Meeting Minutes 📝
3 April 2024
COMMANDER’S COALITION MEETING
April 3, 2024, 10 A.M.
American Legion Post 13
Minutes/Notes
Attendees: Ed Hood, John Folsom, Nell Hewitt, Nance Nadeau, Stacy Gayhart, Chuck Howell, Eric Smith, Janine Lutz, Doyle Combs, Dan Hendrickson, Susan Caplowe, Craig Benner, Frank Roycraft, Henry Lowery, Joe West, Roxann Dressel, Mary LaBatt, Marc Dickieson, Ed Gifford, Tim Griffith, Eugenia Simmons, Patti Fabian, Valencia Scott, Grant Kimball, Kenny Nwoko, Rodney Keener, Washington Sanchez, Jevelle Robinson, Kent Watson, Ben Ringvelski, Exit Smith, John Dailey, Gordon Lightfoot, Brooklyn Enders, David Wilson, Lena Lewis, Eric Evans, Tom Carney, Tom Napier, Karen Bauer, Keisha Washington, Eddie McMillian, Michael Mann, Debra Mann, Tammy Moulton, Liz Crawford, and Marianne Trussell.
Ed Hood, Adjutant, American Legion Post 13 led attendees in a salute to the American Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag to open the meeting and a salute to the Flag to close the meeting. He asked Eric Smith to deliver a prayer. Ed welcomed everyone, reminded everyone to speak up, and identify themselves and their organization, and invited Karen Bauer to begin. See comments below.
Karen Bauer, Women Veterans Unite. April 13 is the Women Veterans Unite retreat and fundraiser. Thank you to all sponsors and fundraisers.
Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308. The Post is doing well. No report.
Craig Benner, Veteran Advocate, Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Save the Date of June 14 at noon for the FLDHSMV 9th Annual Veteran Appreciation Day. Vendors/organizations will be there by 11:00 am. Come find out what’s happening and get some free cake.
Henry Lowery, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps League, AmVets Post 1776. No report.
Liz Crawford, Owner, Team Leader, Sport Clips, Tallahassee. She is very involved in efforts that support veteran issues. On Monday four veterans went on Dream Flights. Tallahassee is a stop for a WWII biplane; the flights of which are called Dream Flights. Next year Dream Flights will be open to Vietnam veterans. Contact Liz at 850-443-5494 for more details.
Tom Carney, Air & Space Force Association. The next meeting is April 9 at 6 pm at Chow Time on Capital Circle NE.
Ed Gifford, American Legion Post 49, Monticello. Post 49 is having its Memorial Day Ceremony on May 27 followed by a picnic. It is also is holding a raffle, tickets are $5 each, there will be two drawings/winners determined on May 27. The first drawing will be for a S&W M&P-15,.556 and the second drawing will be for a Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm pistol. The winner(s) need not be present. Bricks will also be on sale for the Walk of Heroes.
Patti Fabian, At Ease Campground, American Legion Post 340. The campground raised $20,000 to make the boat ramp ADA compliant. They provide grants from $500 to $1,000 for holding events at the campground. The MacGyver retreat will be held again this year in May. There are 10 slots available for each of two sessions.
Kent Watson, VFW Post 251, Jefferson County. Jefferson County Education Foundation; students interested in an agriculture.
Gordon Lightfoot, Commander, AmVets Post 1776. The date of the AmVets 14th Annual Golf Tournament is Monday, April 22, 2024. Players and sponsors are needed. There will be a silent auction. There are many opportunities for both players and sponsors. Brochures were available. The VA has approved the VFW memorial which will be placed at the TNC memorial walk in “short order”. Thank you to all.
David Wilson, AmVets, Vet Events Tally, Air Force Association. He handed out flyers about the “2024 Visit to Memory Gardens Cemetery”. Meet at Roselawn Cemetery to honor six veterans on Sunday April 28 at 4 pm (meet at the entrance closest to NFC School).
Dan Hendrickson, President, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaboration. Help is still needed. Legal Clinics are held every Thursday at America Legion Post l3 from 3-5. Set up begins at 2 pm. Please be there to help. Mentors are still needed – the needs are great. Only about 1/3 of veterans with criminal problems appear with a mentor. You don’t have to be an attorney to volunteer. All veteran bills passed but were weakened. Veteran budget projects were funded all over the state.
