American Legion Post 501
Post Membership Meeting, 27 August 2020
Conference Call, 7:00PM
Meeting called to order at 7:05PM
Present (5) Bob Dolan, Tom Grezek, Bob Halter, Dale Johnson, and Paul Liindahl
Financial Report
-- Report presented detailed revenue and expenses. The report, reflected $ 10,088 in checking account, $ 5,102 in Certificate of Deposit, resulting in total financial balance of $ 15,190.
Membership
-- Commander Dolan reported that Post 501 membership reached 100.0% goal for the previous year, ending the 2019-2020 year with 146 members. Our 2020-2021 goal is 147 members and to date, 92 members have renewed their membership.
Communications
-- Recent Legionnaire includes picture of Post 501 members placing flags on grave markers in local cemeteries.
--- Commander Dolan reiterated that with Woodbury Bulletin no longer in business, it is more difficult to promote/publicize our programs, projects and activities in the community. He indicated that he has been using “next door” a community face book page and has had success in promoting the post, specifically in membership recruitment.
Donation Committee
-- We received no donation requests in the past month.
Unfinished Business -- Poppy Distribution, scheduled for April, was suspended due to COVID-19. Distribution is currently planned as a “joint distribution” with VFW Post 9024 on 18, 19, 20 September. We plan to distribute at Cub Foods, Walmart, Jerry’s Foods, and Total Wine. Sam’s Club has notified us that due to COVID-19 situation, they will not allow us to distribute in front of their store. If resources are available, we will also distribute (4:00PM – 6:00PM) Friday and Saturday, at the Tap Room. We are searching for a merchant to replace Sam’s Cub. Our post currently has eleven members volunteering to participate in the distribution.
-- Lions Club Golf Tournament was conducted on 10 August, with seventy five golfers and this year, no award banquet due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Lions Club has committed to allocate 30% of net proceeds, or $ 3,000.00 (whichever is less) to the Veterans Memorial Council to support maintenance for the Memorial. No financial report associated with the tournament has yet been released by the Lions Club. They have indicated that they are in the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Woodbury to address Lions Club projects located on city property, which would include the Veterans Memorial.
-- Comander Dolan announced that he had some interface the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce and feels that it may be beneficial for Post 501 to become a member of the Chamber, specifically for networking and potential membership recruitment. Based on his recommendation and some discussion, motion made by Dale Johnson, seconded by Bob Halter that Post 501 “join” the Chamber of Commerce, for one year, at a cost of $ 235.00. After the year trial, the post will evaluate and decide if there is benefit in a more sustaining membership. Subsequent to further discussion, the motion passed.
New Business
Post 501 has been notified by the Veterans Memorial Council that there is a Memorial paver available from a previous VMC Golf Tournament Sponsorship, in which the sponsor decided not to identify a recipient for the paver. After some discussion, of potential recipients, motion made by Tom Grezek, seconded by Bob Halter, that Harry Thoms, a member of our post should be recognized with the paver. It was announced that VFW Post 9024 is also identifying an individual for a paver, resulting from a previous golf tournament, therefore, we will be able to split the $ 120.00 trip charge for the engraving. The next scheduled engraving will be next summer and in order to get pavers done this year, we must pay the trip charge.
Good of the Legion
-- Oakdale/Lake Elmo Prayer Breakfast and Veteran Recognition is scheduled on 10 November. Commander Dolan will distribute further details.
-- Veterans day Program has been planned, in past years, by the Yellow Ribbon Committee, now a part of the Woodbury Foundation. We have received no information regarding whether or not a Veterans Program is being planned.
– Woodbury City Hall remains closed, for the most part, to the public, therefore, we are still not able to meet in the conference room where we met in the past. Near term plan is to continue with teleconference meetings.
Meeting adjourned at 7:55PM
Next meeting (teleconference)scheduled at 7:00PM, on 24 September
