Warffemius-Seidler
Post 381
Minutes
November 17, 2014
The American Legion Warffemius-Seider Post 381 membership
meeting opened at 7:30 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
County
Commander Haywood Moss
Pamela Neal-Robinson new member Charles Robinson
Henry Turner
Erle Ross
Bob Ross
Ian Young
Felix Colaciello
Chris Marshall
Jeremy Foster
David Billings
Dan Dorrance
Robert Bowman
Invocation from Post Chaplain, Chris Marshall
Minutes from the previous meeting was presented and
approved.
Treasury Report: Finance Officer Pamela Neal-Robinson
presented the Treasurer’s Report.
Cmdr Ron Fisher advised that $8.00 cash was given to the
Post due to a bounced check,
therefore the $8.00 will be deposited within the coming
week. MSP to accept the report.
Excecutive Committee Report: Finance Officer
Neal-Robinson advised she attended the
meeting with Parks and Recreation in regards to the
different phases of development of
Wilmer’s Park. She reported that a Memorandum of
Instruction (MOI) / Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) was provided to the attendees of the
meeting. A follow-up meeting
sometime after Thanksgiving will include the Director of
Parks and Recreation to finalize the
MOA in the sharing of responsibilities between the Post
and Parks and Recreation. It was
suggested to the representatives of the Post to adjust
Phase 1 of the 3-Phase plan so that
there would be less resistance in getting the MOA
approved quicker. Nikita Reed presented
the Project Proposal to the group, while Cmdr Fisher and
First Vice Cmdr Henry Turner
elaborated on the plans Post 381 had in store for
Wilmer’s Park.
One and a half million dollars is needed to operationally
maintain the facilities at Wilmer’s
Park; bringing the total costs of the new Post to $15
million which needs to be raised, giving
the Post a buffer of 3 years to meet its goal. Revenue
contributing to the funding of the Post
would include patronage of a restaurant on site, coy
aquatic farming, rental of sports
equipment and banquet facility, gym, etc. Seven hundred
and fifty thousand dollars is
needed for the initial start-up of the Post. The Post has
already received a grant for $4000 to
be used for the initial start-up.
Community Relations Report: Cmdr Fisher announced that
Bob Ross received an official
letter from the State of Maryland NAACP’s support of Post
381’s restoration of Wilmer’s
Park.
Nakita Reed was also able to obtain correspondence from
the African American Historic
foundation that was extremely supportive in Post 381
revitalizing Wilmer’s Park.
Historian’s Report: On behalf of Post Historian Felix
Colaciello, Cmdr Fisher reported the
granddaughter of Mr. Wilmer supports Post 381 in
obtaining the land, so Historian Colaciello
has reached out to her to express our gratitude for her
support.
According to 1st Vice Cmdr Turner, as a result
of all the support and approval letters from
the different associations regarding Post 381 obtaining
Wilmer’s Park, there is no need for a
public hearing to take place.
Acquisitions Committee Report: Cmdr Fisher advised that
The Home Depot will donate the
lumber in support of the revitalization of Wilmer’s Park
including the Banquet Hall as soon
as the Temporary Lease is signed and measurements taken.
Cmdr Fisher further advised
that once the restoration of the Banquet hall is
completed, a sponsor will donate $1.5
million to have the facility named after this
organization; to which this agreement would
have to be put to a vote in the December meeting by the
members of the Post. Cmdr Fisher
also mentioned that for every $1000 received in
fundraising, the donor will receive 8% back
(tax form 1099 will be required to be completed).
Old Business: License plates have been printed and ready
for purchase for $15.
Finance Officer Neal-Robinson advised the Girl Scout
Troop changed the date of their event
which was to have occurred on November 15, and would have
to be rescheduled for
December. She will check on any Youth Camp availabilities
for the month of December. The
official letter from the Girl Scouts supporting Post 381
has been given to Nikita Reed (to
scan) for the possible prospects of obtaining more
grants.
Finance Officer Neal-Robinson also advised a letter of
gratitude was sent to Post 381 from
The Jude House in regards to the support received from
the Post.
Cmdr Fisher advised Post 381’s website will be update
with all endorsements.
New Business: At the Southern Maryland District Executive
Committee (DEC) meeting, Post
381’s Commander, Ron Fisher, received the Outstanding
Commander Award, and Post 381
received the Outstanding Post Award for 2014.
Judge Advocate Jeremy Foster reported that during the DEC
meeting, Ed White spoke out of
turn against Post 381, as he was at the meeting on behalf
of National (wearing his Red Cap),
and not a member of the DEC. As such, he had no right to
speak, according to national bi
laws, unless he was recognized by the Dec council. When
Post 381 members were given the
opportunity to speak at the DEC, Mr. White would
interject his opinions without being
recognized by the Chair. If Mr. White would have worn his
White Cap at the meeting, he
would have been eligible to speak on behalf of the DEC,
but this was not the case.
Department Second Vice Commander Pat McCoy also attended
the DEC meeting and let it
be known that she was there, not as a “white Hat”, but on
behalf of Post 381. Prince
George’s County Commander Haywood Moss, however, felt Mr.
White should be allowed to
make his points at the meeting as the stipulation of
donning the correct colored hat to
speak was a trivial matter.
Judge Advocate Foster request that a member of Post 381
sit in at the next DEC meeting to
insure Post 381’s objections of record were documented in
the minutes. If Post 381’s
comments are not documented in the minutes, the Post has
the right to challenge the
minutes and comments of Mr. White.
For the Good of the Post: County Commander Moss’
inspection of Post 381 stated that we
“passed with flying colors”, and he was “…very impressed
with the way this Post was being
run”. County Cmdr Moss further stated that “(he) doesn’t
know why this Post did not pass
last year, but sometimes people get locked into the old
ways and not open to the new ways
of doing things.” And that “Post 381 is very effective
and has an introspective
administration. Most records and reports are kept on
computer portraying Posts of the
future”.
Adjourn: MSP to adjourn.
Benediction given by Post Chaplain Chris Marshall.
Next meeting will be Monday, January 19, 2015, at 7:30pm,
at Post 381 HQ located at 14313
Brandywine Heights Road, Brandywine, MD.
Respectfully submitted;
Erle Ross Ronald
F. Fisher
Post 381 Adjutant Post
381 Commander
