-~.

_-------====-=---=--~=

WASP
VDl

1 #1

Clarion

TJ2~

CLARIFYING THE CLARION

.j

The unusual format of this one-time ..

only WASP CLARION requires a paragraph or
two of explanation.
First, there is no intention of doing
away with the Newsletter and its always
interesting items about old friends. This
single issue of the CLARION has a special
job and only one: to let you know about
your organization.
It also must include
information which legally can be sent
only to WASP: the Secretary's Minutes, the
Treasurer's Report, "internal" news.
That job required the news to be prepared by a "reporter on the scene." I,
Byrd Granger, am that reporter.
I attended the post-Colorado Springs Convention
interim board meeting.
I was at the Nov.
2, 1979 meeting. ~
background has
trained me to report facts .'-\-~
\0
The contents of the WASP CLARION are
based on fact, not fiction. In the past
year widespread misinformation has been,
if not deliberate, at least destructive.
You have a right to know about what has
gone on, is going on, and what is in the
future plans for your organization.
In
this publication, you will find out. Every
item in this publication which has to do
with the May 10 or Nov. 2 meetings bears
a notation telling you where you can check
for accuracy. You can do so by getting in
touch with your class secretary who has a
full and legal transcription of notes taken
by a court stenographer at a meeting attended by a registered parliamentarian.
You may borrow that copy.
If you, a member of the WASP organization, have questions, please do check
with your class secretary, members of your
EXECUTIVE BOARD, or the reporter for this
one-time publication.
It's always better
to get the word from the horse's mouth
than from its other end.
-----------------------------------------

TIP OF THE DAY - SAFEGUARD

YOUR VETERANS
CERTIFICATES

(9,!/~~~

-:w~~~'''I(

PRESIDENT DETAILS REASONS FOR THE

WASP CLARION
This WASP CLARION was born of necessity.
Loretta Kambouris, our official Registered
Parliamentarion, explained this necessity
to me following the Nov. 2 meeting of the
Advisory Board in Tucson. She pointed out
that our bylaws (which are printed elsewhere in these pages) restrict active
voting membership in Order of Fifinella
to those individuals who were members of
"the Women Airforce Service Pilot prGgram
as a graduate pilot, an eliminee or in an
administrative capacity."
She further
stated that it is impermissible to send the
secr~tary's minutes of a board meeting to
persons other than active voting members.
The Advisory Board voted to transmit the
minutes of the Nov. 2 meeting to the membership. However, the NEWSLETTER is mailed
to persons other than active votars (WASPAdministrative is confined to those fe~
who were personally appointed by Jacquelyn
'Cochran). Kambouris said, therefore, that
it would be necessary to use some vehicle
other than the NEWSLETTER to be sure that
the enclosed minutes would go O~LY to those
legally entitled to receive them. Upon.
learning these facts, Byrd Granger, adv1sory board member, consented to put together
a strictly in-house paper to serve the express need. Thus the WASP CLARION was born.
It has a short life, having, with this single
issue, served its purpose.

-------------------------------------------COPIES OF LEGAL TRANSCRIPT NOT

FOR SALE
The Advisory Board voted on Nov. 2 to
make copies of the legal transcript (prepared by ACME Court Reporters) available
at $10. a copy. The vote was made in good
faith but in ignorance of the fact that
legally copies of the transcript may no~
be sold. (See Special Notice about ava1lability of the legal transcript from your
class secretary.

PRESIDENT ROBERTS REPORTS

NOT

I am greatly relieved to be able to

tell you that the imperative matters of
bringing Order of Fifinella back into conformity with Federal and State laws and
with its own bylaws have now been successfully concluded on two of the three counts.
The first count, that of clarifying our
status with the Federal Government, is
still in process of being resolved. Happily the other two have been concluded.
The State of California lifted the suspension of OOF on Oct. 29, 1979, and from that
date the business of the organization has been carried on in conformity
with its bylaws in every way possible
Because the bylaws were not observed
for many years, following them in toto
immediately has not been possible. To do
so, for instance, would eject from the
Advisory Board Leoti Deaton, Byrd Granger
Bea Haydu and Marty Wyall; Only after the
bylaws are discussed, understood and amended by the membership at its 1980 convention and the members wishes concerning
name and structure have been adopted, will
it be possible to set up the machinery
which will enable bylaws to be followed
strictly and in every detail.
In the meantime we are incredibly
lucky that the bylaws by which Order of
Fifinella is bound were so brilliantly
conceived by its founders, Clara Jo
Marsh, Hally Stires and Ruth Mary Petry.
It is our great good fortune that these
three women had the wisdom and foresight
to set up a governing body (the Advisory

ICE

: ~ : :

ARTICLES BASED ON THE LEGAL MINUTES ARE

SO NOTED, WITH TR (TRANSCRIPT) AND THE
PAGE(S) GIVEN IN PARENTHESES. BECAUSE IT
IS 'ILLEGAL TO SELL COPIES OF THE LEGAL
MINUTES, EACH CLASS SECRETARY HAS ONE COPY.
YOU MAY BORROW THE ENTIRE TRANSCRIPT FROM
YOUR CLASS SECRETARY, REQUESTS TO BE FILLED
IN THE ORDER RECEIVED. YOU MAY"THEN MAKE
A COpy AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT GIVE OR RECEIVE PAYMENT. ALSO, YOU MUST PAY FOR
POSTAGE OR UPS FEE TO RECEIVE AND TO RETURN THE COPY. ANYONE WISHING TO BORROW
A COPY OF THE LEGAL TRANSCRIPT IS ASKED TO
RETURN IT RAPIDLY -- WITHIN TWO WEEKS AT
THE MOST -- SO THAT OTHERS MAY HAVE ACCESS.
BORROWERS ARE REQUESTED TO HANDLE LEGAL
TRANSCRIPTS WITH RESPECT AND CARE, AS LOSS
OR DAMAGE WILL, OF COURSE AND UNDERSTANDABLY, BE THE BORROWER'S FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
----------_
OOF CORPORATE STATUS CLEARED
On Oct. 29, Pres. Lillian Roberts received confirmation that as of Oct. 24,
1979, the California Tax Franchise Board
cleared the record of the Order of Fifinella and reinstated it as in good standing following the payment of a $195.00
fine for failure to comply with California
statutes governing corporations (TR 94).
Pres. Roberts reported that the State
of California declared the OOF to be nonprofit corporation No. 0199839. (TR 12).
Still to be cleared are federal and
postal indicia problems.
_

Board) composed largely of representaOOF BYLAWS ARE IN FORCE

tives from the entire national membership.
Charges by board members Deaton, Haydu,
That fact means that now ~,
the members,
Nicholas, and Wyall that the Nov. 2 Tucson
once again control your organization. It
board meeting was "not a properly convened
also means that you will stay in.control
meeting if you are going under these obunless you deliberately elect to give up
solete bylaws" (TR 11-13) collapsed under
that privilege by voting to renounce it.
the fact that Order of Fifinella is the
So that you may exert the control that
present name of the WASP organization, inis yours in the fairest and most represcorporated in California. Haydu replied
entative way, permit me to urge you to
that the membership in 1976 voted to disform your local chapters (as outlined in
solve the corporation. Pres. Roberts then
the bylaws)~ You will then have a full
noted that "it was then your responsibility
complement of chapter presidents to serve
to so dissolve," using formal procedures.
on the Advisory Board when it meets to de(TR 14).
liberate at the 1980 Convention.
Added Roberts, "That is why we must
-----------------------------------------now, being fully aware of our legal obliCONVENTION PLANS PROGRESSING
gations, we must meet those obligations
Jean Soard, Convention Chairman, says
by observing to the fullest extent in our
headquarters are The Dutch Inn, Orlando,
power at this time these bylaws." (NOTE:
Florida, Sept. 17 - 22, 1980. Send reserBYLAWS are published verbatim in this
vations or inquiries to Jean, 1663 Cheyissue.)
enne Trail, Maitland, Fla., 32751, (tel. (...,., Nicholas questioned being bound by the

305-647-1041).

OOF BYLAWS AP~ IN FORCE (CONT.)

1946 bylaws

(TR 16). The Parliamentarian stated that all bylaws adopted on

June 28, 1946 are binding and that no
member has a right to ignore them because of "dislike."
In reply Wyall said that the organization of OOF in 1969 was not the same as
that of 1946. In reply Roberts said, "It
remained Order of Fifinella as that incorporated body whether, when you decided to
have another meeting in 1960 or whenever,
whether you decided you were no part of
this has no bearing on it. It was the
same membership uperating under the same
name, with the same bylaws."
(TR 18)
Haydu protested the statement that nothing
had been done to dissolve the corporate
body.
Said she, "We were allowing it to
dissolve, what they call layman's dissolution .." She added that "people in California ... interfered and reinstated
it." (TR 19-20) Granger said that in
1976 the State of California issued a
form inquiring about the status of OOF and
offering to bring it "back into legal status ... at a cost of seventeen dollars."
Granger says the form showed that in "the
eyes of the State, OOF was in existence."

(44-3), and Eleanor Gunderson

(44-7). Pres.
Roberts. inwelcomiilg !:heta...said,
"They are
more authenticated board members of this
Advisory Board than any of the elected
board members, because in Colorado Springs
the membership voted the board members into
office through ignorance of the bylaws, but
in perfectly good faith~" (TR 67-69)
Board Member Deaton objected that "we
were not notified about this" and that
"other class secretaries" were not advised
of it. (TR 71) Hally Stires noted that
invitations went to every member stating
that the meeting was open and all WASP were
invited.
Velta Beren said no one at the
Nov. 2 meeting was issued a special invitation beyond the one sent to all members.
Roberts concurred.
(TR 72 - 72) "It comes,"
Roberts said, "as a total surprise to all
three class secretaries here this morning,
that they have now found themselves a
voting member of the Advisory Board."
The three class secretaries were in
full agreement.

--------------------------------------------

STANDING RULES SUBMITTED

On Nov. 2 on behalf of herself and
board members Deaton, Haydu and Wyall, Betty
Nicholas called up for discussion "Sugges(TR 21)
ted Standard Rules for the Board of Directors, submitted earlier and thus studied
CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE REPORT A
by Parliamentarian Loretta Kambouris.
CRUCIAL FACTOR
Replying to a query by Edna Davis,
Leoti Deaton said the former board members
To insure attendance by authorized
"had no bylaws.
We had no standard rules.
persons only at the Nov. 2 Advisory Board
We followed precedent and Robert's Rules
meeting in Tucson, V.P. Betty Nicholas and
Past Pres. Haydu added,--riliwas
Hally Stires served on the Credentials Com- of Order."
mittee, keeping a register of those attend- not made up of everything that we did in
the past or everything from Robert's Rules
ing.
It was made up from our past exThe work of the Credentials Committee of Order.
perience." (TR 260-261).
proved crucial following the mid-morning
The parliamentarian ruled that the
recess.
Under the legal OOF bylaws it,was
board meeting on Nov. 2 "has no authority
necessary to ascertain if all voting board
to act on the proposed standing rules."
members were accounted for. The committee
She noted that there are seven categories
reported that voting board members presof rules according to Robert and that the
ent included the Executive Committee
submitted list contained rules from many
(President, Vice President, and SecretaryTreasurer), plus four elected board members categories other than standing rules.
Pres. Lillian Roberts stated the
and three class secretaries.
The result
was the realization that eleven voting mem- "Suggested Standing Rules for the Board of
bers were in attendance and that a quorum
Directors" as submitted will be turned over
comprised six. (TR 65)
to the Bylaws Committee for consideration
of the membership at the convention of
Pres. Roberts noted that Articles
1980."' (TR 254-261)
IV and V of the OOF Bylaws cover the matter.
-----------------------------------------Class representatives present were
Brownie Kindig (43-1), Margaret Tamplin
L~)

PRESIDENT

DENIES HAYDU CHARGES

On Nov. 2 Past Pres. B. Haydu charged that current Pres. Lillian Roberts
"said there would be a special meeting before the regular meeting."
Haydu had
called for a special meeting to approve
or disapprove the May 10 board meeting minutes and to reconsider the unanimous board
vote to employ an attorney in connection
with OOF incorporation matters. (TR 277 279).
Denying the charges, Pres. Roberts
noted that criteria for calling such a
meeting had not been met as only Haydu
had asked in writing for the special meeting. Parliamentarian Loretta Kambouris
added, "you may not act upon the minutes
of the regular meeting at a special meeting."
(TR 279)
Haydu questioned the legality of
the Kambouris statement ,and reiterated
that Roberts "said she would give us a
special meeting." (TR 279) Roberts replied, "I told you if you wished, by mail,
to reconfirm your request for a special
board meeting, I would indeed to it. And
the only person among you (*) who did
tha t was you'..
"
Roberts then quoted from V.P. Nicholas' letter:
" ... and so we do not rerequest a special board meeting but we'll
wait for the board meeting of Nov. 2."
(TR 279-280)(*) Haydu, Nicholas, Deaton,
Wyall)
Meeting the Haydu challenge, Parliamentarian Kambouris then cited Robert's
Rules of Order, p. 393" "A special meeting
does not approve minutes." (TR 281)

-------------------------------------~----CHAPTER REORGANIZATION
Hally Stires, a founder of OOF, has
accepted the chair for Chapter Reorganization. OOF Bylaws, now again in force,
call for the membership to be organized
by Chapters.
(Article X)
Said Stires, "tn the early years
when all matters were referred through
chapter channels, everyone knew what was
going on and had a full voice and choice.
The bylaws, now again in force, require
that WASP have matters presented to them
by mail and settled by mail. But going
through chapters to let everyone know what
is going on helped then -- as it will
again -- to keep disagreements at an almost invisible and inaudible level.
"It's nice," Stires concluded,
"to know that we are going to be a

membership organization again.

