NAL Meeting Minutes

NASA ALUMNI LEAGUE

JSC CHAPTER

MEETING OF THE OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2009

12:00 NOON

TIETRONIX

1331 GEMINI, SUITE 300

MINUTES - REVISION 1

1.  The Officers and Board of Directors of the NASA Alumni League - JSC Chapter met at noon on Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at the offices of Tietronix, 1331 Gemini, Suite 300.

 2.  Those attending were: Frank Hughes, Mary Stang, Norman Chaffee, Marianne Dyson, Andrew Hobokan, John Lee, Guy Thibodaux, and Chester Vaughan.  Those unable to attend were: Lonnie Jenkins, Gary Johnson, and Don Nelson.

 3.  The Minutes of the March 11, 2009, meeting were reviewed and approved without change.

 4.  The Treasurer’s report was presented by Mary Stang.  Our total assets are $42006.02, not including a deposit of $45 made today by Norman Chaffee.  A copy of the complete report can be found on our website.  A CD valued at 4.9% will mature at the end of this month.  We agreed to renew CDs for a period of 12 months instead of 36 months, until further notice - to allow the interest rate to rise.

 5.  We have supplied requested information about our tax status and relationship to the national NAL organization to the IRS and are awaiting their further response.

 6.  Frank Hughes reported on the successful “Lessons Learned” panel discussion our members presented for the JSC Chief Knowledge Officer on Monday, March 26, 2009.  It was conducted in JSC building 16, conference room 253, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  It was well attended - the room was overflowing and several were turned away due to lack of space. The presentation was video taped for later viewing by interested staff on the website of the Chief Knowledge Office.  The initial feedback from the attendees was very complimentary. This presentation will be repeated at a later date for the Energy Systems Division staff.

 7.  The next “Lessons Learned” panel discussion will also be a panel discussion (in a larger room) at lunchtime in mid June.  This second session will focus on the power systems and cryogenics systems of the Propulsion and Power Division. Details of date, time and place are TBD.

 8.  Frank Hughes and Norman Chaffee will meet to establish a list of possible future “Lessons Learned” topics for this series of presentations for the JSC Chief Knowledge Officer.

 9.  The Spring Social/Dinner will be held on May 14, 2009, in the Alamo Ballroom at the Gilruth Center.  The speaker will be retired test pilot and astronaut, Joe Engle.  Frank Hughes agreed to contact Joe to get the title of his presentation.  Norm Chaffee will select the menu and prepare and distribute the flyer.  There will be a cash bar during the social.  In order to allow the Gilruth staff time to prepare the room following an afternoon event, we will begin our activity at 6:00 p.m.  The social period, with cash bar, will be held from 6:00 - 6:45 p.m.; dinner will be held from 6:45 - 7:30 p.m.; and the program will be held from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.  It was agreed we would invite the members of the AIAA - Houston Section to join us at this meeting (either for dinner or afterwards for the program only).

 10. There will be an Apollo 10 reunion at the LBJ Library in Austin on the evening of April 23.  Several of our members will attend - information was provided in our recent Newsletter.

 11. It was noted that we have now established our Chapter library at Tietronix, managed by Frank Hughes. Frank will set up the lending/return process.  A listing of the holdings is on our website and was distributed to the membership in our recent Newsletter.  The standard lending period will be two weeks, and borrowers must be NAL members.  One new volume was added - a compendium of the Apollo missions issued 5 years ago by MOD for the 35^th anniversary of Apollo 11.

 12. Frank reported on an Apollo 11 event to be held July 19 in Dallas at their Museum of Flight. Contact Frank for more information.

 13. Marianne Dyson arranged for NAL to get 10 discounted tickets to the upcoming RNASA awards dinner to be held May 8 (honoree is previous NASA Administrator Dr. Michael Griffin).  The 10 tickets will be available for $100 each through next week. Contact Marianne Dyson to reserve a ticket.

14. Norman Chaffee will send information on the 2-Volume Space Shuttle Orbiter DDT&E Conference publication (1981) to the Officers and Directors, and to the JSC Chief Knowledge Office. (Note; This set of two documents was entitled “Space Shuttle Technical Conference”, held at the NASA Johnson Space Center June 28 - 30, 1983.  The Conference Proceedings were published as NASA Conference Publication 2342 (Part 1 and Part 2) in 1985. The compiler of the Proceedings was Norman Chaffee). The documents can be ordered from the Government Printing Office.)

