• Regular Meeting September 7, 2016
o Commander Stan Aspey called Post 287 to order at 1900 hours. Chaplain Dave Hehn gave the opening prayer. The POW-MIA Resolution 288 was read followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the recital of the Preamble to the Constitution of the American Legion. The meeting was declared regularly convened. A quorum was established with 15 members present.
o Guests/Prospective New Members Present: Marvin Harper, Installation Officer
o Committee Reports:
Membership: 2017 = 171 (67%)
Finance Report- Finance Officer Tim Williams
American Legion Installation of Officers by Legionnaire Harper:
Commander Don Dillman
Chaplain Dave Hehn
Finance Officer Timmy Williams
Service Officer Roger Latham
Adjutant Terry Beasley
American Legion Riders- Director Mike Grimm
Officers installed by Marvin Harper:
Mike Grimm, Director
Danny Simon, Assistant Director
Debbie Williams, Historian
Legion Riders will be available if needed to provide an escort for National Commander Charles E. Schmidt’s visit to Craig, Missouri.
Sons of the American Legion: Detachment Western Vice Commander Mark Brock-
Officers installed by Marvin Harper:
Commander Mike Walter
Senior Vice Commander Mark Brock
Sergeant-at-Arms Paul (PJ) Menard
Adjutant Terry Beasley
o Sick Call: Ron Shepherd
o New Business:
North Andrew High School Homecoming Parade- honor guard members to meet at the Post at 1 p.m. on Friday, 9 September. Parade will be held in Rosendale this year.
Finance Officer Tim Williams reported 2 freezers were purchased for total cost of $1,100. Both units are now in use. The older units will be sold.
o Guest Comments- Marvin Harper:
National Commander’s Visit to Craig, Missouri
Date: October 29th
There will be an Awareness Walk held in Saint Joseph in the morning
The visit to Craig, Missouri will be at 4 p.m. in their school
Dinner tickets will be approximately $10-12
Approximately $100 will be needed for the Commander’s Gift
Another approximate $100 will be needed to cover the dinner costs of the traveling party dignitaries.
The American Legion and Department of Missouri meeting etiquette:
Do not violate the between the flags
Do not enter the head table area on the left side (American flag side). Always enter from the right-hand side (American Legion flag side).
Salute the flag whenever entering or leaving the head table area.
Salute the flag whenever entering or leaving the meeting area, while a meeting is in progress.
o For the Good of the American Legion:
Post 287 received a plaque for helping with the Riding For Our Veterans Bull Riding event.
Flags will be placed downtown and the cemetery for the Brad Arn Memorial 5K run on Saturday. The flags will again be on display along Main Street and downtown on 9/11. Legionnaire Roger Latham volunteered to help Legionnaire Kretzer.
o Commander Dillman adjourned the meeting at 1945 hours. Chaplain Hehn gave the closing prayer. The next meeting will be September 21st, 1900 hours.
• Regular Meeting September 21, 2016
o Commander Don Dillman called Post 287 to order at 1900 hours. Chaplain Dave Hehn gave the opening prayer. The POW-MIA Resolution 288 was read followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the recital of the Preamble to the Constitution of the American Legion. The meeting was declared regularly convened. A quorum was established with 15 members present.
o Guests/Prospective New Members Present:
Marvin Harper - Past Department Commander & Past 4th District Commander
Brent Shepherd - son of Ron Shepherd and new SAL member
Bernard Swartz - transfer from Post 359
Sharon & Vernon Tobey - new members
Dan Ellis - Post 359 member
o Committee Reports:
Membership: 2017 = 179 (72%)
Finance Report- Finance Officer Tim Williams
American Legion Riders- Director Mike Grimm
5 new members
School Supply Drive - over $1,000 delivered to local schools last Tuesday
Riders will be at the Cameron Missouri Veterans Home next Wednesday. They will do the 4 Chaplains ceremony
Sons of the American Legion: -
Commander Mike Walter:
Thanks to all who helped with all the recent events. For doing a yeoman’s job, special mention to Ellen & Cecil Raines for their help with the Bull Riding event, Fish Fry, monthly breakfast, and school supply drive.
Detachment Western Vice Commander Mark Brock:
Update given on the National Day of Honor (a flightless veteran’s recognition program):
The program will be offered to veterans who are restricted in being able to travel long distances
Program can be done in either a large or small venue
Department is on board and fully supports the development of the program. The program will be featured as a booth at the upcoming Fall Conference
The original Honor Flight author has been contacted, and is willing to send support materials, since the National Day of Honor is not in competition with the Honor Flight programs
Requesting at least one member from each Post in the District to serve on a committee for the National Day of Honor program
SAL Squadron 464 has taken the ball and ran with it. They have raised over $1,200 and will have their first program on November 5th at the Maryville High School’s new Performance Arts Center.
SAL Squadron 464 has developed an application form. The application does inquire about any dietary or other medical restrictions/preferences
Need all entities of The American Legion family to have fund raisers if they can. SAL Squadron 287 has already built up some funds to get this project started.
