VFW Post 8600
Gadsden Alabama
PO Box 8601
Gadsden Alabama, 35902
Phone: 256.546.2440
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Post Membership Meeting - Feb 2018

Wilson Parris VFW Post 8600
817 Rainbow Drive
Gadsden, Alabama 35901
  1. Opening Ceremony: Meeting Opened at 6:04 PM by Commander LaPoint using a more formal procedure. Chaplin Saunders gave opening prayer. Pledge of Allegiance recited by all members present.
  2. Guests: None
  3. Roll Call of Officers:15 Present, 1 Absent (Surg)). Cmdr, SVCmdr, JVCmdr, Qmst, Chap, Tr3, Tr2, Tr1, HC1, HC2, HC3, Surg, Serv, Adj, OD, JudgA
  4. Petitions For Membership: Steward Berkly - Served Iraq - DD214 qualified. Motion to accept Saunder, seconded Holmes. Motion carried
  5. Distribution and reading highlights of previous minutes was conducted. After corrections to Teachers name (Buffy Vaughn) the Minutes stand as read.
  6. Quartermaster Report of Income and Disbursements distributed and discussed. As of yesterday we have $47,535.62 in the bank or or a $2,863.14 profit since the beginning of 2018. Motion made by Shelly, seconded by Holmes to accepted the report, subject to Audit
  7. Comrade in Distress: None
  8. Committee Reports.
    • Canteen and House Committee reports given by Chairman Shelly.

      Addressed our money problems in some detail. The For Sale sign has been up and we've had a few inquires, but nothing more. We continue to have band/dance and, karaoke problems. Still having problems raising funds and canteen sales. Our letter to the membership requesting input and participation was a failure. It's time to stop talking and take action. The best thing we have is our location. We don't have time to sell and need to take advantage of our location. We could borrow money and fix the place up: have a front door and a front face that does not look like a self-storage building; have a canteen layout that actually makes sense. We are still considering changing our liquor license to a Special Retail License instead of a Club License. Need to make decisions and need to make them quickly.

      Options are to borrow money for renovation and develop new sources of income or die. Possibly a Cafe, hall rental and other ideas have all been discussed. The Doctors office next, which we though was for sale, is not. That was ideal to join the properties as one.New band coming in for six week trial, Alabama Backwater. We keep trying.Real Estate agent coming tomorrow and is going to try to give us an estimate on the value of the property.Need to make appointment with ABC and get details on Special Retail License.

    • Commander LaPoint. Office hours at Department have changed.
  9. Reading of Official Communications: General Order #8 was read to membership and some items were brought up for discussion. Commander Doughty home coming April 13-15 in Selma. Council of administration on 15th State Convention May 31 June 2. Some discussion on Buddy Poppy drive for Memorial Day and conflict.
  10. Unfinished Business:
    • $712 left to finish floor where the old bathroom was located in the lounge.
    • $1000 allocated to replace two doors in lounge.
      • All-American sign purchased and waiting for better weather to install.
  11. New Business:
    • Shelly made motion that we look into obtaining a loan to remodel building. No money at this point, just investigate if we could obtain a loan. What would it cost, what payments would be and if we could afford them. Motion seconded by Beam. Motion carried.
    • Commander LaPoint made motion to purchase Program awards (PP, VOD, Firefighter, Teacher) certificates, medals and cash awards for winners. Total cost approximately $1,600. Seconded by Shelly. Motion passed.
    • Commander LaPoint. Last month a motion was made and passed that lumped most fund raising activities into one item that would be good for a year. He feels he made a mistake doing that and would like to rescind the item. He feels that some of the recent efforts at fund raising have tried to circumnavigate the system and he was not informed. Made motion to rescind the item, seconded by Holmes. A rather lengthly, and somewhat contentiousness discussion followed. No vote was taken, but it appears that, until clarification on Section 214 of the MOP in that allows a yearly blanket vote on certain items (delegated to the House Committee), all fund raising activities must be approved by the Post Membership.
  12. Good of the Order:
    • Comrade Danny Thornton, with his work with MOA, discussed and effort underway to form a coalition of all military service organizations in the state (VFW, American Legion, MOA, etc) to promote legislation in the State of Alabama that will be beneficial to military members, families and veterans. Bringing this it up and requests that the Post, and the VFW in general, take part in the effort.
    • Next month is nomination of Officers
    • Membership. District at 96.5%. We're almost in last place in district (91.5%). Need to start working on membership. Had discussion on Post buying memberships, and status of current membership. Comrade Holmes brought up some points on why we are having trouble. Comrade Campbell reached out to to younger members for ideas on what to do to them more involved.
    • Next meeting March 13th.
  13. Closing Ceremonies performed and meeting Adjourned by Commander LaPoint at 7:24 PM.
Steven Alex
Adjutant