 15. The meeting was adjourned at 12:50 p.m.

 Submitted by

Norman Chaffee

Secretary

 ______________________________________________________________

NASA ALUMNI LEAGUE

JSC CHAPTER

MINUTES OF THE OFFICERS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2009

12:00 NOON

TIETRONIX OFFICES

The Officers and members of the Board of Directors of the JSC Chapter of the NASA Alumni league met on Wednesday, January 14, 2009, at 12:00 noon, at the offices of Tietronix, 1331 Gemini, Suite 300.

 Those attending were:  Frank Hughes; Chester Vaughan; Mary Stang; Norman Chaffee; Andrew Hobokan; John Lee; Don Nelson; Guy Thibodaux.

Unable to attend were;  Marianne Dyson; Lonnie Jenkins; Gary Johnson.

 1.  The minutes of the November 14, 2008, meeting of the Officers and Board of Directors were approved.

 2.  Mary Stang, Treasurer, reported the following financial status of our JSC Credit Union accounts:

     Share Account               S-1              $5.15

     Checking Account          S-75      $1524.53

     Money Market Account  S-77       $1994.70

     6 CDs                                         $37736.34  

      Total Value 1/14/2009                $41260.72

      The next CD due to mature is dated 4/27/2009

 3.  Mary Stang will prepare our Chapter input to the national NAL 2008 income tax submittal. She will also tell the IRS that our Chapter operates under the national NAL ID number, and that we do not have a unique Chapter ID number. This is in response to an IRS inquiry.

 4.  It was reported that our Chapter contributions of $3000 each to Space Center Houston and the Challenger Center (at the Houston Museum of Natural Science) have been sent and the checks have been cashed. 

5.  Norman Chaffee reported on his 30 - minute meeting with JSC Center Director, Mike Coats, on November 24, 2008.  Frank Hughes was unable to attend.  Norm informed Mr. Coats of the new Officers and Directors who were elected in the fall of 2008. He told Coats of our support to the JSC Chief Knowledge Officer, and reiterated our Chapter interest in supporting JSC when a need matched our abilities.  It was a cordial and useful meeting.

 6.  Our Chapter will continue to support the efforts of the JSC Chief Knowledge Officer (Jean Engle).  Norman Chaffee has agreed to form a panel of Propulsion and Power Division alumni to present a "lessons learned" session for interested JSC personnel, focusing on propulsion and power topics.  Chet Vaughan and Guy Thibodaux agreed to participate, and we will also invite Hubert Brasseaux, and perhaps others. Norm will take the lead in scheduling a meeting of this group to select topics of discussion, and to agree on an anecdotal format.

Frank Hughes will call Jean Engle by February 1 to try to set up a plan/date for this first session. Based on how this session is received, we will try to schedule others focusing on other topic areas.

 7.  It was agreed that our spring social will be targeted for May at the Gilruth Center, and we will try to get Joe Engle to be the speaker.  In addition, Norm Chaffee will set up an afternoon session featuring the video series "Moon Machines" at the Gilruth Center this spring, with light snacks, to see if there is a reasonable attendance from the membership for this type of event.

 8.  The JSC Education Office is interested in finding NASA retirees who may be interested in talking to high school students in their classrooms in the local JSC area.  Norm Chaffee will work out the details of the request with JSC and will post the information in our newsletter.

 9.  Norm Chaffee was contacted by the Houston Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), for assistance in identifying NASA retirees who have made significant contributions to the NASA mission, and who also have an ancestor who served in the Confederate forces during the Civil War.  The UDC gives an annual Space Leadership award and would like to find candidates for the award.  Norm will post the information in the next newsletter.

 10.  Norm Chaffee was also contacted by a media producer, Richard Paul, who is producing a series of historical programs for radio and TV on early minority contributors to the NASA programs in the period 1961 - 1966 or so. He is particularly interested in identifying African - American professionals from that time period. Norm will also post this request in the next newsletter.

 11.  Our incipient Member Services Committee consisting of Norman Chaffee, Andrew Hobokan, and Dick Ferguson is still in the formative stages. Frank Hughes will call Dick Ferguson to verify his willingness to serve.  The goal is to produce a handbook of information for NAL members to supply information and contacts about benefits, insurance, actions to take upon death of a member or spouse, etc.

 12.  We will establish the NAL library at Tietronix. Norm Chaffee has a collection of books received from NAL - National, which may be of interest to our members. Norm will provide a list of the books to Frank Hughes for posting on our website, and will deliver the books to Frank, who will house them at Tietronix, available for checkout by our members.

