Board of Directors Meeting: Tuesday, May 17, 2022

 

WEST POINT SOCIETY OF DENVER

Board of Directors Meeting

MINUTES OF MEETING – Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Meeting conducted remotely via Zoom

 

1.      Call to order – Joel Martin at 11:35 AM

a.      Ten voting board members in attendance, making a quorum.

b.      Board members attending: Tim Griesmer, Joel Martin, Jace Johnson, Sam Thiessen, Cory Wroblewski, Bob Walcott, Brian MacDonald, Steve Best, Mike Euperio, Shannon Sharrock.

 

2.      Secretary’s Report/Approval of Minutes – Tim Griesmer

a.      Minutes from the February 22, 2022 board meeting were approved 10-0.

b.      Minutes from the March 12, 2022 general membership meeting approved 10-0.

 

3.      Distinguished Society Award Application – Tim Griesmer

a.      Tim reviewed the draft application. The WPSD is on course to earn the DSA again this year.

b.      The DSA application is due June 1, 2022.

 

4.      WPLEC – Joel Martin

a.      Joel reviewed this year’s WPLEC with the board.

b.      WPLEC was very successful this year.

c.      The total cost was about $6,000, roughly the same as the first year the event was held.

d.      The event will be held again next year.

e.      Final registration and attendance: 13 adult administrators (2 no shows), 108 students (11 no shows), 11 cadets and three faculty from USMA.

 

5.      Treasurer’s Report -Brian MacDonald

a.      Brian reviewed the treasurer’s report. Total funds are about $25,000, generally where the society has been in the past.

b.      Membership is down. There are currently 123 paid memberships, down from 156 a year ago. Brian thinks the reason is that emails have not been going out to ask members to renew their membership. The society will send automatic reminders through Sallyport.

c.      Another suggestion to address membership is to remind society members that their dues support admission activities.

d.      Founder’s Day was roughly a $2,000-$3,000 loss. One refund had to be issued.

                                                    i.     The Board is in favor of looking for sponsorship for future Founder’s Day events to minimize the loss and prevent increases in ticket prices.

 

6.      Board Vacancies – Joel Martin

a.      Bill Dorner is interested in joining the board.

b.      Albert Fields (Mines ROTC staff) is interested in joining the board.

c.      Joel Martin will reach out to confirm their interest.

 

7.      Officer Elections – Brian MacDonald

a.      The following slate of society officers were nominated to serve until May 2023.

                                                    i.     President: Joel Martin

                                                   ii.     Vice President: Steve Best

                                                  iii.     Vice President for Admissions: Jace Johnson

                                                  iv.     Secretary: Tim Griesmer

                                                   v.     Treasurer: Brian MacDonald

b.      The slate was elected 10-0.

 

8.      Admissions- Jace Johnson

a.      Final numbers for Class of 2026:

                                                    i.     In CO, 330 files opened; 89 candidates receiving 114 NOMs of all types

                                                   ii.     47 candidates fully qualified (academic, physical, medical); percentages tracking with previous 5 year averages across Colorado

                                                  iii.     35 total "Offers" - 12 Qualified Non-Selects (QNSd)

                                                  iv.     28 "Accepts" (this includes 1 from USMAPS); 7 "Declines" higher than normal, as it is nationwide

                                                   v.     Average superscored test percentile for 35 total Offers = 90 (this tracking a bit lower than previous 5 year average); high = 100, low = 61 (RSCO Civil Prep)

                                                  vi.     Adjusted percentile from above Offered group taking out 10 recruited athletes and service connected NOMs (not including PRES) = 94 (this tracking with previous 5 year average); high = 100, low = 83

                                                vii.     Percentile of 10 candidates mentioned above = 81; high = 89, low 61

2. Other 2026 Notes:

                                                    i.     After accepting an offer, candidate portals become complicated "to-do" task lists for several tasks candidates have to complete before R Day; fingerprinting, background checks, packing list, shoe/boot memo, placement, etc. Lots of guidance provided too.

                                                   ii.     Course placement and advisement is mostly done online through Blackboard application; other F2F advisement done in Beast or Reorgy Week.

                                                  iii.     Parents' Club has connected with most parents that want to be involved.

