Meeting Minutes October 2026 📝

COMMANDER’S COALITION MEETING
October 7, 2026, 10 A.M.
229 Lake Ella Dr Tallahassee FL 32303
Minutes/Notes

Attendees: Dennis Hall, John Folsom, Frank Roycraft, Liz Crawford, Marc Dickieson, Heather Mitchell, Berline Belizaire, Sean Golder, David Wilson, Tom Derzypolski, Shawn Harkey, Jennifer Adams, Renae Lane, Gordon Lightfoot, Tim Griffith, Tom Carney, Charles LeCroy, Susie Caplowe, Dan Hendrickson, Nell Hewitt, Theresa Briggs, Alex “Butch” Topicz, Barry Roberts, Johnnie Roberts, Ritaann Schultz, Paula Hubert, David Hubert, Tina Caldwell, Craig Benner, Mary LaBatt, Sonya Pace, Ashley Evard, Cindy Myers, Akin Akinyemi, Debra Mann, Michael Mann, and Marianne Trussell.

Dennis Hall led attendees in a salute to the American Flag and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag to open the meeting and led a salute to the Flag to close the meeting. Dennis welcomed everyone, reminded everyone to speak up, identify themselves and their organization, to keep it brief and to keep it veteran business only, no personal business, politics, or personal attacks. Dennis then asked Tom Carney deliver an opening prayer. Dennis then handed the microphone to Frank Roycraft to begin he meeting.

Frank Roycraft, Commander, VFW Post 3308. He City Commission had a meeting and Dennis Hall lead with his very cogent speech; a number of veterans showed up. It seems the Veterans Day Parade was part of a group; it was removed from the group and fully funded. The next meeting of VFW 3308 will be on October 22 at 7pm at the office of the VFW at 2769 W Tennessee St. in Tallahassee. The speaker will address A.I.

Liz Crawford, Dream Flight; Owner, Team Leader, Sport Clips, Tallahassee. Dream Flight is at the Million Air Airport but is now October 27 due to pilot scheduling. Sport Clips is partnering with the VFW in its fundraising efforts. Haircuts are free to veterans on Veterans Day and $2 per haircut is donated to the VFW.

Tim Griffith, Family Promise of the Big Bend, American Legion Post 13. Vet Village is alive and well. Family Promise is in need of volunteers and pantry items. There are 48 male veteran rooms and 4 female rooms as always in Vet Village. There are also free dental evaluations and repairs for veterans. Evaluations are from October 1-15, 2026 and returns for repairs are November 13, 2026. Contact him at: tgriffith@familypromisebigbend.org Flyers were made available.

Craig Benner, Veteran Advocate, Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. No report.

Marc Dickieson, Commandant, Marine Corps League Chapter 472. The Marine Corps League meets on the third Thursday of the month at the Elks Lodge at 6:00 pm. Toys for Tots has begun. If you need a box for donations please see him.

Barry Roberts, former Chaplain of American Legion. He is building a Suicide Prevention and PTSD ministry/church - Shepard’s. He has invested $130,000 of his own money.

Charles LeCroy, Past Commander Post 13. Good to see all of you.

Johnnie Roberts. No report.

Alex (Butch) Topicz, Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) Branch 34, CVMA 20-12. Saturday, November 7 will be the CVMA Dice Run starting at 9:30 Tallahassee Harley Davidson. Prizes are between $650 and $250. Donations benefit Team Guardian. Flyers were provided.

Tom Carney, Bud West, Air & Space Forces Association Chapter 419. The next meeting of Air & Space will be on Thursday, October 29 at 6 pm.

Heather Mitchell, Tallahassee State College. On Friday, November 13 Tallahassee State College will offer free Dental Care for local veterans. Email her at heather.mitchell@tsc.fl.edu to register/sign up for services. Flyers were provided.

Gordon Lightfoot, Commander, AmVets Post 1776, American Legion Post 13, Fleet Reserve Association. AmVets will hold its 3^rd Annual Turkey Shoot on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 146 Pistol Range Rd in Tallahassee (Tallahassee Rifle and Pistol Club). Entry Fee is $20 for shooters which includes lunch provided by Mission BBQ. Flyers were provided. Flyers were also provided promoting the AmVets raffle ($5 each or 3 for $10) of an AR 556 Rifle, must be 21 to win and drawing will be at the Turkey Shoot. Winner need not be present.

David Wilson, AMVETS, Air & Space Forces Association. On December 7 there will be a ceremony with a wreath laying at the State Capitol that has been moved. More details to come. He also introduced Tom Derzypolski.

Tom Derzypolski, Navy Veteran. No report.

Shawn Harkey, Business Development Manager, Comfort Keepers. Provides non-skilled home care to veterans (and others). Volunteers provide housekeeping, etc. They are not nurses. They will be at the American Legion on Thursdays.

Jennifer Adams, Veteran Resource Dept., Comfort Keepers. Introduced as Shawn’s boss.

Sean Golder, Commandant, District 2, VFW Post 4538. He is the National Chair of the State side of the legislature and Commander of VFW Post 4538 in Wakulla County. Follow him on Facebook. Please vote.

Akin Akinyemi, Leon County Property Appraiser. No report.

Ashley Evard, Sales & Marketing Manager, Brookdale Memory Care. Support for caregivers the 4^th Thursday a 5:30. Call or contact for details: 850-309-7500 or 850-509-7792 or ashley.evard@brookdale.com.

