Mid-South Chapter, VHPA, Meeting Minutes 25 Feb 06

Meeting was called to order by Ken Culwell in the meeting room at the Blackhorse Brewery in Clarksville, TN.

Attending were members Charlie Bell, Chris Horton, Art Jacobs, Mike Haley, Cliff McGee, Rhea Rippey, Bob Fladry, and Ross Rainwater.

BUSINESS MEETING

OLD BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

o Chapter Future. Prior to this meeting and in conjunction with other chapter officers, Rhea Rippey compiled a list of considerations with regards to the ongoing viability and continuation of the chapter, circulated it among all members via e-mail, and included all appropriate concerns that were suggested. This effort was prompted in large part due to the relatively low turnout at meetings and changes in the relationship between the VHPA national organization and local chapters (i.e., VHPA has severed all ties due to legal and liability considerations).

After considerable discussion, attendees voted to "continue to march" with our "chapter," resume dues collections, reinvigorate our recruiting efforts, and to seek additional venues with which to tie in chapter meetings. A long-term goal will be to become a non-inclusive organization which would permit membership from servicemembers who participated in other conflicts which employ(ed) helicopters, much as the new CHPA (Combat Helicopter Pilots Association). Should the CHPA seek to establish local chapters, we would then seriously consider becoming such a chapter.

Chris Horton volunteered to be our new President, Mike Haley volunteered to be Vice President, the current treasurer (Rhea Rippey) and secretary (Ross Rainwater) agreed to continue in their roles, and all other attendees volunteered to be members of a general Board of Directors.

o Quad A Conference. The conference will once again be held at Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville, April 9-12, 2006. We will volunteer to man the national VHPA recruiting booth. Efforts are underway to try to provide all our members with access passes to this event.

o Smyrna Air Show. We will seek permission to establish and staff a recruiting booth at this summertime event.

o Nashville Veterans Day Parade. This will continue to be a "must-do" event, with all members encouraged to march as a unit.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Ross Rainwater
ORWAC 70-24
C-1/9 Air Cav, 1st Cav, '70-'71
Secretary, Mid-South Chapter, VHPA
www.angelfire.com/tn/msvhpa