08/13/08

Chaplain of the Year Award

Jason R. Denny of Travis Post 76 in Austin was the

Chaplain of the Year Award Recipient for 2008

at the 90th Annual Department Convention

Texas Chaplains Association

Annual Membership Meeting Minutes

June 28, 2008

The annual membership meeting of the Texas Chaplains Association was held at the restaurant of the Omni Tower Hotel restaurant in Corpus Christi, Texas on June 29, 2007 at 7:00 a.m.

The following were present: Harvey H. Klee, President, Ed Kegley, Secretary/Treasurer, Karen Paris, Shirley Rogers, Robert C. Reece, Jean Palmer, William Palmer, Jason R. Denny, Charles W. Edwards, Roxanna Ovants and Oscar R. Reyes thereby creating a quorum.

Charles Edwards offered the opening invocation.

President Klee welcomed all members and invited each member to introduce themselves and share some of their personal background with the group. Mention was also made of the excellent private dining arrangements provided by the Hotel for our breakfast meeting.

Motion was then made and duly seconded to accept the minutes of June 29, 2007 as previously presented. Motion carried.

Treasurer Kegley gave a Treasurer’s report and stated the organization has a bank balance of $1,764.96 and that our membership is currently at 145.  There are still some outstanding Charter members who have not paid their dues and arrangements will be made to contact them further. President Klee directed the Treasurer’s report be filed for reference and future audit.

All members were encouraged to check the Association’s web site to stay current as to TCA news. E-mails are sent to members with e-mail addresses concerning special matters. They are urged to keep their e-mail addresses current and active. Vice-President Howland graciously mails TCA information to those without e-mail addresses to keep them informed as well.

President Klee announced that there will be a Chaplain’s Workshop again at next year’s Mid-Winter conference and encouraged all members to let him know what subjects they might be interested in having covered. Members who would like to participate by presenting a 15-20 minute session should contact Harvey with an outline of what they would like to present. Usually we have two hours allocated for the Workshop but members seem to prefer  a shorter session not to go beyond one and one half hours.

The Saturday TCA breakfast at 7:00 a.m. for the annual Department convention seems to work out well for all concerned and will be continued although there is some minor inconvenience for those staying at a different hotel that can’t be helped.

Motion was made and duly seconded to amend the bylaws to expand membership in the TCA to include chaplains from other veterans’ organizations such as the VFW, DAV, AmVets, etc. as follows:

ARTICLE 3 – Membership

Section 1. Membership shall be open to all present and past Chaplains of the Legion, Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion, and affiliated organizations as may be represented by the membership, and may include those members of the aforementioned organizations who are interested and supportive of the same goals and objectives of the Texas Chaplains Association but have never held the position of Chaplain in any of them provided: no person shall be eligible for TCA membership unless they are a member in good standing in any of those organizations.

Section 2. Ancillary Membership is available for those members of other veterans organizations who have served or are now serving as Chaplains in their respective organizations and are interested in and supportive of the goals and objectives of the Texas Chaplains Association. Such members shall be non-voting members. 

Section 3. Annual dues for all classes of membership shall be $5. For an additional donation of $10, members will receive a CD copy of Harvey H. Klee’s book: “A Chaplain’s Story – Manual and Guide,” the proceeds of which shall go to the Department’s Boy’s State program.

Motion Passed.

It was moved and duly seconded that the following be reelected to the following office for the year 2008-2009:

Harvey H. Klee, President

Marv Howland Vice-President

Ed Kegley Secretary/Treasurer

Motion Passed.

Next, it was moved and duly seconded that Jason R. Denny be elected to the TCA Board of Directors. Motion Passed.

There being no further business to come before the meeting, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 a.m.

________________________

Name the new Chaplain's Web Site Page

We thought it would be neat to have a special web page set aside for member contributions e.g. articles, resources, suggestions or other ideas that might help make our Association more helpful to our membership. So...we're having a contest to name the new Chaplain's page. Any ideas for a name? E-mail or mail your creative suggestions to: hklee@texaschaplains.org

New and Updated Resources

A Chaplains Story - Manual & Guide 2nd Ed. Now available on CD and in Print Format

The 1^st edition of “A Chaplain’s Story – Manual & Guide” was published in 2001. It was made available solely on CD due to the prohibited cost of printing a limited number of copies without knowing how well it would be received. The response to the 1^st edition, however, was greater than expected. This 2^nd edition adds to and greatly expands upon the earlier material. It is again available as an electronic book on CD for $12 plus shipping cost.  Print copies are available for $25 plus shipping cost.

Eleven new Memorial Services have been added in the new edition as well as a Chapter on The Texas Chaplains Association. The book has been increased 50% from the 1st Ed. Photos have been also added to break the monotony of reading sheer text.

