USS PHOENIX (SSN-702) COLD WAR MONUMENT FOUNDATION, INC.
DIRECTORS’ MEETING MINUTES, THURSDAY 21 AUGUST 2025
A LIVE MEETING HELD AT THE ARIZONA STATE VETERAN HOME
Directors/Steering Committee Members Participating: Directors Carol Culbertson, Chris Gahan, Ed Henry, Lynn Bennett, Chuck Manuel and Pete Lumianski. Other attendees included Steering Committee Members Dave Leclair, Ken Kennedy, Fred Rouse, Marty Zipser, Jerry Benham and Howard Goldman. The meeting was held in the Arizona State Veteran Home’s A107 Conference Room on 21 August 2025 from 1030 to 1245. 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 1035.
New Director. It was noted that we have an even number of Foundation Directors and no ruling option in the event of a tie vote. Steering Committee member Dave Leclair volunteered his services as a Director. After some discussion, a motion was made and seconded to appoint Dave as a new Director. It was followed by a unanimous affirmative vote from the Directors. We now have seven Directors once again.
Treasury Report. Pete provided a current summary of the Foundation’s Treasury: Desert Financial Credit Union Savings Certificate – $65,844.32; Chase Savings – $6,776.85; Chase Checking – $9700.12; Chase Brick – $7,184.24; Total – $89,505.53. The total amount was less than the prior month due to two large bills that were paid: for our USPS POB and for our Constant Contact (social media) account. Pete noted once again 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. Pete noted our Desert Financial Credit Union Savings Certificate had been renewed for another six months at a rate of 4%. Pete reported he had just interviewed a candidate for our Foundation Treasurer by the name of Carrie Thompson-Jones, a lead provided by Director Bennett. The interview went well, and there was a tentative agreement to move ahead and conduct some turnover discussions with outgoing Treasurer Western before making a final decision. Pete to organize a meeting. Pete brought up the subject of handling a $10K check received from APS and made out to the USS Phoenix Cold War Monument Foundation to be used for the purpose of supporting the Navy Ball event scheduled for 11 October in the Embassy Suites (Hilton) hotel in Tempe. As in the past, the Foundation has been invited to be a co-sponsor/partner of the event for the purposes of advertising the monument project and soliciting funds in support of the monument’s maintenance and operation. The Foundation was also invited to become a permanent annual partner of the event, again in an effort to raise monies for the monument. Two votes were taken by the Directors: Whether to become a permanent partner of the Navy Ball event; and whether to use the APS donated monies to help fund the 2025 Navy Ball event. After considerable discussion, both votes passed and chairperson Culbertson was authorized to process the check and use the monies to help pay for the 2025 Navy Ball hotel charges.
Cold War Monument Sitrep. Pete noted significant progress of the monument’s design evolution and construction schedule had been made since July. In recent virtual discussions with Parks Deputy Director for Development Todd Shackelford, Pete learned the 90% design review has been scheduled by early September, and that if approvals and permitting go smoothly, ground-breaking for the monument could occur in December 2025 or January 2026. Pete spent some time relaying Todd’s detailed comments for all present, and it became clear that more information and guidance are needed from the City in order for the Foundation to contribute in a focused, meaningful way – especially regarding the amount of funding support needed from the Foundation, as well as in other areas – i.e., what types of “outyear maintenance” tasks need funding; how brick sales should best proceed; what influence the Foundation might have on the final design; whether the sail sculptures and the maintenance building wall can be included in the final design; how to best promote the monument for the purpose of raising monies in terms of social media, brochures, events and media exposure; and how to gain final approval for our interpretive signage. Pete reported he had made outreach efforts to Deputy Director Shackelford requesting such a meeting. Pete also contacted Ardurra Practice Director John Catt for an update from his perspective, so far with no feedback. In addition, Pete made recent contact with interpretive signage manager Lisa Ranzenberger to get an update on her efforts. Lisa reported she had no significant progress to report since the last CAG meeting on 17 July 2025. Pete also noted he had participated in an introductory virtual meeting with Todd, Todd’s assistant James Peterson, and Parks Public Information Officers (PIOs) Teleia Galaviz and Tannia Ruiz on 18 August. Both ladies listened to Pete’s requests for some guidance about potential/upcoming media events (parts movement; ground-breaking; and grand opening). Teleia and Tannia said we could contribute to the invitation lists and perhaps in the planning of the ceremonies, and that they would be discussing these events with Parks Director Cynthia Aguilar soon.
