- AGENDA - Final Board of Directors Meeting January 9, 1982 Washington, D.C. President's Commission Report - Senate interest in legislation - White House appointment (letter enclosed) Dr. Charles Figley, Task Force Questionnaire Hermitage Memorial Park - Proclamations - (Eternal Flame) -NO! Hillcrest memorial Park - Simons Memorial Scholarship Fund $160,000 - Hostage Families Fund - -Dispersal of checks to families $424- also to first 13 +6 - Archives fill out Deed of Gift as unrestricted material - Freedom Day, Newburgh, N.Y. Freedom Day, Hastings, Nebraska - Bruce Laingen Weisbaden Plaque - Dave Roeder - Lee Holland Dissolution Procedures - Disbursement of funds - Post Office box, answering service Mrs. Dosier Back of the Agenda Present Gsela Laura Rita Limbert Howland me Quailer* Hermening David L. Bill Dougherly Bruce Dave Roeder Plotkin Joe Hall Hornman Katherine Louisa Kennedy handwritten notes. Page 1 AM January 9th 1) Pres. Commission- (Dole) interested to make legislation drafting a bill White House not delighted with recommendations. Roder- pes in uncomfortable position. "ludicrous but his own commission. Dave Roder- Status of law suit (13) with Davis (Alt 1) ruling to dismiss case- did not answer all the points the case made- it may go back for further addressing. Jerry- If lower courts take it upon themselves to make comments it is deft. for us. feels that FLAG should advise all of hostages what it is doing. Had wanted to join Roeder but reaction was to take it to court They felt it belonged in. Roeder- we felt not enough was being done. Why we do it: Inep. legal questions constitutional -- unless you ask the question it won't be addressed. Jerry- Feels we could coordinate more. get moral support. "You deserve it." Moral issue- my rights were taken away- as were all of yours. If precedent is ever for it will never get off the books. Not unless our rights but everyone's in the future. Have an opportunity as a group. listen to attorneys & FLAG council. Few are satisfied as to what has happened to date, will have to take a stand. Page 2 Important lobby group. Don't thing the Press knows how we really feel. Came to meeting because now is the time for some action. K- obvious the Pes. is not happy- report sitting there. J. Surprised how little his Senator knew. Dougherty- Family supportive after return. We must be very careful- country dos [sic] not support us to the [[?]] you think. Groups now organized to work against us. Viet Nam Veterans, American Legion, What's left in press makes us seem greedy. We must keep pressure on but not a media campaign. Now nearly a year- we are going to have more patience- let Brice work with Congress and White House. David- Dole is very powerful & behind us. premature to got to Congressmen now. Wait until there is some legislation. So many thing going on in the country Hostages very low priority. Roeder- Why it is Dole had to contact us? K- We went to get support for Legislations. List brass roots. Korean war. List of Lobby groups. Roeder- Dole is working with James Davis. David- logical- started a long time ago. what [[?]]? K- a piece of leg. to the court of claims- to get the figure - not an adversary position, Limbert- comments I'm hearing is that any legislation will be controversial. K- Dole has several motives- 1) to get Pres. off hook. 2) for Big business Page 3 Topic came up. We're waiting the. Nothing has happened as yet. waiting got the next step. Figley- Esther told K that State wants to do a questionnaire. K- Fine. I can't make people answer it. Limbest- there is some reputable work going on- Segal - of NIMH & Reader's Digest is working together. ([Segal] listed on Figley's task force but hasn't seen Figley in a year.) Hermitage. Tom Flynn. D's recommendation- we decide to put our money to another case. Simons Memorial Scholarship Fund. $160,000 raised to date > speak about it with media 14 hostages do far have donated money- not good enough representation- (K.) Media related- Internally newsletter (Network.) "Some hostages would be willing to give interviews about Simons Fund." Any ideas about how we can help the Simons Fund? How to promote it? "Solicitation from anybody in uniform is illegal" curtailed from commenting on Dave Roeder any fundraising. Page 4 same rules about honorariums apply to military as State Dept. Joe- few Marines are unemployed 14 out of 52 not bad figure. Dave- some have chosen not to speak at all. not a bad figure. statistics misleading. Mr. Fuller not a paid fundraiser. Joe- How about FLAG making a spiel on these. Joe- Fund- How is it set up? 4 people on Trustees board. one is retired General Lynn Roberts Richard Dutter- Base in Florida Katherine educational Funds for 17 children of [[?]] who lost their lives. 