William E. Dillard American Legion Post 104, Inc. Monthly Minutes. Minutes for 12 September 2016 Meeting

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1 William E. Dillard American Legion Post 104, Inc. Monthly Minutes Minutes for 12 September 2016 Meeting At 7:00 pm on Monday, 12 August 2016, Commander Ed Harwood called to order the monthly meeting of William E. Dillard American Legion Post 104, Inc., at the American Legion Hall, 915 West Main St., Sylva, NC. Present were 16 current Post 104 members and 1 new member, for a total of 17 present. Opening Ceremony Sgt of Arms Ron Short marched the colors to the front of the room and posted them in their stand. Commander Harwood then led the members in a hand salute. Chaplain Burrus Jones offered the opening prayer. To honor all missing U. S. POWs and MIAs, a black cover with the POW/MIA logo, symbolizing a Missing Comrade, was placed on a lone empty chair, while Commander Harwood read The American Legion statement regarding POW/MIA's. He then led those present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the Preamble to The American Legion Constitution. Previous Minutes Webmaster David Zachary filled in for Adjutant Jim Nicholl, who was on vacation, and presented the 8 August minutes (available at Minutes were approved by a voice vote whereas Phil Hare made a motion to accept the minutes as read or corrected and Ernie Bumbarner seconded the motion. Finances No financial report was given however, Webmaster David Zachary filled in for Adjutant Nicholl and reported that the adjutant sent a Post 104 check in the amount of $600 to Blue Ridge Honor Flight program to assist member Ernie Bumgarner for the trip on September 24, This action was approved on a voice vote in the August meeting.

2 Membership and Recruiting Report Membership Officer Linda Nee, Adjutant Nicholl reported a current total of 88 members renewed for 2017, with about 2 other renewals not yet processed. (Quota for 2017 of 147 members has been assigned. Quota for 2016 was 155, with 136 achieved.) Officer Nee reported that the current roster is at 150 members, there was 1 deceased, 1 member transferred out, and 1 new member transfer into the Post. The new membership year started 1 July and renewals, by mail, in person, or online are being accepted. Dues are now $35.00, with the Post retaining $7.50 and the remainder going to the Dept. of North Carolina ($9.00) and to the National American Legion ($18.50). Note: As of 1 January 2016, all annual membership dues are $ Mail your payment to the American Legion Sylva Post 104, P. O. Box 104, Sylva, NC In addition, annual dues may also be paid on line at the National Headquarters web site: Your American Legion membership number and a credit card are required for this on-line process. As you finish, you can print off a temporary membership card plus a receipt, to serve until Membership Officer Nee mails, or gives, you a permanent card. After renewing your membership, please report that action via to the Adjutant at jknicholl@frontier.com, since the National and Department of NC headquarters are slow in notifying each Post of online renewals. You can also notify the Post Adjutant by phone at , or bring your receipt to the next meeting. Thank you for using this easy process. Prior to the meeting, starting at 6 pm, many members chose to enjoy a buffet supper (2 soups, salad bar, drink, and dessert) offered for $6.00 as a fundraiser by the American Legion Auxiliary Unit, and then continued to socialize until the regular meeting commenced. New member SSG Lee Herman of the NC National Guard was present for his first meeting with Post 104. Lee is a 30-year veteran of the Army National Guard and currently serving his 12 th year with National Guard Armory in Sylva, NC. He is an Iraqi war veteran and brings lots of enthusiasm to Post 104.

3 Business and Announcements 1. Commander Ed Harwood mentioned that there will be a small Welcome Home ceremony at the Asheville Airport on 24 September at 7:00 PM for all of the Korean veterans returning from Blue Ridge Honor Flight program that traveled to Washington, DC. Commander Harwood stated that it would show great support if any Post 104 members could be present for this Welcome Home event. 2. Commander Ed Harwood gave an update on the honoring of veteran s at the Swain High School football game on 9 September. Commander Harwood and member Ken Baab attended this event and gave nothing but praise for the way the high school and the students honored all veterans in attendance. He stated that a great amount of care and respect went into this event and the Air Force ROTC acted as the Color Guard. At the end of the half-time ceremony, all veterans were asked to assemble in a predetermined location and then they all marched out onto the field in single-file. The line of veterans stretched from one end-zone out to approximately the 50-yard line as the crowd paid tribute to these honored veterans. In closing, Commander Harwood expressed how the students were focused on the veterans and there were no distractions during the course of the ceremony. 3. Commander Ed Harwood presented the idea of Post 104 doing something special for the next 9/11 event in 2017, and to consider what the Post would like to do. In addition, Commander Harwood discussed the idea of the Post having a potluck meal at 6 PM for the 10 October 2016 meeting, with the Post furnishing the meat. Three young men will be honored for their participation in the Boys State Program. 4. First Vice Commander Roy Burnett indicated that two funeral honor guard details were performed since the August meeting. Honors were conducted for veterans Chris Pressley on 20 August 2106 and for Keith Dean on 3 September The total funeral details conducted is 13

