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On behalf of the of the National AMVETS Riders Executive Board, I regret to inform the Riders Nation that because of an act of God, we must cancel this year’s Mid-Year Rally hosted by Illinois Chapter 169 in North Pekin, Ill. This is by no means the fault of the hosting Chapter; they have complied with all timelines and was actively preparing to host this event. The Governor of Illinois has shut down all establishments for the foreseeable future. We decided that we could not push the date of the Mid-Year because of the uncertainty caused by Covid-19 (Coronavirus). We feel that the only option at this point is to add a day onto the front of the National Riders Convention to conduct necessary business.
If you had pre-registered for the Mid-Year rally, our National Treasurer, Paul Spuhl, will be contacting you for the return of your money. We will be moving onto the planning of the Mid-Year for 2021, this is my personnel favorite meeting of the year. I hope to see all of you in Springfield Ill for the National Convention. When our Post start to open up, please support them as many Post are small and it will be hard to recover monetarily. Please look out for one another and stay in contact with you Chapter Presidents. LRB/S, Tom McNamara National President AMVETS Riders
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NATIONAL RIDERS CONVENTION MINUTES 2019
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY AUGUST 23- 24, 2019 Riders National Convention called to order by President George Cummings at 8am EST, August 23rd. Prayer led by National Chaplain, Jeremiah Botkin. Pledge of Allegiance by membership. Convention Rules read by National JA, Jim Whitcraft. Motion made to accept, motion 2nd and passed. Motion made to move into nominations and elections of National Officers, motion 2nd and passed. President Cummings: “JUDGE ADVOCATE: Jim Whitcraft, you were nominated at Mid-Year, do you accept? Jim-Yes. Are there any other nominations for JA? (X 3). Hearing none, nominations are closed.” “SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Mike Campbell, JD Dotson, Curtis Allen and Larry Saad, you were nominated at Mid-Year, do you accept? Mike-Yes, JD-Yes, Curtis-Yes, Larry-No. Are there any other nominations for SAA (X 3). Hearing none, nominations are closed.” “TREASURER: Beverly Munoz, you were nominated at Mid-Year, do you accept? Beverly-Yes. Are there any other nominations for Treasurer (X 3). Hearing none, nominations are closed.” “2nd VICE: Dan Macdonald, Kristin Orem, you were nominated at Mid-Year, do you accept? Kristin-Yes. Standing in for Dan Macdonald is Don Cox. Dan accepts nomination as written in a letter to the membership. Are there any other nominations for 2nd Vice (X 3). Hearing none, nominations are closed.” “1st VICE: John Reando you were nominated at Mid-Year, do you accept? John-Yes. Are there any other nominations (X 3). Hearing none, nominations are closed.” “PRESIDENT: Tom McNamara, you were nominated at Mid-Year, do you accept? Tom-Yes. Are there any other nominations (X 3). Hearing none, nominations are closed.” JD Dotson elected to SAA position. Dan Macdonald elected to 2nd Vice position. Secretary, Karen Cox, casts one vote for all uncontested nominees (JA-Jim Whitcraft, Treasurer-Beverly Munoz, 1st Vice-John Reando, and President-Tom McNamara). The newly elected National Riders Executive Board: Tom McNamara-President John Reando-1st Vice Dan Macdonald-2nd Vice Beverly Munoz-Treasurer Jim Whitcraft-Judge Advocate JD Dotson-Sergeant-At-Arms George Cummings-Immediate Past National President Meeting adjourned until 3:00pm, August 24th. August 24, 2019 3:00pm Riders Convention continued. Officer Attendance: All present except Dan Macdonald-excused. David Ray-excused. Delegate count: Total Registered: 117 Total Delegates: 82 Voting Delegates: 81 In Attendance: 111 Majority Vote: 41 1st Vice Report, Tom McNamara: 124 Chapters. Just approved Hawaii-III as a new chapter. We have several new chapter applications. I submit my report as written. 