Gerry Berger AVHOFS President Class of 2016

Dear Patriots,

Please continue to look after yourself and your family too. I do miss seeing my friends and challenges continue, so phone calls and emails are the way we need to continue to communicate. During this crisis, we all have had to learn how to live our daily lives a bit differently.

You will find good information on our Annual Society meeting scheduled for the 4th of November from Jim Monroe, Vice President, in this issue, along with additional information on the 2020 Induction of the Class of 2020. In addition, Jim Monroe will be providing the slate of Officers and Directors for 2021 – 2022; installation will occur in January. Of course, details will be forthcoming depending upon Covid and other factors.

Please vote in the election occurring on November 4th. I know you are an outstanding veteran and that involves being a good citizen by voting!

With great hope that our desert will cool down in the coming weeks, hope you will get out and see the changes in scenery and appreciate all the colors and sounds.

If you or someone you know with our Society is in the hospital or is ill and could use a phone call or a card from the Society, please let me know so I can make contact with them or send a card. We want to make a positive impact where we can.

Separately, as a reminder that if you have moved, or changed email address or phone number, please let me know your new contact information and it will get posted to our membership roster.

Please stay safe and well.

Gerry Berger, President
Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society
Aspire to Inspire Before You Expire

Jim Monroe AVHOFS Vice President Class of 2016

I am sure I do not need to remind you that we are still dealing with Covid restrictions and the ongoing challenge of remaining safe in these unprecedented times.  The circumstances demand that the Society “Think Out of the Box” in order to continue our activities.  Please consider the following updates on several pertinent issues:

Induction of 2020 AVHOF Members:
The 2020 AVHOF Selection Committee has performed its duties and identified those selected for induction.  These potential inductees were then subjected to background checks as required by the Governor’s office; the background checks were completed in late August.  The list of inductees that passed the background check was supplied to Col. Wanda Wright and she submitted the list, on behalf of the Unified Arizona Veterans, to the Governor for his approval.  Once approved, a certificate for each inductee will be produced and signed by the Governor, The Director of the AZ Department of Veterans Services and the Secretary of State.  The signed certificates will then be laminated, resulting in the completed plaque that is presented to all new members of the AVHOF.  We are now waiting for the Governor’s approval.  Once approval is received, the new inductees will be notified of their selection and the remaining tasks will be addressed.

The Induction Planning Committee, after much consideration of the restrictions we face and the desire to induct new members this year, will be taking the following course of action:

1. Each inductee and his or her nominator will be notified upon the Governor’s approval.
2. Each nominee will be advised of the plans and details for his or her induction.
3. Each inductee will be individually inducted at a ceremony planned for that purpose.
4. The number of representatives actually performing each induction will be:
1. Col. Wanda Wright
2. UAV Chairman
3. AVHOFS President or Vice President
4. Inductee
5. Inductee’s plus-one
6. Nominator
7. Videographer
8. Photographer
9. Others as limitations allow – maximum of ten total
5. There are currently five ceremonies planned: one in Tucson at the University of Arizona, one in Flagstaff and three in Phoenix at the Department of Veteran Services.  Each ceremony will serve to induct a maximum of six new members.
6. All induction ceremonies will be professionally videotaped and professionally photographed.  Photos and videos will be provided to each new member and made available on-line several days after the induction ceremony.
7. Each inductee will be presented with their plaque, their medallion and a supporter’s pin (new design) for the person of their choosing.

I am sure you know that this is not the way we would choose to induct new members.  However, it does accomplish getting the 2020 class inducted this year.  Given the restraints we face, it is the best way forward at this time.  I will advise you of progress as we press on.

AVHOFS Annual Business Meeting:
The 2021 Annual Business Meeting will begin at 1000 on Wednesday, November 4.  This meeting is conducted each year to share the Society’s accomplishments for the year and plans for the coming year.  Additionally, the Proposed Slate of Officers and Directors for the coming two-years is presented.  The proposed slate is as follows:

President        Jim Monroe
Vice Pres       Pat Little-Upah
Director          Kathleen Laurier (2021-2022)
Director          Christine Mahon (2021-2022)
Director          Tom Sheets (2021-2022)

The formal agenda will be published in the November Patriot Newsletter. 