                                                  iv.     2026 will be first class with emails issued prior to R Day.

 

9.      Young Grad Happy Hour-Cory Wroblewski

a.      Event planned for June 22, 2022.

b.      Summer Picnic date-still not decided, probably in August.

 

10.   Tri-Service Golf Tournament

a.      August 12, 2022

b.      Chad Dalton will represent WPSD in planning for the event.

 

11.   Other Business

a.      June 18, 2022 sendoff event for new cadets at the Parker library. Steve Best will leading the event as the representative of the 50 year affiliate class.

b.      Bob Walcott will be the representative of the 50 year affiliate class for Class of 2028.

c.      Mike Euperio is recruiting interested persons for the Command and General Staff College CO team to teach Intermediate Leaders Education (ILE) to mid-career officers that are looking to get educationally qualified for promotion to LTC.

The next board meeting will be held on July 13, 2022 via zoom.

The meeting adjourned at 12:25 PM.

Submitted by: Tim Griesmer ‘02

General Membership Meeting: Saturday, March 12, 2022

 

WEST POINT SOCIETY OF DENVER

Minutes of General Membership Meeting

Saturday, March 12, 2022

 

The West Point Society of Denver held its Annual General Membership Meeting during the Founders Day dinner at the Denver University Club on March 12, 2022.

Joel Martin called the meeting to order at approximately 2000 hours.

The only order of business was to elect new board members and confirm existing board memberships and terms of service. The following listing was provided:

 

Nominations for Board of Directors

West Point Society of Denver

 

 

Serve to 2023                  Serve to 2024                   Serve to 2025           

Sam Thiessen ’73           Steve Best ‘76                   Lou Schroeder ’59    

Chad Dalton ’89               Brian MacDonald ‘83        Bob Walcott ‘78             

Joel Martin ’02                  Andy Benson ‘00              Jace Johnson ‘81    

Tim Griesmer ’02             Cory Wroblewski ’06        Shannon Sharrock ‘97

                                           Tyler Roden ‘14                Mike Euperio ‘03                                      

                                                                                                              

Immediate Past President:  Brian MacDonald ‘83

 

 

Board Member Emeritus                                Year Inducted

 

Jim Harrington ’62                                                     2010

Robby Robinson ‘68                                                     2016

 

 

The nominations were approved through a voice vote.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 2010 hours.

 

Submitted by Tim Griesmer ‘02

Board of Directors Meeting: Wednesday, February 23, 2022

 

WEST POINT SOCIETY OF DENVER

Board of Directors Meeting

MINUTES OF MEETING – Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Meeting conducted remotely via Zoom

 

1.      Call to order – Joel Martin at 11:33 AM

a.      Twelve voting board members in attendance, making a quorum.

b.      Board members attending: Tim Griesmer, Joel Martin, Jace Johnson, Sam Thiessen, Cory Wroblewski, Andy Benson, Bob Walcott, Brian MacDonald, Chad Dalton, Sam Thiessen, Steve Best, Mike Euperio

c.      Incoming board member Shannon Sharrock joined the meeting and will be voted onto the board at the General Membership Meeting in March.

 

2.      Secretary’s Report/Approval of Minutes – Tim Griesmer

a.      Minutes from the February 8, 2022 annual planning meeting were approved 12-0.

 

3.      Admission- Jace Johnson

a.      Parents Club

                                                    i.     All Academy Ball at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs is being planned for some time during the 2022 holiday period; details will be announced when they become available.

                                                   ii.     Parents Club has new co-chairs - both live in Colorado Springs.

b.      WPLEC

                                                    i.     Informal save-the-date messages and formal emails with sign-up link sent to over 700 high school counselors and college advisement personnel in Denver Society catchment area (districts 1, 2, 4, 6, & 7).

                                                   ii.     Email also sent to high schools that have produced offered & accepted candidates over past 5 years.

                                                  iii.     Also sent to all 2019 and 2020 (cancelled) school POCs.

                                                  iv.     Also sent to over 75 candidates (mostly current juniors) that have recently opened files for class of 2027.

                                                   v.     6 schools have already asked to set aside slots for their schools with attendee details TBD.