1st child starts college next year. Hostage Family Fund. set up- [[?]] to receive money donated to hostages. Trust all for dissolution & payment not later than 1983 percentage base. These moneys came from proceeds from diverse services. Page 5 Checks to families are in mail. H. Family Fund. Archives- (Laura) at last board meeting- Maresil to got to Highland Falls (July) problem is- H. Falls doesn't have a charter yet. If they don't have a legal existence Everything will be available even before Carter Library is built. Letter to Highland Falls enclosed...... contacted library. Deed of gift is in FLAG office. hefty amount of material - 1500-1608 items- some are one of a kind some letters from school children. Giant slice of Americana. Exhibitors- accessibility for them. Question- Do we want to restrict use of material? not restricted (you can restrict everybody. Can't restrict some and not others.) We give title to Library. Personal privacy. national security interests latter does not concern us. [* archives to Carter Library Atlanta*] VOTE TO GIVE MATERIAL ON A NONRESTRICED BASIS. Page 6 Outright gifts to Historical Society is being done by Bill Dougherty his own personal [gift] collection. - Mother lives 15 minutes from Highland Falls. Would be delighted to have as much as possible- other gifts are welcome. Other Societies are interested, too. Things still coming in (at a slower rate) which are being distributed to hostages & families by FLAG. Freedom Day, Newburgh- N.Y. Stewart Airforce Base. Agenda. Eastern Orange County. 18 attending to date- according to K. collecting people at NY airports. Freedom Day- HASTINGS, NEBRASKA- CBS Bruce suggested photographic exhibition be mounted at State Dept.. But did not get any encouraging reply or interest from them. not as a memorial to ourselves. but "What Freedom Meant." 20th - A day we would like to celebrate in our own private way. Weisbaden Plaque. Voted to send in Thanks etc. all names of everyone- $500- approved for this purpose. Lee Holland has options want to present. Page 7 Freedom Hall- renaming at Weisbaden Dumped by Slayer on Roeder. Nothing has been done. Bruce made a commitment. Joe- Dan Hohman was goin to to make the presentation. Then it became a big State Dept. Thing. Regulation that says nothing can be mounted on wall without approval from Surgeon Gen of Air force. Bruce- regrettable that plaque has not been made- Many are gone but many remain. German staff still there. Joe- R. Queen is close enough to make the presentation. Can FLAG send a message for the occasion- and one to crew who flew them to Germany from Algiers. Can Plaque be made in time? Bruce: can board request that process be expedited?" Disposales [sic] down to 1 office- 1 phone. + Laura - postage [meet] meter. Space still being loaned to us. No indication when office must be reclaimed. [[?]] FLAG should stay intact. Maintain a central focal point. Letter from FLAG- appreciate input from all Hostages & families. Info is not really being passed around. Page 8 A US. Iranian was held hostage. He escaped. He's allowed to sue. Increase communication. Monthly letter. Joe - we can exist off the capitol Thinks monthly letter a good idea. Laura- Doesn't know where [[?]] is. Joe- even if we have to rent another office. part time for Laura. Katherine- Should FLAG be intact. maintained. " " " dissolved. experience - not a whole lot to do. K starting a new job in March. Bill- What will it do? David reasons to exist act as spec. purpose an entity for a hostage problem in the future. emphasized IRS - broader purpose than just 53 hostages & their families. took 2 months to do all the