 13.  The discussion of an active blogging site for our Chapter resulted in a decision not to pursue the idea.  It could not be hosted on a company computer due to security reasons.

 14.  Norman Chaffee will produce a newsletter before the next meeting.

 15.  The meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.

 Submitted by Norman Chaffee, Secretary

NASA ALUMNI LEAGUE

JSC CHAPTER

OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2008

12:00 NOON

TIETRONIX, 1331 GEMINI, SUITE 300

MINUTES

1.  The meeting of the Officers and Board of Directors of the JSC Chapter of the NASA Alumni League was held at Tietronix, 1331 Gemini, Suite 300, at 12:00 noon, Wednesday, October 8, 2008.  Those present were: Norman Chaffee, Frank Hughes, Don Nelson, John Lee, guy Thibodaux, Mary Stang, Andrew Hobokan, Gary Johnson.  Unable to attend were: Chester Vaughan, Marianne Dyson, Stan Faber, and Dick Ferguson.

 2.  The Minutes of the last meeting on August 13, 2008, were reviewed and approved.

 3.  There was no Treasurer’s report available, as Stan Faber was traveling. Norm Chaffee reported that he knew of no expenditures since the last meeting, but that there had been several deposits of member dues and rebates from NAL HQ - so our balance should be slightly more than reported in August.  Frank Hughes asked if Stan Faber was still planning to convert part of a soon-to-mature CD to cash to support our annual contributions to Space Center Houston and The Challenger Center. Norm Chaffee indicated that was the plan, and reminded the Board that we had earlier voted to give each organization $3000 this year.

 4.  Norm Chaffee appointed an Audit Committee consisting of Gary Johnson, Andy Hobokan, and John Lee to meet with Stan Faber and Mary Stang to effect the handover of the Chapter financial records from Stan, as outgoing Treasurer to Mary as the new Treasurer.  This should be accomplished in the next month if possible.

 5.  Norm Chaffee reported on the recent election results as given him by Lonnie Jenkins, the Election Teller.  The proposed slate of Officers and Directors was elected unanimously, and is as follows:

President - Frank Hughes; Vice President - Chester Vaughan; Treasurer - Mary Stang; Secretary - Norman Chaffee; Directors - Marianne Dyson, Andy Hobokan, Gary Johnson,  John Lee, Don Nelson, Guy Thibodaux.  These Officers and Directors will serve until August, 2010. 

 6.  The transition of the Treasurers will be as noted above. The transition of Presidents will be worked out by Frank Hughes, incoming, and Norman Chaffee, outgoing President.

 7.  The cancelled Fall Social and Dinner (was to be Sept. 11) has been rescheduled for Thursday, November 6, 2008. It will be held in the Alamo Ballroom at the Gilruth Center.  The speaker will again be Dr. Julie Robinson, Chief Scientist for the ISS Program, speaking about “Science on the International Space Station”.  The social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a cash bar and snacks; dinner will be served buffet-style at 6:30p.m.; the program will begin at 7:15 p.m.; and we will conclude at 8:30 p.m. Cost for members and spouses is $15, and for non-members is $20, which reflects a $5 underwriting for the members, as previously voted by the Board.  Norm Chaffee will issue the new flyer and handle reservations.

 8.  Norm Chaffee indicated he had been sent a set of CDs representing the six-part Discovery Channel series called “Moon Machines” which was prepared a year ago for the Discovery Channel, and for which we helped supply contacts and information. Norm suggested a series of programs at the Gilruth Center for our members and others, probably scheduled for late afternoon, and with beer and refreshments to show the six programs - perhaps in three different gatherings.  The Board agreed and Norm will work on this plan.

 9.  Norm Chaffee reported that there had been no change in the badging status regarding our NAL access badges to JSC. The Center is still honoring and issuing the badges, but will convert to the new kiosk system probably before the first of the year.  We are working with JSC Security to maximize the access permitted by the new badges and to allow a period of validity up to five days.  Norm is working with Scott Mather in the Security Branch.

 10.  Norm Chaffee and Frank Hughes will meet on October 9 with Brent Fontenot of the JSC Chief Knowledge Office, to see how our Chapter can help with their activities.

 11.  It was suggested that the new set of Officers plan to meet with the JSC Center Director and some of his staff in the near future, as we did a couple of years ago. The Board agreed and Frank Hughes will try to set up a meeting.