Susan Caplowe, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaboration. Legal collaborative meets every Thursday from 3-5 pm. You don’t have to be a lawyer to help. Even veterans from Kentucky call because they have heard about the initiative.
Ben Ringvelski, Commanding Officer, NROTC Unit FAMU and professor of naval science. No report.
Tom Napier, Vice President, Honor Flight. Started out by thanking Mayor Dailey. Honor Flight will be represented in the Springtime Parade on April 6. Be at the American Legion by 8:30 am if you want to ride with them. Thanked Chuck Howell and Roger Hewitt. Honor Flight will be on April 27, 2024; that’s only three weeks away; there are 13 spots left for veterans and guardians. Honor Flight will leave from the Aero Center Hangar (formerly Flightline Hangar). This will be Honor Flight’s tenth trip.
Tim Griffith, Property Manager, Family Promise of the Big Bend, VFW 3308. Trying to create a grocery provider for Vet Village for the entire year. VFW is onboard for the month of May. If you know of a person or an organization to help, let him know. Family Promise tries to get out into the woods and tries to get veterans into housing through Permanent Supportive Housing.
Eric Evans, Fl Cares, Inc. Works on accessibility issues (ramps, half steps, etc.) for veterans and spouses and children of veterans in Wakulla, Gadsden, Leon, and Jefferson Counties. 100% volunteer organization. Constructs exterior accessibility. Groups are ready but they need projects. Three hundred projects last year; 29 veterans, 5 parents of veterans, 2 children of veterans, and 22 spouses of veterans. Everyone knows someone who needs assistance. Call or text him at 850-347-1445.
Mary LaBatt, DAR, Caroline Brevard Chapter. No report.
Valencia Scott, Office of Akin Akinyemi, Leon County Property Appraiser. Thank you for all you do. The office is part of the legal collaborative here at the American Legion from 3-5 on Thursdays and will be a part of the Stand Down in May.
Michael Mann, Commander, Sons of the Legion, American Legion Post 13. The last meeting was Saturday, March 16 at 10 am. It has been decided that the Sons of the Legion will meet on the 5th Thursday of every month; the next meeting will at 5 pm on May 30. There will now be about 4 meetings per year. There are several new members.
Debra Mann, Women Veterans Unite. No report.
Karen Bauer, Women Veterans Unite. It’s the third year for the raffle fundraiser for the Women Veterans Unite retreat. Tickets for a half day spa are 3 for $10.00. Please buy your tickets from any member.
Tammy Moulton, Acting Detailed Operations Officer. No report.
Joe West, President, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 96. There will be a dedication of a bench outside of the “hootch” on April 19 at 6 pm. Everyone is invited.
Roxann Dressel, Commander American Legion Post 114, Crawfordville. They are one member away from being able to form a riders (motorcycle) group. See her for details.
Doyle Combs, Commander, American Legion District 2. The District 2 Constitutional Conference will be held in Marianna at Post 100 on May 18 at 10 am Eastern and 9 am Central.
Eric Smith, Big Bend Honor Guard, Chaplain AL Post 13. Thank you to all who attended the Final Salute held at the Tallahassee National Cemetery on March 27 for those who were interred without military honors.
Chuck Howell, Big Bend Honor Guard. The Big Bend Honor Guard (BBHG) performed 21 interments during the month of March, 59 since January 1 which for this year totals 1,180 volunteer hours this year alone. The BBHG have had 1,176 interments at the Tallahassee National Cemetery opened.
Nell Hewitt, President, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13. This weekend the ALA will be at the Beer Fest and the Chain of Parks events. There will also be an adopt a duck event. She introduced Nance Nadeau from the ALA.
Nance Nadeau, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13. Thank you for helping feed veterans at Vet Village by filling their pantry. Thanks to the Red Cross for its efforts and Buck Lake Elementary has a room full of food to donate. Thank you everyone very much.
