May 2024 Minutes

Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19 met on May 7th, 2024. Vice Commander Diane Burgess called the meeting to order at 6:40pm. There were 30 members present.
Chaplain Kim Smith offered the opening prayer.
READING OF THE MINUTES: Adjutant Steve Metheny read minutes from the March 5th , 2024, meeting and they were approved as read. April meeting was cancelled due to possible weather conditions.
FINANCIAL REPORT: Finance Officer Donny Walters submitted the financial report, and it was made part of these minutes by attachment.
NEW MEMBER OR GUEST: Jason Sutton from the Neptune Society; Stacy Brasher & Ty Cobb from the James Patterson Foundation; Senior Chief Michael Maley from the NJROTC; LTC Lance Jackson from ROCTC; Cadet Lt Madison Smith & Cadet Kaitlin Richardson
Guest Speaker: Jason Sutton gave a presentation on pre-planned funeral expenses and the benefits from the Neptune Society.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: Veterans Services: Service Officer Jeff Parks had nothing to report.
MEMBERSHIP: Adjutant Steven Metheny gave the membership report. Post 19 membership quota for 2024 is 410, 364 have paid, still need 46, the post stands at 89%.
SICK CALL: Post members on sick call are Don Richardson, Robert P. Norman, Jimmy Hill, William T. Wall, Wayne Roberts, Archie Steen Jr. and Larry Jones, Oscar Crouch, Ray Dye and Jimmy Rogers, Bill Ray, George Jones. Charles Dilahay; Commander Roger Chapman, Calvin Cheek & Danny Staggs
POST EVERLASTING: None
FLAGS FOLDED: March 2024 Johnny Ray; Jim Voss; Jack Westmorland. April 2024 Daniel Jennings; Cecil West; Patrick Compton; Charlie Craig; Ricky Davis
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Nominations for 2024 & 2025 Post Positions were taken and voted on by the membership.
Voted in by the membership as the new officers as follows:
Post Commander Diane Burgess
1st Vice Commander Mike Nuelander
2nd Vice Commander Jennier Hoover
No Nominations were made for 3rd Vice Commander
Finance Officer Jeff Parks
Adjutant Steve Metheny
Service Officer Dan Pullen
Judge Advocate Tom Dubois
Post Chaplain Kim Smith
Sgt at Arms Kenneth Thompson & David Wade
Post Historian Bob Stephenson

NEW BUSINESS: Past Commander Eddie Ables reported that Eagle Scout Zach Cole has been working with the city of Columbia cleaning up the area around the John Willis Memorial. He has been working with Fernwood Garden Center to replace the shrubs around the memorial, a metal railing will be made and installed by Williams & Son Welding.
Columbia Neon Company will assist in replacing the rope on the flagpole. A check from the Mule Day Auctioneer contest for $1515.15 was presented. Past Commander Able made a motion to donate $1,000 towards the work being done on the memorial. Motion was seconded and passed with unanimous vote.
GOOD FOR THE LEGION: ROTC Scholarships were handed out to Cadet Kaitlin Richardson who will be attending Western Kentucky University, Cadet Lt Madison Smith will be attending St. Mary’s College in Indiana. Each recipient received a $1,000.00 that will go towards their education.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Field of Flags at Rose Hill Cemetery will be placed on May 23 rd at 6:00 p.m. and will be picked up on May 30th at 6:00 pm.
There being no further business, Vice Commander Diane Burgess adjourned the meeting at 7:45 pm.