Commander Stimmler called the regular 21 March 2022 meeting of the Benton- Sherburne County Council
at Elk River Post 112 at 7:30 pm with 24 in attendance.
Minutes of the 17 January 2022 meeting were read and accepted. Finance report with opening balance
of $1394, no activity, ending balance of $1394. Report was accepted.
Roll call of Posts: Becker 0, Big Lake 1, Clear Lake 1, Elk River 17, Foley 1, Rice 0, Sauk Rapids
1, Zimmerman 3.
Roll Call of Officers: Cmdr Stimmler p, V Cmdr Riebel a, Sgt at Arms Johnstone p, Chap/Fin p, Adj
Takle p.
Discussion of Mid-Winter meeting and District E-Board: The problems on the Membership rosters and
proper listing of ‘Continuous Years’ and timely posting of transmittals is being worked on. Many
complaints are being lodged. The end of year reports are needed to be submitted on a timely manner.
The Legion College will hold a training session at Camp Ripley on 21-24 April. The cost will be
$200. The training will be geared to assist new officers, program chairs and new members. ‘Veterans
Day on the Hill’ is on track for 20 April. This is part of the Commanders Task Force (CTF). The
issues will be published in the April issue of the Legionnaire.
Dist Chaplain Frank needs the list of deceased by 5 May to be included in the bulletin at the Dist
Convention. The list should include Post, Auxiliary and SAL members. Frank is working on getting a
CC committee with members from each Post, that would be trained to be responders to prevent suicide
of other veterans.
Sgt at Arms Ken reported the St Cl VAMC is opening up more entrances and the Adult Day Care is
opening again - a new building is being built hopefully open this summer.
Adj. Jerry encouraged members to use the District Website; each Post should make sure the SAL Cmdr
receives the Legionnaire; each Post encouraged to send members to Distr Conv.
The softball program was discussed. It costs about $500 for a Post to sponsor a team.
Legion Family Activities:
Big Lake is purchasing a building on the corner of Hwys 10 and 15.
John Enstron made a presentation about the event sponsored by Operation Zero, for preventing
veterans suicide, on 9 July at Veterans Lake, 8702 181ˢᵗ Ave, Ramsey, MN 55303.
Elk River: Greg Artman requested that all Posts in Sherburne County join Elk River in the Sherburne
County Fair parade 10:00 am 16 July. The Post Lenten Fish Fires has been rated in the top ten in
the state. Aux sponsored a Cub Scout event where they painted rocks and learned how to fold a flag
by the Honor Guard, is selling hot fudge sundaes & rootbeer floats at Post sponsored Lenten fish
fries, encouraged all to wear purple on 15 April to honor Military children, and is sponsoring
Leadership training for legion family members in April. The SAL is meeting monthly and working
with Riders on 3ʳᵈ Sunday breakfasts. Riders sponsored a Bingo Bloody Mary and Breakfast Sunday,
20 March.
Zimmerman: Meat raffle and horse racing in the bar, the corn beef and cabbage dinner sold out, the
Aux and the Honor Guard will work on the Poppy project, the SAL has a 2ⁿᵈ Amendment gun raffle.
The have bingo at the community center 26 March. The Auxiliary had a successful soup cookoff in
February.
Big Lake: Gambling and bingo. They are participating in an after-school program to feed and provide
a safe place for school children from 3-5 pm. There are children in our schools that are not
getting enough to eat. Other Posts provide funds for sending food hope with children.
Meeting adjourned at 9:10.
Jerome A. Takle Bud Stimmler
Adjutant Commander
