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»Legion meeting gives members direction
Posted Local at Jan 12, 2011
Legion members hold meeting to discuss future
By Tim Huether
According to the American Legion Post 240 leaders, the financial situation is dire enough to consider shutting down operation of the bar facility on Hwy 18 in Martin. They will exhaust all possibilities before letting that happen they say and asked for public input by hosting a meeting January 4.
Jack Audiss conducted the meeting and informed those attending what the status was and some developments over the past few weeks.
Audiss said they had received some donations to help keep them running for a short while and they are going to get bonded so that company can go after those who have stolen money from the club. He said they are also looking into a Golden West grant that is designed to help maintain employees.
He said they have kicked around ideas such as Sunday morning breakfast, bingo and adjusting the rent charged on the facility, and asked those in attendance if they had any other ideas to help raise revenue for them.
John Slattery spoke up saying, “Why not close it up. Every time we open the doors, we lose money. We had $90,000 in CDs and it’s all gone.”
Audiss replied that closing it down has been suggested.
“I don’t think you have an alternative,” argued Slattery.
“That’s all in the past and we need to start over...at the bottom,” responded Butch Fanning.
Fanning said he was at an auction where you resell the same item over and over to raise money. He said it is basically people making a donation, but it works.
Gary Rayhill asked about taking out the dart boards and pool table and putting in a juke box like it used to be.
Rich Toczek suggested looking at a steak night for raising funds.
Gerry Goetzinger said all these fund raising ideas are good, but reminded everyone it is going to take help from a lot of people in the community, pointing out the aging veteran population.
“We’ll need help from people from the outside,” said Goetzinger.
When asked how many members they have, Goetzinger said the VA tells them there are 190 veterans in Bennett County.
Audiss said as far as membership goes, we’re an aging outfit. Audiss said everyone should be prepared to be contacted to help.
Rolf Kraft asked if they have thought about having a night for the youth in the community, giving them a place to go. He pointed out they spend money on soda and other things and asked if they could just keep the doors closed in between.
Audiss replied that it may be wise of them to contact some teen related organizations for input.
Wayne Livermont cautioned against competing with other local businesses on the fund raisers, saying many businesses are also struggling. He suggested getting together with other businesses and coordinate some things to do. He said he felt the bingo idea was a good one.
Rich Toczek said he is not worried about those things hurting his business and added that he sells food too.
Goetzinger assured those in attendance that they are going to do a better job of watching the money part of things.
“If we are not going to get things changed, it’s not going to do any good to raise money,” he said.
Toczek said they have done something that hasn’t been done, opening the doors to the community.
Slattery said it was done at the beginning and Toczek replied that it hadn’t been done since.
Audiss said they will have their Legion meeting Jan. 12 with a decision likely to be made at that time as to what direction to take.