Minutes of Meeting
Conducted by
Corvallis Post #91, The American Legion,
Department of
Montana, Inc.
Type
of Meeting: Regular Membership Meeting (Minutes taken
by Marc Sabin, transcribed by Pat Clover)
Date
of Meeting: 20 Feb 2024
Location
of Meeting: Corvallis Rural
Fire Department – Corvallis, MT
Opening
Time: 1900 by Commander Harris
Attendance:
Post Officers – Post Members - Guests - Not available, to be added later
Benediction
- Chaplain Wrede
Minutes
from January 16, 2024, Meeting – Minutes
were submitted. Motion to approve, and
second were received from the audience. Motion passed by voice vote.
Guests
and New Members – New member Ken
Thurman was present.
Program –
·
Member
Ken Thurman gave a presentation on his efforts to establish a Veterans
Treatment Court here in Ravalli County with an ambitious target date of
February 2025.
o
One
of his areas of focus is the establishment of a voluntary Safe Storage program
for personal firearms that would be available to vets concerned about possibly
committing suicide.
·
Randi
Thorson gave an excellent presentation on cyber security for adults. There were many questions and a lot of interaction during her
presentation. She tailors the briefings to
the audience she is talking to.
Membership – To date 197
renewed and new members. The annual goal
is 210. (94% there) SAL new/renewed members are 22. The total present roster is 25. Legion Riders
Roster is 24 (14 Post members).
Committee Reports:
·
Bitterroot Valley
Military Program: BVMP submitted a
written January-February activity update (Attached). Harris and Doug explained
the BVMP request for $3K financial assistance to send 6 cadets to the USMC
Devil Pups 2024 at Camp Pendleton in CA. VVA 938 has volunteered to donate
$500. Doug Mason made a motion to
donate $1000 from the funds originally budgeted for the spring ADR that is now
canceled. Motion was seconded by George Deaderick and was approved by voice
vote of the membership.
·
ALERT –
Vern Cortes
reported on the meeting held with CSD#1 to initiate coordination and planning
for Post 91 support to the Reunification emergency operations. Doug and Vern
are drafting an Ops Order for the post to provide fairgrounds security when an
event occurs, and support is requested from the School District. Target time frame to have the plan drafted is
about 1 month from now. The EMCom radio
team will be a key element in Post 91 support.
Volunteers are needed and were requested to be trained to fulfill the
security tasks regarding the north parking ground. A live exercise will be
tentatively conducted in November.
·
Radio Club – Doug Mason
reported that winter field day was very successful, and many residents came to
watch the activity. The “Lite up the Firehalls” was also successful. A radio
club meeting was set for the evening of 23 Feb at Jack’s Place at which HF
antennas would be deployed and people would be able to use the Radio Club
programmable radios. The firepit at Jacks is to be christened that evening.
·
Scholarships/School
Activities - Sabin
reported the following:
o
The
schedules have been set for the Constitutional Essay and the Americanism and
Government Test/Survey competitions at CHS.
Teacher Phil Leonardi will run the essay contest and select the top 3
essays. The winning essay will be sent
by the Post to the MT Dept to compete for awards at the state level. Phil will be the proctor for the Test /Survey
and will provide the tests of about 100 students to the post for scoring. We will identify the top score male and
female student for recognition the Class of 24 Awards ceremony. The top score will be sent to the MT Dept to
compete for awards at the state level.
o
We
need volunteers to help in scoring the tests. If you have any interest in
helping with this, please call Marc Sabin (406-802-2301) or Bobby Tucker
(406-369-2411).
o
We
are also looking for volunteers to take the lead in Essay and Test programs for
next year. Bobby Tucker is a volunteer
to help on both and the Scholarships this year. Working with student
participants and school personnel on these programs is very rewarding for those
of us involved in the Post 91 side of the effort. It is an opportunity to work with and
potentially contribute to the knowledge, perspective, and commitment of these
future adult citizens of the nation.
o One Jack Pfau
Memorial Scholarship application has been received. The application period runs through 29 April.
·
Bitterroot Marksmanship
Club – No report
·
Fishing Club – No report
·
Auxiliary - Linda Reported
o
The
Pint Night and Celebration of the American Legion birthday will be held at the
Higher Ground Brewery in Hamilton on 15 March beginning at 5:00 PM.
o
Don
Helmbrecht volunteered to organize the Door-Prize awards for the evening. We need volunteers to offer door prizes for
the event.
o All veterans in
the area are invited.
·
House and
Entertainment – No
report
·
Commander’s Report – Commander Himes introduced Ken Thurman’s presentation and commented on
the BVMP funding request.
Old
Business:
·
Social
Media – Included in her earlier
presentation.
·
Fundraising
– FY25 Budget Preps will begin in
March. Prepare inputs for the various
programs.
·
American Legion
Cruisers – Doug
and Harris reported on the planning for the restoration of the ’49 Ford
convertible. Transferring Title has
caused some delay. A raffle is planned to pay for the restoration. The new Trifold includes the Logo for the
Cruisers.
·
Trifold Update - Updated Post 91
trifold has been printed and copies are available for all members to use in
advocating the programs and activities of the Post.
New
Business
·
ExCom Update: No inputs
·
Parade Planning: Jack said the posters have been
updated with the new 2025 Theme of “Military Animals” and are out for
printing. Should be available in early
March.
·
April Elections: Doug Mason announced that
nominations open on 19 March. All positions for officers and other positions on
the Executive Committee are open for nominations which should be sent to Doug.
A robocall followed this announcement. These positions offer and excellent
opportunity to learn more about the operation of the Post and the American
Legion.
·
No-Cost-To-You Accident Insurance:
An application for the American Legion insurance protection was handed out to
all members and people were encouraged to register if they have not already
done so. Note that applications can also
be submitted via The American Legion web site: www.thelit.com/no-cost-insurance. LIT is an acronym for Legion Insurance Trust.
Good
of The American Legion:
·
Monthly
Pot of Gold Drawing – Ken Thurman’s
name was drawn. He was present and won the $500 Frontier Guns and Ammo gift
certificate.
Sick
Call and Memorial
·
Bobby
Tucker updated the information on Pat McCaren, USMC, who is having a medical
emergency and needs assistance, primarily to help his wife get through this situation. Chaplain Brian Wrede was asked to help
determine what the wife needs.
Upcoming Events:
Tuesday
Feb 20 – Monthly Membership
Meeting – 1830 CRFD
Thursday
Feb 22– Lunch at Fins 1130
Thursday
Feb 29 – Lunch at Fins – 1130.
Monday
Mar 4 – Radio Club Meeting – 1800
CRFD
Monday
Mar 4 - Fishing
Club – Hamilton Masonic Temple, 115 S. 3rd St, Hamilton - 1830. Contact
Chris Haxton (406-531-2184)
Tuesday
Mar 5 – Legion Riders Monthly
Meeting – 1830 @ BJ’s.
Thursday
Mar 7 – Lunch at Fins – 1130.
Friday
Mar 8 - CSD #1 Meeting; 1430 at
CSD#1 office
Monday
Mar 11 – Executive Committee
Meeting – Jack’s Place 1900.
Thursday
Mar 14– Lunch at Fins – 1130.
Monday
Mar 18- Fishing Club – Hamilton
Masonic Temple, 115 S. 3rd St, Hamilton - 1830. Contact Chris Haxton
(406-531-2184)
Tuesday
Mar 19 – Monthly Membership
Meeting – 1900 CRFD
Closing
Time: Commander Harris adjourned
the meeting at 2029 hrs.
