SCHEDULED EVENTS & BULLETIN BOARD

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Preserving our Legacy:  In the Alamo Chapter we meet routinely to enjoy the fellowship of our friends and fellow pilots.  The purpose of our monthly luncheons and meetings is to keep our friendships warm and active.  We strive to honor the memory and common experiences we share through this association.  All of us feel our experiences in Vietnam were significant and noteworthy.  We all would like for our legacy and the legacy of all Vietnam War fighters to be remembered.  To that end, in June 2020, Mike Law had established a program of voluntary support to strengthen the legacy and history of all Vietnam Helicopter pilots and crews.  The two organizations chosen are not local - but do promote the icon of the Vietnam War, the Bell UH-1 Iroquois "Huey", the histories of Vietnam pilots, and their VHPA chapters.  The first entity is the American Huey Museum in Peru, Indiana, and the second is the Vietnam Center for Archives and Museum at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.  Our Alamo Chapter's records and documents are included in the Archives at Texas Tech, and our association is part of the VHPA history.

Many of us have other ways to support our history, and hopefully we will continue to do so.  As a way for our Alamo Chapter to have a constant collective impact, we list these two programs as a convenient way to ensure our legacies.  So, at our meetings or luncheons - if you desire to contribute and to promote the legacy of our Chapter and our histories - please see Chic Carter, the Chapter Treasurer.  He can accept your contributions, and periodically send your contributions to one or both of these organizations as you so designate.  Remember, none of us will do this every meeting or luncheon, but just when we feel we can and want to.  It all adds up significantly.

Thank you.  - - - -  Dale Stout, 2022 President, VHPA -  Alamo Chapter

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MEMBERSHIP STATUS:  As of January 2026, we have 58 Life Members; 5 Annual Active Members; 4 Inactive Members (no Annual Dues paid during the past 3 years); and 4 Potential Members for a total count of 71 Alamo Chapter Members posted on our Roster. 

Lest we forget - if you are not a Life Member, or have not mailed in 2026 Annual Alamo Chapter Due (good only from January - December) Please do so!  NOTE:  Annual Membership increased to $25.00 - effective January 2025.  Not sure of your status then checkout the Members - Current and Remembered Section on this web site.

For those who are unable to attend our Meetings, please mail in your Dues and Updates using the - Membership Application Form - and use the address shown on the Form.  For our Potential Members – here is hoping that you will be joining us as a new Annual Member or Life Member.  Our Chapter Roster is periodically adjusted as follows:  Inactive and Potential Members who have remained so for more than 3 years will be eliminated from the e-mail postings.

MEMBERSHIP CLARIFICATION:  Annual Alamo Chapter Membership becomes Inactive unless updated Annually.  Life Membership - is an option.  Our Alamo Chapter VHPA is one of many chapters that have been sanctioned under the guidelines of VHPA National.  Chapter Memberships are tracked and maintained separately from the VHPA National data base.  Active Membership can be with either or both organizations.  For reference – this web site (Policy for All Chapters); (Article of Incorporation); and (BYLAWS of the Alamo Chapter).  The National VHPA Directory can be found at https://www.vhpa.org.

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Upcoming Monthly Luncheons / Dinners / Events

Please update your calendars and mental plans for the following upcoming events:

 

Future VHPA Reunion Dates and Locations

 

2026:  August 5 - 8  Galt House, Louisville, Kentucky

 

2027:  July 7 - 12  Denver Sheraton, Colorado

 

2028:  July 5 - 8  Dallas Sheraton, Texas

 

2029:  Potential Future Sites - New Orleans, LA;  Reno, NV; 

San Antonio, TX;  Kansas City, KS

 

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Welcome to 2026!    Monthly luncheons or other special events will be planned for most every month, however, I need voluteers to take charge and plan a luncheon for September and October.  Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you.

         Jim Boykin

‘26 Mid-Term Member @ Large   

     and Dining Coordinator

blackcat221972@gmail.com

     Phone 210.401-6559

(This Ph. Is not Text Capable)

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Wednesday - July 15th:  Monthly Luncheon / Veterans Unaccompanied Merorial Services

Good Day fellow Alamo Chapter Members, Potential Members, and Better Halves.  This is a reminder for the following:

Oscar Castillo, our Vice President has volunteered to sponsor a catered July 15th luncheon, and he is the primary point of contact for this special event.  For any last-minute correspondence reference this luncheon - Please note his contact information at the end of this message.

This catered event will take place in the Fiesta Room of the Fort Sam Houston Golf Club House, 1050 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, Tx.  This room can easily accommodate 40 or more and will be available to us at 10:30 so we can discuss our Chapter business agenda.  The buffet lunch will start at 11:30 and will include salad, two entrees with sides, dessert,  tea and water.  The TOTAL cost for each person will be $30.00, which includes the meal, tax, and tip.  Oscar negotiated the cost of all services with the catering representative for a negligible amount, provided that he makes one final payment to her.  Meanwhile, between now and July 15th, Oscar needs to collect reimbursement of $30.00/person, from all RSVP attending members, spouses and any guests.  Oscar would like the reimbursement to him in cash or check.

