R.V. VAN SCHOICK
AMERICAN LEGION LACEY POST 94
2602 Marvin Road SE, PO Box 5639Lacey, WA 98509-5639
(360) 459-0150
Commander Service Officer Adjutant
Gary Walker Rose Hodgeboom Larry Granish
(360) 867-1839 (360) 491-3621 (360) 459-5545
walkersolympia@comcast.net rhodgeboom@comcast.net lgrani@comcast.net
October 11, 2019
Meeting was opened by Commander Walker at 7:30.
Charter draped in memory of John Borden, Russell Fry, Richard Fulkerson, John Materi, Frank Matko, Herbert Petracek, Harrold Simmons and Aaron Weil.
Roll Call of Officers:
Commander Gary Walker
1st Vice Commander Eric Strom, excused
2nd Vice Commander Bob Nakamura
Adjutant Larry Granish
Chaplain Otis Chapman
Finance Officer Jose Vargas
Service Officer Rose Hodgeboom
Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Lindsey
Judge Advocate Dave Hodgeboom
Historian Len Tobin
Minutes of August 9, 2019 meeting approved as posted on website.
Robert and Cherry Anderson introduced. Robert, Post 110, and Cherry, who is eligible for membership. Unit President Karen Grundler introduced 4th District President, Francis Armstrong. Francis has transferred her membership to Unit 94.
Michael Plimpton made a presentation on the Battle Buddies Program, which provides trained service dogs for veterans with PTSD. His presentation included two videos on the program.
Auxiliary members were excused.
Committee Reports
· Adjutant Granish reported that membership currently stands at 135 for goal of 222, 60.81% of goal. Cherry Anderson, Army, has applied for membership in the post and that Robert Anderson, Post 110 and Richard Armstrong, OR Post 173, have applied to transfer their membership. Motion made, seconded and passed to accept their applications for membership.
· Jose Vargas presented the financial report as of September 30. Current available balance is $3,405.08. Boys State balance is $235.32.
· Second Vice Commander Bob Nakamura stated that a docent from the Ft Lewis Museum about giving a presentation to the Post at our November meeting and he plans AED/CPR training for December..
· Chaplain Otis Chapman had no report.
· Service Officer Rose Hodgeboom reported that over 100 claims for incarcerated veterans have been processed by Gary Walker, Len Tobin and herself. They have been invited to attend the permanent charter presentation for the “Vets Behind the Wire” program.
· Historian Len Tobin submitted an article to the “Legionnaire” on the Nation Commanders visit and our support of the Lacey Chamber of Commerce Foofaraw.
Business and Correspondence
· Proposed change to Article III, Section 1 of the Post By Laws was read by Adjutant Granish for the second time. Motion was made, seconded, and passed to approve the change. The section will now read: (Changed phrase underlined)
o Section 1. .Any person shall be eligible for membership in The American Legion who was a member of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Air Force of the United States and assigned to active duty at some time during any of the following periods:; April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918; December 7, 1941 to a time later determined by the Government of the United States; all dates inclusive, or who, being a citizen of the United States at the time of his entry therein, served on active duty in the armed forces of any of the Governments associated with the United States during any of said periods; provided, however, that such service shall have been terminated by honorable discharge or honorable separation, or continued honorably after any of said periods; provided, further, that no person shall be entitled to membership who, being in such service during any of said periods, refused on conscientious, political or other grounds to subject himself to military discipline or unqualified service.
· Alternate National Executive Committeeman, Dave Hodgeboom discussed the effect of the LEGION act on membership. New application forms are available in the back. He also reported the Commander Gary Walker has been appointed to the National Security Commission.
· Commander Walker reported on the following:
o We are registered to participate in the Auburn Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, November 9, and will meet at the Post at 7:00 am to carpool. Breakfast at Auburn Post 78. The parade starts at 11:00 am. The American Legion will be leading the parade.
o The annual veterans stand down will be November 15 at the Olympia Armory. Food basket sign-up sheets are at the Lacey Veterans Services Hub. Volunteers needed to help hand the food baskets out at the stand down.
o The Area II Roundtable will be November 2 at Post 155 in Longview. There will be a working lunch staring at 11:00 am and the meeting will be from 12:00 to 4:00 pm. We will meet at the post to carpool.
o The Home Depot project for David Gray is scheduled for November 7.
· Correspondence:
o VSO training is scheduled for October 26 at Centralia Post 17
o The Department Service Office in Seattle has a new address: American Legion Service Office, PO Box 2867, Seattle 98111-2867
o Department Adjutant announcement that Kenneth “Keith” Knowlton, an OIF Veteran and member of Olympia Post 3, has been hired as the new Department Bookkeeper.
Good of the Legion:
· Members are asked to review Referendum 88 and vote your conscience. There are conflicting opinions on its effect on the current veterans preference that has been in effect for some 100 years. Please read the entire section in your voters guide.
· On December 11 at 4:07 pm, the Department will be present with its “100 year charter” at the Capitol. There will be a meal here at the post following. The meal will be catered through the Department, and we will help with set up/tear down, etc.
· The annual Veterans Day Ceremony at the Capitol will be on November 11. Band will begin at 10:30 and the ceremony at 11:00 am. Jose Vargas is the chair of the Thurston County Veterans Council.
There being no further business, Commander Walker closed the meeting at 8:50 pm.
Gary Walker Larry Granish
Commander Adjutant
