Welcome to the new

KOREAN WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION
DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA

HOME PAGE

For those who are interested or participating in the

2008 KWVA National Election

please go to the following link:

2008 KWVA National Election Page

You will find rules for posting on this website, directions to the Texas website (Chapter 270) together with links to and website postings for the candidates who have listed their postings there.

As of this date, we have seven (7) candidates who have asked for; and were given their chance to speak to the Membership from this website, about why they should get your vote.

Go take a look.

Thomas M. McHugh, Chairman of the KWVA Nominations & Elections Committee, has made an announcement with regards to the List of Candidates for the 2008 Officers & Directors Election.   For details, please go to: List of Candidates - Announcement

For a list of all the candidates, go to KWVA National 2008 List Of Candidates

To see the KWVA California State Department's selections, go to:

Department of California 2008 Election Selections

We've modified it a bit.. (some will like it, some will not)

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April 20 , 2008

NEW: Comments from a KWVA Department of California Secretary George Lawhon on the current election.    He is a Candidate for KWVA Director; but the links you see below reflect his views about one of the issues in this campaign among the candidates for President.

Please click on:

An Open Letter to Byron Dickerson an html file that will open in your browser, and

Booklet - Let There Be Light This will take you to a page where you can download a pdf file of the booklet, which you can open with Adobe Acrobat Reader.    Should you not have that handy little program, you can download a free copy of the latest version of Adobe's Adobe Acrobat Reader at their website. The file prints out to a six-sheet, 24-page document which can be folded into a 5-1/2" X 8-1/2" booklet.   It contains a sequential printout of "Let There Be Light" followed by "An Open Letter to Byron Dickerson."

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March 30, 2008

Comments from a KWVA Member to a recent email from a candidate, and the manner of advertising his and other candidates' intentions and qualifications.  Mr. Thompson is not pleased, and neither are we.

Since you have the vote, you might want to consider both points of view before you exercise that precious right.

Please click on Glen Thompson - Let There Be Light

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April 9, 2008

An editorial from the KWVA Chapter 180 Newsletter, March-April 2008 Issue, written by KWVA National President Louis T. Dechert.

In it, he gives a short review of his years as President of the KWVA; its Mission; its past & current problems; its present state, and his views on the 2008 National KWVA Election, now underway. To read it, please click on the following web address KWVA Chapter 180 Editorial

It is an open, passionate and frank expression of President Dechert's views on the state of the KWVA today, and every KWVA member should read it, together with all of the available information, before they cast their ballot.

May 16, 2008

OREGON BELL GARDEN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

1947 - 1954

Please go to the following link: BGHS 60th Reunion

You will find important information about your 60th Reunion.

THIS JUST IN: February 7, 2008

Recently, California Department President Mike Glazzy and friends took advantage of an offer to visit a ROK naval vessel anchored in San Pedro Harbor. A short account of that visit was submitted to The Graybeards magazine, and can be seen here San Pedro Visit

ANOTHER VERY SPECIAL NOTICE (Updated January 26, 2008)

Department of California - Korean War Veterans Association, Inc.

Please note that a Certificate of Recognition (see a copy below) has been issued to each of those present at the first Department meeting at the Reno Convention.

Thanks

Let us begin with our thanks.  Mike & George, with wives Lis & Sheila, respectively, attended the 2007 KWVA Annual Convention, held in Reno, Nevada.    It was there that we, the KWVA Chapter brothers from California, together with those veterans who do not yet know they are our brothers, were granted the Charter for the KWVA California State Department at the Membership Meeting on October 25, 2007. 

Present at this birth of our Department; the first ever at an annual convention, were members from the organizing Chapter, CID # 6, Santa Clara County, and others from around California.    Mike Glazzy, newly minted California Department President, called the very first chartered Department meeting to order. 

Accounted for were sixteen good men, members all, from around the state.    An unexpected bonus, and a most welcome guest, was Ed Buckman from Texas Chapter CID # 270.    His was a class act, and Ed was very generous to add his presence to our small beginning.

