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MINUTES OF THE MEMBERSHIP MEETING OF
06 April 2009

Opening Ceremony: Commander Abney, called the meeting to order in proper form at 19:31 hrs on Monday, 06 April 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 ECM answered the Roll Call. Past Commander Erb, ECM Evans and EC M Martin are excused. The 3rd Vice Commander and the Adjutant are vacant.

Reading of the Minutes: Commander Abney called for a suspension of the reading of the minutes of the prior meeting. Historian Rein moved for acceptance of the minutes as published and with a 2nd from Chaplain Morgan The motion passes.

Introduction of Guests: None

1st Vice Commander: 1st Vice Stennis reports that the post is at 106% at 311 members. He has one person for membership, Hal Henry Walker, US Army of Mentor, OH. Judge Advocate Whiting made the motion to accept the candidate. Chaplain Morgan seconded. The motion passes. 1st Vice Stennis reported that the SAL membership is at approximately 146 (94%) and the Ladies Auxiliary is at 125 members. ECM Howard moves to accept the 1st Vice report, Chaplain Morgan seconds and the motion passes.

2nd Vice Commander: 2nd Vice Gladen reports for St. Patrick’s Day he collected $xxx and just about broke even. On the 18th is the Roast Beef Dinner and Lip Sync and he is looking for more people to sign up. We also fed the National and Department round-up on 01 APR 09. Chaplain Morgan moves to accept the 2nd Vice report. Motion is seconded by Comrade Leo Kelly and the motion carries.

3rd Vice Commander: The office is vacant. Commander Abney reported that we have the Buckeye Boys the next orientation is 03 May, 09 at Post 678. Color Guard had reported a firing party for past Commander Larry Photo. Commander Abney commended Michael Ryan for a job well done.

Finance Officer: FO Rodecker reports for the month of March we took in $xxxx.25 with an outflow of $xxxx.66. Our check book balance is $xxx.59. Chaplain Morgan moved and Historian Rein seconded to approve the report. Motion carried.

Historian: Al Rein has no report.

Chaplain: John Morgan has no report.

Service Officer: John Chebra reports three deaths and one illness. The deaths were Past Commander Photo of our post, Don Gregory’s mother and Mike Dye who was a member of the SAL. The lone illness is Jack Pettit. 2nd Vice Commander Gladen moved and Chaplain Morgan seconded to approve the report. Motion carried.

Trustees: Trustees received a bid from Asphalt Maintenance for $xxx and VLB Striping for $xxxx. Judge Advocate Whiting moved to approve the bid from Asphalt Maintenance and VLB Striping. Chaplain Morgan seconded. Motion carried.

Judge Advocate: Judge Advocate Whiting reported that he received a letter from Wyles & Richards on 01 APR, 09 regarding a fall that Gretchen Bonado had taken. He talked to Corky and she and FO Rodecker are working with our insurance agent who has begun the claim process. JA Whiting mentioned that he received an anonymous complaint about Mark and Richard Jacobs as well as one thanking him for his work, referring to the smoking issue. The JA believes this type of humor demeans the complaint system. He also received a complaint about Jackie L. Smith from Kathy Clark about smoking in the canteen on 20 MAR 09. The Commander and Sergeant-at-Arm have a copy of the complaint. The JA notified Comrade Smith to respond NLT 17:00 hrs 10 APR 09. If there is going to be a special hearing, it will be at 18:30 hrs. 02 APR, 09 and all Executive Committee Members are required to be present. Chaplain Morgan moved to approve Judge Advocate’s report with a second from 2nd Vice Commander Gladen. Chaplain Morgan asked a question about the complaint. The Judge stated that he could not discuss the issue until the hearing. Another question was asked about the complaint procedure. Commander Abney informed everyone that when a complaint is filed, it has to be heard. Motion carried.

SAL Advisor: No report.

Pavilion Committee: Chairman Gladen had no report.

Charity Committee: 1st Vice Stennis mentioned that he Commander Abney, Past Commander Erb, and Judge Whiting attended the Andy Nowacki Scholarship function at LaMalfa Party Center which was a success and a good time. He reported that there is $xxxx in the Charities Fund and there is still money owed to Charity by Department. Ron Whiting moves and Chaplain Morgan made the second to approve the report. Motion carried.

Old Business: Commander Abney asked Judge Advocate Whiting to take the gavel for Past Commander Erb for nominations to elected positions. There is no nomination except the incumbent Commander Abney and nominations were closed. There is no nomination except the incumbent 1st Vice Commander Stennis and nominations were closed. John Morgan accepted a nomination for 2nd Vice Commander. No other nominations were made and nominations were closed. No nominations were made for 3rd Vice Commander and nominations were closed. The incumbent, Judge Advocate Whiting is a nominated. No other nominations were made and nominations were closed. Al Rein is nominated for Historian. No other nominations were made and nominations were closed. The incumbent, Finance Officer Brian M. Rodecker is a nominated. No other nominations were made and nominations were closed. The incumbent Service Officer John E. Chebra is nominated for Service Officer. No other nominations were made and nominations were closed. The incumbent Chaplain Morgan is nominated for Chaplain. No other nominations were made and nominations were closed. The incumbent Sergeant-at-Arms Lou Denes is nominated for Sergeant-at-Arms. No other nominations were made and nominations were closed. The incumbents Mike Evans, Ron Martin and John Howard are nominated for a one year term as Executive Committee Member. No other nominations were made and nominations were closed. There are two positions open for Trustee currently one held by the incumbents Matt Dillon and Jack Smith, but Matt is not running. This is a two year term. Ron nominated Ron Clark and he accepted. Larry Gladen is also on the slate. No other nominations were made and nominations were closed. Commander Abney nominated Dave Gilmour for a three year Budget & Finance term. No other nominations were made and nominations were closed. The incumbents Commander Derrick Abney, Past Commander Rob Erb, Historian Al Rein and Judge Advocate Ron Whiting are nominated as Delegates. No other nominations were made and nominations were closed. The incumbents Stan Babic and Matt Dillon are nominated as Alternate Delegates. No other nominations were made and nominations were closed.

New Business: Judge Advocate Whiting mentioned that the post can buy black T-Shirts for POW’s with Post No. 336 on the short sleeve for approximately $9.00 each. Judge Advocate Whiting moved to purchase twelve T-Shirts. Historian Rein second. Motion carried.

Good of the Legion: A comment was made that the Legion’s POW Flag is larger than the American Flag. Judge Advocate Whiting said the American Flag is supposed to be of equal size or larger. Karl Lubeking of the Lake County Commissioner office said they could help the Legion with funds better in 2009. Ken Kapes said we had 50 unexpected guests come to the post 336 on 40 APR 09 from Post 103 and they were very impressed during their visit.

With a motion from Trustee Dillon and a second from Judge Advocate Whiting, the Commander adjourns the Meeting at 20:24 hrs. The motion carries. The Commander observes 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

17 April 2009