This meeting will be a virtual ZOOM meeting as we are not allowed to gather in a group.  We will use ZOOM as the service platform for the meeting.  It is an easy to understand and use program that you will access on your computer.  When the meeting is in progress, it allows you to see and hear everyone and everyone can see and hear you. 

Note:  In an effort to provide training to those unfamiliar with ZOOM, we are scheduling Training Meeting on October 13.  You may join the Training Meeting to experience the ZOOM process.  It will give us a chance to work out any problems you might have and get you familiar with what to expect.  If you have any difficulties during the meeting, please call Jim Monroe at 480-363-0044.  If you are unfamiliar with ZOOM, please take advantage of the Training Meeting.  There will no time to address individual computer issues during the November 4th General Business meeting. 

Following is the invitation for the Society Annual Business Meeting - ZOOM:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James Monroe is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: AVHOFS Annual Business Meeting
Time: This is a recurring meeting:  The Training Sessions will begin at 10:00 AM on. 
The Business Meeting will begin at 10:00 AM on 11/4/2020. The sign-in is the same for all three.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89847490287
Meeting ID: 898 4749 0287
Dial by your location
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 898 4749 0287
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Instructions on How to Join the meeting:

• Copy and Paste the Link above into your browser and press enter; ZOOM will open.
• you will see the following message:

Do you want to allow this page to open “zoom.us”? 

Click the “ALLOW” button

• When you join you will first be in a “waiting room” - I will admit you to the meeting once I have confirmed your identity. This is a good security measure to help avoid hackers of such meetings.
• At the lower left corner of your screen you will see two icons:
• Mute – click the microphone icon to mute or unmute yourself
• Stop Video – click the camera icon to allow video or not
• You will be “muted” upon joining the meeting. I can mute and unmute everyone. You can also simply press the “space key” to talk.
• When unmuted, please ensure you limit all background noises. 
• I will have my cell phone handy. Please call me if any problems during the meeting: ________________
• To help us start on time, please “join” the meeting before the 10:00 AM start time - I recommend around 9:50 AM.
• If you have no computer access, you may join the meeting by phone.  Dial either of the phone numbers listed above; you will be asked to enter the meeting number.  Enter the meeting number, 898 4749 0287, and you will then join the meeting.

We are looking forward to seeing many members at the General Business Meeting. 

Jerry Wojtas AVHOFS Treasurer Class of 2011

I like to do odd research regarding anything associated with our Veterans Hall of Fame.  One item I researched recently was how many of our members have been contributing to our Century Club each year since their induction.  And on to that, who has been contributed the longest.  Actually, it isn’t completely fair because the Century Club was started in 2013 and the oldest Society class was in 2001.  Sooo.. I decided to see who was the oldest class member who contributed starting in 2013.  I quickly found out that there were many members who contributed from the year of their induction continually until they unfortunately passed away.

 I found out that Edward MacIntyre, class of ‘02 started contributing in 2013 and is still contributing this year.  Congratulations’ Ed.  Phil Hanson was inducted in 2004 and started contributing in 2013 and is still contributing.  But the person who has never missed a year contributing since being inducted in ’05 is Dennis McComb.  That is 8 straight years of contributing.  Congratulation’s Dennis!

The class of ’07 had 3 members that started contributing in 2013 and continue contributing today.  They are Carol Culbertson, Charles Schluter and Tom Hessler.  Congratulations to all three of you!

Now having researched all of this material, I should mention that I have on occasion made mistakes.  Therefore, as you read this and feel that I haven’t treated you properly, please contact me and tell me of your grievance, and we can research it together.  You can email me at JP7wojtas@gmail.com or phone me at 623-544-4477.

Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame
4980 S. Alma School Road, Ste, A2-619
Chandler, AZ 85248-5545

One of the easy ways that each member can help your Society is by asking to have the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society added as your charity selection when buying from Amazon.  Then a percentage of Amazon’s profit will go to our Society.  Each quarter I, as treasurer, receive an email from Amazon advising me of the results.

If you do any business with Amazon, then there is no reason why you can’t help your Society. Easy instruction on how to do it are on our website.

NO VET LEFT BEHIND

We also want to thank the following members of our Society who contributed to the No Vet Left Behind program in the past few months.  Below are listed those individuals who contributed.  I’m not infallible.  If your name is missing, please contact me and let’s discuss it.

CENTURY CLUB DONATIONS (2010 Goal is $7,500. Total to date is $7,415.40.)

Black - up to $100  GREEN - $101-$199   BLUE - $200-$299   RED - $300 and above

The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Country Store opened September 1, 2020 and will remain open for the entire month of September and until October 30th. Please try to submit your requests by the 30th of October as I will order the requested items as soon as I close the store.

The Country store catalog can be found on the AVHOF Web site. If you have a problem finding what you want please feel free to contact me at (480) 694-2425 or my email at ramnpt@cox.net

Roy McClymonds
AVHOFS Quartermaster
Class of 2017

Earlier this year, we reported that the Society had joined the Southwest Veterans Chamber of Commerce (SWVCC) as part of outreach efforts to other veteran and patriot groups in Arizona.  The Society also teamed with the Chamber and its charitable arm, the Southwest Veterans Foundation to form a joint events/fundraising committee.  
The committee has been working to identify opportunities for joint events and fundraising activities where the three organizations would pool planning resources to hold a fundraising event for members and supporters and share in the revenues generated.  Planning has been severely restricted by COVD-19, but the group has decided to hold an online auction event October 25 – 31, 2020.

We urge you to save the date for this event. See the flyer below – more information on how to participate will be announced separately. The planning committee is now engaged in collecting donated auction items. The focus is on military/other memorabilia, art works, wine and liquor selections, activity gift cards for shooting ranges, gun clubs, zoos, museums, tours etc., restaurant gift cards and hotel/resort stays.

The goal of the auction is to achieve $10,000 in sales that would be split between the three groups, less expenses related to the online auction software. If you will be unable to participate in the auction but want to support the effort with a donated item, contact the committee chair, Tom Sheets, by email at t.sheets@swvcc.org, or by phone at (602) 677-2961.      

Save the Date

for the inaugural
SWVCC/SWVF/AVHOFS
***** Silent Auction*****

Pat Upah AVHOFS Director Class of 2014

Many of our inductees have stepped forward during this difficult time continuing to serve the Veteran Community.  Joan Sisco (Class of 2009) and Pat Little-Upah (Class of 2014) are two such individuals.  Each week in cooperation with American Farmers Feeding American Families Fresh Bite program, Veterans First Ltd founded by Joan Sisco and Honor House President Pat Little-Upah band together to deliver food to Veterans and their families in need.  On Thursday morning, individuals from both programs bring their vehicles to the drop off site, load their cars and trucks with boxes of fresh produce and dairy and take them to the Veterans’ homes.  We deliver to elderly and disabled Veterans unable to get out of their homes and Veterans struggling financially to feed their families.  We also take food to a domestic shelter that serves Veterans, a home that served female Veterans released from prison, a group home serving children of Veterans, a transitional home for male Veterans and a large Veteran community in Phoenix.  Our Veterans are logging hundreds of miles each week giving back, working together to make a difference. 

Request you let us know as soon as you know of an inductee’s passing.  If available, we would like to know the inductee’s name, date of passing, funeral and memorial service details, and a copy of the obituary.  Send notices to Gerry Berger at bergergerry@hotmail.com.

Known members that have passed in 2020:
Earl Milford (Class of 2012) passed 19 May
Henry Ong, Jr. (Class of 2005) passed 2 July
Jose Aldecoa (Class of  2014) passed 19 July
Leo Pimple (Class of 2011) passed 20 July