General Meeting of the 345th Bomb Group Association

Reunion XXII Minutes

President Ben F. Miller (499th) welcomed everyone to the XXII Reunion of the 345th Bomb Group Association. He called the business meeting to order at 10:48 AM in the Van Cleve room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dayton, Ohio, on Sunday, September 06, 2009.

Don Pease (500th) led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Don Rary (son-in-law of Ben F. Miller 499th) gave the prayer.

Who were these men and what did they do? As detailed in my closing remarks as Master of Ceremonies at a recent "Air Apaches" reunion (repeated here at the request of the author), this is who they were and what they did:

Margene Miller Brown (daughter of 498th Ben Miller) introduced herself and explained that she was assisting her father in presiding over the meeting.

Judy Best Zurlis (498th), Assistant Secretary, read the minutes of the XXI Reunion. Don Rary moved to accept the minutes as read with Ben Haller seconding the motion. The motion passed.

Charles Wilson (498th), Treasurer, presented the Treasurer’s report. As of August 10, 2009, the total Money Market Account is $13,917.25 while the Checking Account total is $2,993.16 leaving a total of $16,910.41. This year’s checking account reflects expenses for the XXI Reunion’s expenses. The report is attached.

Charles Wilson explained that often he receives a membership renewal after he has sent the Strafer mailing labels to Editor Frank Dillard (498th). Therefore, the label does not reflect the updated status for that person. Please be assured the label will be updated for the next issue of the Strafer. He also requested that Life Members and Associate Widows that do not pay annual dues to please notify the Treasurer of their current address, phone number, etc.

Frank Dillard moved that the Treasurer’s Report be accepted for approval subject to the Audit Committee’s result.

Dennis O’Neill (500th) was the only member to volunteer to be on the Audit Committee.

Paul Van Valkenburg (501st) did not have a Webmaster’s report. However, our website – www.345thbombgroup.org - will be included in the Strafer’s next edition. Ben Miller thanked Paul for all the time and work he has donated to our website.

New Business:

Lynn Daker (500th) was elected as the President at the XXI Reunion last year. Per our Constitution and Bylaws, Ben Miller (1st Vice President) assumed the Presidency upon the death of Lynn Daker. Our bylaws state that every 2 years beginning in 1982 Officers for the Association should be elected. Since only the President was elected in 2008 we must elect Officers for only one year. Then in 2010 we will elect new officers.

Ben F. Miller is continuing as the President of the 345th Bomb Group Association.

The following offices must be filled.

1st Vice President

2nd Vice President

Secretary

Assistant Secretary

Treasurer

Assistant Treasurer

The floor was opened for nominations.

Jim Bina (501st) was nominated for the office of 1st Vice President.

Dennis O’Neill (500th) was nominated for the office of 2nd Vice President.

Silas Pearson (498th) was nominated for the office of Secretary.

Judy Best Zurlis (498th) was nominated for the office of Assistant Secretary.

Mary Sloan Roby (500th) was nominated for the office of Treasurer.

Charles Wilson (498th) was nominated for the office of Assistant Treasurer.

Ruth Damour (499th) moved to accept the slate of officers as named. Carol Hillman seconded the motion. The motion passed.

Ben Miller announced that Frank Dillard would like for someone to volunteer as the Assistant to the Editor of the Strafer. Frank explained that he would like someone to help in the creation, editing, printing, and mailing of the Strafer with the eventuality of becoming the Editor. Andy Decker (nephew of Warren W. Everett (501st) volunteered to help.

The question was asked if the Strafer was financially okay. Frank explained that our $15.00 membership dues more than covers all costs of printing and mailing the Strafer.

Don Rary (498th) then asked how the editor selects submitted articles to be included in each Strafer. Frank explained that due to postage restraints we only have 12 pages in the Strafer. Nine of the pages are committed to the Officers’ reports, front and back, and the Bulletin Board leaving only 3 pages for other articles. Frank explained that as the Editor he has the right to edit any submittal to make it fit in the available space. Therefore, some articles are too large to be accepted and are not used. This brought questions and suggestions of how the stories of our veterans can best be preserved and shared with others. Ideas are: the 345th website and the Veteran’s History Project as proposed by Kelly McNichols (500th),

Norma Miller (wife of 498th Ben Miller) asked why the Headquarters was not included in the 345th Memorial. Frank Dillard (498th) explained it was an oversight and nothing could be done about it at this late date.

Don Wagner, President of the 500th, thanked Dennis O’Neill for all the hard work he and Susan gave in organizing and hosting the reunion. He almost gave Dennis a heart attack when he suggested they be the permanent reunion hosts!

The floor was opened to suggestions of where our XXIII Reunion should be held. Ken Haller (498th) proposed the Seattle area as a possible location. Due to scheduled back surgery he is unable to chair the committee but is willing to help if someone will volunteer to be in charge.

Don Wagner (500th) announced that some families have requested that the reunion be moved to another 3-day weekend because the Labor Day weekend is a conflict for many family activities and to please take this request in consideration when planning the next reunion.

Marvin Leventon (500th) told us about a magazine that will help host reunions. The details were sparse but available if the Reunion Committee was interested.

Don Rory asked since there is an offer of the Seattle area on the table is there anyone who would be willing to host the reunion there? After discussion, no one volunteered.

Jim Bina suggested the following cities as possible locations: Wichita, KN, Milwaukee, MN and Oshkosh, WI.

Bob Jacobs suggested San Antonio, TX.

Carol Hillman announced that Gladys Best has volunteered the Best Family to host the reunion in the Dallas, TX area. After much discussion Gerry Paquette (500th) moved that we accept Dallas as the sight of the next reunion. Bob Jacobs (498th) seconded the motion. The motion passed.

Charles Wilson explained that we had dues and contributions of $3,790.00 with the Strafer expenses for last year being only $1,811.00. He then read a letter from Douglas Stroz, son of Henry Stroz (498th) requesting help in locating anyone who might have known his father during his short duration with the 345th before his untimely death in 1944. A request will be placed in the Strafer.

With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 12: 04 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Best Zurlis

Assistant Secretary

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