January 2010
Commander's Comments -
On December 11, I had the privilege of presenting a check in the amount of $2,000.00 from Post 416 to Jae Marciano, Chapter President, Operation Homefront - Southern California. Operation Homefront offers programs in the areas of emergency services, educational services, and morale programs to military families. They have a web site at www.operationhomefront.net/socal.
On December 14, I had the privilege of presenting a check in the amount of $2,000.00 from Post 416 to Andre Simpson, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Veterans Village of San Diego. Each year VVSD provides services to more than 2,000 military veterans throughout San Diego County. They have a web site at www.vvsd.net.
Kate and I wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year!
Bill Steinauer, Commander
1ST Vice Commander's Report -
As of Dec 31, your 2009 membership cards will be delinquent. So if you have not paid your 2010 dues, I would suggest you get your check to me ASAP. Your membership card must be a 2010 to be served at the bar, per the ABC
Shirley Reeves, 1st Vice Commander
2nd Vice Commander's Report -
Things are going pretty well. Thanksgiving was great. We had lots of food and some very good people (even people from out of town).
Mikey and friends are still playing music on Tuesday evenings and some dinners. Thanks Mike!
The chili cook-off was fun, but I don't think anyone will ever know who had the "Best Chili".
I can't thank Jo Maus enough for the Christmas tree. It's so well shaped that some people think it's not real. Thanks Bill and Kate Steinauer for the great job decorating.
We're going to have a fun NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY with music and food. Call the Post for details.
Lastly, new ADA toilets have been installed at the Post. Happy New Year!
Bill Hicks, 2nd Vice Commander
Chaplain's Report -
We mourn the recent death of the wife of long-time member Jonathan Hutchens. Our profound sympathies are extended to John, his family and friends.Continued prayers are requested for the complete recovery of members Don Reeves and Jack Kelly.
Opal and I wish all of you a very prosperous and safe New Year.
Perry Comeau, Chaplain
Adjutant's Report -
02DEC09
E-Board Meeting of Post 416 6:32PM
Meeting called to order. Quorum present
Commander shared that the insurance renewal had arrived. The total was $1250. This amount is to be divided as follows Post - $625, Aux-$375 and SAL’s - $250
Non member “Christy” contacted Commander asking again the reason she is not welcome at Post. Law clearly states “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone”.
Employee and Volunteer drinking ban discussed, recent incident cited
Kitchen users need to verify that all equipment is turned off, recently grill was left on.
Keys to the post are to be inventoried; this will help verify that only the essential people have access to the post after hours. A motion was made that after ten (10) days if all keys are not accounted for the post will be rekeys at the expense of the Finance Officers. Motion carried unanimously.
1st Vice reported that the new ADA toilets have been ordered, installation to follow.
Post Christmas Party to be held on Dec. 19,2009. Post to supply a ham for the event.
2nd Vice requested a donation of $110 for Christmas gift cards for VAR. Motion carried unanimously.
E-Board member Linda Piere notified E-Board that the amount of “retired” flags was growing and disposal was needed. Action of disposal is forthcoming.
Meeting adjourned 7:39PM
09DEC09
General Member Meeting of Post 416 6:34PM
A quorum of members was present.
Motion to approve minutes of last meeting as written was carried
Chaplain absent
Financial officer – motion to accept report as presented in written form, carried unanimously.
1st Vice reported new member request, Michael Trice. Motion was carried.
2nd Vice reported the purchase of two (2) new ADA toilets for Post. Total cost including misc. parts is $452.91, installation to be done in house, TBD. Christmas tree was donated to Post . A total of $90 was spent on decorations, older decorations to be “sorted through”
Post Christmas Party to be held on Dec. 19th all encouraged to attend
Upcoming Aux. fundraiser, Oceanside Aux. to cook a meal at our Post.
Committee reports- VA decorations limited due to fire regulations. Chili cook-off to be held on Dec.12th.
Unfinished Business- Finance Officer informed membership that the $1800 SDGE deposit to be returned soon. Of these funds $1000 to be returned to 1st Vice Bill Hicks and the balance of $800 to be used to pay down bookkeeping. Present balance due to bookkeeper is $2500.
Good of the Post- Post to seek a new Bookkeeper, this task to be completed by April 2010.
New Business- two donations of $2000 each were requested to benefit the Veterans’ Village and Operation Homefront. Motion carried unanimously. Commander to present checks personally.
Good of the Legion- Frank Zagej informed post of National Commanders visit on Dec. 10th. And reminded all members of the importance of donating blood.
Meeting adjourned 7:18PM
Documents presented to members included:
Post financial statement as of Dec. 1, 2009
John Noonan, Adjutant
Finance Officer's Report
I would like to take this opportunity, to wish all, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Terry Sisson, Finance Officer
SAL NEWS
SAL Commander's Report -
No Report.
Tate Sanderson, Commander
AUXILIARY NEWS
President's Report -
MELE KALIKIMAKA! MERRY CHRISTMAS HAPPY NEW YEAR.
I greet you all; Wishing you a happy holiday season, may your hopes and dreams come true for Christmas, and throughout the year may you be full of love, joy, and laughter.
I want to thank all the Ladies that baked for our bake sale in November, it went well during the Street fair.
As for our Christmas giving we supported a family from Camp Pendleton and 2 from Veterans Village, with gift certificates and money for Food. God Bless you one and all.
Our E-Board will meet Tuesday Dec 29,2009. 7:00 p.m.
Next Auxiliary Meeting will be January 5, 2010 at 7:00.
See you all there!
