Minutes of
The American Legion Department of Texas
2nd Division Convention, April 30-
Held at Crown Plaza NW 12801 NW Fwy., Houston
Before the opening of the Convention, workshops were conducted starting
at
A Joint Session of the Convention was opened in due form at
CONVENTION CALL & ROLL CALL Adjutant
Jerry Blaylock read the Convention Call (Encl. 1). He then called the roll of Division Officers
and Committeemen followed by roll call of Posts by District (Encl. 2).
INTRODUCTIONS Commander Sparks recognized those Past National Officer, Department
Officers, Past Department, Division, and District Commanders not previously
recognized.
RULES COMMITTEE REPORT Kervin Bradford gave the Rules Committee report of
their meeting at
CREDENTIALS Butch
AMERICANISM Steve Anderson gave his report on Americanism. He
mentioned the location of the Moving Wall on
BASEBALL Terry Messinger reported that the 22nd
District with the 8th District currently has 14 teams this
year. He has had no contacts from the
other districts.
BOY SCOUTS Larry Eary reported on Boy Scouts (Encl. 4). The application for one Eagle Scout was submitted
to Department for competition, and to the Verne Red Barridge Memorial Boy
Scout Scholarship Fund.
CHILDREN & YOUTH Ashton Thomas had no report.
CONVENTION CITY 2010 Ashton Thomas update us on activities and
entertainment planned for the 2010 Department Convention in
COMMUNITY SERVICE Al Marlowe reported that Districts 2, 7, 8, and 22 helped place 22,000
wreaths at the
CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS Wayne Basden reported that there were no changes
to the Constitution and By-Laws submitted at this convention.
LAW & ORDER J. D. Davis reported that the packets he distributed at Mid-Winter for
Law Officers, Firemen, and Paramedics of the Year has to be in
MEMBERSHIP & ORGANIZATION Butch
NATIONAL SECURITY Clayton Hueske discussed
LEGISLATIVE Ken Peters discussed our Freedom of Speech and
responsibility to vote (Encl. 8). It is
our duty to be informed, and to inform our politicians as to what we
desire. He also reported on the Ride 2
Recovery cyclists (Encl. 9).
ORATORICAL AND AWARDS Tom Larsen reported on the 2nd Division winner of the
Oratorical Contest and that she won 3rd place at Department. Only two of the six districts participated in
the 2nd Division Oratorical Contest this year.
POW/MIA Austin Berry defined POW/MIAs and reported that as of 2005, during
WWI there were 4,120; WWII, 130,201; Korea, 7,140; Vietnam, 725; Gulf War, 7;
and Iraq, 9.
PUBLIC RELATIONS Glenda Simon had no report.
RESOLUTIONS George Bannon read the 2nd Division Resolution Committee
Report (Encl. 11). There were 7
resolutions submitted, 5 for candidates, 1 for information only, and 1 for
action. He read the post and resolve
clause of the following resolutions:
National Resolution No. 21 (Encl. 12).
Post
7 Resolution No. 1 to allow membership opportunities in our American
Legion family for
non-legion qualified male spouses of female legionnaires.
It was moved that this
resolution be set aside (Encl. 18).
George Bannon moved that
the Resolutions Committee Report (Encl. 11) be adopted, 2nd by Butch
Sparks, and it passed.
Butch
Wayne Basden moved that we endorse Billy R. Winters
for Department Sgt-At-Arms 2010-2011; the motion was seconded and passed.
Butch
Gary Alford moved that we endorse Post 7 Resolution
No. 1, 2nd by John Barnes, and after much discussion, passed.
S.A.L. ADVISOR Dan King reported that the 2nd Division Sons of the
American Legion Squadrons are at 117.7% membership goals (Encl. 19). There are 36 squadrons and 108 posts in the
Division, so only 1/3 of the posts have squadrons.
SERVICE OFFICER Jim Hauck reported on help provided by the Division posts to various
individual and groups.
WEBMASTER Jerry Blaylock reported on the 2nd Division Website (Encl. 20). The website was developed with the help of
the Division Commander 4-5 years ago; it was up for a couple of years, down
last year, and back up this year. It is
due to be renewed by the new District Commander by
BOY SCOUT FUND John Bares reported on the Verne Red Berridge Memorial Boy Scout
Fund (Encl. 21). There is $4,227.48 in
the Fund. A $500 scholarship was awarded
to an Eagle Scout submitted by Post 159 in
Billy
R. Winters Department Sgt-at-Arms 2010-2011.
RECESS After a benediction, Commander Sparks recessed the meeting at
A banquet was held at the Crown Plaza Northwest at
.