paperwork. means of keeping in contact with everyone. Laura- a problem for her to pull the plug on the telephone but it is not going to be a full time job. Answering service + a P.O. Box maintained by Laura P/time. Joe- would like to see FLAG maintained 1/2 day a week. K- can we give away money yet? Joe & Jerry- let's wait a while before giving up money. Page 9 Bill- Vote on whether we move to maintain FLAG as a corporate entity. (we maintain corporate structure. ) Bruce- what does corporate structure. K. can remove some of our funds. Retain enough Bruce. [reservation] reservations about a future institution. not comfortable with keeping it in as/is state for another year. Nancy seconded motion. votes unanimously in favor Laura- Maintain as fill office until Jan 20 + archives- April or May then part time- answering service monthly newsletters important. K- dealing with something emotional. over, done with and past. Many don't want to have association continue. to get people involved in Newsletter is an emotional burden. John Limbert- Jerry talking abut a real issue. Bruce- agrees with Katherine. Why should FLAG continue. Congressional business will be around a long time. Do we need that kind of operation. Laura- Never heard from enough people at time of Commission Testimony Page 10 Jerry- not n easy task. Understands. Still issues still alive. we owe it to our [fut] suffers. I'm tired of being a hostage. But I feel obligation that our rights were taken away. FLAG can keep that in view. K- pertinent questions we should stay on actively but on a [time] part/time basis. Joe- Ask the membership for their views. K- How Active should we be? Laura has enough work to be full time until April/May. Johny- Know we will be maintained. In 6 months time put off decision until then. K- Can don't in 3/4 months. L- Agrees put a deadline on it. / know by a certain date how to inform people. At that point will not be a full time position. Bruce- Is there a consideration on the part of people who support us. David- They don't care. Want money to go to charity when considered appropriate. Jerry- Somewhere down the line a general meeting might be in order. K- We don't have the funds. We can't spend it that way. Page 11 Bill- A particular model for next year...... (Should not go in forever.) Should function as a contact point. Jerry would like to use it as a lobby group. Not practical. Do many people want to use it that way? Brice Clagett represents families in a very fine way. ends up on paper- no staff- If another tragedy ocurs [sic] it can be reactivated. Jerry- Disagrees with that. Bill- Limits as to what FLAG can do as an entity. Not so that everyone feels as strongly as Jerry does. Jerry- Disagrees. Bill- People have chosen for one reason or another not to participate. Brice doing it in a correct manner. Purpose of FLAG- Central clearing hose [sic]4 Stay in contact with each other for the next few months. Other that that only on paper that another organization can reactivate it Limbert- Will Clagett continue as long as process is not settled. Bill- As ling as FLAG is incorporated- legal entity. We can still be represented by att. as FLAG. Laura- Still considerable amt. of Public attention Page 12 Bill- not opposed to that thought. Jerry- If we stay united. We could achieve great things. Saw fragmentation then. If we don't present united face we are going to lose. Bill- Not united from Jan 21 on..... Not only FLAG but these well attorneys representing individuals. Never claimed o be united. Little late now to say we want to be united. Jerry- FLAG represents everyone. K- No one disagrees with public perception that FLAG represents every one. Would have to pay Brice disbursement. administrative expenses. Normal fee Intellectually caught up in this. In it for principal Bruce- By May 1? Deadline- proceed there after Reserve decision. Joe- Board meet again. K- Can freeze the board. For purpose of another meeting. Laura- Shoot for May 1. At that point be a telephone answering service + PO Box. What we do today is not necessarily binding. Limbert- We don't need a resolution on that. K- Unfair to Laura to keep her hanging Page 13 Laura- don't see myself remaining after May 1 Continued interest i.e. speakers for next summer. Can be done without an office. Group should have a place of contact. Obligation to public- place for letters And speaking engagements. Group owes gratitude. Bruce- if [dea] events [[?]]