DECEMBER 2007 NEWS LETTER
Greetings 458th Members
As this year rapidity draws to a close I would like to wish all of you Happy Holidays and to inform you of some of the work your elected officers have been doing this year
Dues; in the next week or so it will be decided when the time period starts and stops, it has been recommended by yours truly that it be from January 1 through December 31st. It has also been recommended that Dues paid in 2007 will be good until the end of 2008 "Dues are $20.00 per year"
Regardless if you pay dues or not you are and always will be part of the 458th family, however we are now a organization not 100 plus individuals. As Such future decisions regarding our organization will be determined by the members who pay dues, for the lack of a better word these members from now on will be known as "members in good standing"
As a example at our July 2008 meeting our bylaws will be offered for discussion and adoption. Every member in good standing will be able to view the bylaws at least 30 days before the 2008 meeting. Each member in good standing regardless if they attend the reunion will have the opportunity to say yea or nay to all or any part of the bylaws. The same holds true for our upcoming 2009 elections.
I realize that we have members who are not joiners, a few will object to paying dues and a small few will just object. I respect every persons right to make up their own mind if they join or not.
For those who object to paying dues or are hesitant about joining. Consider the yearly fee is equivalent to about six gallons of gas or 16 cups of coffee.
If we have any members that the fee will put in a bind step forward and say so. We don't want to loose you over money, your ID will be kept confidential.
For those who aren't joiners I would urge you to look in the mirror and ask yourself if perhaps your life isn't just a little bit better for being part of the 458th living history.
Ricky Tofte (grandson of James Anderson) submitted a report to his sixth grade history class, a copy of the report may be seen here
Phil Lippencot has just had a rough go in the hospital, five bypasses and then some serious complications. I'm happy to say he's doing much better. Bill Northrop made a interesting observation about this operation "seems 99 percent have no complications" Bill said a person should always check the count meter
to make darn sure the person before you wasn't number 99.
Charles Lowe's nephew "Jason Strickland" who is in the 82 Airborne serving in Afghanistan was injured in a mortar attack, Jason is now back in the states for treatment and rehabilitation
Pete McGuirk is (was) building a new log house, seems Pete thought their was a airhook attached to a extra step on a ladder, he will be using crutches and a walker while he gets used to the stove bolts and pins in his ankle :-(
UPDATE 31 December "Pete says the ankle is geting better but still hurts like hell"
November celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Viet Nam Veterans' Memorial. To honor the event, the Viet Nam Veterans of America & the Viet Nam Veterans' Memorial Committee hosted an event to include a complete reading of all the names listed. Was only the fourth time the complete list of names have been recited in Washington, DC.
As part of the 458th contribution to this celebration and honorarium ... 'Pete' SELLERS was present at The Wall as one of the paticipating readers on four days. Additionly, representing the 458th, 'Pete' requested and was allowed to read the segment of names containing "James A. Loux" who at the time was listed as a member of the 458th while in Viet Nam. While in Washington for this event 'Pete' also met with Jim Farmer, his family members and a friend."
If you have a tidbit of info that you would like to see here