Although we had hoped for more, the number who came, to tell the truth, was more than we dreamed would show up, and we were, and are, grateful for their support.    There were only 55 Founders present in 1787 in Philadelphia at the beginning of the United States of America.    Reno 2007 was a small but respectable beginning for our California band of brothers, and it’s there from where we will begin to grow.

Thanks go to our KWVA brothers around the country that supported us as we developed the elements required by the KWVA Bylaws for the charter petition; by email, telephone, and word-of-mouth.    Those good folks are too numerous to list here, although let us add that the State Departments of Arizona, Florida and Texas allowed us to post their bylaws on our website, which really helped as we built ours.    As for the individuals, you know who you are, and so do we.    You will not be forgotten.

Right now this website is of elemental, simple construction, but is scheduled for redesign and much improvement in the near future.    We are proud of its beginnings, and hope it can retain the attribute of being very open about what we were, what we are, and where we hope to go.    Between September 10 and October 21, it had collected over 450 visitors.    As of today that now has passed 500.    We hope you will add to that.

If you are new, check it out, take a look, send us your comments.   If you 'googled' in here by mistake, and did military service in Korea anytime between 1950 and today, it wasn't a mistake.   Gaining your participation is a major part of our mission.

Respectfully and fraternally to all..

Mike Glazzy, KWVA Member # LR05656
President
KWVA Department of California
Email: mglazzy@sbcglobal.net

George Lawhon, KWVA Member # LR18750
Webmaster, Secretary
KWVA Department of California

Email:george@lawhon.org

 

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October 10, 2007

Following the submittal of the charter petition for the Department of California, it appears that we have fulfilled the requirements of the KWVA Bylaws and KWVA Standard Procedure Manual (SPM), and that it is reasonable for us to expect the charter grant to take place at the KWVA Reno Convention, some time between October 22-26.    We are certainly looking forward to that.

Also, Mike Glazzy received notice from the IRS and the State of California; our applications to them for tax-exempt status have been approved.    For details, go to this link, where there is a copy of the email that Mike sent out regarding that, and the earlier notice from the IRS of our EIN Number:    /dcakwva_letters.html    In that letter, Mike mentions a 'mix & mingle' on the night of 22 October.    We are informed by the folks organizing the Convention that the 'Mix & Mingle might conflict with the 8PM Memorial Service, an event all members are expected to attend.    The Guest Speaker will be Lt. General David Valcourt, and will be held in the Convention Center Main Ballroom.   The 'mix & mingle' can most surely be resumed later.    We will hopefully see you at both.

Preparations are underway to have a Department meeting at the Convention.    Those interested in any form of a contribution, especially by way of participation, are encouraged to do just that.   We will be bringing a printout of the website & copies of the Department of California Bylaws.    No matter if you want to run for an office or whatever; or if you have ideas you want to work on, you will be welcome.    Mike Glazzy has been working on a meeting agenda & a budget, and has done some research on multi-group chapter meetings via telecommunications.   Come check it out.

SPECIAL NOTE:

Joaquin Reclosado, Jr. has replaced Frank Pacheco as the President of Chapter 165, El Centro.

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September 10, 2007

On September 6, 2007, the first official meeting of the KWVA Department of California was conducted at a special meeting of California Chapter 6, Santa Clara County, the sponsoring chapter.   Walter Schrank, Chapter 6 President, opened the meeting, and following chapter business, turned over the meeting to Mike Glazzy, Department Organizer.    Elections were held and a set of bylaws were approved.    We were fortunate that a National Director, Lee Dauster, was present, and he conducted the installation of officers, using the SPM oath for National Officers, modified for use for a Department.    Lee is a member of California Chapters 6 (Santa Clara) & 7 (Sonora).   We are honored, since Lee is not only a silver-star veteran, but a friend.    In accordance with KWVA Bylaws, and the Standard Procedure Manual (SPM), a Petition for Charter has been submitted to Frank Cohee, KWVA National Secretary, for review and approval.   Five (5) chapters signed up for the charter effort:

Assuming approval of the petition, with any corrections or additions that may be required, we hope to have the grant of charter occur during the Reno Convention.