A motion was made and seconded for American Legion Post 287 to support this program. Motion passed.
o Sick Call: Ron Shepherd - receiving chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer
o Un-finished Business:
School supply drive - completed. Over $1,000 in school supplies have been delivered to the local schools
Leavenworth VA Christmas gift shop collections remain ongoing.
o New Business:
Legionnaire Timmy Williams was nominated for the Legionnaire of the Year Award. Resolution was read and seconded. Resolution passed, and will now be presented at the December 4th District meeting.
Freedom Rock - SAL Mark Brock shared how the Maryville Lion’s Club has raised money to have a Freedom Rock for Maryville. The display will be placed in their City Park. One way they raised the needed funds was to sell paver bricks, see attachment #3. SAL Brock thought this would make a great community project to work on between the Savannah Lion’s Club and Post 287. Legionnaire Harper stated it takes at least $2,000 to get this project started. No further discussion at this time.
Savannah High School Cross Country Meet:
Coach Brett Spitzer is asking Post 287 to help with the event
Provide coffee and doughnuts for the parents of the participants, and maybe even raise some donation money to go towards a scholarship fund
Do trail guard duties, and any other help as needed
The event will be Saturday, October 1st from 9 - 11 a.m. There may be from 200 - 300 runners representing approximately 20 High School teams
o Guest Comments- Marvin Harper:
Welcomed tonight’s new members to The American Legion
National Commander’s Visit to Craig, Missouri
Date: October 29th
Awareness Walk held in Saint Joseph in the morning, attachment #5
Afternoon meet n greet at Post 287 at 1:30 p.m.
Evening dinner event in Craig, attachment #6
Legion Riders will provide an escort, weather permitting
Legionnaire Harper announced:
Post 102 will donate $50 for the National Day of Honor program
Post 102 will donate $50 to Post 287 to help with the expenses of hosting the meet n greet
o For the Good of the American Legion:
Legionnaire Jerry Fischer will lead a color guard team at an upcoming District Garden Club meeting in Rosendale.
o Commander Dillman adjourned the meeting at 2000 hours. Chaplain Hehn gave the closing prayer. The next meeting will be October 5th, 1900 hours.
• Regular Meeting October 5, 2016
o Guest Presentation prior to the official start of the meeting.
Riding For Our Veterans originators Becky and Larry Oyster briefed the membership on the outcome of the Bull Riding event. The event did not break even. The calculated loss was minus $51.15. When Post 287 was asked to help with the event, the originators intended to pay the Post 10% of all sponsorships Post 287 obtained. Our Post collected $800 in sponsorships. The Post re-donated our share of $80 back to the Riding For Our Veterans organization.
o 1st Vice Commander Stan Aspey called Post 287 to order at 1900 hours. Chaplain Dave Hehn gave the opening prayer. The POW-MIA Resolution 288 was read followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the recital of the Preamble to the Constitution of the American Legion. The meeting was declared regularly convened. A quorum was established with 14 members present.
o Committee Reports:
Membership: 2017 = 180 (72%)
Sons of the American Legion: - Detachment Western Vice Commander Mark Brock:
Update the National Day of Honor (a flightless veteran’s recognition program):
SAL Squadron 464 will have their first event on November 5th. Everyone is invited to attend and/or help as needed that day.
Volunteers are needed to serve on a committee to put together SAL Squadron 287’s National Day of Honor Program.
o Sick Call:
Ron Shepherd- continuing to receive care for pancreatic cancer
Bill Couldry- being treated for a foot infection that may require surgical intervention
o Post Everlasting: Harold Willis
o Un-finished Business:
Leavenworth VA Christmas gift shop collections remain ongoing.
Andrew County 175th Anniversary Celebration & Events-
Point of Contact- Teresa Wright
Post 287 will have a display table at the courthouse. Volunteers will be needed to man the table from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Date: Saturday, October 15th
Savannah Homecoming Parade:
Date: Friday, 14 October
Will start at 1400 hours.
Volunteers needed for an Honor Guard
Everyone invited to march with the Honor Guard or ride in the Military Jeep/Trailer
o New Business:
Flag Presentation made by Legionnaire Barb Ebersole:
Barb’s son and SAL member Ebersole obtained a flag flown over the fantail of the U.S.S. Missouri on 2 September 2016 at 0709 hours.
SAL member Ebersole is currently serving on the amphibious assault ship U.S.S. Boxer.
The flag was then placed in a shadow box for display along with an accompanying certificate, attachment #3.
Legionnaire Terry Beasley announced his intention to submit a resolution for voting on at the 19 October meeting. The resolution will propose the development of a dual-colored Legion cap to signify those members who belong to both the Sons of the American Legion and The American Legion.
o For the Good of the American Legion:
Legionnaire Bill Young continues his personal tradition of getting slightly used or disrepair bicycles and fixing them up to be given away to children in need.
Two bikes were recently donated to a military family moving to Fort Worth, Texas.
12 bikes will be donated soon to the children of the Kansas City inner city area.
The Funeral Honors Team was given notification of a military funeral for Friday, 7 October for a Navy veteran.
