Saturday, December 17, 2016

MINUTES OF MEETING – Tuesday, October 4, 2016

WEST POINT SOCIETY OF DENVER
Board of Directors Meeting
MINUTES OF MEETING – Tuesday, October 4, 2016
American Legion Post 1, 5400 East Yale Avenue, Denver CO 80222

1.       Call to order – Bob Walcott at 11:33 AM
a.       Twelve board members in attendance, making a quorum. 

2.       Secretary’s Report/Approval of Minutes – Tim Griesmer
a.        Minutes from July 12, 2016 meeting were approved.

3.       Treasurer’s Report – Dave Jackson
a.       The Treasurer’s Report was reviewed and approved.
b.       Paid membership is at 93 members.

4.       Admissions Update – Tom Carroll
a.       For the class of 2021, there were 240 files originally opened and 125 currently opened
b.       Statewide, there are 7 letters of assurance, 6 of which are in the WPSD area
c.       Fall college fairs: the Society is planning to cover 17 college fairs over a two week period. The average cost per contact at college fairs for the Society is $0.76 per contact, which is significantly lower than other organizations.
d.       Field Force: Tom Carroll attended the Field Force workshop at the West Point Leadership Conference. He also made an appeal for more Society members to join Field Force. Bob Wolcott sent an email asking for greater participation in Field Force. There will be a Field Force workshop in the Denver area on Oct. 8, 2016.
e.       There was a brief discussion regarding techniques to improve the Society’s booth at college fairs.

5.       Leadership Conference – Bob Walcott
a.       Three members of the WPSD Board attended the annual leadership conference.
b.       Pike’s Peak Society was also represented, but the Parent’s Club was not. 60 Field Force reps also attended.
c.       WPSD received the Distinguished Society streamer for 2015-2016.
d.       Bob Wolcott distributed conference materials to the Society via email.
e.       Bob Walcott requested that the AOG alert the WPSD any time a cadet is in the Denver area for a trip section, AIAD, etc. so that the Society can continue to offer and provide support.
f.         The 150th anniversary of the AOG is approaching in the next couple years.
g.       Bob Walcott also attended the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Malek West Point Visitors Center on Sept. 9, 2016.

6.       Baseball AAR – Brian MacDonald
a.       The second Rockies game was attended by 15 individuals; the 3rd Rockies game was attended by 20 individuals.
b.       There will be several West Point athletic teams competing at Air Force this winter.
                                                               i.      Nov. 5-Rifle, President’s Trophy Match
                                                             ii.      Jan. 27 @ 1900-Hockey
                                                           iii.      Jan. 28 @ 1500-Gymnastics
                                                           iv.      Jan. 28 @ 1900-Hockey

7.       Golf Tournament AAR – Joel Martin on behalf of Chad Dalton
a.       WPSD placed 3rd in the tournament.
b.       WPSD will run the event next year. The participants of this year’s tournament would like to see changes to the format.
c.       Joel Martin recommended booking a date for next year’s tournament as soon as possible. A Friday morning is preferable.
d.       Dave Jackson requested pictures of the event to accompany an article for the AOG.

8.       Exchange Cadet Affirmation Ceremony – Bob Walcott on behalf of Robby Robinson
a.       Robby Robinson attended on behalf of the WPSD and as representative of the 50 year class and made a contribution on behalf of the Society to the Pike’s Peak Society.
b.       10 cadets attended.
c.       Lindy Blackburn plans to attend next year as representative of the 50 year class.
d.       There was a motion to elect Robby Robinson as a Board Member Emeritus of the WPSD. The motion was seconded and approved by the Board unanimously.
e.       There will be a public announcement of Robby Robinson as a Board Member Emeritus at Founder’s Day.

9.       Distinguished Society Application – Tim Griesmer
a.       Tim Griesmer reviewed current work on the 2016-2017 Distinguished Society application.
b.       The application is due on June 30, 2017.

10.   Athena Conference Quarterly Dinner – Amy Efaw
a.       The next Quarterly Dinner will be a panel discussion of the Athena Conference and will be held by the end of October.
b.       Lou Schroeder will reserve a venue. Amy Efaw and Lou Schroeder will coordinate the date and venue.
c.       Invitations will be extended to the Parent’s Club, the Pike’s Peak Society, LTG Michelle Johnson (Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy), and Congressman Mike Coffman (Friend of West Point).

11.   Army-Air Force Watch Party – Bob Walcott
a.       WPSD will host an Army-Air Force football watch party on Nov. 5, 2016, 10:00am at Tavern Tech Center.
b.       Jason Connor ’02 is planning the event.
c.       A flier is complete and will be distributed.


12.   Army-Navy Watch Party – Bob Walcott
a.       WPSD will host an Army-Navy football watch party on Dec. 10, 2016, TBD.
b.       Jason Connor ’02 is planning the event.

13.   Founder’s Day Planning – Bob Walcott
a.       The Founder’s Day dinner will be held Friday, March 3, 2017 at the University Club.
b.       The change from the usual Saturday night to Friday night has been coordinated with the Pike’s Peak Society.
c.       The usual timeline will be adjusted slightly because of the dinner being held on a Friday night.
d.       Bob Walcott is working with the AOG on speakers.

14.   Parent’s Club Update – Bob Walcott
a.       The parent’s club is under new leadership.
b.       Bob Walcott attended the Parent Club’s last event.
c.       The All-Academy Ball will be held on Dec. 28, 2016.

