10^th District VFW Meeting Minutes

July 10, 2011, Morgan County Post 1379, Jacksonville

Opening Ceremonies: at 1 P.M.  With pledge and salute to colors.

Introduced visiting Officers and others: Bill Phelps, State Commander, Vince Long and Bob Migalich  Past State Commanders, Victor Smith, State Judge Advocate.

ROLL CALL DISTRICT 10 OFFICERS

Title                  Name                                                    Present            Absent             Excused

Commander:                 Bob Kays (1239)                       __x___              ______              _______

Sr. Vice Com                Paul Richter (4763)                    __x___              ______              _______

Jr. Vice Com                 George R. Madden (6871)          __x___              ______              _______

Quartermaster               Vince Long  (1656)                    __x___              ______              _______

Chaplain                       John C Waltrip (1379)                ______              __x___              _______

Judge Advocate                        C. Victor Smith (1239)                __x___              ______              _______

Surgeon                        Charles E. Spencer (10302)        ______              __x___              _______

Service Officer              John E. Richter (4763)               __x___              ______              _______

Trustee 1 Year               John E. Richter (4763)               __x___              ______              _______

Trustee 2 Year               Larry Gillespie(10302)                __x___              ______              _______

Trustee 3 Year               James N. Roles (5302)               ______              ______              ___x___

Adjutant                        Nolan  “Lanny” Smith (1239)       __x___              ______              _______           

Total                                                                             __8___              ___2__              ___1___

ROLL CALL DISTRICT 10 POSTS

Post                             Commander      Sr.  Vice Com   Jr. Vice Com     Representative  Absent 

777 Mt. Pulaski             ________          ________          ________          _____1______   ______

755 Springfield              ________          ________          ________          _____1______   ______

1239 Beardstown           _________        ________          ________          _____3______   ______

1379 Jacksonville          ___x_____        ________          ________          _____1______   ______

1756 Lincoln                  ___x____          ________          ________          _____2______   ______

2061 Payson                 ________          ________          ________          ____________   ___x__

3546 Ashland                ________          ________          ________          ____________   ___x__

4763 Chatham               ___x____          ________          ________          ______4_____   ______

4866 Waverly                ________          ________          ________          ____________   ___x__

5129 Quincy                  ________          ________          ________          ____________   ___x__

5302 Athens                  ________          _______            _______            ______1_____   ______

5410 Camp Point           ____x___          ________          ________          ____________   ______

6408 Havana                 ____x___          ________          ________          ____________   ______

6871 Petersburg            ____x___          ________          ________          ______1_____   ______

8157 Auburn                  ____x___          ________          ________          ____________   ______

9513 Pittsfield               ________          ________          ________          ____________   ___x__

10302 Springfield          ____x___          ________          ________          ____________   ______

10399 Mt. Sterling         ____x___          ________          ________          ______1_____   ______

11463 Rochester           ________          ________          ________          ____________   ___x__ 

11524 Winchester          ________          ________          ________          ____________   ___x__

Total                             ____9___          ________          ________          ______15____   ___7__

                                                                                                                Total attendance     ____24______

Reading ot the Minutes:  John Richter moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the last meeting. Seconded by Victor Smith. The motion was approved.

Report of the Quartermaster in Detail:

Opening Balance  $8996.07     Balance as of Apr 30  is $7363.35 .

Victor Smith moved to accept the Quartermaster's Report subject to audit. Seconded By Jim Marshall. The motion was approved. Quartermaster Vince Long gave a breakdown on the Convention expenses.

Read Communications. Dist. Commander Bob Kays reviewed the General Orders.

Reading of the Bills: Pay Joe Fleming for the Silver March at State Convention, Victor Smith moved to pay all Bills seconded by Larry Gillespie. Motion Approved

Service Officers Report: John Richter reported that the veterans benefit book is available on line and that the VA has established a female call center . He state that the VA is trying to supply VFW post with information on female veterans that might be interested in joining their post . He did not Have any info on which post were going to be called but if you are contacted be sure that they receive the same treatment as all veterans. Moreover, to remember that they are combat veterans to. John passed out a handout on how to get checked off for P.O.W. on the X sheet

Comrade or a family of a comrade in distress: John Richter reminded everyone that Vince Longs mother passed away

Committee Reports:

Voice of Democracy & Patriots Pen:  Jim Marshall informed every one that now is the time to get started on the essay programs and to make sure the forms are completely filled out.  He has copies of the forms to hand out .

