Documents

Meeting Minutes 2/11/24

Regular Meeting:

American Legion Riders 5th District Department of Florida
February 11, 2024; minutes prepared on March 11, 2024
Meeting held at American Legion 250, Middleburg, Florida.

5th District ALR Calendar:  https://sites.google.com/a/alr5thfl.org/american-legion-5th/district-calendar?authuser=0

5th District ALR Meeting Minutes:  https://sites.google.com/a/alr5thfl.org/american-legion-5th/documents?authuser=0

5th District Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ALR5thDistrictFL/

5th District website:  https://www.al5thdistrictfl.org/

Meeting came to order:  12:30pm

POW/MIA flag Placement: 

Sgt-at-Arms:          Jim Steele

Chairman’s Opening of Meeting: 

·  Riders Creed

·  Koonce opened with Resolution 288 POW/MIA recognition.

·  Pledge of Allegiance

Opening prayer:  Milton Tucker

Guests/Members in Attendance:

Introduction of distinguished guest(s):

Jim Wineland – Department ALR Chair

Joe Maltese – Past 5th District ALR Chair

Mike Garcia – 5th District Commander

Dale Fish - Past 5th District ALR Chair

Michael Ziegler – 3rd District ALR Chair

Victoria Ziegler – Northern Area Membership Chair

Officers Roll Call:

Chairman:                      Zane Koonce
Vice Chairman:             Sue Nist
Secretary:                      Connie Koonce (excused)
Chaplain:                       Milton Tucker
Sgt-at-Arms:                  Jim Steele

Social Media Coordinator:  Kam Sons (excused)
Finance Officer:            Ella Rae Jansen (excused)

POW/MIA Chair:              Denny Luke

Directors in Attendance

Chapter 9:             Shannon Bloodworth

Chapter 37:           Derek Apter

Chapter 54:           Chris Watrous (absent)
Chapter 88:           Joe Dewsnap
Chapter 129:         Sue Nist
Chapter 137          David Nolan
Chapter 194:         Milton Bruton
Chapter 197:         Joann Miller
Chapter 202:         Chip Nilsen
Chapter 250:         David Coleman
Chapter 283:        John ‘Pops’ Lang
Chapter 316:        Denise Strickland

Chapter 372:         June Crawford

Chapter 401:         Ron Mabrey (absent)

Chapter 233:         Temporarily Suspended

Representative for Absent Director:

Chapter 54:  None Present

Chapter 401:  None Present

Finance Report:  Report did not change from the previous meeting and Ella Rae Jansen, Finance Officer was excused from the meeting.  Previous balance: $2,319.22.  Ending Balance: $3,923.15.  Also, more patches are going to be ordered.

Reading/Approval of Minutes:  Minutes were sent via email to all Directors and placed on the ALR 5th District website under Home.  Motion was given to accept the meeting minutes by Joann Miller, ALR Director, Chapter 197 and second was given by David Nolan, ALR Director, Chapter 137.

Chapter Reports: Reports were submitted to Chairman prior to the meeting.

CHAPTER 9:        Shannon Bloodworth (written report submitted)

Total Members: 63 (LEG-25, AUX-21, SAL-17)
Total Miles: 4,828
Total Hours: 142
Total Donations:  $3,000

News/upcoming events:  Second Saturday steak night 1/13

CHAPTER 37:      Derek Apter (written report submitted)

Total Members: 19 (LEG-14, AUX-3, SAL-2)
Total Miles: 609
Total Hours: 42
Total Donations:  $70

News/upcoming events:  NA

CHAPTER 54:      Chris Watrous (absent) (written report submitted)

Total Members: 83 (LEG-46, AUX-27, SAL-10)
Total Miles: 6,975
Total Hours: 500
Total Donations:  $0

News/upcoming events:  Rolling for Heroes 9/7/24, Steak Dinner every 3rd Saturday; Monthly Ride every 3rd Sunday.

CHAPTER 88:      Joe Dewsnap (written report submitted)

Total Members:  66 (LEG-38, AUX-20, SAL-8)
Total Miles: 1,568
Total Hours: 329
Total Donations:  $613  

News/upcoming events:  129 casino night 2/24, 4/6 fun run, Motors and Margaritas, Los Loros (20% of total bill goes towards Sulzbacher) (third Tuesday of the month)

CHAPTER 129:    Sue Nist (written report submitted)

Total Members: 99 (LEG-48, AUX- 36, SAL-15)
Total Miles: 7,746
Total Hours: 886
Total Donations:  $300

News/upcoming events:  Deck the chairs, Toys for tots, Tim Morris COL, Casino Night 2/24 and Summit

CHAPTER 137:    David Nolan (written report submitted)

Total Members: 47 (LEG-20, AUX-17, SAL-10)
Total Miles: 2,015
Total Hours: 291 
Total Donations:  $974

News/upcoming:  Tim Morris COL, Hill Billy Hoe's Down, Jan. 20th, Hill Billy Hoe's Down, Jan. 20th, and ALR Summit, Jan 31-Feb 3rd, Casino Night 2/24, Leather & Lace 2/24, PEDS ride 3/10, Bike show 3/23, Snowball Express 3/30

CHAPTER 194:    Milton Bruton (written report submitted)

Total Members: 12 (LEG-4, AUX- 5, SAL-3)
Total Miles: 425
Total Hours: 300
Total Donations:  $200

News/upcoming events:  Primary supporters for AL Post 194 First Friday Spade Tournament and First Saturday Party. Chapter members also volunteer working the canteen and Djing. Volunteer three days a week to support the American Legion 194 Kid Safe Zone (KSZ) providing mentoring and tutoring services. Chair for AL Post 194 Boys State Program. Attended ALR Summit. Spearheaded the MLK Celebration Day. Conducted 4th Sunday Fish Fry. Participated in World War II Veteran Parade.

