January 2020 Veterans Council Meeting MinutesJerry Guilebbe called the meeting to order at 5:00pm.
Veterans council members present:
Jerry Guilebbe, President
Charles “Buddy” Rehal, Vice President
Susan Moran
David Perinchief
Ron Genest
Bob Laws
Paul Lantz
Donnie O’Connor
Paul Weinberg
Advisory members and guests:
Reading and Approval of the Minutes
Buddy Rehal made a motion to accept the November meeting minutes. Motion was seconded and carried.
Financial Report
Per David Perinchief there are no changes to the financial report. Buddy Rehal made a motion to accept the financial report. Motion was seconded and carried.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Plaques at the schools – Still waiting for them to be put up.
Holiday Parade – Everything went great
Memorial Day – Discussed the need for a new location to state the parade for 2021. As the parade gets bigger every year, it is getting more difficult to use Pond Street. Maybe we could
use Beverly High School. Discussed having the parade end at Odell Park instead of marching back to the Spear Post. We lose a lot of people on the march back to the post.
David Perinchief suggested changing the day of the parade. Ron Genest noted that when the parade was moved from Sunday to Memorial Day, the size of the crowds on Cabot Street tripled.
David suggested having a meeting with the Mayor, Jerry, and Buddy to discuss this further.
The cost of the Salem Trolley for the parade is $1050.00 for 7 hours. The trolley will only be used for the afternoon parade. David will contact the school department to see if a school
bus can be used for the Beverly Farms parade.
Homecoming Cookout – The cookout will be held on July 31, 2020 from 4-6pm. Jerry and David are meeting with Connolly Bros. the beginning of February to see how they can support the
cookout either financially or with other items. Next week David, Jerry, Buddy, and Main Streets are meeting with Phantom Gourmet to do a walk through of Lynch Park to see if they are
interested in supporting the cookout. If the Phantom Gourmet gets involved, there can be vendors and more people would come to the cookout. Discussed having Rainforest Reptiles come
to entertain children at the cookout. Susan Moran will reach out to them and see if they can help.
NEW BUSINESS
New Members – Many new members do not want to join the posts. Jerry Guilebbe suggested bringing new members in to help at events such as Memorial Day or Veterans Day. He also suggested
finding a way to get Gulf War veterans and their families free entry into the pancake breakfasts held at the Vittori Rocci Post. Buddy Rehal will look into it.
Good of the Order
Paul Weinberg would like there to be less group texts to the council members. Texts to David should be sent directly to him and not to the group.
Bob Laws would like to thank Donnie O’Connor, Ron Genest, Jerry Guilebbe, all the council members and the American Legion for their support and making the Four Chaplain Sunday a success.
Buddy Rehal mentioned that the Vittori Rocci post did a clothing drive for veterans. They collected over $2000.00 worth of clothing. St. John’s Prep took the lead and went to stores
at both malls to ask for new clothing. The clothes were donated to Bedford and the Soldiers Home.
Buddy wants to make sure that everyone is aware that the Vittori Rocci Post is going to continue having the coffee socials despite what people may hear.
March 28 is Vietnam Veterans Day. Ron Genest needs to know if there is going to be a fire at Ellis Square so he can inform the color guard.
Adjournment – Bob Laws made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion was seconded and carried.
The next meeting will be February 27, 2020