Meeting Minutes

7 February 2024

COMMANDER’S COALITION MEETING
February 7, 2024, 10 A.M.
American Legion Post 13
Minutes/Notes

Attendees:  Barry Walker, John Folsom, Derrich Sykes, Ed Hood,  Earnest Reed, Nell Hewitt, Eugenia Simmons, Doyle Combs, Cartney Thomas, Tony Minichiello, Dan Hendrickson, Susan Caplowe, Johnnie Roberts, Frank Roycraft, Henry Lowery, Joe West, Roxann Dressel, Mary LaBatt, Patti Fabian, Don Fabian, Marc Dickieson, Gordon Lightfoot, Raymond (Paul) Rogerson, Brooklyn Enders, Kenny Nwoko, Chris Wilson, Lori Fitzpatrick, Sharon Weeden,  Cindy Laskowski, Valencia Scott, David Wilson, Karen Bauer, Lena Lewis, Richard Duley, Eric Evans, Amanda Daughtry, Tom Napier, Jeanie Martín, Gail Ernst, Tom Carney, Marianne Scholer, Paula Hubert, Keisha Washington, Michael Mann, Ben Bradwell, Charles LeCroy, Jay Monismith, Liz Crawford, and Marianne Trussell.

Barry Walker, Commander, 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 Ernest Reed to the prayer.  Barry Welcomed everyone and invited Derrich Sykes to begin.  See comments below.

Derrich Sykes, Veterans Liaison, Big Bend Hospice.  No report.

Lena Lewis, Survivor Outreach Services Support Coordinator.  No report.

Brooklyn Enders, Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, Career Source Capital Region.  Thanks to all.  No report.

Kenneth Nwoko, Career Source Capital Region.  Works with Brooklyn.  No report.

Earnest Reed, President, Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 34.  No report.

Johnnie Roberts.  No report.      

Sharon Weeden, President/Owner, Right at Home.  No report.  Lori Fitzpatrick will provide update re brochures. 

Lori Fitzpatrick, Director of Quality Care, Right at Home.  Veterans preferred business.  Happy to announce the step-by-step procedures brochure designed especially for veterans to receive non-medical assistance available for chronically ill or disabled veterans of any age to help them stay at home are ready.  They serve Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson, and Wakulla Counties.  See or call her at 850-765-4701.

Cartney Thomas, Office of Mayor John Dailey, Tallahassee.  No report.  Budget meeting today at noon and City meeting today at 3 pm.

Nell Hewitt, President, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13.  No report.

Marianne Scholer, member, Women Veterans Unite.  No report.

Paula Hubert, Vice President, Women Veterans Unite.  No report.

Karen Bauer, Women Veterans Unite.  No report.

Eugenia Simmons, Director, Tallahassee National Cemetery.  No report.

Mary LaBatt, DAR, Caroline Brevard Chapter.  No report.

Keisha Washington, Veteran Resource Specialist, 211 Big Bend.  No report.   

Roxann Dressel, Commander American Legion Post 114, Crawfordville.  No report.

Michael Mann, Commander, Sons of the Legion.  No report.  But was encouraged to report on the Robert Wise Chili Cook Off, Saturday, February 17 from 11 am to 2 pm or until the chili is gone.  Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the event.  Proceeds will benefit Honor Flight.  See also page 10 of the most recent Major Morale newspaper. Becoming a vendor at the event can also be found on page 10.     

Ben Bradwell, Director, Leon County Office of Veteran Services.  No report. 

Joe West, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 96.  No report.

Charles LeCroy, American Legion Post 13. There are lots of veteran activities going on all the time; get and stay involved.  If you do not, you lose out!

Henry Lowery, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps League, AmVets Post 1776.  Eastpoint area is to build an American Legion Post.  Please attend their meeting on the first Friday of every month at 3 pm at the Highway 98 Bar (191 US Hwy 98 in Eastpoint) which is 20 miles from Carabelle.                   

Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308.  Like lots of VSOs Post 3308 is have a good year as lots of veterans have stepped up.  Things are looking up.   The legislative bill regarding asbestos affects veterans is not a good bill.       

Marc Dickieson, Commandant, Marine Corps League Chapter 472.  Crawfordville will be holding a St, Patrick’s Day Festival Parade on March 16.

Doyle Combs, Commander, American Legion District 2.  I think the next district meeting will be on May 18 in Marianna at Post 100 at 10 am CST.    

Cindy Laskowski, American Legion Post l3.  No report.

Joseph B. (Jay) Monismith, Operations Officer, Tallahassee VA Outpatient Clinic.  Pact Act has opened up and claims are being taken.  Toxic exposure exams are open for WWII and Vietnam Vets.  If you have applied once, try again. 

David Wilson, AmVets, Vet Events Tally, Air & Space Forces Association.  He handed out flyers about the “2024 Southside Cemetery Visit” to honor 4 veterans who served in Vietnam, on Sunday, February 25 at 4 pm (meet at the NW corner of the cemetery, located at 3484 Capital Circle SW, and the “2024 Visit to Memory Gardens Cemetery” to honor six veterans on Sunday, March 24 at 4 pm (meet at the entrance closest to the office).

Don Fabian, At Ease Campground and SW Georgia Veterans & Families Alliance.  Owns At Ease Campground and Marina at 139 Wingate Road, Bainbridge, Georgia with 6 cabins and 60 camping sites.  There are lots of events planned.  He handed out flyers.  There will be Resource Fair in Bainbridge at the community center on April 4 at 5:30 pm with a dinner and meeting to follow.  Looking for vendors.  There will be an American Legion Post 340 soon (when the Charter is approved) and it will have its FaceBook page up this week.  For more information about the events, go to:  www.AtEaseCampgroundandMarina/events, or call 229-246-0658.

