DIRECTORS’ MEETING MINUTES, WEDNESDAY, 21 MAY 2025
A LIVE MEETING HELD AT THE ARIZONA STATE VETERAN HOME

Directors/Steering Committee Members Participating: Directors Carol Culbertson, Chuck Manuel, Chris Gahan, Ed Henry and Pete Lumianski. Other attendees included Steering Committee Members Dave Leclair, Ken Kennedy, Fred Rouse, John Smith and Marty Zipser. The meeting was held in the Arizona State Veteran Home conference room on May 21st, 2025 from 1015 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 1025.

Treasury Report. Pete provided a current summary of the Foundation’s Treasury: Desert Financial Credit Union Savings Certificate – $65,196.25; Chase Savings – $6,776.68; Chase Checking – $10,324.10; Chase Brick – $7,184.24; Total – $89,481.27. Pete noted the short-term funding goal is for us to get to $100K in 2025. 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 (16 May 2025) 60% Design Review meeting chaired by COP’s contractor Ardurra, held specifically to address our feelings and comments regarding the 60% Plan. The 60% Design Plan is comprised of 39 voluminous pages of drawings, sketches, diagrams and data covering site drainage, site structures, sail/rudder foundation information, irrigation plans, electrical and lighting information. More recently, a short “Fly-Through” video was created showing the main features of the monument’s design. Pete discussed the various points made at the meeting, using as a guide, the meeting summary shown below-below. The principal monument areas discussed at the meeting:
 Things We Liked
 Cost Estimates
 Sail Movement, Reconstruction and Placement
 Interpretive Signage Status
 Sail Sculptures, Access Panels and Markings
 MK-48 Torpedo Display
 Need for a COP meeting with regard to funding and using Foundation monies; bricks; recognition tributes; new wall banner; media and special occasion planning
Pete emphasized that although the contractor is more than willing to listen to our suggestions and ideas, the City of Phoenix remains in charge of the project and continues to be the project’s chief decision-maker/approval authority. The Foundation’s role as a stakeholder/founder is to advise/ encourage/lobby in a constructive manner regarding the things of importance to the Foundation. Pete noted the willingness and intent of Ardurra to schedule a meeting with appropriate City officials in attendance to discuss the subjects listed above. He also relayed the Ardurra estimate of July for the 90% Design Review and the City’s estimate of at least three months’ permitting actions once the design is finalized, and prior to the release of a construction schedule.
Sail Reconstruction. The current sail rendering shows numerous ‘see-thru’ panels which replicate/copy the salvaged sail parts received from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The “holes” in the salvaged sail parts are actually missing their covers. The Design Team decided to maintain the open access panels, fill them with some form of plexiglass and provide lighting from the inside of the sail in order to dramatize the night-time sail view. This definitely adds drama; however, it is quite unrealistic/inauthentic and could encourage vandalism. The Foundation members were split on whether to have the panels covered or not. When the parts were delivered in 2016, they came with a large pallet of smaller parts, presumably including some or all of the panel covers. The pallet was never opened nor inventoried. Pete suggested we open the pallet to see what’s inside and determine if the contents include the missing covers. Once that is done, a decision on how to display the completed sail might be made easier. Pete asked for volunteers to help open and inventory the pallet. Three persons volunteered to help – Ken, Dave and Jerry – and early AM on the 29th of May was selected to assemble and complete the task.
Previous Sail Construction Research. In an effort to assist our sail reconstruction planners, the Foundation has taken the initiative to research some previous sail preservation and display projects, with the idea of harvesting any significant lessons learned during their restorations and placements. Four sail reconstruction projects were initially selected for examination: the USS Lapon, SSN 661; USS Woodrow Wilson, SSBN 624; USS Sturgeon, SSN 637; and USS Indianapolis, SSN 697. The research volunteers were Pete, Chuck, Dave and Carol. Pete queried each of the volunteers about their research progress, but so far, no significant information leads or lessons learned have been discovered. Pete encouraged more detailed research efforts on everyone’s parts, with a focus on making contact with the organizers/contractors involved and in procuring sketches, blueprints and construction photos. He suggested going beyond website searches to include phone-calling and perhaps letter-writing where appropriate. Pete went on to say that if the research was obviously a dead-end, to halt the effort and go on to another sail project that might be more fruitful. Two LA class boats were mentioned as promising reconstruction efforts to research: the USS Cincinnati, SSN 693, and the USS Minneapolis-St. Paul, SSN 708. Ed mentioned he had just sent an enote to the SSN 708 group asking for some of their reconstruction history, but had not yet heard back. Pete requested that everyone continue their research efforts and report their results at our next Directors’ meeting in June.
CWMF Projects to Work On. Pete listed the areas of useful effort our group could be working on while we wait for the monument’s design and construction progress to evolve. They included:
 Veterans For Veterans and Our Brick Programs. Pete recommended we continue our efforts to arrange informational visits with the Directors of the Arizona Department of Veteran Services and of the VA Hospital in order to expand the awareness of our project with Veterans state-wide and to perhaps be allowed to solicit funding support on their newsletters. In addition, our Brick Program needs to be thoroughly discussed with the City to clarify how best to proceed in terms of expanding or limiting our brick-selling efforts.
 Newsletter. Continuing our periodic newsletter publishing and subscriber expansion efforts.
 Recognition Board and Dedication Sign. Continuing our conceptual efforts for creating a recognition board and a dedication sign to be included in the monument’s footprint.
 Fund-Raising Concepts and Plans. Creating plans, leads and contacts for restarting our fund-raising efforts in the event significant additional monies are needed to complete the monument’s construction as currently proposed.
 Meet with the City. Clarifying the issues as mentioned in the Cold War Monument Sitrep bullet points above.

News Notes.
 702 Skippers. Pete mentioned he had made electronic contact with all seven of the 702 skippers following a two-year search, and after receiving some research help from Lynn. Pete reported he’s hoping to include the former Commanding Officers in some of our future promotional events.
 Glendale Arts Council. At Steering Committee member Carolyn Tolliver’s suggestion, Pete wrote a letter to the GAC requesting that we be allowed to compete for their annual grant applications. Early feedback from Carolyn is that we have been granted $1000.00 for a second year in a row, great news.
 Parts Insurance Coverage. Pete noted we are in the process of renewing our annual/required liability insurance coverage for storing the submarine parts on the Papago Park Military Reservation (PPMR) at a cost of $681.12. Coverage is through 27 June 2026. It is hoped this can be our last payment for this purpose pending success in moving the parts from PPMR sometime over the next 12 months.
Pete adjourned the meeting at 1220. Our next Directors’ meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, 19 June 2025 at the AZ Veteran Home.

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