RENO, NEVADA

"The Biggest Little City In The World"

We are looking forward to the KWVA Annual Convention, and hope to see you there.This is a link to the KWVA page on the convention, to be held at the El Dorado, in Reno Nevada, October 22-26:

KWVA Reno Convention Page

I. OUR HISTORY

At the following link you will find a brief history of the development of the KWVA Department of California: /dcakwva_history.html The Department is not yet chartered by KWVA, Inc., but the process is almost complete. The following package of documents is required by KWVA, Inc. Bylaws:

1. The completed Petition Form, signed and dated by the Department Acting President (Organizer) and Acting Secretary.The proposed KWVA Department of california Bylaws.A press release for newspapers and radio stations in the area. (This is intended in the bylaws for chapter formation, but it would help in recruitment if each participating chapter furnish those relative to their area).The oath of office.The application (copy of) to the State of California for Department incorporation.
2. The IRS forms (copies of) used to obtain the Department EIN # and tax exemption status.

The fourteen (14) currently chartered chapters are listed below:

Source for this information was obtained at http://www.kwva.org/info_dept_chapter.asp#Display

All California chapters were notified via email and/or phone of our intent to submit the petition package to the KWVA, Inc. Secretary, as required.  They were asked to step up and participate, either by phone, email or attendance at the September 6 meeting.   In lieu of being there, we asked for approval by proxy.

We sent them a copy of the petition form, and an appeal to come along with those that have already made a commitment to be a part of the charter.

All were given the link to this website and invited to read our letter of invitation (see below).

II. ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION: WHY?

Why are we to have a California State Department?   Why must we belong, and why should we support it?   Those are questions that deserve an answer, and below, we do that, to the best of our ability.    From the beginning, we said that we wanted to keep it simple, and for the need to be open and transparent.   The KWVA, Inc. Bylaws set forth that four (4) chapters are the minimum needed to establish a state department.    We already have that, and a few more.    Naturally, though, it is desirable to have as much diverse participation as possible.

ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION:
“WHY SHOULD MY CHAPTER SUPPORT
THE KWVA DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA?”

That is a good question, no doubt on the minds of many, and deserves an answer.   Let’s begin with what it says in the KWVA Bylaws: http://www.kwva.org/bylaws/spm/procedure_manual.htm

To belong to a chapter, you must be a KWVA, Inc. Member in good standing.    If you are a chartered chapter, you are automatically considered a ‘unit’ of the state department.

“Article V, Korean War Veterans Association, Inc. 2005 Bylaws
II.  Chapters

Section 1.  Organization.  Initially a Chapter shall consist of not less than twelve (12) National Regular members in good standing who wish to form a Chapter in their area.  Effective October 5, 2005 each person who becomes a new Regular member of a Chapter must first become a National Korean War Veterans Association, Inc. Regular member, and must maintain National Regular membership to remain a member of a Chapter.  When a KWVA Department within a State has been formed, Chapters are considered to be a unit under the Department and will cooperate as a unit of the Department.”

Please note that the operative verb is ‘cooperate’ rather than ‘participate.’    Moreover, the imperative form would have said ‘shall’ instead of ‘will.’    Whatever the intent of those who wrote that bylaw, or its merit, it was duly voted into existence by the Board of Directors.    It can be interpreted fairly to mean that to participate is an elective choice on the part of a chapter and its members, and that the intent is not to force participation.    Let’s leave it at that; and bring forth some valid reasons for you, and your chapter, to participate, and to serve in some useful fashion.

