Texas Voyageur News (TVN) Oct - Dec 2022

La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas

TEXAS VOYAGEUR NEWS

GRAND CHEFS PASSE

2022 Present Roger Folmar V 605

2021 John Rodgers V 1031

2019 2020 Renslar Keagle V 605

*2018 George Murphy V1031

2016 2017 Joe McCullough V 542

2014 2015 David Knutson V 175

2013 Lowell Mix V 542

2012 Dan Thompson V 1055

*2010 2011 Ronnie Wheeler V 1031

2009 Milton Chatham V 312

*2008 James Fowler V 1031

*2007 Jim Shannon V 1601

*2006 Gabe Cina V 1031

2005 James Overturf V 1031

*2004 David Kjell V 1185

*2003 Howard T. Ray V 542

*2002 Chuck Donaldson V 939

2001 Jerry Brady V 1055

*2000 Darrell Gibbs V 1031

*1999 Ronnie Wheeler V 1031

*1998 Lanny Givens V 1601

1997 Robert Nagle V 1031

*1996 Norm Rader V 605

*1995 John Thompson V 1031

*1994 Don Barfield V 939

*1993 Henry Martin V 377

*1992 Hugh Brice V 163

*1991 Robert Toon V 1123

*1990 Dale Dillman V 1514

*1989 James Boone V 1077

*1988 Bud Sands V 1096

*1987 Andy Andreko V 1031

*1986 Bill Knox V 605

*1985 John Powell V 542

*1984 Charles Geisenberg V 163

*1983 L. C. Burgett V 377

*1982 Benjamin Reskey V 605

*1981 Ray Lerma V 246

*1980 Eben Smith V 542

*Denotes Deceased

SEE FULL LIST AT at www.texasboxcar.org

From Grand Chef de Gare Roger Folmar

Greetings Grand du Texas! Wishing everyone An early Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to come!

Grand du Texas was well represented at the Nationale Promenade in Green Bay. Our new Chef de Chemin de Fer is Frank Kronen from Ohio. On the National level Renslar Keagle was appointed Director for Public Relations. The following were appointed to National Programs: John Rogers Sous Directeur membership, Sean Habina Sous Directeur Voiture Activities, and Roger Folmar Sous Directeur Carville Star.

Texas also received many awards: Grand du Texas Best Publication without advertising, Voiture 266 Child Welfare and Voiture 605 excellence in ritual, locale wrecking crew for number of wrecks, greatest work in Americanism, best publication, and best publication showing utilization of public media. Congratulations to all our winners.

As we all know we just started a new year, and it is time to get busy working the programs. Of course membership is of the utmost importance because without members we can't do anything.

If you need pins, contact the Grand Directeurs, their contact information will be in this issue of the TVN.

In closing a reminder that if you would like me to attend one of your events please let me know.

Thank you for your service to God, Family and Country.

Roger Folmar Grand Chef de Gare

La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas

TEXAS VOYAGEUR NEWS

2022 MEMBERSHIP REPORT

MEMBERSHIP MOVING ALONG!

I’m happy to say that we are over 70%. Thank you to all who are moving along with their membership.

Voiture 1031 is at 100% and the only locale who is above 100% is Voiture 175. Thanks Dave Knutson! We need to follow his lead.

And as I always say… LETS GET R DONE!

John Rodgers Grand Chef de Train

Sous Directeur Membership

Cheminot National Report

(by Cheminot Nationale Renslar Keagle)

Glad to be back from the 103rd Promenade Nationale at Green Bay Wisconsin. Grand du Texas was represented by our Grand Chef de Gare Roger Folmar, John Rodgers (V 1031), J. Sean Habina (V 542), Mike and Alison Hall, (V 605), Dale Thompson (V 605) and myself as Cheminot Nationale. Everyone made it back safely and Grande du Wisconsin did a great job.

Twelve Chef de Chemin de Fer Passes in attendance, 102 grand delegates with 20 alternates, 75 locale delegates with 10 locale alternates for a total of 189 delegates.

A few things to report there is no change to our password, it remains the same for 2023. Cheminot Nationale approved the termination of 20 locale charters due to many issues mostly lack of interest in continuing or membership.

