SILVER WINGS INTERNATIONAL

                                                      SEPTEMBER 29, 2007

                                                    KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

President Anita Ridpath called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. She thanked everyone for attending the meeting, and gave special thanks to Pat Brinkman and her committee for a wonderful convention full of fun, surprises, and hard work. Secretary Beth Holcombe read Ludie McIntosh’s poem, “Those Who Have Flown West,” recognizing the passing of the following members since our last convention:

 

Cheryl Nydahl                                                                                             

Karmen Waters                                                                           

Kathy Zeleski 

Mary Ann Nichols 

Ludie McIntosh was asked to stand and be recognized.  She received a standing ovation.

In a break with tradition, Beth read the names of other Flight Attendants who flew west since our last meeting, and were not members of Silver Wings.  Those in attendance added several more.  They are Ann Marie Stegmeier, Elizabeth Burrell Myers, Herb Bolles, Andrew Estes, Jim Astudillo, Bruce Blackwood, Carol Dinkfelt, M. Loomis, Alvin Wulf, Marjorie Ritter, Terence Durrah, Deborah Wood, Kathleen Gail Somerville, Kathleen Noe Nichols, Mary Sue Stewart Grasso, Barbara Will, Tom Mannino, Hilda Goodrich, Dorothea Zimmers Sege, Barbara Lea, Ruth Ensley MacFarland, Lourdes Montecato, Eva Whitcamp and Margie Vincently.

There were approximately 200 members in attendance.  Three of them started flying in the 1940’s, sixteen in the 1950’s, twenty-five in the 1970’s, none from the 1980’s, one from the 1990’s.  The remainder started in the 1960’s.

The 2006 minutes have been posted on the web site and a few copies were available for viewing at the meeting.  Secretary Beth Holcombe recommended that the 2006 Annual Meeting minutes be accepted as published.  The recommendation was approved unanimously.

Treasurer Connie Ingham reported that the year ending balance for 2005 was $29,482.18, and the year ending balance for 2006 was $28,394.40.  She stated that we were doing well keeping our expenses in line.  She called attention to our Cash Grants and Allocations amount of $21,898.12, and after a request by Jane Squires, broke that down into the following categories:

•   Breast Cancer Research Fund (BCRF)   $19288.12                                  
  
•  Flight 800 Memorial                                 2500.00                                      
•  Airline History Museum                              110.00

A complete 2006 Statement of Income and Expenses was given to each member who attended the meeting and also will be available on the web site.

Joan Martling suggested that we are the lifeblood of the TWA Flight 800 Memorial, thus she requested that we donate more to it annually, and asked for a more equal distribution of our monies marked for charity.  President Anita Ridpath reminded the group of the procedures for changing charities.  She said we only have one charity and that is currently BCRF.  If any of our member/s wishes to see a change, they must approach the Charity Committee with a recommendation for approval.  The Charity Committee will then recommend their decision to the Board for presentation to the membership as a whole.

Patty Scheel said that they had just discussed this topic at the Chapter Chair meeting, and that chapters are requested to attend and to adopt a charity for fundraising.  She reiterated the policy for SWI to change a charity.

Karin Hess-Stocker asked us to consider F/As in need.  Anita Ridpath explained that we are not chartered to do this as an organization, but that members could solicit any funds for this purpose outside the organization.

Barbara Sahar said that there is a group organized for this purpose on TWAMy Family.com.  It is called WE CARE, and is for F/As in need.  She suggested that anyone wanting to help an individual donate there.  As a reminder, President Anita Ridpath pointed out that TWAMyFamily and WE CARE support all flight attendants. She also said we would have an opportunity to discuss charities at a later point in the meeting.

President Anita Ridpath thanked Chairperson Faith Grill and the entire Dwight L. Dedmon Humanitarian Committee for their continued dedication.  Faith reported that they had received $10020.00 to date for BCRF, and were awaiting further proceeds from tonight’s Live Auction and Silent Auction proceeds.

Ellen Diskin was not present, but members are reminded to call her with the names of anyone who needs cheering.

Vice-President Carolyn Radebaugh gave us a brief summary of items discussed at the Chapter Meeting earlier in the day:

• Each chapter is encouraged to adopt the Flight 800 Memorial or the Airline Museum as a charity.
• More SWI pins will be ordered to be distributed to the Chapter Chairs for sale.  Patty Scheel will write a history of the design
• There was a discussion re: how to get members to attend the chapter meetin
• Dues must be paid to the local and to SWI International.
• Chapters are urged to send articles and photos to Midge Callahan for newsletter publication.  Midge asked that photos not be of large groups, but rather groups of four to five.