CHAPTER 197:    Joann Miller (written report submitted)

Total Members: 13 (LEG-8, AUX- 4, SAL-1)
Total Miles: 0
Total Hours: 0
Total Donations:  $0.00

News/upcoming events:  NA

CHAPTER 202:    Chip Nilsen (written report submitted)

Total Members: 15 (LEG-8, AUX-2, SAL-5)
Total Miles: 330
Total Hours: 58
Total Donations: $

News/upcoming events:  Post 250 memorial ride 1/27

CHAPTER 250:    David Coleman (written report submitted)

Total Members:  53 (LEG-42, AUX-8, SAL-3)
Total Miles: 11,424
Total Hours: 1,296
Total Donations:  $0

News/upcoming events:  11 Jan: WWII Veteran 99th Birthday Celebration (Mission BBQ), 20 Jan: WWII Veteran 102nd Birthday Parade, 27 Jan: Tom Greenway Memorial Ride.  10 Feb: Valentine's Dinner/Party, 11 Feb: Host ALR Dist. 5 Meeting, 15 Mar: American Legion 105th Birthday Celebration, 30 Mar: Children's Easter Carnival, 20 Apr: Bear's Ride

CHAPTER 283:    John ‘Pops’ Lang (written report submitted)

Total Members: 144 (LEG-62, AUX-40, SAL-42)
Total Miles: 5,732
Total Hours: 967
Total Donations $1,500

News/upcoming events:  WAA, 19th St Charities, Tim Morris COL, Summit, 137 Leather & Lace, 129 Casino Night, WAA pickup wreaths, WAA Chile cook off, Post 117 Hoe down, COL, Post 137 Hoe down ride

CHAPTER 316:    Denise Strickland (written report submitted)

Total Members: 56 (LEG-28, AUX-18, SAL-10)
Total Miles: 2,368
Total Hours: 183
Total Donations:  $0

News/upcoming events:  2/17 Mardi Gras party, Oyster Roast 3/2/24

CHAPTER 372:    June Crawford (written report submitted)

Total Members: 35 (LEG-17, AUX-12, SAL-6)
Total Miles: 1,701
Total Hours: 354
Total Donations:  $1,109

News/upcoming events:  NA

CHAPTER 401:    Ron Mabrey (absent) (written report not submitted)

Total Members:
Total Miles:
Total Hours:
Total Donations:

News/upcoming events:  NA

End of Chapter Reports

Old Business:

·  Calendar of Events – Kam Sons (excused), Chair Koonce advised to please check the event calendar online regularly for updates.

·  ALR Summit – Everyone helped with the hospitality room and made it a huge success.  Sue Nist thanked everyone for their help.

·  District Unity Ride will be a 2-day event that Zane Koonce took over to expedite the event and made it separate.  One day ride on March 23rd covering the north part of the district and a Facebook event has been created.  Start of ride will be at Post 129.  The second day will cover the south of the district and will occur in October, TBD.  Proceeds will be 50% to the 5th district and 50% to the 5th district ALR.

·  In State Unity ride, April 22-27, has three routes and the North route will go to the keys.  The Start will be in Lake City and end in Tampa at the rally.  The Central route will have Joe Marcheggiani as the road captain and the West route will have Jason Skobel as the road captain.  Raffle tickets for the bike will be collected before the rally.

·  Riders’ participation in August 2025 National Convention in Tampa.

Unfinished Business: N/A

New Business/Good of the Order:

·  Jim Wineland –Summit update of 291 people in attendance.  Check cards for correct hotel charges.  Motorcycle Safety Program update.  Riders’ registration helps pay for this program.  ALR, Abate, and Lama are splitting the funds. Volunteers are needed to help with product distribution at the events.  Sell bike rally tickets.

·  Zane Koonce – End of year reporting update.  Chapter of the year explanation of miles, hours, and donations with events to show participation.  Hyperlink in the email with the spreadsheet that will be sent out to all directors in the coming months.  Summit classes are on the Legion ALR website and reporting is located there for review.

·  Michael Ziegler – Chapter 57 chili cookoff $5.00 and a gun raffle.  February 24th 11:00am.

·  Joann Miller – Auxiliary dinner 2/17/24 and PVR presentation.

·  Derek Apter – Chapter 37 ride April 13th benefiting children and youth.

·  Marc Pica - Post 9 presented Unity around the district with a rodeo for each post.  He is asking for who would like to participate and they majority would like to receive more information.

·  Chaplain Milton Tucker – Urged everyone to get a will.

·  Chapter 372 fundraiser selling cups for $30 with proceeds going to the building fund.

·  Chapter 88 ride for MIA February 24th.

·  Snowball express ride help needed 3/30/24.

·  Commander Garcia encouraged all legionnaires to stay for the Legion meeting next.

Closing Prayer:  Milton Tucker

Meeting closed at:  1:30 pm