WEST POINT SOCIETY OF DENVER
Board of Directors Annual Planning Meeting
MINUTES OF MEETING – Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Meeting held at Tin Cup Bar and Grill
50 S. Peoria Street, Aurora, CO 80012
Call to order – By President Steve Best at 6:35 PM
Attendees
·
There were 11 voting board members in
attendance: Steve Best, Tim Griesmer, Chad Dalton, Katie Wilson, Mike Euperio,
Alec Lee, Lou Schroeder, Bob Walcott, Sam Thiessen, Joel Martin, Jace Johnson,
Dave Jackson (emeritus)
·
A quorum was established.
Secretary’s Report
·
Minutes of the December 5, 2024 Board Meeting
were not distributed in advance of the meeting and will be distributed
electronically for approval after the planning meeting.
Distinguished Society
·
Tim Griesmer will complete the Distinguished
Society application again this year. It is due on May 31, 2025.
Treasurer’s Report
·
Mike Euperio briefed the board on the draft
budget for 2025.
·
There is approximately $23,800 in the
Society’s accounts. The draft budget projects approximately an $8,268 loss for
2025.
·
The board voted 11-0 to add $500 to the budget
for Admissions support.
·
The board discussed publishing a quarterly
newsletter to encourage more memberships in the Society.
Communications Report
·
Katie Wilson briefed the board on communications
initiatives.
·
The Society has a new Instagram page with 173
members already. The Society has about 63 followers on its Facebook page.
·
Katie said that pushing more information out on
Sallyport will help to grow the social media pages.
2024 Program Review
·
Admissions:
Jace Johnson said that the field force and admissions teams are very well
staffed and doing good work. There is agreement that an effort should be made
to recruit younger graduates for field force. Alec Lee would like to put out a
call for additional field force members at the Founder’s Day dinner. A similar
pitch will be made at WPLEC as well.
·
Founder’s
Day: there was positive feedback on the Dean as the guest speaker. Jace said
that the candidate meeting should be limited to candidates who are in the
application cycle and who are serious about accepting an offer.
·
Happy
hour and watch parties: the Society held one happy hour and four watch parties
for Army football games. These events were very well attended. The Army-Navy
watch party had a record attendance.
·
Service
Academy Interview Panels: Alec Lee is taking over admissions duties from Jace
Johnson. The congressional interview panels have been well attended by Society
members.
2025 Programs and Events
Founders Day
·
March
8, 2025. Another “save the date” will go out shortly. The registration will
open next week.
·
The
fee for the event will need to be increased this year due to a sizeable annual
loss on the event. The new amount will be $95 for young grads, $110 for members
and $125 for non-members.
·
There
will be an effort to obtain sponsors this year.
·
The
guest speaker will be Mark Beiger ’91, president of the AOG.
WPLEC Planning
·
Tentatively
planning for Friday, April 25.
·
Joel
Martin and Alec Lee will manage the event. They are still researching venues.
·
GEN
Casey is likely not available this year as a keynote speaker due to scheduling.
Service Academy Golf Tournament
·
August
22, 2025, 8:00 shotgun start.
·
Will
be held at the USAFA “Blue” course.
Air-Air Force
·
November
1, 2025 at USAFA
·
The
Board discussed co-hosting a tailgate with the Pike’s Peak society.
Army-Navy Watch Party
·
December
13, 2025
·
Plan
to hold it at Stoney’s again.
New Business
·
The
board will evaluate other watch parties for Army football once the schedule has
been published.
·
The
board discussed whether we should attempt to restart quarterly dinners.
·
The
board will also look at planning a summer picnic.
·
Bob
Walcott informed the board that for IRS compliance purposes, and donation over
$250 must be acknowledged with a thank you note. Steve Best will take on that
responsibility.
·
Bob
Walcott also has the original minute book for the Society going back to 1927.
He will pass the book on to Chad Dalton.
·
Planning
is already underway for the 100th anniversary of the West Point
Society of Denver in 2027.
The next board meeting will be held Wednesday, March 2, 2025
at 6:30 pm via zoom.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM.
Submitted by: Tim Griesmer ‘02
