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News DUES
Officers for year 2008/09 will be elected at the June 25th meeting. Second call for nominations will take place before the election.
VP Henry Van Gemert has suffered from double pneumonia and is at home recuperating.
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Chapter Officers
Links Section
CEO:
Jim Waters
VP:
Henry Van Gemert
Chaplain:
Vernon Bass
Treasurer:
Bill Hepburn
Asst Treasurer:
Vivian Hepburn
Secretary:
Peggy Van Gemert
Social Secretary:
Mary Zagony
VETERANS COUNCIL AMERICAN MM AT WAR
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ACTIVITIES
- Help for merchant seaman
- Support restoration of the S.S. American Victory
- Legislation for American flag ships.
- Support the Manatee County Veterans Council.
- Support Sarasota County Veterans Commission.
- Support Passage of the Just Compensation Bill in Congress
- First, we must compliment NAUS for its published testimony at the Senate hearing on May 7, 2008. It is too bad that it was not delivered orally as we have significant doubts on whether the staff of the Senators present will convey those thoughts to their respective Senators.
And we were unaware that the Just Compensation Committee had three unpaid lobbyists working on getting S.961 out of committee and onto the floor for a vote. The Just Compensation Committee has recently sent out literature telling about these lobbyists and indicated that we cannot expect them to work for our bill, unpaid, for very long as their companies will only accept a certain amount of pro bono work from them. Whether we like it or not, with the numerous bills introduced to Congress each and every year, it is very difficult to get, or keep the attention of the lawmakers on any one bill. And that is where a lobbyist comes in. They provide the repetition needed to keep their attention. Will Rogers said many years ago, “We have the best Congress money can buy.” Not that any take bribes but someone has to get their attention and then keep their attention. And that is something a registered lobbyist can do. Now, these men do not come cheap. We are fortunate that we had some pro bono work done by them but now it is time to get down to the nitty-gritty and hire lobbyists to complete the final steps in getting Just Compensation enacted into law.
That is why it is imperative that all members of the Just Compensation Committee reach down in their pockets and contribute as much as they financially can. We have 11,400 members. If each and every one of them just donated $20, that would give the committee a fund of .$228,000.00 which would meet the monetary needs to hire lobbyists. A quarter of a million dollars sounds like an awful lot but in these days and times, it is a mere pittance to what is necessary to put the final touches on getting Just Compensation as the law of the land. So, lets all dig down in our pockets and send as much as possible. If you want the compensation, don’t rely on a small percentage to fund the drive. In the last effort to raise money, only about 5% of the membership offered financial support per a communication from Ian Allison.
We do not neglect thanking all of you for the support in phoning. faxing and mailing letters to your legislators. It is still necessary to contact those Senators who have not signed on as we do not have enough co-sponsors to make this legislation veto proof.
And we understand that not every WWII Merchant Marine Veteran can afford to kick in a hundred bucks without personal sacrifice. But to those of us who can afford it, lets get on the ball and send it in so that we can finally complete the process by hiring a lobbyist to keep our work going in Washington. Time is of the essence as it being an election year, you can expect the legislators to be out beating the drum for reelection..
Any unsigned Senator should be contacted to persuade them to become co-sponsors. So if you live in a state where there is an unsigned Senator, send them the message. They do pay attention to volume. But especially important would be to get the following Senators, who are on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, to become a co-sponsor;
Sen. John D. Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sen. Jim Webb, (D-VA)
Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC)
The current toll free phone number is;
1-800-614-2803.
KEEP THE FAITH - SEND WHAT MONEY YOU CAN TO;
Just Compensation Committee
P.O. Box 1705
Santa Rosa, CA. 95402
And if you have relatives in a state where the Senator is unsigned, perhaps you could enlist them to contact their Senator asking for his signature to S.961.
SPECIAL:We have just received the following from member Mo Dobbs.
Dear Jim:
I think the $300 the Fed sent me will be best spent for our WWII Veterans. Mo ends up saying "I pray for all WWII Combat Vets every morning."
God bless you Mo. And in the envelope was a check for $300 made out to the Just Compensation Committee.
What a wonderful way to spend the government rebate than to donate it to Just Compensation.
We have been advised that the toll free Congressional phone number listed in the newsletter is no longer functional. A new number has been established. It is 1-800-828-0478
- As you may be aware, I took it upon myself to get Manatee County, the State of Florida and the President of the United States, George W. Bush, to include the Merchant Marine in their proclamations made on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
As was indicated earlier, Manatee County included the Merchant Marine in their Memorial Day Proclamation.
Previously, I had received a letter from Governor Charlie Crist informing me that the Merchant Marine would be included in Proclamations issue by the Governor.