2nd Vice Report, John Reando: I appreciate all the programs that were reported and participation in the fund raising. There are training videos on our website. I submit my report as written. JA, Jim Whitcraft: Nine resolutions were submitted. The committees recommended all nine be passed. Motion was made, separately, on all nine. Each were 2nd and passed by the membership. Submit report as written pages 13 through 22 (to include all resolutions). To see details of all resolutions, please visit our website. Chaplain Report, Jeremiah Botkin: Chairing the Gold Mothers Ride. Looking for chaplains or anyone who would like to be on the committee. Submit my report as written. PNP, Don Cox: Keep up the good work. Thanks for all your help over the past 8 years. Report is in book. Submit report as written. Secretary, Karen Cox: DRF’s and Revalidations, most submitted them on time. To see how to do an application to start a new chapter, see this one submitted by MO. It’s perfect. Report is in book. Submit as written. Communications Officer, Kathy Campbell: It’s been my honor to work with Rolling Thunder. I’ve started a list of volunteers. Trying to get as many riders as possible. It’s been my honor to work with our President, George Cummings. A gift was given to George. A banner of “Rolling Thunder”. It was signed by all the National Officers. Publications Officer, Kelly Reando: I have brochures available. I will be ordering new ones with Tom McNamara’s picture on them. I have been working on a training section to put online. It’s on our website now. It’s online help with programs, filling out different forms, etc. My report is in the book. Historian, David Ray: Had to leave for family reasons. Health concerns with his mom, so please keep them in your prayers. He has been working to finish a book on the history of the organization. His report is in book. Treasurer, Bev Munoz: Thank you for allowing me to serve in this position. Reports are on pages 8-12. On page 8 there is a correction. The $5000 donation going to WI-13 will be split in half. $2500 will go to WI-13 to help veterans with dental care. The other $2500 will go to 22-Everyday in District 1 in NY. The committee doing the external audit found a few minor issues. The credit card reward dollars can be spent at Mid-Year and Convention. We will put aside $3000 for donations next year. Also, Death Benefit. There was an overage of $250. We had $10,400 from previous year; adding the $250 brings us to $10,650. Each year $2000 gets added so we now are at $12,650. Motion to accept finance report, motion 2nd, passed. George: We made donations of $200 to the National Commander’s project; $150 to Sons and $150 to Ladies. At Mid-Year, Ladies Auxiliary donated $100 to my project. Son’s donated $250. PNC’s did 22-Push-ups and a lady donated another $100. The $250 will go to the Saluting Marine, Tim Chambers. He does free dental work for homeless veterans. He will be at Rolling Thunder. OLD BUSINESS: None. NEW BUSINESS: Motion made to increase Death Benefit (Riders and Supporters) from $250 to $350. Motion 2nd, passed. FL Department has 30 Days of Christmas raffle. OH Department also has 30 Days of Christmas raffle. John Reando suggested we do a raffle, winner take all, at Mid-Year and Convention. Donation would be $1.00. 1st Vice, Tom McNamara: There were 12 chapters up for revocation. 2 turned in their revalidations. Now 10 are up for revocation: No dues or reval turned in: AK49, FL19, FL26, FL34, MA32, MO181. No reval turned in: FL941, MD10, PA187, VA35. Motion made, 2nd, passed. GOOD and WELFARE: Had 35 out of 124 who qualify for Quality Chapter. Qualifications are pay dues, turn in revalidation, report programs at least twice a year (Jan-Jun and Jul-Dec), and Increase your membership by at least 1 from previous year. Congratulations to following Quality Chapters: AZ770,FL35, FL42, FL60, FL81, FL88, FL292, FL444, GA118, IA2, IA6, IA31, KY61, LA66, MI57, MI93, MI1941, MI1988, MO1, MO6, MO42, MO48, MO55, MO113, MO114, MO180, NY8, NY245, OH21, OH26, OH43, OH51. OH112, OH333, OH1994, OH2003, VA40. Certificates given to all. 2nd Vice, John Reando: Programs Awards: Chapter of the Year-OH-1776 with $13,837. Total Department Programs Reporting-Department of OH with $1,855,000. Revals and Most Improved Programs Reporting: OH71 with increase of $18,000. Membership Largest Chapter: MO-48 with 70 riders and 25 supporters. Membership Award for LRB/LRS. Revals and overwhelming Aspects: Bob Anderson, MO Department President. Supporter of the Year: Bill Adkins, KY-61. Rider of the Year: Tom “Block” Aiken. Department Rider of the Year: Paul Spuhl, MO-1. Presidents Prestigious Award, Most Improved Chapter: LA-66. Presidents Award for Outstanding Achievement: OH-51. Incoming President (Tom McNamara) gave the outgoing President (George Cummings) a Riders vest with all National Officer signatures inside. George received his royal blue beret. Tom received his baby blue beret. George wished Tom all the luck and to call if he ever needed. Tom said it was the first time 3 PNP’s were in the room at the same time: Rob Quick, Don Cox and George Cummings. Our new President, Tom, said it meant a lot to him to be on stage for joint installation and looked out and all he could see were all the red shirts the riders worn. He thanked the riders. Motion to adjourn at 4:46pm, 2nd and passed. Prayer by Jeremiah Botkin. Retirement of colors by JD Dotson, RNSAA. Karen Cox, RNS Please see the attachments from National JA Jim Whitcraft.
