UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
COLUMBUS CHAPTER
VIRTUAL BOARD MEETING
DECEMBER 7, 2020
Roll Call:
Present: Tony Konecny ‘79 – President; Dave Goins ‘84 – Secretary/Communications Director; Jim Waddell ‘71 – Treasurer; Rob White ‘94 – Webmaster/Shipmate Coordinator; Jim Worthington ‘60 – Board Member; Todd Forney ‘86 – Board Member; Michel Plumley ‘09 – Board Member.
Absent: Ben Sandman ‘10 – Vice-President.
Board Minutes:
Board Minutes from May 5, 2020 were discussed. Motion to accept made by Waddell; seconded by Goins. The minutes were unanimously approved.
Old Business
- Pro forma procedures for personal events such as hospitalizations, deaths, etc. Motion made to expend funds for personal events such as hospitalizations and deaths as indicated in Attachment 1 made by Forney; seconded by Worthington. Furthermore, due consideration shall be given in situations where flowers may not be appropriate such as hospital restrictions. Additionally, routine hospitalization may not rise to the level of a monetary gift. In these cases a card from the Chapter may be more suitable. Motion passed unanimously.
- Shipmate submission IRT Janet Maroscher’s death and donation to Navy League. – (Konecny) – DONE
- Recruit new Shipmate contact person. (Board) – DONE. New contact is Rob White.
- Further discuss and design a process to incorporate Plumley’s suggestion (New Business Item #3 from May 5 Board Meeting ) as an integral part of annual event planning. – Plumley/Goins
- Work with Webmaster to design a simple process to identify new alumni to the area in USNA.com database. – White/Konecny
New Business
- Special announcement – Columbus Chapter has been selected as Distinguished Chapter and “Other Chapter” which will result in a seat on the US Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees for the next three years starting at the May 2021 meeting.
- President’s Vision
- Beat Army in head count in at least one social event – goal is 156;
- Engage in activity outside of ourselves (scholarship for Summer Seminar);
- Meet the criteria of a Distinguished Chapter/Other Chapter.
- Columbus Chapter has been designated as a Distinguished Chapter and an “Other Chapter” for seat on the USNAAA Board of Trustees.
- Award presentation is virtual on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 1600;
- The Chapter Board will have to select who will represent the Columbus Chapter on the USNAAA Board of Trustees – ACTION
- President’s Vision
- Purchase of Herff Jones (Chapel Domed) Challenge Coins
- Joe Stewat ‘66 has suggested that the Chapter purchase five Herff Jones Challenge Coins as a fund raising item;
- Total expense would be $537.45 (including shipping and handling);
- Coins could be used for fund raising or as a thank you gift for VERY SPECIAL guest speakers;
- Joe Stewart guarantees that he would buy the coins from the Chapter if they do not sell;
- Motion to authorize the expenditure of $537.45 from the Chapter checking account to purchase five Heff Jones challenge coins made by Waddell; seconded by Goins. Motions passed unanimously.
- Discussion concerning dues collection during COVID-19 pandemic. Motion made to adjust Chapter dues to $15.00 for 2021 and return to $25.00 thereafter made by Worthington; seconded by Waddell. Motion passed unanimously. Words will be included in Chapter correspondence encouraging members to contribute as they see fit to further the Chapter’s financial goals.
- New Chapter email address – usnaaacbus@gmail.com The Communications Director will no longer be using dgoins84@gmail.com Information on the new address will be promulgated to the Chapter shortly.
- Moving forward the Chapter will be using Google Docs for Chapter administration.
- Active duty alumni attached to central Ohio commands:
- Rear Admiral Kristen Fabry – Commander, DLA Land & Maritime
- Captain Mark McCulloch – Commanding Officer, Professor of Naval Science, The Ohio State University
- Commander John Mullen – Executive Officer, Navy Talent Acquisition Group – Ohio River Valley
- White suggested that we look to other local organizations for USNA alumni to participate in the Chapter (i.e.; FBI, Secret Service, etc)
Action Items
- Board to vote on USNAAA Board of Trustee representative. Email Dave Goins (dgoins84@gmail.com) with choice by noon on December 10, 2020. – Goins
- Purchase five Herff Jones challenge coins (three with Tecumseh and two with John Paul Jones). Also investigate if there are any quantity discounts offered by Herff Jones and inquire about the cost of casting a die for a Columbus Chapter challenge coin. – Konecny
- OUTSTANDING – Further discuss and design a process to incorporate Plumley’s suggestion (New Business Item #3 from May 5 Board Meeting ) as an integral part of annual event planning. – Plumley/Goins
- OUTSTANDING – Work with Webmaster to design a simple process to identify new alumni to the area in USNA.com database. – White/Konecny
ATTACHMENT 1
STANDARDIZED PROCEDURE FOR RECOGNIZING PERSONAL EVENTS
SUCH AS HOSPITALISATIONS, DEATHS, ETC
Monetary expenditures for “personal events” (hospitalizations, deaths, etc) shall adhere to the following guidelines :
- Non-member – up to and including $25.00
- Member – up to and including $50.00
- Very active member – up to and including $100.00
- Officer/Board Member
- Blue & Gold Officers
- A Chapter member that contributed significantly to the US Navy, USNA, or Columbus Chapter
Notes:
- No further Board approval is required provided guidelines are followed;
- Hospitalizations that are not of a serious nature or life-threatening shall not involve a monetary expenditure. Instead, a “get well” card from the Chapter is deemed appropriate;
- Examples of monetary expenditures include the purchase of flowers, donations to a non-profit organization, and a contribution to an alumni or an alumni family member that is experiencing financial distress;
- Consideration of purchasing flowers should include care facility restrictions and personal allergies.
