Winter 2017 TVN

La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grand Voiture du Texas OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GRAND du TEXAS Winner of the Arthur McDowell Award 1991 – 1992 – 1993 – 1994 – 1995 – 1996 for the Best Grand Voiture Publication in the Nation without Advertising

Fall 2017

From the Grand Chef de Gare Bonjour Since the Fall Cheminot Madame President Annamarie Murphy and I attended the POW/MIA recognition ceremony at Ft. Hood and the Veterans Day Celebration in Harker Heights.

I also found our Grand Correspondant who checked in at AL Post 573 for AL 11th District Convention.

We will be happy to see him back with us at the Spring Cheminot in Austin.

I'm wishing all had a HAPPY THANKSGIVING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. WISHES FOR A MERRY CHRISTMAS which is just around the corner! Remember those who are deployed and cannot spend Christmas with their families.

I see we still need help in our membership. V-1031 lost another member and we still can't keep up with our losses.

God bless!

Fall Cheminot Keynote Speaker Congressman Blake Farenthold US Representative Blake Farenthold was the Keynote Speaker for the 2017 Fall Cheminot in Corpus Christi on October 21st.

Representative Farenthold is an active supporter of veterans in the area and we were fortunate he took the time to address our group.

From Congressman Farenthold: “Tonight, I had the pleasure of welcoming members of The Forty & Eight veterans organization to Corpus Christi for their fall conference. I thanked them for their selfless service to our country, and challenged them to help our younger veterans.” https://www.facebook.com/BlakeFarenthold/pos ts/1829952040367205

Locale Officer Listings For those who have not done so yet; Please provide the Grand Correspondant with a copy of your new officer list as soon as possible after you hold your Locale elections.

Send the list to Grand Correspondant Milton Chatham: ccsam@sbcglobal.net THE TEXAS VOYAGEUR NEWS IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT WWW.TEXASBOXCAR.ORG VIA OUR FACEBOOK PAGE “GRANDE VOITURE DU TEXAS” AND AT HTTP://ISSUU.COM/GRANDEVOITUREDUTEXAS

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

Renny Keagle, Sous Directeur Public Relations and Grand Chef de Train du Texas

Membership – Chef de Train, Renslar “Renny” Keagle - At the Fall Cheminot I pointed out some things which I feel need repeating for the benefit of those not there. You know the three monkeys – hear, see and speak no evil?

I feel that sometimes we take that approach on membership – we don’t want to hear about it, are blind to its impact on our Locale, Grand and Nationale and it’s a subject we prefer not to talk about. Don’t believe me – look at our numbers in Grande du Texas – below 300 for 2017. In 2017, 1267 VM were lost to Taps with 1143 new members resulting in a loss of 124. There were 1395 non-renewals, final total loss of 1519 members. The 40-8 now has only 24, 1743 members nationally. If annual losses continue, there will probably be a dues increase in 2020. There was a loss of $27,000 in the general fund from loss of dues from non-renewals and taps. If decline continues at this rate, the 40 & 8 will cease to exist in 20 years – that is a statistical fact.

Our programs, our scholarships, Flags for First Graders - all that we do matter, but without a functioning and growing membership – nothing matters. I can help you with ideas and strategies on membership – more to come on that – our Sous Chef de Trains can also help but if your Locale is not helping itself, then there is little any of us can do. If there is anything specifically I can do, please contact me. I might not be able to jump in my car and drive across Texas on a minutes notice - but there are a lot of other ways we can connect and discuss membership. Very soon I will have my first detailed membership letter

going out to Locale Chefs de Gare and Correspondants – please make sure both Milton Chatham and Dave Knutson have your information. It is unbelievable to me that at this point we still do not know who all of our Locale Chefs de Gare are. But let’s end on a positive note – at the Fall Cheminot there was a lot of positive energy and optimism for the upcoming year – comradery and dedication for La Societe still exists in Grande du Texas – but none of that matters unless that same positive energy and optimism exists at the Locale level.

Membership Report November 24, 2017 Division / Locale

Sous Chef de Train

1st Division

Ron Mick

Current

Goal

Percentage

Ft Worth Lake Dallas

6 1 7

18 6 24

33% 17% 29%

Houston Copperas Cove Beaumont Willis Killeen

23 17 4 7 18 69

28 28 11 19 45 131

82% 61% 36% 37% 40% 53%

16 3 13 7 39

17 14 32 17 80

94% 21% 41% 41% 49%

40 4

37 26

108%

Total

44

63

70%

Grand Total

159

299

53.18%

1185 1601 Total 2nd Division 163 266 312 980 1031 Total 3rd Division 175 231 542 1134 Total

Jim Ryan Austin La Feria San Antonio Kingsville

4th Division 605 1055

Dean Taylor El Paso Kerrville

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15%

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

CHAPEAU REGULATIONS As revised by the National Advisory Committee with concurrence by the Cheminots Nationaux 1978.