You will find the 2019 Convention Rules and 9 Resolutions to be presented at Convention in Louisville. Make sure your delegates have copies of these documents. Hello Riders! With the 2019 Convention approaching, it is time to send in your nominations for Rider of the Year and Supporter of the Year. One award will be given for each of these categories. Please see the attached letters. Have a great day and we hope to see you all in Louisville! sent from: Kathy Campbell RNCO amvets.rnco@outlook.com kc.chptr7@suddenlink.net (318)793-0263 (318)277-4593-cell
Attention all AMVETS Riders:
Many of you have heard that AMVETS Riders members who are AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary will be required to register with their parent organization (Ladies Auxiliary) before registering with the Riders for convention in the future. It is already and has been a requirement for those who are AMVETS to register with their parent organization. In following this requirement, it will now be required for Auxiliary members to register with the Ladies Auxiliary. Lady AMVETS Riders who are Auxiliary members will need to show proof of Auxiliary registration when checking in at the Riders registration desk. We always encourage all AMVETS Riders members to support their parent organization and attend those meetings as well as the meetings of the AMVETS Riders while at convention. The rule will not only apply to National convention but for your SECs as well. Please see below rule from AMVETS National Ladies Auxiliary Executive Director. Please extend this information to all of your AMVETS Riders members who are Ladies Auxiliary. Thank you. Below is the change to the National Auxiliary Standing Rules at the 2018 National Convention in Orlando, Florida. PAGE 19 CONVENTION RULES MAKE NEW #5 TO READ: The NATIONAL AMVETS CONVENTION RULES requires that all subordinate organizations members register as a delegate with the parent organization therefore, Auxiliary Rider members and Sackette members must register as an Auxiliary delegate or guest and must show an Auxiliary registration in order to register as a Rider or Sackette delegate. DIRECTIVE FROM NATIONAL AVMETS – DOES NOT NEED VOTE Sent from: Kathy Campbell RNCO amvets.rnco@outlook.com kc.chptr7@suddenlink.net (318)793-0263 (318)277-4593-cell NATIONAL RIDERS CONVENTION
ORLANDO, FL AUGUST 11, 2018, 3:00 PM The meeting was called to order by RNP, George Cummings at 3:00pm. Prayer by RNCHAP, Jeremiah Botkin. Pledge of Allegiance was led by RNSAA, Larry Saad. Riders Mission Statement was read by RNP Cummings. Roll call of officers: President, George Cummings; 1st Vice, Tom McNamara; 2nd Vice, John Reando; JA, Jim Whitcraft; Treasurer, Dan Macdonald; Sergeant-At-Arms, Larry Saad; PNP, Don Cox; Chaplain, Jeremiah Botkin; Communications, Kathy Campbell; Publications, Kelly Reando; Historian, David Ray; Secretary, Karen Cox. All present. Roll call of Delegates: 90 registrations; 62 voting delegates present. The majority vote is 32. 2/3’s vote is 42. DEPT REPORTS FL-No report. GA-No report. IA-Currently have 4 chapters, working on 2 more. IN-No report. KY-Currently have 6 chapters. Annual department ride, Fire & Ice coming up, everyone is welcome. MI-No report. MO- 12 chapters, 9 of the 12 reported programs. 333 members: 283-Riders, 50-Supporters, 159 are Veterans, 97 are sons, and 77 are ladies auxiliary. NY-139 members, 17 are supporters, 122 are riders. 8 chapters, working on another. OH-Thank you to National for your help. Kenton chapter reporting is big. WI-No report. CHAPTER REPORTS AK-2 This is the 1st convention they’ve been to. Getting things going in AK. TN-104: MIKE INMAN - Chapter has been in existence for 9 years, proud of that. Just built a new Veterans cemetery. No one in chapter has done the reporting. Mike is a past recipient of a SILVER HELMET AWARD for AMVETS Member of the Year. LA-7: MIKE CAMPBELL - Just got their 2nd chapter in LA, Chapter 66. LA-7 has 34 members, LA-66 has 23 members and both are growing. Bob Wills - Department of FL Riders President welcomes all to their great state. OFFICER REPORTS RN1V-TOM MCNAMARA