The Sergeant at Arms secured the quarters and the Chaplain led the opening prayer. The meeting was opened at 1900 for official business under the authority of the Marine Corps League, Department of Wisconsin. Roll call: all officers present. Eighteen members present, plus Kelly, a retired Marine First Sergeant with 26 years of service, visiting from the Four Lakes Detachment.
Members present signed the detachment charter. The Adjutant will have it framed. A charter celebration with families will be held at a later date, possibly on a weekend or around the Marine Corps birthday.
No new applications were submitted for ceremony. The Junior Vice Commandant has applications out to several prospective members; none have yet signed. Members are encouraged to recruit Marines they know.
Minutes of the July 20 meeting approved without correction (moved Ted Krajewski, seconded Joe Williams). No correspondence.
Report submitted. The August Rose Drive raised $383.60; thanks to Ted, Jim, and Shane for staffing it. Treasury balance: $734.70. Dues payments are being collected and recorded. The next Rose Drive is Saturday, September 12; Vaughn, Quentin, Jim, Phyllis, and Joe expect to be available. Enlisting Golf Company Marines to help was discussed; Four Lakes provides a Ball ticket to reservists who assist, and whether Sugar River should do likewise was left unresolved.
Jimmy Hahn is home and back with the detachment.
Junior Vice Commandant. Vaughn presented options for stand-up signs for the Rose Drive, to carry a QR code linking to the detachment website for membership and donations. The lowest quote was $361 for three signs (Alpha Graphics), with a single sign quoted at $603 elsewhere. Joe H. suggested pricing Walgreens; Vaughn will check. The QR code is in work. Initially tabled pending pricing and funds; see Unfinished Business.
Adjutant / Paymaster. Joe briefed the detachment on its federal tax-exempt election. National recommends 501(c)(4), under which the detachment is tax-exempt and may join National’s group exemption for a $50 fee, though lobbying is not permitted. A 501(c)(19) would allow tax-deductible contributions but requires an independent application at roughly $600; a 501(c)(3) would require a separate, more complex corporation. Joe’s view is that (c)(19) is the better fit, but he recommends (c)(4) to accommodate National. He holds a letter from National confirming that donors’ contributions can be tax-deductible, which can be provided to donors. The detachment’s State of Wisconsin status is a separate matter still to be finalized.
Budget & Finance. Ted reported that the detachment now has a budget, at least in draft form, completed at the budget meeting held before the regular meeting.
Membership & Recruiting. Applications are out; no signees yet.
Ball. The Marine Corps Ball is Saturday, November 14 at Ho-Chunk. Tickets should be available soon and are expected to sell fast.
Toys for Tots. A new Inspector-Instructor Toys for Tots coordinator is in place; Katie of Four Lakes is the state liaison. Collection boxes will be placed at Lincoln’s store, the Red Mouse, and Play It Again Sports on the West side; the member who places a box is responsible for retrieving it.
Red Mouse exterior sign. Tabled; Kitt, who is funding the sign, has been travelling and is expected back August 19.
Roses. Motion to purchase a gross of roses for the Rose Drive at less than $250 (moved Ted, seconded Lincoln). Passed.
Rose Drive signs. Motion to purchase signs for the Rose Drive at $400 or less (moved Ted, seconded Devan). Passed.
Marine Corps flag and table. Joe may have a temporary Marine Corps flag the detachment can use; a member also has a contact who produced a flag for Four Lakes, and costs will be researched. The table was tabled.
Golf Company. Quentin is the detachment’s liaison to Golf Company. The previous contact at the unit, Staff Sergeant Perez, has transferred, and the new contact, Devan Reagan, is currently out of town; building trust with the new command is the priority. Four Lakes shares the goal of supporting Golf Company, and Sugar River members are invited to attend Four Lakes meetings.
Dane County Veteran Shoot. Tuesday, November 10, the Marine Corps birthday. The detachment will have a table; a volunteer is needed as point of contact. Veterans receive a door-prize entry and may participate in the shoot.
Website. Lincoln presented the detachment website in progress, with sections planned for Why Join, Events, Officers, Minutes, and a Gallery, plus a grave registry map, history quizzes, and a few hidden surprises for those who know their Corps history. It looks good, but it needs content and a link — members, please send content. A Venmo link and QR code will be added once content is finalized.
Motion to elect 501(c)(4) status for the corporation (moved Karla, seconded Shane). Passed. The detachment will proceed under National’s group exemption while providing National’s deductibility letter to donors.
Quentin announced that veterans and MCL members receive 30% off at his West-side Play It Again Sports.
The meeting closed with prayer at 2005. Adjourned until Monday, September 21, 2026 for official business - chow 1800, gavel 1900, The Red Mouse.
Colors presented; Pledge of Allegiance recited; the Chaplain led the opening prayer. The meeting was opened for official business under the authority of the Marine Corps League, Department of Wisconsin. Roll call: all officers present; sign-in sheet circulated.
With the detachment chartered, official elections were held. The following slate was elected and sworn in with no new nominations; the motion to elect passed:
Charter signing noted at this meeting; detachment letterhead confirms chartered status. A celebratory charter party with families was recommended; timeline open.
Three new member applications to be submitted to Department, then National, in August 2026: Craig Balbach, Donna Hahn, and one applicant [name pending confirmation]. Dues: annual dues set at $40; new members pay $45 (includes $5 card fee). Life members typically make a local $5 donation and do not pay the $20 match. Members are asked to re-up by September 1; checks or cash accepted until electronic payment is established.
Previous meeting minutes approved. Charter received as expected.
Treasury balance: $346.10, proceeds of the July 11 road drive. Discussion on fundraising purpose and the need for a formal budget; an offer was made to share an existing budget form and materials. Approved: opening a corporate banking and deposit account at Lake Ridge Bank; the detachment will incorporate and obtain an EIN. Articles of Incorporation adopted for electronic state filing (PDF to members; filing fee applies). Bylaws adopted; local operations align with National and Department bylaws and Wisconsin corporate requirements. Corporate officers for incorporation filings: Commandant as President, Adjutant as Secretary, Paymaster as Treasurer. A principal business address resolution was approved; future changes by resolution.
Rose Drive fundraiser scheduled Saturday, August 8, 2026, 0900–1200 at Woodman’s West; volunteers needed. The Rose Drive sign/table item was tabled to next month. Event tickets expected on sale within 1–2 weeks pending checking and Square accounts and link finalization. Joe will serve as liaison to Golf Company (member-alumni). Winnebago Detachment working conference: Saturday, August 8 at 0930 in Oshkosh - transmittals, training and Q&A; attendance encouraged. November event: a veterans shoot, open to all area veterans, on Tuesday, November 10 - the Marine Corps birthday - at the Dane County Sheriff’s training facility; bring ammo and a zeroed firearm; details and attendance estimates to be handled in October.
A 4×8 exterior wall sign was offered by the building owner; design reviewed (top curve held at 4 feet; MCL emblem highlighted; replaceable plaques for meeting time and website). The sign appears to be donated; motion passed to approve the design and proceed. Web presence discussed (website vs. social media); a member volunteered to build, host and fund a detachment website. Decision tabled; a draft website to be presented at the August meeting.
Jimmy Hahn has returned home from the VA CLC and is receiving physical therapy. A member’s spouse was discharged after 26 days in hospital; newborn twins remain in the NICU. The detachment keeps them all on the prayer list.
The meeting closed with prayer and acknowledgments. Adjourned until Monday, August 17, 2026 for official business - chow 1800, gavel 1900, The Red Mouse.
Minutes are posted after approval at the following meeting. Corrections to the Adjutant: jrw7911@msn.com.