The Officers

Elected Officers (Term ends June 30, 2024): (serve an annual term from July 1st following the May Installation to June 30 of the next year. (Follows the fiscal year of the Post.)

2023-24 Executive Board for Madera Post 131:

  • Post Commander – Joe Melhorn   cdr@post131.org
  • 1st Vice Commander – Bill Bracco vice1@post131.org
  • 2nd Vice Commander – Chuck Linn
  • Comptroller – Carol Stonecipher finance@post131.org
  • Sergeant at Arms – Frank Lee
  • Judge Advocate – Sam Barnard
  • Member-at-Large – Jerry Bryant
  • Member-at-Large – Mike Davis
  • Member-at-Large – Keith Kackman

Officers appointed by the Commander:
(subject to approval by the Executive Committee)

  • Adjutant – Linda Bray adjutant@post131.org
  • House Committee Chair – Dan Cady house1@post131.org
  • House Committee 1 – Sally Cady
  • House Committee 2 – Bonni Distler
  • House Committee 3 – Jan Melhorn
  • House Committee 4 – Georgeann Shely
  • Chaplain – Jim Taylor   chap@post131.org
  • Service Officer – Rick Buckman vso@post131.org
  • Historian – Samuel Barnard
  • Webmaster – Robin DeLozier

Arizona Department of Veteran Services 520-628-6495

Duties of the Post Officers

Commander: The Commander has the duty of teaching and protecting the cardinal principals of the American Legion throughout the entire Post.  The Commander has supervision of the duties of all other officers of the Post, is the guardian of Justice and Freedom, and bears the full responsibility of the Post complying with the policies and the traditions of your Post and of the American Legion

Adjutant: The Adjutant is appointed as Assistant or Secretary to the Commander.  The Adjutant is the “continuity” person in the post.

1st Vice Commander: The 1st Vice Commander is responsible for cooperating with the Commander, especially with the interest of the membership of the Post.  The 1st Vice Commander has the duty of safeguarding the honor of the Flag of our Country and is the teacher of “Democracy.”

2nd Vice Commander:The 2nd Vice Commander shall assist the Commander with all duties.  Particularly with interest in patriotic observances of all kinds, in developing Post activities, and in the entertainment features which mark all meetings.

Service Officer: The Service Officer is selected to perform the fundamental work for the benefit of the members of the Post, but also for those War Veterans particularly in need of service.

Judge Advocate: The Judge Advocate is assigned the most important duty for which his legal training and/or past Legion experience may apply to you.  The duties include the interpretation of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Post and may be called on to rule on the legality of the actions and decisions insofar as these affect the good of the American Legion.

Finance Officer: The Finance Officer of the Post shall have charge of all books and records, accounting and finances and see that all funds are safely deposited in some local bank or banks and shall report once a month to the Executive Committee the condition of the finances of the Post, with such recommendations as deemed expedient or necessary for raising funds or recommendations with which to carry on the activities of the Post.

The Finance Officer, or an officer of the post in the absence of the Finance Officer, shall approve all disbursements of the Post, and may furnish such surety bonds in such sum as shall be fixed by the Post Executive Committee.

The Finance Officer is responsible for all tax and or income tax matters to include filing the requisite income tax returns with the State of Arizona and Federal Income Tax Returns.

Duties also include the requisite Pima County property tax filings and maintaining exemptions as permitted by the State of Arizona, Pima County and any City or local tax exemptions.

Sergeant-at-Arms: The Sergeant-at-Arms is the outer guard of this post and will especially guard against the loss of The American Legion’s greatest possessions – our deep and abiding spirit of comradeship.  He will learn the identity and introduce to the Commander all visiting comrades and guests of the Post.  Into his hands is given the charge of the stand of colors which you will properly display at all Post meetings and on ceremonial occasions.

Chaplain: The Chaplain is given the spiritual leadership of the post and responsibility for religious ceremonies for the Post or a comrade.  All such ceremonies are made more commemorative by the use of Legion rituals.

Duties of the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is charged with the management of the Post.