Board Meeting Minutes4april 2008 Location: Downtown M.A.C

Association of the United States Army St. Louis Gateway Chapter P.O. Box 188 – Hazelwood, Missouri – 63042 314.705.1880 www.gatewayausa.org

Board Meeting Minutes 4 April 2008 Location: Downtown M.A.C.

Board Member Attendees: Leo Ahola, Molly Barrett, Tracy Beckette, Jon Bopp, Julie Chakides, Brett Cox, Bill Hammerschmidt, John Holmes, Charles Luntz, Dan Schoenekase, Rick Seiler, Joe Thompson, Jaime Torres

Guests: Eric Smith, CSM Tracy Barlogio (HRC), SFC Tony Tomlinson, Marilyn Sorden, Kim Ryan

Minutes: Minutes were approved for the March 2008 meeting. First: Jaime T, Second: Jon B.

Treasury: As of 4/1/08 the balance is $14,88.19. With outstanding debts, the working balance is approx $10,000 minus $2000 that is a left over amount from the 2007 Army Ball that will be applied to the 2008 Army Ball. The 2008 Army Ball will require about $15,000 total. Early receipts and pledges for the 2008 Leadership Awards Banquet account for approx $35,000 that will be available for scholarships and awards for the Soldier of the Year recipients.

Treasurer’s report approved by the board. First: Jaime T., Second: Bill H.

Membership: Leo provided a current membership report to all attending. We are currently at 504 members with 9 pending expires in April. Athen’s Designs membership has lapsed and Joe T. said that EMA, Inc will probably not renew. Eagle Industries has indicated that they donate 20 sustaining memberships to the award winners at the 2008 Leadership Awards Banquet.

Chapter Merit Status: The chapter has been a Star Chapter for 9 consecutive months and is still in the running for President’s Club – Gold level. Our chapter is required to accumulate 150 points over the course of the FY. St. Louis Gateway currently has 359 points and has met the requirements in 4 of the 5 categories. The General Membership Meeting category is the only one that the chapter has not met yet since it requires 3 General Membership Meetings for the year. The 29 April Leadership Awards Banquet will be our 3rd meeting. The chapter has been awarded the following streamers: Family Programs, ILW Contribution Award, Take the Hill Award, Army History and Recruiting Command Support. Spring newsletter was sent to the membership on 4/1.

Scholarship & Awards Committee: 7 units have responded and sent bios in for their Soldier of the Year awardees. 31 scholarship applications (deadline was 3/31) have been received and will be graded within the next 10 days. The chapter awarded 17 scholarships last year. Even though the number of applications is lower this year, the standards for awards will remain the same.

1 Association of the United States Army St. Louis Gateway Chapter P.O. Box 188 – Hazelwood, Missouri – 63042 314.705.1880 www.gatewayausa.org

Awards Dinner: John H. provided an updated action items list and went over some of the key areas that still needed to be address. Julie C. will be lead on printing the programs. CSM Barlogio (HRC) and SFC Tomlinson will go over protocols with John H. We will use a shorter version of the Missing Man ceremony. HRC will also provide a singer for the National Anthem. The order of ceremonies has been change to recognize the Soldiers of the Year before the scholarship recipients. Thanks to Bill H. for the suggestion.

Communication is the key to a successful dinner and ceremony. Please do not hesitate to speak up if you see something that needs correction or improvement.

Thanks to Tracy B. for hosting this month’s meeting and Julie C. for handling the RSVPs.

Meeting adjourned at 1pm. First: Bill H., Second: Tracy B.

May Meeting: 9 May 2008 at 11:30am Host: Dan S. Location: Scott Air Force Base ASF.