1.

All Voyageurs Militaire will wear the blue chapeau with the French blue piping and blue lettering in accordance with specifications.

2.

All current officers of Voiture Nationale shall wear the solid gold chapeau with blue piping and lettering.

3.

All current officers of the Grande Voitures shall wear the solid white chapeau with blue piping and lettering.

4.

Officers of Voitures Locale serving as Chef de Gare, Correspondant and Commissaire Intendent shall wear the solid red chapeau with blue piping and lettering. Remaining Voiture Locale officers may wear the solid red chapeau during term in office, but are not required to do so.

5.

The solid red, white, and gold chapeaux are to be worn only during the term of office, and they will not have the words Locale, Grand, National, nor the year of office on them. See lettering regulations (below) for past-officer chapeaux.

LETTERING REGULATIONS 1.

Voiture Locale: A) Voyageurs Militaire and Past Officers Chapeaux will be lettered the same color as the piping and with 40/8 on the right side of the chapeau (as worn). On the left side the Voiture Locale

number will appear and the authorized state identification below this number. All Chapeaux will have the two letter postal state abbreviation. Past Voiture Locale Officers may wear the blue chapeau with the lettering as above in red. The title of office will be centered across the front and the year in office thereafter. B) On the chapeau of the current Chef de Gare, Correspondants, and Commissaire Intendents, the 40/8, Voiture Locale number, and state will be as above, the title will be centered across the front.

2.

Grand Voiture Officers: Officers of Grande Voitures will lose all identity with any other entity. Only the state identification will appear on the left side of the chapeau. The numerals 40/8 will be on the right, and the title of office centered across the front. Past Grande Voiture officers may wear the blue chapeau with white piping and lettering, and the title of office will be centered across the front with the year in office thereafter.

3.

National Officers: A) National officers will lose all identity with Voitures, Locales, and Grande Voitures.

The numerals 40/8 shall appear on the right side of the chapeau, and the words "des etats unis" will appear on the left. The title of the office will be centered across the front. B) Cheminots Nationaux and Alternate Cheminots Nationaux will have the state identification on the left side of the chapeau and the numerals 40/8 on the right. The title of office will be centered across the front. Past National officers may wear the blue chapeau with gold piping and lettering. The title of office will be centered across the front with the year thereafter.

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

Grand Avocat

Membership and Dues From Grand du Texas Constitution

Protocol and Courtesy: Webster’s definition of protocol is “a rigid long established code prescribing complete deference to superior rank and strict adherence to due order of precedence and precisely correct procedure,” and courtesy is “a well-mannered conduct indicative of respect for, or consideration of other.”

We have no rank in our Great Organization and should not. But when it comes to protocol we have to keep all informed.

The right way to request a Nationale Officer is to submit a request thru Grand who will forward to National. This way the Grande Officers will know of this request, as the Grand Chef de Gare should now of this request.

If requesting a Grande Officer, request should go thru the Grand Correspondante to the Grand Chef de Gare.

We need for all to know and follow protocol. As I have said before every Voyageurs needs to read the The Ritual & Manual of Ceremonies. If you have questions please let me know and I will know the answer or will get it for you.

Also to all Locals if you invite a Nationale or Grande Officer, it is the Locals responsibility to pay for and hotel rooms or other expense as deemed appropriate.

If you have questions please let me know.

Ronnie L. Wheeler Grand Avocat 6209 Lolly Loop Killeen, Texas 76542 (254) 690-7389 (254) 291-4706

ARTICLE V – MEMBERSHIP AND DUES Section 12. DUES. (a) Dues shall be payable to Voiture Nationale in advance of December 31 of each year and payment thereof constitutes the payer a member in good standing until the end of the following calendar year. Dues paid prior to August 1 of any year on account of new members shall be considered as for the current year and those paid on or after August 1 of any year on account of new members shall be considered for the ensuing year. (b) Dues for Grand Officers, Grand Directeurs and Grand Cheminot members shall be payable for the term of years for which they are elected or appointed before the Fall Cheminot convenes.

Section 13.

PENALTIES FOR NONPAYMENT OF DUES. Any member who fails to pay his dues for the current year on or before December 31 shall not be permitted to attend any Promenade until such dues have been paid; any member who shall be in arrears one (1) year in the payment of his dues shall stand suspended and notice to that effect shall be given to him by the Correspondant of his Voiture Locale, addressed to his last known place of residence, and if he shall fail within 1 month from the date of the mailing of said notice to pay the arrears, and such reinstatement fees as may be required by the Grand Voiture or Voiture Locale, he shall stand expelled and may not be readmitted except upon petition in accordance with Section 6 of this article.

