Aug

Warffemius-Seidler

Post 381

Minutes

August 18, 2014 

The American Legion Warffemius-Seider Post 381 membership meeting opened at 7:38 pm

at 14313 Brandywine Heights Road, Brandywine, MD by Post Commander Ron Fisher.

A quorum being met by the following

members in attendance or excused absences:                 Visitors:

Ron Fisher

Pamela Neal-Robinson

Erle Ross

Ian Young

Felix Colaciello

Chris Marshall

Jeremy Foster

David Billings

Dan Dorrance

Robert Bowman

Convocation from Post Chaplain, Chris Marshall

Minutes from 21 Jul 2014, are to be amended in regards to the Grounds Committee Report

changing the word “support” to “assistance” referring to the presentation of the Certificate

of Recognition and Commander’s Coin. MSP

Reports:

Treasury Report: Finance Officer (FO) Pam Neal-Robinson presented the bank balances.

Paypal donations are not being direct deposited to the bank and FO Neal will be looking into

the issue. Commander Fisher has selected Judge Advocate Jeremy Foster to be added to the

Paypal account with FO Neal as back up. MSP

Commander’s Report: Commander Fisher wanted to reiterate the point that Post 381s bi-

laws clearly states that only 5 members are needed to make a quorum. This point was to be

made clear as one of the American Legion Posts in MD are having issues with quorums not

being met for their monthly meetings.

Grounds Committee Report: Committee Chair Jeremy Foster reported the Grounds

Committee met with Councilman Mel Franklin, his Chief of Staff and Nikita Reed on 31 July

2014 in regards to the 20 acres of land being donated to Post 381 by Prince George’s

County’s Park and Planning Commission. The meeting was promising with the possibility of

issues dealing with the Historical Society and their preference for Park and Recreation to

improve the grounds of Wilmer’s Park. However the land has not been tended to for some

time.  Post 381 has expressed interest to put the land to use. Post 381 has expressed the

desire to restore the land and preserve the artifacts and buildings located on the premises.

The current state of the grounds is as follows: overgrown grass fields, buildings needs

maintenance, and camp-sight on the property needs up keeping.

Land Report: Commander Fisher urged First Vice Commander Henry Turner talk to his

management group to provide a proposal to Post 381 as soon as possible, as Cmdr. Fisher is

willing to front $15,000 in order to begin the business relationship between the Post and the

management group that will be bringing in sponsors for The Post.  Cmdr. Fisher also charged

Service Officer Dan Dorrance to devise a plan for living quarters on the proposed land as

SMECO representatives has suggested to donate the time and materials to bringing

electricity to the land once Post 381 is awarded the property. First Vice Cmdr. Turner

advised that the letters which were created for members to request donations from friends,

families and businesses needs to be tailored to Post 381’s current sights on the newly

suggested land. It is 1^st Vice Cmdr. Turner’s professional opinion that the Post should hire an

organization to help in raising the large amount of cash needed to rehabilitate the land. First

Vice Cmdr. Turner is appealing to all to bring in management companies to vet and compete

for Post 381’s service. Cmdr. Fisher further advised once Phase 1 of acquisition and

development of land has been accomplished, Post 381’s relationship with Ms. Reed will be

visited as she has expressed her desire to no longer conduct business Pro Bono.

New Business:

Commander Fisher requests that everyone should try to attend one of the District Meetings

and has passed around the scheduled dates for the months leading into 2015.

Conmander Fisher is recommending Post 381 meetings be held at his residence (14313

Brandywine Heights, Brandywine, MD) as Denny Lavallee has sold Denny’s Place. Cmdr.

Fisher also needs hands in obtaining the remainder of Post 381’s belongings (flags, flood

lights, Post 381’s signs, etc.) from Denny’s Place. Finance Officer Pam Neal-Robinson

reached out to Mr. Lavallee (once Post 381 became aware of the selling of Denny’s Place)

for compensation of work conducted on Denny’s Place by Post 381, while monthly meetings

were held between 2012-2014 (per the agreement signed by Post 381 and Mr. Lavallee),

and no response has been returned as of yet. Cmdr. Fisher also advised that the Adopt-A-

Highway signs have not been printed with Denny’s Place as Post 381 Headquarters, and will

be placed on hold until further notice.

Chris Marshall brought to the table the sponsorship of Post 381 to Ebenezer AME’s

5k/10/50k Walk, Run, Bike race on 4 Oct 2014. Cmdr. Fisher has submitted a donation of

$100 on behalf of the Post. MSP

Adjourn:   MSP to adjourn.

Benediction given by Post Chaplain Chris Marshall.

Next meeting will be Monday, September 15, at 7:30pm, at Commander Fisher’s residence,

14313 Brandywine Heights Road, Brandywine, MD.

Meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm.

Respectfully submitted;

Erle Ross                                                                                          Ronald F. Fisher

Post 381 Adjutant                                                                            Post 381 Commander

July 2014

Warffemius-Seidler

Post 381

Minutes

July 21, 2014 

The American Legion Warffemius-Seider Post 381 membership meeting opened at 7:45 pm

at Denny’s Place, 15800 Brandywine Road, Brandywine, MD by Post Commander Ron Fisher.

A quorum being met by the following

members in attendance or excused absences:                 Visitors:

Ron Fisher                                                                    Casey Fisher

Pamela Neal-Robinson

Erle Ross

Ian Young

Felix Colaciello

Chris Marshall

Jeremy Foster

David Billings

Dan Dorrance

Robert Bowman

Convocation from Post Chaplain, Chris Marshall

Minutes from the previous meeting was presented and approved.

