021899

MONTHLY MEETING

EZRA S. GRIFFIN CAMP #8

February 18, 1999

The meeting was called to order by Sr. Vice Commander Phillip C. Jones, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Other members in attendance were:

Bob Shaffer	Joe Long	Carl Miller	Mark Myers	Ron Albert
Bob Yeager	Earl Folk	Russ P. Jones	Atty. Frank Brier (Guest)

The minutes from the January meeting were approved as read. A motion to accept the minutes was made by Joe Long and seconded by Bob Yeager. All were in favor.

FINANCIAL REPORT:

Joe Long read the financial report with the following information:

End Balance as of January - $1,724.49

52 Members have paid their 1999 dues.

Help members fund $238.00

Joe also reported that we had a transfer from National, that being Stephen Killian, an Attorney from Wilkes-Barre.

A motion to accept the Financial report was made by Russ P. Jones and seconded by Bob Shaffer. All were in favor and the report was referred to the audit committee.

OLD BUSINESS:

Ron Albert reported that the Award Presentations at the School went well. Two (2) bonds were given out and one (1) was outstanding. Joe will furnish names at next meeting.

At this time, the meeting was turned over to Attorney Brier. He reported that we, going in chronological order, were #4 on the trial list. They were at the Court House at 10:00 a.m., but there was no Judge. At 2:00 p.m. there was still no Judge. They were granted a few minutes with Judge Minora, but upon discussion found that he wanted to settle for far less than what we anticipated. No decision was made, so they escaped from the Judge’s Chambers with nothing being written. The first value thrown out was $17,200. That was after the sale to an associate for $27,200 and what he gave the cemetery, $10,000. This did not sit well with the members. What he is recommending is the value of the cannon at time of conversion plus interest to date of judgment, which comes to approximately $36.000. We would also get back for court costs. We are back on the list and are number 1 for April. He also recommended that we pay a contingency cost of 1/3 the settlement as opposed to the hourly rate which is now very high. Earl Folk also asked if there was any way to keep this from happening again. Attorney Brier replied that someone has done this for us already. There has been a Law passed that makes it illegal for the sale of any type of artifacts from being sold from any cemetery. He said if we need clarification, he would find out the particulars.

Joe Long made a motion to hold an Essay Contest at the West Side Middle School, grades 7 and 8, in April with the following awards: 2 - $100 Savings “Bonds and 4 - $50 Savings Bonds. Bob Yeager seconded the motion and all were in favor.

Joe also suggested we think about our ad in the Encampment Book and anyone going to the Encampment make sure they pre-register.

Joe presented the Camp with four (4) Confederate Certificates donated to us by Rocco Valvano, Director of Veterans Affairs of Lackawanna County.

Two (2) new membership applications were also received. They were Gary A. Reeser and Daniel J. Kachinski. We have now gone over 100 members and this has not been done since 1943.

With no further business, questions or discussion, a motion to adjourn was made by Bob Shaffer and seconded by Russ P. Jones. All were in favor.