Dist. Commander Joe Fleming opened the meeting at 1 P.M.

Introduced: After opening ceremonies he introduced : Bill Wolff Commander VFW Sate of IL, Vince Olivo State Poppy Director, Past State Commander Bob Migalich, and Vince Long.

Read Purpose of the VFW.

Roll Call of Officers:

Six present, Four excused, One absent.

Roll call of Post:

Commanders from 777, 1239, 3546, 4763, 5410, 8157, 10399 were present.

Representatives of Post 755, 1756, 5302, 6408, 6871, 9513, 10302 were present.

Posts 1379, 2061, 4866, 5129, 11463, 11524 were absent.

Total of 14 post present 6 absent. 26 District members plus 2 visitors.

John Richter moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the last meeting and accept them as published and on the internet. Seconded by Vince Long Motion was approved.

Reading of bills:

Joe Fleming $59.57 for postage supplies,

VFW Dept of Ill $492.00 District share of hospitality room expenses.

Breakdown of seed money to Lanny Smith for State Convention Hospitality room with $474.17 spent and $25.83 returned to the District.

Motion by John Richter to pay all bills, Seconded by Jim Marshall. Motion approved.

Quartermasters Report:

Opening balance $9007.60 Balance as of July 1 is $8694.73

Jim Marshall moved to accept the Quartermaster report subject to audit. Seconded Chuck Ames motion was approved.

Quartermaster Vince Long Read the amount of District dues that is owed to the district from each post. It can be mailed in to him anytime prior to your Post inspection are it will be collected then my the inspectors. 755 dues $514.50, 777 dues $38.25 paid, 1239 dues $216 Paid, 1379 dues $211.50, 1756 dues $161.25 paid, 2061 dues $42.00, 3546 dues $49.50, 4763 dues $135.75 paid, 4866 dues $48.25, 5129 dues $170.25, 5302 dues $63.00, 5410 dues $40.00, 6408 dues $176.25, 6871 dues $94.50, 8157 dues $24.25, 9513 dues $45.00, 10302 dues $420.75, 10399 dues $20.25, 11463 dues $39.25, 11524 dues $33.00.

Comrades in Distress:

Marvin Boon Friend and Commander of VFW Post 2061 has pasted to the other side to join all those that went before him.

Commander passed around a sheet of paper to get everyone email address.

Service Officers Report:

John Richter passed out card he made with e-mail and address of his and state service officer. Then he handed out an information sheet from the V.A. On the easing of some of the requirement needed for a veteran to get approved for PTSD.  For more information you can go to www.va.gov on the internet or call VA's toll free benefits number at 1-800-827-1000.

Hospital Report:

Chuck Spencer could not make the meeting but informed the Commander he is still working on firm date to hold the Districts Bingo game at the Quincy Veterans Home.  The District 10

Bingo Day is probably going to be Saturday, April 16, 2011

Voice of Democracy & Patriots Pen Report:

Jim Marshall Chairman stated it is not too early to start working on these two programs. The themes for this year are Voice of Democracy—“Does My Generation Have a Role in America's Future.”

Patriot's Pen theme is—“Does Patriotism Still Matter.” These are two great Scholarship Programs so help give the youth in your area a boost up and try to get them interested in participating.

Safety Report:

Chairman Lanny Smith pointed out how easy it is to have a short reportable safety lesson at every meeting. Every member of your post had to either walk, drive to the meeting. Just remind them that when they leave to buckle up and watch out for pedestrian or animals in the road . If you plan on taking the boat out, be sure they have all their safety equipment. In the Spring and Fall when we change our clocks, it is a good time to check the batteries in all the fire  and CO2 detectors.  These are just a few of ways to satisfy your VFW safety requirements.

Membership Report:

Chairman John Richter presented The ABC's of the District 10 Membership Program, a copy of which is attached to these minutes and which is also posted on line. Every Post Commander must read and become familiar with them and appoint a membership chairman. Bob Kays Commander of Post 1239 named C.V. Smith as his Chairman. Mr. Smith did not object.

