At the September 2005 NCVA National Reunion, held in San Antonio, Texas, the attending membership, voted to have the 2008 NCVA National Reunion in St. Louis. The only problem was - St. Louis didn’t have a local Chapter and wasn’t included within the boundaries of any existing Chapter.

The following month, Dave contacted area members who responded to his earlier invitational letter to establish a local NCVA Chapter. The Chapter would be homeported in St. Louis and would cover a radius of approximate 250-300 miles. The region would make contact with eight states and be bounded on the West by Kansas City, Kansas; on the North by Des Moines, Iowa and Chicago, Illinois; on the East by Indianapolis, Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky; and on the South by Memphis, Tennessee and Little Rock, Arkansas. Six members became the Charter Forming Committee, they were Ken Cole, Frank Huffman, Don Owens, Bob Pepper, Ray Purdom, and John Whitworth, with guidance from both Dave and Jake.

A get acquainted meeting of the Charter Forming Committee was held with Dave Fiehtner on November 7, 2005 at the Sheraton Lakeside Chalet Hotel, in the Westport Plaza complex, in Maryland Heights, Missouri. The site was selected for the 2008 NCVA Reunion. Don Owens and John Whitworth compiled a contact list of 167 prospective NCVA members from the National membership list. John Whitworth provided a working draft for the Constitution/By-Laws for review and approval by the membership. The Chartering Committee submitted the by-laws to the membership under the name “Gateway Chapter - NCVA”.

The proposed constitution/by-laws for the Gateway Chapter - NCVA were read by John Whitworth. Changes were made to the Articles as they were read. The constitution/by-laws were unanimously approved by those present. IAW the Gateway Chapter - NCVA constitution/by-laws, the governing body consists of five (5) elected Directors. Those who were nominated and unanimously elected were: Ken Cole, Frank Huffman, Don Owens, Ray Purdom, and John Whitworth. The directors met to discuss the appointment of Officers for the Chapter. Appointments were: Don Owens, Director-President; Frank Huffman, Director-Vice President; John Whitworth, Director-Secretary/Treasurer; Ken Cole, Director-At-Large #1; Ray Purdom, Director-At-Large #2.

Vice-President Frank Huffman conducted the nominating procedure and oversaw the election of two Chapter Directors. Those nominated were: Cal Fulmer, Bill Craig and Larry Gifford. The membership, by a show of hands, elected Cal Fulmer and Larry Gifford as newly elected directors. The directors met to discuss the appointment of Officers for the Chapter. Vice-President Frank Huffman notified the membership that the directors selected Ken Cole as the President with Frank and John continuing to serve in their current positions. Cal Fulmer is Director-At-Large #1 and Larry Gifford is Director-At-Large #2. Ken was unable to attend the meeting and without his presence to accept or decline the Chapter President position, Larry Gifford accepted the duties as Acting-President until Ken was contacted. Ken later accepted the position.

Frank Huffman, HOST of the 2008 National NCVA Reunion, requested reunion committee volunteers and a meeting was held to assign committee volunteers. The Executive Committee consisted of Ken Cole, Bill Craig, and John Whitworth. The Budget Committee consisted of Bill Craig, Cal Fulmer, Don Owens, and John Whitworth. The Registration Committee consisted of Ray and Gloria Purdom, Sheila Craig, Cal and Jane Fulmer, Jay and Shara King, Don Owens, and Bob and Lynda Pate. The Banquet Committee consisted of Patty and Sam Thompson, Ken Cole, Bill Craig, Bob Tuggle, and Pat Whitworth. The Public Relations/Hospitality Committee consisted of Mickey Burgess, Bob and Lynda Pate, Pat Whitworth, and Sam Thompson. The Tour Committee consisted of Don Owens, Jo Gifford, Tom Hanneke, Patty Thompson, Jim Thompson, and Jim Drey. The Entertainment Committee consisted of John Whitworth and Sam Thompson as well as Tom Hanneke and Jim Thompson hosting to Golf Tournament. The Ship's Store Committee consisted of Harvey Strattmann, Mickey Burgess, Cal and Jane Fulmer, Jo Gifford, Jay and Shara King, Bob and Lynda Pate, Gloria Purdom, and Sam Thompson. Finally, the Master-at-Arms duties were performed by Bob Tuggle.

Frank Huffman, Host of the 2008 National NCVA Reunion, conducted a review and received an update from each reunion committee. Bob Anderson and Dave Fiehtner offered their comments and guidance. To date 179 members have registered. The Lakeside Chalet Hotel has 167 rooms booked with 311 guests. John Whitworth provided a reunion financial report for the period January 2007-April 2008. Bill Craig and Bob Pepper have volunteered their time and experience to provide photographs with captions of the Reunion, making the 30th Anniversary of the NCVA an experience to remember.