Experience shows that chapters make it easy and
direct to go that route."
PARLIAMENTARIAN TO HELP BYLAWS
COMMITTEE
By unanimous vote of the Adrlsory
Board on Nov. 2, Registered Parliamentarian Loretta Kambouris has been retained
to help the Bylaws Committee of OOF in its
current work to present suggested revisions
to the membership.
KAMBOURIS WELL QUALIFIED
Registered Parliamentarian
#875, Loretta
Kambouris, is a re~ired legal secretary
with forty years experience including work
for the I.R.S. and the U.S. Circuit Court
of Appeals.
Professionally her affiliations include American Institute of Parliamentarians, National Association of
Legal Secretaries, Arizona State Association of Parliamentarians.
She has conducted worksho~at
the University of Arizona on parliamentary procedure.
TREASURER REPORTS CONTINUING
PROBLEMS IN CLEARING PAST ACCOUNTS
Noting that "trying to work it out
with our accountants is almost impossible',"
Sec.-Treas. Edna Davis reported to the
Nov. 2 board meeting and guests that she
had sent a mail request to all board members to submit financial data with receipts
for past expenses. (TR 88)
Pres. Roberts said that the CPA now
active in clearing OOF with the Federal
Government was "in desperate need of more
concise records, that there were so many
umbrella terms used that he couldn't
really decipher as to what they covere d ."
(TR 89)
Davis said that former Sec.-Treas.
Nicholas submitted a round figure of
$16,000. in turning over accounts to
Davis (TR 89-90) but that funds from the
Colorado Springs convention a year ago
is "money still out."
Davis added, "In discussing things
with the auditor and accountant, one of
my largest problems was, where did you
get all of this money.
(TR 110) The bulk
of it came from the sale of merchandise
which we're legally obligated to mention
to the government of the state and to the
Federal
no matter whether you have filed
,
"
or incorporated or whatever.

TREASURER

REPORTS

The treasurer's
audi t (TR 91)

(CONT)

BROOME MATTER

report was filed for

BROOME MATTER CALLS FOR CLEAN SWEEP

At the No. 2 advisory board meeting,
Sec.-Treas. Edna Davis reminded the board
that on May 10 Past Pres. Haydu said she
would check her records concerning the
more than $6,000. paid to artist Rick
Broome prior to the Colorado Springs convention, and would give Davis information
required to clear both the Broome matter
and supply tax information for accountants.
Davis on May 10 asked for "the written contract and agreement" and a more complete
accounting on this expenditure and future
obligations." (TR 41)
Past Pres. Haydu replied that she
had the reports to be turned in on Nov. 2,
with the Broome contract, copies of which
had been sent, with Betty Jo Reed's report, to Pres. Roberts.
Pres. Roberts denied having received
the materials.
V.P. Nicholas read the
report for Haydu as the latter's voice
failed because of laryngitis.
She read a
letter dated Oct. 14 from Mary H. Chappell
(TR 208-212) and the contract dated Sept.
15, 1978, with Night Star Productions
for copies of the Broome picture "as detailed in the document dated 20th August,
1978, Option A." (TR 212-213) Pres. Roberts asked for copies for her use and one
for Sec. Davis' needs, as neither had seen
the materials.
Davis noted that "as of one
year later we have come up with the fact
that we did, in fact, spend $6,000. for
copies ... (and) $450. for a raffle picture."
(TR 214) She then queried how
many copies were bought for $6,000. Betty
Nicholas replied two hundred "paid for at
$30. each, to be sold for $40. each."
IJ
Haydu did not know how many copies had been
sold but that OOF was "not in the red" as
the prints were purchased and paid for by
the Reunion Committee.
Roberts explained
that in merchandising being "in the red"
means having paid for something you can't
sell. Granger then said that as OOF has
not sold all copies, OOF has not recovered
its investment.
Davis reported that Betty Jo Reed
has been asked to send the remaining prints
to the "Store" and that our accountant requires accurate figures on the entire matter, including inventory.
At least three
who bought copies and paid for them have

(CONT)

not received them. The board then again

voted to have prints sent to the "Store."
(TR 216-223)
Hally Stires asked, "I'd like to know
if the existing board of directors of the
Order of Fifinella at Colorado Springs
spent $6400. or something for prints and
they don't know where the money is, and
they don't know how many were sold and they
don't know how many are left and they
don't know where they are, is that correct?" (TR 222)
Haydu said the matter was not in
charge of the board but of the convention
committee. Pres. Roberts noted that according to the members of that committe~ with
the exception of Betty Jo Reed. the convention committee had voted against contracting with Richard Broome for the painting.
Roberts added that "instead of putting
blame at anyone's door, we simply must get
this one simple fact on the record, that
we spent money that otherwise would have
come into the WASP treasury- $6,000.- to pay
Rick Broome for all of those copies of
which we now own an unknown number that
we have not sold." (TR 223-224)
Leoti Deaton suggested that a letter
advising Betty Jo Reed to forward remaining prints to Lola Ricci at the "Store"
be sent with a return receipt requested.
The motion was amended to include a notice
to Reed that a notarized statement of number of copies on hand be sent by Reed to
satisfy requirements for the IRS and
Franchise Tax Board, along with a notarized financial statement about sales. (TR227)

'I

The attention of all WASP is directed

to the Nov. 1978 WASP Newsletter, p. 13,
which crnier-; photograph of Broome and
the painting, and quotes as follows:
"''''FAMOUSARTIST""HONORS
WOMEN AIRFORCE SERVICE PILOTS
"Shown above is the picture painted in
honor of the WASP in this, The Year of the
WASP, by the famous airplane artist, Rick
Broome, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Prints
have been taken from this painting and
were offered for sale for the first time
at the Colorado Springs Conference in
Sept. There are a limited~ount
of numbered prints reserved for our organization.

Eo-

ABOUT THE BROOME PAINTING

(CONT.)

"When Rick Broome offered to paint a

picture for the WASP and those in Order of
Fifinella, he wanted the thoughts of both
the Conference Committee and the Board.
Two snapshots were sent to him, one of the
AT6 U222 (which was actually used in
training at Sweetwater) and an aerial picture taken by Fran (Smith) Tuchband, 44-2,
during her training (a' copy of which was
given to her). Betty Jo Reed worked
closely with Rick Broome on this picture
and they went to great lengths for detail
and accuracy.
By means of a powerful magnifying glass, they were able to locate
the Wishing Well which can be seen in the
finished picture.
'These prints are available for sale
at $40. each. If you want to have a special paint put on the picture by the artist
that, when a black light is used, will
show the lights from the buildings as well
as the lights on the plane and the background darkens to night, the charge for this
picture and the special paint is $95. Betty
Jo Reed, 4080 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton,
Co 80123 is handling the sale of these pictures and, of course, a percentage is going
to Order of Fifinella. "

------------------------------------------SEC. TREAS. FILES CPA STATEMENT

Edna Davis on Nov. 2 placed before
the advisory board a financial statement
prepared by Murphy, Earnhardt & Locke,
CPA,s relating to OOF finances up to Oct.
10, 1979.
(TR 79-80) To the report,
Davis appended a detailed statement "demanded" by Past Pres. Haydu.
It consists
of an itemized and fully documented accounting of Pres. Roberts' expenses.
(TR 81) Davis noted that on May 10 the
Board voted approval to pay expenses in~
curred by OOF president in her official
duties. (TR 83)
STORE TO MAKE YEAR-END

ACCOUNTING

As required by corporate
OOF "Store" will make a report
and whatever we have on hand."
All materials and merchandise,
ing prints of the Rick Broome
(to be sent to the "Store" by
Reed) will be inventoried.

law, the
of "cost
(TR Ill)
includpainting
Betty Jo

OOF STATUS WITH IRS DUBIOUS

According to Sec.-Treas. Davis, the
CPA for the Order of Fifinella advises
that OOF employ a l~wyer in connection with
clearing the organization's status with the
IRS.
"What has occurred over these past
several years," says Davis, "is that we
have ignored literally the Federal Government, and ... we are obligated and liable
for a tremendous fine. It amounts to $10.
a day, to the total of $5,000. maximum."
(TR 98)

Davis said OOF intends to file for a

federal tax-exempt number on the federal
level.
"We will proceed from there," she
concluded.
STROTHER RESIGNS FROM STUDY
COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP
Dora Strother has resigned as chairman
of the committee to ascertain wishes of OOF
membership regarding the name and preferred aims of the organization.
She was appointed by Pres. Roberts following the
mandate of the membership at Colorado
Springs.
The name of that committee as
turned over by Past Pres. Haydu was Study
Committee for Name Change and Incorporation.
In her Aug. 14 letter, Strother said
that in "regard to the relationship of
the study committee and the problem of incorporation, in my mind no relationship
exists.
The problems are independent.
The study committee is concerned with the
name and membership criteria." (TR 131)
Strother submitted a final report on
a geographical sampling. (TR 132-135).
The advisory board accepted Strother's
resignation with regret and thanks for her
work on behalf of OOF.
BROOME PRINTS FOR SALE
Copies of the prints made from the picture painted by Artist Rick Broome are
available at $40. each.
The picture is of
a WASP at the controls of an AT-6 over
Avenger Field at Sweetwater, Texas.
Broome
is widely acclaimed as an aviation artist.
Prints may be ordered from The Store,
c/o Lola Ricci, 15341 Mullholland Drive,
Los Angeles, CA, 90024.

-------------------------------------------

eft,)

- --- -

-_

...

BEYER APPOINTED TO CHAIR

STUDY COMMI TTEE

HAYDU ATTACKS

Adele Beyer has accepted the chairmanship of the Study Committee.

Serving
with her will be the members who worked
with Strother.
The committee will consider
the final report turned in by Strother,
along with a questionnaire also submitted, and will then devise a questionnaire
to be sent to all dues-paying WASP.
On the basis of the final report to
be compiled, WASP will be informed about
the name preferred for the organization
and the objectives for the organization.
Pres. Roberts says that the new chairman
is in complete agreement that action on
the matter must be rapid and that the desires of the membership will govern the
results. (TR 132-140)
Serving on the Study Committee with
Chairman Beyer are Isabel Stinson, Ann
Atkeison, Deane Ferguson, Esther Norfolk,
Iris Critchell, and June Leckie.
HAYDU ATTACKS TRANSITIONAL
MEETING MINUTES

BOARD

The minutes of the Oct. 1, 1978,

Transitional Board Meeting Minutes as submitted by then Sec.-Treas. Betty Nicholas
came under strong attack from Past Pres.
Bernice Haydu at the Nov. 2 board meeting.
Haydu objected to the statement regarding
the Colorado Springs establishment of a
study committee "recommended after rejection by the membership of incorporation
as presented." (Le. WSPA) (TR 23)
Haydu said, "It was neither rejected
nor accepted.
It was put in abeyance in
favor of the report of a study committee."
On Pres. Roberts' pointing out that mail
ballots are legal under OOF bylaws and
that the "defeat of WSPA, Inc., was hldeed
overwhelming by mail ballot," Haydu replied that her report on the mail ballot
was for informational purposes. (TR 23)
Granger then said that the remarks
being made and the point under discussion
had no place in the transitional meeting
nor its minutes.
"What Mrs. Haydu appears
to be doing is reverting to a discussion
which took place at the main meeting of
the membership.
It was not part of the
meeting we are now discussing." (TR 30-31)
Voting for a change in the wording
were Deaton, Haydu, Nicholas, and Wyall.
Opposed was Granger -- oecause the change
"falsified." (TR 33)
After voting for the change in

(,)

(CONT.)

wording to "study committee be set up and

incorporation held in abeyance until study
committee has given its recommendation and
report," Mrs. Haydu further wished to
change the wording to add that "the Incorporation of WSPA, Inc. was neither accepted or rejected."
Granger objected because that matter had no part in the transitional meeting, which was held "to turn
over matters to the newly elected Board."
(TR 33-35)
Present at the Transitional Board Meeting were: Haydu, Nicholas, Wyall, Cross,
Deaton, Hayden, and Granger

------------------------------------------COURT REPORTER MAKES LEGAL TRANSCRIPT

Mrs. Sandra Diaz of Acme Court Reporters, Tucson, stenotyped proceedings of
the Nov. 2 board meeting. (TR 199) Noting
that the organization secretary issues
minutes, Parliamentarian Loretta Kambouris
said, "The official transcript has every
word that was uttered ... but the secretary's responsible for covering specific
actions by the board."
Mrs. Diaz' ten hours of notes produced 310 pages of legal transcript (TR
200-203)
TO OBTAIN VETERANS BENEFITS
With her discharge certificate, each
WASP receives an outline of veterans benefits available.
These benefits, such as
housing loans and hospitalizatio~ are now
being analyzed, says Pres. Roberts, and
will be discussed in a NEWSLETTER.
Not included are educational benefits
and the right to apply service in the WASP
when totalling all military service time.
Both were abrogated in order to insure bill
passage on veterans status.

------------------------------------------WHEELWRIGHT HEADS CONGRESSIONAL

VETS ADMINISTRATION LIAISON

AND

Lee Wheelwright, a key worker in WASP

winning veteran status, will continue to
chair the Congressional and Veterans Administration Liaison Committee.
She is fully
familiar with protocol and channels for
doing business "on the Hill" and at the VA.
Wheelwright notes that although many WASP
now have discharge papers, both individually and as a group OOF members have miles
to go before they are accorded their rights
as pilots in WW II and as military
terans.

----------------------------------------

HOSPITALIZATION

FOR WASP

The Veterans Administration advises that only three VA hospitals in the

United States are set up to administer to
the medical needs of women veterans. Therefore every woman veteran is eligible for
hospitalization at any hospital in the
United States. Women veterans must show
recognized discharge papers to authenticate veteran status when seeking hospital
admission.
Proof for WASP consists of a
notarized copy of honorable discharge.
(NOTE: ORIGINAL SHOULD BE KEPT IN SAFE
PLACE.
AS MANY COPIES AS DESIRED MAY BE
MADE AND NOTARIZED.)

