Meeting called to order at 1930 hrs.

Roll Call

Role	Name	Status
Commander	Laura Goldthwait	Present
First Vice	Mike Schlaack	Present
Second Vice/Past Cmdr	Mark Epley	Present
Adjutant	Dave Harvey	Excused
Finance Officer	Gary Dunn	Present
Judge Advocate/Past Cmdr	Jim Grimes	Present
Chaplain	Drew Etten	Excused
Sergeant at Arms	Jesse Dailey	Present
Historian/Past Cmdr	Bobby Brite	Excused
PSO	Teraan Fry	Present

Approval of the Minutes of February Membership Meeting

Ron Brooks motioned to approve, seconded by John Thorpe, Motion carried.

New Members/Guests:

Kaili Brite was recognized as a new member of the Post.

Guests:

Marine Corps League Bob Witt presented a birthday card and coin to celebrate 100th

HHS Senior Survivor – Hollie North, Kenedy Wolf, Preston Barr – Fundraiser is for the Livingston County Animal Shelter. Donations may be made in cash, checks or online credit card.

Finance Officer Report – Finance Officer Gary Dunn, shared the February 2026 Finance report:

• Club Account: Start of Month $39,957.96, End of Month = $41,088.94; +1,130.98.
• General Account: Start of Month $297,999.60, End of Month $288,994.76; -$9,004.84.
• Total $330,083.70
• Extra costs for month – New ovens $13,869.00, plus $20.00 wire transfer fee.
• The financial report has been received and will be placed on file.

Committee Reports

Finance Committee

Audit – Trustee Bruce Hundley reported that the Post trustees met this month and found everything was “up to snuff.

Legion Membership Committee – First Vice Commander Schlaack

• 2026 Membership Renewal (as of 03/13/2026): 99.85% (Target Goal of 95% by 4/8/2026).
• Current membership:
• 659 members renewed for 2026 (We need only 1 more member to renew to meet 100% membership goal).
• 99 members from 2025 who have not renewed.
• Current total membership is 661 members (This includes new members and transfers).

New/Transfer Members (all have been vetted via DD-214):

Name	Branch	Status
Dave Smith	USMC	New Member
Jessica Bogdan	USN	New Member
Thomas Caldwell	USA	New Member
Stephen Walker	USAF	Transfer from Post WV25418
Robert Taylor	USN	New Member
Stephen Quarry	USA	New Member
Aley Clayton	USA	New Member
Kenneth Kapanowski	USA	New Member

Terran Frye moved to accept the list of new/transfer members, and Gary Dunn seconded. Motion carried.

HVA Report – HVA President Bobby Brite & Past Commander Jim Grimes (Volunteers for the Stars and Stripes Gala)

• Bobby Brite announced Sat., April 18th, Stars & Stripes Gala.
• Jim Grimes reported on the finances: As of March 1.
• Capital Improvements: $34, 477.67
• Checking: $537.87
• King of Clubs: $4,411.49
• Total $49,427.03

Building Committee – 2nd Vice Commander Mark Epley

Tower provided to the executive board. Two more estimates are being solicited.

Thanks to Mark, Dave, and other volunteers for getting and installing the new ovens.

Past Commanders Committee – Past Commander Mark Epley

Planning the Vet and Family Picinic July 18. Funding has already been approved.

Americanism Committee – Chairman Don Lang (Absent)

Ann Marie Yarber will be presented with a check for $300.00 for winning the 6th District Oratorical Competition. She also won the Zone competition and is now heading to the Department competition this month.

American Legion Riders – Director Bill Goldthwait

• Up to 100 riders.
• 5th place in “Grab n’ Go.”
• Polar Bear Run is scheduled for this week.

Color Guard Committee – Chairman Mike Phillips

• Mike displayed the Honor Guard uniform.
• The budget for the uniforms was approved at a previous membership meeting.
• The Post has a new gun safe for the requested rifles from TACOM. The rifles will be used by the Honor Guard for ceremonial purposes.

Communication Committee – Co-Chair Terri Ramos (Absent)

Moving forward with the new website in April.

Gone and Not Forgotten Committee – Co-chair Shaun Gibbons

About 800 veteran graves in the county. Placed the order for flags for the graves and flag holders are being replaced.

Partnering with the Knights of Columbus 2659 (St. Joseph Church, Howell). Working with the Scouts and Elks for assistance.

Bylaws Committee – Judge Advocate Jim Grimes

Will be meeting this month.

Historian Report – Historian and Past Commander Brite

On March 15, the first American Legion meeting was held in Paris in 1919.

Our Post 141 charter was signed on March 23, 1926. Celebrations for the 100th Anniversary: March 21: Band, March 22: Military displays and open house, March 23: Members’ celebration.

Post Service Officer’s report – Terran Frye

Last month, we worked with the Riders to help a veteran with his electric bill.

Sick Call – Please keep in your prayers:

• Woody’s wife Denise Williams.
• Al Hatfield, ongoing health issues.
• Mark Epley is going in for a heart procedure.

Unfinished business

No unfinished business.

