Department of Minnesota, 6th District

Benton-Sherburne County Council Minutes of 19 May 2025

            Cmdr Stimmler called the regular 19 May 2025 meeting of the Benton-Sherburne Couty Council to order at 7:30 pm at Becker Post 193 with 22 present.

            Minutes of the 17 March 2025 meeting had been distributed and were posted. Finance report balance $1639.08.

            Role call of Posts/Aux/SAL/Riders: Becker-8, Big Lake-3, Clear Lake-2, Elk River-7, Foley-0, Rice-0, Zimmerman-0.

            Cmdr Stimmler-p. V Cmdr Riebel-p, Chap/Fin Kulkay (recovering)-a, Sgt @ Arms Johnstone-p, Adj Takle-p.

            Jeff Thompson – So Sub Dist V Cmdr: Benton-Sherburne CC is leading the Sub Dist Membership & the So Sub is leading the Dist, urged to donate to Cmdr’s project, have delegates from each Post at Dist Conv, get in reports, especially Post Data Report & officers report, the Vets Day on the Hill had about 800.

            Big Lake: They had donations of $6300 for Poppies, will have Memorial Day service at the cemetery at 10:00 am, will present Colors for youth baseball night, meat raffle and horse racing continues at the Buff.

            Becker: SAL craft sale brought in $800, food sales, marching band preview night 6 June with SAL hot dog sale in the bay area, Memorial Day - will visit 5 cemeteries with dinner to follow at the Post, 28 May a bean bag tournament, garage sale in June, donated 2 scholarships, 13 June Freedom Days (flyer attached for salute to Central MN Veterans), Freedom Days parade on 14 June, painted the Post Home & will retire flags in June.

            John Enstrom: Several events at Veterans Park this summer, retire flags on 14 June, potluck following.

            Elk River: Lenten fish fries went well, Honor Guard has been busy, have gotten a donation from Home Depot for light fixtures & patio furniture, the Honor Guard will visit 8 cemeteries, 2 memorial sites and attend a city ceremony on Memorial Day, a Rib-Fest is scheduled for 4 Oct., beer tent at tractor pull and County fair on 17-20 July, County Honor Guards asked to join Elk River at the  County fair parade on 19 July, Flag Day flag retirement at ERX grounds at noon with potluck.   Auxiliary: Poppy Day donations (with the help of DECA) raised $2100, the Legion Family is sending 4 campers to Legionville, 3 delegates to Dist Convention.

            Sauk Rapids: On Memorial Day the Honor Guard will present at the cemetery at 9:00 and at the St Cloud VAMC at 10:30, has had many funerals.

            Clear Lake: Has a new Cmdr , Tom Lee, replacing Bud, lost a WWII Vet recently, the Aux Pres has been asked to present flag at Dist Conv.

Adj Takle noted that Sherburne County is expanding transportation to VAMC, 10 June a Women’s Resource Fair and townhall.

Election of Offcers:

                        Cmdr  --  Bill Hannay  --  Big Lake

                        V Cmdr  --  John Riebel  --  Becker

                        Sgt @ Arms  --  Ken Johnstone  --  Sauk Rapids

                        Chap/Finance  --  Tom Kulkay  --  Elk River

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.

Jerome A. Takle                                          Bud Stimmler

Adjutant                                                       Commander

Next Meeting:                    Elk River – 21 July 2025 (7:30 with lunch to follow)

Big Lake – 15 September 2025

Foley – 17 November 2025

Zimmerman – 19 January 2026

                                                Becker – 16 March 2026

Dist website:  http://www.mn6thdistrict.org

VA Update:  veteranshealth@messages.va.gov