We have 123 chapters. We are down 4 from last year. We have 2,414 members. We have 10 departments and 18 Quality Chapters. Eight chapters were sent a Revocation of Charter letters: FL-20, GA-2011, IN-13, NC-905, NM-14, NY-8, OH-40 and OH-112. Motion made to give those 8 chapters, 30 days to revalidate, 2nd, discussion: What happens when a chapter closes, what happens with those members? CBL says they have 90 days to find a new chapter to join. When chapters close, the money in their account and their charter are sent to the department. The department holds it for a year to see if they can reopen. Motion passed. RN2V-JOHN REANDO Programs reporting was well over $5 mil; $200,000 more than last year. Thank you all for raffle ticket selling. If you still want to buy tickets, see me during our break. I have a 2nd vice conference call every 2nd Sunday of each month. It is at 7 Central/8 Eastern time. Everyone is invited if you’d like to call in. Let me know and I’ll send an email with the phone number and access code. Reporting period is July 1st thru June 30th. It is broken into 2-six-month periods. Here is the breakdown: FL $1.5 mil GA $205,000 IA $197,000 IN $152,000 KY $442,000 MI $224,000 MO $873,000 The Long-Range Planning Committee discussed what we can do in the future to better the organization. Moving from regular business to welcome the AMVETS National Commander, Rege Riley. He plans to work with the Riders. Past National Commander Marion Polk also visited. He said he enjoyed working with us and was proud of what we do. At the Mid-Year Rally, he had won a patriotic box. He gave the Riders National President, George Cummings, that same box as a gift. He had put gold plated engraved tags on it of each Past National Riders Presidents. He said it should be passed on to each president, and the previous presidents name needs to be added. JA – JIM WHITCRAFT My report is in the book and I ask that it be accepted as written. Here are 3 resolutions that need to be voted on. Resolution 01-2018-Submitted by Riders National CBL Committee: Article XI, Sections 11.1 through 11.10, reads “other duties as may assigned by the Executive Committee/Executive Board or the President”. Amend Article 11, Sections 11-2 through 11-10 to read “other duties as may be assigned by the Executive Board or the President”. Committee recommends Adoption. Motion made, 2nd, passed. Resolution 02-2018- Riders Unified Constitution. Submitted by the Department of Georgia Executive Committee, Article VII: Membership. Article VII, add Section 7.7 to read: The AMVETS Riders do not accept Members At Large of the AMVETS, Son’s of AMVETS, or AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary, nor does the AMVETS Riders permit any Riders Member’s at Large. The committee recommends adoption. Motion made, 2nd. To be passed by membership, 2/3’s vote is needed. Motion passed. Resolution 03-2018-Riders Unified By-Laws. Submit by the Department of Georgia Executive Committee, Article V Section 5.2 sets the qualifications for membership. Amend Article V Section 5.2 to add Subsection 5.2D) to read: The AMVETS Riders do not accept Members at Large of the AMVETS, Son’s of AMVETS, or AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary, nor does the AMVETS Riders permit any Riders Members at Large. The committee recommends adoption. Motion made, 2nd and passed. The committee discussed changing the terminology from Standard Operating Procedures to Standing Rules. That change will happen next year. Any changes or provisions to our Standard Operating Procedures from the floor: Ed Flack, Department of Florida would like to add: That if any disciplinary action is brought against a Rider Officer by their parent organization, that the officer be prohibited from holding any level office in the Riders for a period of 2 years, to begin upon reinstatement by parent organization. Discussion: Motion to change from disciplinary action to suspension from parent organization. Call for a vote: 2nd motion, passed. AUDIT COMMITTEE CHAIR-BEVERLY MUNOZ – Books are in immaculate condition. Went from 3 accounts to 1 and it’s so much