4 services for the year-to-date. 5. First Vice Commander Roy Burnett commented about the Bryson City High School band who will be participating in the 75 th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor on 7 December. He eluded to the act that the woman who won a trip to this event has a father who was at Pearl Harbor during the attack and how elated she was to be going to see the memorial. A question was asked about funds and First Vice Commander Burnette mentioned that the band has already raised more than the necessary funds for the trip. 6. Veterans Services Officer Howard Rohner discussed the Veterans Dinner to be held at the Senior center on 10 November 2016 (JIM -verify date, as others thought it is 11 November -Howard says the senior staff is off that day, no agreeded date could be established so alter if necessary and remove this line). VSO Rohner also mentioned the upcoming Veterans Picnic on Saturday 11 November 2016 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at??? (I failed to ask where, but I believe it s the Armory) and the Veterans Parade at 3:00 p.m. in Sylva. (Reminder commander Harwood about the wavier forms for all who may participate in the parade). 7. Member Phil Haire mention an upcoming Golf Tournament for any legion member who like to attend. The event will be hosted by Mill Creek Golf Course in Franklin, NC on Saturday 17 September at 9 a.m. Cost to veterans is $45 per member, which includes the golf cart and a BBQ Dinner. Haire then suggested that the Post publish a report of all members who are in arrears of their annual dues. Discussion was given and it was mentioned that this list is on the Post website, whereas webmaster David Zachary then read a listing of all members in this category as of this meeting. The list was names was listed on the last sheet of the August 2016 minutes which were circulated and it was noted that Rick S. Queen lives in Waynesville, not Asheville, NC. Additionally, it was stated that Terry W. Heatherington has moved out of the region. Haire asked about phone numbers for such legion members and Membership Officer Nee stated that she does not have this information. First Vice Cmdr Burnette offered the comment that such information can be found at and that as former Post Commander he was responsible for calling delinquent members.

5 8. Member Joe Hurt mentioned that a large number of Highway Patrol members in the state are from Swain Count and stated that the Post needs to contact the high school to learn if there might be any possible future candidates for the Trooper Program. No one volunteered to follow-up on this matter. 9. Member Ken Baab discussed some upcoming veterans services that would be available to primarily disabled veterans and the event is to be held on 27 October from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Community Center on Hwy 441 S. in Franklin, NC. 10. New member Lee Herman mentioned that there are a couple of individuals posing as veterans in need of travel assistance, and that they have conned several persons out of money for expenses. No verification was ever conducted to validate the person s status as a veteran and he warned others to be on the lookout for such actions. JIM as a note for the Commander, please check on the paperwork for the Girls State, when due, etc. and report back to the Commander. Thoughts and Prayers List, Overseas Service (Please give the Adjutant names for this list.) Deployed SSG Chad Watson, USAF, to U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates). This is his third deployment and he is son of member Ron and Debra Watson; who now resides in eastern North Carolina. Sick Call Myrtha Wilson, spouse of Member Richard Wilson, is much improved. L. C. Bumgarner continues residing at Skyland Care. Member Red Murff is now residing at Morningstar Nursing Home. Member Dick Ford has recovered well from hiatal hernia surgery in Jacksonville, FL, and has returned to Jackson County for a short time. He will be relocating to Alabama in the near future. Closing Ceremony

6 After Chaplain Burrus Jones offered a closing prayer, Commander Harwood led the group in a hand salute and declared the meeting adjourned at 7:55 pm. Respectfully submitted, Jim Nicholl, Adjutant

7 Non-Renewed Post 104 Members for 2016 (As of 8 Aug 2016) Please call if your name is listed below in error: Thanks, Jim Nicholl, Post 104 Adjutant 2014 Members who did not renew for 2015 Biggs, James M. Bryson City Clark, Mike Cullowhee 2015 Members who have not renewed for 2016 Allison, Marvin, Sylva Buchanan, K. Stacy, Sylva Denton, Jeffrey Whittier Gates, Shane Johnson City, TN Heatherington, Terry W. Supply Hodgkinson, Terry L. Sylva Hyatt, Heather L. Canton Marraffa, Thomas A. Sylva Middleton, Harold E. Sylva Queen, Rick S. Asheville Reeser, Mark W. Saint John's, FL