Happy Holidays
It seems like New Year’s Day was just a few months ago and suddenly we are approaching the Christmas Season. The SLPVA officers, Frank Stubits, Ed Vaclavik, Chris Zarbo, Joe Brasser and I extend a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays greeting to all the SLPVA family and to the readers of the Gendarme.
December 14th SLPVA Christmas Meeting and Lunch
Just 11 days before Christmas we will have our December 14th Christmas Meeting and Lunch. It will be held at the SLPOA Hall, and the meeting begins at 11:30 AM. But come early and have a cup of coffee and perhaps a donut. Members may bring a guest. For only $5 Chef Dan Riley will provide each member and guest a delicious, traditional Christmas lunch after the meeting.
We collected 400+ bars of bath soap for the needy at the Thanksgiving meeting. For those who forgot or couldn’t make it to the last meeting, we’ll have a box at the door to collect bars of bath soap for the needy at this month’s Christmas meeting.
Give Yourself a Christmas Present
All retired SLMPD officers and former SLMPD officers who left the Department before qualifying for a pension can join the St. Louis Police Veterans’ Association. An SLPVA membership is a year around gift. An SLPVA membership provides 12 monthly meetings with good times, good company and good food. Dues are only $15 per year. So invest $15 in a Christmas present to yourself and become an SLPVA member. A spouse or even a friend can give the gift of SLPVA membership. Just complete the application on our website. Go to www.slpva.com and click on “Join the SLPVA” below our logo and download the membership application form. Or stop-by and join at any of our monthly meetings (11:30 AM, 2nd Wednesday of the month).
Minutes of the November 9, 2011, SLPVA Meeting
The 397th meeting of the St. Louis Police Veterans Association was call to order by President George Ratermann at 11:30 AM. The opening prayer was read by Secretary Chris Zarbo and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by President Ratermann.
All officers were present.
Mr. Ratermann stated we had one new application for membership. That being from Kevin Quinlisk. A motion was made, seconded and passed by a voice vote to accept the application.
Mr. Ratermann stated the Dave Bonenberger; newly elected President of the St. Louis Police Association was our guest speaker today. Mr. Bonenberger spoke to the membership first thanking everyone for their support during the last election.
Mr. Bonenberger told the membership that there was a new endeavor by Mr. Sinquefield to withdraw his constitutional amendment petition initiative in exchange for the St. Louis Police Association agreeing to endorse his legislative change. However, there is concern about the City being able to take away the health, medical and life insurance of the retirees in one of the paragraphs. They are now trying to contact Mr. Sinquefield’s office to make the change to have the wording the same as in section 84.160. Mr. Bonenberger then asks for any questions.
Mr. Jim Wurm asks if there was any talk of putting a retiree on the SLPOA’s executive board. Mr. Bonenberger stated he knew it had been brought up before and thought it was a good idea and that he would address the issue with the board.
Mr. Ratermann then asked if the SLPOA board and talked about the proposed Pension changes. Mr. Bonenberger stated they had put a survey on SLPOA’s website in order to get a general opinion of what the membership wants.
A question was asked about the Collective Bargaining Bill. Mr. Bonenberger stated that Mr. Keaveny was probably going to sponsor another bill this session on local control. The board has agreed not to go against Mr. Keaveny’s bill as long a Mr. Sinquefield agrees to pull his constitutional amendment and changes the language that we ask for in his legislation bill.
Mr. Ratermann told the membership that the Medicare Supplement Enrollment Forms need to be returned by this Friday, 11/11/2011 if you have any changes, if not you don’t have to do anything.
Mr. Ratermann said he received a letter from Elkin Kisner stating he would be back in court on 12-9-11 to settle five claims that may have been missed. Mr. Ratermann advised anyone who had checks they had not cashed they should do so immediately before the request was made to cancel any uncashed checks. The remaining funds would be going to charity.
Mr. Ratermann said we had an inquiry if anyone knows the whereabouts of Kent Murdock who was a police officer in the mid 60”s.
Prior to the reading of the minutes from the October meeting, a motion was made and seconded to waive the reading of the minutes. Motion passed on a voice vote.
Mr. Vaclavik then gave the treasures report. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Treasures report. Motion passed on a voice vote.
Mr. Ratermann then advised we received a message from the daughter of Robert Gentry that he is terminally ill. (Robert Gentry passed away between the time his daughter called and this meeting.) Also, that member Steve Alsup had died from injuries he received in an accident this past weekend. There will be a memorial for Alsup this Friday here at the SLPOA hall. Non members Robert Truetken, Gene Kelly and Dan Estes had also passed away this month. Active Officer Anthony Ewing died over the weekend also.
Old Business – None
New Business – None
Mr. Pona advised we had 115 members in attendance today. Eleven $10.00 attendance prizes were drawn.
A motion to adjourn was made, seconded and passed on a voice vote. The meeting was adjourned at 12:03 PM.
SEND THE SLPVA YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS
If you send the SLPVA a message we will add you to our e-mail directory and periodically send you messages about upcoming meetings, important events, etc. of interest to a retired SLMPD officer. Send a message to mail@slpva.com and you’ll be added to our e-mail address directory.
FORMER SLMPD OFFICERS CAN JOIN THE SLPVA
Most police officers and retirees can recall Academy classmates and coworkers that left the Department after a few years on the job. Many of those former officers have fond memories of the SLMPD and their police friends. For former SLMPD officers who would like to re-connect with their police roots the St. Louis Police Veterans' Association offers a means to do that, join the SLPVA.
Former officers who left the SLMPD short of being able to retire are welcome as members in the SLPVA. All that's require is that they left the SLMPD in good standing, that they are of good moral character, and that they complete an application to join the SLPVA. A PDF application can be found and downloaded from our website, www.slpva.com by clicking on" JOIN THE SLPVA" in the left column, right below the SLPVA logo.
All retired SLMPD officers of any rank are invited to join the SLPVA. A PDF application and a form for automatic dues payment can be found and downloaded from our website, www.slpva.com by clicking on" JOIN THE SLPVA" in the left column, right below the SLPVA logo. Prospective members can call and leave a message at 314 329 1005 and we will mail or e-mail an application or they get membership information at a monthly meeting. We meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 11:30. We meet each month at the SLPOA Hall except in May and September when we have our Cook Out at Picnic Grounds # 1 in Willmore Park at Gravois and Hampton.
The Most Recent SLPVA Column to Appear in the Gendarme