Section 14.

EXPULSION FOR TWO YEARS DELINQUENCY. Any member who fails for two (2) years to pay his dues shall, as of December 31 of the second year and without requirement of the notice provided for in Section 13 of this article, stand expelled and may not be readmitted to membership except upon nomination and petition in accordance with Section 6 of this article.

You can find the Full Grand du Texas Constitution on our website under Grand du Texas / Grand Correspondant https://www.texasboxcar.org/grand-correspondant.html

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

Please contact me for Americanism pins or questions about the Americanism Program.

Milton Chatham Grand Directeur Americanism ccsam@sbcglobal.net

VOITURE ACTIVITIES

Charles W. Ardery Memorial Child Welfare Trust Fund The primary function of the Charles W. Ardery Trust Fund is to provide reimbursements of funds expended by a Voiture Locale or a Grande Voiture in meeting the emergent needs of children 17 years of age or younger. Emergent is defined as: A situation which has developed of a serious nature demanding prompt attention." This situation may arise out of natural disasters, i.e., floods, tornadoes, hurricane, fire, etc. Emergent cases are given prime consideration and are undertaken by the Local Voiture where established agencies, (Red Cross, churches, welfare, etc.), are unable to move rapidly or cannot act at all. However, this aid is not intended to replace or supplement that assistance which may be available through established agencies.

For more information contact Grand Child Welfare Directeur Dave Knutson.

Contact Info: Phone: 512-736-2377 Email: davidknutson@sbcglobal.net

This is a program that is intended to be a measure of a Voiture Locale's activities and member involvement. It is a measure of the Voiture as a unit. It is intended to measure the percentage of participation on the part of individual Voitures. In the simplest of terms, the higher the percentage the better the program.

Some of the activities that can be measured by the program, include the following, but not limited to these. * A Brunch, Dinner, Bar-B-Q. * Dance, Kids Party, Flag Respect Demonstration * VA Activity, Party for Patients * Veterans Day/Memorial Day Activity * Any Veterans Organization meeting the Voiture was in attendance. * All Locale Promenades/Cheminots * Grande Events Any activity the Voiture sponsors and any that a quorum of the Voiture is in attendance.

Over the course of the year you should keep track of each of these activities and the number of Voyageurs that attended.

The Dames that are present at these events can also be counted in Voyageur number.

At the end of the year, you will be asked to complete a Voiture Activities report that will be sent to the Grande Directeur and then ultimately on to the National Directeur.

Thomas Orlando Grand Directeur Voiture Activities

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

POW/MIA

YOUTH SPORTS

Directeur Renslar “Renny” Keagle - If you have not seen it, this year’s

To all Chefs de Gare “Grande du Texas”, our Grande Chef has appointed me as Directeur Youth Sports, Grand du Texas. It is my pleasure to serve as your Directeur and I am looking forward to assisting each Voiture as needed in order for us to have a viable and successful program within the Grande. I am asking and counting on your support as well as participation in this program.

I ask that you consider if you haven’t already appoint a Local Youth Sports Representative and have them contact me.

POW/MIA pin is awesome. I still have some available and will have them at the Merci Boxcar. If you can’t wait then contact me – they are $3.00 each but if I mail them to you, please add $5.00 for postage. Best way to contact me is email: renslarkeagle@gmail.com.

At Nationale in Bossier City, LA I learned about a Cabane Program called “Pennies for POW’s.” My Locale has no Cabane but we have decided to promote this program to support them in their effort to help the POW/MIA Scholarship Program.

Our first month we collected over $220.00 and our annual goal is $1,000. I have discussed this with our Grande Cabane and they are going to support this and work with their own Locales – all it takes is a little publicity, a few jars and a flyer or two. At the 99th Nationale in Louisville for 2018 we would love to present a nice check to the ladies from Grande du Texas. Let’s check and see how we are doing at Merci Boxcar and then see how we stand at the Grand Promenade in June in El Paso. Need help or ideas or a flyer? – let me know please.

Thank you and feel free to contact me at any time. Brian Smock-Voiture 266- Copperas Cove, TX Contact Info: bsmock@hot.rr.com HM: (254) 542-2759, C: (254) 220-6088

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

HURRICANE HARVEY CHILD WELFARE RELIEF FUND Sponsored by Le Grande Voiture du Texas To Support - Aransas County Independent School District Funds go directly to purchase technology items needed by the children of this school district which was hit very hard by Hurricane Harvey! GOAL is $20,000!

Send donations to Grand du Texas Commissaire Intendant Roger Folmar 4364 Loma Taurina Dr El Paso, TX 79924

Voiture Nationale 250 E 38th Street Indianapolis, IN 46205 OR Attn: Hurricane Harvey Relief

Questions: Contact Grand Publiciste and Grand Child Welfare Directeur David Knutson 512-736-2377 or davidknutson@sbcglobal.net SEE OUR PROGRESS AT https://www.texasboxcar.org/hurricane-harvey-relief.html

Thank You for Your Support!