Connielou Caldwell, President
1st Vice President's Report -
Ladies,
Our 100% goal is approaching for the 2010 dues to be paid. Please get your $15 in ASAP to get your card before 12/31/09. Don't forget your Juniors of $5. I believe cards will be checked after the New Year and you must have a current card for the Club Room. We are at 85% now, so let's finish this up please. Let me know of any address changes to keep our membership roster and newsletter roster up to date.
As for our Annual Fundraiser to obtain bath towels for the "Wounded Warriors" at Balboa Hospital, Mac McGrory was very instrumental in the majority of purchases for those that donated, but couldn't shop. I can't count the number of trips back and forth shopping for towels. A lot of gas and a lot of time was spent to help us complete our task, but we did it in about 4 weeks time.
A special thanks to Maria and Amanda Knef and Cynthia Moon for supplying the ribbon to tie 445 towels. Jane & Jack Shoemaker from the Peoria Unit in Arizona also provided 200 towels (& pillows), so our goal of 600+ was accomplished for the Warrior Foundation. I hope we didn't miss any names and if we did, we thank you double, as some towels came in anonymously. Mac and I hope your Christmas was wonderful and wishing all of you a HEALTHY and prosperous New Year.
Special Thank You to the following:
Larry & Penny Grabowski, Terry Sisson, McGrory's, Perry & Opal Comeau, Rosie Chiurlia, Jack Galloway, Eric Moore, Kent & Melinda MacNeill, Paul & Joanne Thompson, Sons of the Legionnaires (a huge thank you), Don & Shirley Reeves, Lowell Grimaud, Rolf Ohmstad, Cynthia Moon, Kris Farmer, Maria Knef, Merry Culhane, Charlie & Penny Pease, Mr. Roscoe from Wisconsin, Helga Lampmann, Linda Scott, May Bao, and the Peoria Auxiliary Unit in Arizona, & a final thanks for all those miscellaneous towels (with no names) that were donated. Hope I didn't miss anyone.
Roxene McGrory, 1st Vice President and Membership Chair
2nd Vice President's Report -
No Report.
Nancy Kiesel, 2nd Vice President
Auxiliary Chaplain's Report
No Report.
Toni Moore, Chaplain
MISCELLANEOUS
Bingo
The Bingo program will resume Monday, January 4, 2010. The Jackpot is now $350.00 at 56 numbers or less.
Supporting our Troops and their families and the Boys and Girls State Programs… That’s what you are doing when you come to your American Legion Post and play bingo. The public is welcome, so pass the word to everyone you know.
Perry Comeau & Shirley Reeves
Chili Cook-Off Chairman
I want to Thank everyone that took the time to make their favorite Chili. The judges had a really hard time deciding, on the best chili so I really want to Thank the whole crew for a job well done. Brad Chill did a great job of trying to keep everyone out of the Chili until the judges had finished their job. THANKS AGAIN TO ALL THAT PARTICIPATED
Shirley Reeves
Community Service
Thank you everyone who helped with our Bake Sale. For the one day we
netted $205 which was nice for our General Fund. Special thanks to the bakers
who really filled our tables up with delicious desserts. A special thank you
to the gals who spent the whole day with me.
We decorated the Pod at the VA Home in Chula Vista to bring a little cheer
to those living there. We will give the people each a Gift card from
Wal-Mart. Betsy spearheaded our Unit to pack 22 backpacks for the kids of
deployed Marines at Camp Pendleton. The money was from our Halloween
fundraiser. We continue to help at the Senior Center and look forward to a new
year of Community Service.
Happy New Year to everyone.
Merry Culhane, Community Service Chairman
OUR POST AND AUXILIARY SHINES AGAIN
Just a quick update on those things your Post and Auxiliary and SAL Squadron have done this Holiday Season. Just after Thanksgiving we decorated the main lobby of the main deck of Balboa Hospital. This is where our wounded women and men from Iraq and Afghanistan are now being treated by the best doctors and nurses in the Universe. This is just a small part of what we have continued to do for the Warriors Foundation in continuation of our association with this foundation for the past five years. Thanks to Shirley, Kent and Melinda, and Roxene for placing the right touches on the Purple Heart Tree this year. It is a feat of artistic beauty and our Post and Auxiliary would be proud.
As for our yearly Christmas effort to provide high quality towels to our wounded Veterans, this year our goal was 600. WE MADE IT. Thanks to all who took the time out to shop and donate to the Warrior Foundation. Kent McNeill directed the final road trip to deliver the towels. Nothing like having a former Submarine Commander to plot a course through the rough seas. Well done, Kent.
Due to our efforts we had a brief appearance on 760 radio, Rick Roberts’ program, where our Post 416 was acknowledged again as the “Can Do Post”. This has been our driving force for years and it still holds true. My guess is that about 200,000 people now know that we exist.
A very special thanks to our dear friends Jack and Jane Shoemaker. Although they now reside in Arizona, Jane spearheaded a program which provided 200 towels and pillows to Balboa Hospital. Please remember, they could have done this for their local Post. However, they remembered their former Post and Auxiliary. A very special Merry Christmas to Jack and Jane and their Post and Auxiliary.
As the old saw goes, “We saved the best for last.” Folks, if you have the good fortune to run into Col. Jack Kelly, or any one of his compatriots from the group known as the “Nice Guys”, thank them from the bottom of your heart. Let’s just say that thanks to Col. Kelly and his group of “Jolly Nice Men” there are a whole lot of wounded Veterans who are receiving a paid plane ticket to ensure that on Christmas morning they do not wake up in a bed in a military hospital - but, in fact, wake up in their own beds in their families’ home. If are Veterans are too wounded to travel, then the “Nice Guys” have helped in making sure their families are here in San Diego with them. God Bless the “Nice Guys”.
Merry Christmas to all from Roxene and me.
Dennis "Mac" McGrory