Last year for 2022 12 POW/MIA scholarships @ $750 ea. Approved. For 2023 ten have been approved for $1200 ea. The Commissaire Intendant reported the mortgage on the headquarters has finally been paid off. Over $25,000 in building repairs have been completed. The email newsletter The Voyageur Briefs will now go out bi monthly.

Ardery Children’s Trust There is 1.9million in the trust with income for 2022 at $13,365 pins and donations. Only three grands made requests for assistance. Child Welfare, all 2022 pins sold out with 24 grands purchasing pins. There were only 21 reports from grands. $9,000 donated to the Ardery Trust Fund.

Reporting very poor among grands. Carville Star 15 grands. Youth Sports 12 grands. Americanism 25 grands. Ritual 15 grands. POW/MIA 15 Grands.

La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas

TEXAS VOYAGEUR NEWS

Americanism Based on reports, 47 schools received Flags for First Graders programs for 7,399 kids. Last year sold 3000 of 3,300 pins. V 605 won the Nationale award for best Americanism program.

Public Relations The TVN received the awards for best grand newsletter. V 605 newsletter The Train received two awards, one for best overall newsletter among locales and grands and for newsletter best promoting the Forty and Eight programs.

Finally, the 2023 Chef de Chemin de Fer is Frank W. Kronen, OH. Sous’ are Terry Chatfield, NC; Steve Dirks, MN; Janie Miller, FR; and Deborah Reynolds, FL.

Renslar Keagle, TX V 605, appointed National Directeur of Public Relations; J. Sean Habina, TX V 542, Sous National Directeur of Voiture Activities; John Rodgers TX V 1031; Sous Directeur Membership; Roger Folmar TX V 605, Sous National Directeur of Carville Star.

CHANGES FROM WITHIN

(by L’Editeur David Knutson)

If you look over the membership report left you will notice some locales have grown in size. Most of this growth is not from new members coming in but transfers from locales which surrendered their charters this year. Among those are Cameron County Voiture 231, Jefferson County Voiture 312 and Tarrant County Voiture 1185. That leaves 10 Locales within Texas.

We are grateful to those Voyageurs Militaire who have transferred and are still a part of Grand du Texas. The locales who gained these members should be welcoming and invite the new members to participate as they can.

Harris County Voiture 163 is setting the example of overcoming the challenges of distance for their members by holding their Promenades via ZOOM. This allows more members to participate like Voyageur James Baca who hosts the ZOOM events and is still active from his home in Indianapolis, Indiana!

We still need to bring in new members to truly grow. However just signing folks up does not work in La Societe. We do our best when we set the example by working our programs. Even one or two programs can show others the

benefits of being a member of La Societe. Concentrate on one program and then once that is going well then add another and so on! People like to belong to something that does good for others. We just need to let them see what we do and ask them to help. If they are willing to help then they have proven they can be an active member and should be invited to join.

Correspondants

Corner

(by Grand Correspondant Renslar Keagle)

It’s November, so we are in our fourth month of the 2023 membership year. Transmittals are going forward it seems weekly now is the time to review each transmittal card for completeness and accuracy. Emails change frequently and at times addresses and phone numbers. The Nationale portion of the card is very important to be accurate and up to date. That portion updates Nationale’s Grande du Texas roster as well as their records on each of us as Voyageurs Militaire.

That being said, once again we have not done the best job of keeping me informed of leadership among our locales. I have some indication of who is running things at the locale level but have gotten nothing but silence from many. All I can assume is that there have been no changes. As your Correspondant, I receive most of the information, emails, Directeur communications, etc. coming out of Nationale. I pass that on to what information and emails I have for locale Correspondants and Chefs. but many are being returned as failed or bad emails. So I have to go by the Nationale roster and hope it is correct and updated by the locale.

Each locale of course has to have a Correspondant, some Chefs elect to be their own, no problem. I think it is a good idea for a locale to have a Sous Correspondant. This is an important job and it does not hurt to share duties or the knowledge of the position.

Our Grand Chef de Gare came back from Nationale with a handful of awards for locales and Grand mostly from one locale because of their accurate and detailed reporting. These national awards are a big deal and a major part of this event. We harp on reports all the time and we will begin the process at the Spring Cheminot in Killeen when these awards will be presented.

