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:  Lest we forget - if you are not a Life Member, or have not already mailed in $20.00 for your 2024 Annual Alamo Chapter Dues (good only from January – December 2024) please do so!  Not sure of your status – then check out the Members Page 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 3 years will be eliminated from the e-mail postings.

MEMBERSHIP CLARIFICATION:  Annual Membership becomes Inactive unless updated Annually.  Life Membership - is an option.  Our Alamo Chapter VHPA is one of many charters 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).

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Upcoming Monthly Luncheons / Dinners

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May 22, 2024:  For our Alamo Chapter VHPA General Membership / Business Meeting, we will have the privilege to present Mr. John D. Baines as our Guest Speaker.  Mr. Baines is a true Texan.  The Baines family settled in Texas before the Texas Revolution, and his family has been in the land business since before the Republic of Texas was founded.  Many of the major landmarks and developments in and around San Antonio originated from his family’s properties.  His family has also been credited as being founders of the cities of Denton and Fort Worth.

 John D. Baines is a Businessman, a Vietnam Veteran, and Chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of San Antonio, Inc.  The Vietnam War Memorial (dedicated November 1986) is located in front of the Tobin Center.  This was his initial effort to highlight the bravery and sacrifices that this war’s combat veterans experienced, and to bring it to everyone who has not had the opportunity to actually visit the Vietnam Memorials in D.C.  His efforts started in  San Antonio has inspired the creation of many other similar memorials all across the United States.  From 1983 – 1988, he was an owner of Million Air and Summa Aviation, a premiere fixed base operations for privately owned aircraft at the San Antonio International Airport.

 Mr. Baines grew up in San Antonio, and graduated from Robert E. Lee H.S in 1963.  He now resides east of Seguin, and has Property Offices in Seguin.  In 1966, John enlisted in the US Navy.  His combat services as an US Navy Seabee in Mobile Construction Battalion MCB-11 - was in the Republic of Vietnam – primarily working out of Quang Tri, Dong Ha, Can Lo, My Chanh, and “Rock Pile”.

Please go to the following web hyperlink for more in-depth detail covering the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of San Antonio.

 http://www.vietnamveteransmemorialofsanantonio.com

Early in April 2024, the Guadalupe County sponsored a ceremony to honor Vietnam Veterans.  Mr. John D. Baines was the first inductee to be awarded a plaque for their Honor Wall, inside the Veterans Outreach Center.  This PDF (Click Here) contains the plaque unveiled at this ceremony detailing Mr. Baines many accomplishments and credits.

Continuation for May 22, 2024:  Wednesday – from 4:30 – 7:30 PM, General Membership Business meeting with Guest Speaker – John D. Baines.  

Location will be at the “Little Italy Restaurant & Pizzeria”.  The address is:  824 Afterglow St. / S.A. TX 78216.  Website:  https://littleitalysatx.com .  We have booked the “Big Apple Room”; entrance is on the left side of the building.  Using this restaurant, our aggrement is for everyone to pre-choose from the following 10 menus offered.  The price will be $25.00 per person for the meal (small salad w/dressing; buns w/butter; choice of non-alcoholic drink) includes the tax and gratuity.  Alcohol, beer, wine, sodas and deserts will be extra added charges.  We will be able to pay individually/couples.

Menu choices as follows:

1.  Eggplant Napolitano – Parmigiana w/Prosciutto & Mozzarella  2.  Italian Stallion – Meatballs & Italian Sausage over Spaghetti  3.  Fettuccine Primavera w/Grilled Chicken Breast  4.  Linguini w/Pesto & Grilled Chicken Breast  5.  Chicken Cacciatore  6.  Chicken Marsala  7.  Fried Calamari w/Marinara Sause (+) Minestrone Soup  8.  Aglio E Olo w/Angel Hair & Broiled Shrimp  9.  Greek Salad (+) Minestrone Soup 10. Veal Cannelloni

Request everyone planning to attend - Please make your individual choice by identifying a menu number.  I need your RSVP No later than Sunday May 19^th.

Your reference for information pertaining to all of our Alamo Chapter VHPA activities is www.vhpa-alamo.com.

Thank you.

 

Life is Great!  So Let’s Enjoy it.

              Jim Boykin

   ‘24 Junior Member @ Large

    and Dining Coordinator

blackcat221972@gmail.com

     Phone 210.401-6559

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Thank every one who made our 2023 Christmas Party another success.  We have already requested a reservation for the newly renevated Sky Lounge in the ARC Highrise for our next Christmas Party.  The date will be Saturday - December 07, 2024.  Details will follow as we get closer to this date. 

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Note to Inactive Members:  If you are not sure of your status – go to our website – www.vhpa-alamo.com , and the “MEMBERS PAGE”.  To become a current Active Member – your $20.00 annual membership will cover 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” from the Application Section, and mail it in with your payment. 

 

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For all your Alamo Chapter Shirt questions or needs:  Contact - Tim Worley  rew4921@msn.com / Ph. 210.354-4844

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

Just stay tuned, and monitor this web-site for upcoming event details as they become available.  Thank you. 

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

                      

                                                 Do hope that everyone remains vigilant, safe, and healthy.

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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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Note:  A Questionnaire was sent out to our membership requesting them to identify any given Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday that just will not work for attending our Monthly Luncheons.  The resulted matrix shows that Thursdays are the most difficult, but Tuesdays and Wednesdays are equally divided as suited for future luncheon days.
 
With this information, it has been suggested that alternating monthly luncheons between Tuesdays and Wednesdays will give the greatest opportunity for the most participants to attend.
 
Details for our Membership Monthly Luncheons; General Membership-Business meetings/dinners; Monthly Luncheons for the VHPA Ladies of the Alamo Chapter; and our Annual Christmas Party will be scheduled separately by date on these pages.  

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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 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