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
November 8, 2019
Meeting was opened by Commander Walker at 7:30.
Roll Call of Officers:
Commander Gary Walker
1st Vice Commander Eric Strom
2nd Vice Commander Bob Nakamura, excused
Adjutant Larry Granish
Chaplain Otis Chapman
Finance Officer Jose Vargas
Service Officer Rose Hodgeboom
Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Lindsey, excused, Len Tobin pt
Judge Advocate Dave Hodgeboom
Historian Len Tobin
Minutes of October 11, 2019 meeting approved as posted on website.
Guests were introduced by Sergeant-at-Arms, pt, Len Tobin. List is attached. Brian Smith, head docent, Ft Lewis Museum was introduced and escorted forward.
Brian Smith gave a presentation on the history of Ft Lewis and the Ft Lewis Museum. The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The museum website is www.fortlewismuseum.com.
Chaplain Otis Chapman conducted a Veterans Day ceremony.
Committee Reports
· Adjutant Granish reported that membership currently stands at 156 for goal of 222, 70.27% of goal. An application for membership has been received from Steven Nichelson, Army, retired. Motion made seconded and passed to accept him for membership. The Consolidated Post Report (CPR) is now open. If you have anything that should be on it, give it to me so I can add it. This will help make the report more accurate.
· Jose Vargas presented the financial report as of October 31. Current available balance is $3,790.20. Boys State balance is $287.68.
· Second Vice Commander -we will have CPR/AED training at our December meeting and the Boy Scouts will report to us in January.
· Chaplain Otis Chapman reported that there will be a funeral for Bobby Smith, a Korean War veteran with over 22 years in the American Legion on November 15 at 11:00 am. The charter will be draped in his memory at our December meeting.
· Service Officer Rose Hodgeboom reported that over 50 claims have been processed. She reported on the remote satellite to the Randle Library from the Lacey Veterans Hub. Rose, Len Tobin and Gary Walker are still working with veterans “behind the wire” and 127 inmates have now received assistance.
· Historian Len Tobin reported that he is working with Department Historian Joseph Soel on what information he needs from the post to put in the Department history.
· Commander Walker reported on his visit to Puyallup Post 67 and that post’s celebration of its 100th anniversary.
· Auxiliary President, Karen Grundler, reported that the Unit has achieved 100% of its 2020 membership goal. She reported that American Lake Gift shop will be set up on November 29, tea on December 2 with shopping starting the next day. The Orting Gift Shop set up will be on December 9 with shopping beginning after set up. Hat was passed and $88 was donated to the gift shops.
Business and Correspondence
· The National Executive Committee passed a resolution at their Fall meeting changing the Preamble to the Constitution to bring it into compliance with the LEGION act. The Post Constitution and By-laws need to be changed accordingly. Adjutant Granish proposed that the words “the Great Wars” be replaced with “all wars” in the Preamble section of our Constitution and Bylaws, as resolved by the NEC. This proposed change will be acted on at our December meeting.
· Letter received from the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs congratulating the post for its nomination for the 2019 Outstanding Service to Veterans-Team Award, although the Post was not selected to receive the award.
· Letter received from Northwest Battle Buddies thanking the post for our recent donation.
Good of the Legion:
· The Auburn Veterans Day Parade will be tomorrow. The post is registered and if you plan to march with us, meet here at 7:00 am so we can car pool. We will have breakfast at Auburn Post 78,
· The annual Stand Down will be Friday, November 15 at the Olympia Armory. We will again hand out food baskets.
· The Department of Washington will celebrate its 100th year of incorporation on Wednesday, December 11 at the Capitol beginning at 4:37 pm (the date/time stamp of the original incorporation papers). The Post will host a dinner that will be catered by From the Big Island (FBI). We will help with set up/take down.
· Teacher of the Year presentation for Seven Oaks Elementary will be November 26 during a 9:00 assembly.
· There will be a membership revitalization at the Lacey Veterans Hub on Sunday, November 17 and Monday November 18. If you would like to help, bring your cell phone and changer.
· Adjutant Granish reported on Ian Buck’s Eagle project to build a landing off the North entrance and make repairs on the porch. He also reported on the cleaning of the moss off the roof
· Jose Vargas invited all members to attend the Veterans Day Ceremony at the Capitol. The Legion Band will begin playing at 10:30 and ceremony will begin at 11:00.
· Alternate NEC member, Dave Hodgeboom, will participate in a parade in Centralia on Veterans Day commemorating the November 11, 1919 parade in which Legionnaires were fired on by radicals from the IWWW (Wobblies).
There being no further business, Commander Walker closed the meeting at 9:15 pm.
Gary Walker Larry Granish
Commander Adjutant