- Close office by April 1. Laura- even March. Law firm may pull the office out from under us. Can do it from my house. Am flexible about that. Even if I find another job. Happy to stay involved as long as need be. Dispersement [sic] of funds- after lunch. [Press] OVER Page 14 K- Dispersements [sic] ? How and when? Jerry- Wait util May. Laura- Decision of what arps it should get funds. Jerry- Simon Fund. Laura- There are other apps 1) Red Cross POW/MIAS 2) No Greater Love Int'l Rescue 3) Viet Nam Vets Fund. Committee Bruce- 20th-27th Marked by an announcement about funds. K- At this point identify a percentage for dispersement [sic] at this time. Agree with Bruce about 20th. Other organizations in greater need than we are. K- be conservative - Dispurse [sic] $20,000 now [tha] Jan a good month to make a charitable donation. Limbert- A committee appted [sic] to make [decision] recommendations? Bill- Tale $20,000- ? 10,000 Simons? 5000 No Greater Love? 5000 V.N. Vets? 2-3 months to thing of other orgs. percentages, etc. Page 15 David- Don't say we have more to distribute in the future. Questions will be asked about [what we are going t] why we are saving funds. Bruce- The Int'l Red Cross did a lot for the families. K- Waiting for Dave Roeder to describe "Red River Rats" David- is this for publicity for these organizations? [Joe] Laura- There is going to be immediate attention to this. Bill- We must make decisions. No matter what we do pleasure & displeasure inevitable. Laura- Called Alice Stratton- Is there an organization that helps families of OWs MIAs. Alice could not come up with any group other than R. River Rats which gives a Scholarship to a POW/MIA child. For one year. Dave- R. River Rats- ever since Viet Nam War organization in [[?]] the might the Rescue Attempt failed went into executive meeting to extend their benefits to the children of those who died. Like to see us recognize them. Token or Substantial. Page 16 Would not like them to be put at top of FLAG list. K- 10,000 to Simons 2500 a piece to other 4 Limbert - Is there an organization in Algeria? Symbolic value for the 20th excellent point! Laura- Canada? Germany Bruce- International Red Cross earmarked for use in Algeria. K- Can we establish $20,000 Are we down to allocating that money. $10,000 die Simons Fund. $5,000- No Greater Love. highest priority $5,000 Int'l Red Cross + Algeria (ear marked) $2,500- [Viet Nam] Red River Rats- Valley Assoc. $1000 Viet Nam Memorial Fund - Talk to ______________________ $23,500 Total 1,500 Canada - Ken Taylor -Ken Bill Johny $25,000 Commemorate Freedom on the 20th. Johny- Algeria ask Embassy in Algeria for most appropriate organization. Iraqi War Bonus?? David- Lose our exemption if it is not a recognized charity. Dave- $25,000 in the following manner see above. Unanimous VOTE in favor of above. Page 17 Weisbaden [sic] The PLAQUE. wording Bruce- don't need names Freedom Hall To commemorate the passage to Freedom of [72 Americans] the Americans held hostage in [Tehran] Iran Nov 4 1979- Jan 20 1981 Presented on Jan 20 82 Freedom Hall U.S. Air Force Hospital- Weisbaden [sic] Germany F.H. Dedicated with deepest gratitude to the staff of the US AFH Weisbaden [sic] For their care and comfort during our passage to freedom. THE AMERICANS HELD HOSTAGE IN [TEHR] IRAN Nov 4,1979- Jan 20 1981 Brcuze/Beass. Col. Holland will do it. Aumerise to take text & money make plaque & have it presented John Limbert Jan 20 Cables of Thanks. Germany Ireland Algeria Medivac Air Lift Swiss (Algeria to Weisbaden [sic]) Warren (U.S.. Team & Jimmy Carter) Christopher ($12.50 to J. Carter!) Bill John Limbert will write texts of thank, to all of the above. (Check with Sheldan Krys. Page 18 Bruce- Christopher, Muskie, Carter Laura - Mailgrams inexpensive. Sorareh The Americans Law firm in Los Angeles T.V. Syndication space to thank American people from the Americans Former American Hostages. I Came I Saw T-shirt John Limbert Iran