CAROLINA PIEDMONT BASE MEETING MINUTES
Meeting Date: March 28, 2026
CALL MEETING TO ORDER
• Base Commander Mike Hubbell called our meeting to order at 1350 hrs. at VFW Post #9138 located in Fort Mill, SC.
• The meeting followed our potluck meal including some fabulous homemade desserts all brought in by our base families.
INVOCATION
• Base Chaplain Raymond Fritz started off our base meeting with an invocation.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
• All joined in saying our nation’s Pledge of Allegiance, led by Base Commander Mike Hubbell.
USSVI CREED
• The USSVI Creed was read today by Kevin Walker.
TOLLING OF THE BOATS
• Tolling for the 8 boats, which were lost during March months past, was presented by Ray Fritz and the bell was rung by Bill Strand.
MEMBER INTRODUCTIONS
• 19 base members plus 9 ladies were present at today’s meeting.
• A former shipmate of Bob Bunney joined us today; Macon “Bucky” Clark who lives in Lenoir NC and who recognized Bob when Bob was honored as a veteran at a Clemson Tigers football game last year. Bucky qualified in submarines aboard the USS John C. Calhoun (SSBN-630) in 1972.
SPECIAL EVENT
• Holland Club Inductions
Holland Club Inductions (a tradition which was established nationally in 1964 honors submariners who have been qualified in submarines for 50 years or longer) were conducted today at our base meeting at the Ft. Mill VFW.
Joel Tuchfeld, who is our base Holland Club Representative, ceremoniously inducted 2 base members today; Tom Kelly (qualified aboard USS Skate SSN-578) and Andrew Miller (qualified aboard USS Greenling SSN-614) were honored today as both men first qualified in submarines back in 1976.
Rodger Ellingwood was also scheduled to be inducted today but was not able to attend today’s meeting.
REVIEW OF LAST BASE MEETING MINUTES
• Members are reminded that minutes for each previous month’s base meeting are posted on our Carolina Piedmont website at carolinapiedmont.org for their review. Members are encouraged to read the previous month’s meeting minutes prior to attending our next base meeting.
No comments or corrections were received on last month’s meeting minutes.
READING OF THE TREASURER’S REPORT
• Base Treasurer Bill Strand read our latest treasurer’s report. Combined monies in all base accounts stand at $20,046.60 as of 03/28/2026.
BASE STOREKEEPER REPORT
• Jeff Nieberding, our base storekeeper, is our contact for ordering patches, vests, challenge coins, calendars, parking signs, and other USSVI items.
OLD BUSINESS
• Election of Base Officers for the next 2-year terms:
The office of Base Vice-Commander, currently held by John McHugh is up for election.
The office of Base Treasurer currently held by Bill Strand is up for election.
Joel Tuchfeld agreed to be our Election Master again for this year’s elections.
• Nominations began for these two base-officer positions and were taken during today’s meeting.
Incumbent Treasurer Bill Strand was re-nominated for the office of Base Treasurer.
Kevin Walker and Dave Violette were both nominated for election to the office of Base Vice-Commander at today’s meeting.
John McHugh indicated he would be stepping down as Base-Vice Commander as of this year.
All three men indicated they would serve as base officers in the event they were elected.
Nominations as of today are now closed.
• Election of Base Officers
Elections for these two base-officer positions will now commence after today’s meeting and will continue until just prior to our next base meeting in April.
Joel Tuchfeld, our Election Master, will be sending out an email to all base members on how to vote for only one person for each office. Emails will need to be returned to Joel before our next base meeting for counting.
Results of the elections will be reported at the next base meeting and those with the most votes will be sworn into their new office positions at this same meeting in April.
NEW BUSINESS
• 3 separate motions were conducted at today’s meeting to provide financial relief related to places of business and persons still living with the effects of Hurricane Helene in the NC Mountains from back in 2024. Monies voted on today will be distributed out of our Sharing & Charing Fund which has leftover monies from our fund raising conducted back in 2024:
Motion 1 to American Legion Post 47: Motion was made by Mike Hubbell to donate $1,000 for replacing the roof of American Legion Post 47 located in Waynesville NC… Motion was seconded and approved.
Motion 2 to City of Spruce Pine NC: Motion was made by Mike Hubbell to donate $5,000 to the City of Spruce Pine NC to assist businesses in lower Spruce Pine to rebuild and “get back on their feet.” Motion was seconded and approved. The check will be presented to the city at one of their city council meetings in the near future.
Motion 3 to Gene Ipox: We have assisted Gene Ipox in the past with funds to help him totally rebuild his house when he lost everything including house, cars and possessions during the flooding from Hurricane Helene. It was reported rebuilding of Gene’s home is nearing completion but Gene could use assistance in obtaining some furnishing for his rebuilt home. Motion was made by Mike Hubbell to donate $1,000 to Gene towards this effort, motion was seconded and approved.
Checks will be distributed to Mike Hubbell by our treasurer Bill Strand at our next meeting for Mike to make the necessary presentations.
GOOD OF THE ORDER
• Kaps-4-Kids Report by Dave Violette
Dave reported he has confirmation with Jeff Gordon Children's Center for our next K4K event. We will be participating in their activity event on Wednesday, 8 April, from 11:00am - Noon (muster at 10:30am). Dave was looking for 2 volunteers to participate in this event. Both Rick Petitt and Joel Tuchfeld agreed to participate.