Fund-Raising. Pete brought up a series of fund-raising topics and related information, noting that for the past year or so, our active fund-raising activities have been put on ‘hold’ pending some clarity for what is needed and for what purpose(s). Recently the City of Phoenix (Deputy Director Shackelford) indicated an outyear maintenance program would be needed and that would be a good task for the Foundation to explore and prepare for. He further stated it would be prudent and necessary for the Foundation to enter into some sort of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City concerning the outyear maintenance scope and tasks, a proposal he said he’d discuss further with his “leadership”. With that in mind, Pete led discussions in the following areas:
- General Fund-Raising Strategy. Pete indicated we need a meeting with the City to determine how much money needs to be raised, and specifically, for what purpose(s) in order to tailor our marketing methods and messaging for best results. That would entail, among other things, revising and updating our marketing materials and devising an effective outreach program for contacting/persuading potential donors. As an example of how much money to raise, Pete suggested we consider establishing an “endowment fund” of $400K which would generate about !6K/year, assuming a 4% investment return.
- Reinvigorate our Brick and Veterans for Veterans Programs. Pete mentioned he had recently sent to all Directors and Steering Committee members an enote requesting ideas and discourse about how to bolster our Brick selling program, an initiative which had so far generated no response. He said he’d resend it and call for more input from everyone. Meantime, Pete described an initiative by Director Ed Henry to create some new electronic marketing materials. Ed then briefed everyone on what he was attempting to do: sell bricks and solicit donations from all the American Legion Posts in Arizona – representing a total of about 40 thousand Legionnaires – by advertising on the AL’s various social media communications. We all agreed that was a very promising effort, and the Directors approved the production of both electronic and paper marketing materials in support.
- A Visit With Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services’ New Director, John Scott. Pete reported he and Carol had met with Director John Scott on 6 August to introduce ourselves and our monument project to him, and to ask for any help in connecting us with the population of Arizona veterans. Pete described a productive and friendly meeting, and an offer from Director Scott for us to connect with his public affairs persons to determine how to best to connect with their social media outreach operations. As it turns out, AZ DVS Deputy and PIO person, Dylan Dalzotto, offices out of the Arizona State Veteran Home, just above our conference room meeting place (!) Pete to follow-up with Dylan. This effort will become part of our Veterans For Veterans program.
- Other Fund-Raising Venues/Initiatives. Pete went on to list other potentially promising fund-raising initiatives we should pursue once we have a clear goal and a fund-raising purpose. They included spiffing up our website; growing our newsletter subscriber list; and a reconnection with lots of old friends: Corporate entities like USAA, U-Haul, AVNet, The Pivotal Group (Najafi) and APS; and organizations and entities like Virginia Piper, Valley Casinos, Valley Law Firms, the VA Hospital and ASU, especially the Pat Tillman Veterans’ Center. Pete expressed his opinion that fund-raising should be easier now that we have something definitive to show and tell about.
News Notes.
- USS Minneapolis-St. Paul, SSN 708 and USS Cincinnati, SSN 693 Connections. Pete asked for any ideas/suggestions of things to request/obtain from either of the two submarine memorial projects we have arranged to speak with via virtual meetings. Ed suggested we follow-up to obtain any drawings/planning documents of their sail reconstructions that might be helpful for our structural engineers. Pete also mentioned getting help in developing connections for a periscope and a MK-48 torpedo shape.
- Arizona Native American Submariner Search. Pete noted that as a result of research done by Director Chuck Manuel and Steering Committee member Fred Rouse, a promising candidate in our effort to recognize/honor a Native American submariner has been found – Chief Petty Officer Kalani Eli is a retired Machinist Mate Nuclear (MMN) currently stationed in Hawaii as a senior project manager for the Navy. Eli is from Zuni, NM, with Zuni Pueblo roots. Pete thanked Chuck and Fred and said we should continue to search for candidates before deciding, and if possible, find a Native American who is/was both a submariner and a graduate of the SISP school system.
- Recognition Sign for the Monument. Pete noted that Deputy Director Shackelford had asked us to provide a list of persons we’d like to include on a recognition “board” as part of the monument footprint. Pete to start a draft list, and send it around for review and input.
- FYI, Pete Gone to Portugal from 29 August to 15 September. Director Lynn is out of town 16 to 24 September. Pete to notify Todd and John of his absence and have them contact Carol in the event the Foundation’s help or participation is needed during that time.
Pete adjourned the meeting at 1245. Our next Directors’ meeting is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, 30 September 2025 at the AZ Veteran Home.
Submitted By: Pete Lumianski, Director
Approved By: Carol Culbertson, Chairperson