15.   New Business – Bob Walcott
a.       Request for Veteran’s Day speaker: Ben Franklin Academy in Highlands Ranch requested a Veteran’s Day speaker for the student body. Cory Wroblewski volunteered to speak.
b.       AOG Licensing Agreement:
                                                               i.      Bob Walcott briefed the Board on the AOG’s licensing agreement governing use of the West Point crest and motto.
                                                             ii.      The Board debated the necessity of signing the agreement.
                                                           iii.      There was a motion that the Board not sign the agreement. The motion was seconded. The motion was defeated 10-2.
                                                           iv.      The Board determined to table the discussion until the next regular meeting.
c.       USS Colorado:
                                                               i.      Lou Schroder briefed the Board on an upcoming event to support the USS Colorado and suggested that the Society make a donation to the USS Colorado Committee.
                                                             ii.      The Board will vote on the proposed donation at the next regular meeting.
                                                           iii.      Dave Jackson will set up an online portal for Society members to make private donations as well.
d.       Lindy Blackburn invited members of the Society to attend the Parker Veteran’s Day celebration on Nov. 11.
The next board meeting will be held Dec. 6, 2016, 11:30 am at 5400 East Yale Avenue, Denver CO 80222.
The meeting adjourned at 1:15 PM.

Submitted by: Tim Griesmer, ’02

Board of Directors Meeting MINUTES OF MEETING – Tuesday, July 12, 2016

WEST POINT SOCIETY OF DENVER
Board of Directors Meeting
MINUTES OF MEETING – Tuesday, July 12, 2016
American Legion Post 1, 5400 East Yale Avenue, Denver CO 80222

1.       Call to order – Bob Walcott at 11:36 AM
a.       Ten board members in attendance, making a quorum. 

2.       Secretary’s Report/Approval of Minutes – Tim Griesmer
a.        Minutes from May 3, 2016 meeting were approved.

3.       Treasurer’s Report – Dave Jackson
a.       The Treasurer’s Report was reviewed and approved.
b.       Paid membership is at 95 members
c.       The June 28 quarterly dinner resulted in a net profit for the Society
d.       Dave Jackson sent a letter of thanks from the Society to the Denver Broncos for Tony Coaxum’s speech at the quarterly dinner.
e.       Dave Jackson also sent a letter of congratulations from the Society to Katherine Murphy, recipient of the Summer Leadership Experience scholarship. The money for the SLE scholarship has been sent out.
f.        A $100 donation was made to AOG on behalf of the Society.
g.       Another email soliciting paid memberships in the Society will be sent out after the summer golf tournament.

4.       Distinguished Society Application – Tim Griesmer
a.       The Distinguished Society Application for 2015-2016 was submitted. The Society exceeded the criteria for distinguished society status.
b.       Tim Griesmer is responsible for 2016-2017 distinguished society application.
c.       The Board briefly discussed the original Society minutes from 1927, which are now in the possession of Bob Wolcott. The minutes will be electronically copied and posted to the Society’s blog.

5.       Admissions Update – Tom Carroll
a.       26 new cadets from the Society area reported for R-day Class of 2020. 28 had originally been accepted.
b.       Class of 2021: 183 open applications statewide; 105 open applications in the Society area.
c.       Tom Carroll is making preparations for fall college fairs.
d.       Tom Carroll will meet with the West Point outreach officer, Ed McBride, on July 31 and will also attend the Field Force workshop.


6.       Sporting Events – Brian MacDonald
a.       The next society Rockies game is July 23. There was low attendance at the first game.
b.       There will possibly be a 4th game added to the schedule.

7.       Summer Picnic - Mark Frank
a.       26 attendees at the 2016 summer picnic. Slightly below the 2015 attendance but on average for past picnics.
b.       The picnic was profitable for the Society.
c.       Mark Frank will organize the 2017 picnic and will do a short write up of the event for the AOG.

8.       Golf Tournament – Chad Dalton
a.       August 1, 2016 at 8:00
b.       Blue course at Air Force Academy, shotgun start, one team per society will compete for the trophy.
c.       Currently, there are three Society members signed up.
d.       WPSD will run the event next year.

9.       Quarterly Meeting – Bob Walcott
a.       The last two quarterly dinners were very successful.
b.       The next quarterly dinner will feature a panel of past attendees of the Athena conference.
c.       Bob Walcott will reach out to Amy Efaw to organize and schedule the panel and dinner.
d.       Future ideas for speakers include AFA Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton and Denver City Council President Chris Herndon.

10.   Leadership Conference – Bob Walcott
a.       Bob Walcott and Brian MacDonald will attend the annual leadership conference.
b.       Pike’s Peak Society will also be represented.

11.   Board of Directors Vacancy – Bob Walcott
a.       Bob Walcott declared a vacancy on the board of directors at the May 3, 2016 meeting for the seat currently held by John Greiman.
b.       The board voted unanimously that Natasha Moore ’95 will join the board of directors to fill the vacancy.

12.   New Business
a.       The board held a brief discussion about improving the system used to send flowers to the families of deceased graduates. Bob Walcott receives death notices from AOG. Chad Dalton suggested that the Society also monitor notifications from TAPS.
b.       Army-Air Force football game will be Nov. 5, 2016. Tim Griesmer will contact Jason Connor to see if he is willing to organize a Society watch party.
The next board meeting will be held Oct. 4, 2016, 11:30 am at 5400 East Yale Avenue, Denver CO 80222.
The meeting adjourned at 12:41 PM.

Submitted by : Tim Griesmer, ’02