A.V.M.S. Meeting Minutes December 2, 2025

Call to Order:  Rich Greenberg, President, called the meeting to order at 6:30. Deb DiStefano, Director at Large was absent due to illness. Gail Boyle, Secretary led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Invocation: led by Kelly Naughton.

Guest Speaker: There was no speaker this month.

Officer Reports

Treasurer’s Report – Steve Milbrod:

• For the month of November, we had a beginning balance of $43,358.58 and we ended the month with $6.104.13,
• Deposits of $6,544.00 were made consisting of:
  • $3,262 proceeds from Operation Thanksgiving,
  • $3,000 donation from Lakewood Ranch Communities LLC,
  • $42 from 50/50 raffle sales, $40 from NATR 2026, $200 miscellaneous donation. 
• On the expense side there was:
  • $23,000 donated to our charity partners,
  • $20,637.50 Publix gift cards for Operation Thanksgiving,
  • $160.95 for Operation Thanksgiving supplies.

Secretary’s Report – Gail Boyle:

November 2025 meeting minutes were approved by the Board electronically and are available on the AVMS website.

Attendance – 25 members. No guest.

Other Business

Rich Greenberg –

• Rich announced the names of the 2026 board members and welcomed Tom Gwiazdowski to the board as Director-at-Large. Bob Turner will serve as President and, when he resigns his Vice President position to serve as President, he will appoint a Vice President to serve out the remainder of this term. Gail Boyle will continue to serve as Secretary,
• Thanked everyone and the community for the support and generosity given to Operation Thanksgiving,
• 2026 dues are due and remain the same as in prior years.
• Rich spoke of how he became a board member over 5 years ago with Joe Ward and Rick Davis encouraging him to run for the Vice Commander position. He spoke passionately of the organization’s mission to support the military and veterans as well as how rewarding it has been for him. He expressed his concern with the current malaise affecting not just our organization but many others in the community. Tears were in his eyes as well as in many others at the meeting, Steve spoke of how Rich supported him.   

 Bob Turner –

• Bob asked for volunteers for the scholarship committee to assist him with the process. Gail Boyle, Maryanne Lartz, and Mary Northrup each volunteered,
• Participation and volunteerism is very much needed to keep AVMS as a successful interest group so we may continue to support our charity partners and veterans,
• We were reminded that anyone who accepts the role of Vice President does not need to be a veteran as the by-laws indicate it is allowable if either the President or Vice President is. Gerry Northrup indicated his interest in volunteering,
• The 2026 monthly meeting sponsorship sheet was at the snacks table for volunteers to sign up. The meeting sponsor was thanked.

Upcoming Events –

The Night at the Races will be held on January 31, 2026 and is expected to be bigger and better than last year. Tickets were sold at the meeting and are available to purchase online. Tickets will be sold at the Wi-Fi café at a soon to be determined date. Everyone was reminded of the ability to purchase a table.

• Steve reminded everyone of the event’s high energy and mentioned “buying and naming” your own horse. If paying online, the online convenience fee can be adjusted to  $0.
• Rich reminded everyone the Oasis room only holds 200 people.
• Bob had asked Dawn Moyna to help AVMS receive prizes and she outdid herself with the quality and quantity of donations received.

50/50 – Pina

The 50/50 was drawn at the end of the meeting.

Our next meeting will be Monday, January 12, 2026.

Respectfully submitted, Gail Boyle – Secretary