---------------------------------------.V. A. URGES SAFEGUARDING DISCHARGE

CERTIFICATES
The Veterans Administration cautions
that rather than framing, official discharge certificates should be kept in a
fireproof vault.
Small ID cards issued
by local VA offices are issued to any
persowwithout
proof of vets statu~ and
hence have no official significance.
Only official discharge or a notarized
copy of it is acceptable for official
documentation as proof of military service.
Small ID cards are merely souvenirs.
WASP veterans are urged to have as many
notarized copies as they wish, but to
safeguard the original discharge paper
with "extreme care."
MILITARY BENEFITS NOT SAME
AS VETERANS BENEFITS
The term "military benefits," says
official word from Washington, D.C., applies only to persons who have had or are
still having a military career.
The term
"veterans' benefits" applies to benefits
of all veterans, regardless of length of
service.
VETS' JOB PREFERENCE RIGHT
REFUSED FOR THREE WASP
Three Women Airforce Service Pilots
of WW II were refused their right to veterans' job preference, according to Roddy
McClain, chairman of the OOF Federal Veterans Affairs Committee.
Each had in
,
possession official proof of her veteran s
status and each reports outright refusal
to approve the applications.
Elaine
Harmon was one of the group.
The Roddy McClain committee will
investigate and rectify wrongs arising in
connection with WASP veterans.
She
~~

VETS JOB PREFERENCE

---

.... (CONT)

urges any WASP having a similar problem

with vets rights, whether in job preference,
a VA loan or any other right, is urged to
bring the matter to her attention immediately.
(ROddy McClain, 4032 Oxford St.,
Annandale, Va., 22003; tel. 703-256-0568)

------------------------------------------WISE CHAIRS SERVICE COMMITTEE

Lucille Wise heads the Service Committee formed to aid WASP and officially
thank individuals for special work like
that of Charlyne Creger who helped expedite a military discharge for Irene Minter,
Brady to insure her a military funeral.
The Service Committee has a limited "bail
out flllld"for which financial contributions
are invited.
Sec. Treas. Davis notes that
now that corporate matters are clearing,
it is possible to turn over accrued interest on OOF funds to be shared by the Service and the Veterans Committee.
WASP with matters for the Service Committee should address Lucille Wise at 823
Kansas Street, Larned, Kansas, 67550 (TR
123-124, 128)

----------------------------------------OLD BYLAWS NEVER DIE -Under California law bylaws live

as long as a corporation, remaining in
effect fifty years unless stated otherwise in such bylaws.
Pres. Roberts notes
that the OOF bylaws are in force.
"We
must legally adhere as closely as possible
at this time to the bylaws as written and
as llllamendedsince that time." (TR 12)

-------------------------------------------POSTAL INDICIA UNDER SCRUTINY

Postal authorities now have llllder
scrutiny use by the OOF of the postal indicia issued to WASP Memorials, Inc. That
the OOF use of the postal indicia was
probably illegal was pointed out to OOF
officers in 1976.
Temporarily "Fifi" has been withdrawn
from use on postal materials to avoid the
appearance of endorsing the use of a postal
indicia not belonging to OOF (TR 117)
DISPLAY KIT TO BE UPDATED
On May 10 Marty Wyall
to update the WASP display
quest for public use. She
to accompany the kit would
(TR 46)

noted a need
kit sent on rehas said a tape
be helpful.

BUDGET COMMITTEE

IN FUTURE

WASP REPORT....

Because the OOF bylaws do not set

forth the existence of a Budget Committee, such a committee cannot be formed
at present.
Its formation depends upon
future bylaws for the WASP organization.

conclusive

evidence photocopied.

----------------------------------------BYLAWS COMMITTEE ACTIVE:

TO DEANE FERGUSON

--------------------------------------VOTING TO BE BY MEMBERS ONLY

Under the extant bylaws of OOF, only
members are entitled to vote on corporate
matters.
Article IlIon "Membership"
states, "Active members shall be the only
members entitled to vote."

-----------------------------------------VOTING GROUP DEFINED

At the Nov. 2 meeting in Tucson, Parliamentarian Loretta Kambouris stated,
"This Board meeting is a meeting of the
advisory board, as defined in the bylaws
on Page 6, Article IV, and the members
of the advisory board here present are
the members of the executive committee,
as defined on Page 7, Article V, Section 2,
and the class representatives, as defined
on Page 6, Article IV, Section 1."
As a result of the parliamentary clarification, three class secretaries at the
meeting proved qualified to vote. The
immediate result was a break in the deadlock against actions proposed to solve
organization problems.
The four-vote
block imposed by the four votes of the
"carry-over" board members had resulted
in no-action results.
(see pages 1 65, TS).
The class secretaries present were
Brownie Kindig, 43-1; Margaret Tamplin,
44-3, and Eleanor Gunderson, 44-7. None
had been aware of ~er voting status.
(TS 66-75)
Strong objections by the carry-over
advisory board members were quieted by
the fact that the bylaws govern in all
such matters.
----------------------------------------WASP REPORT TO GO TO LIBRARIES
With the final closing of the Washington HQ, Lucille Wise has sent all remaining copies of the Granger Report on
"Evidence of WASP Military Service" to
the author.
Any WASP wanting a copy
sent to a particular library should so
advise Granger at Box 18500, Tucson, AZ.
85710, enclosing a dollar to cover postage.
The militarization report contains
a running narrative of what the WASP program and its training phases were, with

(CONT)

CHAIR

Deane Ferguson, Washington, D.C. attorney, has accepted the chair as head of
a committee to review and revise OOF bylaws. The Bylaws Committee is comprised
of those who assisted in the preliminary
study chaired by Dora Strother. (TR 132)
Ferguson reports that the Bylaws
Committee will publish its report in the
Summmer NEWSLETTER so that WASP will have
time to study them. The WASP membership
will take up the matter of bylaws at the
Fall Convention and make recommendations
prior to the final vote by the membership.
(NOTE: Current OOF Bylaws are reproduced
herein for study and referral.)

----------------------------------------ORGANIZATION

NAME CHANGE

Under the existing corporate charter,

the present official name of the WASP organization is Order of Fifinella.
The
legal name can be changed by vote of the
membership operating under its legal by
laws.
By voice vote at the meeting in Colorado Springs, the membership favors being
known legally by the title Women Airforce
Service Pilota WW II. The same meeting
voted against WSPA, acronym for the incorporated March 1978 in Massachusetts,
Women Service Pilots Association.
The membership will be given a full
choice of names and opportunity to select
the one preferred by the majority.

-----------------------------------------NEWSLETTER DELAYED
The NEWSLETTER that was originally
scheduled to be mailed out in Dec., 1979
has been unavoidably delayed for a number
of reasons.
Primary among these is the
question concerning Order of Fifinella's
use of the postal indicia Assigned to WASP
Memorials, Inc. Until the postal authorities make their determination of the
legality or illegality of this practice,
it is impossible to determine the correct
mailing procedure for the NEWSLETTER.
It
is hoped that this delayed issue will
reach the membership in Feb. There will
then be one additional NEWSLETTER prior to
the 1980 Convention.
It is tentatively
scheduled to be mailed out in June or
July.

~<1~

--CONVENTION

BANQUET

SEATING

OOF BUYS RIGHTS TO "CELESTIAL

FLIGHT"
At the suggestion of Board Mewber
Marty Wyall, OOF has agreed with Elizabeth MacKe then Magid to buy all remaining
copies of her poem "Celestial Flight,"
with the right to reproduce the poem
without its present accompanying information and illustration.
WASP Magid wrote the poem in memory
of Marie Mitchell Robinson, whose picture
is used in the existing publication of the
poem.
(TR 141-144)
A new printing of the
poem will be suitably framed and used for
memorial purposes.
-----------------------------------------ROSTER ISSUE DELAYED

Noting that WASP want acceptable

arrangements for the membership at the
1980 convention, the advisory board
agrees that banquet and other seating
will be by class number, with all WASP
given preferential treatment over all
but Honored Guests. (TR 45)

-------------------------------------NOV. 2 MEETING MINUTES

PUBLICATION:

IN THIS

By voice vote the advisory board

voted to include the secretary's uncorrected minutes of the Nov. 2 meeting in
a publication to be sent to the OOF
membership (TR 189-205)

-------------------------------------FUTURE CONVENTION SITES TO BE

SELECTED WITH CARE
All WASP are asked to think about
where to hold the 1982 conv~ntion so that
the sites can be carefully considered and
then voted on. Pres. Roberts requests
that suggestions be turned in as soon as
possible, with information about facilities and recreational and other possibilities.
It is hoped that at least three
sites may be offered to OOF membership
for its study in last NEWSLETTER prior
to 1980 Convention in Orlando.

---------------------------------------BANK ACCOUNT

TRANSFER

COMPLETE

By unanimous vote of the May 10 board

meeting, OOF funds were to be transferred
from the First of Forth Worth bank account
to the Security Pacific National Bank of
Los Angeles.
Treas. Davis reports the
transaction done. (TR 41)

-----------------------------------------USAF ACADEMY ATHLETIC

AWARD

Vern Kenyon, A.F. Academy Cadet

Award Program Specialist, selected a
basketball player to receive the achievement award voted by WASP.
Only he knows
why. An inquiry is being sen t him.
(TR 129)
CARDS READY

New wallet-sized membership cards are

now available in pale yellow.
Edna Davis
will replace old-style 1980 membership
cards on request.
Please return old card
with your request.

-----------------------------------------

Completing details for updating the

roster with the assistance of Ziggy
Hunter, Betty Nicholas notes that the delays in Christmas mailings will also hold
up the new roster.
She believes it will
be ready early in 1980.

---------------------------------------OOF BOARD MEETINGS

TO BE OPEN

Prior to the recent board meeting in

Tucson, a mail invitation to attend was
sent to all WASP, thus for the first time
opening a board meeting to the membership.
In the future, says Pres. Roberts, all
board meetings will be open.
In response to the invitation, WASP
were present from Washington, D. C., California, and Phoenix, Arizona.
CLASS SECRETARIES RECEIVE
FINANCIAL SUPPORT

LIMITED

Three class secretaries attending the

Nov. 2 board meeting expressed their appreciation for the $25. checks to help
defray official secretarial expenses in
mailings and telephone.
Each class secretary will submit a year-end accounting.
(TR 45-46)
TINKER AFB TO HONOR WASP PAULA LOOP

-----------------------------------------NEW MEMBERSHIP

---

On April 14 Tinker AFB will dedicate

a building to WASP Paula. Loop, killed in
line of duty flying a BT-15, according to
2nd Lt. Narde L. Jiminez, USAF. WASP are
invited to be honored guests.
Coordinating attendance by WASP and 99's is Wynema
Masonhall, a WASP trainee.
Her telephone
number is 405-352-4246; address: Box 99,
Minco, Ok, 73059.

('0)

3/P

WASP DOCUMENTARY

FILM PROGRESSING

The TV WASP Documentary being produced for PBS by Kitty King and Nelson Adams
has been delayed.
With the title "Women
Pilots at War", it will probably first be
shown in the Washington, D.C. area in Feb.
or March, 1980. Subsequently, King and
Adams hope to advise WASP when the film
will be shown in their sections.
Local
PBS stations control viewing dates.

CPA FIRM AT WORK

By motion adopted by Advisory Board at
its meeting on Nov. 2, certified public accountants were employed to prepare financial
statements as needed, and an audit for the
convention.
They requested all records of
prior administrations in preparing such
forms as may be required.
If any past officers still have records, they should be
forwarded to the treasurer.
---------------------------------------------

MEMORABILIA

NEED PROTECTION WYALL

REPORTS
Following up on assignment, Marty Wyall
reported on Nov. 2 on ways and means to protect WASP memorabilia.
(TR 231-241).
Her
report set forth possibilities of microfilming, xeroxing, various kinds of and place
for storage, with potential costs.
On the basis of the Wyall report, the
board voted unanimously to set aside $1,000.
to institute a copying program.
Wyall, as
requested by the accountants for the OOF,
will submit an inventory of WASP memorabilia.
OOF membership will vote at its 1980
meeting on what disposition is preferred
for the memorabilia. (TR 241-243)
Suggestions regarding a repository
should be sent to Marty Wyall, Box 9212,
Fort Wayne, IN, 46809.)

-----------------------------------------WYALL ASKS LOAN OF LOGBOOKS

Historian Marty Wyall has issued an
urgent request to borrow and microfilm
WASP and trainee logbooks.
She promises
to treat them with respect and kindness
and to return to their owners intact.
"For a really good history, a WASP
logbook tells more than an official
order," said Wyall.
-------------------------------------------

TAPES OF DISCHARGE
CEREMONY AVAILABLE
WASP may obtain copies of the complete Veteran's Discharge Ceremony in
Under-Sec. Antonia Chayes' office and
can be had from Lillian
Roberts for

$~

per tape. According to Roberts,

it was "a media event" with newspaple in
quantity, leaving room only for WASP
personnel there at the specific request
of Ms. King in connection with the PBS
WASP documentary now in production.
(TR 113-115).
Media failed to carry
items of importance to WASP. A full
transcript of the tape will be published in the regular NEWSLETTER.

