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Bylaws Amendment

An email was sent requesting 20 members in good standing reply in support of the proposed amendment below. We have received 20+ replies and the next step is to make this notification that the proposed amendment will be voted on at the October General Membership Meeting.

Proposed By-Laws Amendment

By-Laws – ARTICLE VII – AMENDMENTS states:

Section 1. These By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting by
a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members present and voting,
provided that any such proposed amendment(s) shall have been
recommended by the Constitution & By-Laws Committee and have
been submitted in writing, signed by a minimum of twenty (20)
members in good standing, and made available for the general
membership at the next regular general membership meeting. The
membership must be given written notice, either by the Post
Newsletter, other type of mailing, or email at least thirty (30) days in
advance, announcing the time and date when such amendment(s) will
be voted upon.

By-Laws –ARTICLE VI – NOMINATIONS – ELECTIONS

This is the CURRENT version of Article VI:

Section 1. NOMINATIONS: The nominations process for Post elected
positions begins at the April general membership meeting.

Nominations can also be made from the floor at the general
membership meeting in May. Nominees must be present and agree to
serve in the position for which they are nominated.
Section 2. ELECTION DATE: All officers and Executive Committee
members of this Post shall be elected from a slate of nominees at the
May meeting.
Section 3. INSTALLATION: officers and Executive Committee
members shall be installed after the elections as the final act of
business at the May general membership meeting. The installing
officer shall be an officer from another Post, the Department of
Tennessee, National, or a Post 281 Past Commander.


Proposed Amendment:

Section 1. NOMINATIONS: The nominations process for Post elected
positions begins at the February general membership meeting.

Nominations can also be made from the floor at the general
membership meeting in March. Nominees must be present and agree
to serve in the position for which they are nominated.
Section 2. ELECTION DATE: All officers and Executive Committee
members of this Post shall be elected from a slate of nominees at the
March meeting.

Section 3. INSTALLATION: officers and Executive Committee
members shall be installed after the elections as the final act of

business at the March general membership meeting. The installing
officer shall be an officer from another Post, the Department of
Tennessee, National, or a Post 281 Past Commander.


Reasoning:
Whereas the level of activity during the month of May is historically
crowded with intensive fundraising (HAF), presentation of the Annual
Budget to the membership for approval, Boys State interviews and
high school awards programs the incoming officers have little time to
prepare for these events and tasks.
Moving elections up to March would allow more time for incoming
officers to prepare and hopefully be more productive during our
busiest months.


Hereby Recommended by the Constitution & By-Laws Committee:

Cmdr Mike Faoro, 1st Vice Brandon Adderholt,
2nd Vice Wayne Smith, SO Patti Whitmore,
FO Steve ILes, Adj Jeff Mattingly

John Herko – Advisor

Members in good standing:

M-ship #
Stephen Wren2000094912026Active
Mike Ramsey2055967152026Active
Joshua Sims3520401092027Active
Brenda J Thompson2047645222027Active
Terry Ward2025534182027Active
Bob Terrell2057296982027Active
Foley, Michael3527296442029Active
Bob Snuck2052908142027Active
Jason Henry2049181942027Active
jackie price3528072302027Active
Unger, William2014939022027Active
David Cryer2039987552026Active
william higdon2047394962026Active
Preston Funkhouser2016721012027Active
Bob Ramsey2028460512027Active
Roger Brugger3538062942026Active
RICK GAGNARD2038987762027Active
Bill Walsh2043296612027Active
Charles Spampinato2037665502026Active
Joanne Carlon3547018122027Active
Desmond Sarnella2019873982027Active

Agenda for 9-8-26 General Membership Meeting

Agenda for September 8, 2026 Regular Post meeting, MJPD HQ

4:45 TO 5:30 pm, SONS of the AMERICAN LEGION meeting, to be held in the small
conference room at 55+ Activity Center.   5:30 PM Social time of food and camaraderie
at MJPD HQ.


6:00 PM/Opening meeting protocol – Welcome all members and guests and all visitors
present. 
Recognize former Commanders present, guests and new members or visitors.


