Post Membership Meeting, 19 November 2020 Teleconference
Meeting called to order at 7:05PM, with opening ceremony and prayer. Six (6) officers and members on the telephone call.
Minutes of 22 September membership meeting, were approved as submitted.
Financial Report
-- Report presented detailed revenue and expenses. The report, reflected checking account balance of$ 14,632.30, certificate of deposit balance of$ 5,102.73, resulting in total financial balance of $ 19,735.03 was accepted as submitted.
Membership
-- Our 2020-2021 goal is 147 members and to date, 119 members (81.%) have renewed their membership for the current year.
Communications
-- Commander Dolan encouraged members to view our facebook page as the site includes significant information regarding Post 501 programs, events, and activities. It was mentioned that many AARP publications also include information regarding veterans benefits.
Donation Committee
-- Committee reported that they had reviewed requests from Wreaths Across America (donation of $ 15.00/wreath) and T It Up for the Troops. Committee did not recommend donations to either organization.
Service Officer Report
-- City of Woodbury, Woodbury and East Ridge High School Veterans Day Programs were cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic. VFW Post 9024 members volunteered at the Hy-Vee Free Veterans Day Breakfast Drive Thru, helping Hy-Vee employees and Tartan High School football team players distribute approximately five hundred free breakfasts. Several VFW Post 9024 and American Legion Post 501 members conducted a brief, informal gathering (no public invitation) at the Memorial with welcome by post commanders, posting of colors by joint honor guard, raising branch flags, taps, etc. Woodbury and East Ridge High Schools did prepare virtual Veterans Day Programs, which were extremely well done. Woodbury Lions Veterans Memorial Committee held their initial meeting on 23 October, deciding that committee will be comprised of five members; the chairperson, one representative from the Lions Club, one representative from Woodbury City Public Works Department, one representative from VFW Post 9024, and one representative from American Legion Post 501. Commander Dolan will be representative from Post 501.
Unfinished Business -- Commander Dolan announced that , in consulting with Wall of Thanks Program Chairman (Comrade Johnson), given the current pandemic situation, their recommendation, unless there is objection from membership, is that the event be cancelled for this year. Membership concurred with decision to cancel Wall of Thanks for this year.
New Business
-- VFW Post 9024 has talked to the Hastings Veterans Home, regarding donation of additional 32 inch televisions to the Home for Christmas. The Veterans Home has expressed need for five additional televisions. Post 9024 is planning to purchase the televisions, but has inquired as to whether Post 501 would want to assist in the donation. Following motion by Grezek, second by Halter, discussion resulted in approval of expenditure of one half of the cost of the five televisions (estimated to be $ 500.00).
-- Commander Dolan reported that he has had very positive feedback regarding a Post 501 Eagle Scout of the Year Award. Response indicates that he has ten (10) potential scouts interested in applying for such an award.
Good of the Legion
-- Reservation has been made at Green Mill for Annual Awards Program and Banquet on 25 February, such that we have a room to conduct the program, pending COVID-19 restrictions that may be in place at that time.
-- Commander Dolan reported that he had received several letters, written by second grade students at Royal Oaks Elementary School, thanking veterans for their service. He will contact the school, determine the teacher and thank him/her for the letters.
-- Discussion regarding providing gift cards or some type of gift for deserving Veterans at Christmas. Comments focused on “what veterans”, i.e., post members or non-members. Based on discussion of “helping our own”, it was decided that we have several members of our post experiencing health issues, or needing support in these difficult times, therefore, Christmas cards, greetings, and/or assistance should be focused on our post members. Commander Dolan stated that he would send a Christmas card/”welfare check” to members on our current prayer list. Meeting adjourned at 8:25PM , with prayer and closing ceremonies.
Next meeting at 7:00PM, 17 December , likely a teleconference, depending on pandemic restrictions for public gathering