-------------------------------------WASHINGTON AREA WASP REPORT

WINS HIGH PRAISE
Parliamentarian Loretta Kambouris on
Nov. 2 noted that the report submitted by
the Washington Area WASP in Colorado Springs
is excellent, conforming to the OOF bylawws.
"I am," she said, "very impressed.
They
have access to and have consulted the Air
Force Judge Advocate's Office," and "they
come up with specific recommendations ..
which should be sent out to the membership
for their knowledge.'.
(NOTE: COPIES OF THE REPORT ACCOMPANY THIS
PUBLICATION.
PLEASE READ: :,: )

------------------------------------------NOV. 2 MINUTES PREPARED

Accessability of all WASP to the legal
minutes, taken by a court stenographer,
makes it possible to release the organization's secretary's report without the
possibility for misunderstanding and mis"representation.
In discussing the release of the Nov.
2 minutes in the publication to be devoted
to that meeting and current affairs only,
Pres. Roberts supported their release
without their having been approved by the
executive and advisory board voting members present at that meeting .. Roberts
wished to distribute the minutes swiftly
so that "the full organization, every member in it, can know that they are once
again running their organization and it
is not running them."
(TR 190-194)
When asked for an official opinion,
Parliamentarian Loretta Kambouris said
it was legal to send out uncorrected minutes if the board present so approved.
(TR 204) They can go only to WASP, however.
(FULL COVERAGE ON MATTER:
TR 188 - 205)

----------------------------------------REACTIONS, PLEASE:
Byrd Granger would very much appreciate your response to this publication.
If
you like - or dislike - having news as presented, do say so. Address for summer is
Box 558, Bigfork, Montana, 59111.

------------------------------------------

WASP COMMEMORATIVE
CONSIDERED

nate them in favor of noting a few others.

(TR 284-285)
(See TR 286-295)
The omission of item relative to frequency of
board meetings was corrected.
Deaton then raised an objection that
the resolution concerning the retaining of an attorney was inaccurate. (TR295) President Roberts clarified the
matter by noting that Granger, who made
the motion, had written it out and had
kept her notes. (TR 296) Deaton stated,
"we have had a lot of comments from all
over the country about the fact that we
are going against the wishes of the organization when we reinstate the Order of
Fifinella."
Deaton agreed that the motion
in question Has "to clear up the corpoiate
problems."
Velta Benn said that objections to the
motion are based on misunderstanding because the name OOF is not permanent.(TR
299)
Haydu raised an objection to the May
10 minutes, Page 3, Question C said that
in the Broome matter, Haydu had "approved
the venture."
(TR 302) Haydu denied
having done so. Parliamentarian Karnbouris
then said, "The president appoints committees.
The committees go running around
the block a half dozen times and, with the
knowledge of the president, assent is
given. You're all responsible when you
are serving in whatever capacity, either
as an officer, a committee chairman, a
committee member; you are all responsible
for everything that happened during your
term of office in whatever capacity you

BOOK

Following the initiative of the May

10 board meeting, voting members on Nov.
2 asked Byrd Granger to take on the responsibility of forwarding the project.
A sum of $1,000. has been set aside for
initial expenses.
In accepting the work, Granger said
the production must wait until the official name for the WASP organization has
been selected by the membership.
Preliminary work calls for assembling historical matters.
Deaton and Stires
agreed to lend their copies of graduation books. Deaton and Stires will
also cooperate with their materials,
and will send their history and books
to Granger.
Granger asks the cooperation of
WASP, in particular, suggestions on
format.
Nan Fuller and her committee are
working on the project with Granger.
Granger and Fuller favor limiting the
volume to the war years with no mention
of post WASP service or experiences.
(TR 47 - 48)

--------------------------~----------MAY 10 MINUTES APPROVED

Strong demands for "correcting"
the May 10 board meeting minutes so
badly delayed the Nov. 2 meeting that
Parliamentarian Kambouris recommended
tabling those minutes so as "to enable
those present to get to the rest of
the agenda.'
(TR 59) The May 10 minutes, however, would be considered near
the close of the day. Deaton objected
that "there are a number of corrections
that need to be made that are very
controversial. "

are serving."

Karnbouris then added, "It was upon my

advice that the president allowed Ms.
Wyall to state her corrections to the
minutes.
You noticed, in discussing them,
there really are no corrections, and Ms.
Wyall is in complete agreement with this."

The first action after the recess was

a report by the Credential ~ommitte: and
clarification by the Par11amentarlan
:bout legal voting for OOF meetings.
As
a result, the earlier deadlock was ~roken
with a vote on tabling the May 10.ffilnutes.
The affirmative vote made.lt ~ossible for the meeting to accomp11sh lts
business.
(TR 65-78)
The May 10 minutes were take~ off the
table for discussion and correctlon toward the end of the meeting. (TR 281).
Wya11 noted that as the majority of ~e:
corrections were minor, she would e11ml-

Karnbouris then commended Wyal1 for so

agreeing, noting, "I think an effort is
being made on the part of at least one
past-officer to try to heal the woun ds. "
(TR 303- 304)
The minutes of the May 10 meeting
were approved with corrections as noted.
(TR 306-308)

----------------------------------------

I~

ORDER OF FIFINELLA
Advisory

Board Meeting

November

2, 1979

Smuggler's Inn
Corsair Room
Wilmot at Speedway
Tucson, Arizona
85711
AGENDA

REGISTRATION
CALL TO ORDER
WELCOME

BY PRESIDENT

INTRODUCTIONS
ROBERT'S
QUORUM

RULES OF ORDER REVISED

Report of Credentials

(NEWLY REVISED)
Committee

- Parliamentarian

on registration.

ORDER OF BUSINESS
1.

II

Reading of Minutes
A. Transition Meeting of Boards,
October 1, 1978
B. Board Meeting, May 10, 1979
Reports of Officers and Standing
A. Treasurer's Report
B. Report of President
C. Report of Vice President
D. Report of Secretary
E. Committees

Colorado

-----------------_

Springs,

CO,

MILITARY

BENEFITS

Pate Pateman
"The Overlook", Stratford Harbour
Route 1
Montross, VA 22520
804-493-8113

Committees

STUDY COMMITTEE
III Unfinished

business

--- _---------_
IV

New Business

SERVICE

COMMITTEE

Lucile Wise
823 Kansas St
Larned, KA 67550
316-285-2207
BYLAWS
Deane Ferguson
1524
32nd St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20007
202-338-4967

Adele Beyer
2397 Mayfield
Montrose, CA
213-248-4890

......"

NEW COMMITTEE

CHAIR

NOMINATIONS

FINANCIAL

Gail Snell
17074 Jersey St.
Granada Hills, CA
213-363-2911
FEDERAL VETERANS'

91344

BENEFITS

Roddy McLean
4032 Oxford St.
Annandale, VA 22003
703-256-0568

.....-

91020

ADVISOR

Catherine Murphy
432 West Walnut Ave.
Arcadia, CA 91006
213-681-0276
STATE VETERANS'

BENEFITS

Liz Watson
2300 Panorama Terrace
Los Angeles, CA 90039
213-661-6500

MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING

Order of Fifinella,
2 November 79.

2 November 79

Smuggler's Inn, Tucson, Arizona.

Proceedings:
Board Meeting of Order of Fifinella.
to order by the President Lillian Roberts.

9:35 a.m.

Meeting was called

She stated that confirmation notices of this meeting were mailed by

the secretary to Roberts, Granger, Deaton, Wyall, Nicholas, and Haydu.
A second notice was sent to above members and to Secretary Davis by
President Roberts which included the Treasurer Report through 21
July 79, minutes of the 10 May Board meeting, membership dues notices,
accomodation and meeting notices. A direct mailing to the full membership was sent on 19 October which included, dues notice, minutes of
the 10 May board meeting and a Welcome Invitation to attend the 2
November 79 Open Board Meeting.
President Roberts welcomed WASP'S in attendance with special greeting
and introduction of Hally Stires, one of the initial founders and original incorporators of the Order. of Fifinella.
She introduced all
board members present, Betty Nicholas, Edna Davis, Bernice Haydu,
Marty Wyall and Leoti Deaton. Also, Ms. Loretta Kambouris - registered
Parlimentarian and member of the National Association of Parlimentarians,
sitting at the right of the President.
Also, Ms. Sandy Diaz, a court
reporter who was taking an official transcript of the meeting.
Ms. Kambouris, Parlimentarian, set the structure of the meeting.
She explained briefly the Roberts Rules of Order under which we were
bound to function and gave a.brief outline of the legal ramifications
of our activities.
"Federal and State Law" once the certificate of
incorporation is issued, you shall forever be governed by the laws of
that state and pay such taxes, state and federal as are applicable.
You may terminate this relationship by the Legal process of dissolution and you can be suspended by refusing to comply with the state
laws, but during this suspension, you shall not function."
She
noted that Order of Fifinella By-Laws were adopted 28 June 46 which
established that Roberts Rules of Order shall be the authority for
parlimentary proceedings at all meetings.
She stated that in keeping with these by-laws, registration was
held at this meeting to establish a quorum and the vote needed to
adopt motions.
Article IV, Advisory
body shall be chosen
chapter.
Therefore,
a small part of this

Board, Section 1, states that this governing

by class representation according to class or
members elected at the convention 1978 are but
body present.

Article X, Section 7, states "The president of each chapter automatically comprises one member of the Board." Additionally, Ms. Kambouris
stated "rules of an ordinary assembly would prevail."

Board member Wyall objected to our operating under "obsolete" by-laws

and requested that we proceed operating by use of "Roberts Rules of
Order."
President Roberts stated:
"We are a California, non-profit corporation
0199839 and have been s~nce 1946. There has never b~en by the membership any amendment or replacement of the by-laws.
Board member Haydu objected to proceeding under Order of Fifinella, Inc.
and stated her administration allowed Order of Fifinella Inc. to
dissolve as was her interpretation of the membership feelings in Reno.
She.stated she was not a Board member of Order of Fifinella, Inc.
but of Order of Fifinella.
President Roberts reiterated that we recognized that this has been the
opinion of the past administration but that opinions .do not influence
the legal entity of Order of Fifinella Inc.; therefore when the
membership in Reno asked to have the corporation dissolved, this should
have been accomplished by the formal legal proceedings of Dissolution.
It is a fact accomplished that Order of Fifinella is a non-profit
corporation, incorporated in California since 1946. The organization
is thus bound by its by-laws.
Ms. Wyall stated that in 1964 she gathered the WASP's together under
the name of Order of Fifinella as a separate entity from Order of
Fifinella, Inc .
.In answer it was pointed out that it was the same membership, operating
under the same name, therefore legally it was the same organization
with the same by-laws, whether the later group wished to use them or
not. No organization may operate in limbo, ignoring all the Laws of
state, nation and organization.
Ms. Haydu and Ms. Deaton objected

to the concept.

President Roberts stated that this was a meeting of the Advisory Board
of Order of Fifinella as set forth in the by-laws.
She then requested
the secretary to read the minutes of the Transition meeting of the
Board of Directors Order of Fifinella, Colorado Springs 1 October 78.
Secretary Davis complied.
The persons in attendance at that meeting
were S. Hayden, B. Haydu, L. Deaton, M. Wyall, B. Cross, B. Granger
and B. Nicholas acting as secretary pro-tern.
One section of these minutes, as recorded by Betty Nicholas, was
"That study committee was recommended after rejection by the membership
of incorporation as presented."
Ms. Haydu offered correction - it
should read that a study committee be set up and incorporation be held
in abeyance until committee gives its recommendation and findings."
Dr. Granger stated that this was no part of the discussion at the meeting
and objected to the correction as it would falsify what occurred.
Results of a vote on the proposed correction by the five members present
at the meetings was - Haydu, Deaton, Wyall and Nicholas - Aye. Granger _
No. Correction approved.

"".

WSPR
Raydu of ~er:::.~
addt tion to the ",tnutes of the trans i tion meeting,
"Incorporation
, Inc. was neither accepted nor rejected."

MO.

Dr. Granger again stated this discussion was not part of that meeting
and objected.
President Roberts accepted the Granger objection noting that it was
not proper to make up additions to minutes of a meeting that took
place a year ago.
She declared the minutes to stand as corrected.
She noted that Edna
Davis, present secretary-treasurer, had no knowledge or copy of the
Nicholas minutes until 10 May 79.
Ms. Roberts then requested the secretary to read the minutes of the Board
of Directors, Order of Fifinella, Inc. 10 May 79. The secretary read
the minutes into the record.
Corrections to the minutes were requested, Discussion followed.
Parlimentarian suggested that the minutes be tabled until the end of the
agenda as so much will be clarified.
It was moved and seconded to
table the minutes.
Discussion:
Ms. Deaton stated that the minutes of the Board are the property of the
board and that they were sent out to the membership without authorization
of the full board. She stated those minutes had not been corrected.
President Roberts stated that it was so noted on the minutes that they
would be approved at the next board meeting.
Call for a vote.
Recess was taken by all.

15 minutes.

Inadvertently, the sixth item on the agenda had been passed over. As
may be noted on the attached adgenda, that item is "Quorum-Report of
the Credentials Committee on Registration".
President Roberts corrected
this oversight as soon as the recess terminated.
President Roberts reconvened the meeting and called for the Quorum Report
of the Credentials Committee, Chairman Hally Stires. Ms. Stires announced
that 3 class secretaries, 3 executive officers and 4 board members
registered for a total of ten. A quorum majority would be 6 votes.
Witnessed and signed by Betty Nicholas and Hally Stires - 2 Nov. 79.
President Roberts explained that we are bound by our by-laws and when
any vote is in question, these persons shall be polled by name in
alphabetical order. Ms. Wyall objected.
President Roberts answered
that a Parlimentarian had been insisted upon by Haydu, Deaton, Nicholas
and Wyall. That in complying with their demand Dr. Granger has secured
the leading parlimentarian in Tucson with 40 years experience in this and
the legal field and that the parlimentarian stated that we are bound by
these by laws first, as we are so instructed by state and federal laws.

_ .....

Therefore,
th.e corqpos,ition a.nd yot;i:.ngprivileges
of the Advisory
Board as
defined
in the By-Laws will prevail,
thereby authenti~cating
the three
class secretaries
who are present today as voting members
of the Advisory
Board.
These three are Brownie Kindig, Margaret
Tamplin and Eleanor
Gunderson.
Ms. Wyall

again

objected.

Ms. Deaton objected

stating
without
special invitations

that these three had been especially

to other class secretaries.

Hally Stires spoke from the floor,

tation to the "Open Meeting"
hence

invited

saying that everyone received

an inviall had an opportunity
to come.

