The newly-installed commander of Post 500 came to the Two First Posts meeting tonight with a posse in tow.
As well as Emmett from last week, he also had David, Solomon, and Ulysses (husband of Sabrina, who may have been there to support our side).
Yes, Trey Singleton wanted to present a front for his position.
This Two First Posts meeting was held to answer any questions that still lingered from last week's meeting, and so was open to any and all members of both Post 36 and Post 500.
It was important that all understood the landlord relationship that TFP held with respect to all the tenants in that building on Montgomery Street.
John Parker started the meeting by explaining what had happened 18 years ago, when Post 500 lost its charter due to lack of young membership, and how Post 500 had fought to regain its status as an American Legion entity.
He also talked about Post 36 having given up its charter several years ago, as it was about to be taken by the national group, again for lack of young membership.
Doug Andrews said he left Post 184 five years ago and worked with
James Putney, the then-Commander of Post 500, to locate a space to purchase for their post's monthly meetings.
Then, as per John Parker and Doug Andrews, each post put up $450,000 to purchase the building on Montgomery Street.
(I don't know if the Army Surplus store/pawnshop was still a tenant in the building, but I think it was gone; I just know that the drycleaners and the church were tenants at the time and still are.)
The almost million-dollar bank loan for the renovation of the space at 5509 and 5511 began about two years ago, with work still progressing at this time.
John ended with explaining about the Two First Posts of Georgia LLC being the managing and governing party for the entire building, with a governing panel which had 3-year terms to lead the building toward a goal of serving active military at Hunter AAF, as well as veterans in the community.
(So, as with
the last meeting, it was made clear this place has a hefty debt that needs to be paid, as well as current utility bills and such.)
Doug explained that the current President of TFP is Eddie Patterson, who will have that position for approximately another two years, at which time the new President of the LLC will be taken from Post 36, as the position switches hands at the end of each term.
Doug is currently the Vice-President of the LLC, and will hold that title for approximately another two years, at which time it will switch to a member from Post 500.
The two Finance Officers of TFP LLC were the two Treasurers from each Post at the time, meaning they are Joe Cetti and Sabrina Scale, each of which will hold those titles in the LLC for approximately another two years.
John added that the board is currently working on the Bylaws, Code of Conduct, and regulations for operation of the building; that will be forthcoming whenever those have been completed.
Doug added that the facility's focus is on serving active duty military and veterans, not civilian groups.
John remarked that there will be a sign-in book for guests who are not members of either Post 36 or Post 500.
Trey then began his questions, which really were thinly-cloaked demands.
He wanted 8 days (!!!) of each month to be set aside for the monthly meetings of Post 500, including the general meeting, the e-board, the SAL (Sons of American Legion), the Auxiliary, and one other, as well as 3 days for fundraising events.
Brenda explained to him that those five regular monthly meetings are already listed on the TFP google calendar.
John also explained that a screen of events would soon be posted, with street view, so all passersby and interested parties would know who had rented out 5511 Montgomery Street at any time.
It was also reiterated at that time that all veteran groups meeting in the space needed to sign a Use of Facility Contract, as well as pay $250/quarter, to cover expenses of TFP.
Trey balked, expressing the amount as "$1000 per year" to make it sound like a weighty sum to suddenly spring on the Post's members.
(Note: they are currently paying $250/month at another facility!)
I spoke up with a countering tack, explaining that the amount was "less than $20 per week", and that it covered "all five regular monthly meetings" of Post 500.
(I think I stunned everyone with those numbers.)
John then proposed that a "ceiling date" be set by TFP, at which time neither Post 36 nor Post 500 would have to pay for its monthly meeting space.
Trey brought up that he wants keys for the four officers of Post 500, so they can access the office for Post 500.
John advised him that would be better after TFP has the 20-foot storage container installed behind the building, as both of the offices, as well as the conference room, are stuffed with items at this time.
Eric tried to give Trey a key to the Post 500 office, but Trey declined to accept, as there are currently no forms to serve as a paper trail for that transaction.
(I have made it clear to all that a locking door needs to be installed to protect 5509 from unwarranted access by folks in 5511 when the restaurant is not open for business; all agreed that Justin is to return for that change order.
I believe it was decided that Eric would do that.)
Trey then brought up a veteran group, Beauties in Boots, that have been trying to access meeting space in the building, to no avail.
Brenda advised him that she has spoken to them and they have permission, they just need to sign a Use of Facility Contract, like everyone else.
There was then some general talk about how one gets elected to the TFP board, though it was repeated that will not be occurring for at least two years.
Then it was 8 PM and the visitors all left.
Whew.
We of TFP stayed about another 30 minutes, then called it a night.
Mostly, we agreed that Larry Jackson was to blame for stirring up this "ownership" business with Trey,
While helping sort out the business license application, he found that the deed for the building was in the names of both Post 36 and Post 500.
Larry interpreted that to mean that he could schedule whatever he wanted there, and so he did, and he was given special permission because he was helping get the liquor license and the business license, right?
But when that largesse dried up after the calendar was created and he couldn't cherry pick the dates he wanted for family graduations and birthdays, he may have felt a bit shut out... and that's when he apparently tossed the ball to Trey.
Geez.
Sabrina and Brenda are onto his game now.
Doug is to handle changing the deed over to Two First Posts LLC, which should bring an end to this thrusting for power and control.
I just hope Trey realizes how Larry used him.
