USS Bergall

For 2000 Association Minutes, please click HERE
For 2002 Association Minutes, please click HERE
To return to the SS 320 home pages, please click HERE
To return to the SSN 667 home pages, please click HERE

The Bergall Association's 2001 Annual Minutes of the Meeting

August 24, 2001

1 Don Basham asked our treasurer, Norm Ferland, for a status of our treasury. "I have a financial report as of Monday. We were in much better shape Monday than we will be tomorrow by the quality of expenses that went on yesterday. As of Monday, we had $3,221.00 and all of that is in a savings account but it doesn't bear much interest. If you look at it on a calendar year basis for this year beginning January 1st, in terms of revenue, we have picked up $635.00 in dues, reunion dinner deposits were $1,590.00 and sales of ball caps was $1,222.00 for a total of $347.00. On the expense side, we had payment for the caps and shipping costs to get them out to the members that bought them of $1,034.00, postage and delivery was $258.00 for a total expense of $1,292.00 leaving a balance of $2,154.30 and we added $8.00 from interest for a total of $2,163.30. Yesterday we paid for the dinners, we sold a few caps and there will be a little more expense and a little more income but I suspect when it is all said and done in about a week from now we will be about even. Maybe what this is telling us is that we should increase membership and come up with two or three ideas for raising funds for the kitty so if we want to do anything little extra when we get together like this we'll have the funds to do it. By and large we are paying our own way, so as far as I'm concerned, we are in good shape. We could be in better shape but we know what we have to do to accomplish that.

2 Norm then opened the floor to questions: It was asked if the hospitality suite cost was taken out of our expenses and answered that it hadn't been yet but that it was still to be determined. Carl Weber said that historically, guys would pitch in $10.00 (or so) to cover the hospitality suite by those that attended, above and beyond dues, to defray the cost. Don Basham agreed that that was pretty normal with the groups he's associated with and this should only apply to those that used the suite. Carl Weber said that he would put in his $10.00 as he has enjoyed the suite and has even drank beer up here. "You have?" was the friendly ping, and another chimed in, "And any other places that he sits down!" Don Basham said he was in favor at keeping the dues at $10.00 and that even though some of those funds may be used to support the suite, the regular members shouldn't be "penalized" extra for a suite they didn't participate in. It was agreed and decided to take an immediate donation for the room. This was followed with the general mayhem of a bunch of old farts trying to figure out how to count to ten and make change with fellow crew member. Parke Spicer asked if anybody could make change for $100.00 and the reply was, "Of course not, just put it in!", followed by more general banter and pings. It sounded much like the crew's mess running a hot dice game with money changing hands fast and furious with the occasional scam of, "Here, you give me $20.00 and I'll give you 2 $5's to pay with.". Regular sailor bullshit as I've ever heard!

3 Don Basham identified that there were 7 dinners paid for by "no-shows" but that 6 people who showed up at the last minute actually paid for 6 of those and wondered how to divide the remaining dinners. "A doggy bag?" was asked followed by laughter. Then a fellow wanted to thank somebody for his chicken dinner last night... since he ordered fish! "Did you order fish?", was asked and he said, "I don't care what I ordered, the waitress came by with chicken and I grabbed it!" Don then asked if there were any feelings about changing the format of the reunion dinner as he felt it might be better to only have the bar open before and after the dinner. The cost of keeping the bar opened was asked and it was made clear that, even with the bartenders, the guys were only charged for the drinks they ordered. Don brought up that originally the restaurant had asked for $300.00 for the room and that the "bar" was to be an $80.00 per hour expense but our Ron Mueller had convinced them to forgo the "extra" for the bartenders. (Way to go Ron!) The general consensus was to keep the bar open as long as they weren't being charged. Norm identified that once the room charge was divided back among the crew that the dinners cost $36.61 per person. The difference was obviously paid from Bergall funds. There was general discussion that a "room charge" was pretty exceptional and should be seriously considered at the next reunion. It was said that there was no charge at Nags Head but, then again, that was off-season.

4 Don then open the discussion of Association officers. He started with: "Do you want to nominate and elect new officers?" With a silent room, Don returned, "That moves that the nomination be closed!", followed with laughter, "There are two chairs that are open. Norm, right now, is serving Secretary and Treasurer and would like to split the functions to two guys. I believe Abe Kern said he would be agreeable to be the secretary." It was moved and seconded that Abe be given that position. Someone asked if there was a vice-president opening. Don continued, "And now to vice-president. Rod Lovdal has expressed agreement to the position." Another crew added, "Rod spent quite a few years on the 320 and he couldn't make Chief Sonarman so they had to send him to OCS. At the end of his career he came out as a Lieutenant Commander and I think Rod will make some significant contributions and ideas, so I see it as a good deal." This was moved and seconded. Rod said his thanks which were returned in typical Bergall fashion... "He should buy a round of drinks.", "You can have business cards made up with that on it.", "But you don't get an aide."