I.T. Report:

John Richter I.T. Chairman reminded everyone that at the last district meeting, a motion was passed that required all Post to donate $10.00 to the National Home's Military Family Program ,this will get them a check on the x sheet under Youth Services and a check for the National Home for Children. And they will pick up the checks when they do the post inspections and to earmark the check for the Military Family Program. He reminded everyone that this is in addition to the silver march post hold every meeting for donation to the National Home. He also volunteered to make entries on the x sheet for post . And explained how to enter money and hour on the state web page, and to round any money figures up to whole dollars.

Ron Shutts ask for clarification on when to transfer money from post dues reserve fund to the general fund. It is to be transferred on July 1st every year.

Remember the National Home: Collected $33.00

Unfinished Business:

District commander state that all District committees and appoints made prior to the June 27, 2010 are hereby terminated. And only those appointed since then are valid.

New Business:

1.  Vince Long moved that the District donate $300.00 to Department Voice of Democracy awards. Jim Marshall 2nd . Motion was Approved

2.  Vince Long moved that the District allow Lanny Smith to purchase the supplies needed to copy C.V. Smith's copies of the District's minutes that are missing so the district will have their own record of the minutes. Motion 2nd by Roger Bates. Motion Approved.

Good of The Order:

1.  Quartermaster Vince Long presented District Commander Joe Fleming with his Past District Commanders watch.

2.  Poppy Chairman Vince Olivo stated that every post should buy poppies, as there are one of the programs at the heart of the purpose of the VFW. And that is to aid Veterans. The poppies that the VFW distributes are made by Disabled Veterans and without the VFW purchasing them for our use and distribution, a lot of disabled veterans would have little are no income. His goal is for the State of Illinois to distribute one million poppies this year and it is doable if every post would buy 1000 buddy poppies. They only cost $55 for 500 poppies so 1000 would only be $110 for a thousand.  And remember we distribute poppies we DON'T SELL them. Always check your poppies when you get them as you only have 30 days to return them and get the proper amount are if they are damaged. There is also available 9-11 (black) poppies and anniversary poppies silver (25yrs), gold (50yrs) and diamonds (75yrs). The anniversary poppy cannot be distributed.

3.  Bill Wolff ,State Commander ,thanked the post an district for all the work they put in last year and to gear up to do it again this year.

He informed everyone that there will be service officers training in Effingham on October 9 and October 23 in Rockford. There is also the possibility of having Barry Walters present a 8 week advanced service officers training in our district it is 3hr one night a week for 8 wk.

He stressed the importance of attending District meetings to obtain the information on the different programs and other issue's important to Veteran's.

He also stressed the importance of the VFW in helping veterans get the benefits they are entitled to, and even if you only think you have a claim with the VA , file it. If it is a honest claim it may take a while to get it but you will be paid from the day you 1st filed the claim.

One of his goals is to submit a by-law change to remove the word comrade for our bi-laws and ritual. And he wants all post to have 90% of their x sheet completed by December 31.

Commander Wolff thanked every one for giving up their Sunday to attend the District meeting and listen to him Talk.

4.  John Richter reminded all that Aug 15 is Veterans Day at the State Fair with a free lunch for all veterans.

5.  Post 777 announced that they raised $1200.00 at their 4th of July dinner

6.  Post 8157 Alburn asked their local paper to publish a veterans picture every month in the paper.

7.Post 1756 will have a booth at the Logan County Fair Aug 3-8th

8.  The next District Meeting will be Saturday,October 9, 2010 ,at VFW Post 2061 In Payson (convenes at 10:00 a.m.) and on

Sunday October 10, 2010 , at 11:a.m., at Post 1756 in Lincoln.

District Commander Joe Fleming held closing ceremonies at 2:45 P.M.

Adjutant: Nolan L. Smith