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

To all Voyageurs in Grande du Texas thanks for all your support for the Box Car Association over the years. For the past few years the amount of support has been going down, so the Association is not able to support all the programs they used to. VAVS is totally funded by the Box Car Association, Law Officer of the year, City of the year, Hero of the year and on and on.

I am asking that all Voyageurs at least buy a Crew Card for $1.00, be great if you included a pin. For your info if you have the last four pins then you need this years and next years to make the whole train.

Also if you would like any of the coins the whole set or anyone is still available.

2017 COIN IS THE BOXCAR ASSOCIATION TRIBUTE TO LA FEMMES

THE TEXAS VOYAGEUR NEWS IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT WWW.TEXASBOXCAR.ORG VIA OUR FACEBOOK PAGE “GRANDE VOITURE DU TEXAS” AND AT HTTP://ISSUU.COM/GRANDEVOITUREDUTEXAS

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

Get on board the Box Car Train and get your card and pins.

Crew Cards, just for Voyageurs $1.00 Associate Cards, for anyone $1.00 Pins, all years $3.00 Coins, all years (minimum 5) $10.00 Orders can be placed with me at the below address or phone number.

Ronnie L. Wheeler Grand Directeur Box Car 6209 Lolly Loop Killeen, Texas 76542 H – (254) 690-7389 C – (254) 291-4706

American Legion Dept. of Texas Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair Wed, Jan 24, 2018 Omni Austin Southpark Hotel 4140 Governor’s Row Austin, TX. 78744

For More Information Contact your local American Legion Post OR

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American Legion Department of Texas 512-472-4138

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

TRIBUTE TO PAUL CHEVALIER

Paul Chevalier was Grand Chef de Gare du Germany Passe and L’Editeur of the TVN (Texas Voyageur News) for several years. The TVN received several national awards during this time and Paul then moved on to Nurses Training making that an excellent program within Grand du Texas. Paul is shown above at the Fall Cheminot in Corpus Christi receiving a special poem and photo of the Texas Merci Boxcar adjacent the Texas State Capitol. The poem was written by Dorothy Chevalier, Paul’s wife before Myra. Paul passed only a few days after this photo was taken. Paul was buried with full military honors and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Myra and Paul’s entire family.

Below Nurses Training Article Reprinted from 2016

Grand du Texas Exceeds $50,000 in Nurses Training donations!

Paul Chevalier, Grand Directeur Nurses Training, reports that Scholarship Grants given over the past five years total over $50,000 for Grand du Texas per reports submitted. The true total is probably more as less than 50% of the locales submitted a report and not all of them are zero reports.

THE TEXAS VOYAGEUR NEWS IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT WWW.TEXASBOXCAR.ORG VIA OUR FACEBOOK PAGE “GRANDE VOITURE DU TEXAS” AND AT HTTP://ISSUU.COM/GRANDEVOITUREDUTEXAS

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

Forty and Eight National Commander, Chef de Chemin de Fer Kenneth Lafleur and his wife Patricia will be travelling from their home in Louisiana to attend the Pancake Breakfast.

Come out and meet our 2018 Chef de Chemin de Fer! Pay at the door or contact Lowell Mix for tickets Phone: 210-249-6892 or Email: lmix543@yahoo.com

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

SPRING CHEMINOT FEBRUARY 16-18, 2018 IN AUSTIN, TEXAS HOTEL RESERVATION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 1, 2018

HOTEL RESERVATIONS BEST WESTERN Plus Austin Airport Inn & Suites

HOTEL RESERVATION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 1, 2018

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY!

1805 Airport Commerce Drive, Austin, Texas, 78741-4538 Phone: (512) 386-5455 GROUP RATE: $105.99 per night + tax

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY!

(Advise you are with the Texas 40 & 8 Group)

2017 Spring Cheminot Hotel Best Western Plus 1805 Airport Commerce Drive, Austin, Texas, 78741-4538 SAME HOTEL AS 2017

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US 183 and Hwy 71 (Ben White) Austin Bergstrom Intl Airport and Toll Road 130 just minutes east of the Best Western Hotel

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

2018 SPRING CHEMINOT / FEBRUARY 16-18, 2018 REGISTRATION FORM Please fill in the following information to register for Spring Cheminot.

Name: Title or Highest Office held: Voiture or Cabane #: Name: Title or Highest Office held: Voiture or Cabane #: Number Registration

X $25.00 = $

Advance registration is $25 per person Advance registration must be received by February 1, 2018.