Chaplains Card and Funeral Handbook

This is a new publication made available by our Secretary/Treasurer Ed Kegley that should be of immeasurable assistance to Chaplains in writing letters of sympathy, condolences, concern, etc. as well as officiating at funeral services - both graveside, post and funeral homes. It's about 72 pages in length and small enough to carry with you i.e. 4.25" X 5.5." Unbound paperback version is $20 plus shipping; loose leaf notebook with hard cover and sheet protectors is $30 plus shipping. Ed's publication is also available as an electronic book on CD for $10 plus shipping cost

To order any of the above, use the order form below

ORDER FORM

Please note: Electronic Book CDs can only viewed on a computer, not on a stand alone  CD or DVD player. The Electronic Book can be downloaded into your computer or read directly from the CD disk.

HARVEY’S  "A Chaplains Story" Electronic Book on CD  @ $12.00 EA.      $ ___________

HARVEY'S "A Chaplain's Story" Bound Print Copy @ $25.00 EA.               $ ___________

ED’S Book, "Chaplains Card & Funeral" Paperback @ $20.00 EA.             $ ___________

ED’S "Chaplains Card & Funeral" Hard cover notebook  @ $30.00 EA       $ ___________

ED's  "Chaplains Card & Funeral" Electronic Book on CD @ $10                $ ___________

TOTAL……………………………………………..................................................$ __________

Add: $2.00 for Shipping per item.....................................................$___________

PLEASE SEND ORDERS TO:  TEXAS CHAPLAINS ASSOCIATION

                                                          c/o ED KEGLEY

                                                          P. O. BOX 31

                         BEASLEY, TEXAS 77417-0031

The Chaplain of the Year Award

Unfortunately, one of the best kept secrets in the Department of Texas is the Chaplain of the Year Award. The award is described in the Post Administrative Manual but few seem to know anything about it. Let’s change that!

All Legion Post Chaplains are eligible for the award which is presented at the annual Department Convention. Entries and forms must be in Department Headquarters, however, no later than 30 days before the Annual Convention for consideration and endorsed by the Post Commander.

Basically, the Award is presented to the Legion Post Chaplain who has had “the most outstanding activities and record of achievement” for the year beginning with the Department Convention and ending approximately thirty (30) days prior to the opening of the succeeding Convention. Presentation of the award is made by the Department Chaplain.

Evidence of these activities and achievements should be presented in the form of programs, clippings, pictures, photographs, scrapbooks, etc. Special chaplain programs conducted in cooperation with National, Department and District activities having an impact on the local community are also considered.

A Report Form is printed in the Administrative Manual. It serves as a list of the kinds of activities that are considered in making the award. They are only guidelines and not mandated activities – one need not have done all of these activities in order to be considered for the Award. In addition, Legion Post Chaplains are encouraged to describe additional activities in which they may have been involved as part of their chaplaincy.

Chaplain of the Year – Check List

• Did your Post host a District Four Chaplains program?
• Did your Post conduct a Four Chaplains program?
• Did you visit sick or hospitalized members?
• Did you report on sick or hospitalized members at Post meetings?
• Was “Get Well” or condolence cards or letters sent to Post members or their family?
• Were veterans funeral services held for all deceased Post members?
• Did your Post present Memorial Bibles?
• Did your Post conduct a Post Everlasting Service?
• Did you Post hold special services for;
a. Lincoln’s Birthday?
b. Washington’s Birthday?
c. Memorial Day?
d. Flag Day?
e. Independence Day?
f. Constitution Day?
g. Citizenship Day?
h. American Education Week?
i. Veterans Day?
j. Thanksgiving Day?
• Has your Post been active in Boys Scouts?
• Has your Post been active in the Sons of the American Legion Squadron?
• Did your Post present any United States Flags to any churches, synagogues or schools?
• Have local religious leaders been invited to speak at Post meetings?
• Are local churches or synagogues been furnished with “Service to God & Country Programs?
• Is there a poster or sign on Post property encouraging church or synagogue attendance?
• Have “Grace before Meal” cards been distributed?
• Are the religious foundations of our country stressed in the Post and local community?

Add to this list in any way you think appropriate. Be sure to include scrapbooks, clippings, photographs, brochures, etc. which would validate your claim to the Chaplain’s Award - the more visual the presentation the better. When you submit your entry to the Department – no later than June 1 – include:

• Your name and the Legion Post position you hold;
• Your Membership number;
• Post Commander’s name;
• Post name and location;
• Post number; and
• District;

Remember to get started early and not wait until the last minute to begin putting your information together.