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MINUTES OF THE MEMBERSHIP MEETING OF
03 August 2009

Opening Ceremony: Commander Abney called the meeting to order in proper form at 19:33 hrs on Monday, 03 August 2009, at the Post home with the POW-MIA flag being in place.

Roll Call of Officers: 10 Officers, 3 Executive Committee Members (ECM) and 2 Trustees answered the roll call. Trustee Smith was absent, but arrived during the meeting. The 3rd Vice Commander and the Adjutant are vacant.

Introduction of Guests: Shirley Loomis, Liz Przybyla, Keith Bell, Rick Duruttya were guests.

Suspension of the Rules: Past Commander Erb (PC) moved and Judge Advocate Whiting (JA) made the second to suspend the rules. Motion passed. Liz Przybyla made a presentation by concerning the Lake County Energy Assistance Office (HEAP). She spoke of summer and winter programs as well as the AT&T lifeline program.

Return to the Rules: JA Whiting moved and Historian Rein made the second to return to the rules and Order of Business. Motion passed.

Reading of the Minutes: Commander Abney did not call for the reading of the minutes of the prior meeting.

1st Vice Commander: 1st Vice Stennis congratulated the members that they were now at 51% membership. He introduced Paul Sylvia to be voted on for membership. JA Whiting moved to accept Paul Sylvia, US Army Viet Nam Vet from Mentor, OH (transfer from Palmer-Roberts Post 214) and was seconded by PC Erb. Motion carried. Bob Loomis asked if National and Department are notified when a new member is enrolled or transferred. 1st Vice Stennis said he forwards that information to Department and they send it to National. Historian Rein moved to accept the 1st Vice report and with a second from 3rd Vice Morgan the motion past.

2nd Vice Commander: 2nd Vice John Morgan reported that they did well on the rib dinner; spent $xxx and made $xxx. He thanked all those who helped, including Keith Bell and Rick Duruttya. The Post will serve a pork chop dinner on 15 AUG for $8/person. JA Whiting asked if the Family Picnic is on 16 AUG @ 14:00 hrs and 2nd Vice Morgan said yes and it is free to all members & their families. He asked if anyone could come at 8:00 a.m. to help it would be appreciated. ECM Evans moved to accept 2nd Vice Morgan’s report with a second from JA Whiting. Motion carried.

3rd Vice Commander: This position is vacant. Commander Abney asked if the Color Guard had anything to report. Trustee Babic reported on the 18 AUG LC Fair Parade, Color Guard and float will leave for the post at 16:00 hrs with the step-off from Harvey High School at 18:00 hrs. If post family members bring children to the parade, they must remain to supervise them. The Color Guard will sponsor a Flea Market on 24, 25 & 26 AUG. If anyone has anything to donate they can drop it off at the Post Home.

Finance Officer: Finance Officer Rodecker reports for the month of June our outflow was $xx,xxx with an inflow of $x,xxx for a $xxxx loss. He made an extra $x,xxx on the loan payment and might have enough to pay it off next month. The check book balance on 31 JUL was $x,xxx. The report was distributed to the members. 2nd Vice Morgan moved to accept Finance Officer report and was seconded by Trustee Smith. Motion carried.

Historian: Historian Rein has no report.

Trustees: The July written Trustee Report was available to all. Trustee Gladen reported that the air conditioning went down and cost $xxx to repair. JA Whiting moved to accept the Trustee’s report and with a second from 2nd Vice Commander Morgan, the motion carried.

Chaplain: Chaplain Kelly has no report.

SAL Advisor: No report.

Judge Advocate: Judge Advocate Whiting asked if Trustee Gladen agreed with the JA’s written version of the change to the Trustees’ Rules of Practice approved at the last meeting involving the Daily Drawing. Trustee Gladen agreed with the change prepared by the JA. Historian Rein moved to accept the JA report and, with a second from Trustee Babic, the motion carried.

Charity Committee: 1st Vice Commander Stennis said he has had several requests for kids going back to school. He needs Mike Dye’s daughter’s phone number. Right now the account is a little shy of $xx,xxx and they will be spending about $x,xxx this month on scholarships. ECM Evans moved to accept the Charities Report with a second from PC Erb. Motion carried.

Old Business: There is no old business.

Judge Advocate Whiting moved to return to the normal order of business to complete the good of the Legion with a second from 2nd Vice Commander Morgan. Motion carried.

New Business: Comrade Loomis asked if donations to the soldiers in Iraq are warehoused or forwarded to them in Iraq. Commander Abney referred him to Past Commander Erb who is responsible for those concerns. Loomis also asked about recognizing police and firemen. 1st Vice Stennis indicated that we will address the issue in the APR 2010 time frame. The Commander asked Comrade Loomis to assist with these and other programs as 3rd Vice Commander. Comrade Loomis sidestepped the ovation. FO Rodecker offered that we donated $xx,xxx to police and fire in 2008. The Commander added that our Committee has never refused a request for charitable donation from our schools.

Good of the Legion: ECM Ken Kapes spoke highly of the Legion’s recent rib dinner. He also mentioned that our Chaplain, Lee Kelly, was hospitalized following a serious accident. Comrade Kapes was very complimentary about a group called BOASTY which is a national group that is made up of Boat owners who help veterans with no strings attached. They have taken the Chaplain out twice. Comrade Bob Moore thanked the post family for its support during his time of need. SAL Det. 1st Vice, Rex Buchs reports that SAL Sqdn 336 will be cooking at P’ville Veterans Park for the National Night Out for Painesville’s police and firefighters.

Service Officer: JA Whiting moved to return to Reports of Officer’s to hear Service Officer (SO) Chebra’s Report and with a second by 1st Vice Stennis the motion passed. Comrade Chebra said there were no sicknesses, but reported two deaths: “Sam” (Rebecca) Montz and Dino Davidson. JA Whiting moved to accept SO Chebra’s report. 2nd Vice Morgan gave the second and the motion carried.

Good of the Legion: Judge Advocate Whiting moved to return to the Good of the Legion which passed with a second from 1st Vice Stennis. Past Commander Erb mentioned that the State of Ohio is offering license plates at a lower cost for Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipients and former Prisoners of War. He also said that he has information of other benefits for veterans and asked that all veterans contact him. Commander Abney said our Post’s Legion Family displays a team effort and he is receiving many good comments about Brakeman-King Post 336.

With a motion from Judge Advocate Whiting and a second from Trustee Jack Smith the Commander adjourns the Meeting at 20:22 hrs. The motion carried. The Commander proceeds with 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

08 Sep 09