JOINT MEMORIAL SERVICE was conducted at
ROLL CALL Adjutant Jerry Blaylock called the roll of Division
Officers and Committeemen followed by roll call of Posts by District (Encl. 2).
Four posts
that were present yesterday were not on the floor today, and therefore, they do
not have a vote.
2nd
DISTRICT
Ken Baxter, Vice Commander, report that four post in his District reached 100%
of their membership goal (see Encl. 22).
6th
DISTRICT
James Osborne, Vice Commander, reported that two boys from the District went to
Boys Nation. They are well on the way of
reestablishing the post in Burleson.
S.A.L. Ken Peters, 2nd
Division S.A.L. Commander was introduced.
He introduced the Detachment Commander, Robert Sonner, who greeted the
convention from the Detachment of Texas.
He recognized Juan Torres, incoming 2nd Division S.A.L.
Commander.
7th
DISTRICT
Sheila Schulte reported on the 7th District activities (Encl. 23). She is moving with her husband who is being
transferred to
8th
DISTRICT
Howard Mead reported on the 8th District (Encl. 24). District funds were stolen by the
then-District Finance Officer in 2008.
Theft charges were filed in the 338th District Court and the
District hopes to recover some funds.
The Siegmunf Fund, managed jointly by the 8th and 22nd
Districts, has a new Finance Officer, Tom Larsen.
11th
DISTRICT
Donald Damron reported on the 11th District activities (Encl. 25). The District revitalized Post 123 and they
attained 113% of their membership goal.
The District presented a check for $3,800 to
22nd
DISTRICT
Terry Messinger reported on the 22nd District activities (Encl. 26). Posts in the District have supported the
veterans at the VA Hospital. The
District held a District BBQ Cook-Off fundraiser with 26 teams competing. The National Drill Team Champion is in the
District, Post 472. The District
supports Legion Baseball and
DIVISION COMMANDERS REPORT Commander Lynn Sparks
reported that she enjoyed being Division Commander, most of the time. She report on her many activities and travels
as Division Commander. She thanked her
husband Butch Sparks for his support throughout the year (Encl. 27).
2nd REPORT OF CREDENTIALS Butch
DEPARTMENT CONSTITUTION &
BY-LAWS Butch
ADJUTANT Jerry Blaylock expressed his pleasure for serving
as the District Commanders Adjutant this year.
He publicly thanked Butch and Lynn for mentoring him in the American
Legion.
CHAPLAIN Charles Denson reported on serving as District
Chaplain this year.
FINANCE OFFICER Tom Larsen gave a financial report (Encl. 29).
JUDGE ADVOCATE Ralph Morris reported that there were no
problems, everything is great and wonderful.
SGT-AT-ARMS Jerry Tatman was thanked by the Commander for all
of his hard work.
POST AWARDS 100% awards for reaching 100% before 30 days
before the Department Convention: Posts 393, 817, 868, and 522. Posts 255, 250, 526, and 123 were recognized
for reaching 100% before
MEMBERSHIP TURN-INS Post 7 turned in 2 members
and Post 618, 24.
None.
ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO NATIONAL
CONVENTION
Gilbert Bell was duly
elected Delegate and Milton Chatham was duly elected Alternate to the 2010
National American Legion Convention.
ELECTION OF 2nd DIVISION
COMMANDER 2008-2009
J. D. Davis was elected by acclamation as the 2nd
Division Commander for 2010-2011. There
were no other nominations. He gave an
acceptance speech and announced various appointments.
Commander Sparks encouraged attendance at the
Buddy McFarland reported on his activities as Convention City Chairman.
Commander Sparks commented on the importance of preregistering for
Division Conventions and making Hotel Reservation early.
Commander Sparks thanked Bill Manbeck for working in the District
hospitality room.
The Department Convention will be held
$1,945 was raised at the auction last night.
The Convention was adjourned in due form by Commander Sparks at
Respectfully submitted,
Jerry Blaylock
2nd Division Adjutant