New business

We have three representatives from Senior Survivor and have $1,000 in the approved budget. Motion to add $500 to the budget so each of the three teams represented can get a check for $500.

• Motion made by Bobby Brite
• Seconded by Mark Epley
• Motion carried.

The Elks let us borrow two chest freezers for the past couple of years. They don’t need them and have offered to let us purchase the freezers for $50.00 each.

• Ron Brooks moved to spend $100.00 to purchase the two chest freezers.
• Seconded by Jon Luker
• Motion carried.

LCVC Veteran and Auxiliary of the Year awards dinner will be held here at Post 141 this year. “Papa” Don Lang is the Veteran of the Year. Motion made to donate up to $500.00 to cover the expenses for the dinner.

• Motion by Dave Mester
• Second by Dan Beardsall.
• Motion carried.

The Junior Auxiliary is asking for funding to support their activities. They want to take a field trip to Selfridge ANGB to visit the flight line and the museum (at a cost of approximately $300.00). They also want to send packages to troops overseas (at a cost of approximately $500.00). The Junior Auxiliary is looking at other activities during the year and would like up to $1,000.00 to cover expenses. Motion made to budget up to $1,000 to support Junior Auxiliary expenses.

• Motion by Jim Grimes
• Second by Gary Dunn
• Motion carried.

George Hillman moved to purchase 2 ea. 250th anniversary flags to be flown at the Howell Lakeview Cemetery.

• Bobby Brite seconded the motion.
• Motion was not carried.

Jeff Knight has offered the purchase of his speakers for $900.00 (2 speakers, cables, and microphones).

• Kaili Brite moved to purchase the speakers for $900.00
• Terran Frye seconded.
• Motion carried.

Memorial – Draping of the Charter Ceremony

Draped the Legion charter in memory of our beloved members All Merritt, Lawrence Call, James Isom, and others that may not be known to us who have passed on.

Good of The American Legion

VFW 6464 – Steve Whitney

No report.

Marine Corps League – Ron Brooks

• Fall Committee for the Marine Corps Ball tickets increased to $25.00.
• Performed several funerals this year for Livingston Co. vets.

Livingston County Veterans Council – Dave Mester

• Dave thanks Post 141 for hosting dinner.
• Invitation by RSVP only. Reach out to Bobby Brite.
• Doors at 1800 hrs., dinner at 1900 hrs.
• Thanks for the donation.
• April 21st. Arrive early.

The Cmdr. recognized Bill Fraser for 50 Year Membership Certificate. Bill was not present, so we will hold the presentation until next month.

Upcoming Events:

• Thank you to Past Commander Jim Grimes and all the volunteers who came together to hold a very successful Hunter Ball! Net income: $24,484.54.
• A reminder – March 23rd is our Post’s 100th Anniversary with several events planned for the Post.
• Vietnam Veterans Day – March 29th. All food and drinks for .25 cents all day for vets and spouses.
• Easter is April 4th. Easter breakfast and egg relay for the children.
• Stars and Stripes Gala – April 18th.

RED Fridays – Remember Everyone Deployed. Members are asked to wear red shirts on Friday to remind everyone we have troops involved in current conflicts. Jon Luker with “22 a Day” will attend some of the Friday Fish Frys to sell their red t-shirts.

Legion officer nominations are coming up in April and May, with elections held at the May meeting. Consider running for a position, and consider meeting with one of the officers on the board to discuss the responsibilities if you are interested.

Gary Dunn brought up Veterans Day at USA Hockey this weekend. Offering free drinks and food to all Legion members. This is also a Toys for Tots event. You must be registered.

Bruce Huntley from the Livingston Co. Veterans brought up that the commissioners want to support the veterans with the full funding. This was the veterans milage and 0.1117 mils. The change to the budget would have saved taxpayers $15.00 per taxpayer.

• Terran Frye stated that the proposal was changed by a commissioner.

Dave Mester reported that the dress for the Veterans’ dinner will be business casual.

Meeting adjourned with the Closing Ceremony at 2150 hrs.

Membership Report

2026 Membership Renewal (as of 03/13/2026): 99.85% (Target Goal of 95% by 4/8/2026).

Current membership:

• 659 members renewed for 2026 (We need only 1 more member to renew to meet 100% membership goal).
• 99 members from 2025 who have not renewed.
• Current total membership is 661 members (This includes new members and transfers).

New/Transfer Members (all have been vetted via DD-214):

Name	Branch	Status
Dave Smith	USMC	New Member
Jessica Bogdan	USN	New Member
Thomas Caldwell	USA	New Member
Stephen Walker	USAF	X-fer from Post WV25418
Robert Taylor	USN	New Member
Stephen Quarry	USA	New Member
Aley Clayton	USA	New Member
Kenneth Kapanowski	USA	New Member

Members: PLEASE verify you have already paid your 2026 membership dues before paying again. I have run into several members who renewed last July for 2026 but are trying to pay again. If you have a 2026 membership card, then you have already paid for this year.

Michael Schlaack
1st Vice Cmdr.
Devereaux Post 141