Late Registration fee is $30 per person

Program Book Ads Full page Ad - $30

Half page Ad - $20

Business Card - $10

In addition to a hard copy, please send ads via Email to: davidknutson@sbcglobal.net All program ads must be received by February 1, 2018 SEND REGISTRATION AND PROGRAM ADS TO: David Knutson 1904 Rutherford Dr Leander, TX 78641-3138 (Make Checks Payable to Voiture 175) THE TEXAS VOYAGEUR NEWS IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT WWW.TEXASBOXCAR.ORG VIA OUR FACEBOOK PAGE “GRANDE VOITURE DU TEXAS” AND AT HTTP://ISSUU.COM/GRANDEVOITUREDUTEXAS

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

Grand du Texas Continues Hurricane Harvey Relief Many jumped into action to provide assistance to victims of Hurricane Harvey whose devastation covered a large area of the Texas Gulf Coast and inland for many miles. Thousands were in temporary shelters and many still remain in temporary housing while they rebuild.

In the spirit of La Societe, who has historically helps in areas forgotten by others – such as Carville Star, the Grand du Texas has selected the Aransas County Independent School District as the recipient of our Hurricane Harvey Relief. We cannot help everyone and Grand du Texas decided to focus on a small area where we can make a significant difference with our donations.

Suzanne Ransleben is Executive Director for the Aransas County ISD Education Foundation and reports “Rockport Fulton schools in Aransas County Texas were devastated by Hurricane Harvey. Rockport and Fulton were ground zero, and our five campuses have catastrophic damage. Buildings are missing, supplies gone.”

With millions needed to replace or repair critical structures destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Harvey the funds they are raising via the Rockport Schools Hurricane Fund “Fund Me” account stand at just over $90,000. This is a place where anyone can donate and they have received donations from 500+ donors which includes other schools from within Texas.

We have been in direct contact with officials from Aransas County ISD and identified specific areas where our donations can make a significant impact on many of the 3316 students enrolled from PreKindergarten through High School.

Grand du Texas aims to help replace technology needs of the 5 schools in the Aransas County Independent School District with a goal to raise $20,000.

You may send donations payable directly to Grand du Texas or to Voiture Nationale: Roger Folmar 4364 Loma Taurina Dr El Paso, TX 79924 (Grand Commissaire Intendant)

OR

Voiture Nationale 250 E 38th Street Indianapolis, IN 46205 Attn: Hurricane Harvey Relief

A list of donors will be posted on the Grand du Texas website: www.texasboxcar.org This includes Grand du Ohio who has generously donated $500 for Hurricane Harvey Relief.

Grand du Texas will also be working through the Youth Sports Program to give much needed sporting equipment to each of the 5 schools.

David J. Knutson Publiciste, Grand du Texas

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La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grand Voiture du Texas Grande Voiture du Texas Minutes of the Fall Cheminot Corpus Christi, Texas October 21, 2017 1.

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CALL TO ORDER: The Promenade was called to order by the Grand Chef de Gare, George Murphy at 1330 hours, Saturday, October 21, 2017, at VFW Post 2397, Corpus Christi, TX. David J. Knutson, Grand Publiciste, was appointed as acting Grand Correspondant in the absence of Grand Correspondant Milton Chatham. With colors in place, Chef de Train Keagle placed the POW/MIA flag in its proper place in proper form.

The Alter Cloth was placed in proper form and the Devine Blessing was given by Grand Aumonier Lowell Mix. Promenade was opened in ritualistic manner and several Voyageurs had fines levied for a variety of violations.

Grand Chef Murphy recognized the following national officers: Chef de Chemin de Fer 2010 – Gerald Brady; National Sous Directeur Youth Sports – Ronnie Wheeler; National Sous Directeur Public Relations and National Voyageur of the Year Renslar Keagle and National Sous Chef de Chemin de Fer Passe – Lanny Givens.

Grand Chef Murphy recognized the following that were at a Grand function for the first time: Daniel Janik, Chef de Gare V-605; Ricardo Hankerson, Chef de Gare V-1134; Domingo Moreno, Conducteur V-1134; Edward Counelis, Chef de Gare V-231 and Arturo Salas Sr., Avocat V-231.

Grand Chef Murphy introduced Locale 1134 Chef de Gare Ricardo Hankerson who addressed the Grand Cheminot welcoming everyone to Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend area.

GRAND CALL: Read by acting Grand Correspondant David Knutson.

ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: 14 present; 7 absent or excused; 8 vacancies.

ROLL CALL OF LOCALES: 10 Locales represented: 1st Division: V-1185, V-1601; 2nd Division: V-266, V-1031; 3rd Division: V-175, V-231, V-542, V-1134; 4th Division: V-605, V-1055.

GRAND CHEFS DE GARE PASSE: 6 present, 10 absent or excused.

