June 25, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7 Midland Park Legion post looks to merge with neighboring post Faced with alarmingly dwindling membership num- bers, Hugh Connelly Post 130, American Legion of Midland Park and Wyckoff is looking to merge with a neighboring post, possibly Oakland’s or Waldwick’s. “It was determined that this action be taken at this time while we still have concerned members who can facilitate any merger rather than to have it happen when we have no leadership at all,” said Post Treasurer John Grisoni following a meeting earlier this month. The Post is down to a handful of active members from its heyday of 30 to 50, and its longtime commander, Joe Bush, is moving from the area. Grisoni said that the members’ main concern is to be able to continue to serve veterans and the communi- ties of Midland Park and Wyckoff as they have done for decades. He said they still want to sponsor Midland Park and Wyckoff boys to attend NJ Boys’ State, a statewide citizenship convocation, and wish to contribute to schol- arships and worthy charities in the area. This year the post sent three MPHS juniors to Boys’ State at Rider University and also awarded two $500 scholarships to MPHS seniors. “We have a treasury of over $30,000, and we wish to allocate those funds for our traditional purposes as long as those funds endure,” said Grisoni. He added that these points must be considered and agreed upon by any accepting post before Post 130 disbands and merges with any other local American Legion post. A final decision will likely not be made before the fall, Grisoni said. Hugh Connelly Post and VFW Post 7086, both seeing their membership numbers decline, had tried to merge in the early 2000s, but the move was rejected by the national VFW in Nashville. So in 2007 the VFW sold its post home on Woodside Avenue and purchased and upgraded the Legion’s property on Faner Road. According to the terms of the agreement between the two organizations, the American Legion kept 10 percent of the sale price of its building for its present and future operating expenses and programs. It also received a 40-year lease for the organization and its auxiliary to use the building for meetings and other events. Since then, however, interest, membership and activi- ties have declined to the point where only two or three members attend meetings, Grisoni said, though there are about 45 dues-paying members. “Without a quorum, nothing could be accomplished,” he said.. Grisoni said members still remember the days when the Hugh Connelly post was a vibrant organization. “I’m told that Friday nights saw 30 or 50 American Legion members gathered at the post enjoying each oth- er’s company and playing pool or shuffleboard. The bar was a primary source of revenue to help fund Boys State sponsorships and scholarships. As membership declined because of the passing of the WWII vets and the aging of the Korean vets, activities declined also. The vets from Vietnam were not eager to join veteran organizations. I suppose that sad toll of Midland Park’s young men during the Viet Nan era did not help,” he added. “The feeling is that the move should be made while the post has some vestige of leadership left rather than have its assets disbursed by others who have no inter- est in the Midland Park/Wyckoff community,” Grisoni concluded. Post 130 was established in 1943 by World War I vet- erans, with Hugh E. Connelly as its first commander. Construction of the post home on Faner Road was done entirely with volunteer labor from legionnaires and the community at large and was completed in August, 1955. Church schedules Vacation Bible School Midland Park Christian Reformed Church invites children from age four through grade six to “SHINE Vacation Bible School 2014.” The camp will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon July 28 through Aug. 1. VBS will focus on the difference between being a glory giver and a glory getter. There program will fea- ture music, crafts, games, snacks, and a Bible site. Reg- istration is required, and may be completed at MPCRC. org, follow the links to VBS. The church’s class for women includes fellowship, Bible study, and a craft. MPCRC is located at 183 Godwin Avenue in Mid- land Park. For more information, call the church office at (201) 445-4260.