President
Roberts stated that neither she nor anyone else had
any class secretary
or explained
to any of them their present
voting members of the Advisory
Board.

invited
status as

Subsequently,
each of the three, Kindig, Tamplin and Gunderson
made
individual
statements
that they had received
no inkling of this until it
was just stated by the president.
A roll call vote was taken on the motion
to table the minutes.
All Aye, No - Haydu, Deaton, Nicholas,
Wyall.
Motion carried.
Treasurers

Report:

Edna

Davis

2 November

The full treasurers

financial
statement
into the record as presented
by Murphy,

79
of Order of Fifinella
was read
Earnhardt
& Locke, Los Angeles.

ORDER OF FIFINELLA,
INC.
STATEMENT
OF REVENUE COLLECTED,
EXPENSES
PAID AND FUND BALANCE
For the period from Janu2ry
1, 1979 to October 10, 1979

Fund

Balance

January

1, 1979

- First

of Fort

REVENUE COLLECTED
Membership
dues
Donations
Convention
receipts
Store Sales
Book sales
Memorial
fund
Washington
D.C. fund

$998.50
95.00
3,500.00
392.30
871.19
25.00
382.74

EXPENSES
PAID
Purchases
- store items & books
Office expenses
& supplies
Printing
Telephone
Postage
Travel
Class secretary
expenses

1,887.43
723.04
1,555.84
875.31
708.32
1,494.43
500.00

Worth

Checking

$16,033.46

6,264.73

Bank service charges

Donations
Shipping
Militarization
Selling expense
Advertising
Franchise taxes and penalties

33.79
130.00
40.73
182.40
41.15
25.00
195.00

8/402.44

FUND BALANCE OCTOBER 10/ 1979

First of Fort Worth checking
53.07
Security Pacific Bank Checking
(#216-073-004)
10/842.68
Security Pacific Bank Checking
(#216-007-677)
3/000.00

See accountants'

compilation

report

SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL REPORT:

Expenses:
Presidential Office:
1978

1979

13,895.75

October 1978 thru August 1979

October

Telephone

$100.17

November

Telephone

41. 23

December

Telephone

14 .77

January

Telephone

29.85

February

Telephone

26.52

March

Telephone

77.62

April

Air transportation
Stamps
Bus/airport RT
Transport DC-Blizzard
Local transport, DC
WASP Picture - Official
Mailing
Mailing
Misc.
Roberts Rules bk.
DC Accommodations
Army/Navy - Blizzard
Modesto Air RT
Typewriter Rental
Motel accommodations
Ground transport

It

$212.54

256.50
30.00
7.00
23.50
20.00
35.60
8.00
2.44
2.01
29.45
200.73
66.00
15.90
84.28
13.80

615.23

Stamps
50 PO cards
Printing
Army/Navy Club

4.50
5.00
6.57
48.75

64.82

Telephone

62.82

62.82

353.00
95.37

448.37

Secretary Service
Telephone
Telephone DC

25.00
20.90
29.48

75.38

July

Telephone

11. 72

11.72

August

Secretary Service
Mailings/UPS
Copy Service
Stationary

25.00
13.75
33.25
1.43

73.40

May
June

Air,Transport-Was.
Telephone

D.C.

TOTAL $1821.88
To this balance a deposit of $782.50 was made 1 Nov. 79, hence a balance
of $14,678.25.
A separate supplimentary financial report of the presidential
office was read. This was demanded by past president Haydu. A copy was
read into the record.
Total through August spent to benefit OOF, $1821.88.
Secretary Davis noted that many expenses had not been passed on to the
organization and that the demand for this accounting was to demean the
president but that the opposite had been accomplished.
Ms. Haydu objected to expenses given to the President.
monies had not been voted upon.

She stated that

Secretary Davis referred her to the minutes of the 10 May board meeting
authorizing s~me by unanimous vote.
Ms. Deaton stated that no check was ever written in the past that did not
have an accompanying, itemized statement, Nicholas agreed.
President Roberts replied - "your inference is the treasurer is paying
illegally.
Naturally all statements handed to the Secretary-Treasurer
are fully itemized and documented and they are on record with her and
the auditor."
President accepted the Treasurers RepCQt for audit after questions and
discussion concluded.
She requested the Treasurer to present bills for
payment.
1.

Loretta Kambouris, Registered

Moved, seconded and carried.

Parlimentarian

2.

Court Reporter:
Dr Granger stated it was not possible
to have a figure at this time. Agreement of $35.00 per
half day plus $1.85 per page with two copies.
To pay when presented.
Moved, seconded and carried.

'f

$400.00

3.

Murphy, Earnhardt & Locke, Certified Public Accountants.

$800.00
BOard member Haydu stated bill was very high and questioned.
Treasurer Davis explained _

Result 10 May unanimous vote of board to reinstate and Legalize Order

of Fifinella. A lawyer had been authorized to assist but through subsequent obstruction from Deaton, Haydu, Wyall & Nicholas we were deprived
of the services of a lawyer. Accountants charge $60 _ $80 an hour. This
accountant was willing to do the additional legal duty, as well as the
accounting.
Also he was willing to accept the $16,000.00 that I
accepted from the former treasurer Betty Nicholas without statements and
documents supporting this amount. He had to go to the IRS, call upon
his sources, work with California State Franchise Tax Board and cover
legal matters with his own lawyer, and he had to draw up and submit an
accounting for the past years of suspension of 1975, 1976, 1977 & 1978.
As a result of his work we had to pay a fine of $195.00 to California
as penalties for four years.
We must have an outside audit for the end of the year.
If we select him
to complete the work he has stated the cost will be approximately $500.00.
If we go to another firm the price for a certified audit will be approximately $2,000.00.
However, we do not have the proper records from the
past to complete such an audit and this accountant said that he would
not accept the job. He feels that the certified audit is not necessary
but that the next step down of an audit will suffice.
He urged this
organization to secure a lawyer.
We are now clear with the State of California.
But in the past this
organization has literally ignored the federal government.
Order of
Fifinella is obligated and liable for a fine amounting to $10.00 a day
for not filing to a total of $5,000.00 maximum.
Three other accountants
were contacted and they were all about $500.00 more.
Secretary Davis
further states that when she accepted this job she had intended to have
her own Travel agency accountant run the Order of Fifinella on the computer which would provide a monthly printout of all our activity at no
expense to the organization.
However, the day after th 10 May board
meeting and through the year, she has been accused of mis-spending and
mis-handling the funds. This without any foundation of fact. It must
therefore be understood that any use of her personal accountant would
be suspect.
Therefore, everything is given to an outside accountant for
which this organization is liable for the costs. Full vote to pay the
accountant - all Aye. Haydu, Deaton - aye with protest, Wyall declined
to vote. Approved.
4.

Printing & Mailing information to full membership.

Voice vote, all Aye. No - Haydu. Approved.

5.

Postage for mailing ~

Information to full membership
$301.00
Poll vote, all Aye. No - Deaton, Haydu, Nicholas, Wyall.
Approved.

$225.14

Treasurer Davis announced that we have just received this date a check
for $663.00 from Mary H. Chappell, Co-Chairman of the Colorado Convention.

This money has come ~rom income le~t from the convention.
This amount
w~ll be reflected in the treasurers report for next meeting.
Ms. Chappell
noted that Betty Jo Reed still holds some monies from the sale of
pictures.
Ms. Davis noted that we have no accounting of this money ,and
it is most difficult in straightening our corporate and legal obligations
when we have not all the financial accountings.
Since the bulk of our
income is derived from sale of merchandise the government is very interested
and it is mandatory to have a full inventory for the end of the year.
Treasurer Davis stated that memberships are coming in very well and that
many contain donations for members that cannot afford memberships. This
has been accomplished in several instances.
Additional small bills were presented
board action.
Luncheon Recess
President
1.

12:25 pm.

Roberts reconvened

the meeting at 1:54 pm.

President:
Since lQ May Board meeting
three duties.
A.
B.
C.

A.

comments:

We receive no educational benefits.

We cannot add the period of WASP service to other
military service for purpose of retirement and pension.
Additional Legislation
restrictions.

would be required

to lift these

The Secretary of State of California lifted the suspension on

Order of Fifinel1a on 24 October 79.
Corporate
Corporate

C.

function has focused on

Benefits.
The WASP's are entitled to all benefits available
to any other veteran, with the exception of two:
L.
2.

B.

She called for Reports.

Representing WASP at Air Porce Discharge Ceremony

Interviewing those in charge of Federal Benefits, Wash. D.C.
Answering voluminous correspondence.
Bringing organization back into compliance with federal
and state regulations.

Pertinent

11.

to the treasurer but required no

name: Order of Fifinella

number:
0199839

Compliance:
We are in process of clarifying our position with
federal Tax obligations and with Postal authorities for the
legality of using WASP Memorials, Inc. indicia for purpose of
mailing Order of Fifinella newsletter to membership.

Vice President:
Betty Nicholas.
Mentioned past costs and procedures
of mailing and membership lists and roster.
She doubted a Roster
could be produced this year and recommended we not mail during the
Christmas season. She would commence work on new Roster immediately.

21

~nnounced the deaths of WASP's Lydia L. Kenny - 43 W~4,

.Jean Bothwick De King,a,nd Nellie Miller.
Lucile Wise was announced as chairman of the newly formed Service Committee.
This committee would act on all ma,tters of death, illness and need of
WASP's.
Correspondence

was noted as received.

Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, is dedicating a building to Paula

Loop, 43-W2, who was killed ferrying in service. This is a first and
great honor for the WASP.
Air Force Academy, Verr Kenyon - Cadet Awards Program Specialist, thanked
Order of Fifinella for commitment of $135.00 a year for five years
to salute the most Outstanding Girl Athe1ete.
Enclosed was a list of
awards available and this organization was given 5 year sponsorship of
"most valuable Women1s Basketball Player Award."
Ms. Deaton questioned

how we got basketball?

The letter from the academy listed 39 choices for awards and that they
had evidently selected this category for us. Secretary Davis noted that
she and the membership had thought our donation would be for the most
outstanding women athlete in toto, however, the awards programs do not
accommodate this concept.
IV.

Committee
1.

Reports of Chairman not present:

Committee

on Name Change and Incorporation.

She states that no relationship

poration.

Dona Strother.

exists between study committee

and incor-

The problems are independent.

The study committee is concerned with the name and membership criteria.
Any decision on these two matters may be incorporated within any corporate
entity the board and membership sees fit to select.
Dona Strother submitted her resignation as chairman of this committee with
the completion of the following report.
Committee members:
Deane Ferguson, Isabel Stinson, Ann Atkinson,
Norfolk, Iris Critchell and June Lucky.
A questionnaire

Ester

has been circulated with the following conclusions

For a tax exempt organization,

either social or Veterans organization.

Levels of Membership:
1.
2.
3.

Voting:
all persons authorized to wear WASP wings.
Voting:
all persons accepted by DOD who did not receive wings.
Honorary:
Non dues paying membership.
Non Voting.

4.

Associ~te;
Those that w~sh to associate with organization.
pay dues but not qualify full membership.
Non voting.
Name:

Would

Majority favors Women Airforce Service Pilots, WWII.

According to past polls - Order of Fifinella was not
favored.
This committee confirmed this feeling.

Recommendation:
A questionnaire
(~xample submittedI.

be sent to full membership.

President Roberts stated that this committee had nothing to do with

By-laws o~ incorporation.
This is a separate matter.
With deep regret the resignation

of Dona Strother was accepted.

The new chairman is Adele Byers who w~ll take over the responsibility
finishing the canvas of the membership.

of

2. POEM: Celestial Flight, composed by Elizabeth MacKe than Magid

in memory of Marie Michell Robinson.
A limited number (200) of prints
are available and were offered to the organization at $1.00 each. After
discussion it was decided to purchase poems for $1.00 and that the
organization would assume expense of putting it in proper form and framed,
then mailed to the families and survivors of all deceased WASP's.
It
was further directed that this program be placed in the hands of the
Service Committee for action.
The board requested that we ask for the
rights to the poem from the author so that it might be protected from
commercialization and only used for the memory and dignity of WASP's.
3. STORE:
Suggestions
a.
b.
c.
d.

Lola Ricci
for sales at the next convention.

Scarves
Tote Bags
Poem
A small luggage carrier was also suggested by Dr. Granger.
After some discussion no action was taken but interest was
evidenced in scarves, tote bags, the poem having been assigned
other duty.
It was agreed that Jean Soard, Convention Chairman, and her
committee work with Lola on these selections and others.

4.

Orlando Convention:

Jean Soard

15 Sep - 22 Sep 80.

Committee:
Frankie L. Bretherick, Elizabeth Magid, Dorothy Ebersbach.
Skeleton plans were presented which will be further developed in the
newsletter.
5. PUBLICITY:
Betty Williams. Submitted a taped report which malfunctioned and it was agreed to table the report until the end of the meeting if it could be remedied.
Agreed.

6.

MEMBERSHIP:
Secretary Davis requested permission
cards printed as supply is depleted.
Agreed.

COMMEMORATIVE

BOOK:

to have new membership

Byrd Granger - Chairman and Editor.

Action on the book must be held in abeyance until re-organization and

name change is accomplished.
She suggested that a format be presented
to the membership for preference and that a questionnaire will be
prepared and circulated to see if members want such a book. Leoti
Deaton agreed to provide Chairman Granger with copies of graduation books.
Bee Haydu agreed to return to Chairman Granger old questionnaires done
for the militarization and book.
Parlimentarian Kambouris stated that since Colorado Convention voted
$1000.00 for a commemorative book the current chairman Granger has
but to request it and give an accounting of how it is to be used and
accounting. The 10 May board meeting authorized this procedure.
President
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Roberts announced Committee Chairmanships:

Budget:
Emerald Drummond
Commemorative Book: Byrd Granger
Federal Benefits Committee:
Verneda McLean
a. Military Benefits:
Pat PatemanOrganization and Name Change: Adele Byers
By-Laws:
Deane Ferguson
Audit:
Murphy, Earnhardt & Locke
Moved, seconded and carried to retain firm for audit.
No, Hadu. Approved.

