The monthly meeting of the Widows and Orphans Aid Association was called to order by Secretary Joe Reilly on Tuesday, June 10, 2012 at 1:48 p.m. in Room 150 at the Hall of Justice.
Past President John Centurioni opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call of Officers:
Secretary Joe Reilly, Treasurer Dean Taylor, Trustees John Centurioni, John Keane, Al Luenow Sally Foster and Harold Vance were present. President McDonough and Vice-President Robert Mattox were excused. Past President Centurioni acted as chair.
Approval of the minutes of the April meeting:
A motion made by Luenow, seconded by Keane, to approve the May minutes passed without objection.
Receiving applications for new members, suspensions and reinstatements:
The Association will have representatives at the Academy Wednesday, June 27th to enroll members from the most recent Academy Class.
Communications and Bills:
Routine correspondence and the normal monthly bills were received in May, including the attorney’s final bill for review of our ERISA status. A motion by Vance, seconded by Foster to approve payment passed without objection.
Secretary Reilly reported that the Association received a $100.00 donation from Jonathan Jones (SFPD 1964-1968) in memory of George Guglielmoni and William Koenig
Report of the Trustees:
The Association received notice of two deceased members this past month:
Carmello J. Pulizzano, 95 years, native of Santa Clara, California, 66th Academy Class,
Star #436. Carmello worked as a teamster before his appointment to the Department in September, 1950. From the Academy (two weeks in those days) he was assigned to Ingleside Station where he remained until November 1960 when he was transferred to Communications, housed at the Hall of Justice in those days and managed by the Department. He later transferred to the former BCI (Bureau of Criminal Information (Records)) and then to Taraval Station in November, 1975, from where he retired in 1976. Carmello was awarded a 2nd Grade Meritorious (Silver) Medal of Valor in 1955 for his role in the apprehension of several suspects during a vice investigation, one of whom had pulled a gun on the officers.
James F. Martinez, 89 years, native of Marysville, California, graduate of Galileo High School, 66th Academy Class, Star #1368. James served in the USN during World War II and was appointed to the Department in September, 1950, after working as a warehouseman. From the Academy (a two week Academy!) he was briefly assigned to Richmond Station where he served until his transfer to Northern Station in 1952. James would spend almost his entire career at Co. E, remaining there after his promotion to Sergeant in 1969 and a temporary promotion to Lieutenant in 1981, until he retired in 1983. James received the following Medals of Valor: 1969, a 2nd Grade Meritorious (Silver) Medal of Valor for surviving and fatally wounding a crazed attacker who had wounded the Sergeant in an exchange of gunfire; 1977, a Bronze Medal of valor for disarming a suicidal woman who had stabbed at the Sergeant, avoiding injury, saved by his vest; 1979, a Silver Medal of Valor for disarming a man armed with a .22 caliber handgun in the Emergency Room of St. Francis Hospital, taking the suspect without incident by impersonating a doctor; 1979, a Gold Medal of Valor for disarming a suspect during a family fight after a long tense standoff with officers who were exposed to the potential gunfire.
Unfinished Business:
Joe Reilly reported the Postal Service will impose a yearly fee of $190.00 for use of non-profit postage, in addition to the cost of stamps, regardless of how few mail pieces we may send.
New Business
A discussion followed among members of the Board regarding the increase in retired members that the Association will be seeing in the coming months as the DROP program ends its first year after being suspended by the City.
Good of the Association:
If you are a Widows and Orphans member whose dues are deducted from your paycheck and are retiring soon, or if you have retired in the last year, please remember that payroll deductions for dues stop once you are retired. Dues payments are not deducted from retirement checks. (Automatic payment through the credit union is not affected) Please contact the Association for instructions on maintaining your membership. Members can contact the Association at woaasfpolice@gmail.com in addition to the Association’s voice mail phone number
(415) 681-3660, or speak to any one of the Association officers.
Adjournment:
Past President Centurioni set the next meeting for Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 1:45 p.m. in Room 150 at the Hall of Justice. A moment of silence was observed for all our deceased members. The meeting was adjourned at 2:19 p.m.