Dave explained that events at Jeff Gordon Children's Center are held in the mornings prior to patients being discharged from the center. There is also a possibility we could visit children in their rooms. Dave is anticipating around 10 kids participating (said he’s preparing for 15 kids).
Jeff Gordon Children's Center is located at 77 Lake Concord Rd NE, Concord, NC 28025. Specific instructions on where we will meet will be provided with the final notice for the event. Our contact person is Alexandria McClain, Event Coordinator. We will be mustering at 10:30am.
Please respond to Dave if you are available and willing to attend. Assignments will be made on a first response basis. You can also call Dave on his cell: 704-651-6320 if you have questions.
Future Kaps-4-Kids visits (from Dave’s Schedule):
5 Wednesday, May 13, 2026 1:00-2:00 pm Levine Children's Hospital
6 Wednesday, June 10, 2026 TBD Ronald McDonald House
• Bilge Rats Report by Raymond Zieverink
Raymond reported that we’ve had 3 Bilge Rats performances to date in 2026, all were extremely appreciated by the visitors who attended, and today after our base meeting, our performers will perform their last performance for 2026 and under the directorship of Raymond Zieverink. Raymond reported that he would be retiring from being director of the Bilge Rats after this last performance.
The Carolina Piedmont Base would like to say Bravo Zulu to Raymond for his many years organizing and managing performances to spread the good humor and cheer of the United States Submarine Service.
• Reminder Burnsville Moonshine Mountain May 15 – 17
Get your registration forms in to Rick Petitt soon, if you haven’t already done that.
Rick reported that 31 persons have registered to date.
• USSVI Regional Meeting at Golf Port MS – Michael Hubbell
Mike attended the regional meeting in Gulf Port and said it was excellent and very informative and reminded us that this gathering is open to all submariners to attend.
• Color Guard – Michael Hubbell
Mike reported that we are looking into the possibly presenting of colors at the Caromont Health Park in Gastonia at one of this year’s Ghost Peppers baseball games.
GOOD OF THE ORDER (cont.)
• Reminder USSVI National Convention Sept 6th through 11th – Michael Hubbell
Mike reminded us to begin thinking about attending the USSVI National Convention this year which is being held on Corpous Christi, Texas.
• New USSVI National Website Launch
Mike reported that the new National website for USSVI was scheduled to launch on March 31st but it was observed that the old National website is currently still up and available.
Base members are informed they will have to establish a new logon to gain access to the new National website but instructions for that are provided once you first locate the new website.
Log into: https://www.ussvi.org to find the new website.
• Spring Picnic Canceled:
Tom Kelly reported that the spring base picnic at the Catawba Nuclear Station Pavilion Park has been canceled for this spring as the plant will be in a unit shutdown and both Tom and Jeff Nieberding (both badge employees at the plant) will be unavailable to escort persons as they will be working on the Saturday during our April meeting.
• Fourth of July Celebrations:
Catawba Park Celebration Canceled: Tom Kelly initially stated the Catawba Park would be reserved for watching fireworks for the 4th of July celebration, however, after feedback from folks who came for last year’s celebration, the traffic jam that occurs thru Lake Wylie is horrible since they close the Buster Boyd Bridge during the fireworks launch at Lake Wylie and it takes way too long to escape up north or to head east after the fireworks displays are finished. With that said, nothing formal is planned at the Catawba Park for this year’s 4th of July celebration.
Base member Howard Murray, who is also a member of Ft. Mill VFW where we meet, suggested that maybe our base, the VFW and American Legion in the area might plan on a combined celebration together for our nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.
• South Carolina Submarine Veteran License Plates
Tom Kelly reported that South Carolina, now like North Carolina, has their own specialty license plates that submarine veterans can purchase.
Logon to SCDMV website at: https://dmv.sc.gov/ and then search under License Plates for SC Form MV-37 for the list of specialty veterans license plates. The US Submarine Veteran’s plate box to check is located on Page 3 of 4 of form MV-37.
NEXT BASE MEETING
• Our next base meeting will be held on Saturday, April 25th at 1300 at the Fort Mill VFW. Doors open at 1230; the meal will be between 1300 to 1400 with the meeting starting at 1400.
MOTION TO ADJOURN
• A motion to adjourn the meeting was made at 1505 hours. Motion passed.
BENEDICTION
• Chaplain Raymond Fritz closed our meeting with a benediction.
RAFFLE RESULTS
• Jeff Nieberding won today’s meeting raffle, congrats Jeff!
Reminder:
• The Ft Mill VFW Post has been having wonderful breakfasts on the third Saturday of each month at their facility. This has become a fund-raising event for the post with the goal of repairing their air conditioning system.
Today’s meeting attendees are listed below:
March 28, 2026, Meeting Attendees:
• Steve Bell
• Bob Bunney – Kathy
• Macon “Bucky” Clark (Bob’s Friend)
• Raymond Fritz
• Mary Gilles
• Mike Hubbell
• Tom Krpata - Janet
• Tom Kelly - Susan
• John McHugh – Donna
• Andy Miller
• Howard Murray
• Jeff Nieberding – Michele
• Rick Petitt – Cindy - Missy
• Calvin Reese
• Zeke Rybczyk
• Bill Strand
• Joel Tuchfeld – Anna
• Dave Violette
• Kevin Walker
• Raymond Zieverink - Linda
Minutes Respectfully Submitted by:
Tom Kelly
Base Secretary