Minutes of Meeting Conducted by Corvallis Post #91, The American Legion, Department of Montana, Inc. Type of Meeting: Regular Membership Meeting Date of Meeting: 20 January 2021 Location of Meeting: Corvallis Fire Station Opening Time: 1900 Attendance: Post Officers - 6 Post Members - 14 Guests - 1 Minutes from November/December 2020 – 1 st Asst Vice Commander Williams read the minutes for November, Doug Mason motioned to accept minutes as read. Bob Koellermeier seconded. Approved by voice vote. 1 st Asst Vice Commander Williams read the minutes for December. Chaplain Wrede motioned to accept minutes as read. Bob Koellermeier seconded. Approved by voice vote. 2021 Membership Goal is 166 – Current dues paid membership as of January 20 is 164. Program Member Robert Montes – Financial Planner, spoke about the important aspects of financial planning and offered to meet with interested members after the meeting.
Commander’s Report: Commander Turner was absent due to illness. 1st Vice Commander Williams reported on the following Executive Committee meeting items (Minutes attached): • Approximately 200 worn flags were ceremoniously burned on January 14th by members of the post honor guard. The goal is to perform the ceremony often enough so as to not get an overwhelming number of worn flags. Our pick-up box at the CFD is netting about five flags per week. • Current bank balances total $55,243.42. Not included in this amount are: o A recent anonymous $5000 donation. o Local Realtor Shayna Rupp will be donating a portion of her commission from a recent sale. o SFA 16 donated $2000 in support of the upcoming Active Duty Reconnect program. • Other Executive Committee items will be covered in the general meeting minutes. Committee Reports: 1) National Security – Ike and John Nolan reported on the planning for the 17-21 February Active Duty Reconnect Program. The schedule is almost solidified. 10 guests will be attending from several different Army units at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Schedule is attached to these minutes. Post members are encouraged to help with the logistics as well as attend the events when possible. 2) Membership- Member Vern Cortes discussed offering a shooting class for women post members. He is a NRA certified instructor and has put together an outline for a one day beginning course, which would be held at the Whittecar Gun Range in Hamilton. The Executive Committee has endorsed the concept. Vern will come back with more details at the next meeting. As there are 11 female members in the immediate area, the registration may need to be opened up to other Legion organizations such as the Auxiliary. 3) Family Liaison Committee - Post Amateur Radio Club. Doug Mason reported that the club leadership wants to institute their own licensing testing. Doug and one other club member are awaiting their credentials before testing can be done. The clubs annual field day will be 29-31 January at the Chief Joseph Trailhead. All volunteers are welcome.
Old Business: • Don Helmbrecht talked about the postponed Veteran’s Day Dinner, now scheduled for March 15th. He will clarify what the occupancy of the Victor Steak House will be and report back next month. He will then begin to take reservations for the event. • Adjutant Clover reported that this meeting will be the last for Cash Calendar sales. District wants all remaining calendars to be returned to them for further distribution,
New Business: • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training - Chaplain Wrede spoke about the training he will attending on Feb 3 & 4 in Helena. The post is covering travel and lodging expenses so that he can attend and his wife can accompany. • Doug made a motion to move the February membership meeting to Tuesday the 16th as the Active Duty Reconnect program starts on our usual meeting date (Wednesday 2/17). John Mowat seconded. Motion carried by voice vote. Good of The American Legion: •
Monthly Pot of Gold Drawing – Member’s name picked was Vern Cortes, who was present. He is the first winner since the program was re-instituted four months ago. • Member Jack Berman reminded members to contact their state representative to support passage of HB111 which will revise the state income tax to exempt military pensions.
Upcoming Events: 1. Friday Jan29 (evening) to Sunday Jan 31 -Amateur Radio Club Field Day, Chief Joseph Trailhead. Contact Doug Mason for details.
2. Monday Feb 1 – Amateur Radio Club Monthly Meeting, BJ’s, 1800.
3. Tuesday Feb 2 – Legion Riders Monthly Meeting, BJ’s at 1830.
4. Tuesday Feb 16 – Monthly Membership Meeting, Corvallis Fire Department, 1900.
5. Wednesday – Sunday Feb 17-21 – Active Duty Reconnect Closing Time: 1 st Vice Commander Williams closed meeting at 2015 hrs