Rocky Mountain Chapter – VHPA

Chapter President Jim McNamee called the meeting to order at 10:30 am at the Chapter’s Helicopter War Museum site in Bittersweet Park, Greeley, Colorado. There were only seven chapter members present, although several others were present at the site during the Veterans Day activities the day before.

Because of technicalities, the votes for approval of the October minutes and current financial statement were postponed until the January meeting.

Jim mentioned (and the sentiment was echoed by other members who had been present the day before) that the inaugural trip for the museum was a success. We had several hundred visitors to the museum, and many expressed their gratitude and thanks for a job well done. Jim gave thanks to all who have been involved with getting the museum to this point, especially Rick Beaver and others that have donated time, money, and materials. Jim also thanked the members who had helped set up the event and the museum for this showing, especially Ed Fickes, Mike Law, Walt Winters, Jerry Marshall, John Grauff, and Don Rice (who loaned us his tent and soon-to-be-damaged by the wind tent poles).

Jim also thanked Terry Sullivan and Brian Foote for setting up the trip to the Army/Air Force game and the Mission Inn for the tailgate site. It was a little chilly, but over 15 members, wives, and guests showed up to cheer Army on to victory.

Jim discussed plans for the second annual “Cookie Fest” at the VA hospital on December 3rd. He also expressed gratitude to Don and Donna Rice for volunteering to donate the cider and hot chocolate for the event again.

Jim also reminded the members that Greg Mann’s annual Christmas party for the chapter, always an enjoyable event, would follow the VA gathering.

Jim reported that members of the Chapter Executive Council met on November 3rd and:

• Discussed chapter financial procedures, as the members requested at the September meeting. The EC will report on its recommendations at a meeting in the near future.
• Discussed the interest level for taking the museum to various venues, including Atwood, Kansas, and Angel Fire, New Mexico, especially considering funding, manning, and logistics issues. The EC agreed that we should pursue these trips, as did the members at this meeting.
• Proposed priorities for the next few months, with which the members present agreed, which are:
  • Having another pig roast at the VA Hospital this spring;
  • Taking the museum to the Vietnam Memorial dedication in Atwood, KS, in late April or early May; and
  • Taking the museum to the National Vietnam Memorial in Angel Fire, NM, for the Memorial Day celebration.

Jim reported that other upcoming events included:

• Having the February meeting at Butts AAF in Colorado Springs, with a speaker who is an active duty aviator with current combat experience (suggested by Terry Sullivan);
• Having a BBQ and aerobatic helicopter demonstration in conjunction with the August meeting (suggested by Ron Magnus, who would host the BBQ).

Ed Fickes talked about various museum topics, including the insurance (which he procured prior to the Greeley event) and possible future museum venues along the Front Range.

Jim asked if there was still interest in procuring a Huey for restoration, and the members were unanimous in their support. The members agreed that we should approach the Wings Over the Rockies Museum to see if they were still interested in helping the Chapter obtain a helicopter. Jim will follow up with Bill Robie and Fred Lyssy, who were involved in the effort last year.

Walt Winters mentioned that there was a Huey at Front Range airport that we might be able to get because it is being neglected. He will make inquiries.

Brian Foote mentioned that, with everything that we have going on, this is a good time to try to increase our active chapter membership by getting old members to “re-up” and recruiting new members. Walt and Jim agreed to take the lead.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:05, and the members returned to the museum.

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