Stacy Gayhart, America Legion Auxiliary Unit 13. Thank you!! No report.
Washington Sanchez, Vice President, Tallahassee Veteran Outreach. The Stand Down this year for homeless and at-risk veterans will be Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 at the FAMU Lawson Center. Flyers are available. Cards will be available next month. Last year 250-300 veterans were served. 40-60 vendors will be available. On Saturday only of the event spouses and caregivers will be eligible to partake of the services. Website: tallahasseeveteranorganization.org
Jevelle Robinson, Event Coordinator for Stand Down, Tallahassee Veteran Outreach. The Stand Down this year for homeless and at-risk veterans will be Friday May 17 and Saturday, May 18 at the FAMU Lawson Center. Donna Barron is the President.
John Dailey, Mayor, City of Tallahassee. No report.
Keisha Washington, Veteran Resource Specialist, 211 Big Bend. Every day is Mental Health Day - take one day at a time.
Eddie McMillian, 211 Big Bend. The organization offers free rides three times a month to veterans. To register just call 2ll to get on the list. Then call and schedule as needed – three times per month.
Exit Smith, Veteran Coordinator, 211 Big Bend. Lots of opportunities for mentoring. Remember, state workers get paid 2 hours per month for mentoring.
Lena Lewis, Survivor Outreach Services Support Coordinator. No report.
Rodney Keener, American Legion Post 13. Be The One. Hotline – just dial 988 (or 211). It’s Okay to Talk About It. Collaborative effort to act as a bridge to get veterans out of crisis mode. Handed out flyers.
Janine Lutz, Lutz Buddy Up. Third Thursday each month at 7 pm a free meal will be served at Arrowhead Survival, 3626 Apalachee Parkway, Unit 10, Tallahassee, beginning 3/21/24, for veterans and first responders; proof of service is required. Flyers were distributed.
Eugenia Simmons, Director, Tallahassee National Cemetery. The TNC is part of the VA, the best part of the VA. Thanks to all of you for your participation and attendance at the Vietnam Ceremony last Friday; attendance was low due to it also being Good Friday. This year’s Memorial Day Ceremony will be on Sunday, May 26 at 11 am. All are welcome.
Brooklyn Enders, Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, Career Source Capital Region. They help veterans with resume writing, interviewing, job hunting, etc.
Kenny Nwoko, Career Source Capital Region. No report.
Marc Dickieson, Commandant, Marine Corps League Chapter 472. The next meeting will be on April 18 at 6 pm at Chow Time on Capital Circle NE (corner or Miccosukee and Capital Circle). Note date, time, and location change. Krispy Kreme donuts will be sold at the Ace Hardware in Killearn this Saturday.
Grant Kimball, Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home. Veteran. He and Culley’s are here to help. No report.
John Folsom, American Legion Post 13, Chaplain for AL District 2. Told Washington Sanchez to send him info about Stand Down and he will forward to Chris Wilson for publication in the Major Morale newspaper. Thanked Chuck Howell for all of his efforts on behalf of the Big Bend Honor Guard.
Ed Hood, Adjutant, American Legion Post 13. Explained why the food distribution is at 9 pm tonight. The Panera food is perishable and must be distributed right away or refrigerated right away. Thank you to TVLC for the trucks. The Florida Veterans Foundation, Dennis Baker, made this happen. Thank you.
Marianne Trussell, Chair, Support Committee for the Tallahassee National Cemetery, Inc. The next meeting of the Support Committee will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at 5 pm at the Administration Building of the Tallahassee National Cemetery (TNC). Meeting will last no more than one hour. There are no workdays currently scheduled. Thank you to all who participated in and attended the Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration on Friday, March 29. Thanked Eugenia Simmons for mentioning the Memorial Day Ceremony at the TNC and its date (Sunday, May 26) and new time - 11 am. Reminded all attendees that all communications (other than date, time, and location) about Memorial Day or otherwise must be vetted by Eugenia Simmons on behalf of the TNC and Marianne Trussell on behalf of the Support Committee prior to publication. Ceremonies held at the TNC are open to all to attend.
The next Commander’s Coalition Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 10 am at the American Legion Post 13 at Lake Ella.
