The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department held their monthly meeting via Zoom technology due to the Covis-19 Pandemic. President James O’Meara presided over the meeting which commenced at 1230 hours.Roll Call: President Jim O’Meara, Vice President Al Luenow, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, Trustees Rob Forneris, Leroy Lindo, and Ray Kane were present. Trustees Ryan Walsh and Lou Barberini, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee Ray Kane made a motion to accept the minutes from our June 2020 meeting. Trustee Rob Forneris seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions and Reinstatements: There were no new applications, and no suspensions or reinstatements. The WOAA sent out 50 plus suspension letters in May of 2020. We have received the late payments of dues and fines from only a few suspended members. We have not received a response from over 80% of the suspended members, and their letters did not return which would suggest that the addresses we have on file are accurate. Four letters were returned and we were able to obtain a better address for three of the four. The only returned letter that we have no further address information was for member Christopher Ritter. Please contact me if you have any helpful information in locating Christopher Ritter.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Dean Taylor read aloud the monthly bills and a beneficiary claim for recently deceased member Pedro Alarcon. Treasurer Taylor also presented a bill from our Auditor for $15,500. Vice President Al Luenow made a motion to pay the bills, the death benefit claim, and the bill from the Auditor. Trustee Leroy Lindo seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report this month. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, funeral services at restricted to a maximum 10 family members. We don’t anticipate paying our respects to our fallen members until a Vaccine is created and authorized for use.
Report of Trustees: The WOAA received the sad news of the passing of our following members:
Budd A. Armstrong, age 88: Budd A. Armstrong was born May 22, 1932, in San Francisco, to James and Isabel Armstrong. Budd graduated from Balboa High School in San Francisco in 1951. He was drafted into the United States Navy and served on the destroyer USS Gregory, as a veteran in the Korean War 1952-1953. Budd worked as a “Salesman” prior to entering Law Enforcement. Budd entered the San Francisco Police Department on January 4, 1960 and was assigned to Star #1124. Budd worked the following assignments during his career of twenty-eight plus years: Central Police Station (April 11, 1960), Mission Police Station (February 5, 1961), Potrero Police Station (February 13, 1962), Taraval Police Station (May 1, 1968), Central Police Station (August 1, 1971). Budd retired with a service pension on July 11, 1988, Budd was awarded with a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on November 24, 1972. Budd and his wife Barbro moved to their home in Kelseyville, California where Budd immediately joined the Lake County Sheriff’s Department as a Marine Patrol Officer, patrolling Clear Lake. Budd worked another 16 years and finally after 46 years of being in Law Enforcement, retired in 2004. Budd and Barbro moved to Arizona in 2009 where Budd spent his last years in the nice sunny retirement community of Sun City West. Budd was kind, he was fair, and he was well liked and respected. He will always remain in the hearts of his loved ones. Budd passed away on June 20, 2020, in Surprise, Arizona at the age of 88.
Report of Special Committee: No report this month. The WOAA does not have a Special Committee at this time.
Old Business: Secretary McDonough reported he has obtained two WOAA Presidential Plaques. The Plaques are presented each year for Leadership and distinguished service to our Board President. Unfortunately, due to the current Covid-19 Pandemic, our dinner for outgoing President Ray Kane was postponed. We will schedule a dinner in Ray’s honor when California Governor Gavin Newsom eliminates State restrictions on dining out. The second plaque is for current President Jim O’Meara.
New Business: No report this month.
Good of the Order: No report this month.
Adjournment: President O’Meara led our Board in a moment of silence for current fallen member Budd Armstrong, and for all our fallen members. President O’Meara scheduled our next Zoom Technology meeting for Tuesday August 11, 2020, at 1230 hours.
To All Members: Beneficiary changes require a new form with a signature by a Notary or a WOAA Board member. Beneficiary forms may be accessed from our website at sfwidowsandorphans.org. Click on the Resources box on our face page and a link will appear. Please complete the form with the choice of beneficiary and complete the contact information. Please send the form, and any other correspondence, to WOAA, P.O. Box 4247, San Rafael, CA 94913-4247. I can be contacted by cell phone at 415 681-3660. The WOAA thanks the following people who assist our organization each month to deliver customer service to our members: Retired San Francisco Police Captain and the current POA Defense Administrator Paul Chignell, retired San Francisco Police Lieutenant and the current host of the Gold Country Reaper Website Rene LaPrevotte, retired San Francisco Police Sergeant and the long-standing editor of the POA Journal Ray Shine, David Ng of Personnel, Risa Tom of the Police Commission Office, and to the entire Traffic Command and Officers who graciously afford us space for our meetings and files.
