American Legion struggling with income, may lose building

Members of American Legion Dorsey-Liberty Post No. 14 are confronting an uncomfortable reality these days.

Money is tight, the budget is in the red and – unless something is done soon – the Lawrence post could lose its building.

Post Commander Jerry Hanson called a special meeting late last month to discuss the financial situation. At that time, post members decided that in order to stem nearly $25,000 in annual losses, they need to pay off their mortgage.

“The situation is simply that we need to streamline our finances so we don’t get further into debt,” Hanson said.

Among reasons the post, 3408 W. Sixth St., is having difficulties meeting its financial commitments is a $7.50 increase in annual national and state dues for each member. Hanson said the Lawrence post already has among the highest dues in the state and couldn’t really pass along the increase to members.

So it absorbed the costs for its 635 dues-paying members.

Another problem is younger veterans aren’t joining the legion at the same rate veterans from previous generations did.

“Times are changing, with the age of people we have in the post. Younger folks aren’t coming out so much,” he said.

The mortgage was taken out to finance a new building constructed in 1995. Alan Fisher, who commanded the Lawrence post at the time of the new building’s opening, said the building cost more than $467,000.

The majority of the costs were paid by a sale of one-third of the post’s property, where a restaurant was built.

Fisher said the post had no option but to replace its old building.

“Frankly, it was falling down. Physically, it was in very bad shape,” he said. “The roof was in bad shape, some of the walks had sunk.”

At the time, the post concluded that activities such as bingo and events where people paid to use the improved facilities would allow it to keep up on mortgage payments.

“Bingo was expected to be the main source of income,” Fisher said. “That went along fine and has continued to do a pretty good job, except that over the years, casinos came in and offered competition.”

Legion members hope to publicize their building’s availability for events on a Web site they’re developing.

They also hope to let people know that they regularly offer the bingo games, which are a significant source of income for them.

Other ideas are being considered, but Hanson said he wasn’t sure if the post would be able to pursue those ideas.

If more people do not start to rent the facilities, the post could face a financial crisis that requires selling the property, Hanson said.