Recess:
President

3:30 p.m.

All votes Aye.

15 minutes.

Roberts reconvened

the meeting.

Board member Deaton requested clarification

"selling of the minutes?"

on mailing of minutes and

President Roberts stated minutes of this meeting would be printed in

forthcoming Newsletter.
Secretary minutes touch on, cover and give the sense of all things
done at this meeting.
Court reporter verbatim transcript is going to be available to anyone
of the membership.
Reason that it is necessary is that when doubts
are cast upon actual occurrences at a board meeting, the only way a
truthful account can be given to the membership is by a verbatim
transcript.
Tapes are not admissible as court evidence or as documentary
evidence for any sort of parlimentary proceedings, tapes are a convenience and far too easily falsified by deletions and additions.
Therefore, since there have been in the past, questions of authenticity of
exact occurrences at the board meeting - the court reporter is here to
see that this could not happen again.
Moved, seconded and carried that this Board authorize the full transcript of the court reporter be made available to the membership.
ALL aye. No, Haydu. Approved.

Board member tIa.ydumoved tl;J..a

t the mi.nutes of this board meeting 2
November 79 not be printed in the Newsletter until approved.
Board
member Nichola.s seconded.
Boa,rd member Granger stated that with the legal transcript there could
be no question of the minutes other than interpretation and therefore
no necessity for holding up the minutes from the membership, and that
the last minutes received by the membership met with enormous approval.
Ha.lly Stires made an impassioned plea for unity in the organization.
President Roberts thanked Hally and said that is exactly why the
minutes were mailed to the members and that now no misrepresentation
can take place and that the members can be assured that they are
again running their organization.
More discussion followed. Voice vote. No's disapproved
Poll was offered ~ no request was made.

the motion.

Following the defeat of the Haydu motion to w~thhold the minutes from
the membership, Dr. Granger moved that the secretaries minutes of this
meeting be sent to the membership bearing the notation, "to be approved
at the next meeting of this body.R Moved, seconded and carried unanimous.
Dr. Granger suggested that this organization be listed officially in
"The Encyclopaedia of Associations,R the subtitle of which is "A
Guide to National & International Organizations" published Detroit
Michigan by the Gale Research Company.
The assembly agreed.
Accounting

of the convention

of Colorado Springs:

President Roberts stated that questions raised at the 10 May board

meeting to be answered today by Board member Haydu, were as follows special Bank Account, who wrote checks, who approved, where are records
of Rick Broome painting and pictures, copy of contract, financial
accounting and future obligations?
Past President Haydu and board
had approved the venture and will make her report.
Board member Haydu presented a letter from Mary Helen Chappell who
stated that the convention committee did not agree on the purchase
of pictures from Rick Broome but by authority of the Board and Betty
Jo Reed's vote, the committee went ahead and spent $6450.00 on Rick
Broome pictures; $6000 for the purchase of 200 prints at $30.00 a
piece and $450.00 for the raffle painting.
Ms, Haydu further stated that
the raffle broke even but that we still do not have a count of how many
prints have been sold nor how many prints we have left, It was noted that the
organization seems to be in the red about $6000.00.
Several members present stated that they had purchased prints but had
not received them. Velta Benn, S. Gunderson, and Jan Harris.

Question was asked as to who won the raffle of the painting?

Haydu said her husband had won the painting.

Ms.

Betty Jo Reed had been requested after the 10 May 79 board meeting
to send the remaining pictures to Lola Ricci but has not complied.
Board member Granger moved that we reaffirm the 10 May Board directive
to have the remaining prints sent to Lola Ricci. That this be done
within 6 weeks after receiving a certified letter requesting her to do
so. She added to her motion that Betty Jo Reed be requested to submit
a notarized statement setting forth an accounting of all monies and
transactions of Rick Broome paintings and contracts pertaining thereto,
monies on hand in account now, number of checks received for purchase
of prints and number of prints still on hand. Voice vote approval.
Unanimous.
MEMORA\BILIA:

Marty Wyall

At 10 May Board meeting it was voted to place original memoralbelia

in a bank vault. Ms. Wyall gave a report of costs and various
methods of storing and copying WASP documents.
It was moved,
seconded and carried to provide $1,000.00 for the copying of the material
immediately.
The repository of the memora\belia was to be decided
at a later date by the membership.
Ms. Granger offered to give a
list of possible repository places. Ms. Wyall agreed to send
promptly a complete and detailed inventory to secretary Davis for
her records and for the accountants use.
Recess:

5:30 pm.

President Roberts reconvened

the meeting at 5:50 pm.

NEW BUSINESS:
President Roberts asked the secretary to read the Reorganization
from the Washington WASP group.
It was read into the record.

Report

President Roberts stated that Vice President Nicholas and Board Members
Haydu, Wyall and Deaton submitted a set of standing rules for the
Board of Directors and asked that they be presented at this meeting.
Parlimentarian Kambouris advised that since this body has officially
adopted Roberts Rules of Orders of procedures, this body must abide
by them to the letter. This body has no authority to act on these
proposed standing rules
this should be presented after study by
the By-Laws Committee.
So ruled.
President Roberts asked for a motion for taking from the table the
approval of the minutes of the 10 May Board meeting.
Moved, seconded
and carried.
Unanimous.
Board member Wyall stated that she had seven pages of corrections and
changes and requested that they be handed to the secretary for implementation.

Pa~lt~entari~n Ka~bou~is stated that it was not possible to present

seven pages of corrections to minutes that the full board had no
knowledge of. They- must be discussed now by the full board.
Ms. Wyall presented several corrections which did not change the
meaning or intent of the subject in the minutes, only the use of
different words.
A great deal of discussion followed Cpgs 268-308
official transcriptl.
It was concluded by Ms. Wyall and the board that no corrections
the minutes as presented were necessary.

in

Moved, seconded and carried to accept 10 May 79 Board minutes as presented over the signatures of Secretary - Treasurer, Edna Davis and
President, Lillian Roberts.
Unanimous vote - Aye.
Board member Granger moved that since we now have such a highly qualified parlimentarian who is now familiar with our organization and bylaws, that she be retained to assist our by-laws committee.
Moved, seconded and carried, Unanimous.
President

Roberts adjourned

the meeting at 7:18 pm, 2 November

Respectfully

79.

submitted,

~~EDNA MODISETTE DAVIS

Secretary-Treasurer
*These minutes to be read and approved at the next convening of
the Advisory Board, Order of Fifinella.

A Hlrfp;

If

ORDEn

3/~c~~~"'"

'~~ylii:fJ\:;

~r

FITtST: The name of said corporation

is
OHDER OF FIFINELLA
SECO~D:
The purposes
for which said corpnrutil)ll is formed are:
(1) Promote, develop and further
the status of
wOJn(.n in aviation.
(2) Establish a scholarship aR a Living Memorial
to WASPs who gave their lives in the service of their country.
(3) Provide a media for maintainin~
contact
with those formerly
in the WASP program
and individuals and groups interested
in the
advancement
of women's place in ~viation.
(4) Establish
and foster a publication
devoted
principally
to aeronautical
emplo~'ment and
other pertinent
information
relatIve to women in aviation.
TlIIl~D:
Said corporation
is a corporation
which does not contemplate
pecuniary
gain or
profit to the members thereof.
FOURTH:
The County in this State where
the principal
ofiice for the transaction
of the
business of the corporation
is to be located is the
County of Los Angeles.
FIFTH:
The corpora tion shaH have three (3)
directors,
and the names and ~ddresses
of the
persons who are hereby. nppom.ted to act. as
directors of said corporatIOn
until the selectIOn
of their successors are:
Name
Addr~ss.
CLARA JO MARSH
3504 Courvl1le, l?etr01t,
lI,1Jclllgan
RUTH MARY PETRY .... 104 Devon Road, Ithaca,
New York
HALLY STIRES
3633 L:lYell .l?ri.v~,
Los Angeles, Calnorma
SIXTH:
The classes of membership
shall be
three, n:lmely:
(1) ACTIVE
(a) Charter
(b) Rcg-ular
(2) 1I0NOIL<\RY
(3) SPONSOR
SEYE:-.1TH:
The busineRs flnd affairs of tho
corporation
shall be I'o\'cmed by the by-1:lws of
the corporation,
subject to the l:\\ys of the. St.a~e
of California
untIer which this corporatIOn
1S
iormerl.
IN WITNESS
WlIErmOp
we huvo hereunto
set Ollr hands.

O~;>-n~

(tuft

ilt~(\\Pdij

vy:t.:7~?h::J

FU'INELLA

AR'rICLE

Name
shall be known

This corporation
OF FIFINELLA.

F~NIII4-

We, lh,' unrlersig"Tled, do hereby voluntarily

a!'l."date ourselves lor tho:! purpose of formmg
nnn pr,)f!l corporation
under TITLE
XII, A~'11. '1.:: J. of the Civil Code of the State of CahCnl n:.I, llllJ we Jo hereby set forth, declare, and
certify:

OF

nY-LAWS

aR ORDER

ARTICLE II
Purpose
The purp<>ses
formed are:

for

which

(1) Promote,
develop
of women in aviation.

and

said

corporation

further

the

is

status

(2) Establish
a scholarship
as a Living- Memorial to WASPs who gave their lives in the service of their country.
(3) Provide a media for maintaining
contact
with those formerly
in the WASP prog-ram and
individuals and g-I'OUPSinterested
in the advancement of women's place in aviation.
(4), EstabliRh
voted principally
other pertinent
in aviation.

and foster
a p~lblication
deto aeronautical
employment and
information
relative
to women
ARTICLE
III
Membership

Section 1. Classes of membership.

Membership in this corporation
shall be of three classes,
Active, Honorary
and Sponsoring.
Any individual
may be an active mE'mber of
this corp<>ration who was a member of the Women's Airforce Service Pilot prol;ram as a g-raduate Pilot, an eliminee or in an administrative
capacity.
Active members
shall be the only
members entitled to vote.
It shall be the duty
of each member to keep the Executive SecretaI')
posted as to C01Tect address a.t all times.
Any individual who is entitled to active membership and joins the Order of Fifinella on or before December 20, 1944, shall be a charter member.
When three active ll1emb~rs of the Order of
Fifinclla submit to the Executive
Committce for
their approval
the name of an individual who,
because of close association
or interest
in the
Ordcr of Fifinel1:l, or one who has contributed
some extraordinary
service in conjunction
with
its aims and purposes, desirE'S to become an honorary member, such person shall, aftel' recei\'ing
a three-fourths
maj'Jrity
vote of the AllviRory
Council, be an honorary member.
The honorary
membership
shall at no time exceed the number
of fort.y.
If the quota is filled, tent..'ltivc honorary membershivs
shall be placed on tile to be
filled in rO~l tion in the eve:lt of a vacancy,
Any individual,
g-roup of individuals,
firm or
corporat.ion
showing- interest
01' concel'l1 in tho
development
of the Order ()f Fiiinella, by some
financial act or deed, may, with the approval of
the Executive
Committee,
become a Sponsoring
Member.
Section
2. Trnllsfer
or Withdrawal.
Ther6
shall be no transfer of membership.
E:lch member shall retain Illembership
uP-til :'>uch time as
it expires or is SIlS11CII(I('(1. Any lIIem1)CI' with.
drawing' hom mClllb"I'~hip shall forfeit dllCS for
the b:J1ance of the y,':lr.
If a Ill"lllbcr l'l'sig'ns
from the l';atinnnl or;:::ani7.ation and (ksires t,) be
reinstated,
such nH'lllbl'r sh:J11 apply in writin~ to
the' President
of the Nal ional EX"l"u: ive ConImillel', sl:ltin~ tile l'I'asan for :csig-nini~ and IIlso
the rl':I.,OI1 fnr tlli' r,'qucst
Jor rClllsta!t'll1,'Ilt.
Snch l'l'l]ul'sl lllay b,' r.ranted
hy II. l\;'o-UlIl'lls
vote of the National EX(,Cllt ivl' COIllIllIlI,'l'.
Secl inn:1.
Explll"i,)n
.-.f ~,Ielllber".
A membl'r 11I:l\' b . l''Zp,,\J,',1 frolll lll"lllh"I'ship jO}' ""ndlll'l d;'lrilll,'nl:d
t" tI", 1><'sl int.'II'.'ts
of the
Orde!' "f 1,'ifl(ldll~, ~;\I],jecl 1<) the f"lIuwing-:

1. Written chan~e.~, siv.ned by nt l(mst three

active members, must he IiiI'd with the Execulive
Commiltee of a Chapter.
Such chan~('s mw:t bo
explicit lUI to the act or conduct ciled as bein>('
delrimental to the on:anizalion.
2. The Execulive Commitlee of t.he Chapter
shall vote wilhin one monlh aftf:r filing'. Any
member shall have the opportunity
lo pre~"'llt
oral or written teslimony to the l'~xecutive Commiltee of the Chapler.
A maj(,rily three-fourths
vote of the Executive Commitlee of lhe Chapler
shall be required to sustain the char~es.
3. If the charg-es are sustained by such vote,
the President of the Executive Committee of the
Chapter shall fonvard written requesl for the
expulsion of the said member to the President
of the National Executive Committee.
4. The National Executive Committee in voting' on such request shall be g'overned by the
following, and a two-thirds vote of !;aid Committee shall be necessary to sustain the charges and
expel a member:
a. Displaying undermining loquaciousness detrimental to the organization;
b. Disorderly conduct;
c. Excessive indulgence in intoxicating
beverag'es.
5. The member involved shall be notified by
the Executive Secretary of the action taken.
ARTICLE
Advisory
Section
known as
Directors,
sentation
sentation
(51 0/0) of

IV
Doard

1. There shall be a governing body

the Advisory Board and/or Board of
which shall be chosen by class repreuntil such time as the Chapter reprereaches or exceeds fifty-one percent
the total active membership.

