Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes, American Legion Post 16, Shelton Connecticut    Tuesday, June 3, 2025

06/03/2025

Called to Order: 1800 HRS by Commander Dave Gallagher

Prayer offered by:  Dennis Salzer

Officer Roll Call (P = Present; A = Absent; E = Excused; V = Vacant)

Minutes – Preceding Meeting

• Adjutant, Milt Harrigan reported that the minutes report from the previous meeting of May 6, 2025 were e-mailed and posted on the Post 16 Bulletin Board. A motion was made by Mike Kellett to accept the minutes report and seconded by Phil Norris. The motion to accept the report was approved without further discussion.

Minutes From Previous Executive Committee Meeting (No Vote)

• Nothing to Report

Introduction of Guests and Prospective New Members

• Mike Kellett, Department Senior Vice Commander

Committee Reports

• Finance Report
  • Finance Officer Jim Boulay provided the financial report. A motion was made by Mike Kellett to accept the financial report and seconded by Jim Halligan. The motion to accept the report was approved without further discussion.
    • Combined May Income: $16,189.00
    • Combined May Expenses: $16,992.00
    • May Cash Flow: ($804.00)
  • Jim offered that if anyone has questions about the financials as reported or would like additional details, please contact him directly and he will be happy to discuss any part of the financials and in whatever detail is requested.

• Membership
  • Senior Vice Commander, John Simonetti reported that 312 members had renewed their membership dues so far this year. John went on to offer that the Post had a number of new members as well as transfers in and out of the Post.
  • John offered that he continues to work with Mike Kellett on the management of the Post website. If anyone has information they would like to have posted on the website, please contact Mike, the Adjutant, or himself.

• Junior Vice Activities
  • Junior Vice Commander, Kelly Stanton reported that she has had 2 inquiries to rent the hall and 1 hall renal.

• Housing and Building
  • Commander Dave reported that a new concrete floor will be poured in the upstairs storage room. Many thanks to Squadron 16 member, Mike Y for handling this project for us.
  • Commander Dave offered that he is in the process of coordinating with a company to pave portions of the road leading up to the Post. He’ll keep everyone informed when a date for the project is confirmed.

• Canteen
  • Nothing to Report.

• Americanism
  • Milt reported that he picked up the Boys State application packets at Shelton High School for the 10 boys selected to attend the program this year. The applications and payment were mailed to the Department.
  • Milt offered that the Post will be sponsoring 2 students to attend State Police Youth Week this year from Shelton High School.

• Athletics
  • Nothing to Report.

• Sick Call and Relief
  • Squadron 16 Commander had hip replacement surgery. He is recuperating well and sends warm regards to everyone at the Post.

• Post Service Officer
  • Service Officer, Bill Kozak reported that he has 1 case open at this time and no new cases.

• Historian
  • Historian, Gary Hayek had nothing to report.

Old Business

• Milt reported that the Memorial Day parade went very well. We had a new bus which was decorated and worked out really well. Many thanks to the Rugby Team that let us borrow the bus. Many thanks also to everyone who marched in the parade or came to the Post after the parade for our Memorial Day ceremony.
• Milt reported that the events which the Color Guard and Rifle Squad had supported in May went very well.
• Milt offered that cemetery flags were placed at the gravesites of Veterans at cemeteries in Shelton and Huntington in April. Many thanks to our volunteers who showed up to assist in this effort. Also, many thanks is offered to Perkin Elmer for their great assistance in this effort. Once again this year Perkin Elmer showed up with 20+ volunteers. Some of these volunteers were cleaning off the footstones and some were placing flags. Milt displayed a tool that an engineer at Perkin Elmer designed to push the flags more easily into the ground.
• Milt offered that there are still a three events upcoming, for which organizations have requested support from the Post’s Color Guard and Rifle Squad…
  • Thursday, June 5th, City Hall Flag Day Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park at 11:00 AM (Color Guard & Rifle Squad)
  • Sunday, June 8^th, Shelton Fire Department Memorial Ceremony at Riverside Cemetery in Shelton at 9:00 AM (Color Guard & Rifle Squad)
  • Saturday, June 14th, Rotary Club Flags for Heroes ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park at 11:00 AM (Color Guard & Rifle Squad)

New Business

• Milt offered that the Post 16 Outing will be held on Saturday, August 2^nd. An event flyer will be coming out shortly providing all the details.
• Milt offered that on Saturday, August 9^th, K. Robert Lewis, the Department Service Officer will be conducting a class at Post 16 for Service Officers or any Legionnaires who wish to attend. The class will be conducted from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM.
• Milt reported that the 3^rd District meeting will be held at Post 16 on Wednesday, June 18^th, at 7:00 PM. All are welcome to attend.
• The slate of Officers that had been reported by Phil Norris from the May meeting had not changed or been modified. The Commander solicited those in attendance for any nominations from the floor for the current positions and received no response. The motion to accept the slate for the coming year was made and approved without further discussion. The Adjutant cast the one vote to certify the Officer election for the 2025-2026 year. The Officers are as follows…

• Commander – Dave Gallagher
• Senior Vice Commander – John Simonetti
• Junior Vice Commander – Kelly Stanton
• Adjutant – Milt Harrigan
• Finance Officer – Jim Boulay
• Service Officer – Bill Kozak
• Historian – Gary Hayek
• Sergeant at Arms – Phil Norris
• Chaplain – Gary Danielsen
• Past Commander – Mike Kellett
• Executive Committee
  • Three Year
    • Bill Stanton
    • Mike Kellett
    • Joel Hurliman
  • Two Year
    • Charles Graham
    • Russ Martin
    • Ed Drauzewski
  • One Year
    • Chet Luba
    • Phil Norris
    • Don Hart

Communications

• Milt read a card from the Olde Ripton Garden Club thanking Post 16 for providing them with flags for the gardens at Shelton’s municipal buildings.
• Milt offered that he had put a flyer on the bulletin board from Consumer Cellular offering Legionnaires a special rate to sign up with them. Milt provided additional flyers to those in attendance for anyone interested.
• Milt offered that he’s in the process of putting together the next Newsletter. He hopes to have it sent out to everyone hopefully before the end of the week.

Post Everlasting

• Nothing to Report.

Attendance Raffle

• Number 203 was drawn by the Commander. Post 16 Member William Nevelwas drawn as the raffle winner, but was not present at the meeting. A drawing was held for those in attendance at the meeting for the $120.00. Two tickets were drawn to award $60.00 to each winner. The winning tickets drawn were for members Joel Hurliman and Kelly Stanton. Each received $60. The new amount for September will be $10.00.

For The Good Of The Post

• Commander Dave proposed that monthly meetings be suspended for July and August and resume in September. Mike Kellett made a motion that the Post meetings in July and August be suspended and resume in September. The motion was seconded by Kelly Stanton. The motion passed without further discussion.
• Department Senior Vice Commander Mike Kellett discussed membership with those in attendance. Mike offered that American Legion membership is “Dead in the Water”. Mike added that he knew that it wasn’t for any lack of trying by Post 16 to get members to renew.
• Mike Kellett offered that Post and District Officer training was being offered on Saturday, June 7^th.

Closing Prayer

• Dennis Salzer offered the closing prayer for the meeting.

Meeting Adjourned at 1841 HRS by the Commander.

Post 16 Adjutant                                                                                                                                         Milt Harrigan