ARTHUR SAWYER AMERICAN LEGION POST 28 HOUSE RULES AND DISCIPLINE
ARTICLE I Introduction - Behavior and Reputation
Section 1. The reputation of Key West, Florida, American Legion Post 28 (hence Post 28), the Post 28 Families, the American Legion Nation, and the American Legion in this community will, to a very large degree, be determined by the activities and behavior of these members within the Post Home, Social Quarters and Post 28 activities.
Section 2. All members and their guests are required to be aware of this fact and to keep it constantly in mind.
Section 3. Responsibilities: Second Vice has overall responsibility for all Post operations. Reports to the Commander. Canteen Manager of the Social Quarter (hence Canteen Manager) has overall responsibility for all Social Quarter operations (hence Event Coordinator). Reports to the Second Vice. The Canteen Manager has overall responsibility for all food and banquet services. Reports to the Second Vice • Bartender on Duty is responsible for Social Quarter operations during his/her assigned shift. Reports to the Canteen Manager
ARTICLE II Post Management and Social Quarter Operations
Section 1. The Second Vice has overall responsibility for all Post operations, which includes ensuring proper conduct and appropriate behavior of patrons is maintained at all times.
Section 2. The Second Vice and Canteen Manager shall have the authority to recommend to hire employees, discipline employees and terminate employment in the Social Quarter when necessary to the Executive Committee (EXCOM). He/she shall have the authority to make decisions necessary to ensure that the Social Quarters operations are in the best interest of Post 28.
Section 3. The operation of the Social Quarters shall be the responsibility of the Canteen Manager, and he/she shall conform to the provisions of the Florida Alcohol Board of Control (ABC) Laws/Regulations.
Section 4. The Second Vice / EXCOM, as appropriate, will address issues resulting from misconduct of the Post 28 Family members or guests at the Post.
ARTICLE III Use of Post Facilities
Section 1. In order to obtain the maximum return on our investment in Post 28 operation, it is necessary for us to make maximum use of our facility. This can be accomplished only by creating an atmosphere agreeable to the majority of the members, their families and guests, and to the extended American Legion Family.
A. However, Post 28 is a non-profit organization: Only bonafide Post 28 members, Post 28 Family members and guests are allowed to make purchases in the Social Quarters.
B. Exemptions are (1) a specifically declared public event, such as a Bingo and other Fundraising events, where gaming is not allowed (2) a contracted private function/event managed by Post 28 as a function, where Post 28 food is provided and/or Post 28 owned alcohol may be provided, but where no gaming is allowed, or (3) community outreach events (such as providing meeting facilities for clubs, community historic organizations, or other non-profit organizations where food and/or alcoholic beverages may be purchased), adhering to no gaming activities.
Section 2. The following person(s) shall be admitted: Any member of the American Legion Family (Legionnaires, Auxiliary, or SAL) with a current membership and their family and guests.
• All members who enter The American Legion are required, if requested, to present their current Membership Card to the Bartender/Canteen Manager on duty upon entry and prior to being served. All persons using Post facilities are referred to as patron(s).
Section 3. Members in good standing of Post 28 or of another American Legion Post shall be allowed to bring guests into the Social Quarters at any time. All guests will be signed in by their sponsor, in the " Sign-in Log."
Section 4. Members shall be wholly responsible for the conduct of their guests. If a sponsoring member departs the Social Quarters, they must have another sponsor member be responsible for their guest if the guest remains at the Social Quarters. Bartenders on duty shall not sponsor any guest.
Section 5. No member, guest or outside entity shall leave vehicles, boats, trailers, etc. on the Post Property for a period of time exceeding 24 hours, unless given special permission. Towing will be enforced at the owner's expense. Special circumstances may dictate a longer period only with the approval of the Second Vice/Canteen Manager. To address the need for an extension beyond this "Rule of 24" the Second Vice/Canteen Manager will brief the EXCOM on the decision to approve or disapprove an extension request.
Section 6. No persons under the age of 18 will be permitted in the Social Quarters after 8:00 PM, except on nights of Special Post functions, or as deemed appropriate by the Bartender on Duty. An adult member must accompany all persons under the age of 21. No persons under the age of 21 will be seated at or around the bar without the prior approval by the Bartender on Duty.
Section 7. Florida Alcoholic Beverages Control Board. All members and guests of Post 28 are required to comply with all Florida ABC laws and additional House Rules that have been adopted by Post 28.