                                                  vi.     There will be a need for follow up commo for schools & attendees to send out 2 or 1 week prior.

c.      Founders Day

                                                    i.     Currently have invites with a sign-up link out to all accepted and offered candidates in the WPSD area.

                                                   ii.     10 Class of 2026 candidates have committed with another 14 family members; their sign-ups should be trickling into Sally Port. Steve Best and Shannon Sharrock will assist with the candidate hour.

                                                  iii.     Prefer 8 person rounds; plan is to sit together in back right of ballroom.

                                                  iv.     Jace is hosting the 5-6 pm candidate meet-&-greet with additional 1 or 2 Field Force Reps; will have CPRC Cadet Tobias Hild (Yearling-2024) in attendance; focus is a Q&A with candidates & parents on best practices to prepare for R Day & Beast. Jace would like MG Best to introduce himself and briefly discuss mission of 50-year class affiliation; might have one CO Parents Club rep there too; prefer at least 30 chairs set up facing raised level on the opposite side of room from entrance - theater set up with aisle down the middle; water service would be nice.

 

4.      WPLEC – Joel Martin

a.      Event is fully funded again this year and within the budget that was approved.

b.      The goal is participation by 150 juniors and 50 middle schoolers.

c.      GEN(R) Casey is confirmed to attend. Joel is also checking to see if he is available anywhere in the general timeframe to receive his Friend of West Point award.

 

5.      Distinguished Society Award Application – Tim Griesmer

a.      The DSA is due to AOG on June 1, 2022 for the period July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022.

b.      Tim will continue to follow up with board members for points.

 

6.      Young Grad Happy Hour-Cory Wroblewski

a.      Picnic in July

b.      Happy Hour in May

 

7.      Founder’s Day Update – Andy Benson

a.      No major changes in format except there will be no guest speaker.

b.      Andy is monitoring the oldest and youngest registrants.

c.      Andy and Jace will coordinate a walkthrough with the University Club. Bob Walcott will also join if he is available.

d.      About 100 registrations so far.

e.      Draft program has been distributed.

f.       No photographer as in past years.

g.      The board would like to play some sort of West Point videos to encourage the cadet candidates and their families. The board discussed several options.

h.      Preference for round tables.

 

8.      Other Business

a.      Location for future meetings: American Legion Post 1 with a remote option.

b.      The board discussed any other prospective board members.

The annual General Membership Meeting will be held at Founder’s Day on March 12, 2022.

The meeting adjourned at 12:12 PM.

Submitted by: Tim Griesmer ‘02

Annual Planning Meeting: Tuesday, February 8, 2022

 

WEST POINT SOCIETY OF DENVER

Board of Directors Annual Planning Meeting

MINUTES OF MEETING – Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Noonan’s Bar & Grill, 13521 E Iliff Ave, Aurora, CO 80014

 

1.      Call to order – Joel Martin at 6:40 PM

a.      Eleven voting board members in attendance, making a quorum.

b.      Board members attending: Steve Best, Lou Schroeder, Sam Thiessen, Cory Wroblewski, Joel Martin, Mike Euperio, Jace Johnson, Brian MacDonald, Tim Griesmer, Chad Dalton, Bob Walcott

c.      Katie Wilson and Dave Jackson have resigned from the board of directors.

 

2.      Tri-Service Golf Tournament-Chad Dalton

a.      August 12, 2022 at 8:00am at the AFA Silver Course

b.      Air Force will be running the event

c.      Digital marketing materials will be available in the next six weeks

d.      Chad is working with Navy to plan a charitable golf tournament somewhere in the metro area in 2023. He is asking for nominations for charities to support.

 

3.      Secretary’s Report/Approval of Minutes – Tim Griesmer

a.      Minutes from the December 7, 2020 board of directors meeting were approved 11-0.

b.      Distinguished Society Award-Tim is working on the DSA application and asked board members to send any activities for points.

 

4.      Treasurer’s Report- Brian MacDonald

a.      Tim Griesmer will conduct financial review for 2019-2021.

b.      The board reviewed the update budget proposal.

                                                    i.     If the society resumes quarterly dinners, they will pay for themselves as they have traditionally been ticketed events.

