MONTHLY MINUTES FOR: 9 APRIL 2024

MONTHLY MINUTES FOR: 9 April 2024

The opening ceremony for a regular meeting was conducted in accordance with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ritual; the meeting opened at 1115 hours by Post Commander Spain. Opening prayers were given by Comrade Rodgers. 


ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS

  • Commander – Charles Spain – Present
  • Senior Vice Commander –– Edward “Pete” Brozowski - Present
  • Junior Vice Commander – Garrett Bridges - Excused
  • Quartermaster – Tim Aukshun - Present
  • Trustee One – Andrew Dzurissin – Present
  • Trustee Two – John Mesaros – Absent
  • Trustee Three – Fred Russian - Present


APPOINTED POSITIONS:

  • Adjutant – Bud St. Onge – Present
  • Judge Advocate – Bud St. Onge – Present
  • Chaplin – James Rodgers - Present
  • Surgeon –Andrew Dzurissin – Present
  • Safety Officer – Rhett Webber – Absent
  • Service Officer - Rhett Webber - Absent
  • Scholarship Committee Chairman—Tim Aukshun - Present
  • Seam Squirrel – Rhett Webber – Absent
  • National Home/POW/MIA Chairman - Rhett Webber – Absent
  • Webmaster – Pete Brozowski – Present
  • Historian—Pete Brozowski - Present
  • OOD – Garrett Bridges - Excused


Commander Spain made the following temporary appointments.  Comrade Rodgers will be the Chaplain for today’s meeting and Pete Brozowski will be the Officer of the Day.


There were 10 members in attendance

Commander Spain recognized the following distinguished attendees: 

  • Past District and Past Post Commander Tim Aukshun
  • Past District and Past Post Commander – Bud St. Onge


DRAPING OF THE CHARTER: The charter was draped in memory of Comrade Michael Collins.


READING, REFERRING MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS: None

    READING OF MINUTES: The Minutes from the 12 March 2024 meeting have been posted on the Post website and distributed via email.  A motion to accept the minutes was made by Comrade St. Onge, seconded by comrade Rodgers, no discussion, motion approved.

    QUARTERMASTER’S REPORT: QM Aukshun informed us that all is good financially.   A motion to accept the QM report, subject to audit, was made by comrade Aukshun, seconded by comrade Brozowski, no discussion, motion approved.  If a member would like a copy of this year’s budget, contact QM Aukshun.

    READING OF BILLS: We will need an additional 8,000 pesos to complete the community service project to outfit a new Barangay health center.  This project was previously funded for 60,000 pesos.  We will pay the additional cost and submit a request for a grant to National for the total amount of the project (68,000 pesos) and reimburse our account once we receive it.

    OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE: None

    COMRADE

    • Comrade Kiper is still recovering.

     

    REPORT OF SERVICE OFFICER: Attached

    REPORTS OF OFFICERS:

    • SURGEON: Attached

    • JUDGE ADVOCATE: None

    • CHAPLAIN: None

      HISTORIAN: Posted on our website

    SAFETY OFFICER: Attached

    COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN REPORTS:

      • BUDDY POPPY: P950 collected
      • COMMUNITY SERVICE: All CSRs should be inputted on the new VFW DPA page at vfwpacific.org. If you need further assistance, contact comrade Bridges.
      • NATIONAL HOME: Attached
      • POW/MIA: None
      • MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT: None
      • BUDGET COMMITTEE: None
      • SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE: None
      • SEAM SQUIRREL: None
      • CCO: None


    A motion was made by Comrade Rogers to accept all committee reports, seconded by

    Comrade Aukshun, no discussion, motion approved


    REMEMBER OUR NATIONAL HOME: A prayer was said by comrade Rogers in remembrance of our National Home.

    UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

    • The following comrades were nominated for the new term. None of the positions were contested, therefore Comrade St. Onge made a motion to cast one unanimous vote to accept and elect all the nominations, seconded by comrade Rodgers, no discussion, motion approved.  Below is a list of the new officers.
      • Commander: Pete Brozowski
      • Senior Vice Commander: Garette Bridges
      • Junior Vice Commander: Dave Krisha
      • Quartermaster: DZ
      • Trustee 1: Fred Russian
      • Trustee 2: John Mesaros
      • Trustee 3: Tim Aukshun
    • The following is a list of the Post delegates for the National, Department and District Conventions. A motion was made by comrade Aukshun accept the list below to be the new Post 9892 delegates, seconded by comrade Rodgers, no discussion, motion approved.
      • Fred Russian
      • Bud St. Onge
      • Charles Spain
      • Andrew Dzurissin
      • Tim Aukshun
      • Pete Brozowski
      • Rhett Webber
      • Garrett Bridges
      • Allen Wilson (alternate)
    • Comrade Brozowski proposed a Community Service Project to outfit a new barangay health center with the basic medical equipment is nearing completion. A grant request will be submitted to National to reimburse the post for the funds that were spent. The total cost is 68,000 pesos.
    • Comrade Aukshun suggested that we create a larger meeting room, with AC within our Post Home at the Elyu Grill and Resto Bar. There is an ongoing discussion to see if it is possible to do.
    • The following comrades were sworn into the post at today”s meeting. Comrades Larry Jackson, Ron Ellis and John Kelly.



      NEW BUSINESS:

      • There will be a US Embassy outreach in LA Union on June 4th. More details will be provided at the May meeting, once they become available.
      • The Department Convention will be held in Angeles City, at the Century Plaza Hotel, June 12- 15. More details will be provided at the May meeting.


      GOOD of the ORDER

      • Comrade Brozowski discussed the lack of outside interest in our Post Website. Facebook appears to be the preferred method to obtain Post related information.  Considering that we are paying to have the website and it is not being used a motion was made by comrade Brozowski to let our contract expire in July and close the website down, motion seconded by comrade Dzurissin, some discussion, motion approved.
      • On April 9th, just prior to the meeting, 6 members of Post 9892 attended the Day of Valor Ceremony at Camp Spencer, Luna, La Union. It was a very successful event and we were honored to be invited to honor Filipino Veterans on this National Holiday.
      • On June 12th there will be another event to celebrate Philippine Independence Day. We were informed that we will be sent an invitation to attend.  More information will be provided as it becomes available. We encourage members to attend future events.


            50/50 drawing:        1000 pesos

            Winner:        Comrade St. Onge 500 pesos.

                               Post:        500 pesos


      The meeting closed at 1225 hours in accordance with the VFW ritual.  The next Col B.J. Smith VFW Post 9892 meeting will be 14 May 2024 @ 1100, officers call will be at 1045.  Location: Elyu Grill and Resto Bar, National Highway, Barangay Pagdalagan Sur, Bauang, La Union.