La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas

TEXAS VOYAGEUR NEWS

Pins I’m sure the Grand Chef will mention pins but we brought back pins for several programs contact each grand Directeur to coordinate pins for that program. We’ll bring all available pins to the Cheminot.

I’m available at all times for help and assistance.

FORTY AND EIGHT 201 PROGRAMS

(The Program Directeurs)

A brief recap of FORTY AND EIGHT PROGRAMS 101 (Jul Sept issue of the TVN)! Reports were only received from a handful of locales. Even if you are only working one program and meeting 4 times a year it is enough to submit a report! Every Locale should be able to support at least ONE program and really do more without realizing it. Reports will show you the good things you do and where you can do more!

If you are not sure what to do with your program who do you contact?

First stop should be www.fortyandeight.org and read up on the program. Most questions can be answered there!

Second stop is your Grand Program Directeur. Most of our programs are very straight forward but some can be more involved especially when it comes to doing your annual reports!

AMERICANISM

Grand Directeur Michael Hall

E Mail: Hallmd1973@outlook.com

A report from the Grand Americanism Directeur is on the following page.

CHILD WELFARE

Grand Directeur Les Lobdell.

E Mail: les.lobdell@gmail.com

Child Welfare covers many things. Assistance via direct donations, assistance for food/clothing/rent, health care, parties/toys/gifts, Boys State/Girls State/etc.

Don’t forget to get your Child Welfare PINS to give out to teachers, coaches, those who support children!

CARVILLE STAR

Grand Directeur Roger Folmar

E Mail: rfolmar@elp.rr.com Cell: 915 269 7775

As most of you know not only am I your Grand Chef de Gare I am also the Grand Directeur for Carville Star. If you need pins, let me know, but pins are just one way to support the program. You can buy subscriptions for the newsletter Star, $2.00 each, buy a country or clinic, $50.00, and donations. Buy a country/clinic provided 100% of monies to the program, where pins only provide about 50%.

This year our special project is to restore the monument which list all the patients who died before the cemetery was built. In closing I wish you a successful year.

NURSES TRAINING

Grand Directeur Doug Pendleton

E Mail: Patrice.doug52@gmail.com

Nurses Training is one of our best programs with funds available from your Locale, Grand or Nationale.

A simplified Nurses Training Application Form is available on the front page of the Grand du Texas website: www.texasboxcar.org

Make sure they get a Nurses Training PIN!

YOUTH SPORTS

Grand Directeur Keith Reiss

E Mail: keith.reiss07@gmail.com

La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas

TEXAS VOYAGEUR NEWS

Time and donation for equipment all can help more than you think.

Locales can be reimbursed from funds available from Voiture Nationale up to a maximum of $1,000 per Grande Voiture!

We need to do better in reporting our activities. Keeping track of what you do for Voiture Activities can help document all you do for all your programs which will provide you with all the information you need for all your program reports.

Keep track of number of people involved hours, miles and money spent. Keep track monthly and your annual reports will be a breeze.

VAVS

(Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service)

Grand Directeur: Clarence Hill

E Mail: chill652@yahoo.com

The Forty & Eight, as are most Veterans Organizations, is an active member and participant in the VAVS program. As part of this program, Voyageurs (called Representatives or Deputy Representatives) represent the Forty and Eight by regularly attending the VAVS Committee meetings at their Local Veteran Administration Medical Centers (VAMC’s). They as well as other Voyageur Volunteers visit the VAMC’s on a regular basis, where they give comfort and assistance to, or just visit with, the hospitalized veterans. VAVS Volunteers are a priceless asset to the Nation’s Veterans and to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Forty & Eight has adopted an additional program for these veterans, called "Keep Those Wheelchairs Rolling." Under this program, the VAVS Representative (or Deputy Representative) writes a brief letter outlining a "need" of the patients. These "needs" may cover a project, equipment or comfort and convenience items needed by the hospitalized veterans. The entries are then judged on the need and benefit to the patients, and those selected receive the item(s) requested, courtesy of the National Box Car Association.

