The Henry G. Fix Post 23 meeting opened on Thursday, December 1st at 7:59 pm. The meeting was opened by Commander Nancy Grandy with a salute to the Colors, POW/MIA observance, the Pledge of Allegiance, and preamble to the American Legion Constitution. Chaplain Tara Hough offered an opening prayer. 25 members were present. Drew Pederson was a special guest and spoke of his time at Boys State.
The minutes of the previous meeting were presented and approved. The finance and social reports were approved. Bills were approved for payment. Service Officer John Schmidt reported that get well cards were sent to Paul Evenson, Don Dorsman, and Phil Blom. It was reported that Harlowe Sundum was in the hospital.
The membership report was given by Beth Welch. She reported that our 2023 goal number is 209 members. We currently have 26 Paid Up For Life members, and 146 renewals. 1 additional membership was given during the meeting. That will take us to 173 total which is 83% of our goal.
Bob Bennett gave the Americanism Report. The Veterans Day program went very well at the school. Attendance was high with many positive comments.
The city council has approved the addition of more flags into the park during the summer. There is currently one student expressing interest in the oratory contest. Bob reached out to the Post Firefighter of the Year for his submission to the District competition.
Paul Evenson reported that the South Dakota Veterans Council held their round tables. One issue is the upcoming bill to mandate Veterans Service Officers based on county population. The Post Color Guard will support a funeral at the State Cemetery on December 5th. The Post has been asked to provide Color Guard assistance for Wreaths Across America at the State Cemetery on December 17th. Brian Siemonsma reported that there is no baseball report.
The Post is continuing it’s search for a building maintenance coordinator. The Post Veterans Day program speaker was Aaron Pollard (Deputy Secretary, South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs. His speech on Veterans checks and “Be The One” was well received.
The Post will support the Commercial Club by cooking for their breakfast on Saturday, December 10th. There will be a vendor fair on the south side of the building that day. Commander Grandy reminded all to buy tickets for the Commercial Club electric bike raffle.
Our next Post meeting will be Thursday, January 5th. The meal will happen at 7:00 pm, with the meeting following at 8 pm. Our next Post breakfast will be December 4th with french toast and sausage for a freewill donation. The Department Winter Conference will take place February 10-12 in Huron. The next county meeting will be February 28th in Dell Rapids with the meeting beginning at 7 pm. The next District meeting is April 2nd in Hartford with a 1:30 social and 2 pm meeting.
Commander Grandy reported on the Executive Committee meeting held earlier in the week. It was recommended that the Post donate $1000 to the Garretson Food Pantry. Motion Passed. A motion also passed to donate $50 to the V.A. Christmas Popcorn Program and $200 to the V.A. Holiday Fund. Commander Grandy distributed the new Post Newsletter.
Andy Lyngen mentioned that the service flags used at the school Veterans Day program were donated by the Dwayne Jacobson family. Andy is looking for options to complete the set with the remaining branches of service. A thank you card was read from the Midwest Honor Flight. A thank you card was read from the Garretson School for our participation in the Veterans Day Program.
Commander Grandy presented Steve Kirton with a pin for his grandson Zander Wollan. Zander had impressed a Veteran attending the Midwest Honor Flight Welcome Home gathering.
The monthly raffle drawing for December took place. Winners for the $500 bonus drawing were Dennis Hight and Jim Frerk. Weekly winners were Todd Tilberg, Jenny Weiland, Theo Menely, Darcy Stiefvater, and Troy Schnetter, with each receiving $150. Commander Nancy Grandy closed the meeting at 9:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Mark Wiesner, Post 23 Historian
