|
Post by jarhead32 on Apr 28, 2008 19:39:15 GMT -5
Stretch- As you know ,"I've been very vocal about getting a 'West Coast Chapter' up & running? I plan meeting with 'Swanny' soon to address concerns? After that we plan to make the WCC ,out of Southern California & will have some idea of how many personnel would be interested in joining such a venture? ;DIf you remember,You had to provide guidance to me some time back,relating to the 'Privacy Issue'? We know that we will have to pursue a 'Legal Issue'there & how we plan to contact 'Individuals'? Before we can begin? Plus,we will contact AFFR officers; & Bill Young,as President & Agent! ::)Eric,When complete-I want to be a member in both & make all the reunions,I can? Semper Fi-The Crazy Old man-RichW/49
|
|
|
Post by Stretch on Apr 28, 2008 23:46:08 GMT -5
Getting the word out won't be difficult at all. Write a summary of what you and Dale plan on doing, and send it to Bill Young to make sure it jibes with Association policy. If it passes muster, he'll then send it to Bob Misskerg so it can be put in an AFFR newsletter.
The contact information of individual members (in the membership roster) may also be used to call, write, or e-mail individuals for this purpose. This is one of the purposes of the Membership Roster... AFFR business. The sticking point a few months ago was that members' names and locations were posted here on this website without those members' permission.
Just keep in mind that some folks guard their privacy carefully, and they have given us their contact information in good faith... don't do anything that may cause anyone's info to go outside the AFFR Association membership. For example, just last week I received an e-mail from an individual (not an AFFR Member) asking for a copy of our Membership Roster, so he could look for old friends. I explained to him that I was not at liberty to release the Roster to anyone who wasn't an AFFR Member. I also uploaded a Membership Application as an attachment and invited him aboard. ;D
In the case of this website, this is not a private, password-protected forum... anybody from around the world can do a bit of Googling and drop right in here and read all they want.
By 'Legal Issue', do you mean Articles of Incorporation, IRS non-profit status, and the like? Give Ed Luisa a call. He did the legwork to get the Association registered and incorporated, and knows more on the subject than any of the rest of us.
|
|
|
Post by jarhead32 on Apr 29, 2008 9:30:25 GMT -5
Stretch- Will take the information & guidance given in your prior posting,concerning the formation of a 'West Coast Chapter',to heart & action ? We will contact the people you indicated;however, I was referring to starting the new organization in 'California' & what we would run into there,in terms of any legal requirements? We will talk to whom you stated we should. Finally, Our package will be sent forward. Thank you for your help & assistance.Semper Fi-The Crazy Old Man-RichW/49
|
|
|
Post by jarhead32 on Apr 29, 2008 14:39:26 GMT -5
All-What did you think about the 'Supreme Court' ruling for Photo ID's,being needed to vote in certain states? It is about time? Good,let's get a US ID? ;D-The Crazy Old Man-RichW/49
|
|
|
Post by Stretch on Apr 29, 2008 18:09:10 GMT -5
As I wrote in the very first post in this topic, the AFFRA By-Laws are written so that a West Coast Chapter would fall under the umbrella of the AFFR Association, which is a nationally-recognized (by the IRS) not-for-profit organization, and registered and incorporated under North Carolina law (as NC is where the founding members lived at the time).
I don't have a clue as to how legal requirements would be different between North Carolina and California, or whether such documentation would even be required, as the West Coast Chapter would (initially, anyway) use the existing AFFRA treasury. I guess that's one of those things that Dale and others out there are going to have to investigate.
|
|
|
Post by jarhead32 on Apr 29, 2008 18:50:44 GMT -5
Stretch- Yes, it is understood on what was given concerning the AFFRA By-Laws,& the umbrella for a 'West Coast Chapter,including the registration & incorporation of the organization . ;D We will have to investigate ,"How it can operate out of 'California'? 8-)Semper Fi-The Crazy Old Man-RichW/49
|
|
|
Post by LarryK on Apr 29, 2008 19:22:16 GMT -5
I believe what needs to been done is to work on a west coast reunion. We may need a VP on the west coast. But we are still one unit. The main reason we don't have a showing of west coast members is money and time. If there was a REUNION on the west coast I for one Would make the trip Once or twice. And still make the east coast REUNION,. But that is a choice the west coast don't have every year. I do think a West Coast REUNION would solve many of the problems. Trying to start a new chapter would be more trouble in the long run. And the cost of it all. our dues are low now and The Board of Directors work very hard to keep it that way. I think a little more talk should be done before we finalize any plans. We also need input from Members out west because this effects them....................
