La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux
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La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux
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From Dave’s Desk Report of the November 3, 2007 Meeting in Indianapolis, IN
Paul L. Landry Chef de Chemin de Fer – 1992 March 5, 2008 David R. Rabius Correspondant National La Societe Des 40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux777 N. Meridian Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-1170
Dear David: Enclosed please find checks totaling $2,770.00 for various 40/8 programs listed below. These funds were collected during the “Pie in Your Face” portion of the 24th Annual “Cajun Wreck”. The following checks are enclosed: Carville Star Special Find $1351.00 Carville Star Special Find $250.00 George Boland Nurses Training Trust $402.00 Box Car Association $666.00 (sent to Box Car Treasurer) 40/8er Fund $101.00
Please credit Acadia Voiture 1351 with the above donations and have them listed in the 40/8er Magazine. Please note the $1601.00 for the Carville Star Special Fund is the fund we discussed. Yours for La Societe,
Paul L. Landry
CC: Bernie Sampson, Chef de Chemin de Fer - 2008 CC: Harold Deshotel, Correspondant, Acadia Voiture 1351 CC: Henry E Kwiatkowski, Grand Correspondant, Grand Voiture de Louisiana CC: Carl Barr, Editor “Cajun Link” P.O. Box 308, Elton, Louisiana 70532
Since the change in the Constitution, I have been asked to address the Active Wrecks: How do we wreck a lady? Can we wreck a lady in an active wreck? What has to change? Let’s first look at can we wreck a lady active? The answer is yes, all we have to do is look at South Carolina who wrecked two ladies active and I believe that one of them was 80 years young. First things first, you are not to touch a PG during a wreck other than to keep them from falling while going through some of the activities. Now you are going to have to use common sense when wrecking a lady or you can get in trouble. How can we wreck a lady? Well there are two ways, Formal or Active. Any PG has the right to pick the way they are wrecked, and that should be the same with ladies. If they wish an active wreck, then we should give them an active wreck. What has to change? The first thing that will have to change is there will be no more nudity, all PG will be in shorts or sweat pants. There is a couple of reasons for this, one is that no PG will be exposed to anyone, the other is if you have a lady who has gone through a formal wreck, but is there to see an active wreck, she should not have to see any other PG exposed. I am not at this point going to go in to all the activities because there are so many. However I will say if you have any questions about an active wreck call Voiture Nationale and we will try to help you through it. One that is used in most places, is the branding of the 40 et 8 logo on a butt cheek. This is easy to change, use a bare arm so not to expose the PG, it will have the same effect as the butt cheek. Once again if you have any questions call Voiture Nationale, and remember, USE COMMON SENSE.
Report of the November 3, 2007 Meeting in Indianapolis, IN BACKGROUND: It was announced during the 88th Promenade Nationale, (at Overland Park, Kansas, September 8, 2007), that a meeting would be held during November of 2007, to discuss how to save our great organization. All Grande Voitures were encouraged to have representatives attend this meeting. BUSINESS: The meeting was opened at 9:00 AM Saturday November 3, 2007 by Correspondant National David R. Rabius with the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Aumonier 2007 Joe Nolan gave an opening prayer. Chef de Chemin de Fer Passe in attendance were introduced as follows: 1985 David B Oliver 1990 James W. Burden 1992 Paul L. Landry 1999 LaVerne Eccleston 2000 John Wiseman 2001 Silas Noel 2002 Bob Kaseman 2003 John T. Digilio, Jr. 2004 William “Joe” Jamnick 2005 Russell “Mac” McCarthy 2007 Terry Sims Also in attendance were the following Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer: Area I Rick Blish Area II David Wegener Area III Garland Crook Area IV Robert Molina Chef de Chemin de Fer 2008 Bernie Sampson was present. Correspondant Rabius outlined the day’s agenda and spoke of the basic reasons for the meeting. The sixty six Voyageur Militaire in attendance were assigned to six work groups to facilitate discussion. Four Grand Correspondants and two Sous Chef’s were assigned as recorders for each group. The groups were as follows: Group A Group C Group E Hank Kwiatkowski David Wegener Joe Nolan Raymond Duffy Dennis Barry Eugene Allen James Fowler David Burnett Morris Bentley Virtis Jinkins Donald Haynes Robert Boss Wallace Keen Daniel Land Keith Bouchard Mike Lefcheck John Polley Bruce Kouba Robert Mattson Jim Scott Art Lemire Robert Molina Louis Sewell Preston Olson James Nealis Donald Williams Leslie Wills, Jr. Group D Garland Crook Group F Group B Brandt Erickson Robert Harris Thomas Orval Leonard Normandeau Gerald Brady Rick Blish Mike Pietz Thomas Marvin Harris Harley Ray Dunnington Kent Molen Marland Ronning Ted Lang Lorne Noehre Ralph Scheider Rob McCalla H Ownby John Ryan Tony Pochon Benny Seals Antonio Rabbia Rod Strickland Clayton Sutton
The Chef de Chemin de Fer, Chef de Chemin de Fer Passe, Correspondant National, and Sous Avocat circulated between groups and were available to answer general questions and help as needed. Each group Recorders were given an information packet that addressed the topics of Declining Membership, Revenue Loss, and Budget Effects. The packets also included letters received by Voiture Nationale from Chef de Chemin de Fer 1994 C. James Littorn and Publiciste National Mark Anich. Upon completion of group discussion, the Chef de Chemin de Fer and Correspondant National received from each group Recorder notes detailing what had been discussed in group. Following are the notes from each group. DISCUSSION NOTES BY GROUP:
Group A 1) Adopt more family oriented position. 2) Learn more about each other. 3) Soldier mentoring program. 4) Revamp our programs. 5) Consolidate efforts. The thought of a central location and consolidated effort in each Grande where the 40 & 8 gatherings and programs could be concentrated to maximize exposure and generate favorable publicity. 6) Direct mail Solicitation. Voiture Nationale comment: We already do something like that with Voiture 2000, and the Finance Committee has not wanted to go beyond picking up our delinquents. 7) Spend some money. Advertise in media for membership. If money is not there borrow some from the trust funds. Voiture Nationale comment: The money in the trust funds is regulated by law and boards; one cannot borrow from the trust. But money could come from other sources. 8) Mentoring Program for new members, to get them to Promenades. The primary finding of Group A is to change the membership criteria, by changing the eligibility for membership to read”… open to all American Legionnaires or all honorably discharged veterans and military personnel.”
