William E. Dillard American Legion Post 104, Inc. Monthly Minutes Minutes for 11 July 2016 Meeting At 7:00 pm on Monday, 9 May 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 17 Post members, Dist. 25 Commander Jack Greve, Veterans Council of WNC Chair Lyn Lazar, 2 prospective members, and an American Legion visitor from Florida, Ken Baab. Opening Ceremony Sergeant 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 by Second Vice Commander Linda Nee, 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 Adjutant Jim Nicholl presented the 13 June meeting minutes as previously distributed by e-mail and posted on the website, https://www.sylvalegion.org/minutes and approved by a voice vote, Linda Nee moved and Richard Wilson seconded. Finances Adjutant Nicholl presented a current financial report, which was approved on a voice vote, Linda Nee moved and David Zachary seconded. Membership and Recruiting Report Membership Officer Linda Nee reported a current total of 138 members for 2016. (Quota is 155.) 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). A listing of those not yet renewed is at the end of these Minutes. Note: As of 1 January 2016, all annual membership dues are $35.00. Mail your payment to the American Legion Sylva Post 104, P. O. Box 104, Sylva, NC 28779. In addition, annual dues may also be paid on line at the American Legion National Headquarters web site: http://www.legion.org/renew. 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 e-mail 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 828-293-5835, 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 (sandwich, salad, 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. Business and Announcements 1. Commander Ed Harwood asked two prospective members to introduce themselves: Johnny Roberts of Cullowhee, Navy 20 years, invited by Kim Shuler; Gordon Gaebel, Jr., also of Cullowhee, Navy, Vietnam era. Roberts and Gaebel were applauded for their service and interest in Post 104. 2. Commander Harwood then introduced Lyn Lazar, Chair of the Veterans Council of WNC. She announced the annual Veterans Picnic on Saturday, 12 November, at the National Guard Armory, Webster, from 11 am to 1 pm. That will be followed by the Second Annual Veterans Day parade through downtown Sylva, beginning at 3 pm, starting from the assembly area at Mark Watson Park adjacent to the Post 104 Legion Hall. Lazar also announced a new Honor Flight program, this time for Korean War veterans, taking place on Saturday, 24 September, and asked for help identifying prospective participants, escorts, and sponsors for this air trip to Washington, DC, to visit the veterans memorials there. Sponsorships are $600. and escorts pay $450. to be part of the trip. More information is available at www.honorflightblueridge.com or from Lazar at lynlazar@gmail.com or 1 (864) 630-5544, and the names of Korean War
veterans can be passed on to her also. 3. First Vice Commander Roy Burnette described the 3 funeral details since Post 104's last meeting: for a Marine at Fairview Cemetery, for Orville Coward at the First Baptist Church, and for longtime (40+ years) Post 104 member and officer Clyde T. Bumgarner at Love's Chapel United Methodist Church. Thank you messages were read from family members for the details for Wilburn Buchanan and for Clyde Bumgarner (plus donations to Post 104 and the Auxiliary Unit from the Bumgarner family). 4. Burnette also described the very successful Radio-A-Thon over WRGC-AM 540 from the Post Hall on 8 July, to raise funds for the proposed Charters of Freedom memorial beside the Hall. With donations still coming in, over $7,000. has been collected, including a $500. donation from Post 104. 5. Sergeant of Arms Ron Short reminded the group of the vote to purchase a custom-made POW/MIA recognition chair, and Commander Harwood will place the order. 6. Commander Harwood introduced District 25 Commander Jack Greve of Hayesville, who made announcements about District activities, especially the need for Oratorical Contest participants, and he thanked Roy Burnette for agreeing to serve this year as District Vice Commander. He also described activities of the recent Department Conference, including the fact that all posts in the state are now bonded, with the Department covering the 50 cents per member expense. Commander Greve then swore in the new officers for the 2016-17 membership year: Commander- Ed Harwood First Vice Commander- Roy Burnette Second Vice Commander and Membership Officer- Linda Nee Adjutant-Jim Nicholl Chaplain- Burrus Jones (with David Zachary as intern) Sergeant at Arms- Ron Short Veterans Service Officer- Howard Rohner. 7. At the 13 June meeting, Phil Haire had led the way to the vote to form a Post 104 Recruiting Committee, but in his absence this action was deferred until the August meeting. Thoughts and Prayers List, Overseas Service (Please give the Adjutant names for this list.) Deployed
SGT Nick Carboni, US Army, to Kuwait (second tour), relative of Barbara and Howard Rohner. 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 Member Kim Shuler happily announced that her husband Sammy Lee Shuler has recovered so well from his liver transplant that he can be taken off this list. Myrtha Wilson, spouse of Member Richard Wilson, has recovered from being hospitalized with pneumonia, and is back home convalescing. L. C. Bumgarner continues to reside at Skyland Care Center. Member Harold McMahan still has diabetes complications. Local AmVets Commander Keith Dean is dealing with serious cardiac and breathing problems. Member Red Murff is now residing at Morningstar Nursing Home. Member Dick Ford is recovering well from hiatal hernia surgery in Jacksonville, FL. Closing Ceremony After Chaplain Burrus Jones offered a closing prayer, Commander Harwood led the group in a hand salute and declared the meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm. Respectfully submitted, Jim Nicholl, Adjutant Non-Renewed Post 104 Members for 2016 (As of 9 May 2016) Please call 828-293-5835 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