ARTICLE IV Conduct and Discipline
Section 1. Members, guests, and employees must comply with all House Rules. Post 28 exists for the use, benefit, comradeship, fellowship, and general enjoyment of all members of Post 28, their families, and the American Legion Post 28 family organizations to include the American Legion Auxiliary, the Sons of the American Legion and the American Legion Riders. Conduct in the Post 28 facility shall conform to standards acceptable to the majority or two-thirds majority of the Post membership.
Section 2. Proper language should be used at all times. Racial or ethnic slurs in reference to any minority group will not be tolerated. Loud, profane, vulgar, abusive, sexually explicit language or implicit physical or verbal behavior or conduct prejudicial to good order, shall constitute grounds for removal from the Social Quarters and/or Post home. Members are requested to refrain from loud and boisterous conduct when leaving the Post Home. Reasonable requests or instructions by the Canteen Manager, Bartender on Duty or any other Post Officer must be complied with.
Section 3. The possession or use of illegal drugs or substances, to include but not limited to all THC derivatives (marijuana, gummies, etc.) on all Post 28 properties is strictly prohibited. Offenders may be reported to the police and may face Post disciplinary actions.
Section 4. Members and guests will not interfere with the duties and direction of the Canteen Manager/Bartender on Duty. Any complaints about the operation of the Social Quarters or conduct of its employees or members shall be brought to the attention of the Canteen Manager and the Second Vice in writing. Any suggestion or criticism concerning the operation of the Social Quarters shall be submitted to the Canteen Manager / Second Vice where it will be given due consideration.
Section 5. No alcoholic beverage will be sold to anyone who, in the estimation of the Canteen Manager / Bartender on Duty, is under the influence of alcohol. Indications of intoxication shall include but not be limited to loud and boisterous behavior, dozing or sleeping anywhere on the premises, aggressive behavior, taunting and/or harassment of patrons, bartender or management/officers of, and use of profane or personally insulting language.
Section 6. The Canteen Manager / Bartender on Duty has the right, and is duty bound to refuse service to anyone whose conduct is, in the opinion of the Bar Manager/Bartender on Duty, detrimental to any person(s), the Post, or The American Legion Post home. This includes comments directed toward patrons, which may be considered as personal attacks with respect to sex, race, creed, religion, personal lifestyles or personal differences.
Section 7. The Canteen Manager / Bartender on Duty may order anyone to leave the building who, in his/her judgment, has violated one or more of these rules and/or has engaged in conduct that is detrimental to the Post, or any person. Any person failing to depart the Post when so directed may be evicted by the Canteen Manager / Bartender on Duty by whatever means he/she deems appropriate including, but not limited to enlisting aid from non-involved members to affect a low-key removal to involvement by the Police in extreme cases.
Section 8. Any member or guest, who is deemed by the Canteen Manager / Bartender on Duty to have violated any House Rule, must be reported to the Second Vice in writing for possible disciplinary action. Such members may be suspended from privileges of the Post, by the Second Vice for the remainder of the 24-hour operational cycle. Any further disciplinary action will be addressed under Section 9 of this Article.
Section 9. Complaints must be filed with the Second Vice within five (5) calendar days of the event. Upon receipt of a written complaint, the Second Vice will review the complaint and notify the Commander. The accused will be notified verbally and in writing within five (5) days, as deemed appropriate. The accused will have a minimum of five (5) more days to prepare his/her response. After this time, the Second Vice will meet with the accuser and the accused, individually, to determine if any further disciplinary action is warranted within five (5) days. The Second Vice will take action as deemed necessary to preserve discipline in the Post Home. Any member disciplined shall have the right to appeal. The member will appeal to the Executive Committee, who will meet at its earliest convenience to hear the appeal, within five (5) days. The decision of the Executive Committee, with a 2/3rd majority vote/quorum, is final.
Section 10 Members or guests not seated at the bar are requested to go to the service area to be served. This procedure facilitates the checking of membership cards, as required by the bartender on duty, and enhances service. If empty seats at the bar area are available, there is no need to go to the service area upon entering.
Section 11. Political promotions, campaigning, signage or use of any Post 28 properties for political purposes is prohibited. This is prohibited by 501 (c) (19) non-profit organizations.
Section 12. Post 28 will not allow a hostile work environment: threatening, profane, or abusive behavior toward Post employees or among employees will not be tolerated.
Section 13. No one shall be admitted into the Social Quarters after closing time.