State Fair: Chairman. Lanny Smith informed every one the he had talked to Buddy Yoakum ,State Fair Director, and that he Buddy would get the info sent out as soon as he got them.

Blood Donor and X Sheet Reporting: No Report.

Membership Report: Ken Morrow congratulated the District 10 on how well it did on membership last year. Stated now that he has had both hips replaced, he is ready to get back to work recruiting and that any post that has any type of function he is willing to help them recruit. He informed everyone that the district has a tent and banner to help with recruiting. In addition, explained some of the things on the new membership application. In addition, that they have stop offering the two year payment plan for life memberships.

Legislative Report:: Victor Smith gave a complete Legislative Report and I have a copy on file.

Remember the National Home: Collected $28.01 for National Home.

Unfinished Business: Past District Commander Joe Fleming handed out awards that Post had earned during the last year. Moreover, thanked Post 755 for their work with the yellow ribbon program to welcome home returning Veterans.

New Business: Quartermaster Vince Long read the amount of dues owned the District by each post. Which if not sent to the District Quartermaster will be picked up when you Post is inspected.

755/ $522.00, 777/ $38.25, 1239/ $219.00, 1379/ $196.00, 1756/ $144.00, 2061/ $41.25, 3546/ $49.50, 4866/ $41.25, 5129/ $164.29, 5303/ $63.75, 5410/ $$40.50, 6408/ $178.50, 6871/$94.00, 8157/$73.50, 9513/$36.75, 10302/$428.25, 10399/$19.50, 11463/$41.25, 11524 $33.75.

John Richter reminded all posts that they owe the District $10.00 for the National Home and that it would be picked up when they are inspected. Inspector John Richter reminded all posts that if they need to change their Post inspection date to be sure and inform him and District Commander so they can reschedule it.

Aug 14 is Veterans Day at the State Fair and all veterans and their families get in free with a free lunch at the Lincoln Stage at 11 p.m.. And they ask for VFW marchers for the parade to form up inside gate 3 and will step off about 4:00p.m. and encouraged as many people as had the time to march and to bring their post flags.

John Richter gave a break down on the combined hospitality room at the state convention and that the cost per District should be under $475.00 for the room, refrigerators and beverages.

Good of the Order:

State Commander Bill Phillips thanked the 10^th District for their work on membership and reaching 103%.

He stated that he has changed the requirements for a post to make All State and  made it a more level playing field between the different size post an there is a full break down on the ILL web page in the Commanders Manual.

There has been a change in the x sheet in safety. There will still be 5 categories to the program report form but you only need one (1)  x on the sheet.

There will be a membership seminar at the C of A meeting at 11 am on Saturday Aug 6, everyone is welcome to attend.

The National Convention is coming up Aug 27 until Sept 1. One of the things that will be brought up at National Convention is to change when your dues is due. If it passes, your dues will be due 1 year from the day you pay it instead of everyone’s due on Dec 31 as it is now.  

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There will be Quartermaster training at the Crown Plaza Sept 16 & 17 at a cost of $100.00 and encouraged

all Post Quartermasters to attend.

Sept 30 and Oct 1  is Illinois Day at the VFW National Home for Children with a wiener roast on Friday evening with lunch and a tour of the National home Saturday.

He thanked everyone for attending the meeting , thanked 1379 post Commander Wilson for the use of the post.

He then gave a brief description of his commander project for this year and that is to support the (4) four Veterans home here in Illinois with each home deciding what they will do with their share of the money and that this money will not be put into their general fund but has to be spent in the home.

Bob Migalich asked him about one of the changes being brought up at National Convention on when next year’s Post, District, and Department Commanders will take office. If the by-law change is passed, the incoming commander’s elect will be elected in May and will not take office the day that the National Commander takes office. They are still working on how this will affect the different state programs such a membership.

District Adjutant, Lanny Smith, advised every Post that has a post home to be sure and file form PTAX 763 when they pay their real estate tax as it would freeze their tax evaluation for the next year and to remember to file it every year to get the lower tax rate.

The Quartermaster Patrick Jockisch from Petersburg Post 6871 and the State Coordinator for the National Guard Honor Program stated that a MIA that was killed 40 years ago in 1971 in Cambodia will be brought home.  We will have the honor of providing him with a fitting burial including a fly over. So keep in mind we are still looking for are fallen comrades.

Closing Ceremonies:  Our next meeting will be Oct 16, 2011, at Post 1379 in Jacksonville.

Retired the Colors and closed the meeting at 3 P.M.

Nolan L Smith Adjutant 10^th District