The last one who did not acknowledge it was President George W. Bush‘s office. I continued to press for his acknowledgements without apparent success. So it was a big surprise to receive a very large envelope from The White House containing a copy of the Presidential Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day 2008 as well as a copy of the Presidential Proclamation for National Maritime Day 2008.
In the Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day 2008, the President did not specify the Merchant Marine but then, he did not specify the Army, Navy or the Air Force. He did specify the Marines and Coast Guard but for the rest, he classified them as Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen. Now I don’t know how others may feel but I feel we fit perfectly into the category of “Sailors.” So with that thought in mind, we are given equal mention in this proclamation.
Included in the large envelope was a card stating;
“The enclosed proclamations come with the President’s best wishes“
- Captain John Timmel, Chairman of the Board, thanked the Chapter for its contribution of a total of $500 to purchase speaker recorders to be installed at various displays in the museum in holds #2 & #3.
He also acknowledged that he had received a request from SERVP Morris Harvey asking that the ship coordinate a day cruise to coincide with the AMMV convention to be held in Tampa in 2009. At present, we have no acknowledgement of its acceptance by the board but are sure that we can work something out so that attendees will have a chance to take a day cruise while at the convention.
Many new venues are being considered which will enhance the treasury of the ship as well as publicize that we are there. Currently, a paranormal group has requested an evening opening for self-guided tours on Saturday, June 14th which may become a monthly adventure for them.
First Mate Jack Menendez has accepted a job in Norfolk, VA. so will not be available to the ship until early November when he will return for the November 1, 2008 cruise. Jack has been invaluable to the volunteers in teaching crowd control and various seamanship duties. He will be missed. As will Ron Thompson who has accepted the position as Training Officer for Patrol Investigators and Persons in Charge. Ron was a Master in the British Merchant Navy and usually returns to England during the summer months to visit his relatives. The Coast Guard requires that the ship have three qualified persons on the safety watch bill to open up to the public. So there will be no refresher courses until September when Ron returns to his home here in Florida. The ship is fortunate to have two men such as Jack and Ron to head up required training.
To all who love to see fireworks on the 4th of July. The ship will be open the evening of July 4th so that people can have an advantageous view of the fireworks being set off on Harbor Island. The American Victory is perhaps the best spot in all of Channelside to have an unobstructive view.
- A Memorial Day Proclamation was read by Commissioner Ron Getman at the Manatee County Board of Commissioners meeting held on May 20, 2008. County Service Officer Hal Willis then introduced your CEO who thanked the Commissioners for including the WWII Merchant Marine in their proclamation and then gave a 5 minute history lesson on the WWII Merchant Marine. Apparently, the history lesson was something the Commission did not want televised as it was blacked out during reruns on MGA channel 622 on Manatee County Bright House Networks.
On Memorial Day, I talked with Commission Chairwoman Jane Von Hahmann and apologized for the length of my speech. She was unaware of the blackout and told me that she appreciated what I had to say as she knew very little about the services of the WWII Merchant Marine that helped win that war. The last war that the United States ever won. Anyhow, thanks to all involved in getting the Merchant Marine of WWII included in Manatee County Proclamations. And thanks to Bill Hepburn and Don Richardson for showing up at the Commission meeting.
- MARITIME DAY
Manatee County celebrated Maritime Day in a ceremony at Port Manatee. The Port Manatee Propeller Club, the Sarasota-Manatee Council of the Navy League and the Sarasota-Manatee Chapter of the AMMV held a joint ceremony. Steve Tyndal, President of the Propeller Club served as emcee. Rev. Bob Ritsema, Chaplain at Anchor House gave the invocation. Steve then read the proclamation issued by the Port Authority. This was followed by addresses by Larry Balok, VP of the Navy League Council, Jim Waters, CEO of the AMMV Chapter and Capt. Joseph Servidio, USCG Commandant Sector St Petersburg. Dave MacDonald, Port Manatee Manager and Capt. Servidio laid a wreath into the waters of the Bay. The United States Coast Guard Color Guard Posted and Retired the Colors. Mariners attending the ceremony was Bill and Vivian Hepburn and another MM veteran and his wife from out of state. All in all it was a very nice ceremony. One that we all can be proud.
Memorial Day
Member Harold Cueman placed our wreath at the ceremony held in Sarasota on May 26th.
CEO Jim Waters placed our wreath at the casket at the Manatee County ceremony held on May 26th.
Unfortunately, we did not participate in the Massing of the Colors due to our inability to get two volunteers able to carry the flags.
Next Meeting
There will be no meetings or newsletters during the months of July and August. Meetings and the newsletter will resume in September
The next meeting will be Wednesday, June 25, 2008. Luncheon starts at 11:30 AM. Meeting will start promptly at 12:30 PM. Meetings will continue to be held at Stacey's Buffet, 4848 14th Street W, Bradenton.