1. It is reasonable to assume that you joined the KWVA; and your chapter, for the very understandable, fraternal desire to meet other veterans of like experience, who shared an extremely unique period in their life: a vicious, bloody, and tough war, which literally transformed them from boys to men.   You may have joined your chapter first, or the KWVA first, no matter, since it is a requirement of the KWVA, Inc. bylaws that you belong to both.  You and they are linked together, and now there is an effort, through the use of a department as an extension, as a more practical means to gather in more of your Korean War kinfolk, located within your state, for another shared experience.   A true definition would call it a federation, just as the U.S. was formed of the collective states in 1787, to serve both local and national common interests.   Despite all the disputes on what to do and how to do it, that system has served all citizens well for over 200 years, yielding definite and tangible progress.

2. There may and will be disagreements between the national and local entities about what those interests are, and how to best serve them, but hopefully, with reasonable views, there will be the happy result of reaching out and bringing in more veterans.

3. Your relationship with organizational tiers in the military was no different.   As it was in the military; you can look at it all as an extended family, each member with its own obligations and duties.

4. Even if only four (4) chapters (that is the minimum required to form a state department) get together to discuss their local and common problems, useful, appropriate actions are more likely to result in needed changes at the national level.

5. Ultimately, the individual (you) is served best when there is a link from your local (chapter) organization to other chapters, and the shared experience of the Department is the only practical way to do that.  Shared actions, rooted in discussion and debate, will certainly result in better results than complaints by way of individual emails.

6. Will our chapter lose anything, such as our identity, by joining the state department? Actually, your chapter will automatically become part of the Department, once the Department is granted a charter.  Your only elective choice will then be whether or not to participate in Department business.

7. Will the department interfere with chapter programs?  No.  Absolutely not. But the Department may be able to help with them.

8. Will we gain some advantage over those that do not participate?   There should be the natural advantage of closer ties to fellow California Korean War Veterans, their spouses, and their children.   The basic idea is twofold: get to more Korean War veterans, and extend our hand of welcome and help to the Korean Service Veterans.    Many citizens do not know of their sacrifice, or that a state of war still stands between our countries.    Also, many of these veterans do not know the KWVA even exists. Your participation could help change that.

9. Will there be any cost to the chapters?   The Department Officers, which will come from the chapters, certainly will have to justify to their chapter brothers, whatever assessment may be requested of them.   The standard of less is best should be the standard for them.

10. Does the National KWVA give the state department any financial support?   If so, for what?    Not at the moment, if you go by the current National bylaws, but in our draft bylaws we are seeking compensation for incorporation costs.    Look at our proposed bylaws: KWVA California Department Bylaws

11. Your chapter is in the north of the state.   Ours is in the south.   Where would we meet for elections, etc? What do you think? We think teleconferencing may help solve that very real problem.    We plan to give it a try, and to actively explore support from National for at least part of that. It should be an agenda item for Department business.

Ok, you might say.   We like it, we’re in.  What can we give or do to help the KWVA Department of California grow and function to serve?    The answer is akin to what happens when you move into a new home.  As a family member, you look around, see what needs to be done, and begin with what you can do for your family.    A person your age has surely developed a tool or two to contribute useful service.The worst that can happen to you as an individual, or your chapter, is that you gain at least one, and almost certainly, more friends than you have now.   The decision you will make to join us or not, serve with us or not, or share with us or not is certainly a personal one, and so will be correct, whatever it is.    Your time is yours to spend; it’s really all you have to give of real value in this life.    Most likely you are in your 70’s, and are rightfully asking yourself why you should get involved at this time in your life, in anything more or new at all.  

Why indeed, but that question can only be answered by you.

With respectful regards to all,

Mike Glazzy, KWVA Member # LR05656
Organizer, Acting President
KWVA Department of California
Email: mglazzy@sbcglobal.net

George Lawhon, KWVA Member # LR18750
Webmaster, Acting Secretary
KWVA Department of California
Email:george@lawhon.org