 12.  Norm Chaffee mentioned other possible projects the Chapter could be involved in, including helping to identify residual hardware from the Shuttle Program that could be used for educational purposes after the Shuttle Program is terminated; and the possibility of holding a competition for artists from universities or other organizations, to decorate the exterior of the new Saturn V building.  The Board expressed support for these ideas and they will  be brought up with JSC officials as appropriate.

 13.  There was no further new business or old business, and the meeting was adjourned at 12:40 p.m.

 Norman Chaffee

Secretary

MINUTES OF OFFICERS AND BOARD MEETING JULY 9, 2008

The Officers and Board members of the JSC Chapter of the NASA Alumni League met at noon on Wednesday, July 9, 2008, at the offices of Tietronix at 1331 Gemini in Houston, TX.

 Attending the meeting were Norman Chaffee, Frank Hughes, Stan Faber, Don Nelson, John Lee, Marianne Dyson, Chester Vaughan, Andrew Hobokan, Guy Thibodaux.

Not able to attend was Dick Ferguson.

 1. The minutes from the last meeting on May 14, 2008, were approved. There was no meeting in June, 2008.

 2. Stan Faber provided the Treasurer's report, as follows:

Our accounts in the JSC Federal Credit Union are:

Shares account              S-1          $5.09

Checking account          S-75     $270.46

Money Market account   S-77   $1390.17

Total 6 CDs                             $41310.91

 Total assets                             $42976.63

Assets 12/31/2007                  $42550.51

 3.  Norm Chaffee asked for Board approval for the purchase of stamps, envelopes, printer paper, and a gift of kolaches for the JSC Security staff in building 110 which provides our NAL badges to our membership.  This was approved.

 4.  Norm reviewed the status of the JSC access badges. jSC Security is still indicating no change in the badging policy as it affects NAL.

 5.  Norm reviewed the special Global Warming presentation arrangements for the Tom Wysmuller talk at Gilruth on July 22. It was requested that Norm check the availability of the Alamo Ballroom in case the turnout is too large for the Lone Star Room upstairs, which is presently reserved. Action was accomplished but was not needed.

 6.  Frank Hughes will follow up with potential speaker, Dr. Julie Robinson, Chief Scientist for the ISS, for our August dinner meeting. 

 7.  Norm Chaffee will follow up the request for a data base of the professional expertise and experience of our membership, which was requested by Jean Engle's Information Office.  This will be sent out as a request to the membership to respond in our next Newsletter.

 8.  Norm reported that we are receiving forwarded mail from our recently closed P.O. Box.

 9.  Norm will continue the action to form a Membership Services Committee to explore areas in which our chapter could provide additional services to our members. 

10.  Norm verified that the JSC contact for information on recent retirees is Ms. Wendy Gardner (Missy) at mail code AH8.  Missy sends Norm info on retirees and he sends each retiree a letter inviting them to join the NAL.

11.  Norm reviewed the information on the planned NASA 50th anniversary celebration to be held September 27, 2008, at the Galveston Convention Center.  Information on the purchase of tickets was also reviewed.

 12.  Our Chapter is due to have an election of officers in August, 2008, for a new set of 2 - year terms.  The following board members indicated a willingness to continue to serve:  Don Nelson; John Lee; Chet Vaughan; Andy Hobokan; Guy Thibodaux; Marianne Dyson.  Dick Ferguson will not continue as Secretary, and Norm Chaffee is willing to run for that position. Frank Hughes will run for President, relinquishing his position as Vice President. Stan Faber would like to give up the Treasurer's job.  Norm will send out a call for candidates and nominations in the next Newsletter.

 13.  Norm will issue the next Newsletter in the next week.

 14.  There was a brief discussion of the following items:

        NASA is looking for people to contribute brief stories about their service/ careers - 150 words or so.

        Marianne recommended the website  TheSpaceShow.com

        There was a discussion of putting together very brief oral histories from our members on very narrow topics.

         Norm mentioned that he had a large collection of NASA books that had been sent by NAL HQ, that could constitute the elements of a small library for our members to check out.  Frank offered to host the collection at Tietronix. Marianne suggested that all new volumes be referred to her for review (by her or some other member) and that the reviews be published in the Newsletters in the future.

 15.  Don Nelson asked that we query NAL HQ about their activities and their currently inactive interface with the chapters. If they are doing anything we don't know about it.  This will be a topic for a future meeting.

 The meeting was adjourned at 1:05 p.m.

 Submitted by Norman Chaffee

August 6, 2008

Minutes of the JSC NAL Board Meeting

12/5/07