WEST POINT SOCIETY OF DENVER
Board of Directors Annual Planning Meeting
MINUTES OF MEETING – Sunday, February 1, 2026
Meeting held at Mission BBQ
5525 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80002
Call to order – By President Steve Best at 1:13 PM
Attendees
·
There were 10 voting board members in
attendance: Steve Best, Tim Griesmer, Chad Dalton, Katie Wilson, Mike Euperio,
Alec Lee, Bob Walcott, Sam Thiessen, Clark Ragan, Shannon Sharrock, Dave
Jackson (emeritus)
·
A quorum was established.
·
Pete Lagasse ’60 attended as a guest and
potential board member
Secretary’s Report
·
Minutes of the December 11, 2025 Board Meeting
were approved.
Distinguished Society Update
·
Tim Griesmer will submit the Distinguished
Society Application. Items for points should be sent by May 31, 2026.
·
Tim will send out Distinguished Society
criteria to the Board.
Treasurer’s Report
·
Mike Euperio presented the draft budget to the
Board.
·
2025 was a break even year for the Society.
·
There is approximately $24,649 in Society
accounts.
·
The budget for 2026 is projected to be
approximately $27,000 with an approximately $4,000 deficit.
·
The Society will include links on the
Founder’s Day communications for donation opportunities.
·
Bob Walcott reminded the Board that any gift
in excess of $250 must be acknowledged in writing and that the “short term” 990
can be filed if revenues are less than $50,000.
·
Dave Jackson said there are various grant
opportunities available from Wells Fargo and other banks.
·
The Board approved the annual budget.
Communications Report
·
Katie Wilson is working to keep website and
social media accounts current.
New Business
·
The Board discussed ways to recruit new Board
members and raise donations. Alec Lee emphasized the importance of laying out specific
programs and goals for individuals to want to volunteer for.
·
Pete Lagasse ’60 will serve as a new Board
member in one of the vacant positions. There is currently one other Board
vacancy.
2025 Program Review
·
Admissions: West Point applications are
holding steady in the face of diminishing college applications nationally. File
completions are up. Alec Lee would like to expand the Field Force in Colorado. The
acceptance rate has declined, however. Files for 2030 will open on February 15.
·
Founder’s Day: attendance was slightly down
·
WPLEC: the number of attendees is increasing
and planning is under way for next year
·
Army-Air Force: approximately 1,000 people
attended the tail gate at USAFA
·
Army-Navy Watch party: there were nearly 400
attendees; parents club likes to be included in the watch parties.
·
USAFA Affirmation: successful Affirmation
Ceremony for Class of 2027 hosted by the Pikes Peak society at USAFA and
includes a 50 year affiliation event.
·
Service Academy Golf Tournament: was sold out
once again this year
·
Service Academy Interview Panels: the Board
continues to encourage Board members and general membership to participate in
these panels.
·
“Brothers on Three” movie premier: several
Board members attended the premier of the film.
2026 Program and Events
·
Founder’s Day
o
March 7, 2026
o
The Director of Athletics will be the guest
speaker this year.
o
The email will go out in the next 24 hours.
o
The prices will be increased this year.
o
Chad wants to put the original minutes book
from 1927 on display at the University Club. The Board voted to approve loaning
the minutes book to the University Club for display through the 100th
birthday of the Society.
o
The Board approved a motion to loan the
original minutes book to the University Club for display in the museum in
preparation for the 2027 100th anniversary.
·
Meeting dates for 2026. In person Board
meetings will occur on the following dates (subject to change):
o
May 19, 2026
o
July 21, 2026
o
September 15, 2026
o
November 17, 2026
·
WPLEC Planning
o
Planning is underway.
o
April 10, 2026
o
Getting ready to recruit attendees.
·
Service Academy Alumni Golf Tournament
o
August 21, 2026
o
USAFA Blue course, 8:00AM tee time
·
Army-Air Force
o
November 7, 2026
o
Alec Lee volunteered to organize and
coordinate with the Parents’ Club.
·
Army-Navy watch party
o
December 13, 2026
o
Society will coordinate with Navy again at
Stoney’s.
·
Other Watch parties
o
Schedule is not out yet but Steve Best would
like to try to coordinate more watch parties or happy hours surrounding Army
football games.
·
Other programs or events
o
The Board discussed starting the summer picnic
up again.
o
Dave Jackson is trying to create a history of
the WPSD presidents including photos and bios. He asked for bios from current
and past Society presidents. He also needs the names of presidents in the 1950s
and 1960s and some other missing names. AOG is also aware of this effort.
The next board meeting will be held May 19, 2026.
The meeting adjourned at 2:30 PM.
Submitted by: Tim Griesmer ‘02
