DIRECTORS’ MEETING MINUTES, WEDNESDAY, 26 FEBRUARY 2025

A LIVE MEETING HELD AT THE LUKE-GREENWAY AMERICAN LEGION POST #1

                                                               

 

Directors/Steering Committee Members Participating: Directors Carol Culbertson, Chris Gahan, Chuck Manuel, Lynn Bennett, Ed Henry and Pete Lumianski.  Other attendees included Steering Committee Members Fred Rouse, Dave Leclair, Howard Goldman, Marty Zipser and Ken Kennedy.  The meeting was held in the auditorium of the Luke-Greenway American Legion Post #1 on February 26th  2025 from 1000 to 1210. The principal focus of the meeting was a discussion of the monument design progress, and the Foundation’s role in the proceedings. Foundation Executive Director Pete Lumianski brought the meeting to order at 1010.

Special Announcement.  Pete started with some sad news regarding one of our long-time Monument participants and supporters, Larry Rankin.  Pete reported news from Larry’s wife Joyce that Larry had passed away over the last weekend.  Larry was a very early and enthusiastic “Save Our Sail” advocate and supporter, and his interactions with the 702 skippers, crews and our underways led to our acquisition of many surviving parts of the submarine.  Larry was a leader in many of our underways with both the Phoenix and the Helena boats from 1992 to 2008.  He was designated our honorary “COB”.  He was a machinist mate during his time in the Navy, and was assigned to a large AR (repair vessel) where he learned how to fix/do everything, handy skills for our project.

Treasury Report.  Pete provided a current summary of the Foundation’s Treasury:  Desert Financial Credit Union Savings Certificate – $64,575.47 (just renewed on 26 Jan 25 – 6 mos @ 4.0%).  Interest gained so far in January: $257.11 ; Chase Savings – $6,746.52; Chase Checking – $10,035.06; Chase Brick – 7,184.24; Total – $88,284.12.  Treasurer Janet Western provided a P&L statement for the year 2024 showing total expenses of $1384.09 and a net income (donations plus savings interest) of $8276.79.  The Foundation’s outyear fundraising goal of $400K remains tentative, awaiting further refinements with the monument’s design and development.

Cold War Monument Sitrep.  Pete described in detail the recent (30 January 2025) Content Advisory Group (CAG) meeting held at the AZ Veteran Home.  It was hosted by Ardurra and held at their request, and amazingly, all six CAG members were able to attend.  In addition, interpretive sign manager Lisa Ranzenberger was present and there were contributing members of the J2 Design team in attendance.  The meeting commenced with a welcome and short history briefing by Pete, and then was taken over by Ardurra/Lisa/J2 Design to explain the 30% Design details.  The design explanation was followed by a thorough discussion by all present to review and critique the monument design and offer suggestions about the next design steps.  Copied below is a summary of the meeting and its preparation.  In general, comments and impressions were constructive, complimentary and positive, making for a productive meeting.  The proposed monument signage and messaging philosophy took up the bulk of the discussions, it being the principal business of the CAG.  Ardurra’s leader, John Catt, estimated the 60% Design Review would occur by the end of the first quarter in late March.  There were/are a number of “loose ends” in the monument’s design at the moment:  the bricks; the sail sculptures; the wall mural; the recognition board; the dedication sign; and the sail markings.

 

 

Things the Foundation Can Do.  Pete led a discussion of the things the Foundation can be working on as the monument design evolves:

  • Brick Program – Keep selling bricks and enlarge our brick marketing efforts.
  • Newsletter – Evolve the newsletter from a quarterly update and veteran news to one that’s more informal, frequent and concentrates on the monument’s design and construction progress.
  • Event Work – Sign up for and participate in any veteran-related events to raise awareness and support of the project. Director Chuck Manuel introduced a possible veteran event in Surprise – the Surprise “VetFest” on 12 April 2025, 5 to 8 PM.  All decided it was a worthwhile event for us to be in.  Chuck to look into it, and volunteers will be needed.
  • Veterans For Veterans Program – Enlarge and focus on contacting AZ veterans: VA/AZDVS/Pedene, etc.
  • Previous Sail Reconstructions – Research other submarine monument efforts to assist in Ardurra’s plans to reconstruct/place our 702 sail.
  • Fundraising Preparation – Create a list of potential funding sources and leads that can be activated when and if appropriate, i.e., Virginia Piper, Avnet, USAA, U-Haul, Boeing, Cox, Intel, Casinos, AZDVS, etc.
  • Talk to/Lobby the City: bricks; mural; recognition board; special events (ground-breaking/grand opening/etc); best use of our Foundation monies.  It was agreed not to begin this process until after the 60% Design Review.

News Notes.

  • Bricks and Newsletter. Director Ed Henry suggested we alter the newsletter format to be more timely and focused on the monument’s progress as opposed to being a quarterly pub.  He also suggested we connect the brick marketing and donation program with some charitable giving to an appropriate veteran organization.  All present agreed both ideas were good.  Ed asked us all to consider which veteran organization might be a good/deserving one for us to benefit, and to bring our suggestions to the next Directors’ meeting.
  • 702/Monument Milestones. Pete passed out a copy of “Save Our Sail”/monument milestones achieved from 1977 to 2023.  He suggested that the milestones and the “Design Evolution” email sent out previously were excellent documents for use in telling our story to those unfamiliar with our project.
  • 702 Skippers. Pete mentioned again he’d like some help finding contact information on four of the seven 702 skippers.  Director Lynn volunteered to do some searching in an effort to find contact info for Bill Helfen, Mike Feely, Don Boland and Tom Cole.

Pete announced he’d be in California from 1-15 March.  He then adjourned the meeting at 1210.  Our next Directors’ meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, 27 March 2025 at the Veteran Home.

Submitted By: Pete Lumianski, Director                                                                    Approved By:   Carol Culbertson, Chairperson