DIRECTORS’ MEETING MINUTES, WEDNESDAY, 22 JANUARY 2025

A LIVE MEETING HELD AT THE ARIZONA STATE VETERAN HOME

                                                               

 

Directors/Steering Committee Members Participating: Directors Carol Culbertson, Chris Gahan, Chuck Manuel, Ed Henry and Pete Lumianski.  Other attendees included Steering Committee Members Fred Rouse, Dave Leclair, Howard Goldman, Marty Zipser, new member John Richard Smith, a 702 plankowner and spouses Georgianne Gahan and Chris Lumianski.  The meeting was held in Liberty Hall at the Arizona State Veteran Home on January 22nd 2025 from 1000 to 1220. 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 1015.

Recognition.  Pete recognized Foundation Leader Carol Culbertson for her amazing outpouring of Veteran activities and support she organized or participated in from September through December 2024.  Carol’s ongoing veteran connections and support are unrivaled in the Valley and represent a great gift, benefit and resource to our monument project.  Thanks and Well Done Carol!

Treasury Report.  Pete provided a current summary of the Foundation’s Treasury:  Desert Financial Credit Union Savings Certificate – $64,318.36 (6 mos @ 5%, expires 26 Jan 2025, $1352.94 gained in interest since July 2024); Chase Savings – $6,746.46; Chase Checking – $10,035.06; Chase Brick – 7,184.24; Total – $88,284.12.  Pete reported he planned to renew the DFCU Savings Certificate for another six months at the current APY rate of 4.00 percent.  Pete indicated the Foundation had made progress in its goal of achieving $100K in its checking, savings and brick accounts by the COB 2024; however, we fell $12K short of the $100K goal, an amount Pete mentioned could be met with the sale of 40 bricks @ $300.00 apiece.  The outyear fundraising goal of $400K remains tentative, awaiting further refinements with the monument’s design and development.

News Notes. Pete provided a few News Notes accumulated over the past three months of no Directors’ meetings.

 

  • Terry Goddard – Pete passed around a magazine article concerning Terry Goddard’s successful efforts to preserve, restore and redevelop a downtown Phoenix church property. Terry is a big supporter of our USS Phoenix preservation/monument efforts.
  • 702 Skippers – Pete mentioned he had contact information for four of the seven 702 skippers (Rothert, Bower, Feeley and Ratte), and was searching for contact information on the remaining three (Helfen, Cole and Boland). Pete indicated he’d be happy to receive any help in the search.
  • USAA Support – Chris reported his USAA contact has been inspired by our ongoing monument progress and will be working to connect us with future USAA Benevity donations.

 

 

Cold War Monument Sitrep.  Pete reported he, Carol and Chris had attended a virtual meeting provided for us by the monument contractor, Ardurra, on 17 December 2024.  The meeting was organized to brief/show us about the earlier results from the “30% Design Review” held for the City by the contractor.  Pete provided a slide show and summary of the 30% design review renderings and sketches.  Some newly developed monument highlights and features included a proposed realignment/reorientation of the entire monument made in order to incorporate the full 362 feet of the submarine’s length; a dramatic entranceway; a very large, covered centerpoint meeting and viewing area; major landscaping concepts; about 20 large and small informational signs; many sign content concepts about the Cold War and the submarine; a large sail reconstruction concept, complete with simulated wave forms; lighting plans; and informational museum-like wall and floor sketches.  The net effect was judged by all to be excellent and promising.  Pete completed his briefing by reading the notes/minutes produced by Ardurra (see below) which Pete indicated were commensurate with the notes Pete produced as well (also below).  Pete emphasized there were many questions and revision requests made during the Ardurra presentation.  They included the incorporation of sculptures atop the sail; a more realistic portrayal of the sail itself and the concrete ‘waves’ it sits on; the possible depiction of a MK-48 torpedo shape in the entranceway; a continued emphasis on selecting, refining and filling the signage content; a reconsideration of using the Parks maintenance back wall for a mural or large sign; a brick-laying concept; a recognition board and a dedication sign.  Although the design process was recognized as exciting and promising, the entire monument structures and surroundings have not yet been subjected to a cost review, and thus, no design compromises have been confronted yet, a major finding.

Next Steps.  Pete indicated that lead contractor John Catt announced a desire to hold a 60% Design Review at some point in the first quarter of 2025, and that he hoped construction start would occur sometime in 2025.  There are quite a few ‘actions to do’ mentioned in the attached minutes, including a few suggestions for the Foundation.

What Can the CWMF Do?

  • Follow-up on the questions/suggestions made at the 17 December 30% Design Review.
  • Convene a Content Advisory Group meeting to assist in developing the monument’s messaging and signage content (Pete noted a CAG meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, 30 January 2025).
  • Work on some Recognition Board design concepts and content.
  • Work on a Dedication Sign concept.
  • Request the incorporation of the “Dolphins Insignia” into the monument’s design (suggestion made by Ed Henry).
  • Continue working on our “passive” fundraising activities, i.e., our Brick program; our Veterans for Veterans program; our small events. Carol suggested we consider creating a small event out of the National Submarine Day on Friday, 11 April 2025. (Carol to formulate a written concept for review and comment).
  • Maintain and keep ‘warm’ a list of Big Donor candidates for use as soon as it’s determined additional funding is needed for the completion of the monument.
  • Newsletter – Assemble a newsletter as soon as possible with an update on the monument’s design progress. Ed relayed a number of content ideas for our next newsletter, and Pete agreed to produce an update column for the next issue.

The meeting was adjourned by Pete at 1220.  Our next Directors’ meeting is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, 26 February 2025 at the Veteran Home.

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