easier. Everything was perfect. TREASURER-DAN MACDONALD – Expenses are now broken down under each officer. Big changes proposed: Proposing that we change the budget year from September through August to July through June. That way the budget year will be complete by the time we get to convention and it will be easier for the audit committee. Whatever is left over will be donated. It will be up to the body to decide on where we will donate. Send suggestions to the secretary. Cashed $300 of Rewards money from credit cards to buy 12-$25 Visa gift cards to give out as door prizes at convention. Motorcycle flags were randomly given also. We have 90 registrations at convention. Used random drawing system from a website with 90 numbers. Your name corresponded with where you fall on the list, 1 to 90. We have $50,000 in a money market that we don’t touch. We have $74,456.66 in the bank, which is more than we ever had. I want to thank you for your trust for the past 6 years. Next year I plan on running for 2nd Vice. Motion to accept report, 2nd, motion passed. Motion to change Budget Year, 2nd, motion passed. Motion to pay President Cummings $100 for snacks, 2nd, passed. By changing budget year, the next one will be from 9-1-2018 through 6-30-2019, then full year will begin July 1, 2019 through 6-30-2020, motion 2nd, passed. Motion to donate $5000 at convention next year and remaining budget funds from each year will be donated at convention each following year, delegates choice of where, motion 2nd, passed. Send suggestions to the secretary. Travel Expense Voucher Motion made that national officers cannot double dip by being paid twice for the same event. 2nd, passed. Motion to compile list of places to donate, finance committee will narrow it down at Mid-Year Rally, 2nd and passed. COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER-KATHY CAMPBELL – Pleasure to be re-appointed. The media policy is on the website. I have 623 POC’s and 95.8% are good emails. Goal to get to 100%. Motion to accept report, 2nd, passed. PUBLICATIONS OFFICER-KELLY REANDO – Member brochures are available. Instructions will be available on the website to complete your 990’s. Motion to accept report, 2nd, passed. CHAPLAIN-JEREMIAH BOTKIN – We have the death benefit available. Please honor those who have passed by placing them in our “LAST CHAPTER”. We have the scholarship fund also. Motion to accept report, 2nd passed. SARGEANT-AT-ARMS – LARRY SAAD - Link will be placed on website for 990 Motion to accept report, 2nd passed. HISTORIAN – DAVID RAY No report. IMMEDIATE PAST NATIONAL PRESIDENT -DON COX - No report. SECRETARY-KAREN COX – Motion to accept report as written, 2nd passed. President Cummings: No old business. New business: AK-2 donated $500 to President Cummings cause. NOMINATIONS OF NATIONAL OFFICERS: JA – Jim Whitcraft nominated. He accepts nomination, no others, nominations closed. SAA – Larry Saad nominated. He accepts nomination, no others, nominations closed. Treasurer - Dan Macdonald nominated. He accepts nomination, no others, nominations closed. 2nd Vice – John Reando nominated; Mike Campbell nominated; both accept, no others nominated. Hand vote taken, John Reando is elected 2nd Vice. 1st Vice – Tom McNamara nominated. He accepts nomination, no others, nominations closed. President – George Cummings nominated. He accepts nomination, no others, nominations closed. Motion to make 1 vote for all unopposed, 2nd, passed. Motion to adjourn at 6:10pm, 2nd passed. Colors were retired, Prayer was led by Jeremiah Botkin. NOTE: FOR COMPLETE DETAILS OF THIS MEETING, YOU MAY VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO SEE THE VIDEOS. KAREN COX National Riders Secretary Greetings Riders! Please see the attached resolutions (3) and the 2018 convention rules from National JA Jim Whitcraft. Remember to print a copy of the resolutions to have with you at convention. Hope to see MANY of you in Orlando! 
1st place - Alan Smith, Ohio
2nd place - Amy McDowell, GA 3rd place - John Hardy, GA LRB, Tom McNamara National 1st Vice AMVETS Riders |
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