so. There is no charge, and this is the September General Meeting.

Past Commander Steve Corcoran update the eBoard on the status of the Float. Construction is proceeding very nicely and it is likely that the float will be ready for Veterans Day. An additional cheque of $5,320 was approved for materials costs.

Over Labor Day weekend the Ivy Green Cemetery SubVets Corner was weeded and cleaned. Over the last twenty years this was done by Dutch Kaiser each month. After discussion it was felt that it was unlikely that a volunteer would be found to take on this duty. Steve has obtained a material which will fill in the areas between the flagstones on a permanent basis, thus eliminating the need for weeding. This will look very nice and reduce the need for constant maintenance. This will be installed on Saturday, September 25th at 0800 at Ivy Green. A work crew will be needed and very much appreciated.

We continue to accept Nominations for Base Offices. The nomination period closes at the end of October, so if you have a nominee or would like to be a nominee, please be in contact with Stave ASAP.  The nomination form is available on the Base website. A reminder that ALL officers are open for nomination and election. Currently there is at least one nominee for each of the Base Offices. If you want to serve YOUR base, this is an excellent way to do it.

Vice Commandee Ileene Davis reported that her audit of financial records was completed with no exceptions.

Puget Soundings Editor Dave Pittman reported that the Base News Letter has once again won Best Overall Newsletter.

The deadline for submissions for the next edition of the Puget Soundings is November 1st. Dave Pittman is looking for some good submarine book reviews and an eMail was sent out with instructions as to how to submit one to the newsletter.

Historian John Clear reported that the media cabinet has been acquired and installed. Numerous Submarine Films are available for checkout and some are available for purchase at a very reasonable cost.

Chaplain Fred Borgmann stated that at this time there is no information available as to arrangements for Ronald Seedorf, who went on Eternal Patrol this past week.

Base Commander Dave Bowman reported the following:

  • The USS Providence is travelling to NBK for decommissioning. The Navy League has arranged for a Welcome Event on Saturday, September 25th from 1500-1700 at the Horse & Cow in Bremerton.

  • Recently Base Members who use smile.amazon.com received an eMail from Amazon showing the donations made to the USSVI Charitable Fund on behalf of Amazon. There was some confusion as to how these funds are accounted for in our books, but it should be understood that the Amazon donation is to the Charitable Fund, not the Base. USSVICF Executive Director Ken Earls followed up with an eMail stating that in August of 2021, the USSVI received $406 from Amazon on behalf of members who used the smile.amazon feature.

  • We need to form an “Awards Committee” to insure that the Bremerton Base is represented in the National Awards system. If you are interested, please contact the Base Commander.

  • Additionally, the Base Commander would like to have nominations for the Bremerton Base Member of the Year Award. This is a Western District 04 Award, and our Base nominee will be considered for the WD04 Member of the Year. Please eMail your nominee to the Base Commander (dolphindave@slipperyfish.com) ASAP.

  • There were numerous eMails which bounced on the last mass eMailing. These folks are NOT dead, but clearly have not updated the eMail in some time. starting with the next Newsletter, we will list the eMails that have bounced so that folks will see and can determine if they need to update their eMail.

  • The Western Roundup will be October 17-22 in Reno, NV. If you are going, you need to have your Hotel reservation in place before September 16th. Also, if you are planning to go via RV, you need to be award that there is no RV parking on the site of the Roundup.

  • Base and National Dues are coming up very quickly. Please be planning to make your Dues payment in the next few weeks as we close the year.

  • As a part of making things easier and dragging ourselves into the 21st Century,  the eBoard has approved the use of a credit/debit card system for making payments at meetings and events. This will be in place by the November General Meeting and will be available for Dues and other purchases.

Following these items, the floor was opened for a full and frank discussion of how to get members more involved in addition to reaching more potential members. This discussion was intentionally not minuted so that members present could speak freely and frankly. The following recommendations were made:

  • On Friday, October 29th, a Social Event for the Base will be held at the Fleet Reserve from 1500-1700. This is a purely social event with food and fellowship for the sole purpose of getting to know each other better and enjoying ourselves. Please feel free to bring potential members and friends.

  • New Business Cards are available to Members for use in conversations and contacts with potential members. These will be available at the Meetings.

  • A “Telephone Tree” will be tried starting in October. Each Base member will receive a call from an eBoard Member, reminding them of the interest that the Base has in them, as well as an invitation to upcoming meetings/events.

  • We will be in contact with a Public Relations expert who will  be asked to present a full plan for PR and media exposure.

The meeting was adjourned and a small celebration of Past Commander Steve Corcoran’s Birthday was held. Happy Birthday, Steve!