WELCOME ABOARD NEW SHIPMATES: Barbara Anderson; Gregory Davis; Linda Owen; Joseph Patterson; Thomas Strother; Benjamin Sullivan

BRANCH 24 Ceremonial Initiations: Shipmates Ramon Moore, Thomas Gentile, Christopher Erickson and George Buss

SHIPMATES WHO HAVE RECEIVED ORDERS TO SERVE ON THE STAFF OF THE SUPREME COMMANDER:

MINUTES OF BRANCH/UNIT 24

10 JULY 2012

Shipmate President Collins called the meeting to order at 1900. S/M MAA Chris Pariseau introduced visiting Shipmates PRPEC Claire Purdy, PRPEC Paul Dix, and Shireen Younus with her parents. After appropriate opening ceremonies, the meeting was declared convened. Pres. Collins initiated Ramon Moore, Thomas Gentile, Christopher Erickson and George Buss into the FRA, Br 024. Welcome Aboard Shipmates.

The minutes of the 12 June 2012 meeting were provided for review and were approved as distributed.

The minutes of the 3 July 2012 BOD meeting were provided for review and were approved as distributed

Treasurer’s Report: No bills need to be paid. The new Fiscal Year began on July 1, 2012.

Communications: Annual branch committee reports are due. Travis Wells, grandson of PP Ken Carter, received a $5000 scholarship from FRA.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Americanism/Patriotism: Branch 24 Essay Contest Winner (8th grade) “What Freedom of Speech Means to Me”, Shireen Younis read her essay and accepted awards from the Branch (1st place), East Coast (1st place) and National (2nd place). The 2012-13 Essay Theme will be announce soon. For official rules visit

Audit, Budget and Finance: Shipmate Jack O’Neill passed out the final budget for FY 2011-12. The new fiscal year runs from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013.

Bylaws: NTR

Hospital, Welfare, & Rehabilitation: S/M PP Ken Carter is doing well. Our thoughts are with you.

Legislative Services:NTR

Membership & Retention: President Penny Collins and Chair of the Membership Committee reported our membership was 2029 active.We hope to retain all current members. We have tocontinue to recruit new members. If you would like to volunteer to assist the Membership Committee, please contactby email: or (301) 792-8465-Cell.

Youth Activities: S/M Hoover reported the results of the annual Soap Box Derby. Children’s games will be hosted at the September 8th FRA/Auxiliary/FRC Picnic.

Contributions: NTR

Adopt-A-Highway: NTR.

FRC:July activities, Lobster night, and Steak night coming up. Get your reservations in.

New Business: The Branch working calendar will be posted online. CLC letter of Branch delegates needs to be sent in.

Chairmen vacancies need to be filled: Public Relations.

A Motion was made to revert back to the monetary prize for the annual essay contest winner. The recent change that the winner receives a trip to D.C. is not enticing for anyone living in the East Coast Region. 2nd/ unanimous.

A Motion was made that since Branch 24 Strongly disagrees with the new Essay Contest Prize, an article on this discussion is to be published in the next edition of FRA Today. 2nd/ unanimous.

Next April, opening day of rock fishing, the FRC will host another Rock-On Warrior for the Wounded Warriors. Shipmate Thibodeau is the main contact and any shipmates that would like to help are welcome.

Saturday, July 14th the Coast Guard Auxiliary is honoring the Wounded Warriors by taking them on a cruise to the BayBridge and then down Ego Alley in Annapolis. It is requested that shipmates honor and salute these veterans as they pass by the FRC. Time is dependant on weather; they are departing from the WestRiver at 11a.m. and it may take up to 2 hours before they reach Annapolis.

Old Business: The annual Branch/Unit 24 Picnic will be held on Saturday, Sept 8th at the Bay Room on Greenbury Point from 1300-1800. The cost will be determined based on volunteer help. If you have anything that can be auctioned off for a raffle, please contact David Guerra, the Picnic Chairman. Many made donations for this event; S/M Clarence Johnson – a gift basket to include a free tax return; S/M Bob Caffrey – 3 original water color paintings; S/M William Maxey – HP Printer; S/M Pat Fedorowitz – a pig roast and brisket for a party of 50. 1st place raffle winner gets first pick.

TWO BELL CEREMONY: The Two Bell Ceremony was conducted in memory of the following shipmates now serving on the staff of the Supreme Commander: C.J. Fretwell; William Poland Jr.; Joseph Quinn; Jess Smith

GOOD OF THE ORDER; CLC 50th anniversary celebration at Br 93, PaxRiver, 1800 7-23-11. ECR Convention will be held in RoanokeVA, 7-28/31-11.

An interesting sidelight; a new member indicated that not too many Shipmates welcomed him into the Branch, at which time S/M President Hoover asked him to stand and introduce himself followed by several other new members. This is something we as a branch must embrace if we are to keep our members.

AWARDS: Membership awards were presented to S/Ms Carter, Collins, Henderson and Hoover by PRPEC Dix.

ADJOURNMENT: After appropriate closing ceremonies, the meeting adjourned at 2010.

Submitted:Approved:

Valerie ReedPenny Collins

Secretary/TreasurerPresident