At such time as the Advisory Board Members

are subject to election throl~g'h chapters,
the
nominations and elections shall be governed as
set forth under Article X, Section 9 of these

By-Laws.

Section 2. Election (Class).

A complete list
of the members of the Order of Fifinella of each
of the eighteen classes of the WASP program
shall be sent to each active member of her class
by the 15th of October of each year, together
with a nomination blank. Only names of members in good standing as of September 30th shall
be included.
The five members from each class
receiving the highest number of votes from her
class shall be placed on the ballot for election.
All ballots must be retumed
by the following
10th of N oyember.
Representation
shall be according to the number of members of each class.
Alloted number of representMives
to the Advisory 130ard shall be included on the nomination
blank.
Any blank containing- more than the
alloted number shall be autom:ltic:llly rejected in
its entirety.
Mter
nominations
are completed
a ballot for the election of represent.atiyes and/or
representative
on the Advisory Board sh:tll be
sent to each member by the 20t.h of Noyember
and must be returned not later than the 30th of
November.
The nominee receiving the hirrhest
number of votes shall take office as of December
20t.h for the ensuing- year.
Section 3.

Table of representation:
Number

Class or ChlllJkr

of Member!!
Represent.Uvea

8- 25
1
38- 50
2
63- 75
3
88-100
4
Section 4. Not more than one ofi1ce shall be
held by I\ny one member at anyone
time.
Seciton 5. It shnll bl' the duty of e:l("h memo
bel' on the Advisllry Board when l'astinl~ her
vot.e r('lntiyo to nnt.innal repres(,IIUltion tn do /;0
liS per the majorily inslrucli'ln of those she reprt'sents.

Section 6. The decision of such votinv. shall

be acknowlcdg'ed by leller, Rlating wid decision,
to the Secretary-'l'reasurer
of each Chapter.
Section 7. The Advisory Boan\ shall hold it.'l
ar:.ual meeting' immediately following the Natio~.al Annua\ Convention of the members.
ARTICLE V
Nomination and Election of OmCerA
S.ection 1. The officers of the Order of Fifinella
shall bo the President, Vice-President, Secret.'lryTreasurer,
Executive-Secretary,
(Business Manag.?r), Historian and Editor.
Section 2. Executive Committee. The President,
Vice-President
and Secretary-Treasurer
shall
comprise the Executive Committee.
Members of
the Executive Committee shall be members of the
Advisory Board, with voting power, and ex-officio
members for the year following their termination
of office, with like privileges..
It shall. be the
p..,Iicy of the Nntional Executive Committee to
act as the Supreme Court.. The el~tive olIic;ers
shall constitute the Executive Committee natIOnally and in chapters.
Section 3. Nomination.
The President, VicePresident and Secretary-Treasurer
shall be nominated by members of the Advisory Board and
cliosen from:
1. Active Advisory Board;
2. Members of the Advisory Board the previous year; or
3. Re-nomination to office, provided no member shall be eligible to hold anyone
of such
offices for more than two consecutive years after
the date of the first national election.
Section 4. A nomination blank shall be sent
to each member of the Advisory Board by the
1st of October of each year, from t~e National
Headquarters offices, together with a list of those
eligible for nomination.
One mem.ber. only may
be nominated for each office. NommatlOn blanks
must be returned not later than midnight of the
following October 20th, to the Chairman of N{'min:ltions whose committee's duty it shall be to
make up the ballot for election of the Nat!on~l
Executive Committee.
In the event of a tl~ III
nominations it shaIl be the duty of the Nommation Committee to determine the girl best qualitied to run for ollice. Two members only, for
ellch office, may be placed on the Eledoral Ballot.
Section 5. Election.
Aiter nominations
a~e
completed a ballot for the election of the PresIdent, Vice-President
and Secretary-Treasurer
shaIl be sent to each member by the 1st of Nov('mber and must be retumed to the Judg-e of
Elections not later than midnight of the 20th of
November.
The nominees receiving- the hig-hest
number of votes shall be cleclared elected :'l.nd
!!h:dl tal;e ofiicc as of December 20tl~, an~ Shl.I1
C(lntinue in ollice for one year or until their successors are elected or appointed.
Section 6. Termination of OtTIce. Any offic.:lr
nl:'Y be removed uJlon the written request o~ any
nll'mber of the Advisory Board to the PreSIdent,
stating' definite reasons for said request.
The
PJ'l'sident shall send a copy of said request for
r('moval to the officer invoh'ed and said of1lcer
,,111111 within ten days from the (I:1te on the 1'0~uest for removal, have the privil<,!~e of compi!illl:' and forwarding
to the President a written
I'tlltement to accompany said request for removal.
The President shalI send a copy of said request
for removal, tOg'('ther with n copy of st,'lt.ement
{rom the ollicer involved. if any has been received,
to nIl members of the AdvisMY Board, wlhl shaIl,
wit hin a thil-ty day period send in their vote.
I-:lldl ofliccr's r('moyal shaIl be l'fTective if a
l.hn'c-f"lIrths
majority vote of lh(' entire Advi,mry Board is in fayor of such remov~l, upon
J'("'t'ipt of such vote by the Prl'si(\('nt.
~;ection 7. Hesil~nation of Ollicc. Any ot1icer
WilY re"i,~11 her Il{lsiti,'n by sending' in n writ!A:'n
I'I'Sih'"Ilntioll, slnting' the sIH'riti<; r,'asons, to the
"n'sid"lIt nt kast thirty days before such rcsil<lll,tion is to b(,collle ",reetiVl .

Section 8. Vacancie!'l. Vacancie!'l in the Elective ()m('c~ may he fllI"d for the unexpired term
by the l'resi,lent,
subject to ratification
of the
Advisory Board.
ARTICLE VI
Duties of National Officerfl
Secitoy{ 1. President. The President shall pre!lide at all national meeting"s, appoint all Committee Ch';irmen necessary to efflciently carry on
the functions of the Order of Fifinella duringher term of otTice. The President shall appoint,
subject to the ratification of the Executive Committee
an E,litor and also a Historian.
The
Presid~nt shall be considered an ex-ollicio member of all committees
except the Nomination
Committee.
The President shall execute all documents binding' upon the Order of Fifmella and
perform such other duties as usually pertain to
the office of President.
She shall sig'll all warrants for the expenditures
of money. She shall
cause to be sent to the National Chairman of the
Committee on Credentials
the names and addresses of all delegates and alternates
to the
Annual Convention.
The President shall appoint
a Nomination Committee, which shall consist of
five active memlx>rs, not more than one of
whom shall be a member of the Advisory Board.
The President shall also appoint a Judge of Election and two tellers.
Section 2.
Vice-President.
The Vice-President shall preside at all national meetings in
the absence of the President.
She shall assist
the President during her term of office. In the
event the President resigns or becomes incapacitated, the Vice-President
shall assume the Presidential duties.
Section 3. Secretary-Treasurer.
The Secretary-Treasurer
shall, if it meets with her approval, affix her sig'llature to ~ monthly fina~c.lal
st..'\tement of Receipts and DIsbursements wOlch
shall be delivered to her by the Executive Secretary.
In the event of a req'Jest for amendme!?,t
or repeal of these By-Lav'-s, as set forth 111
Article XII hereof. the Secretary-1'reasurer
shall
send a CoPY of said request to each member, for
her consideration
and vote, within thirty days
from the date of the letter prC'posing said amendment or repeal.
Each membE-r shall sellll in her
vote for or against such prop,)sed amendment or
repeal, within a thirty day period, and it may
be adopted by a two-thirds vote of all the active
members and shall be effective immediately. For
this purpose, mailing- notice of such amendment
to the last known address of the member shall
be deemed sufficient service.
Section 4. Historian.
The Historian shall be
responsible for keeping the History of thl' Order
of Fifinella.
It shall be hl'r re3ponsibility to compile for publication annually a resume of the
progress
and development
of the Order of
Fifinella.
Section 5. Editor.
The Editor shall be in
complete ch:lTge of the compilation and distribution of a hi-monthly publica lion to be mailed to
nil memhers.
The Edilor sh III appoint any and
all persons, with the apPl'ov;\1 of the Pl"esident,
she dN'ms necessary to assist in the fulfillment
of her position.
Section 6. Business l\lanar.er (Executive-Secrl'tary).
The 13usint'ss Manager.
hereinaftl'r
called the Exccutive S,'{'rl't.'uy, shall be elected
by a three.f,'ul"ths maj,'rily vote of till' Advisory
Board m"lllbel"s. The l"l'lationship bl'tw,'l'n the
Executive S,'net:lrv
a11<\Ihl' Ordl'r of FiCIlll'!la
shall be g'ovel"lH'd ,{s set forth in ,.he cont ract as
si!~ned by ml'ml1<'l"sof th,~ Advis'lI'Y Council and
the Executive SCl'reta!"\'.
The Ex,'culi"e St'n,'t:ll:Y shall be r,'::pnnsihle for
TIlemlll'l"ship ,lu,'s; till' iSSU:\lll'(' (If m"1ll1lt'r:,hip
canis; the nolilic:IUlIns 10 111"11\1>"1'5
1'l'I~:(nling'
Ol'linqlll'nt ,lu!'s. :-;aid I';'(,'cutin' :-;,'('I"l'Llry shall
hI' l"l';;p"nsihlc fOI" kl'cpin!~ :l n',','nl of all fl'('(.ipl" and di"bul'sCIll,'nl5 a!'lcr ::ucll tin1l' a~ she

~nke!'l office. The Executive Secretary i!'l nuthorIzed to plll'('ha~c artic!"H for the organization
for
reHale to the members in order to establish
n
Memol'i:d Fund and Hindi he in complete charr:e
of the filling and mailin~ of all such (Jrder~.
Only nH'muers in goo,\ standing- Hhall be allowed
to purchase :mch articles.
Said ";xeclltive Secretary f;hall make arran~ements
for the setting
up of n Memorial Fund Account to be kept separate ~nd apart from the General Fund.
Said
~emol'lal ,Fund A~count receipts shall be kept
mtact untIl such tllne as the active membership
s!l."lll deter.mine, by a majority vote of the NatIOnal ActIve Membership,
the manner of ful.
fillment of the Memorial Fund.
It shall he the
duty, <,!f,~he Executive Secretary
to check into
posslbJ!ltlCS pertinent
to the advancement
and
prog'l"ess of the organization.
The Executive
Secretary shall be bonded in the amount of at
least One Thousand Dollars ($1000,00), at the
f'xpense of the Order of Fifinella. Said Executive
Secretary shall receive a monthly income which
amount shall be stipulated in a contract between
the m~mbers of the Advisory Board and the
F:xecutlv~ S~cretary.
The Execu.tive Secretary
shall .mamtam a record of all members in good
standmg of tI.le Order of Fifinella and she shall
h.e the authol'lty for the Committees on Credentials.
ARTICLE VII
National Headquarters
Natio!?,al Headquarters
shall be the address
the BUHmess Manager (Executive Secretary)
the Order of Fifinella.

of
of

ARTICLE VIII
Dues
Section 1. Dues of active members shall be
Five Dollars (S5.00) n year.
The term of dues
shall be from the 20th of December throuj;h the
19th ?f. I?ecember of the following year.
Members JOlTImg after the 19th of June shall pay a
$2.50 membership fee for the current year.
. Sedion~.
1uIy member elected to the ExecutIve Committee or Advisory Board shall not hold
offlct! unless her due~ are paid by the 19th of
January for the ensumg year.
Section 3. Officers
dues are delinquent.

elect

ARTICLE

shall

be notified

if

IX

Publication
Se~ti0!1 1.. The Order of Fifinella shall have a
pubhc~tlOn to be published not less frequently
than bl-monthly.
Secti~n 2: A copy of each issue of the monthly pubhcatlOn shall be sent to each member of
the Order of Fifinella.
. Sc~tio~ 3. The cost of said publication and
dlstTibutlOn shall be paid from the General Funds
of thc Order of Fifinella.
ARTICLE

Chapters
Sect~on 1. A chapter shall consist of not less
thnn clght members.
Section 2. If l'ight or more active members,
who arc at least onc hUllch'ed miles direct distRn~e. from any oth~r existing ch:lpter apply in
~rltlllg to ,t.he PreSident of the National Exc<:ut~ve ,CommIttee for a Charter, and said applicatIOn l!'l approved by tht! President, a chapter ll1~Y
be formed.
. Sedion ~. Chnpll'rs shall be named. carrying'Ither a. CIty or St:\te desil-.'1\lIll'd tille as requestl'd 111the npplil'ation for charter.
'
Sec~.i0t; 4. No perf-,)n shall he l'li,~ihle to membel:sh,P 111n, c1~:Ipter who is not already n melllbel of tho Nntlonal Order of Fililll'lla.
Section Ii. 'riH'rl' shull b., iour types of chapter, nl('lIIhl'rs1l11': IIf,llll'iy, Al'li\'e, Natit\\Ial AsSOCIate, Il"nornry and ::>pon:lorinK.

II Active Honorary
and Sponsoring shall be
gove~ed as ;et forth under Article III of these
By-Laws.
b. The National Associate membership s~all
be set forth as follows: A National AsSOCiate
Member shall be a person who either lives in II
eommunity where there is no organized chapter
or shall be a person who is preven~ed fr~m attending meetings by reason of contmued Illne~s
or disability. It shall be determined between the
prospective Associate Member and Executive
Secretary as to the chapter which is the most
convenient and said tentative Associate Member's name shall, with the approval of the President be sent in for chapter membership to the
Secr~tary-Treasurer of the selected chapter. Said
ARsociate Member shall receive all informat.ion
relative to said chapter and shall be a votmg
part of said chapter. It .shall be the dt?-tyof the
Associate Member to notify the Execubve Secretary of any change of address.
Section 6. The Chapter meetings shall be determined by a majority vote of the entire membership of each chapter.
A minimum of ten
meetings shall be scheduled in a ealendar year.
Seetion 7. Officers. Each Chapter shall have
the following officers, elected by ballot, as set
forth under the following 8eetiOill 9 of this
Article X of these By-Laws: President, VieePresident, and Seeretary-Treasurer.
The Ohapter shall also elect the member or members on
the Advisory Board, eligibility and number to
be determined by the number of members active
within the Chapter, as per the schedule under
Article IV, Sections 3 of these By-:I.aws. The
President of eaehChapter
shall automatieally
comprise one member of the Advisory Board.

