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The attendance for the July 11, 2013 meeting was 89.

Opening Ceremonies: The meeting was called to order by Base Commander Ed Stank. A quorum was present and the meeting started at 1900. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the Invocation and the Tolling of Boats lost in July were given by Base Chaplain Nick Nichols. The USSVI Creed was read by Ed Stank. Ed welcomed the members and guests to the meeting.

Introductions: The following were new attendees to Charleston Base meetings: A. B. Campbell, MTC(SS) USN (Ret.) - Qual Boat USS Lewis and Clark SSBN 644; Steve Weise, CAPT (SS) - Qual Boat USS Tunny SSN 682; Damion Dial STS1(SS) - Qual Boat USS Albuquerque SSN 706; Byron Tyner ET2(SS) - Qual Boat USS Woodrow Wilson, SSBN 624; Ed Frederick QMCM(SS) USN (Ret.) - Qual Boat USS Carbonero SS 337; Steve Linn ETC(SS) USN (Ret.) - Qual Boat USS Daniel Webster SSBN 626.

Secretary: Base Secretary Rick Wise called for a motion from the floor for the minutes for the June 2013 Meeting as published in the newsletter to be approved. A motion was made and seconded and approved on a voice vote.

Treasurer: Base Treasurer Steve Morawiec read a report for the month of June 2013. He emphasized that he would show the base books to anyone at the end of the meeting.

Vice Commander: No report.

Chaplain and Webmaster: Base Chaplain and Webmaster Nick Nichols gave the following report:

EMC(SS) Richard 'Barney' Barnette, departed on Eternal Patrol on Monday, July 8th, at home. Larry was a member of USSVI National and USSVI Charleston Base. He enlisted in the Navy in 1956 and retired in 1972 with prior service the Army Airborne where he earned his paratrooper badge. Barney qualified on USS CUTLASS SS 478 in 1964 then served on USS SIRAGO SS 485 for 6 years and USS AFFRAY MSO 511 before retirement. Barney's funeral will be a 1100 at Carolina Memorial across from Trident Tech on Rivers Ave. Muster is at 1030. Vest uniform (vest, khaki pants, blue shirt, cover). Charleston Base will conduct the entire service to include family presentations, bell tolling, and flag folding. Please attend if you are able.

NOTE: Please complete your page 2. Barney did not have one on file and it would have helped the Chaplain. Also, if you plan on being buried in your uniform it will be a great help to your family if you make sure that it is ready for use and not make them go hunting for what needs to go on it.

Tom Clark's mother, Lucille, passed away in PA on June 14th, just a few days before her 98th birthday.

Dave Saari had surgery today and it went well. He is at MUSC Tower, rm 5048. Direct phone line is 843.876.7548.

Doc Hill is at Sandpiper Mt Pleasant, rm 103.

Pappy Henderson is at White Oak of Charleston. Walt Deal talked to Pappy this afternoon and all Walt could say is: "Pappy is Pappy."

Bill Roberts is now home and having outpatient rehab after his hip replacement. He's doing well; still on the walker and now able to put more weight on the hip so the PT is getting tougher.

Tom Lehmann has been at SMC since Sunday, most of the time in ICU. He's now in room 327. He had a perforated ulcer with an arterial vein bleed which has been corrected. He will be going home tomorrow and be taking special medication.

Mike Emerson is not here tonight but reports he has received good news from his doctor. There is nothing new happening with his cancer and only a 20% chance of recurrence. Next checkup in 3 months.

Gerry Farr is at home recuperating from his knee surgery on 25 June and is here tonight.

Ben McDonald has been diagnosed with stage 4 squamous cell lung & spine cancer. He is taking chemo treatments. If you get a chance give him a call.

Barbara Heinle, Don's wife, is still in treatment for her recurrence of cancer and they both appreciate your prayers.

Clyde Peters is still in Mt. Pleasant Manor Nursing Home, 921 Bowman Rd, Rm 323. Visitors would be appreciated.

