THE AMERICAN LEGION PETER WOLLNER POST 288
Executive Board Meeting 24 May 2023
The meeting was called to order by Commander Dennis Jaeger at 1900 hours followed by the appropriate opening ceremonies.
Roll call of officers was taken with 11 present and 5 absent. Quorum present.
GUESTS: Post member Debbie Gabert, PPC Al Klug.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
1st Vice Jim Lee – The Post will finish at 91% of its 2023 membership goal. The Post will lose about 11 members who have not renewed for the 2023 membership year. Discussion ensued regarding the difficulty in contacting and finding members who haven’t renewed.
2nd Vice Gene Szudrowitz – No report.
3rd Vice Jerry Smith – Jerry reported on the proposed Memorial Day activities. There will be a Rifle Squad practice Saturday morning (May 27th) from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with set up for Memorial Day occurring right after rifle practice.
Finance Officer Dennis Loberger – Dennis was contacted by AT&T regarding the installation of the fiber optic line to the Post. AT&T will need a four-hour window to change out the Post router. AT&T will perform the work sometime between June 5th and the 9th.
Bar Chairman Rick Siefert – Absent
House Chairman Ed Downey – Ed reported a problem with the garbage disposal that will need the expertise of a plumber. New fridge is working well. Clean-up and weeding around the Post is all completed, and all is ready for Memorial Day. He is getting bids for snowplowing for next winter. The carpet in the bar area needs to be cleaned. Ed will work with Jim Lee to arrange a time to clean the carpets between Post rentals.
Chaplain Jerry Wanty – Absent
Assistant Chaplain Bill Raymond – Absent
Judge Advocate Tom Ingram – No report
Immediate Past Commander Bob Batty – The May 19th Fish Fry was excellent with 412 meals served. 300 sit-down meals, 77 carry-outs and 35 sandwiches are the breakdown on meals served. Bob reported that June and July present staffing issues due to critical individuals being absent because of Badger Boys & Girls State in June and the Department Convention in July. His recommendation is to cancel the Fish Fry for June and July. After a great deal of discussion by the Executive Board it was decided to comply with the Fish Fry chairman’s recommendation.
Motion and a second to cancel the Fish Fry for the months of June and July. Motion carried.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Kristin Burkhart – No report
Rick Siefert – Absent
George Maumee – No report
Kim Queen – Absent
Post Adjutant Bob Batty – No report
CORRESPONDENCE
Commander Jaeger read a thank you letter from Brett Torbeck thanking the Post for selecting him as the recipient of the Post Scholarship. He received $500 from Post 288 and $500 from Unit 288 for a total award of $1000.
Commander Jaeger read an email from Department Vice Commander Karl Stuvengen and PDC Greg Eirich regarding post sponsorship of Cabins 9 and 18 and the volunteer quarters attached to Hegly Hall at Camp American Legion. There was discussion as to what the definition of “sponsorship” meant or involved. Short of an occasional donation to Camp it was decided that sponsoring a cabin at Camp was not in the best interests of Post 288 at this time.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bills to be Paid: Finance Officer Dennis Loberger read the bills to be paid totaling $6,331.44. Motion and a second to pay the bills. Motion carried.
Commander Jaeger reported that he and 1st Vice Commander Jim Lee attended the CHS Awards Ceremony at the high school on the evening of May 23rd to present the Post Scholarship and Good Citizenship Awards. Grant Shipley was the recipient of The Robert Armbruster Scholarship and Megan Meehan was the recipient of The Lou Nichols Scholarship. They also presented a Good Citizenship Award to Taylor Decker and Fergus Fidlin.
NEW BUSINESS
On behalf of Auxiliary Unit 288 Debbie Gabert reported that the proceeds from their Car and Craft Show will be split fifty-fifty between Dog-to-Dog Tags and the Suicide Prevention Initiative, BE THE ONE. All their costs have increased and due to scheduling conflicts with other car shows participants are fewer this year. Her request from the Auxiliary would be for Post 288 to donate funds to help support this charitable fund raiser. Motion and second to give $500 to the Auxiliary for the Car and Craft Show. Motion carried.
In a related matter, Debbie Gabert related that during the Car and Craft Show the Auxiliary would like to increase foot traffic within the Post and to incentivize people to enter the Post during the show they would like to offer a free beer or soda to the first 50 car entrants who arrive at the Post. They would receive a ticket for 1 beer/soda and the Auxiliary would pay for half the cost (not retail) of the beer or soda.
Motion and a second the Auxiliary will issue tickets good for a free beer or soda to the first 50 entrants and the Auxiliary will reimburse the post for half the cost of the tickets that were remitted. Motion carried.
Commander Jaeger read a request from the Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce asking the Post to donate $200 to sponsor a flower basket in the downtown Historic District along Washington Avenue. The Post has contributed to this program for many years in the past and it was decided to continue the tradition. Motion and a second to donate $200 to the Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce for their Summer Flower Basket Program. Motion carried.
Auxiliary Unit 288 purchases annual flowers for the Post Memorial which the City of Cedarburg then maintains. The cost to the Auxiliary was $300 and they are asking Post 288 to cover half the cost or $150. Motion and a second to donate $150 to Auxiliary Unit 288 to cover half the cost of the annual flowers for the Post Memorial. Motion carried.
The Post will hold its Awards Night at its Regular Membership Meeting Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at 7p.m. It will be proceeded by a Spaghetti Dinner at 6 p.m. Newly elected and continuing Post Officers are to be at the Post, in uniform, by 5:45 pm. for a group picture.
Finance Officer Dennis Loberger received a written request from a former Lou Nichols Scholarship and Good Citizenship recipient Naomi Poss, asking if we would consider awarding her the scholarship award even though she failed to provide her grades within the specified 2-year period required for payment of the scholarship. Her reasons for not fulfilling the terms of the scholarship agreement related to COVID19 issues and some personal hardships. Motion and a second to waive the 2-year grade rule and pay Naomi Poss $1250 as a recipient of The Lou Nichols Scholarship and The Good Citizenship Award. Motion carried.
Dennis Loberger mentioned that the Post should consider doubling the amount that it awards for the Robert Armbruster and Lou Nichols Scholarship Awards and the Good Citizenships Award. The cost to attend institutions of higher learning has increased substantially and if the Post’s scholarships are to have any relevancy they need to be increased. After discussion it was determined that to effect the change in the award there will have to be a change to the Post’s Bylaws. Commander Jaeger will address the Bylaws change.
GOOD OF THE LEGION
Ozaukee County Council Memorial Day Program – Friday, May 26, 2023 – 5 p.m. at Ozaukee County Justice Center – Port Washington.
Auxiliary Unit 288 Craft and Car Show – Saturday, June 10, 2023 – 10 a.m.
Ozaukee County Council Installation Dinner – Friday, June 30, 2023.
Post 288 Chicken Roast – Sunday, July 30, 2023 – 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday morning coffee @ Jim’s Grille, 10 a.m.
There being no further business the meeting ended with the appropriate closing ceremonies and was adjourned at 2015 hours.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert S. Batty, PDC
Adjutant
Peter Wollner Post 288
Department of Wisconsin