Review the posting of the minutes from the last meeting being published on September
4, 2026 across the Website to members. Recommendation for approval? 


Recognize SAL members present, discussion of status of the Post 281 SA need for
members..  


CDR’s comments and updates:
At our September 1, EC meeting we went over:
A proposal to change the dates of our Nominations and Elections to move the
nominations from April to February and the Election date from May to March with the
Installation taking place in March. This provides more up and running time for our busy
month of May. A petition to do so will be passed around for 20 members to sign and
then at our October meeting a 2/3 majority vote will be needed to pass.
Beginning with our October meeting, the social time will begin at 6:00 with the meeting
starting at 6:30. We adjusted the timing previously so that we could clear the
Community Center by 7:30.
The VVA asked for assistance helping their food trailer and support for the fair. We
responded. Mike Myer sent a thank you note back to use for sour support. Many of us
are dual members in the VVE and the American Legion. Those who assisted were:


Roger Brugger x6 Brandon Adderholt
Patty Chatfield x5 Mike Faoro
Bob Ramsey x3 Steve Iles
Delmar Smith x 3 Bill Inman

Patti Whitmore x 2 Bruno Padovani
Dale Attarian x 2 Hoss Peterson
John Herko x2 Wayne Smith
Don Moody x 2
Mark Schulert x 2
Terry Ward x 2

Bill Moss, Commander of VFW Post 5015 in Lebanon, sent an acknowledgement
thanking our post and the Mt. Juliet Exchange Club for erecting 50 flags in the fair area
and then taking them down. Thanks to Pat Unger, Jeff Mattingly and Mike Faoro for
that.


District 5 Meeting at Post 82 on July 17 – Pat Under and Terry Ward were awarded
certificates for their service at the state Level. Post 281 Honor Guard received a
certificate for their Presentation and Posting of the colors on short notice for the state
Convention. Commander Faoro will present those certificates tonight.


We are passing around a sympathy card for Linda Yates for the loss of her husband
Terry and a member of our post. Please sign the card and return it at the end of the
business meeting.


Upcoming Events:
Tennessee Legion College September 26-27 Department Headquarters, Nashville
Post Picnic, October 10. 12pm – 4pm CDCC pavilion #2 – Sign Up sheet going
around for estimating attendance.
Bring candy for Halloween in the park to the October meeting
Halloween in the Park October 24.
Please return the ‘Catering Options’ sheets tonight to help us select the top menu
items for the Christmas Dinner.
Christmas Dinner, December 8

Christmas Parade, December 12.


Officer’s reports:  1 st  V  / 2 nd  V /  Adj / FO / SO / CHAP-sick call /  HG / ALR /  SAL / Aux  


Old unfinished business:
We originally received a request from Mt Juliet HS JROTC for flags and posts for their
use for some $1900. They have revised their request to $935. The EC plans to use the
$200 budget allocated to help them and to increase the budget via EC recommendation
by $400 to reach a total of $600. Motion by Adj Jeff Mattingly to donate the $600 total
passed. We passed the donation bucket and post members generously donated an
additional $713. Therefore we are presenting SgtMjr Clark with a check for $1313
tonight.

Business/Correspondence/Business for the good of the American Legion
September 11, Patriots Day – to remember those who were injured or died during the
terrorists attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001


American Legion Auxiliary Dept. of TN is holding the 2026 Poppy Ball at Post 11 on
Campbell Ave. 5:30 – 11:00 PM. Brochures are at the Head table for anyone interested
in attending. Tickets are $50, per person (Includes Dinner)


The Tennessee American Sports Foundation is organizing a statewide Walmart Spark
Good Tootsie Pop Fundraiser on Saturday October 10, 2026 to support American Legion
Baseball programs in Tennessee. If you want to volunteer for a shift from 8:00 AM to
6:00 PM please let me know and I will pass on the information for the Walmart store
location in Mt. Juliet. Each store would have two solicitors.


The Medal of Honor Museum is in Chattanooga. Is there any interest in renting a bus
and setting up a day trip for the post to visit this honorable museum?


