National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF
20 January 2009

Opening Ceremony: Commander Abney called the meeting to order in proper form at 19:35 hrs on Monday, 20 January 2009, at the Post home with the POW-MIA flag being in place.

Roll Call of Officers: The roll call produced a quorum. 9 Officers and 1 Executive Committee Member (ECM) answered the Roll Call. 2nd Vice Commander and ECM Martin are excused. 3rd Vice Commander and 1 ECM are vacant.

Reading of the Minutes: The Commander asked for and got a motion to suspend the reading of the minutes of the prior meeting. Historian Rein moved and EMC Evans seconded to suspend the reading of the minutes. Motion carried.

Introduction of Guests: None.

Reports of Officers:

1st Vice Commander: 1st Vice Stennis reports Post membership is 95%. He presented 5 veterans for membership. Maria Hollabaugh, Navy Vet, Painesville, OH, Dale Flood, Marine Vet, Painesville, OH, Jeffrey Anderson, Air Force Vietnam Vet, Painesville, OH, transfer from Post 888, Walter Murphy, Air Force Vietnam Vet, transfer from Post 888, Painesville Twsp, OH and Lynn Fronk, Arizona, transfer from Post 62. Judge Advocate Whiting moves to accept all five veterans to Post 336 membership. With a second from Chaplain Morgan, and motion carried. Our Post will be hosting the Area Roundup at 12:00 hrs, 01 APR 09. Representatives from the Department, District & County will be here. He asked for a good show of members. Our standing in the District is about in the middle of the pack and 9th Distict is about 10th out of 14 or 15 Districts. He asked to help bring this up. Ron congratulated 1st Vice Stennis for an excellent job. Everyone agreed. Chaplain Morgan moves to accept the 1st Vice Commander Stennis’ report and ECM Evans seconded. Motion carried.

2nd Vice Commander: 1st Vice Commander Stennis reported for 2nd Vice Gladen. Everyone had a good time on 02 JAN 09 at the Lip-sync Contest. Commander Abney reminded the members that there are positions open and would like them to consider filling them. Judge Advocate Whiting moved to accept the report for 2nd Vice Gladen. ECM Mike Evans seconded. Motion carried.

3rd Vice Commander: The office is vacant. Commander Abney reports that the A&G Testing is completed for Fairport, Harvey and Riverside high schools. A senior has won the County A&G Essay contest. Post 678 will host an A&G banquet on 08 FEB 09 to recognize their successes. The Post has received dates for orientation and participation in Boys’ State.

Finance Officer: Brian Rodecker reports that he received $xxxx from the Canteen and $xxxx from ticket money. Our check book balance is $xxxx. After this deposit we will have approximately $xxxx in the checking account. Total outflow was $xxxx.39. We will pay real estate taxes of $xxxx this year. There is about 7 or 8 months left on the two year loan. Historian Rein moved and Chaplain Morgan seconded to approve the report. Motion carried.

Historian: Al Rein has no report.

Service Officer: John Chebra reports no illnesses and the death of Stan Babic’s mother. Discussion was held about VA benefits. Adjutant Howard moved and 1nd Vice Stennis made the second to approve the report. Motion carried.

Judge Advocate: Judge Advocate Whiting passed out two sets of minutes for the Special Executive Committee Minutes of 15 DEC 08. One hearing, heard at 18:30 hrs. (Davis et al vs. Workman) and the other hearing, was held at 20:03 hrs. (Ledoux et al vs. Tipton). The minutes were provided to make certain, if there were any questions, Committee Members have a record of when, where and how the hearings took place. No appeals were submitted. 1st Vice Commander Stennis moved and Past Commander Erb seconded to approve the report. Motion carried.

Trustees: Trustee Smith has no report.

Chaplain: John Morgan, gave no report, but none was requested.

Pavilion Committee: No report given by Chairperson Gladen.

Charity Committee: 1st Vice Commander Stennis said we have two requests and a balance of $xx,xxx. Judge Advocate Whiting moves for the adoption of the report and a second comes from Chaplain Morgan. Under discussion Chairman Stennis announced that we have received an invitation to attend the Andy Nowacki Scholarship function which is being held at the LaMalfa Party Center on 03 APR 09. This is a black tie affair. Judge Whiting asked that the invitation be opened to all members not just officers because the Post will pay a portion of the cost out of the Charities fund. Past Commander Erb moved to send Judge Advocate Whiting to the Nowacki function and ECM Evans seconded the motion. The motion carries as does the motion to accept.

Old Business: John Howard resigned as Adjutant and Commander Abney appointed him as the vacant EMC. The Judge Advocate explains that the Commander should open the ECM position at the February 2009 Membership Meeting.

New Business: Judge Advocate Whiting moved that the Executive Committee direct our Trustees to seek alternative locations for smokers to practice their habits away from our Post Home and its foyer; that our Trustees establish receptacles for smoking paraphernalia that will present a clean and safe environment; that our Trustees set and enforce smoking requirements for Legion family members (Legionaries, Auxiliary, SAL) and their guests that meet the standards prescribed by the smoking statutes of this state; that our Trustees include other post officers as a part of their planning; that our Trustees meet a deadline of NLT 01 MAR 09 to effect these requirements and that their spokesperson report on their progress toward these objectives at each Membership Meeting. Service Officer Chebra seconds the motion. The Trustees are responsible for the conduct of operations, as well as employees, and the maintenance of the facilities which was established already been set. I, Commander Abney, have been told that the Trustees have told him that they have too much to do right now. I, the Commander am looking for a working committee to work on the concerns that have been brought up under new business. I will not table it. I was to put together a working committee together with this body that is here right now. The working committee can be one of two people. One will be myself and I need two others. I appoint EMC Mike Evans and Chaplain Morgan. We now have a working committee to discuss the concerns in that letter and will discuss our plans at the next meeting in February. Judge Advocate Whiting moved to table the motion in lieu of the committees’ report at the February Meeting. EMC Mike Evans seconded. Motion passed.

Good of the Legion: Commander Abney thanked everyone for doing their job. Past Commander Erb thanks the Sons for their reverse raffle that had a good turn out. Ken Kapes is working on The Web site and recommends that we set up a Pay Pal Account for people to donate to the post by debit card. Judge Advocate Whiting informed the Exec Committee that he attended the Mid Winter Conference National Security Meeting. They discussed the policy of illegal immigration for which he read the Legion policy. He explained that the Red Cross historically got blood for our communities and service men and women. The DOD now has the Armed Services Blood Program to send blood directly to our troops. Those interested in donating blood may contact the DOD for a blood drive. The Judge had congratulated 1st Vice Stennis on membership because the World War II death rate has taken a toll in membership for the American Legion. Failure to meet young veteran recruitment amplifies our problem. All active veteran programs, national security and defense budgets are at risk because without a strong voice in Washington DC, the money allotted will dwindle. We have 2.5 million legionaries which used to be over 4 million. 1st Vice Stennis passed out literature about Freedom House which is a homeless shelter for vets.

With a motion from FO Rodecker and a second from Past Commander Erb, the Commander adjourns the Executive Committee Meeting at 20:20 hrs. The Commander leads in the observance of the ritual.

Transcribed and respectfully submitted for approval by the Membership of Painesville’s Brakeman-King Post 336, Lake County, The Dynamic Ninth District, The American Legion of Ohio.


Ronald K Whiting
Judge Advocate and Acting Adjutant

16 February 2009