Seeiton 8.
The President shall appoint a
newsletter reporter, with the approval of the
Executive Committee, whose duty it shall be to
deliver a chapter report to the Editor on or before the date requested by said Editor.
The
Advisory Board Representative and/or representatives shall be deemed officers of each chapter,
with like privileges.
Section 9. Nominations and Elections.
a. The President shall appoint a Chairman
of a Committee on Oredentials, whose duty it
shall be to contact National Headquarters as to
the standing of all members before nominations
are presented or voting is in order.
b. Written notice of the meeting shall be
sent to each active member of the chapter at
least fifteen days prior to the meeting at which
nominations are presented.
c. The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee at least ninety days prior to the
Annual Meeting, which shall consist of three
aotive members, not more than one of whom
shall be a member of the Advisory Board.
d. The Nominatin2' Committee shall present
their nominations along with the qualifications
of each nominee at the October meeting, to be
followed py nominations from the floor.
e. Ballots shall be mailed to each. active
member by the 30th of October and shall be returned and counted at the November meeting.
A.1I returned ballots must be in the hands of the
Judge of Elections on or before midl'light of the
LOth of November.
f. The President shall appoint II Judge of
Election and tellers whose duty it shall be to
count ballots and report their findings.
g. A majority vote of the entire chapter
membership shall be necessary to constitute an
election.
h. The Judge of Elections shall send a written notice of the results of election, along with a
sample copy of the ballot, marked as to their
findings, to the Secretary-Treasurer
of the National Executive Committee, by December 1st of
each year.

i. Ballots shall be held by the Secretary of

the Chapter for one year following each election,
during which time such ballots shall be open for
inspection by any member.
Section 10. Transfer of Chapter. If an Active
Member moves from one district to another and
desires to tranRfer her membership, she may do
so upon notification to the chapter of which she
is a member of her desire, and she shall thereupon be entitled to a transfer of membership to
the district to which she has so moved. The
Secretary- Treasurer shall notify the Executive
Secretary, who shall assist such member in such
transfer.
Section 11. If a member resigns from II ehaptel' and desires to be reinstated, she shall apply
in writing to the President of the Executive Committee of the Chapter, stating the reason for
re~ignation and also the reason for the request
for reinstatement.
Such request for reinstatement may be granted by a two-thirds vote of the
Executive Committee of the Chapter. No member who has resi2'ned from any Chapter may be
nominated for, nor hold office in any Chapter, for
a period of one year after the date of her reinstatement.
Section 12. Chapter dues shall be the amount
voted by the majority of members and shall be
collected in the manner determined by such vote.
Section 13. Two or more states may be combined to form chapters.
Section 14. It shall be the duty of the Secretary-Treasurer of each Chapter to submit to the
National Headquarters a list of all active members of ealeh such Chapter of. the Order of
Fifinella by the 1st of October of each year.
Section 15. In all matters of policy requiring
a vote of the entire National Membership e twothirds majority vote in each Chapter shall govern.
Section 16. Wherever possible, Chapter headquarters should be near or accessible to an .air
center.
Section 17. The Annual Meeting shall be held
on or around the 20th of December of each year,
at which meeting the installations of officers shall
take place.
Section 18. Withdrawal of Chapters. If the
membership of a chapter drops below the required number necessary to comprise a chapter.
the Chapter President shall send in a Notice of
Withdrawal to the Nationsl President.
Section 19.

Duties of Chapter

Officers.

a. President.
The President shall preside at
all meetings, appoint all Committee Chairmen
necessary to efficiently carry on the functions of
the Chapter during her term of office. The
President shall be an ex-officio member of all
committees except the Nominating Committee.
She shall execute all documents binding upon
the Chapter and perform such other duties as
usually pertain to the office of President.
The
President shall perform such other duties as outlined under various sections of tliese by-laws.
b. Vice-President.
The Vice-President shall "preside at all chapter meetings in the absence of
the President.
She shall assist the President
during her term of office. In the event the President resigns or becomes incapacitated, the Vice.
President shall assume the Presidential duties.
c. Secretary-Treasurer. The Secretary-'Dre~surer shall collect chapter dues and account for
same.

ARTICLE XI
National Annual Convention
Section 1.
The Annual Convention. of the
Order of FifineIla shaIl be held ~t a tIme. and
place decided upon by the Ex~ut1Ve COJ?mltJtee
after consulting the membershIp by a mall referendum.
Section 2. AIl active members shall receive a
written notice of the time and place of the National Annual Convention, mailed to her last
known address, at least sixty days prior to the
opening date of said convention.
Seciton 3. It shaIl be the duty of the Chairman of Credentials of each chapter to send to the
National President at least thirty days prior to
the National Convention the names of the President und Advisory Board representatives
and
their alternates.
Section 4. The alternates may attend all meetings, but shaIl have no vote except in the absence
of the delegate for whom they are alternates.
ARTICLE

XII

Amendments
Any proposed amendment or repeal of any
part of these By-Laws shall be first considered
throu~h a chapter and if can-.ied by a threefourths majority vote of the entire chapter membership, shall then be sent to the National Secretary-Treasurer,
who shall be governed as set
forth in Article VI, Section 3, of these By-Laws.
ARTICLE XIII

REGISTERED PARLIAMENTARION ADVISES

AND ATTENDS BOARD MEETING
At the request of board members Haydu,
Deaton, Nicholas and Wyall, a registered
parliamentarian attended the Nov. 2 board
meeting in Tucson (TR 4). Parliamentarian
Loretta Kambouris said over one hundred
hours went into preparing, studying minutes
and reports and bylaws and preparing the
agenda (TR 92)
.In her introductory statement Kambouri
said OOF bylaws and Robert's Rules of Order
would govern the meeting and board actions.
(TR 5-6) Said she, "Once the certificate
of incorporation is issued, you shall forever be governed by the laws of that state.
and -- another privilege of our great country -- pay such taxes, state and federal,
as are applicable!' She further noted that
a corporation may use legal process to dissolve, but it may not function while suspended by a state. (TR 7)
Bylaws, said Kambouris, are totally
binding.
"Even if you assert that you are
a majority of the membership and you are
told you may do anything you want, don't
believe it. You may do only what the laws
and your bylaws allow you to do." (TR 8)

---""

... ..-

.-4. ...__

....

Parliamentary

'

11

~""''''''''~.'''

__

Authority

Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, shall be the

liuthority for the parliamentary proceedings of
all meetings, except where they may conflict
with any provisions of the By-Laws or Articles
of Incorporation.
KNOW ALL MiEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
.That we, the undersigned, being all of the
dIrectors of the foregoing corporation, ORDER
O~ FIFINELLA, do hereby assent to the foregomg by-laws and adopt the same as the bylaws of this corporation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto
subscribed our names this 28th day of June, 1946.

I~S()C

---rL CSt),v A '~

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WASHINGTON

AREA WASP REORG,V1IZATION REPORT

Following is a report of information collected by the Washington area WASP

in studying the various ways in which WASP can organize.
We hope this will be
of assistance and value to Officers and the Board of Directors ~s they study
organizational changes.
After the June ?Tewsletter was received, it was decided to contact all WASP
in the Washington area to get their reaction to the new corporation, Women Service Pilots Assn., Inc., and to call a meeting to discuss action to be taken, if
any. We were able to contact 28 area WASP. Of these, 26 were opposed to the new
corporation and two were undecided.
A meeting was held on July 30, 1973, attended by approximately 20 WASP, and
a bulletin was prepared for all graduzte WASP, explaining the background of previous WASP organizations, reasons we were opposed to WSPA, Inc., and recommendations for the type of organization we would like to see p.dopted. Donations were
made to cover the cost of printing and mailing, ?nd our yellow bulletin was mailed
the first week in August.
More than 200 letters were received from WASP across the country in response
to our bulletin, all but two in complete agreement with us. Unsolicited donations
of more than ~300 were Rlso received.
Because of this overwhelming response, we
decided to hold a meeting at the conference in Colorado S~rings to provide en open
forum for discussion of the WASP reorganization.
However, we deferred to the
wishes of the Board of Directors of OCF 8nd cancelled our meeting in order not to
conflict with a meeting they called for the same time.
NOTE: The term "WASP graduate" a.s used in this report is r~eant to include .':111
those who served in the WAFS.
I.

TYPES OF ORGM~IZATIONS.

A. A large, onen organization.

This organization would be open to
the general public with no restrictions, and WASP and non-WASP alike would be
voting members.
The OOF and WSPA are in this category.
The only significant
difference between OOF and WSPA is that, according to WSPA bylEws, 9resent
women military pilots would be eligible to hold office. This type of organization would survive the WAS? and be a permanent organization.
B. An organization of Women Airforce Service ?ilots.
In this type of
organization, regular voting membership would be restricted to graduate ~ASP.
Trainees and administrative personnel who are recognized as veterans would olso
become regular voting members.
Consideration might also be given to granting
special membership to those trainees who served honorably, recognizing their
patriotism and exposure to ~ersonal danger.
Close ties could be maintained with other persons connected with the WASP
training program, such as p.dministr8tive personnel, trainees, instructors, and
family members, by granting them associate, non-voting membership.
.Honorary
non-voting membership could be awarded to persons perfor~ing unusual service to
the organization, upon approval by the Board of Directors and the membership.
It is believed this tupe of organization would meet with the approval of
our Congressional supporters and the WASP ~eMbership.
C. Veterans' Crganization.
To organize as a veterans' organization
under IRS Code 50l(c)(l9), 75 percent of the membership must be war veterans
And the majority of the other 25 pe~cent Dust consist of other veterans, trainees,
spouses, etc. It is believed this tupe of organization would also meet with the
approval of our Congressional supporters and WASP membership. gowever, it may be
difficult to ~aintian the 75%-25% ratio without excludinc 80me non-~ASP currently
in OOF.

(Washington

Arcn WASP Reorganization

He~ort:

p. 2)

D. Order of Fifinella.
If it is decided to continue under OCF, we
recommend that future membership not be open to the general public, but rather
be restricted to persons connected with t1'e WASP program.
We also recommend that
byl~ws be drawn up.
The original bylaws of OOF, Inc., as registered in the State of California
in 1946, provided for three types of members: (1) regular, voting personnel; (2)
honornry, non-voting members, as approved by the Board of Directors 8.nd restricted to 40 in number; and (3) non-voting sponsors (individuals and businesses
mpking financial contributions).
Instructors were not mentioned in these bylaws.
It is not known whether the bylaws were ever submitted to the membership for
~~pr8v?1.
The cor?orati on was allowed to lapse.
It is also not known when the
decision W2S made to R.dmit instructors and the general public as voting members!!!
Copies of correspondence between WASP Gayle Snell and the State of Californin pre attAched, regarding susgension of OOF,Inc., and procedures to be followed
if it is wished to reactiv&te the corporation.
II. INCORPORATION.
Originally, it was assumed that incorporation was
necessary and desirable.
However, two of the three lawyers we consulted
recommended against incorporation.
AS an unincorporated, non-profit organization we would enjoy the same mailing privileges (third class) and most of the
same IRS advantages,
Other advantages in not incorporating were that we would
avoid red tape, periodic reports and filing fees; and we would have greater flexitility if we wish to make changes in the purpose, membership, operation, etc. One
lawyer in the Office of The Judge Advocate General of the Air Force pointed out
that incornorating the organization would minimize the danger of personal liability
lawsuits. However, it is believed this risk can be avoided by purchasing liability
insurance.
III. NA~lliOF THE ORGANIZATION.
The AF JAG office p,dvised that, as a moral
obligation, the name of the organization should reflect the membership. If we wish
to have an organization called Women Airforce Service Pilots, the membership should
be largely restricted to WASP. We have received a letter from Lt. Col. Raul F.
Barber? of the AF JAG office, dated 20 September 1978, stating that there is no
prohibition against use of the name, Women Airforce Service Pilots or WASP for
our orgAniz.ation <:IS long 8.S the membership is comprised primarily of VIASP(coPy att.)
IV. FIFPELLA El1BLEl'.I. The Copyright Office informed us that Vialt Disney Productions renewed the copyright on the Fifinella in 1976 for a period of 20 years.
We recommend use of the Fifinella be strictly controlled by WASP in compliance
with restrictions imposed by the Disney copyright.
V. HEHBERSHIP PR~FER:SHCE. In our contacts by mail ;md in person in the Washington 8re8. and in Colorado Springs, we found overwhelming sentiment of graduate
WAS? W2S for an organization to be c~lled Women Airforce Service Pilots, as indicated by the ~oll taken in the summer of 1977 on changing the name of the organization.
We found little support for two organizations. We also found little support
for a germanent organization which would survive the last living WASP.
In regard to the present Women military pilots, we question whether they are
interested in joining our organization, and have seen no evidence of any interest
on their pGrt.
VI.
REC()~.E.'!ENDATIOI\S.
A. That WASP Hemorials, Inc., be dissolved, inasmuch
the purpose for which it was formed has been accomplished.
B. That WSPA, Inc., be dissolved, according to the vote result
announced at the Colorado Springs conference.
C. That operation under OOF be continued until the Reorganization
Committee can complete its work and submit choices for membership vote.
D. That decision as to the type of organization and who shall comprise the voting membership be determined by WASP graduates only.

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