Bill Buxton moved in May to Washington State to be near family. Bill was diagnosed with liver cancer and discontinued his cancer treatment before he moved. He had been given only a few months to live at the time they moved. Please drop him a line and let him know you're thinking of him. His new address is: 7083 Wagner's Way, Apt. 236, Gig Harbor WA 98335.

Kathy Smith, PM's wife, will be having a pacemaker put in on Friday, July 12th.

The following non-CB shipmates departed on Eternal Patrol this past month. Online memorial entries were made if possible.

Gene Edward Keen, 72, departed on EP on June 6th in Moncks Corner, SC. He was not a current member of USSVI or CB but had been in the past. He served on the SKIPJACK.

TMC(SS) Burrel Thomas Boatwright, 62, departed on EP on June 18th in Johnston, SC. He had been a member of CB before moving out of the area.

SCPO(SS) John J Robinson IV, 69, departed on EP on June 12th in N. Charleston. He was not a member of USSVI or CB. He was a member of the FRA and Larry Cox attended a FRA Two Bell as a member of FRA and to represent the SUBVETS.

For the information of All Hands: Each time I am contacted about a submariner who has departed on Eternal Patrol I usually receive at least one, usually more, phone calls/emails asking what the base is going to do and when are we going to do it. Our SOP is that we only conduct our Bell Tolling and presentations to the family for those who are Charleston Base members. Base members will receive an email concerning anyone who departs on EP and is not a member of USSVI and/or Charleston Base. This allows anyone who knew the departed to attend services if they feel led.

I am now connected with the Legacy.com ObitMessenger. I receive a daily email of everyone in the country whose obituary indicates service in the Navy or submarines. These will be sent by email to base members. If you know any of these shipmates or they are members of your boat association, you'll be able to get their names on the associations EP listing. Online condolences will be sent. If you know of shipmates or spouses from other bases who are having a difficult time, had surgery, etc. and would like for USSVI Charleston Base to send them a card please send their name and address to the Chaplain via email or phone call.

Webmaster Report:

FLASH TRAFFIC - Don't forget to use this page to keep updated on current info.

SENDING EMAIL - Been getting a lot of email sent to me lately where all of the addresses have been in the TO: line. For security purposes, when sending an email to many people use the BCC: line. Using BCC this way protects recipients' email addresses from being share, especially with chain letters, jokes, etc. that are normally forwarded on.

WEB SAILING LIST - We now have a password secured sailing list on the website. When you click on Sailing List on the homepage you will need a username and password. The email has gone out to all base members with the required information. This is for your use only. If you have a shipmate who is not a base member and feels he needs any of this info have him contact me.

Public Affairs: No Report.

Submarine Veterans of WWII: Swamp Fox President George Scharf reminded the base that the next Swamp Fox meeting will be August 15 at Ryan's in Summerville.

Membership: Membership Chairman Don Mook reminded the base that he is collecting dues for 2014. People who are joining the base now are paying dues for 2013 and will still owe for 2014.

Newsletter: Newsletter Editor Steve Morawiec reported that the June newsletter electronic has been sent out. The print version has been delayed because the printer at the NWS Family Services Center has been down.

Veterans Affairs: Veterans Affairs Officer Ken Curtis talked about the My HealtheVet program with at VA. The VA has planned to open new 38 outpatient clinics in 22 states and territories. The Congressional Budget Office has determined these would be long-term debts and has recommended not opening them. He recommended that everyone get registered in the VA system.

FRA: No report.

Storekeeper: Base Storekeeper Ken Hutchison stated that he is clearing out the shirts that he has in stock at reduced prices. From now on if you want a shirt with the USSVI logo you will have to buy the shirt and bring it to the storekeeper to get the logo and anything else you want embroidered on the shirt. The cost will be determined by what you want on the shirt.

Kaps For Kids: No report.

Fleet Reserve: No report.

Holland Club: No report.

Scholarship: The KOA coupons raffle tickets are avail for purchase. The drawing will be held at the Good of the Order.

