General Meeting Minutes

COMPILED/SUBMITTED BY:  ADJUTANT Shawn R Taylor   

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES – Date: 10 September 2024

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

CONVENED:  1839   ADJOURNED: 1940  

MEMBERS PRESENT: 22      VISITORS: 2   POST OFFICERS: 7   TOTAL: 31

ASSEMBED

At 1800 hrs., the doors of the Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center (MJSAC) were opened for food and fellowship.  Sergeant-at Arms, Don Barnes, provided pizza and soft drinks for members and guests.

GUESTS AND SPEAKERS

• Jason Bunch – Prospective Member
• Don Moody – Prospective Member
• Phil Ponder – Local artist and past Metro Councilmember. 

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

• Phil Ponder is a featured speaker, originally from Ocala, FL.  Graduated with a BS/BA from the USN Candidate school.  Served on a mine sweeper.  He gave his speech, “I am the American Flag”.  Red signifies courage, white for purity and blue for determination.  The Flag was originally brought to Betsy Ross with 6-point stars.  She converted them to 5-point stars. 

New members were welcomed:

• None

READING OF MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING

Motion to wave the reading and accept as written the July and August minutes that were posted on the post’s website was made by Robert St. John.  Seconded by John Drenk.  Motion Approved.

OFFICERS REPORT

• COMMANDER – Terry Ward
  • The new post sticker was shown to the membership.  Resembles the old sticker but with the American Flag filling the sides and is larger. The sticker will be used as a medallion on a plaque that will be created and presented to distinguished guests and/or community leaders in the future.
  • The annual picnic will depend on the weather, scheduled to be held on 14 Sep.
  • Made special mention of the recent passing of members Ray Forester and Pat Kain, who were both active in post events in the past.  Also included was information about SPC R. Vaden, where members of our post helped secure the final resting place for a Veteran that had passed, and his remains were never properly entombed.   Chaplin Hale led a moment of silence in their memory and in recognition of those who passed during the 9-11 tragedy on our nation along with the Veterans mentioned.  

• 1^ST VICE – Mike Faoro
  • In remembrance of 9/11; 23 years ago, this evening, 3,000 families would spend their last night together without knowing it.  “Never Forget”

• 2^ND VICE – Bob Snuck
  • September 14^th is a celebration for Tyler Cates.  Bring a side dish.
  • September 28^th is the veteran’s ball.
  • October 19^th is Halloween in the Park.
  • November 11^th is Veteran’s Day.       
  • December 10^th is the banquet.
  • December 14^th is the Christmas Parade.

• ADJUTANT – Shawn Taylor
  • The Department will begin depositing funds from online renewals in December.
  • Tennessee Legion College will be September 28^th and 29^th, 2024.  Online Basic Training is a prerequisite.
  • Former Post 88 commander, Mike Griffin, is now the Department Assistant Adjutant.
  • Mid-Winter Conference will be January 11^th and 12^th, 2025 in Murfreesboro.
  • National Commander, LaCoursiere, Visit Posts 17 and 88 on September 14^th and 15^th.
  • 5 members passed away in August;
    • Raymond Forester Jr; #202624188
    • John Patrick Kane; #201275287
    • Bobby Gammons; #200534468
    • Ed Binkley; #202195678
    • William C Thompson; #200502078
• FINANCE OFFICER – Steve Iles
  Post 281 finances are healthy.  $15,442 is in the checking.  $22k in 3 CD’s.
  • Next month the sign-up sheet for the banquet will be passed around.

• SERVICE OFFICER – Patti Whitmore
  • Excused
  • Per Cmdr., shortfall from congress is being held from the V.A. Call your congressman and tell them to release the funds.

• CHAPLAIN – David Hale
  • SICK CALL
• George Barnes.  Hanging in there.  Struggling.  Can not sit for long.
• Lew Hightower. Doing well.
• Fred Higdon.  Knee replacement.
• Pat Constanzo.  Needs prayers.  Wife Betty has severe depression.
• Max Wix.  Has lymphoma Leukemia.  Nugget passed away.  He had belonged to their daughter, Robin, before her passing.

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

COMMITTEE REPORTS

• Honor Guard – Capt. Steve Wren
  • Busy week last week.  3 funerals.  That makes 479 ceremonies since the honor guard’s inception in 2011.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

• Nothing to Report

NEW BUSINESS

• Nothing to Report

FOR THE GOOD OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

• Property tax exemption for veterans that are 100% disabled is only funded through 2025.  Reach out to your elected officials and tell them to extend it.

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 1940 hrs.