Meeting Call to Order  

Prayer

Pledge of Allegiance – Group

Preamble – Group

Blue Star Mothers Preamble (Creed)

We, the mothers of members of the Armed Forces of the United States of America, do unite to establish a permanent organization.

Desiring to continue to be of service to our nation, we dedicate our time, and lives, if necessary to the perpetuation of a democratic government, and are proud and honored that our sons and daughters have been chosen to serve their country.

 

Financials – Joanne 

New moms introduced – (if any)

 

Business –

Compliance – we are currently not in compliance with Nationals because I haven’t filed the forms yet. It’s been an overwhelming few months. I intended to get it done right after Holiday Cheer, but a private issue took precedence. I will get that done as soon as possible.

 

Comedy Connection Fundraiser – we need to start pushing this event – Thursday, February 27, 2020. For this event, we will definitely need great raffle baskets. Tickets are $25. We will take 100 of the tickets to sell in person, the other 100 will be sold online by Comedy Connection, minus $1 each for fees. We can set up at 5pm, doors open at 6pm, show starts at 7pm and lasts about 90 mins. Ticket sales (minus online ticket fees), raffle sales and 50/50 sales are our profit. There is a cash bar, and food for sale (no our profit). If you need tickets to sell, please contact Rhonda Z. – Kizmetz92@gmail.com

We need to make a decision about participation at the RI National Guard Air Show this year. They require us to have a minimum of 8 workers per shift/per day. We need 12 to commit to make up for any last minute drop outs that may happen. Spouses, children over 18 and friends can help as well.

 

The holiday party is this Saturday from 1-5pm at VFW Post 183, at 172 Washington St. in Warwick, RI 02888. No catering means no headcount, so bring whoever you’d like and pot luck accordingly. We will pick up a couple of basics from somewhere like Dave’s – probably a veggie or fruit tray and a calzone tray – and the rest will be pot luck. We’ll also pick up the paper goods, cutlery, cups and water bottles (if allowed). There is a bar downstairs.

 

• Food – please “reply all” to the “Holiday Party” email to let people know what you’re bringing so everyone else can figure out what to bring.

 

• Parking – you’ll see, but they park at an angle on both sides of the building. If the lot gets full, you are allowed to park on the street. Please do not park in the spot reserved for the Post Commander in front of the flag pole.

 

• Entry – we’ll be using the double doors facing the street, bringing you right into the hall.

 

 

There are still black BSM tees available for $5 if anyone wants one.

 

Caring and sharing

 

Attendance at events – Please let us know by emailing ribluestarmoms@gmail.com every time that you attend an event representing the RI Blue Star Moms. Any veteran or military event counts, as does any volunteer work you do that is veteran or military based. This will make completion of the annual compliance documents much easier as we will be keeping a log.

 

AmazonSmile – We are partnered with AmazonSmile. They donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. Same products, same prices, same service. Support RI Blue Star Moms by starting your shopping at smile.amazon.com. Just click on the smile.amazon.com link, log into the site, select Blue Star Mothers of America Inc 1 Rhode Island BSM chapter as your charity and shop away!

 

Upcoming events –

February – Wreaths Across America cleanup at RI Veterans Cemetery

February 27 – (Thursday)  our fundraiser at Comedy Connection – 39 Warren Ave. East Providence, RI 02914; setup at 5pm – doors open at 6 for raffle sales – show starts at 7

Air Show – ???

May – Echo Taps at the RI Veterans Cemetery

May – Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial

June – our Flatbread Company Providence fundraiser

July 4 – Bristol July Fourth Parade

Sept – December 2020 – All reports due to Nationals by 12/1 (can start filing various reports

in Sept.)

September – Start collecting Operation Holiday Cheer cards from schools and other organizations; candy donations

September – Order Operation Holiday Cheer gifts

September – Design and order BSM Operation Holiday Cheer cards

September meeting – have all moms turn in a note to be placed in OHC boxes. Notes must fit on a standard size 4 x 5(ish) note card. All notes will be copied 4 to a page and cut to size – instead of us trying to purchase and sign a thousand cards, each box will now get a personal note from each of us.

September – Stand Down Weekend at Diamond Hill Park in Cumberland

September 26 – Saddlebags for Soldiers event – this should be a staple BSM event, everything donated goes into the OHC care packages, and everyone donating is supporting our kids – it’s important for the public to attach faces and human beings to the words “troops – military – boots on the ground – care packages – deployment”

October meeting – OHC prep will now be done at this meeting – OHC cards will be placed into envelopes and Mom Notes will be placed into bundles (either tied with ribbon or placed into Ziploc bags, maybe add a small candy cane to this instead of stockings?) for ease on OHC packing day; any cards and letters that we have collected so far will be proofread; Stars will be stuffed; gift tags and Stars will be placed on the gifts

November meeting – decorate tree(s) that we will be donating to the Bristol Veterans Home for auction at their fundraiser – *also bring juice to donate to the soup kitchen for their Thanksgiving meal

November – check with Veronica on whether they want our help with setup for Holiday for Heroes

November – WaterFire Salute to Veterans

November – Operation Holiday Cheer, 8:30am, Warwick Armory, 541 Airport Rd., Warwick

December meeting – *bring juice to donate to the soup kitchen for their Christmas meal

December – Pay for website domain and hosting fees, due by January 7, 2021

December – Wreaths Across America ceremony at Ponaganset High School Field House, starts promptly at 9am

December – Wreaths Across America ceremony at Winman Middle School, Warwick at 9am

December – Wreaths Across America ceremony at Goff Middle School – Pawtucket

December – Wreaths Across America wreath laying at RI Veterans Cemetery; fundraising

info – our group ID – RI0010P; location ID – RIVCE; ceremony starts promptly at 12pm;

* Going forward, we will be meeting at Joe’s gravesite at 10:30am to lay his wreath and take photos to send to his family, lay Rosie’s,  go and lay any personal wreaths we each got and then proceed to the tent for the ceremony

January 2021 – PO Box renewal

January 7, 2021 – Domain and Hosting new expiration dates

February 2021 – Wreaths Across America cleanup at RI Veterans Cemetery