Type
of Meeting: Regular Membership Meeting
Date
of Meeting: 21 March 2023
Location
of Meeting: Corvallis Rural
Fire Department – Corvallis, MT
Opening
Time: 1900 by Commander Himes
Attendance:
Post Officers - 7
Post Members - 12 Guests - 2
Minutes
from February 21, 2023, Meeting – Minutes
were submitted. Doug Mason moved that
the past meeting’s minutes be accepted as submitted. Brian Wrede seconded the motion. Motion passed by voice vote.
Guests
and New Members – Commander Deb
Strickland of Hamilton Post 47 was in attendance.
Program – Dolan McDonald, Senior Instructor of The
Appleseed Project gave a presentation about the Project and its youth-oriented
programs.
Membership
– 2023 new members and renewals to date are
195. Goal is 185.
Committee Reports:
·
Bitterroot Valley
Military Program: Sean Smothers submitted this report previously - The Bitterroot Valley Military Program currently has 14 Cadet
sign-ups. Our orientation was conducted on 3/4 and we continue to accept new
members. Our first training day will be 8 April, pushed back from 25 March
because of the school spring break schedules.
·
Law Enforcement
Liaison – Post Liaison Randy Baird spoke about the ALERT
(American Legion Emergency Response Team) program being developed by four of
the Bitterroot Valley Legion Posts. There have been 25 applications submitted
for background checks. Training will be
two-four hour blocks in May.
·
Radio Club – Doug Mason gave an update on the activities. With the improved weather,
work will begin to erect the 100’ tower. Weekly radio nights have not been regular
due to key personnel being called out of town on work projects. Three club members have received their
licenses. One “Light Up the Firehalls”
has occurred. The monthly Emergency
Communications class has 25 members and is wrapping up the classroom section
and will move into practical activities.
·
Scholarships – Neither Marc Sabin nor Don Bratsch were present. Randi Thorson said she had posted program
information on the Post Facebook page.
·
Bitterroot
Marksmanship Club – David Naber reported that improvements continue
on the indoor range hut. They have
received two grants from the NRA – a $15,000 grant for shooting equipment and a
$3000 grant for furniture and equipment.
They also received a $1100 grant from the Darby Community Fund. He is estimating the First Shot Celebration
will be in the Summer. The Club has been
asked to host a rifle safety course for the Darby 6th grade classes
when school starts in the Fall.
·
Fishing Club – Member Scott Roberts spoke about the Post’s club working together with
Healing Waters, a national organization that provides outdoor fishing
experiences for disabled Veterans. He
said the combined club meets on the first and third Mondays of the month at the
Hamilton Masonic Temple.
·
Auxiliary – No report
·
Memorial Day
Parade – Chair Jack Berman said that a theme had been
chosen. “Be The One” which is the
national organizations program to bring awareness to veteran suicides. He also said that the posters have been
ordered and he will call a meeting once they are ready.
·
House and
Entertainment – Commander Harris gave an overview of the upcoming
District 5 meeting on April 30th.
It will be held at the Corvallis High School. The Post has arranged for the catering of two
meals during the day. Doug Mason also
reported on the recent Pint Night held on March 15. There were 35 attendees and the Post received
$80 from The Hops for beer sales.
Commander’s
Report –
Commander Harris
thanked several in the audience for their contributions to the various post
activities. He is happy with the
relationships the Post has established with the Superintendent of Schools and
several CHS faculty members. He hopes
that more Post members can get involved as volunteers at the schools, which are
greatly needed.
Old
Business:
·
Active
Duty Reconnect – Adjutant Clover
reported that the weekend went very well.
The five attendees expressed their thanks for being allowed to
participate.
·
School
Programs – No formal report as Chair
Marc Sabin was not in attendance.
Commander Harris spoke about the Oratorical contest. The Post candidate placed fifth in the state
competition. The Essays have been judged
with the winning essay forwarded to the Department for the state
competition. All oratorical and essay
participants will be recognized at a future school board meeting.
·
Bylaws
and Constitutional Changes – (Documents
attached to these minutes)
o
Social
Media User Agreement – Doug Mason performed
the second reading of a proposed By-Laws change to add social media oversight
to the Public Relations Committee.
Proposed changes are attached.
§ Don Helmbrecht motioned to accept the changes as
read. Brian Wrede seconded the motion.
Motion passed unanimously by voice vote.
·
Social
Media – Randi Thorson reported that
she has been working on on-line forms, such as the parade applications, as well
as posting about the pint night, scholarships and March for Jesus Christ. She is looking for backup editors.
New
Business
·
ALERT
Medical Component - Commander
Himes talked about the potential for establishing a medical component to the
ALERT group. Post 47 Commander
Strickland spoke about her experience as an EMT and CPR trainer. She is willing to help organize the component,
and anyone interested can reach out to her at 202-870-8542.
·
Executive
Committee Nominations – Doug
Mason motioned to open nominations for Executive Committee Members – Presently
the positions of 1st Vice Commander, Adjutant and one general
committee member will be open. Don
Helmbrecht seconded the motion. Motion carried
by voice vote. Elections will be held at the April 18 meeting.
·
Women’s
Shooting Course – Member Vern
Cortes reported that the next course will be held at the Whittecar range in
either May or June.
·
Disaster
Response Team – Doug Mason
reported he will be participating in a tabletop exercise with Corvallis Middle
School around a hazmat incident. The
Post would participate in the family reunification portion. He asked for volunteers to be part of that
team.
·
March
for Jesus Christ – Doug talked
about the upcoming Walk for Jesus Christ, sponsored by the Christian Veterans
of the Bitterroot. Volunteers will walk three-mile
segments from Lolo to Angler’s Roost on April 8th. Contact Brian Wrede to sign up.
Good
of The American Legion:
·
Monthly
Pot of Gold Drawing – Member John
Banks’ name was drawn. He was not present
to win the $500 Frontier Guns and Ammo gift certificate.
·
Certificates
of Appreciation – Don
Helmbrecht motioned that the Post give Certificates of Appreciation to The Hops
Brewery and The Pin Up Patriots for their participation at our recent Pint
Night. Randy Baird seconded the
motion. Motion passed by voice vote.
Sick
Call and Memorials
Member Patrick Nolan is
recovering from surgery.
Upcoming Events:
1. Monday April 3 – Radio Club Monthly
Meeting – 1800 @ BJ’s
2. Monday April 3 – Semi Monthly Fishing Club
Meeting – 1830 @ Hamilton Masonic Temple, 115 S. 3rd St., Hamilton.
– Chris Haxton (406-531-2184)
3.
Tuesday April 4 - Legion Riders
Meeting – 1830 @ BJ’s
4.
Thursday April 6 – Emergency
Communications and Response Training – 1900 @ CHS Library.
5.Saturday April 8 - March for Jesus Christ – 0700-2000. Contact Brian Wrede (406-369-5318)
6. Monday April 10- Monthly Executive
Committee Meeting – 1900 @ Jack’s Place.
7. Monday April 17 – Semi Monthly Fishing
Club Meeting – Hamilton Masonic Temple, 115 S. 3rd St, Hamilton @1830
8. Tuesday April 18 – Monthly
Membership Meeting – CRFD@ 1900.
9.
Sunday April 30 – District 5 Meeting – CHS @0900.
Closing
Time: Commander Himes adjourned
the meeting at 2032 hrs.