Voiture Activities

Grand Directeur: J. Sean Habina

E Mail: jseanhab@yahoo.com

POW/MIA

Grand Directeur: Renslar Keagle

E Mail: rennykeagle@gmail.com

No one doubts the importance of the POW/MIA program, it's important scholarship fund and fund raising efforts through pin and other sales. But this time of year, all you are going to hear about is reports and do not doubt their significance.

Here is a tip, if you are making an effort to do reports, start with the Americanism report, from there hours easily transfer over to many others including POW/MIA. Any function or event that has a POW/MIA chair, table or flag can be counted. Including travel, miles and hours. When I traveled from El Paso to San Antonio for our Cheminot, every hour, mile and money spent counts. When I attend my American Legion post for an event/meeting that has a POW/MIA Flag it counts. Get a copy of the report now and take a look from the national website go to resources and look for the Petite Communique.

Box Car

Grand Directeur John Rodgers

E Mail: rodgersjohn393@yahoo.com

The National Box Car Association was founded in 1965 as an affiliate of “La Societe’ de Forty & Eight” with the primary purpose of preserving the Box Car as the symbol of the Forty & Eight.

Funding comes through the sales of Box Car Pins, Crew Cards, and Associate Cards, Patches, Train Whistles, and Box Car Coins. Crew cards are sold only to Voyageurs Militaire or members of the 40&8 while Pins and Associate cards can be sold to anyone wishing to make a donation for the NBCA.

La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas

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Public Relations & Special Awards

Grand Directeur David Knutson

E Mail: davidknutson@sbcglobal.net

Phone: 512 736 2377

Submit your photos or news to L’Editeur David Knutson for the TVN (Texas Voyageur News) published 4 times a year. The L’Editeur also manages the Grand du Texas website at www.texasboxcar.org and the Grand du Texas Face Book page.

Americanism

Bonjour,Ihopeeveryoneiswell.WiththestartofanewyearandtheNationalPromenadebehind usweallhavealotgoingonandtolookforwardto.WhileIamsureithasbeenmentionedalready Iwouldliketocongratulatetothefollowingvoyageurswhoareeitherreturningtoorforthefirst time have beenappointed toa national position: Renslar Keagle Directeur Public Relations,Sean Habina Sous Directeur Voiture Activities, John Rodgers Sous Directeur Membership and Roger FolmarSousDirectorCarvilleStar.

ThispastyearIonlyreceivedAmericanismreportsfrom3localesand1localesenttheirsdirectly tonational.RemembersendalllocaleprogramreportstothecorrespondingGrandeDirecteurnot National!IknowthelistwasinthelastissueoftheTVN,worst casegetwithorsendthemtothe Grande Correspondent to forward to the Directeur. This year I really want to have 100% of the locales send me their Americanism Report, butlet us get toat least 50% we are leaving tomany hours unreported. Americanism hours are all around us and are the easiest to come by. I am workingonaquickreferenceguideforfillingoutthereportthatwillhavelistingofwherehours can come from for the different categories. The easiest and quite possibly the most overlooked waytogetreportablehoursisbyproudlyflyingtheflagathome.

WhileIcannotfindmynotestolisteverythingindividually;congratulationstothelocalesandour grand as well on the awards that we received this year. Without the help of all of our dedicated voyageurs,theserecognitionawardswouldnotbepossiblekeepupthegoodwork.

Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorneedanyhelp.Pleasecontactmeathallmd@elp.rr.comYoumayalso contact Grande Sous Director of Americanism Alison Thompson Hall at Alisonthompson@elp.rr.comforassistance.

Michael Hall Director of Americanism, Grande du Texas

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La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas TEXAS VOYAGEUR NEWS

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VOITURE 605 NURSES TRAINING FUNDRAISER A SUCCESS

V 605, Grand du Texas, El Paso held their annual Oktoberfest Schnitzel Dinner fundraiser for nurses training Saturday October 22, 2022, from 5 8 pm. Ticket sales started slow but jumped to over 100 meals prepared and successfully served to our community. Special thanks to our Chef de Gare Mike Hall and Correspondant Alison Thompson Hall for their hard work in prep along with a bunch of other helpers and donators.

Photo left: The local Chapter of the DAR donated $300.00 to our FFFGs program by Past DAR Regent Sandra Balliet who in return was given a check for $300 for Wreaths Across America for placement at Fort Bliss.

