Happy New Year to all Campbell veterans and Campbell Veterans Memorial Fund supporters.

The Board of Directors conducted its annual retreat on Saturday, 1/14/2017 on the Cisco Systems campus. The participants elected Board Members and planned for events and activities for this promising year.

We are pleased to announce that Claire Kotowski was elected to the Board as a new member. She has been functioning as Secretary for the past year but will now assume role CVMF Board Secretary.

There were some other notable assignments that included Ken Estep assuming the role of Chairman of Veterans Support Group Committee while our Board keystone Mike Kotowski agreed to Chair the Events Committee.  Len Duncan (President/CEO), Rob Peterson (Vice President) and Jim Stevens (Treasurer) were re-elected to officer positions.

While CVMF added a new Board member, we bid farewell to long-time Board Member, co-founder and former Chairman, Jim Free.  While Jim will remain engaged in the general direction of CVMF as Chairman Emeritus, he will cede most of his day-to-day duties to others on the Board. All of us want to thank Jim for his enduring dedication and hard work during these many years by trying to make the world a better placed for our veterans.

Led by President/CEO Len Duncan, the Board also committed to several initiatives that include broadening CMVF’s outreach to other vet-related organizations, helping to mitigate the plight of local homeless vets and publishing a quarterly News Letter.  Of course, the Board voted enthusiastically to reprise the Gala Dinner in November.

With most of the important issues presented and reviewed, the meeting was adjourned, Sine Die.

It was certainly an event to remember. Festive. Beautiful. Well-attended. Notable.

Those are just a sample of the comments made by the glittering crowd who participated in our memorable gala on November 5, 2016.  Guests, volunteers and the CVMF staff were rightfully gleaming with pride at the grandeur of this annual event.  Veterans and their families will cherish the generosity and patriotism demonstrated that evening forever.

The gala dinner was honored to have a number of local dignitaries in attendance.  Mayors, former Congressmen, military service members and Campbell City Council members graced the halls with jovial military banter and grateful remembrances of the fallen and all who have served their country.

Of course, the main draw and keynote speaker was Dr. Gloria Duffy, former Assistant Secretary of Defense.  Dr. Duffy is currently the President and CEO of the Commonwealth Club of California, the oldest and largest public affairs forum in the United States. Dr. Duffy regaled the rapt audience with her deep insight into the Soviet Union’s nuclear missile disarmament programs in which she was a lead negotiator.  She also answered audience questions about the current state of the Russian economy, its culture and how Vladimir Putin might interact with the United States in the post-Obama era. Each of her responses was more revealing than the next. A more enjoyable and informative event has seldom occurred.

Dinner guests were delighted to participate in fun-filled bidding skirmishes in auctions for fine art, expensive wines, private dinners catered by a gourmet chef, elegant interior design services and useful home equipment. His Honor Jason Baker, Campbell’s Mayor, added slick commentary and spicy humor as the Auctioneer Extraordinaire.  Tasteful raffle prizes, a grand repast presented by Mission College Hospitality Management and fine wines provided by Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards and Major General (Ret.) Kent Hillhouse of LindHill Vineyard. This was supplemented by delicious appetizers from The Socialight and VIVA which put a fine point on the whole affair.

The whole purpose of this grand charity ball was to raise funds for needy veterans. CVMF is proud to claim mission accomplished with more than $23,000 in net proceeds. While there were several wonderful donors, Audrey and Perry Kiehtreiber stood out for their $2,000 contribution which will be matched by Apple Computer.

Len Duncan, Jim Free, the Kowtoski’s and the entire CVMF team want to extend our sincere appreciation to the attendees, veterans and donors. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.