COMPILED/SUBMITTED BY:  ADJUTANT Shawn R Taylor   

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES – Date: 8 Apr 2025

Reviewed By: COMMANDER Terry Ward, POST 281, Tyler Cates, Dept of TN      

CONVENED:  1830   ADJOURNED: 1945  

MEMBERS PRESENT: 28   VISITORS: 10   POST OFFICERS: 9    TOTAL: 47

ASSEMBED

At 1730 hrs., the doors of the Mt. Juliet Community Center (MJCC) were opened for food and fellowship.  Merry Roberts, with Mission BBQ, provided food and drinks for members and guests.

GUESTS AND SPEAKERS

• The family of Arnold Painter and Don Moody.
•  QOV – Robert St John presented members, Arnold Painter and Don Moody with Quilts of Valor.  Over 409k quits have been presented thus far.
•  Merry Roberts – Armed Forces Week is May 12^th – 17^th.  All week veterans may come by and get 1 free sandwich (per week).  Each day will celebrate one of the armed services.  On Saturday, May 17^th, David Hale will sing the National Anthem.

OPENING CEREMONY

At 18:30 CMDR Ward called the Post to order and offered prayer, followed by placement of the POW/MIA Flag at the designated memorial table by Sgt-at-Arms Don Barnes.  This was followed by The Pledge of Allegiance and the Preamble of the Constitution of The American Legion.

Past Commanders and Distinguished Guests

CMDR Ward recognized Post 281 Past Commander Lew Hightower.

New members were welcomed:

•  None

READING OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING

A motion to wave the reading and accept as written last month’s general meeting minutes that were posted on the post’s website was made by Lew Hightower.  Seconded by Don Moody.  Motion Approved.

OFFICERS REPORT

• COMMANDER – Terry Ward
  • Wants to start the meetings at 5:30 pm instead of 6pm.  We have to vacate the MJCC before 8pm so the doors can be locked promptly at 8.

• 1^ST VICE – Mike Faoro
  • Nothing to Report

• 2^ND VICE – Bob Snuck
  • Rocky, with MJ Parks and Recreation, wants a helicopter for display.  Preferrable a Cobra or a Huey.  Bob is going to Ft Drum in the near future to talk to them about securing one.
  • Bob received a coin from the American Legion Honor Guard while attending a funeral in Sebastian, Fl.

• ADJUTANT – Shawn Taylor
  • Dept Convention is June 14^th-15^th at Embassy Suites SE in Murfreesboro, TN.
  • National Convention will be August 21^st-28^th in Tampa, FL.
  • National American Legion College will be November 16^th-21^st.  Applications due to Department by June 9^th.  Interviews will be Saturday, June 14^th, 2025 during the convention.
  • SAL nominations for SAL of the Year due by May 15^th.
  • CPR due by May 15^th, 2025.
  • New Instagram account for department. @theamericanlegiontn

• FINANCE OFFICER – Steve Iles
  • Post 281 finances are healthy.  $7,767 is in the checking.  $22k in 3 CD’s.
  • $4,250 was spent this month for Boys State.  We did receive a check from the Del Webb Veteran’s Club for $425 which sponsors 1 boy.

• SERVICE OFFICER – Patti Whitmore
  • Open emails with caution.  Phishing is on the uprise. 
  • Also look for emails from the Lebanon Service Officer.  They send out emails for medical follow ups.

• CHAPLAIN – David Hale
  • SICK CALL
• George Barnes.  Getting shots in his eyes.  Had a very hard week.  Just turned 90 and is resting.
• Max Wix.  Has lymphoma Leukemia.  April 15^th will start monthly Immunotherapy infusion for Chronic Lymphoid Leukemia (CLL).  Last week he did a new bone density I.V. Infusion.  Gloria is doing well.
• Terry Yates.  Traveling and feeling much better.
• Ed Collins.  Victim of a road rage incident.  Rental vehicle doesn’t accommodate his mobility issues.  Has about 3 lbs of metal in his body and his spine is fragile and has difficulty getting around.
• Jerry Chatfield.  Fell and broke his hip.  Was present at the meeting.

• SERGEANT-AT-ARMS – Don Barnes
  • Nothing to Report

COMMITTEE REPORTS

• Honor Guard – Capt. Steve Wren
  • Honor Guard just completed their 501^st ceremony since the inception of the post’s honor guard.

• Sons of the American Legion – Adjutant Lew Hightower
  • Need to have a meeting next month for officer elections and to take care of past dues.

• American Legion Riders – Director Bob Ramsey
  • The riders are not very active.  There will be an activity this Saturday, 12^th, a train ride for the Mile Long yard sale, from Nashville to Watertown.

• Honoring America’s Flag – Terry Ward
  • There will be a concert on Saturday, May 24^th at the clock tower.  It will start at 1800 and last 90 minutes.  People will be able to purchase a ticket for $35 which will include a food ticket and a flag. 
  • The VVA will also have a food truck on site.

• Buddy Check – John Herko
  • The month of April about 15 members will conduct the spring buddy checks and attempt to contact about 190 members.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

• Nothing to Report

NEW BUSINESS

• POST OFFICER NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION
  • Commander Ward opened the floor for the nomination and election of post officers for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
  • Four officers are stepping down, 1^st Vice, 2^nd Vice, Adjutant and SAA.
  • Terry Ward nominates Jeff Mattingly for 1^st Vice Commander
  • Shawn Taylor nominates Bruno Padovani for Adjutant.
  • Don Barnes nominates Mike Adams for Sergeant at Arms.
  • Patti Whitmore nominates Brandon Adderholt for 2^nd Vice Commander
    • Don Moody seconded the nominations.
    • All nominated accepted their nominations.
    • With no discussion, the membership present voted by voice and the motion passed.  All officers, new and remaining, will be sworn in at the May General Meeting.
• Post 281 Officers for 2025-26
  • Commander – Terry Ward
  • 1^st Vice Commander – Jeff Mattingly
  • 2^nd Vice Commander – Brandon Adderholt
  • Adjutant – Bruno Padovani
  • Finance Officer – Steve Iles
  • Service Officer – Patti Whitmore
  • Sergeant at Arms – Mike Adams
  • Chaplain – David Hale

FOR THE GOOD OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

• Marine Week will be in Nashville, Tennessee June 1^st – 7^th, 2025.
• April 18^th – People should put 2 lights in every home.  Preferrable up high.  This is in remembrance of when the British were sent to take all the guns and powder from every home in the New England area.  The 2 lights up high was the signal that the British were coming by land.  This started the American Revolution.

MEETING ADJOURNMENT

With no further business to attend to, the closing ceremony was conducted, with closing prayer offered.  The POW/MIA Flag was retrieved for storage.  This was followed by honors to our flag and the meeting was adjourned at 1945 hrs.