Nurse in training Alejandra Ramirez (center right) received her $500.00 semester tuition check. Our recent graduating nurse Ruby Maltos (center left) received her 40 & 8 nurses training pin with diamond as a recent RN graduate. Presenting was Chef de Gare Mike Hall (left) and Nursing Directeur Mary Anderson (right).

Pictures by V605 Historien Joe Salazar.

La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grande Voiture du Texas

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KERRVILLE HOSTS VERY SUCCESSFUL RUN FOR THE WALL RIDERS EVENT!

The 40 & 8 (Voiture 1055), Le Femmes (Cabane 1055), VFW POST 1480, POST 1480 Auxiliary would like to Thank RFTW for choosing us to host your annual Reunion dinner and breakfast. We look forward to it every year to visit with our extended family of the RFTW Riders. It's so nice to see the riders we have met over the years and also meeting new riders. So we would like to thank you again for letting us be part of your journey of never letting those we've lost to be forgotten.

Grande Voiture du Texas

TEXAS VOYAGEUR NEWS HAWAII MERCI BOXCAR RESTORATION PROJECT

(by L’Editeur David Knutson)

An extensive restoration project is underway in Hawaii on the 49th boxcar of the Gratitude Train. Given to the District of Columbia and the then territory of Hawaii the boxcar itself ended up in Hawaii only to become victim to the elements and neglect.

Now the full restoration of the Hawaii Merci Boxcar is moving along under the direction of Historian and Merci Car Project Manager of the Hawaiian Railway Society, Jeff Livingston

Jeff has been donating many hours to the restoration project. With a few volunteers coming in on occasion to help out the project has a long way to go until it is finished. Support from the mainland has come from some of the folks associated with www.mercitrain.org but funding is always a concern. Anyone can make a donation (please specify Merci Boxcar Restoration) via their website at: Donate to the Hawaiian Railway Society

Side door near completion after work done on metal frame and wood replaced.

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John Francis “Jack” Winslow

Grand Conducteur Jack Winslow died Thursday, September 1, 2022, after being diagnosed with cancer in February 2022. Born in Boston, Massachusetts 3/23/1945, he was the son of Percy Olan Winslow and Catherine Desmond Winslow. John being a common Winslow family name, he was nicknamed “Jack” at an early age. He was preceded in death by his parents and his oldest son, John Christopher Winslow. He is survived by his son Scott Eric Winslow (Anita) and a granddaughter, Dylan Winslow.

Jack graduated from Reading Memorial High School in 1963. Soon after graduation, he joined the United States Air Force, January 1964. Jack served as an Airman earning ranks to Tech Sgt by retirement in 1987. He was stationed at many bases in the United States, along with Thailand, South Korea, England, and Germany in those 23 years. After retiring from the Air Force, Jack was then one of the first 100 people hired at the new Bureau of Engraving and Printing Western Currency Facility in Fort Worth, TX, serving as a union steward for many of those years, until his retirement. His retirement did not last long as he soon found a job combining work and his love of golf, working at Southern Oaks Golf Club in Burleson, TX as a marshal Jack loved sports from an early age, sneaking onto the neighborhood ball field often. He often could be found playing softball, bowling, and golfing or watching his favorite sports on television. It really was a struggle for Jack when the Cowboys and Patriots played each other.

Jack was a proud veteran and active member of the American Legion and The Forty and Eight, serving as the Grand Conducteur du Texas since 1992. He was also a Germany Forty and Eighter from the Eiffel Region in Bitburg, Germany. Jack loved his family and his country. He continued to instruct and enforce the United States Flag Code as often as he saw a need.

Inurnment services with United States Air Force Military Honors were held at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery on Friday, September 23rd, 2022, at 11:30 a.m.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bluebonnethills.com for the Winslow family.

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Jack and Nina 1999

Members of Voiture 1185 in Fort Worth October 2, 1999.

row Jack Winslow (deceased) Ruth Zmroczek. 2nd row Noel Ehresmann, Dave Kjell (deceased), Nina Winslow, Daniel T. Zmroczek. Bottom row Cloyd Rowel (deceased), Jerry Brady and Karen Brady

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Last Issue of 2022