                                                   ii.     The board made an adjustment to the venue & catering lines items on the WPLEC budget with no change to the overall amount for the event.

c.      The board approved the 2022 budget 11-0.

 

5.      Membership-MacDonald

a.      Slight increase in membership.

b.      Brian raised the issue of whether the society can do more for career networking for area graduates. Steve Best thinks this is a potential topic of discussion at the AOG leadership conference and is willing to recommend this as a topic for the conference.

c.      The current rates for paid membership are $50/year, $125/3 years, $350/lifetime.

 

6.      2020 Board Meeting Dates/Key Topics-Joel Martin

a.      The board discussed in-person versus zoom or hybrid meetings.

b.      In terms of meeting locations, Brian MacDonald will check with American Legion Post 1, Cory Wroblewski will check on the possibility of a downtown location, Joel Martin will work on providing a zoom option for each board meeting.

c.      The 2022 board of directors meetings will be as follows:

                                                    i.     February 23 (Founder’s Day/L&E Planning)

                                                   ii.     March 12 (Founder’s Day/General Membership Meeting)

                                                  iii.     May 4 (Officer Elections/SLE Scholarship)

                                                  iv.     July 13

                                                   v.     October 5 (Navy and Air Force Planning)

                                                  vi.     November 30 (Navy planning)

                                                vii.     January 24, 2023 Annual Planning Meeting

 

7.      Board member roster & term update -Joel Martin

a.      Joel reviewed the expiration dates of the current board member terms.

b.      Jace Johnson knows a potential board member from Ft. Collins who is very active in Field Force and plans to come to the Founder’s Day candidate meeting.

c.      A solicitation for more board members will be included in the Founder’s Day registration email.

d.      Brian MacDonald would like to separate the Treasurer and membership director jobs and create another board officer position dedicated to membership.

e.      There was a motion to separate the treasurer and membership positions and create a new officer position of membership director. The motion passed 10-0.

 

8.      2022 Programs and Events

a.      The board would like to schedule an event to present GEN(R) Casey with his Friend of West Point award. One option is at WPLEC.

b.      Admissions-Jace Johnson

                                                    i.     The list of CPRC cadets will be released in March. Jace is going to have CPRC cadets who are in town attend Founder’s Day in dress gray uniform.

                                                   ii.     Jace will run the new cadet meeting from 5:00-6:00 prior to Founder’s Day.

                                                  iii.     Jace also wants to run an Academy Day for prospective candidates.

                                                  iv.     Steve Best would like to be involved in any events for the Class of 2026 as the 50^th year class representative.

c.      WPLEC-Joel Martin

                                                    i.     The event will take place on April 1, 2022. GEN Casey will be participating.

                                                   ii.     To date, $5,000 has been raised with an additional $2700 already in the bank from two years ago.

                                                  iii.     Food and printing services will be donated.

                                                  iv.     The goal for attendance is 150 juniors & 50 middle schoolers. 20 cadets will be attending with the mobile STEM project.

                                                   v.     There may be a need to recruit area grads as volunteers.

d.      All Academy Ball-Jace Johnson will reach out to see if it will be held this year and if there is need for support from the WPSD.

e.      Founder’s Day-Joel Martin

                                                    i.     The board discussed pricing for this year. Bob Walcott is doing an analysis of the changes in cost from last year to this year. After discussion, the board decided not to increase the rate and to try to solicit more donations.

                                                   ii.     West Point will not send any of the big three to this year’s Founder’s Day. After discussion, the board decided not to have a guest speaker.

                                                  iii.     The registration email blast will include solicitations for more board members, WPLEC info, and solicitation for donations.

f.       Summer Picnic-Cory Wroblewski- will be held sometime around mid-July, venue TBD.

g.      Air Force Watch Party- Nov. 5, 2022.

h.      Navy Watch Party- Dec. 10, 2022.

i.       Young Grad Engagement-Cory Wroblewski and Mike Euperio-looking at the feasibility of holding a happy hour in May and July and something in the fall.

The next board meeting will be held February 23, 2021 via zoom.

The meeting adjourned at 8:28 PM.

Submitted by: Tim Griesmer ‘02