The monthly executive board meeting of the Veteran Boxers Association, Ring 8, was held from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the Waterfront Crab House in Long Island City, New York. The following board members were in attendance: Tony Mazzarella, Henry Wallitsch, Robert Mladinich, Matt Farrago, Jack Hirsch, Howie Albert, Harry Hascup, Johnny Breitenbruck, Keith Sullivan and Bill Tate.
The following items were discussed:

1. The owners of a Wendy’s restaurant in Queens, New York, have granted permission for a statue to be erected on its grounds to commemorate the site of the old Sunnyside Gardens Arena. Discussion centered on possible dimensions of the statue, as well as how to determine whose names would be placed on the statue and how much it would cost. It was decided that active Ring 8 members who fought professionally at the venue would have first priority in having their names etched on the statue.

2. The possibility of hosting an evening dedicated to the careers of Ring 8 member Emile Griffith and one of his former opponents, Nino Benvenuti of Italy, was discussed as an annual fund raising event.

3. The possible need for assistance from Ring 8 members when items from the vast collection of the late Hank Kaplan are ready to be categorized and/or displayed at Brooklyn College sometime in the future.

4. Drawing up a code of ethics for all members of Ring 8. This is in response to several complaints about one Ring 8 member who has been involved in volatile incidents with non-Ring 8 members at a press conference and at a live boxing match.

5. The possibility of taking action against board members who fail to attend a certain amount of executive board meetings per year.

6. Creating a fund to financially assist the family of Joe Louis, the late heavyweight champion. Also discussed was petitioning elected officials to take part in an effort to clear Louis’s name.

7. The possibility of honoring Mike Tyson at this year’s holiday party in
December 2008.

8. Tony Mazzarella proposed naming Ring 8 member Richard O’Neill as an
additional Sergeant-at-Arms in order to assist at the welcome table during monthly meetings. This proposal was unanimously approved by all of the executive board members in attendance.

Submitted by:

Robert Mladinich
Executive board member
April 16, 2008