READING OF THE MINUTES: Grand Commissaire Intendant Roger Folmar made a notion to suspend with the Reading of the Minutes of the Grand Promenade held June 11, 2017 in Kerrville since they have been previously published and distributed via the Texas Voyageur News (TVN).

READING OF BULLETINS AND CORRESPONDENCE: None REPORTS OF OFFICERS, COMMITTEES AND DIRECTEURS: a. MEMBERSHIP: Grand Chef de Train Keagle gave report. i. National advises there has been a net loss of over 1,500 members with most of the loss due to non-renewals. Grand du Texas is only at 43%. ii. Information given on new membership standards recommended by Voiture Nationale. Membership numbers were discussed with emphasis on renewals being done early in the year so locales can put more effort on new members. b. POW/MIA: Directeur POW/MIA Keagle gave report. i. Committee at Nationale where a report on scholarships was presented, 13 scholarships at presented and 12 approved. ii. POW/MIA pins available for consignment to locales. iii. VM Keagle reported V-605 is working to assist the Dames with their Pennies for POW/MIA program and will present their donations to the Dames and help them with their program. c. FINANCE REPORT: Grand Commissaire Intendant Roger Folmar gave report.

(Highlights of Finance Report below / Copy of Finance Reports are attached to minutes) i. We still have funds held by previous Commissaire Intendant that has not been turned over yet, but a report of current funds held has been submitted by Commissaire Intendant Passe Baca. Remaining funds and books are directed to be delivered within 30 days. ii. Correction to report from per capita shows $1385, but is actually $885. iii. $2,500 received from previous Commissaire Intendant as initial transfer of operating funds iv. $500 received from V-175 for Central States funds collected v. $250 received from Press Association of La Societe (PALS) as donation for Disaster Relief vi. $409.39 received in reimbursement from Ardery Trust Fund / Voiture Nationale vii. $150 received for Boxcar Maintenance from Voiture Nationale viii. $240 received for Awards from Grand Chefs de Gare Passe d. TIME AND PLACE: Chairman Ronnie Wheeler reported the time and place committee with the following events are scheduled: i. Merci Box Car – Austin, 16-18 Feb 2018 ii. Grand – El Paso, 15-17 June 2018 iii. Fall Cheminot – open, October 19-21, 2018 iv. Discussion on holding Grand events on the 3rd weekend of the month per previous decision at Grand Promenade held.

Events should be held on 3rd weekend unless otherwise approved.

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La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grand Voiture du Texas Minutes of the Fall Cheminot Corpus Christi, Texas October 21, 2017 (Continued) e.

AWARDS: Directeur Awards Ronnie Wheeler gave report. i. Cannot wait to the last 30 days to submit someone for Voyageur of the Year ii. Packages have to go to Nationale iii. Same for Law Officer of the Year, Hero of the Year, etc. f.

AVOCAT: Grand Avocat Ronnie Wheeler gave report. i. Locales need to update their locale constitutions and submit them to Grand Avocat for approval and forwarding to Voiture Nationale. ii. Rituals Manual: There is a new Rituals Manual out. Needs to be followed. g. BOXCAR: Grand Directeur Boxcar Ronnie Wheeler gave report. i. Have 2018 pins and Associate Cards ii. Raffle being done to pay for pins and cards that locales do not buy. iii. Grand du Texas always sends up $1,000 to National Boxcar Association iv. National Boxcar Association donates money to other charities such as VAVS h. NURSES TRAINING: Directeur Nurses Training Paul Chevalier gave report: i. Scholarships totaling $300 from Grand Nurses Training Fund awarded: V-266 ii. VM Brady discussed the scholarship application options and procedures. i.

FINANCE COMMITTEE: Committee Chairman Jerry Brady gave report. i. Budget carried over from previous year. ii. Recommend Commissaire Intendant be able to make adjustments to Budget as needed. j.

CHILD WELFARE: Directeur Child Welfare David Knutson gave report: i. Assistance provided in wake of Hurricane Harvey through Ardery Trust Fund 1. V-175 a. Six children for total of $595.22 (Reimbursed by Voiture Nationale Via Ardery Fund) b. Additional $69.78 in other Disaster Relief expenses c. Total Assistance $665.00 2. V-163 Houston a. Five children for total of $409.39 (Reimbursed by Voiture Nationale Via Ardery Fund) b. Additional $92.20 in additional Disaster Relief expenses (Paid by Grand to Tom Larsen) c. Total Assistance $501.59 ii. Additional funds available at Voiture Nationale through Ardery Trust Fund and Disaster Relief donations k. CARVILLE STAR: Vacant – No Report l.