Carolyn said this would be her last meeting as Vice President and she thanked everyone for such a wonderful experience.  She received a standing ovation.

 

Chairperson Nancy Grieme said that unfortunately Susan Warren could not attend the convention.  Nancy wants to get the uniforms and accessory pieces that are currently in storage out and into museums on a loan basis.  She made a motion and which was seconded by Faith Grill.  Judy Kennedy asked to revise the motion to read “To remove items from storage for loan to museums and members for fundraisers and fashion shows.”  Laurie Lees seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.

Barbara Sahar said there was the CR Smith Museum in Dallas that could benefit from our collection.  Brenda Wyatt, one of SWI’s co-founders lives in Dallas and volunteered to work the problem.

Lynn Adelman reminded us of our collections at the Flight Path Learning Center and Museum in Los Angeles, University of California at Northridge, and Seattle.

Other comments from the floor were the following:

•  The TWA Museum run by Marie Trainer is an all volunteer organization which could use our leftovers.
• The Platte County Historical Society has placed some uniforms of theirs in the Credit Union.
•  The Save-A-Connie/Airline History Museum features the pre-jet era and features all airlines.  They might be missing a few pieces.
•  The University of Missouri-Kansas City run by Ona Geesham needs a place for our memorabilia.
  

Nancy Busche-Fedon asked if we need any items.  Nancy Grieme said we are in need of wings, a few handbags, and some of the suitcases.  We have only the black fiberglass and white Samsonite ones.  There were a few offers of the brown suitcase.  Nancy said to email her at NGRIEME@COX.NET.

Connie Ingham, Treasurer, presented all the pertinent facts re: the Memorial and funding.  All the TWA organizations are working together. It is a work in progress.

1. She encouraged all individual members to contribute either through matching funds situation or through a will or trust when doing their estate planning.

2. She encouraged chapters to get involved.  Consider a raffle or sponsor an event to benefit the Memorial.  Susan Warren is initiating a golf tournament in Phoenix.

3. Linda Giordano and Jayne Wilson-Souza are selling five and ten year Flight 800 Memorial pins at this convention.

4. Carol Pighin has graciously donated an oil painting of an airplane tail in TWA livery for the Live Auction.

5. You can make a personal donation to John Seaman by linking to the Memorial web site through the SWI web site.

Claire Mattison encouraged us all to adopt either Flight 800 or the TWA Museum at the local level.

Julia Falk asked if we could increase the amount that SWI donates to the Memorial.  (The maximum in a calendar year is currently $2500.)

Patty Scheel reminded us that we don’t know where we are financially until after the convention is over and all the bills are paid.

Jayne Wilson-Souza made a motion to increase the annual maximum to up to $3500.  Claire Mattison made a motion to increase the annual maximum to UP TO $10,000 at the discretion of the Board.  Her reason for raising the amount so high is to avoid revisiting this issue annually.  Jayne Wilson-Souza withdrew her motion.  Joan Martling seconded Claire Mattison’s motion.  President Anita Ridpath made a point of saying that this fund is entirely separate from BCRF, our chosen charity, and she thought it was too big a jump to make from the current amount of $2500.  A physical count was YEA -108 and NAY – 56.  Motion carried.

Julia Falk announced that we have received several class pictures, which will be added to the album.  We have photos from individuals of their graduation and retirement from 1935-1979.  Currently it would cost about $1000 at $5 per page to scan these photos to a CD.  We could then explore the costs of printing.  Katy Firestone made a motion that the last one left standing places the albums in a museum.  Julia seconded it and the vote was unanimous.

 

Jeanette Zens-Grant has volunteered for the Vice President’s position.  There being no other candidates, Carol Waters moved to accept Jeanette by acclamation.  The ayes have it.  Jeanette started flying on July 5, 1966 and has served as Co-Chair in PHX with Nancy Grieme and Kathy Ince.

Connie Ingham has volunteered to stay on as Treasurer.  There being no other candidates, Carol Waters moved to accept Connie by acclamation.  The ayes have it.

President Anita Ridpath told us that a 1930’s uniform recently sold on EBay for $660, and the hat for the same uniform went for $360.  Anita asked for further donations as some of these earlier uniforms are missing from our collections.  Secretary Beth Holcombe will send any donor a letter for tax purposes stating the amount.

