Posted by John Blair

 

Call to Order:  Diana Taylor called the meeting to order, Jeff Harger led the Pledge of Allegiance, Diana gave the prayer, and John McDonald led the Marine song. 

 

Guests:  Patricia Bleck; Guest speaker Gerald V.  Pedsin, M.C.L., Marine Corps League.

 

-Elliott Pinsel is back from his trip to Greece.  Served on a panel discussing drugs.  

 

-Tom Miller relayed his daughter Valerie recently had her 2^nd child and daughter Jocelyn had her first.

 

-Teri Dreher said she was participating in a Health Care presentation next Thursday.  Cost $100, but 50% off those desiring to attend.   

 

-Scott Hezner announced his 34^th anniversary. 

 

-Rick Mittleman announced the club will conduct a Halloween Party at his home on Wednesday October 31^st.

 

-Tim Dempsey said Pumpkin Fest will be Saturday, October 20^th.

 

-Pat Hart announced the Highway Cleanup will be Saturday, October 6^th.

 

Fun and Frolics:  Scott Hezner conducted a word game with clues in an envelope for each table.

 

Program:  Gerald Pedsin of the Marine Corps League gave a presentation on the organization.  He is a Marine Corps veteran himself with 5 Purple Heart medals.  The Marine Corps League is a non-profit organization approved by FDR in 1937 under the direction of Major General John Archer Lizume.  The purpose is to maintain camaderie, traditions¸ and to provide assistance to Marines in need.  The Lake County affiliate was started in 2000 with 6 Marines and is now the 2^nd largest in the state.  The group is very active: makes visits to VA Hospital every Thursday, conducts bingo and pizza parties, and works with the Girl Scouts making sun catchers to cheer hospital bound vets.  They participate in Die at Home programs where they visit 24/7 with hospice members until they die, and then ritually honor the diseased to the morgue.  They conduct color guard honors at various sports events and 15 member color guards at Marine funerals (will also serve at other service funerals as well).  They will not participate in a function unless rifles can be used to accompany the flag detail.   They have done Packers games, been escorts to village queen court pageants, and participate in Eagle Scout and Silver/Gold Award ceremonies.    They are leaders in the Toys-For-Tots program in the fall and all toys stay in the county.  Last year they donated $16K to Great Lakes members for gifts.  They donate personal items to PADDS, the Zacharias Center, and A Safe Place.  They collect toys and books all year long.  Their purpose is to help Veterans in need and they have donated cars, bicycles, fixed furnaces and air conditioners, serviced wells and provided accommodations for a quadriplegic.  One of their major projects is their “Boat Load of Booze” project where they conducted a raffle and generated $15K to help fund their various needs.  The group meets the 3^rd Monday of each month.

Raffle:   Daily:  $25 won by Tim Dempsey.   Progressive:  $616, not won by Ron Lapins.  It rolls.

 

Attendance:  22 members plus 1 guest/1 speaker.

 

Closing:  Closed with reciting the Four Way Test