5 Don asked for an archivists report. As Chuck Kennedy (west coast archivist) hadn't arrived yet, it was passed to Abe Kern for an east coast report. "We've been low profile. As you know, both Bergall bells are history now and I've written to several guys, who are on the internet, asking about Bergall items. If you have anything, I don't want physical possession of it! I'd like to know what you have, what it is and we will inventory that. If you want to make memoirs or statements, send it to Mike and he'll put it on the internet. Anything that's physical, hang on to it but let us know what you have.", Abe reported. A crew asked, "Abe, just to clarify this, are you saying just make a list of what we have, but eventually...?", and Abe replied, " If you want to give up possession of it you can but we have no place to keep it so you might as well keep it 'til we get a sight. We're trying to hook up with one of these museums that can be sustained but, you know, a lot of this stuff is dying off with us." Parke Spicer spoke up, "There's a guy here, I won't mention his name because he may not want it known, I asked him about it last night, I doubt that there's anybody here that has his qualifying card." Someone raised his hand and Parke was surprised..."You DO?" and another guy injected, "He showed it to me last night!" One guy replied, "I don't even remember getting one!" Parke was looking at his and furthered, "Here's my qualifying card and it's signed by all of the officers and, you can't make out any of the others." An older crew said, "That must have been you LATER sailors. We didn't HAVE qualifying cards." This was followed with a general discussion that the qualifying was always recorded in your records and that those records may have been lost when the records branch in St. Louis burned down back in 1950. It was further stated that your service record was intact but history of your sub school attendance, prior to 1950 and other schools have been lost. (editor's note: The sub school will reissue your school certificate if you can identify when you went through. Their records are intact and they are very considerate in helping you old farts! My father's records ('46-'48) of school dates, rates and tours was requested from St. Louis and received intact.) One of the crew piped up, "I have a funny story, I had a Dunhill (cigarette lighter) and it ran out of fuel after a while and I found some in another locker. I refilled my lighter and I went up to take a smoke on the cigarette deck. I lit my cigarette and threw my lighter overboard!"

6 Don returned to the business with: " Next reunion, Duluth, MN. September 17-22, 2002 and we have a local coordinator of Bob Peterson." "The 17th of September? Is that BEFORE it snows?", one asked. Bob said that was much before it snows! One of the guys was looking through his files and said, "Damn, I still have my liberty card", and was answered, "You better have it... you're on liberty!" Bob said, "We're gonna pull this thing off. We've got 12 guys who are expecting 2,000 to come. They hired a lawyer from the university to put it on, for big bucks, so we hope it goes ... she's done a lot of conventions." Carl Weber identified that this IS a national convention for the USSVI and that the Bergall Association had voted last year to hold our reunions with the USSVI and USSVWWII convention on alternating years and 2002 was the USSVI's turn. Bob was asked to confirm his status as coordinator and he signed up. It was asked if this was going to be in the Polaris (the magazine for the USSVWWII) and Carl replied that this was something we should really make an effort at... to put this information in the magazines of the different submarine and Navy groups. Carl said that a lot of Bergall guys were asking earlier if there was going to BE a reunion... "Maybe they didn't get our letter or they got a letter and threw it away, but we should use this free advertising. You don't have to pay to put information into most of these magazines." Parke Spicer said, "Hey, it took me 40 years to find you guys, so there's bound to be lots of guys out there that don't have a clue!" Don said said that we had sent out over 200 snail mail letters and he got over 50 back

7 Don identified a change for this next year in the collection of money for the next reunion dinner. All money will be sent to Norm Ferland as this will reduce the confusion of checks being received by two or more guys and having to properly record and control the funds. It was also discussed that a firm list of dinner selections was needed to help the restaurant properly handle the evening. Ron Mueller said that he DID do that and even had a list printed up and available. Parke replied that he couldn't remember what he ordered so he took one of each!

8 Don asked for any new business. One of the crew asked if the 2002 reunion committee could come up with a list of activities other than the dinner like tours and stuff. Don Basham added that he liked the way it went down last year... all the guys congregated on the beach to drink beer and tell stories and the women were free to go shopping or whatever. The question was brought up, "Is there ANYTHING to see in Duluth?" Someone chimed in, "Coal ships!" . Bob Peterson responded that you can't even get a room up there right now... it's a very popular place.

9 Don asked for any other new business and one of the crew asked about the Association logo being made into a patch. After a brief discussion of some shops and their setup charges, Parke Spicer said the 50 SS-320 patches he had made up cost $35.00 for setup and he would look into having 50 or so going if the guys wanted. Parke also asked that anybody that wants one of the SS-320 patches to get with him as he still has about 30 left.

10 Don then cleared that Norm still had 10 Bergall caps left for the SSN-667 and that if we get orders for the SS-320, we'll take care of that as well. Chuck Kennedy said that he had been contacted (by Mike Brood) about getting some Bergall shirts made up but once he forwarded the info, he never heard back. Norm said that we hadn't received any feedback on them and didn't think there was really any interest. Norm also said interest had been expressed last night by those that saw Moose Grossetta's "Bergall shirt" and that Moose could also get us a deal on shirts. This is still to be looked into.

11 Chuck Kennedy, asking if we were still open for new business, stated that the convention in Reno in 2003 was to be a joint effort of the USSVWWII AND the USSVI. Although they will have separate business meetings, it's a big breakthrough that the two groups were getting together! The Reno Hilton is offering 1,000 rooms for the joint convention for the dates of September 7-14, 2003. It was put up that with THAT many submariners... we'd run Reno out of beer.

12 Don then asked Chuck for his west coast archive report and Chuck identified that the fins for the SS-667 were located at an art project up in Bangor (Editors note: The fins are at North loop trail below Sand Point Head (a.k.a. "Kite Hill") and north of swimming area, Warren G. Magnuson Park, Sand Point Way and NE 65th, Seattle, WA. and the web site link is posted on our site.). One of the guys noted that a recent offering on EBAY auction site offered all of the memorabilia of Blenny Commander Faggon and showed his dismay that the stuff was being sent to the four winds but also some of the items were commanding a very high price.

13 Don asked again for any new business... and with no response moved that the meeting be closed. This was seconded and the meeting was closed.

This site is dedicated to the men that served on the USS Bergall.
For reunion and membership information, contact Dick Fiske, dixf@cox.net
E-mail your comments and additions to Mike Brood, mbrood@bergall.org