Guest Speaker – Chief Tyler Chandler

Closing Protocol

Homecare for Veterans

1pm Central Time. Click the photo to learn more and Reserve a spot.

Caring for an aging parent who served can bring up a lot of questions — especially around what kind of support may be available.

In this free online education session, we walk through the basics of VA home care benefit programs in clear, plain language, so families can better understand the landscape. Reserve a spot for this week’s session.

Thanks to our Service Officer, Patti Whitmore, for passing this along!

VVA Food Trailer Signup #2 #5 #2

The county/state fair is HERE Now!

Our dear friends with the VVA & AVVA Chapter 1004 need our help.

There’s a Runner slot open today the 18th and there’s an Order Taker/Cashier slot of open on the 21st. 8 assorted slots open on the 22nd the last day of the fair! Y’all have done a great job so far, let’s finish this out without a doubt! Get one that works for you! CLICK HERE!

Please make time to help out and at the same time put some money in the post coffers.

There’s something you can do. Positions in the trailer are Air Conditioned! Setting the whole operation up is not on the sign up but handy types are welcome to contact Mike and lend a hand.

In the words of Mike Myer, President of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #1004:

AMERICAN LEGION POST 281

Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1004 operates a concessions trailer at various events at the fairgrounds.

WE are looking for volunteers to help us operate efficiently.

The VVA is offering a donation to your organization of $15.00 per person hour worked.

Each shift is usually 5 hours, which is flexible.

This is a good opportunity to help raise funds for your organization.

Mike Myer

President, VVA 1004

615 289 5572

Additionally, you will be given two T-Shirts, one Red and one Blue. Give your shirt size on the sign up.

The Red shirt is for Fridays of course – Remember Everyone Deployed.

Let’s help make this operation the best the fair has to offer! Here’s the link: CLICK HERE!

VVA Food Trailer Signup #2 #5

The county/state fair is HERE Now!

Our dear friends with the VVA & AVVA Chapter 1004 need our help. There’s a lot of open slots! Get one that works for you!

Please make time to help out and at the same time put some money in the post coffers.

There’s something you can do. Positions in the trailer are Air Conditioned! Setting the whole operation up is not on the sign up but handy types are welcome to contact Mike and lend a hand.

In the words of Mike Myer, President of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #1004:

AMERICAN LEGION POST 281

Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1004 operates a concessions trailer at various events at the fairgrounds.

WE are looking for volunteers to help us operate efficiently.

The VVA is offering a donation to your organization of $15.00 per person hour worked.

Each shift is usually 5 hours, which is flexible.

This is a good opportunity to help raise funds for your organization.

Mike Myer

President, VVA 1004

615 289 5572

Additionally, you will be given two T-Shirts, one Red and one Blue. Give your shirt size on the sign up.

The Red shirt is for Fridays of course – Remember Everyone Deployed.

Let’s help make this operation the best the fair has to offer! Here’s the link: CLICK HERE!

VVA Food Trailer Signup #2 #4

The county/state fair is Nearly Here!

Our dear friends with the VVA & AVVA Chapter 1004 need our help. There’s a lot of open slots! Get one that works for you!

Please make time to help out and at the same time put some money in the post coffers.

There’s something you can do. Positions in the trailer are Air Conditioned! Setting the whole operation up is not on the sign up but handy types are welcome to contact Mike and lend a hand.

In the words of Mike Myer, President of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #1004:

AMERICAN LEGION POST 281

Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1004 operates a concessions trailer at various events at the fairgrounds.

WE are looking for volunteers to help us operate efficiently.

The VVA is offering a donation to your organization of $15.00 per person hour worked.

Each shift is usually 5 hours, which is flexible.

This is a good opportunity to help raise funds for your organization.

Mike Myer

President, VVA 1004

615 289 5572

Additionally, you will be given two T-Shirts, one Red and one Blue. Give your shirt size on the sign up.

The Red shirt is for Fridays of course – Remember Everyone Deployed.

Let’s help make this operation the best the fair has to offer! Here’s the link: CLICK HERE!