Board Meeting Minutes
May 5, 2020
Roll Call:
Present: Tony Konecny ‘79 – President; Dave Goins ‘84 – Secretary/Communications Director; Jim Waddell ‘71 – Treasurer; Rob White ‘94 – Webmaster; Eric Marquardt ‘07 – Shipmate Coordinator; Todd Forney ‘86 – Board Member; Michel Plumley ‘09 – Board Member.
Absent: Ben Sandman ‘10 – Vice-President; Jim Worthington ‘60 – Board Member.
Special Board Minutes from January 9, 2020 appointing Jim Waddell as Treasurer of the Columbus Chapter of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association were discussed. The minutes were unanimously approved by all present.
Treasurer’s Report. Presented by Waddell. Moved by Goins to be acknowledged and filed for audit.
- Konecny pointed out that $150 was donated in memory of Janet Maroscher, wife of Udo Maroscher (associate member of the Chapter). $50.00 was provided by Captain Chris Peppel, former CO of NOSC Columbus. The amount donated was in light of the Maroscher’s significant contributions to the Chapter and Navy organization throughout Columbus.
- White suggested that an entry be submitted to Shipmate notifying the Chapter of Jan’s passing. – ACTION.
- Forney suggested that a standard memorial document be prepared and approved by the Board such that future actions will be pro forma. Konecny and Forney will work on a document – ACTION.
Old Business – None
New Business
Board feedback on virtual meeting – tabled until more data is available;
How do we get more people involved:
- White suggested getting support from outside businesses for some chapter activities. For providing the expenses for refreshments, an organization could present information concerning their business to the chapter. In so doing, the business could advertise for customers or employees. Alumni attending would benefit from the networking opportunity.
- Forney suggested investigating a virtual Happy Hour. Konecny asked Forney to investigate and report his findings to the Board.
- Plumely suggested that at the time before an event such as the Founders Day Dinner alumni be presented with a plan for the year and allow groups to form in a competitive manner to encourage innovation and friendly competition. – ACTION
- Eric Marquardt requested to be relieved of Shipmate contact duties after 3 years of service to the Chapter. A new Shipmate contact will need to be assigned. – ACTION
Events
- Konecny discussed the existing scheduled events – Founders Day/Annual Meeting, lunches with speakers, and pub nights. Mentioned that due to COVID-19 pandemic, it may not be possible to schedule any events for the remainder of 2020. Encouraged discussion on other possibilities from the Board;
- Forney suggested that we consider a 3 level plan for the Founders Day/Annual Meeting in light of the 175th anniversary of the founding of USNA – schedule a normal event, schedule a “social distancing” event, schedule a virtual event. Depending on the state of “shelter-in-place” in September 2020, one of the options could be implemented. Also recommended considering a virtual happy hour.
Chapter scholarship status – Konecny discussed the intent of providing a scholarship to a worthy, needs-based central Ohio candidate to attend either the STEM Program or Summer Seminar at USNA. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all activities at USNA are cancelled so no scholarship will be offered for 2020.
Communications – Konecny discussed the various means of communication available to keep Chapter members informed. He encouraged use of all means to ensure the Chapter is well informed.
Webmaster report – White discussed:
- That the Columbus chapter was instrumental in getting the Alumni Association to get proper SSL certification for the national and chapter websites (Word Press);
- Explained that using technology could improve member experience. For example, alumni that move in or move out could be automatically identified thus providing for initial contact and recognition at some type of hail and farewell event – ACTION.
Action Items:
- Pro forma memorial procedures for personal events such as hospitalizations, deaths, etc. – Forney/Konecny
- Shipmate submission IRT Janet Maroscher passing and donation to Navy League. – Konecny
- Recruit new Shipmate contact person. – Boad
- Further discuss and design a process to incorporate Plumley’s suggestion (New Business #3) as an integral part of annual event planning. – Plumley/Goins
- Work with Webmaster to design a simple process to identify new alumni to the area in USNA.com database. – White/Konecny
Minutes of the Annual Meeting held September 27, 2018 at Worthington Hills Country Club
170623 June, 23, 2017 USNAAA CC Mtg Minutes