July 15th is also a great opportunity for our Alamo Chapter VHPA Members to make our presence better known here in San Antonio - for it coincides with the next scheduled "Veterans Unaccompanied Memorial Services" at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.   This Service is to honor veterans who died with no known relatives.  Hosted by Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery and Bexar County Department of Military and Veterans Services.  The Cemetery is just a few blocks away from the Fort Sam Houston Golf Club.  The services start at 09:00 AM, so try not to be late.

Thank you from your Primary Point of Contact:

                            Oscar Castillo

oscar.castillo0663@att.net / Ph. 361.455-3707

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Heads-up reference the 2026 VHPA Louisville KY - REUNION.  The Galt House Hotel started taking reservations on Monday - May 11th.  While you are making your reservations - ask to be seated at one of the "Alamo Chapter Banquet Tables" if you do not already have plans to join up with your friends or other Vietnam Unit.

August 5 - 8, 2026:  VHPA Annual Reunion will held at the Galt House, Louisville, Kentucky

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September or October Dates - Proposed Chapter trip to Mineral Wells. TX

Good day to all Alamo Chapter VHPA Members, Potential Members and Better Halves.  Your Alamo Chapter is trying to plan and put together events that are interesting, enjoyable, and give our members more opportunities to better know each other.  One such proposal is a Chapter trip to Mineral Wells, TX.  You do remember all those great memories associated with our helicopter basic training – Don’t you?

Dave Sherrard and Bob Dillon collectively are working on gathering information pertaining to “where to stay”, and “what points of interest/events” we can do while there.  As to the following dates and choices for lodging while in Mineral Wells - Bob Dillon is the Point of Contact requesting your feedback.  Lodging – will be the Crazy Water Hotel.  Check it out - https://thecrazywaterhotel.com . 

Dates with Hotel Rates to choose from:

1. Sep 21 – 23.  10 available Combos - consisting of 2 separate Double Bedrooms (en suite), also sharing a common room in between.  Rate will be $203.00 for each combo, or ($101.50 per couple / per night). 

2. Oct 5 – 7.  35 rooms available with choice of King Bedroom at $162.00 / per night, or Queen Bedroom at $152.00 / per night.  Also, 10 available Combos - consisting of 2 separate Double Bedrooms (en suite), plus sharing a common room in between.  Rate will be $220.00 for each combo, or ($110.00 per couple / per night).

3. Oct 12 – 14.  35 rooms available with choice of King Bedroom at $162.00 / per night, or Queen Bedroom at $152.00 / per night.  Also, 10 available Combos - consisting of 2 separate Double Bedrooms (en suite), plus sharing a common room in between.  Rate will be $220.00 for each combo, or ($110.00 per couple / per night).

This is a request for as much feedback and interest as we can get from everyone reading this.  The planned events associated with this trip will follow later.  But first – we need to establish genuine interest.  Please respond to Bob Dillon and let him know which date or dates you would favor.  Contact Bob at bdillon106@aol.com or call Ph. 512.799-6049.  The deadline for your feedback is Friday - July 24th.

Thank you.

Bob Dillon

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November (?), 2026:  General Membership (with better halves) Business Meeting / Election of 2027 Board Members / Dinner / Possible Guest Speaker.  Location and data yet to be determined.

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Friday - December 04, 2026:  Annual Christmas Party will again be held in Hero's Hall of the Lakeside Building here at the Army Residence Community (ARC).  So update your 2026 Calendar with a big asterix - and write "This is the only plans I need for this evening!"

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Note to Inactive Members:  If you are not sure of your status - on this website - www.vhpa-alamo.com go to the "Members Page" Section.  To become a current Active Member - your $25.00 Annual Membership - effective January 2025 - covers ONLY January - December of the year you become or renew Active Membership.  There is always the option to become a Life Member.  Just complete a Membership application form.

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For all your Alamo Chapter Shirt / Cap questions or needs:  Contact - Tim Worley rew4921@msn.com / Ph. 210.354-4822

For those who are interested in ordering Alamo Chapter Name Tags:  Contact - Mike Clark  clarkmb2@gmail.com Ph. 602.510-9431

Reminder - Bring your Alamo Chapter magnetic/plastic Name Tags when attending all of our Chapter functions

Monthly Luncheon Background:  The monthly luncheon idea started in 2016 with the VHPA Ladies of the Alamo Chapter organizing their own monthly luncheons - just so they could have more time to visit and better get to know each other.  After a few months - the Men learned how much the Ladies were enjoying themselves, and decided to try and do the same thing!

Thus the idea for separate monthly luncheons for most months, then for a change of pace we plan both a Spring and Fall Combined luncheon.  All of these monthly luncheons are scheduled completely separate from the General Membership Business Meeting/Dinners.  So far – all of our Combined Luncheons have been at more upscale restaurants - because it appeals to our lady folks.

Ladies who want to learn more about the VHPA Ladies of the Alamo Chapter - please contact  Janet-Anne Boykin
 at Ph. (210) 414-7464 / boykinjnja@gmail.com

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Those just wanting to follow events and plans for our Alamo Chapter of the VHPA - please monitor this web site.

Application for Annual Membership or Life Membership is located in the section labeled -
Membership Application Page

Print PDF Membership Application Form; complete all applicable blanks; and mail it to -

Alamo Chapter of the VHPA
P.O. Box 10085
San Antonio, Texas 78210-0085