Little David Project: No report.

Nuclear Historian: The Nuclear Historian Rick Carlson reported he had received an e-mail with the retirement schedule for a Machinist's Mate. It went as follows: Monday - Brush Teeth, Tuesday - Comb Hair, Wednesday - Trim Nasal Hairs, Thursday - Shower, Friday - Put On Clean Clothes, Saturday - Shave, and Sunday - Consider Changing Underwear.

After Battery: Nothing to report.

District Commander: ES2 District Paul Viering explained that a lot of bases collect money for scholarships and let the National USSVI give out the scholarships. This year National gave out $38950 - $13300 came from the National USSVI funds and the rest from bases. The scholarships went to 6 boys and 28 girls.

Chief of the Boat: COB Rick Sparger reported that Ryan's was offering 15% off in the month of July as a part of Military Family Appreciation Month. He reported that after the donations to pay for base life membership for Clyde Peters there was $40 left over and it was donated to the base general fund.

He talked about the presentation of certificates of appreciation and Charleston Base challenge coins to the sailors that helped with the Oyster Roast. This took place at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Center (NNPTC) at NWS Charleston.

He has received an e-mail from Charleston Base member Larry Rosselot about a charity softball tournament being held September 7 & 8. The finals will be held at the Joe in Charleston. They are requesting base members to act as umpires. Proceeds will go to the Wounded Warriors Fund. If you are interested contact the COB.

Base Commander: Base Commander Ed Stank talked about the new SC CPO tag. The proceeds are going to Patriot's Point even though Patriot's Point still wants to sink the USS Clamagore as an artificial reef.

The Swamp Fox WWII Submarine Veterans group wants to get the Amberjack memorial at White Points Garden either cleaned up as was promised or moved to the Waterfront Park in North Charleston.

A request has come from an officer at NNPTC for submarine memorabilia to be used for decoration. If you have anything you wish to donate, contact Ed.

Senator Tim Scott is hosting a Korean War Veterans Ceremony on 27 July at the Charleston Convention Center, Exhibit Hall B in North Charleston at 1600. All Korean War veterans and their families are invited including the families of deceased veterans. Please respond to Senator Scott on his website:www.scott.senate.gov Please get the word out.

Old Business: A motion was made by Marty Sessler for the base to authorize up to $4000 for the construction of a new float trailer. The motion was seconded. After a discussion that made it clear that the funds would come from the base investment fund the motion was approved.

New Business: The following amendments to the Charleston Base Bylaws were acted on:

Article XIV Conduct of Charleston Base Member Funeral/Memorial Services was approved by a voice vote.

Article XV Section 4. Charleston Base bylaws review was approved by a voice vote.

Article VIII Section 1.D Authorizing the base to pay for two nights lodging for the Base Commander was amended to cover only the SE Regional Convention. After being amended it was approved by voice vote.

Article VIII Section 2.C Authorizing the base to pay for two nights lodging for the Base Vice-Commander when the Base Commander was not available was amended to cover only the SE Regional Convention. After being amended it was approved by voice vote.

After some discussion a motion was made by Tom Lufkin to turn ownership of the base ice machine over to Robert Gibbs. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

Good of the Order: Marty Sessler's son, Nathan, brought the base up to date on Brian Williams, a dog handler who was injured by a land mine in Kandahar, Afghanistan. His dog was also injured and at a ceremony at Walter Reed Hospital, the Secretary of the Air Force presented the recovering dog to Brian after decorating and retiring the dog. Brian has been fitted with a prosthetic leg and will be returning to active duty.

The KOA coupons were won by Kirk Owen (3 coupons), Gary Williams (2 coupons) and Walt Deal (2 coupons).

Depth Charge: The depth charge was won by Jerry Stout - who donated $50 to the general fund. Jerry purchased his tickets online as he was out of town.

Meeting Adjourned: The Base Commander adjourned the meeting at 2012.

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USSVICB Newsletter is copyrighted in 2013 by USSVI Charleston Base.