22nd District Executive Committee (D.E.C.) Meeting

August 15, 2010

Held at Post 594, Houston, TX

 

The D.E.C. meeting was called to order by Commander Blaylock at 1400 hours.

 

Opening Ceremonies were held in due form.

 

Minutes:  Minutes from the previous D.E.C. were not available.

 

Roll Call:  All officers and Committee chairs were present except the following: 

Adjutant, Service Officer, and Bingo and VA&R chairs.

 

Posts represented:  52, 77, 319, 416, 472, 490, 521, 594, 596, and 654.  Posts that were absent were 164, 391, and 428.

 

OfficerReports:

 

Vice Commander Juan Torres:  Informed the body that the current membership listing does not include PUFL’s.   John D. Morris is going to check with National to see when these members are posted.    Membership turn ins:  Post 594 turned in 15 and Post 654 turned in 140.   At the present time 2 posts have not submitted any members.   They are Posts 391 and 428.  Currently the 22nd District is in 2nd place in membership.

 

Finance Officer Tom Larsen:  Tom gave the finance report (copy attached).   Motion by Ralph Morris to approve.  2nd by Juan Torres.   Motion carried.

 

Judge Advocate Ralph Morris: Asked each Post to review their Constitution and By-Laws(C&BLs) and to notify Department in writing if the C&BL’s are current or in need of revision.

 

Chaplain Cal Gruetzmacher:  Funeral detail has conducted services at 57 funerals this year.

 

Public Relations Officer Bill Hutson: Commander Blaylock and Bill will be participating in the job fair scheduled for August 26.

 

Sgt-At-Arms Jo Padget:   31 members are in attendance at the meeting (Attendance Roster attached).

 

Commander Blaylock’s Report:

 

Post 490 has volunteered to host our Fall District Convention on October 29 & 30.   Friday night with be registration and a social.   Saturday the convention will begin at 8 a.m.   Ad information has been passed out to the attendees.   More information will be provided by Butch Sparks via Hubmaster.

 

Commander Blaylock asked that the attendees encourage their post commanders attend the D.E.C.’s.  It is important for them to attend since they are the members of the D.E.C.

 

We are looking for a Post to host the Spring Convention.   Normally it is held on the last weekend in April, but that is Easter weekend next year.   Please check with your Post and let the D.E.C. know if your Post is interested in hosting the convention.

 

Forms are available in the back of the room to report your Post Oratorical and Boys State chairmen to Department so they can get on the Department mailing list.

 

Other Officers Present:  No reports given.

 

Committee Reports:

 

Baseball Terry Messinger:   League City won the state tournament.    He is looking for Posts to sponsor teams next year.   Terry made a motion to allow him to pass out brochures to high schools and the umpire association to encourage new teams to join Legion ball.   2nd by Ralph Morris.   Motion carried.

 

Boy Scouts/S.A.L. & Coffee Tour Dan King:  Gave report on current S.A.L. membership.   Currently the 22nd District is in 1st place in S.A.L. membership.  Squadron 490 has turned in 65 members and 521 have turned in 12.

 

Coffee Tour:  A district coffee tour is scheduled for November 20.  The tour will start at Post 490 at 8 a.m.   Dan will be sending complete tour information to all Posts in the 22nd District.   The Department Commander, Department President, and S.A.L. Commander will be traveling with the tour.

 

BBQ Cook-off- Juan Torres:  The first meeting for next year’s cook-off will be held on Thursday, August 19 at Post 472 at 7 p.m.  Everyone is invited to attend.   There are still questions concerning insurance for the parking area in front of the Post.

 

Membership Drive- John D. Morris:  John said he would get with members who signed up to assist with the project after the national convention.   If anyone, who has not signed up to assist, would like to do so, they are welcome to provide him with their information.   He said he would like to put together the drive to occur the weekend before Veterans Day.

 

Other Chairs present:  No reports given

 

 

Unfinished Business:   None

 

New Business:

 

Tom Larsen made a motion to donate $100 to Reach Across America.  2nd by Juan Torres.  Motion carried.

 

Good of the Legion:

 

Tom read a thank you letter from The American Legion Home in Oklahoma for our donation.   He also informed the body that the home is in desperate need.   Currently if things do not change, 18 residents will have to go elsewhere.   A lengthy discussion followed concerning what can the Legion do to alleviate these problems.   John D. Morris will discuss the issue with the National Adjutant, and Butch Sparks will investigate the State of Oklahoma’s oversight of the home.

 

 

Closing ceremonies were held in due form and the meeting adjourned at 1455 hours.

 

 

 

Attest:

 

 

 

Butch Sparks                                                                                Jerry Blaylock

Acting Adjutant                                                                            Commander

 

 

 

Enclosures:

 

Finance Report

Attendance Roster