Reports:

Treasury Report: Finance Officer Pam Neal-Robinson advised two deposits were made,

totaling $200 for the current month. Two checks were received (one for $70.00 and the

other for $25) after the posting of the final balance, and which will be deposited no later

than Jul 26th. MSP

Grounds Committee Report: Jeremy Foster reported the Grounds Committee will meet with

Councilman Mel Franklin and Staff on July 31 to present them with a Certificate of

Recognition and Commander’s Coin for their support in providing the 20 acres of land being

donated to Post 381 by PGC’s Park and Planning Commission. The additional acres will allow

Post 381 to host Turkey Shoots prior to construction of the new post.

Community Committee Report: Chair Pam Neal-Robinson spoke with Mrs. D. Knight, Troop

Leader of local Girl Scout Troop 6202, of which Post 381 is sponsoring. Currently Troop 6202

are members of the Kid’s Club of Waldorf (a non-profit organization affiliated to the Girl

Scouts of America). Mrs. Knight is requesting of Post 381’s assistance in fundraising events

separate from the sponsored fundraising events by the Kid’s Club of Waldorf in order to

bring more revenue to Troop 6202. Mrs. Knight is asking if Post 381 would allow them to

fundraise in the next available Post 381 event to which there would be less restrictions as

far as monies received in a Post 381 sponsored event rather than in a Kid’s Club of Waldorf

sponsored event. Troop 6202 is expecting to attend the August 24 Charles County

Community event led by Post 381’s very own Pam Neal-Robinson. Post 381 has already

planned to donate the use of the moon bounce and support to the community attending

this event. If Post 381 allows Troop 6202 to fundraise under the provision of Post 381 as a

non-profit organization, revenue received will be distributed amongst Post 381 and Troop

6202 only (terms of the distribution of funds and real estate at the event will be determined

at a later date). Motion was made for Post 381 to adopt Troop 6202 as their non-profit

organization to fundraise on the 24 Aug 2014 Community Event with Post 381. MSP

The issue of profits distributed between Post 381 and any other entity jointly fundraising at

events will be tabled until the following meeting to further discuss the idea of

“cost+percentage”, meaning that distribution of funds between Post 381 and the other

entity would take into consideration the cost of the product being sold, the distribution of

the profit based on a percentage of the labor conducted by both entities (in which case the

percentage will be negotiable for each event), and the size of the event that’s hosting the

fundraiser.

Land Report: First Vice Commander Henry Turner will be providing a proposal from his

management group to Post 381 by 31 Jul 2014, in order to understand what Mr. Turner’s

company can do for Post 381 as far as finding contractors to support the building of

infrastructures of Post 381, but the Post must also do its due diligence in exploring other

management groups in the local area to compete for Post 381’s business. Commander

Fisher has charged Robert Bowman and Dr. Billings to provide, in writing, guidelines to

Prince George’s County (PGC) Park and Planning of how Post 381 will be able to obtain PGC

businesses (primarily) to be a part of the building Post 381. Mr. Turner’s proposal will be

along the same lines as far as the message is concerned, but it will be from the perspective

of Mr. Turner’s business.  Commander Fisher asked Robert to take the lead on this project in

the vetting of competing management companies when Post 381 is ready to take on bids.

New Business:

Commander Fisher advised that The American Legion is on the verge of changing their

policies regarding Korean War Veterans who are being excluded from joining the Legion.

Commander has requested of Dan Dorrance to be a part of the committee of delegates

(along with Commander Fisher and Robert Bowman) to be able to vote on the matter.

Commander Fisher announced Robert “Rob” Bowman as the newest member of Post 381,

to which Rob notified the Post that the Navy’s 1st Petty Chief Officer Association is having a

meeting at the National Harbor on 25 Jul 2014 at 0900hrs at the O&I Building, to which Rob

will be talking about the vision of Post 381 and the use of the American Legion to benefit the

Active Duty Members, in order to draw in new Active Duty Membership.

New Commemorative Coins (Post 381 Coin and Commander’s Coin) have come in.

Commander Fisher presented Casey Fisher with the Commander’s Coin for her support and

development of the Auxiliary. Commander Fisher also presented Pam Neal-Robinson with a

Commander’s Coin for her service with the Post.  Commander Fisher will also present Ellen

Foster of Enterprise Rent-A-Car with a Commander’s Coin, who introduced Post 381 to Girl

Scout’s Troop 6202 and has donated $300 to Post 381, at a later date.

Commander Fisher took a vote of the cost of the Post 381 coins and based on the number of

votes of those present at the meeting, the coins will be sold for $10.

Report for the Good of the Post:

Commander Fisher read the April 13, 2014 article from the Colorado Springs Gazette, which

interviewed Commander Fisher, 1^st Vice Commander Turner, and former 2^nd Vice

Commander Bryan Hoover about honoring Airman 1^st Class Matthew Seidler by naming Post

381 after himself and fellow Veteran Hans Warffemius. (see http://m.gazette.com/new-american-legion-honors-peterson-war-hero-by-adopting-his-name/article/1518126 )

Adjourn:   MSP to adjourn.

Benediction given by Post Chaplain Chris Marshall.

Next meeting will be Monday,  August 18, at 7:30pm, at Post 381 HQ at Denny’s Place.

Meeting adjourned at 8:35pm.

Respectfully submitted;

Erle Ross                                                                                          Ronald F. Fisher

Post 381 Adjutant                                                                            Post 381 Commander