AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
MOUNT JULIET, UNIT 281

Post Meeting Minutes (February 2026)

COMPILED/SUBMITTED BY:  ADJUTANT Bruno Padovani  

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES – Date: 10 February 2026

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

CONVENED:  _ 1802___   ADJOURNED: __1930___  

MEMBERS PRESENT: _24_   VISITORS: _1_   POST OFFICERS: _6_  TOTAL: _31_

ASSEMBED

At 1730 hrs., the doors of the Charlie Daniels Community Center were opened for food and fellowship.  The Sergeant-at Arms, Mike Adams, provided pizza and soft drinks for members and guests.

OPENING CEREMONY

At 1802 CMDR Ward called the Post to order and offered prayer, followed by placement of the POW/MIA Flag at the designated memorial table by the Sgt-at-Arms, Mike Adams.  This was followed by The Pledge of Allegiance and the Preamble of the Constitution of The American Legion.

Past Commanders and Distinguished Guests

No past commanders present

Phil LaPrad (VVA Mobility Chairman)

NEW (OR POTENTIALLY NEW) MEMBERS WELCOMED.

Ted Anderson (USN SeaBees)

GUESTS AND SPEAKERS

Phil LaPrad (VVA Mobility Chairman) briefed the post on his projects to help elderly & disabled veteran with mobility. Phil and the VVA provide local veterans with ramps, lifts, scooters, hospital beds, lift chairs, bath equipment, canes, portable oxygen concentrators and other equipment.

The post presented him with an appreciation plaque, a $400 donation plus the contents of our donation bucket.

If you can volunteer to help Phil, or if you or a loved one needs help, he can be contacted at 615-678-1204.

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 CDR Terry Ward, seconded and then approved by a general vote of those present.

OFFICERS REPORT

• COMMANDER – Terry Ward
  •  A vote was held regarding how to fund Boys State in 2026 and it was decided to fund 12 boys at 50% instead of 6 boys at 100%
  • There will be a Veterans On The Hill event at the capital on 12 March from 0845-1700

 Commander Ward announced that he will not continue as post commander after this term expired in May. New officers will be proposed in March, voted on by members in April and sworn in at the May post meeting. We need volunteers.

• The post will fund Bob Snuck with $500 for his trip to Vietnam to recover US servicemembers’ remains.

• 1^ST VICE – Jeff Mattingly
  • Members are encouraged to take AmLegion basic training, which can be accessed through the post website.
  • You can order trees from the post’s Auxiliary on their website. The post will assist with the tree sale on 18 April, at 1^st Baptist Church where we shall provide traffic control. Volunteers are needed.
  • A new chapter of the Sons Of The American Revolution will be formed on 16 April at First Presbyterian Church in Lebanon. Feel free to attend if you have the lineage.

• 2^ND VICE – Brandon Adderholt
  • Not present

• ADJUTANT – Bruno Padovani
  • It is now 2026, so if you haven’t renewed your membership you are late. Please renew either online on MyLegion.org, via the post website (use PayPal, Square or Venmo), by check (at post meeting or send to PO Box 67, Mount Juliet, TN 37122).

• FINANCE OFFICER – Steve Iles
  • Current accounts are: Checking ($10,087) & 3 CDs ($22,000).
  • Liability & criminal insurance paid
  • Just received $300 from a family for Honor Guard services rendered at a funeral.
  • New fiscal year starts on 1 June. Proposed budget will be presented in April & then voted on by the post at the May meeting. Steve would welcome volunteers to help him.
  • Members are urged to sign up for Kroger Rewards, listing our post as the beneficiary

• SERVICE OFFICER – Patti Whitmore
  • Patti urged members to register with the VA for future services (if needed)

• CHAPLAIN – Don Barnes filled in for David Hale (who just had cataract surgery)
  • Max Wix just had a CT scan & Gloria just had a swallow test.
  • George Barnes just turned 90  
  • Pat Costanza has been down with the flu but is recovering
  • Jerry Chatfield (who was present) is recovering well from hip surgery
  • Cynthia Brown’s husband is being treated for stage 4 cancer.
  • Don Barnes stepson is recovering from his treatments
  • Chaz is in Florida
  • Jim Simpson is recovering from 2 falls

• SERGEANT-AT-ARMS – Mike Adams
  •  

COMMITTEE REPORTS

• Honor Guard – Capt. Steve Wren
  • Nothing to report

• Oratorical
  • Post 281 will be hosting the District 5 Oratorical at 0900 on 14 March at St. Stephens RC Church in Old Hickory.
  • We NEED volunteers (timers, tabulators, monitors & escorts).
  • A volunteer sign-up list was made available but NOBODY signed up, which puts us in a bind. If you can help, please contact Bruno Padovani at bspadovanipost281@gmail.com
  • The Division (Central TN) competition will be held on 28 March at Post 82 in Inglewood.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None

NEW BUSINESS

None

FOR THE GOOD OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

• For your lawn, landscaping, gardening & nursery needs consider using Needhams on Lebanon Rd. They have a coupon program in which some of the proceeds will go to our post.

MEETING ADJOURNMENT

With no further business to attend , 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 1930 hrs. 

Commander Ward presents Phil LaPrad with an appreciation award for the great work that he does at the VVA Mobility Chairman.

COMPILED/SUBMITTED BY: ADJ Bruno Padovani 

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES – 13 January 2026

Reviewed/Approved By: CMDR Ward, POST 281, DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE      

CONVENED:  1800hrs.    ADJOURNED:  1932hrs.   