Patti Fabian, At Ease Campground.  In September of 2023 they achieved official nonprofit status for Operation at Ease.  The campground is on Lake Seminole, just 4 miles over the Florida line and run by her family who are veterans.  They provide grants of $500 - $1,000 for holding events at the campground.  They are raising funds to build accessible fishing and boat ramps.  Let them know of your military events and retreats.  Flyers contain information about their Super Bowl Party and meat raffle.  Four drawings per quarter.  Raffle tickets are $1 each. 

Liz Crawford, Owner, Team Leader, Sport Clips, Tallahassee.  She is very involved in efforts that support veteran issues.  She comes today to talk about Dream Flights.  Tallahassee is a stop for a WWII biplane; the flights of which are called Dream Flights. She thinks it will be sometime in April but it could be early May.  Major Haynes and Charles LeCroy have gone on the flight.  They are looking for WWII and Korean War veterans to fly.  Flyers for the event will be available at the March meeting.   

Tom Napier, Vice President, Honor Flight.   Honor Flight will be represented in the Springtime Parade on April 6.  On March 21 there will be a showing of A Vet’s Journey at the Tallahassee Elks Lodge at 6 pm.  The next Honor Flight will be on April 27, 2024; letters will go out today to all veterans and guardians.  This will be Honor Flight’s tenth trip.

Jeanie Martin, guest, volunteer.  She’s the guest of Tom Napier; has been an Honor Flight guardian twice; retired; has time to volunteer.  She wants to volunteer and offer support for veteran issues.

Gail Ernst, American Legion Auxiliary Post 13, Air Force Association, MOAA.  It is too late for the MOAA Valentine event.  But, on April 15 there will be an MOAA social, followed by a general membership meeting.  Contact Gail or MOAA President Cheryl Walters for details.    

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.  There will be a Veterans Drug Treatment Court graduation on Monday, February, 19 at 3 pm.  Mentors are still needed – the needs are great.  You don’t have to be an attorney to volunteer.               

Susan Caplowe, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaboration.  Thank you for all who volunteer.  Please help as the need is great.  Come every Thursday at 3 pm.

Tom Carney, Air & Space Forces Association.  No report. 

Tony Minichiello, Commander, American Legion Post 49, Monticello.  On Friday, February 9, Run for the Fallen will stop in Monticello at 17 W. Washington Street (on Hwy 90) for a water break.  Lunch will be served and there will be short ceremony.

Amanda Daughtry, Congressman Dunn’s Office.  No report. 

Gordon Lightfoot, Commander, AmVets Post 1776.  The date of the AmVets 14^th Annual Golf Tournament is Monday, April 22, 2024.  This is expected to be the biggest and best golf tournament in AmVet history.  Flyers are at the printers and will be available soon.    

Raymond (Paul) Rogerson, AmVets Post 1776.  No report.

Chris Wilson, Publisher of Major Morale.  Two great sponsors from this group including Jim Messer’s law firm.  He needs subscribers, sponsors, and “stuff” for page 10.   There are “bribes” for subscribers.  Deadline for page 10 information is the l5th of the month.  Don’t wait till the last minute.   His email address is weird and appears on the front page of the paper.  Publisher@youcanwin.com.       

Valencia Scott, Akin Akinyemi, Leon County Property Appraiser’s Office.  Thanks to everyone for their service.  Homestead exemptions are due on March 1.  There will be a homestead workshop for veterans at the Property Appraiser’s Office, Leon County Annex, 315 S. Calhoun Street, 3^rd floor.    

Ed Hood, VFW Post 3308, Adjutant, American Legion Post 13.  He uses email hq@commanderscoalition.org.  He sends event emails one time only.  Reminders are sent via social media.  Stuart Scott could not make the meeting and asked him to announce that HB1351 passed its last hurdle – it is good for veterans.    Award season is in full swing.  Operation Fair Shake will not interfere with any Vietnam Veterans Ceremony planned at the Tallahassee National Cemetery.

Richard Duley, DAV Commander Chapter 5, Service Officer.  No report. 

Eric Evans, FL Cares.  First Gulf War veteran.  Works on accessibility issues (ramps, half steps, etc.) for veterans and spouses and children of veterans in Wakulla, Gadsden, Leon, and Jefferson Counties.  Need projects and volunteers.  Call him for additional details or information:  850-347-1445. 

John Folsom, American Legion Post 13.  Reminded attendees that if they want “stuff” to appear on page 10 of Major Morale, they can send it to him or to Chris Wilson.   He also reminded everyone to sign in.       

Barry Walker, Commander, American Legion Post 13.  He announced that this will be his last meeting of the Commander’s Coalition as he is resigning from his position as Commandant of American Legion Post 13 due to health reasons,     

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).  She has met with Eugenia Simmons, the director at the TNC, and welcomes her back.  There are no workdays currently scheduled as it is presently too cold and the new director has not evaluated the TNC and its grounds to determine its needs.  Everyone will be advised of upcoming workdays.  It’s easy to get on the email list as a member or a volunteer.  See Marianne for details.  The Big Bend Honor Guard has provided military honors at 21 interments the TNC in 2024 and has provided military honors at 1,143 interments since the opening of the TNC in 2015.   Jim Geuin’s wife Mary passed away last week.  Her service was at the TNC yesterday.  Keep Jim and Mary in your prayers.                               

The next Commander’s Coalition Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 10 am at the American Legion Post 13 at Lake Ella.