Tina Caldwell, Right at Home. Veterans are invited to attend November 20 at 10 am at the new Tallahassee Senior Center at 2743 Welaunee Blvd. in Tallahassee. Flyers were provided.

Mary LaBatt, DAR, Caroline Brevard Chapter. No report.

Berline Belizaire, VA Suicide Prevention Coordinator. No report.

Cindy Myers, Attorney, Legal Services of North Florida. Veterans who are homeless or housing insecure should contact her. DOC has a population of 50 veterans; contact her with your civil case questions, etc.

Paula Hubert, Women Veterans Unite (WVU). WVU is holding a fundraiser at Fazoli’s on November 19 from 5-9 pm. 20% of proceeds support WVU. WVU will hold a retreat at the At Ease Campground on October 16-18.

David Hubert, Navy veteran. No report.

Ritaann Schultz, Commanders Coalition National Chair for Traumatic Brain Injury, member American Legion Post 340. She has been a survivor for 11 years. She is the National Chair Person for Traumatic Brain Injury. A Haunted Hayride will be held every Saturday in October from 7-9 at the At Ease Campground. Tickets are $5 or $20 per vehicle for a family of 4. There will be a Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat at the At Ease Campground on October 24 from 6-9 pm. This Saturday, October 10 there will be Bingo for Charity at the At Ease Campground and Marina, American Legion Post 340. Gift prizes; no cash prizes. Ticket sales begin at 6:30 with a start time of 7:00 pm. On November 7^th there will be fishing on Lake Seminole at At Ease Campground and Marina for veterans. People have volunteered to take veterans on their boats to fish.

Susan (Susie) Caplowe, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative, Clinic Volunteer Coordinator. They will be here tomorrow from 3-5 tomorrow; veterans arrive at 2. She also handles questions re voting; those she cannot handle are referred to the office of the Supervisor of Elections.

Dan Hendrickson, President, Tallahassee Veterans Legal Collaborative. Veterans still need legal and other assistance. The TVLC will be here at Post 13 tomorrow and every Thursday from 3-5 pm. Walk ins are welcome. Veterans Court will be Monday at 3 pm at the Courthouse. Mentors are badly needed. Graduation is November 23 at the Courthouse.

Theresa Briggs, President, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13. No report.

Nell Hewitt, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13. The Auxiliary is raffling a generator for $10 a ticket; generator is available for inspection. Next month will be the Poppy give away and the Auxiliary will be in the Veerans Day Parade.

Sonya Pace, DAR, San Luis Mission Chapter. No report.

Renae Lane, a veteran and wife of a veteran who just moved here; CVMA. She is the Mental Health Provider Nurse at the Clinic and supports Honor Flight and the 9/11 event.

Debra Mann, Women Veterans Unite. No report.

Michael Mann, Commander, Sons of the American Legion. The next meeting is on the fifth Thursday of the month (October 29) at 6 pm at the American Legion Post 13. Recruiting is always ongoing. District 2 leads in membership.

John Folsom, American Legion Post 13. On November 7 Havana will have a parade for the first time in over 40 years. On Thursday, October 15 at 7 pm American Legion Post 13 will host Comedian Killer Beaz on Tour for one night only. For Tickets and Info go to Killerbeaz.com. Tom Napier asked him to remind attendees of Honor Flight on April 24, 2027, and the Car Show on October 17, 2026, with all proceeds to benefit Honor Flight. Tom’s wife passed away and he is in rehab.

Dennis Hall, Commander American Legion Post 13, Army National Guard, Big Bend Honor Guard. The American Legion will meet tomorrow night at 6:30 pm. There is a luncheon at the National Guard Armory at 1225 Easterwood Drive every second Tuesday at 11:30 (this coming Tuesday, October 13). Lunch begins at noon and ends about 1:00. On Tuesday, October 13 the menu will consist of baked ham, mashed potatoes, string beans, tossed salad, rolls, and Peach Betty with ice cream. A donation for food is accepted. Joe West’s wife, Denise, passed away; there will be a Celebration of Life at the Hootch from 2-5 this Sunday, October 11, 2026. Vote. There will be a breakfast from 6-9 am underwritten by Leon Conty and presented by American Legion Post 13 on Veterans Day. On November 7th, American Legion District 2 Meeting at Lanark Village at 10:00 a.m

Marianne Trussell, Chair, Support Committee for the Tallahassee National Cemetery, Inc. The Big Bend Honor Guard for September performed 12 interments and 2 special events at The Tallahassee National Cemetery. The two special events were POW/MIA Remembrance and the Final Salute done quarterly where they performed Honors for 12 Veterans that were interred without Honors. For the month approximately 305 volunteer hours were reported to the Veterans Administration. Since the Cemetery opened in 2015, they have performed 1,626 interments. The next Quarterly Support Committee meeting will be on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 3 pm at the Administration Building Conference Room at the Tallahassee National Cemetery. Elections for Treasurer and Vice Chair will be held as well as voting on other matters. Please attend and have your voice and your (members) vote count. Wreaths Across America - order as many as you can afford. The last day to order according to their website is December 8, 2026.

Dennis Hall led a salute to the American Flag and asked Chaplain John Folsom to provide the closing prayer.

The next Commander’s Coalition Meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 4 at 10 am at 229 Lake Ella Dr. Tallahassee FL 32303 at Lake Ella.