MEMBERS PRESENT: 29   VISITORS: 5      POST OFFICERS: 7     TOTAL: 42

ASSEMBED

At 1730 hrs., doors of the Charlie Daniels Mount Juliet’s Parks and Recreation Headquarters, Room B were opened for fellowship. Pizza was served.

GUESTS AND SPEAKERS

• Joseph Padilla (Post 281 member & Wilson County Board of Education Member)
• Also Wilson County Board of Education award recipients (Kimberly McGee, Beth Meyers & Greg Holmann)
• Sergeant Kyle Holtmeyer (Mt. Juliet PD)
• Lt. Guy Flowers (Mt. Juliet, FD)
• Ginger Fondren (State of Tennessee Coordinator for the Quilts of Valor Foundation)

OPENING CEREMONY

At 1800 Commander Terry Ward called the Post to order and Chaplain David Hall offered prayer, followed by a moment of silence for America’s POWs/MIAs (POW/MIA flag was left at the venue for the post’s Christmas banquet).  This was followed by The Pledge of Allegiance and the Preamble of the Constitution of The American Legion.

PAST COMMANDERS

• Lew Hightower

NEW MEMBERS WERE WELCOMED

• John McGee (USN)
• Dennis Wilcockson (USN)
• John Coulter (USN)
• Susan Alexander (USA)
• Jennifer Pricher

ACTIVITIES & AWARDS

• John Herko & Ginger Fondren awarded Past Commander Lew Hightower a Quilt of Honor
• Commander Terry Ward awarded Sergeant Kyle Holtmeyer (Mt. Juliet PD) Post 281’s Police Officer of The Year award
• Commander Terry Ward awarded Lt. Guy Flowers (Mt. Juliet, FD) Post 281’s EMT of The Year award

MOTIONS & POST DISCUSSIONS

• Motion proposed by Commander Ward, seconded and passed to approve meeting minutes from December 2025 Christmas banquet.
• It was announced that the EC decided to pay 50% (instead of 100%) of each Boys State attendee’s costs, enabling us to sponsor more attendees. Most members who commented were opposed, so it was decided to revisit this decision. TBD.

OFFICERS REPORT

• COMMANDER – Terry Ward
  • Members urged to take Be The One suicide prevention training
  • Veterans On The Hill will take place at the State Capital on 28 January. Post sign-up by 19 January. Plan to car pool & then shuttle to the capital.

• 1^ST VICE – Jeff Mattingly (Not present, on vacation)

• 2^ND VICE – Brian Adderholt
  • The Auxiliary Tree sale will be held on 18 April and post members are needed for traffic control.
  • Honoring America’s Flag will be held from 21-25 May.

• ADJUTANT – Bruno Padovani.
  • Membership: Roughly 180 paid through 2026 with 39 through 2025 & 34 through either 2023 or 2024.
  • Membership: 2026 membership cards mailed with more coming in January as people pay up.
  • Membership: Options for paying (check, Venmo, Square, cash & online) explained.
  • Membership: Instructions on how to use MyLegion.org to print m-ship cards.

• FINANCE OFFICER – Steve Iles
  • We still have challenge coins available for purchase, at $7 apiece
  • Post finances are strong with a good donation base & money from HAF.
  • Bank account stands at $10,663 plus we have $21,000 in a CD.

• SERVICE OFFICER – Patti Whitmore.
  • Nothing to report

• CHAPLAIN – David Hale (Not present, recovering from surgery). Nothing to report.
  • Gloria Wix having difficulty swallowing
  • George Barnes has mobility problems
  • Henry Queener was diagnosed with cancer 4 weeks ago, but now appears to be cancer-free!?!
  • Jerry Chatfield had hip surgery

• SERGEANT-AT-ARMS – Mike Adams
  • Nothing to report

COMMITTEE REPORTS

• Honor Guard
  • Through early December, 531 services since inception.

• Sons of the American Legion – Squadron Commander Dan Rhame
  • A new president is needed

• American Legion Riders – Director Bob Ramsey
  • Vietnam Veterans “Traveling Wall” in June.

• Oratorical – Bruno Padovani
• 5^th District Oratorical competition to be held on Saturday 14 March at St. Stephens RC Church in Old Hickory.
• Volunteers will be needed. Tabulators, Timers, Escorts & Judges. Sign-up sheets will be available during February & March post meetings.
• Division competition will be held on 28 March at Post 82 in Inglewood. See Terry Ward about volunteering

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

• None

NEW BUSINESS

• None

FOR THE GOOD OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

• Commander Ward spoke to the post about veterans suicide, and urged members to help solve the problem by attending Be The One training.
• Bob Snuck would like Post 281 to sponsor his trip to Vietnam to help recover US MIAA remains.

MEETING ADJOURNMENT

With no further business to attend to, the closing ceremony was conducted, with closing prayer offered by Chaplain HAll.  This was followed by honors to our flag and the meeting was adjourned at 1932 hrs. 

Post Commander Terry Ward awards Joseph Padilla, Wilson County Board of Education Member for his service to the community.

Sergeant Kyle Holtmeyer (Mt. Juliet PD) & Lt. Guy Flowers (Mt. Juliet, FD)

Post Commander Terry Ward awards Sergeant Kyle Holtmeyer (Mt. Juliet PD) the 281 Post Policeman of The Year award.

Post Commander Terry Ward awards Lt. Guy Flowers (Mt. Juliet FD) the 281 Post EMT of The Year award.