News Letter
ATTENTION 44TH ASSOCIATION MEMBERS and ASSOCIATES
Two of our members have received an email allegedly from me requesting a discreet email response and of course no phone contact because “I am in a meeting”. Then this person requested the members buy 5 - $100.00 gift cards and before mailing send him/her a picture of them in a return email. His/hers intention was, by having picture sent to them he/she would have the numbers without needing the actual card to cash them in. Fortunately for us and un-fortunately for this person we are/were military and we know how to verify orders…. and calls were immediately made and scam was averted.
It is my belief that this person got the email addresses from our Website to perpetrate this scam. It is important that fellow 44th Alumni and those wishing to legitimately contact the Association can and we as officers will remain available to them. Please understand no one from our Association will ever make any such request and all funds required for its function will be approved by the Officers and Board of Directors before being issued.
Sincerely,
Rex Hurd
President
44th Engineers Battalion Association
Please take note of our Treasurer’s address so you do not send funds to the wrong place
Ron Powell
Treasurer
2023 Graystone Dr.
St. Charles, MO 63303
As we all know our Officers and Board of Directors had decided to cancel this year's reunion due to the pandemic but we do plan on having next year's reunion at the same place and close to the same dates; September 15th thru 17th, 2021. Of course we will have more details to follow. Believe me this was not done lightly but with the best interest of our membership at the core.
The plan is to have next year’s reunion at the same hotel. Below is our host hotel and FYI the room rates are the same at $114.99 which does not include tax. Believe me for the St. Louis area this is reasonable and our hospitality room is complimentary. I would recommend that you wait until after the first of the year to make your reservation, just to avoid any confusion that may occur crossing calendar years.
BEST WESTERN PLUS The Charles Hotel,
1425 South Fifth Street,
St.Charles, Missouri 63301
GROUP NAME: 44th ENGR BN.
Hotel Direct: 636.946.6936 Toll Free: 888.274.0988
Fax:636.946.9640 WEBSITE: www.bestwesternSTL.com
Remember those of us that wait to pay our membership at the reunion that this year you will have to mail it to our treasurer. To be in good standing your membership has to be paid before the September’s business meeting and it technically expires on December 31st of each year. You will find if your membership date is more than 2 years to arrears, we will be flagging 2018 and earlier, you are in danger of going on the inactive roster. This will be noted by a yellow highlighter over the date. The line under your name and membership number is the last year your membership was paid for example; 2020. On the line with your name there will be, for example; Your Name (###) this number in brackets is your membership number. When you are submitting a renewal of membership or corresponding with the association, this number is helpful for us finding you on the roster and insuring that you are properly credited.
We have a plan that all Korean War Veterans, (serving from 1950 to 1954) not be charged membership dues. This association was started by them and in a small way it is a token of our appreciation. For those of you that may qualify for this please understand this does notinclude amenities at the reunion and banquet fees, you still are responsible for these. If you wish you may of course continue to pay membership but it will not be obligatory.
Keep in mind that at next year’s business meeting our elected officer’s two year term will be expiring. So it will be important to attend the meeting or place a proxy vote. There will be, if possible, a list of candidates and positions they wish to be considered for this spring and summer. Contact me if you wish to be considered for one of these positions: The President, Vice Presidents (1st& 2nd) and Treasurer. These shall be elected by the Association members at their annual reunion meeting. All others shall be appointed by the President. All officers shall serve for a term of two (2) years or until their successors are appointed.
Treasurer’s Report for 2020
Our bank account balance was stated in our mailed out Newsletter for membership.
These were our major outside expenses for the year, not including mailing outlays for newsletter and other normal business expenses:
Microsoft 365 Online Essentials From GoDaddy Renewal
Websites + Marketing Premium Renewal
Full Domain Privacy and Protection - Renewal 44TH-ENGINEERS.COM
.COM Domain Renewal 44TH-ENGINEERS.COM
It was decided by the Officers and Board of Directors that our Association’s debit card be used to pay for the website expenses. The automatic renewal was turned off so GoDaddy cannot charge our account on its own, it has to be authorized by Treasurer.
At our next in person business meeting there will be full bank records for membership to review. If you have a specific question about our finances please feel free to contact our Treasurer Ron Powell.