Section 14. Members and guests on Post sponsored trips are expected to abide by the same rules of conduct as if they were in the Post Home.
ARTICLE V Dress Code
Section 1. Members and guests must be neatly and appropriately dressed at all times, including footwear. Basically, any clothing deemed inappropriate by the Canteen Manager / Bartender on Duty or present post officers is not permitted. This would include clothing that is overly suggestive or revealing or in bad taste. All members and guests are expected to dress so as not to offend any other member or guest.
Section 2. The management reserves the right to specify a particular dress for special occasions.
Section 3. Members and guests are required to clean their shoes/boots to avoid tracking mud and/or seasonal (e.g. salt, sand, etc.) materials into the Social Quarters.
Section 4. The final decision as to what constitutes proper dress rests with the EXCOM.
ARTICLE VI Post Operations
Section 1. The hours of operation of the Social Quarters will be Monday through Sunday 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM, unless there is a scheduled event, discretion of the Bartender on Duty, which shall notify the Canteen Manager. NOTE: The Canteen Manager may adjust the hours of operations as necessary. The Canteen Manager will notify the Second Vice regarding a change in the hours.
Section 2. The last call will be 30 minutes prior to closing. At that time no new games (such as pool or pull-tabs) will be started and games in progress must be completed within the 30-minute time. No patrons will be allowed to remain in the Social Quarters after the bartender has closed.
Section 3. Beverages: • No alcoholic beverages will be served to persons under the age of 21, nor will they carry any alcoholic beverages to any person in the Social Quarters. • Alcoholic beverages purchased or mixed in the Social Quarters may not be carried out of the building except in the backyard / patio or designated area. This will not apply if we have a special event permit for a function in the parking lot.
Section 4. All alcoholic beverage purchases in the Social Quarters will be made with cash or credit card. A cash register tab is allowed, but a paper receipt must be provided to the member when payment is tendered.
Section 5. All gaming will be cash only.
Section 6. Checks will not be accepted for payment for goods and services in the Social Quarters at any time.
ARTICLE VII Social Quarters Management
Section 1. The operation of the Post Home shall conform to the provisions of the Florida Alcohol Board of Control (ABC) Laws/Regulations.
Section 2. All purchases in the Social Quarters will be made with cash or credit card.
Section 3. No member or guest shall be allowed to remain in vehicles on Post property on a regular basis during hours when the Post is closed. The Post property is zoned commercial and should not be used as a residence.
ARTICLE VIII Sound Control
Section 1. The Bartender on Duty will control the volume for all electronic devices. The choice of what is to be shown and/or played on all audio/visual equipment will be determined by the majority of patrons on hand and not employees of the Post.
Section 2. At the discretion of the Bartender on Duty, based on his/her evaluation that the
majority of the Legion patrons are watching a television event, electronic devices may be turned down or off so as not to interfere with the majority.
ARTICLE IX Kitchen Operations
Section 1. Applicable Monroe County Food Service Regulations shall govern food service activities. Open-toe shoes are prohibited in the kitchen.
Section 2. Preparation of food in the kitchen must be under the supervision of a Food Service Manager who is certified by the Monroe County Health Authority. This Canteen Manager is responsible to ensure that food-handling personnel are trained in and adhere to sanitary food-handling procedures and proper methods of food protection.
Section 3. Smoking, to include vaping, or open containers of beverages of any kind - alcoholic or non-alcoholic - in the kitchen is prohibited. Any beverages, alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic - must be covered and be at least 6 feet from any cooking or food preparation area to prevent cross contamination to food or food related items. A beverage station will be established in the kitchen for staff and volunteers.
Section 4. Volunteers using the kitchen are responsible for ensuring that all cooking appliances, counters, utensils, etc., are thoroughly cleaned and stored in their proper place at the end of their use.
Section 5. Food that is brought into the Post for pick-up by another member will be properly packaged and clearly marked with the members name and stored in a box marked "Member Name." This box will be located on the lower shelf of the wire-shelving unit in the cooler.
ARTICLE X Changes to the House Rules
Section 1. The EXCOM must approve any additions, deletions, and changes to the above House Rules. The approved amended house rules are submitted to the General Membership for approval.
Section 2. These House Rules are approved as amended, having been duly agreed to in an open meeting dated 29 August 2026, by more than two thirds of the members present shall become effective 29 August 2026. In addition, this document supersedes any and all previous versions of the American Legion Post 28 House Rules.
Signed Copy Available at the Post Upon Request