Thank you for your time..........................LarryK
|
|
|
Post by jarhead32 on Apr 30, 2008 14:59:39 GMT -5
Larry & All, We plan to have a 'Brain-storming' session out on the 'Left Coast' soon? Like, Larry,please put your ideas on here;so as they can be considered on what gets sent forward for review , approval & implementation! ;DEach time one starts talking about a 'West Coast Chapter',many things come out of the woodwork & they will have to all be addressed? Like we have a 'Privacy Issue; to consider;we have to figure out what kind of Sub-Organization is viable & acceptable to the leadership of AFFRA? :oSemper Fi-The Crazy Old Man-RichW/49
|
|
|
Post by jarhead32 on May 1, 2008 11:23:22 GMT -5
OK-Everyone-What defines the Western Part of the AFFRA? ;D Like, Good Old Naval Service Days, the Mississippi River divides the 'World',into 'West' called ' PAC'/Pacific & the 'East' called "LANT/Atlantic '?' Do we only look at the 'West'? Plus there are some who will wish to be part of both groups? SEMPER FIDELIS-The Crazy Old Man-RichW/49 ;D
|
|
|
Post by LarryK on May 1, 2008 12:35:20 GMT -5
Splitting the Assn. into 2 sides, In my opinion, would not solve our problem of the West Coast. Again I'm not trying to put down the idea of the West Coast. I just want us to grow stronger. What About recruiting. Our recruiter is busy now. How does he split His time ? Please don't be mad at me Rich. Its just my opinion but we can find a better way to service the West Coast then dividing into Chapters. Thank you..........LarryK
|
|
|
Post by jarhead32 on May 1, 2008 14:47:06 GMT -5
Larry, Right now ,everything is up in the air? Hey,guy-I'm not mad at you & appreciate your giving of your views? ;DIt has been said to me,"The organization votes on where the 'Reunion' will be held?? 8-)And almost the majority always picks an 'Eastern site'? So that shoots down any 'West Coast Activity'? I personally would like to shoot for an Initial Meet on October 2008, somewhere in Southern California? Please give us your ideas?? Would really like the help;plus this belongs to you too? Semper Fi, Marines-RichW/49
|
|
|
Post by LarryK on May 1, 2008 22:49:52 GMT -5
The west coast could have a reunion Every other year the East coast don't. That might solve the problem. I know it cost money trying to fly 1 coast to another. I'm hoping to go to a reunion out there. I know I won't make the trip all the time. But once or Twice would be nice...............LarryK
|
|
|
Post by jarhead32 on May 2, 2008 8:49:42 GMT -5
Larry-You are right-'On the Even Years-One out 'West somewhere? So now we have to figure out how? There are some who will like to make both? Will keep you posted on how things go!-Semper Fi-The Crazy Old Man-RichW/49
|
|
|
Post by Stretch on May 2, 2008 9:35:05 GMT -5
I changed the title of this thread to reflect its subject. (The initial poster on a thread can change the title, since the forum software considers that thread "his".)
I see Larry's point. It is possible to over-organize something like this, so that the end result is The Chapter instead of a well-organized series of reunions on the west coast.
The AFFR Association itself came into being after a successful reunion back in the early 70's.
We're not building a hospital here. We're just a bunch of old crispy critters trying to coalesce old friends into the same place and time in order to visit and have fun. The emphasis should be on the reunion itself, and not to build new infrastructure for a West Coast Chapter of our already-existing organization.
As far as the infrastructure... the financial capital, legal and non-profit documentation, and membership are already in place, and we may legally hold a reunion in any state in the union... in my short tenure as a member, there have been reunions in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Adding California to this list isn't going to be complicated, as long as we have men on the ground there to do the legwork (attaboy, Dale!)
Don't get me wrong. I want these West Coast Reunions to happen, and there has to be a group of dedicated members there on the West Coast to investigate sites, organize lodging, catering, and special events, and to be the AFFRA representatives during all these steps. If they want to refer to themselves as the West Coast Chapter of the AFFRA, more power to them. They're going to need the clout of the national organization to do all these things, so being a chapter under the umbrella of the Association would help things along.
It is my opinion that the West Coast Chapter should have organizational powers only, operating under the existing infrastructure of the AFFRA, and that the AFFR Association membership NOT be divided into two Chapters.
That being said, I have Brothers in California who want to come to a reunion, but can't afford to zip across the country for three days. I'm sure this story is repeated dozens of times each time an AFFR Reunion comes up on the East Coast.
I will do everything I can to help.
|
|
|
Post by jarhead32 on May 2, 2008 15:03:08 GMT -5
LarryK,Stretch & All, Thank you for your concerns & ideas? ;D When I meet with 'Dale,et. al'; will have to sort out all the recommendations that have been given us & to consider the 'Main purpose'of this effort; a 'West Coast Reunion'? As one knows,you need to know the base;then get people involved ,create the program & submit for approval ? Then get your program working w/your West Coast'people ;then send out Information for the 'Reunion'? :-*We will already know the amount of interest & tentatively who will come? ::)We are going to need help & guidance,as we head through this! -Semper Fi-The Crazy Old Man-RichW/49
|
|