Barbara Sahar mentioned that we can make AA uniform donations to the Wings Foundation and the Blues.  They will sell them.

Claire Mattison told of a Back-to-Work party for recalls in Tampa where they asked everyone to bring uniform items that no longer fit for exchange with others who had changed sizes.  Perhaps you could help someone, too.

On this twentieth anniversary of our founding, President Anita Ridpath recognized Kay Garrett Thompson, our founding President, who could not be present, Brenda Wyatt, founding Vice-President and Kathleen Brennan, founding Secretary-Treasurer. Twenty–two people present were at the first convention.  Brenda said a few words and spoke of their fears at the founding.  Anita also recognized all the past officers present: Kathleen Brennan, Fran McCutcheon, Patty Scheel, Jane Squires, Lindsay Starr, and Ursula Smith.

Anita reminded everyone that T-Shirts ($15) commemorating the date are on sale outside the Silent Auction room.

Midge Callahan, who has been the Newsletter Editor for the past three years, thanked everyone for their contributions.  She also thanked Kaye Juhl Contributing Editor, and LeeAnn Weise for sending so many photos from LAX and SAN.  Her words were inspirational: “Historically we have found one place and we thank you.  Find yourself and know that you are special.  Appreciate the past.  Enjoy the present.”

President Anita Ridpath announced that the Board had appointed the Newsletter Editor and Website Manager to a full time position on the Board effective immediately.

Anita recognized eight member Flight Attendants recalled to American who were present and wished them well.

Knox-Schillinger brought a lawsuit to the EEOC, who then sued TWA over their maternity policies, which resulted in each child receiving ten (10), passes.  These passes were lost with the AA buyout, so the EEOC fought it again on behalf of those mothers and children affected.  Those members of the class were asked if they would consider donating their money to charity as it the award would amount to about $10.00 each.  Enough members of the class agreed and $25,000 was established as the award amount.  Anita has been in contact with the EEOC since February regarding this issue as they were trying to find the organization, which had the most members in the lawsuit, Seniors, Clipped Wings, or Silver Wings.  At the time, Anita explained the plight of the Flight 800 Memorial Association and the fact that they would not find a flight attendant in TWA who would object their money going to the memorial if they elected to donate to a charity.  She also told them that SWI had more members in the lawsuit than any other organization if they did not want to give the money to the 800 Memorial Association, and thus should be the receivers.  SWI has over 500 members in this lawsuit.

The Knox-Schillinger Lawsuit was awarded to Clipped Wings.  As a result, we have begun an active campaign sending emails to the EEOC asking them to reconsider the award’s destination.  Mail, email or phone to the following address:

Diane Fredericks

Litigation Management Services                                                                            

Office of the General Counsel                                                                                 202-663-4730                                                                      

diane.fredericks@eeoc.gov

Ed Monteserin approached the microphone with the words, ”From our cradle to the last International domicile…Kansas City to Toronto, which is within one and a half hours from 60% of the United States population.

His plans are as follows:

Wednesday, September 17, 2008        Registration

Thursday, September 18, 2008           Niagara Falls Tours, with optional helicopter flights         

Friday, September 19, 2008                City Tour/Harbor Tour

Saturday, September 20, 2008            Chapter and Business Meetings

Sunday, September 21, 2008               Departure

Our accommodations will be at the Marriott Eaton Center, at the heart of a 300 store shopping center complex, and within walking distance of many attractions.  He advised the following:

• Stick to the cut off dates.
• The same room rates will be available for three days before and after the convention.
• A current passport is needed.
• Get travel insurance as Medicare does not work in Canada.
• Let Eddie know of any plans you may have for entertainment or tickets to events.  He can help you get the best price, but don’t wait!
  

We are very fortunate to have Eddie's help in running this convention, as he works in the Toronto tour business, but he is only one person and we need everyone's help.  Sign up, volunteer, and be prompt with your requests.

Under consideration is a New England cruise departing from and returning to New York, which will be booked through a professional Interline Cruise tour operator.  A show of hands indicated a lot of interest in this cruise.  Anita distributed brochures from Princess cruises outlining a potential route.

Mary Ellen Miller introduced Sandra Albrecht, and Associate Professor of Sociology at Kansas University, who wrote “We Are on Strike!” The Development of Labor Militancy in the Airline Industry, about the TWA F/A 1986 strike.  They will be meeting directly after the meeting.  

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:20PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Beth Holcombe, Secretary                                                                                       

Silver Wings International