History of the Foothills Chapter of SC # 301, Korean War Veterans Association, Inc.
In the Spring of 2004 Lew Perry, a member of the National KWVA, contacted Pat Sullivan, President of the Low Country Chapter #185, South Carolina’s first chapter, about the possibility of forming a local KWVA chapter in the Greenville area of SC.
On July 17, 2004 Pat Sullivan sent Lew a packet of information outlining the requirements necessary for establishing a new chapter, and a list of National KWVA members in the Greenville area.
Lew contacted all of the National members in the area to see how many were interested and would support a local chapter. Most all contacted were in agreement and willing to sign on.
After considerable time was spent, trying to locate a suitable place to meet, Lew settled on the branch Library, because there was no cost for the use of the meeting room. With letters to all prospective members, and notice in the local newspapers, the first meeting was scheduled for November 21, 2004.
Nine (9) persons attended the first meeting, called an informational meeting, with our sponsor Pat Sullivan outlining the requirements for starting a new chapter.
The procedure for establishing a local chapter required obtaining the signatures of 12 regular members and four (4) or five (5) officers, on a petition for a new charter, to be sent to National KWVA headquarters.
At the first meeting only five (5) signatures were obtained. From there Lew contacted the members again, by phone, and took the petition to each one to obtain the balance of the signatures before scheduling another meeting.
When the twelve (12) signatures were on the petition Lew called an organizational meeting to elect officers and complete the petition.
The second meeting was attended by sixteen (16) including wives and associate members.
Officers elected were, Lew Perry; President – Francis Thompson; First Vice President - Larry Johnson; Second Vice President – Marcielle Peterson Day; Secretary-Treasurer. Officers appointed were; Lee Ayers, Historian – (Ex-POW) Frank Tooley, MIA/POW officer.
The completed Petition for Charter was mailed to sponsor Pat Sullivan who in turn forwarded the petition to the National Membership Chairman on January 18, 2005 for assignment of a Chapter number.
Since establishing a new chapter also requires having a set of Bylaws, Lew Perry prepared a draft of Bylaws and distributed to the other elected officers (executive committee) for approval. A copy was forwarded to Pat Sullivan January 28, 2005.
The February meeting was a luncheon with the wives, held at the Ryan's Steakhouse on Woodruff Rd. To thank the ladies for their support, a single red rose was presented to each one. Twenty six (26) persons were in attendence.
Our sponsor, Pat Sullivan, brought Clyde Hooks (chapter secretary from Aiken) with him to install our officers. Present were: President Lew Perry, 1st Vice President Francis Thompson, Sec-Treasurer Marcielle Peterson Day, and MIA-POW officer Frank Tooley. Absent were 2nd Vice President Larry Johnson and Historian Lee Ayers.
The Charter was received by Mail from Pat Sullivan on February 28, 2005.
The certificate of Incorporation as a Nonprofit Corporation was received from the South Carolina Secretary of State, Mark Hammond.
Officers elected were, Lew Perry; President – Francis Thompson; First Vice President - Larry Johnson, Second Vice President – Marcielle Peterson Day; Secretary-Treasurer. Officers appointed were; Lee Ayers, Historian – (Ex-POW) Frank Tooley, MIA/POW officer.
The completed Petition for Charter was mailed to sponsor Pat Sullivan who in turn forwarded the petition to the National Membership Chairman on January 18, 2005 for assignment of a Chapter number.
Since establishing a new chapter also requires having a set of Bylaws. Lew Perry prepared a draft of Bylaws and distributed to the other elected officers (executive committee) for approval. A copy was forwarded to Pat Sullivan January 28, 2005.