Roll Call: President Sally Foster, Vice President John Centurioni, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, and Trustees, Ray Kane, James O’Meara, Al Luenow were present. Trustees Leroy Lindo and John Keane were excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee Al Luenow made a motion to approve the minutes from last month’s meeting. Trustee Ray Kane seconded the motion. The motion passed without objection.
Applications for Membership; Suspensions, or Reinstatements: The 251st Recruit Class will be graduating from the Academy and into the Field Training Program in mid-September. The WOAA will be responding the Police Academy on Thursday September 8, 2016 at 12:00 hours to present our Organization for membership sign-up. Suspensions: On July 1st we will be suspending any members who have not paid their dues for this year. Per Article III, Section 3 of the WOAA Constitution and By-Laws, we are MANDATED to send a notice of suspension to any member who has not paid their yearly dues for a period of six months. The suspension will be in effect for six months. Dues must be paid with a late fee of five dollars per month during suspension by December 31, 2016. Any member who has not paid dues for the entire year will be stricken from our membership roll effective January 1, 2017. There are currently over 40 members who have not paid their dues for 2016.
Communications and Bills: Communications and bills for the past month were presented by Treasurer Dean Taylor. Vice President John Centurioni made a motion to pay the bills. Trustee Ray Kane seconded the motion. The motion passed without objection.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report this month.
Report of Trustees: We sadly report the passing of the below listed WOAA members:
Loyce D. Tucker, age 71: Loyce “WAYNE” Duane Tucker was born in San Francisco to Loyce and Oma Jean Tucker on September 10th, 1944. He was raised in Noe Valley and graduated from Balboa High School prior to joining the Army. Loyce was listed as being a “station manager” prior to entering the San Francisco Police Department. On April 27, 1970 he joined the San Francisco Police Department and entered the Academy. Loyce would eventually wear star #680. During his 30 year career, Loyce worked at the following assignments: Potrero Police Station (August 23, 1970), Mission Police Station (September 15, 1971), and Support Services Bureau-Garage (December 20, 1977) where he remained as Fleet Operations Manager until his disability retirement on January 16, 2001. On April 5, 1972 for services rendered, Loyce was awarded a Gold Medal of Valor. For services rendered on January 1 1974. Loyce was awarded a Bronze Medal of Valor. Loyce was awarded a Police Commission Commendation for outstanding police work on March 28, 1971, September 29, 1973, October 18, 1973, and January 1, 1974. Loyce was a member of the Freemason’s and Elks Lodge for much of his life. After retirement you could often find him on the golf course at Green Hills Country Club. Wayne and Tutuu (his wife of 38 years) loved to travel. Their best memories were filling up their passports with overseas travel and annual trips to visit family in Finland. Loyce is survived by his wife of 38 years, Tuttu Tucker, his three daughters Valerie Tucker Richardson (sons Cole and Evan), Kelly Tucker Lahr (married to Kurt Lahr and their children Hayden, Owen, and Tessa), and Suzanne DeSelover-Sallie (married to Christopher Sallie and their three daughters Pier, Tuulia, and Romy). A private family service will be held at St. John’s Cemetary in San Mateo and will be followed with a celebration of life at Crystal Springs Golf Club in Burlingame on June 14, 2016, 2:30-4:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Wounded Warriors Program.
Ronald J. Vernali, age 79: Ronald J. Vernali was born in San Francisco on September 19, 1936. Ron was listed as being a “Postal Clerk” prior to entering the San Francisco Police Department. Ron joined the San Francisco Police Department on January 9, 1961. On that day Ron entered the Police Academy and would eventually wear star #533. Ron worked the following assignments during his 29 year career: Ingleside Police Station (April 17, 1961), Potrero Police Station (February 19, 1962), Taraval Police Station (April 16, 1963), Co .K AIB (September 8, 1963, P&R (December 8, 1971), Ron was promoted to Sergeant on January 1, 1972, Potrero Police Station (June 7, 1974), SSB Records (January 3, 1977), Central Police Station (March 30, 1977), Taraval Police Station (February 21, 1978), Ingleside Police Station (April 9, 1980), and Central Station FTO (October 8, 1980). Ron retired with a service pension on November 9, 1990. Ron was awarded with a Bronze Medal of Valor for service rendered on September 3, 1981 at approximately 1700 hours. Ron on-viewed an Aggravated Assault in-progress on the heavily crowded 1000 block of Market Street. The suspect, without provocation, pulled a revolver from his pocket and shoved the barrel into the stomach of the victim and threatened to pull the trigger. Sergeant Vernali realizing the danger to the numerous pedestrians in the area, and the immediate danger to the victim, quickly concluded that the only course of action was to advance on the suspect. Sgt. Vernali signaled bystanders to move away and then grabbed the suspect and a violent struggle ensued. Sgt. Vernali wrestled the gun away from the suspect and negating his efforts to pull the trigger. Sgt. Vernali then took the suspect into custody and likely saved the life of the victim.
Report of Special Committee: Treasurer Dean Taylor reported that he remains in discussion with the San Francisco Police Credit Union in hope to resolve administrative concerns for next year’s dues increase. The SFPCU will need changes in member’s direct payment plan requests. Treasurer Taylor has extended his volunteer time to the SFPCU to assist in this transition.
President Foster led a round table discussion regarding our Constitution re-write. As a group we are confident that our proposed changes are ready for final review. After a review, we will go forward with the necessary steps for adopting the language for a final implementation in our Constitution and By-Laws. We want to have all the proposals in writing for our next meeting.
Unfinished Business: See above Special Committee report.
New Business: No report this month.
Good of the Order: President Foster urged our Board to improve our overall communication. Our book keeper sent out a final reminder last month to members who have not yet paid their dues in 2016. This was not reflected in last month’s minutes.
Adjournment: President Foster adjourned the meeting with a moment of silence for our fallen members. President Foster then set our next meeting for Tuesday July 12, 2016. The meeting is scheduled for 1:00pm at 850 Bryant Street, room #150 in San Francisco, California.
To All Members: Please visit our website at sfwidowsandorphans.org. To make changes of your beneficiary, please use our website and click on the ‘Resources’ box on the upper right side of the toolbar (face page). Click on the beneficiary forms and complete the form with all your updated information including address, phone numbers, and email address. If you are changing your designated beneficiary it will require a ‘signature’ of a Notary, or WOAA Board member. Please use this form for address and contact number changes only which do not require a signature. Send your correspondence, and/or late dues to P.O. Box 4247. San Rafael, Ca 94913-4247. I can be contacted at 415 681-3660. Our continued thanks go out to Retired Captain Paul Chignell of the POA for continually assisting our efforts to contact lost members. We also give thanks to David Ng and Captain Nick Rainsford of Personnel who assist our obituary efforts by providing department assignments during the career of our fallen members. We also thank Sgt. Rachael Kilshaw and Risa Tom of the Police Commission Office who assist us with Department Award information for our fallen members. We thank Traffic Company for their gracious hospitality and patience with our monthly meeting and occasional administrative file work. And last, I thank Ray Shine who greatly assist my efforts each month with this column.
Submitted by Mark J. McDonough
WOAA Secretary