Department of Minnesota, 6th District

The minutes from the 20 March 2023 Benton-Sherburne County Council meeting in Big Lake are attached.

    I have a few items that may be worthy of consideration:

        1. Is there any interest in having an annual gathering of Commanders/Past Commanders/interested members from the CC Posts to discuss items of common interest.

        2. Check the District website for District Newsletter, individual Post Newsletters, Dist e-board minutes, etc.

        3. Can we get more Riders, Auxiliary, and SAL members to attend the CC meetings?

        4. Do you have items that I can place on the CC meeting agenda?

 

Jerry

 

 

 

BENTON-SHERBURNE County Council

 

District  Website :  http://www.mn6thdistrict.org

Meeting Schedule

Big Lake – 19 March 2023

Foley – 15 May 2023

Zimmerman – 17 July 2023

Becker – 18 Sept 2023

 

Benton-Sherburne County Council Minutes, 20 March 2023

 

            Commander Stimmler called the regular 20 March 2023 meeting of the Benton-Sherburne County Council to order at 7:30 pm at Big Lake Post 147 with 27 present.

            Minutes of the 16 January 2023 meeting were read and accepted. Finance report of $1,559.08 was accepted.

            Roll call of Post/Aux/SAL: Becker 1, Big Lake 4, Clear Lake 1, Elk River 9, Foley 1, Rice 2, Sauk Rapids 1, Zimmerman 5.

            Guests: 6^th Dist Commander Karen O’Bar, 6^th Dist S Sub V Commander Jeff Thompson,

6^th Dist W Sub Vice Commander Mike VanHeel, 6^th District Chaplain Frank Grittner.

            A discussion was held about the limited access by Legion members to National Guard Armories.

            Topics:

1.     Veterans March on 21 March to lobby for $27 million for repair at the Hastings Veterans Home.

2.     Veterans Day on the Hill in St Paul on 30 March. Transportation from St Cloud-Tom Annonson-218-251-3025.

3.     Pact Act Education Seminars: St Cloud VAMC – Bldg 48 Rm 14 – 12 April, 10 May, 7 June, (all at 1:00 pm) Reservation – 320-252-1670, Ext 6340

4.     Karen O’Bar: Membership, 6^th Distr is over 90%; Project, Delta Dogs and Guitars for Heroes; Natl Commander Schedule .

5.     Frank Grittner: Chaplain training via Zoom on 1 & 5 April; Posts, Auxiliaries, and SALs reminded to send in deceased from 01 May 22 to 30 April 23 by 5 May to be in Conv. Memorial Program.

6.     Post reports: Reporting forms have been sent to the Adjutants.

7.     District Convention, 3 June, all sessions at Brainerd Armory, send $35 to Brainerd Post.

Post/Aux/SAL Activities;

1.     Becker: SAL- Working on the annual fundraiser for the Fisher House, 30 Sep, 6:30-10:00 pm.

2.     Big Lake: Wednesday’s-Bingo & Meat Raffle @ 6:30, Saturday’s-Bingo @ 1:00, Sunday’s-Meat Raffle @ noon. Memorial Day-Meet @ Big Lake Cemetery for a Memorial Service, followed by lunch @ Lions Park. June-Spud Fest to hand out Flags

3.     Elk River: Have had an AL Birthday Dinner, Corn Beef & Cabbage dinner, Serving 300-400 Fish Dinners during Lent, will have Benefit Review with the CVSO, Memorial Day observance, Encouraged other county Posts join Elk River in the Sherburne County Fair Parade. Auxiliary: Collecting used tennis shoes, ice cream Sundays and root beer floats at Fish Dinners; celebrating Purple Up for Military Children in April; 20+ quilts at May meeting for new Brainerd Veterans Home.

4.     Foley: SAL Omelet Breakfast.

5.     Sauk Rapids: Memorial Day visit two cemeteries then ceremonies at St Cloud VAMC at Bldg 96,10:30 parade of flags.

6.     Rice: Continuing Buddy Checks, Memorial Day services at 3 Cemeteries, plans for Law Enforcement Day event, 15 May; Auxiliary will have a Pig Roast on 24 June.

7.     Zimmerman: Post Recent birthday dinner, 11 Apr Blood Drive, 13 May Patio Party, 27 May Wild West Days Parade at noon, invite to area Posts to join them, let us know you are coming, assemble at 11:00 am at Post; Raffled off a donated Gold-plated Machine gun and the winner donated it back, raffle netted $12,500; reached 90% of Goal to build Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, Legion Riders donated $20,000 proceeds from a Designer Purse Bingo to the memorial, Karaoke contest begins qualifying on Wednesdays starting 19 Apr, finale 27 May, Meat raffles and horse races continue until Memorial Day, Bingo will continue all summer. Auxiliary donated $3,038.49 to Food Shelf in Dec, had a Hot Dish Cookoff in February, a Bus Hop 5 Mar, Mar corn beef and mulligan stew dinner, making Easter gifts for senior home, provide Mother’s Day gifts children come in to select for their mothers. Riders Fed the troops at Camp Ripley on 12 February, 4^th Annual Vet’s Run on 4 June, donated to Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, Camp Gumi, Veterans Homes, and Auxiliary Poppies. The Magnus Veterans Foundation will bring their Ride to the Post on 13 May.

Motion to endorse Frank Grittner for 6^th District Commander for Legion Year 2024-25. Motion carried.

Adjutant Takle suggested having a past Post Commanders brainstorm/social get-together once a year.

Commander Stimmler reminded each Post to get their reports in on time.

Sick Call: Lorraine Salk, Ramona Doebler-Elk River

Meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm.

 

Jerome Takle                                                              Bud Stimmler

Adjutant                                                                     Commander