VAVS: Directeur Clarence Hill - Absent – No Report m. VOITURE ACTIVITIES: Directeur Thomas Orlando-Absent – No Report n. YOUTH SPORTS: Directeur Brian Smock – Absent – No Report o. RITUAL: Directeur Ritual Lowell Mix – No Report p. HISTORIEN: Grand Historien Alan Denman – Absent – No Report q. AUMONIER: Grand Aumonier Lowell Mix – No Report 9. Voyageurs in Sickness and Distress: a. VM Keagle reported Voyageur of the Year Dale B. Thompson was unable to attend due to his recovering from back surgery and unable to get medical approval to travel. He sends his regrets for being unable to attend. b. VM Knutson reported spouse of Grand Chef de Gare Passe Dan Thompson recently fell and was taken to the hospital. Unknown how serious her injury was at this time.

10. Unfinished Business – None 11. New Business a. VM D. Knutson requested information on the Annual Pancake Breakfast in San Antonio from V-542 Correspondant Lowell Mix. VM Mix provided information on the event to be held 7am – 11am on Sat. December 2, 2017, Alamo Post 2, San Antonio. b. Grand Chef de Gare Murphy brought up the new password. New National password given out by Alt. Cheminot Nationale Folmar and is to be passed down to Voiture Locales. Do not write it down! c. VM Folmar brought up the topic of training Voyageurs on training on programs at Grand Events. Had been discussed at Grand Promenade under For Good of Voiture.

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La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux Grand Voiture du Texas Minutes of the Fall Cheminot Corpus Christi, Texas October 21, 2017 (Continued) 12. Good of the Voyageur a. VM Milton Sherwood was recognized and brought up difficulties in bringing in new members and requested Grand Officers and Grand Directeurs become more proactive in assisting Locales throughout Grand. VM Keagle responded by reiterating the information he provided during his Membership Report. b. VM Keagle was recognized and stated that the Press Association of La Societe (PALS) is now available in digital format. c. VM Wheeler was recognized and emphasized that successful locales work programs and that Locale Directeurs can contact the Grand Directeurs to get information on the program. Grand Chef de Gare Murphy added that the new Grand leadership has every intention to assist locales who need help. d. VM Sean Habina was recognized and related she had a serious question that she was unable to find the answer to and wanted to find out if the Grand Chef de Gare knew how much air was needed for the wheels on the boxcar! e. VM Knutson was recognized and provided information about upcoming Central States Promenade and that Grand would be asked to place an ad in their program book. A notion was made by VM Brady to purchase an ad, seconded and carried. f.

VM Knutson was recognized and brought up that VM Tom Larsen has not been paid for his Life Membership given him in 2016.

Grand Chef directed Commissaire Intendant make the payment. g. VM Brady was recognized and brought up that Voiture Nationale has $5,000 set aside for Texas Disaster Relief. i. VM Knutson responded that he would follow up on the funds at Voiture Nationale. ii. VM Knutson also reported about a $500 donation from Grand du Ohio was received by VM Chatham and Grand Chef Murphy had approved the funds be donated to a family in need in the Beaumont area.

13. CLOSING: There being no further business to come before the Grande Voiture, the Cheminot was closed at 1503 hours according to ritual and the Manual of Ceremonies.

ATTEST: David J. Knutson Acting Grand Correspondant

George Murphy Grand Chef de Gare

How much Air in WHAT TIRES?

Photo Above: From the Finance Committee: Jack Winslow, Jerry Brady and Roger Folmar.

Photo Right: Grand Chef de Gare George Murphy in deep thought! If you read the minutes (see 12d) you will fully understand the comment!

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

Fall Cheminot awards dinner

Set up of the Hall by VM Sean Habina was great and wood table decorations made by VM Ed Rehfeld were made from a tree knocked down by Hurricane Harvey. They were given away after the dinner, but if you have one check it out as some have been found to have termites! They were not invited!

Below – VFW Post Commander Lazaro O. Camarillo III (Airborne) welcomes everyone to VFW Post 2397!

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

2017 PROGRAM AWARDS Grand Awards Directeur Ronnie Wheeler Presented To: Winner and 2nd Place Award            

Milton Chatham Award for Americanism Paul Chevalier Award for Nurses Training Jerry Brady Award for Membership Lanny Givens Award for Child Welfare Grand Award for Youth Sports Ronnie Wheeler Award for Box Car Lowell Mix Award for POW/MIA Grand Award for Carville Star Joseph McCullough Award for Ritual Grand Award for Voiture Activities Grand Award for VAVS Lowell Mix Award for Public Relations

First Place

Second Place

V-605 V-266 V-1134 V-605 Not Awarded V-605 V-605 Not Awarded V-605 V-605 V-175 V-605

V-266 V-175 V-605 V-266 V-175 V-266 V-266 V-175 V-605 V-175

Photo left: Voiture 605 Chef de Gare Dan Janik got plenty of exercise as El Paso County Locale 605 took home several First Place awards for their programs.