A granddaughter of Stan Stubblefield’s wants to come to the Legion Post with her school class to do a presentation during the week of Veteran’s Day. Post 287 is also invited to come to the John Glenn School for their Veteran’s Day assembly. More information to follow.
The local news outlets have announced an auction will take place to sell the National Military Heritage Museum in Saint Joseph. The museum hopes to do “rolling” displays in the future.
o 1st Vice Commander Aspey adjourned the meeting at 2000 hours. Chaplain Hehn gave the closing prayer. The next meeting will be October 19th, 1900 hours.
• Regular Meeting October 19, 2016
o Adjutant Terry Beasley called Post 287 to order at 1900 hours. Chaplain Dave Hehn gave the opening prayer. The POW-MIA Resolution 288 was read followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the recital of the Preamble to the Constitution of the American Legion. The meeting was declared regularly convened. A quorum was established with 15 members present.
o Committee Reports:
Membership: 2017 = 186 (75%). Post 287 received one transfer member as a result of our booth at the 175th Anniversary of Andrew County.
Finance Report- Tim Williams
Public Relations- Ron Shepherd: Chairman Shepherd thanked the members of the Public Relations Committee: Barb Ebersole, Mark Brock and Tim Williams. Chairman Shepherd offered to resign from the committee while he is receiving chemotherapy and needed to concentrate time and efforts towards his medical issues. The membership unanimously wanted Legionnaire Shepherd to maintain the title of Chairman of the Public Relations Committee.
American Legion Riders- Assistant Director Danny Simon:
School supplies were delivered to 8 area schools on 20 September.
Legion Rider Jim Bliley organized and led the ride to the Cameron Veteran’s Home on 28 September. The Four Chaplains Ceremony was done by the accompanying Legion Riders. The event was well received by the residents and staff.
National Commander escort being arranged for both Saturday & Sunday. On Saturday they will start at the Drury Inn and come to Post 287. Later they will escort Commander Schmidt from Post 287 to Craig for the evening dinner event. On Sunday National Commander Schmidt will be escorted from Saint Joseph over 100 miles to Leesville.
The Legion family is invited to join the Legion Riders and Legionnaire Ron Shepherd to the Traveling Vietnam Wall in Leavenworth, Kansas on 27 October.
Legion Riders will return to the Cameron Veteran’s Home on 14 November.
The Legion Riders will go to the Leavenworth Hospital on 15 November to deliver Christmas gifts and help with the Christmas Gift Shop
Sons of the American Legion- Commander Mike Walter:
Post 287 Veteran’s Day of Honor update:
Held their first committee. Generated some initial good ideas, especially for the smaller venues such as in Nursing Homes, and other different scenarios
o New Business:
Dual Membership/Dual Colored Cap Resolution read by Legionnaire Terry Beasley. Some discussion/feedback included:
Getting the numbers of actual dual members (Legionnaires and Sons of the American Legion) throughout The American Legion
The light blue color may be confused with the 40 & 8’s chapeau color.
After discussion the resolution was seconded and passed by a unanimous vote of the members present.
The resolution will next be presented to the 4th District for further action.
Legion Family Breakfast suggested updates:
Consider changing the serving time to 7 a.m. to 9 or 9:30 a.m. This change would be transitioned over a couple of months.
Consider increasing the suggested donation from $7.00 to $8.00.
The membership was asked to think over these possible changes. The ideas would be voted on at a future meeting.
Veteran’s Day Activities:
November 8th: (Election Day):
Flags out in the morning for Election Day
November 8th John Glenn Elementary 3rd Grade Class would like to come to our Post to put on a Veteran’s Day program for us. Date and time to be confirmed.
Flags retrieved
November 9th-
Baptist Church Youth meal at 5:15 p.m. & program at 6 p.m. (Flag folding)
November 10th-
Andrew County Senior Center meal & program get there at 11:15 a.m. to sign-in prior to the program & meal being served. Program will include: POW-MIA Ceremony, flag folding ceremony, and Taps.
November 11th (Veteran’s Day)-
Flags out
0845- John Glenn School Assembly- Madison Rising flag folding ceremony. Note we are also invited to their morning breakfast starting at 0730 hours.
Other programs yet to be announced
Other programs yet to be announced
LaVerna Village Veteran’s Day program- 2 p.m.- Flag folding ceremony and Taps.
Flags retrieved
November 14th-
Veteran’s Dinner hosted by the Auxiliary. Starts at 6 p.m. Bring a covered dish.
November 15th-
Leavenworth VA Hospital Christmas Gift Shop
o For the Good of the American Legion:
Thanks to everyone who helped with the 175th Anniversary of Andrew County, Savannah High School Homecoming Parade and the recent military funeral honors.
Post 287 has been requested for a funeral on Thursday as well.
o Correspondence: Boys State Sponsorship Certificates of Appreciation on behalf of: Tyler Gene Davis, Marcus Binstead Mallen, and Peyton Turner.
Adjutant Beasley adjourned the meeting at 1945 hours. Chaplain Hehn gave the closing prayer. The next meeting will be November 2nd, 1900 hours.