Group B Could it be stated that the 40 et 8 derive it’s membership from the: 1) American Legion 2) Honorably discharged veterans with DD-214 required 3) Any service member with a current military ID card 4) The 40 et 8 would maintain it’s by “invitation only” policy. To be stated as follows: An individual is eligible for membership in the 40 et 8 only if the individual is a member of The American Legion or has served in the Armed Forces of the United States at any time.
Group C Open discussion on letters from Chef de Chemin de Fer 1994 C. James Littorin and Mark Anich. 1) Promote the 40 et 8 in a proper image 2) Question, should the 40 et 8 be a separate entity? 3) Maintain by invitation only. Questions answered by the Correspondant National and Avocat as follows: 1) Do we have to check DD-214’s? Answer, Yes, checked by the Correspondant Locale. 2) Will going outside of the American Legion affect our tax exempt status? Answer, No, we will still be a 501 ( c ) 19. 3) Will ( can ) the 40 et 8 resubmit the resolution to the National American Legion? Answer, Yes, why not? There is nothing stopping any Grande from sending that resolution back to the American Legion. Group comment: Seams like a dead issue. Recommendation: Change membership criteria to read; American Legion members, honorably discharged veterans and active duty personal.
Group D Everyone discussed the area of quantity vs. quality, and what would be needed to change if we went out and actively recruited any and all Veterans for membership in the 40 et 8: 1) Geographic locations were brought up. 2) Developing new programs and dropping a few other ones. Voiture Nationale comment: Dropping programs maybe, but at this point starting new ones would have to be out unless membership picked up. 3) Become appealing to the younger Veteran age group 4) Get rid of quota 5) Use Credit Card to collect dues. Voiture Nationale comment: We already use Credit Cards for dues and many other things. Recommendation: To Change membership Criteria to read, American Legion members, honorably discharged veterans and military personnel.
Group E 1) Keep Nurses Training – Child Welfare – POW/MIA Programs, Voiture Nationale comment: What about our programs that are not the same as any other Veterans Organizations? With that in mind why keep POW/MIA ( programs that duplicate)? 2) Should the 40 et 8 have a Federal Charter? Answer: It would be hard to get one; congress has not granted a charter in many years, and the question should be, if we have gotten along this long without one do we need one? 3) Mass mailing to non-renewals asking why they did not renew, Voiture Nationale comment: Voiture 2000 was set up to do just that, 95% of the letters we get back say they are not renewing due to a pissing match within their Locale. 4) Keep the Cabane and ask them about a men’s auxiliary, Voiture Nationale comment: The Le Femmes are not an auxiliary to the 40 et 8; they are an independent organization formed to help the 40 et 8 with their programs. As for a men’s auxiliary, it would have to be another organization. We should perhaps worry about our membership before discussing expanding into another organization. 5) Would we have to leave our building in Indianapolis, IN? Answer: No, the building is owned by the Historical Societe who offers any veterans organization free office space; all you have to pay is for the utility. 6) Promote the 40 et 8 by volunteering as speakers to community functions. 7) Can we get a benefit package for the membership of the 40 et 8? Answer: If you are asking about packages like the Legion offers, I would say the answer is yes. 8) Keep trying to negotiate with the American Legion. Voiture Nationale comment: This question is answered as earlier under Group C. 9) Update the ritual to modernize the language from French. Voiture Nationale comment: Our heritage is from the W.W. I French Railroad. It would be a hard sell on this idea. 10) Restructure the Committee on Committee to curtail their National appointments. Voiture Nationale comment: Then who would make the national appointments? Another Committee not called the Committee on Committee? 11) Remove the tie to “paid life” to the Legion PUFL. Voiture Nationale comment: That would happen if you changed the membership criteria.
Recommendation as follows: Membership is open to all American Legion Members and all Honorably Discharged Veterans, and all Military Personnel currently serving our country.
Group F 1) Charted – No need 2) PUFL- Will change automatically 3) Membership in the 40 et 8 is by invitation only, and is open to any American Legionnaire or Veteran who has or is serving honorably COMMENT AND SUMMARY: All groups reported back to the main meeting space at 3:00 PM all reported that they were ready to give their reports. After all groups finished reported, and because they had during their own group discussion reached similar conclusions with regard to membership, the consensus was that was one idea to be voted on, and that was to change the membership criteria to read: Membership is open to all American Legion Members and all Honorably Discharged Veterans and all Military Personnel currently serving our country. The effect of the vote today would be to write a resolution and send it to the Locales for them to talk over and vote on, and if it passed then should be sent to the Grande to be dicussed and voted on, and if it passed then should be sent to Voiture Nationale to come to the floor for a vote The vote this date was recorded and is on the following page. The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 PM. Respectfully Submitted,
David R Rabius Correspondant National
November 3, 2007, Indianapolis A vote to present to the membership a resolution that, Membership (be) open to all American Legion Members and all Honorably Discharged Veterans and all Military Personnel currently serving our country. The Vote was as follows:
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