Photo right: Voiture 231 Correspondant Doug Pendleton claims one of several of their awards for the night.

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

Photo right: Voiture 1134 Chef de Gare Ricardo Hankerson accepts the 2017 Membership Award for his locale

Photo left: Voiture 175 Chef de Gare David Knutson accepts their award for Veteran Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) thanks to the hard work and dedication of Voyageur Charlie Hawkins in Austin.

Photo right: Renny Keagle of Voiture 605 is our National Voyageur of the Year for last year. He is also Sous Directeur Public Relations and Locale Correspondant for V-605. He does their locale newsletter “The Train” and the PALS newsletter. Renny received Correspondant of the Year and accepted the Laverne Eccleston Award for the V-605 Newsletter. He also accepted the Grand du Texas Voyageur of the Year Award for Dale B. Thompson of V-605 who was unable to attend the Fall Cheminot

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

2017 SPECIAL AWARDS      

Paul Chevalier Award for Law Officer of the Year Grand Voiture Award for History Book Grand Voiture Award for Hero of the Year Grand Voiture Award for City of the Year Grand Correspondant Award Grand Voyageur of the Year

Not Awarded Not Awarded Not Awarded Not Awarded Renslar Keagle Dale B. Thompson

V-605 V-605

Top Photos: US 27th District Representative Blake Farenthold addresses the attendees of the Fall Cheminot in Corpus Christi. Below left: Rep. Farenthold presents 92 year old Locale Correspondant Milton Sherwood with a flag flown over the US Capitol and Certificate of Recognition. Below right: Rep. Farenthold is presented with a gift for his service to veterans and for his recognition to the Grande Voiture du Texas at the Fall Cheminot in Corpus Christi, Texas. (Photos courtesy Rep. Farenthold)

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

1960’s Texas Merci Boxcar Provincial Shields Offered for Sale With the February 2017 replacement of the Provincial Shields on the Texas Merci Boxcar the Grande Voiture du Texas has decided to sell the old set of shields. These are not the original shields from the Texas Merci Boxcar, but reproductions made in the 1960s by the Grand du Texas. Some of the shields are unique and were thought to be copies of the original shields, but several shields were made representing other regions of France and were not originally on the Texas Boxcar. The exact story behind this is unknown, but since there was no internet then it is believed the members did their best to copy what they believed to be shields from the appropriate regions of France in 1949. Since there were gifts from many regions of France the theory is that these regions were chosen because they had given gifts to the State of Texas on the Texas Merci Boxcar. It is also theory that the original shields deteriorated due to exposure to the elements which is why the Grand du Texas started to store the shields and only take them out and display them on special occasions.

Shields are one of a kind for Texas and had been posted on the Texas Merci Boxcar from the early 1960s until February 2017. The shields available will be posted on the Grand du Texas website and removed once sold. Additional details will be on the website.

1960s Coat of Arms Shields from the Texas Merci Boxcar Package A - $75

Package B - $125

One Shield of Choice* Certificate of Authenticity One 5”x8” photo of Texas Boxcar Five 4” x 6” Texas Boxcar post cards Free Shipping (CONUS)

Two Shields of Choice* Certificate of Authenticity Two 5”x8” photos of Texas Boxcar Ten 4” x 6” Texas Boxcar post cards Free Shipping (CONUS)

*Shields based on availability of shields that have not already been sold.

Limited quantity of the 1960s Shields. Modern Replicas Available.

See Shields on the Grand du Texas Website Along with Order Form and Availability https://www.texasboxcar.org/texas-boxcar-shields2.html

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

Merci Boxcar Provincial Shield Replicas

Boxcar French Provincial Shield Replicas - $50 each Merci Train Plaque - $60 each Eagle Plaque - $75 each (Free Shipping) For More Information go to WWW.TEXASBOXCAR.ORG

US WWII Veterans received the French Legion of Honor on Veterans Day 2017 This special ceremony was the highlight of Austin’s Veterans Day Celebration. It took place after the parade, on the South steps of the Texas Capitol. Several hundred people attended the ceremony including many local officials and numerous members of the US armed forces. Austin Children’s Choir performed the American and French National anthems. Students from Austin International School assisted Consul General Andres to present the medals to the Veterans.

FULL STORY https://houston.consulfrance.org/spip.php?article2859

New Consul General of France Alexis ANDRES – seated far left Is Guest Speaker at the Veterans Day Ceremony in Austin, Texas

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

La Grande Voiture du Texas La Societe des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux P.O. Box 170074 Austin, Texas 78717

Affix 1st Class Postage Here

Addressee

ADDRESSEE: Please notify sender of name/address correction Chef de Gare – George Murphy

Correspondant – Milton Chatham Publiciste – Dave Knutson

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Commissaire Intendant – Roger Folmar