January 2012
Commander's Comments -
Where did 2011 go? I want to give everyone in our Legion family special thanks for supporting our Post and making 2011 a wonderful year. There have been some challenges sometimes but we’re changing, we’re growing, and we’re getting better.
Thanksgiving was a great day. There was a ton of food and many people shared their Thanksgiving with us. I have to give Scott Hicks (Mister Clean) special thanks for cleaning a mountain of pots and pans.
We have been host to several Holiday parties and the people have really enjoyed the Post. The real Christmas tree that was donated by Daniel Moore (son of Toni Moore) fooled many people that thought it was not real. With the expert decorating from Bill and Kate Steinauer the tree was beautiful.
Since bingo has been dark in December we started a Monday night football party with snacks. We will continue the special drink prices and party through January. That should get us ready for the Super Bowl party February 6.
Bingo will be starting up again January 2. We could use some help keeping this program going so if you have some time on Mondays come down and try your luck. Bingo is open to the public so invite your friends and neighbors. Remember bingo is one of the ways we make money to support our programs like Boys State.
Our membership has been growing and I want to thank all of our new members. On the reverse of that sadly we lost another member Mr. Charles Wold. He passed away December 8 as of this writing Dec.21 the services have not been set.
BIG news. We have our Riders Chapter now so if you’re a member of the Post, Aux or Sal in good standing come down and join them of course you need a motorcycle. We have ordered new license plates with all four org. on them. Not very many Posts have all four.
Don’t forget about the round table meeting Jan.12
Happy New Year.
Bill Hicks, Commander
1ST Vice Commander's Report -
Hope you had a Very Merry Christmas. And hope your New Year brings you good health and happiness.
Also hope your dues are one of many good deeds for 2012
Shirley Reeves, 1st Vice Commander
2nd Vice Commander's Report -
No Report.
Bob Wilson, 2nd Vice Commander
Chaplain's Report -
Blessings to all in the New Year!
January 2012 brings us to reflect upon the old and work hard on our New Years Resolutions to “Service to God and Country”. Our Post is involved in programs for our young, our communi9ty, our active duty as well as recent veterans. We have something for everyone like Veterans Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, guest speakers from our active duty local Marines. Get involved! Make a difference in your life and that of our community.
Last month we lost a long time Post Member, Charlie Wold. We also lost a SAL Past Commander and friend, Monte Slender. Keep them and their families in your prayers.
Lowell Grimaud, Chaplain
Adjutant's Report -
12-07-11 6:34
Executive Board
Quorum present.
Minutes as posted accepted.
Letter to auxiliary still pending.
D&O insurance is now current.
Concrete in front of Post should be redone this week by the city.
American Legion Rider’s Charter has been approved.
Need to plan combined celebration next year for Post’s eightieth charter year and seventh year at present location.
Chaplain noted that today is 70th anniversary of attack on Pearl Harbor.
Letter to board from Perry Comeau regarding lack of attendance at Monday night Bingo and possibility of termination of program and subsequent loss of income to Post.
Shirley reported that Balboa Hospital and our pod at the V.A Home were decorated. Request for $110.00 to buy gifts certificates for V.A Pod to be discussed at next general membership meeting.
New license plates will be purchased to include all four groups including the new Riders.
Motion will be entertained to approve purchase of plates at next general membership meeting.
Letter received from Post 146 thanking us for allowing their last fund raiser dinner at our Post.
Discussion regarding need to purchase four combination CO and smoke alarms was followed by motion to approve purchase,
Next regular meeting will consider motion to purchase $50.00 gift certificates for each of the bartenders.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30.
12-14-11 6:30
REGULAR MEETING
Quorum present.
Motion to accept minutes as posted accepted.
Motion to accept new members, Alan Bruce Karlson, US Navy, Active Duty, and Michael Christman, US Marine, Active Duty. Motion passed.
Financial report accepted as posted.
Chuck Camarato submitted a letter of intention to transfer from Post 416 to Post 731, Padre Gold, in able to be closer to home and work.
Bill Steinauer announced that a Christmas dinner by Post 365 will be held at La Jolla Shores Hotel on 12-15-11.
Discussion regarding disposal of American Flags took place. Billy Wetzel will contact Borrego Post to see if they can assist with flag disposal.
Post will file response and oppose unemployment request filed by terminated employee.
Motions to purchase new license plates with all four emblems; gift certificates for bartenders of fifty dollars each; total expenditure of $250.00; and $110 for gift certificates for V.A. pod, approved.
Four smoke and CO detectors are now installed throughout the Post
Celebration of eightieth year of Post Charter and seventieth year at present location discussed with date of celebration to be scheduled for next year.
A private party is scheduled for 12/17/11, 9 PM, with a new band playing at 7PM.
Cardiff group is scheduling a New Years Eve Party at the Post.
Meeting adjourned at 7:22.
Darrel Hill, Adjutant
SAL NEWS
SAL Adjutant's Report -
We, the Sons of The American Legion at Squadron 416 had another busy month in December. We served our Pulled Pork sandwiches, this time for the Street Fair and the Christmas parade, and it was once again a giant success. We ran out of supplies in record time. We appreciate our 2nd Vice Scott Caesar’s direction and the assistance of other members including Jenna Wilson of the Auxiliary. The December SAL Corned Beef Hash breakfast was also wonderfully successful.
Our Chaplain Jim Wilson has organized the Toys for Tots program at the Post which involves the US Marine Corps. We expect this to evolve into an enterprise project over the coming years. Our Chaplain is also sad to announce the loss of an active member of the Post and Squadron, Monte Slender. We offer our condolences to his widow.
Membership renewals and new sign-ups for the 2012 membership year are 3.4 times what they were at this time last year, so the group is working diligently at retaining their presence.
We are planning the presentation of the Five Point Star Medal to our youngest member ever, Brendan Campbell, at his grade school sometime early in 2012. This will help promote The American Legion to our local youth. You can see him receiving his award from the Squadron, here:
http://www.post416ca-sal.org/pictures/Brendan.jpg
We will gratefully continue our efforts to Preserve and Promote.
Scott Bernin, Adjutant
AUXILIARY NEWS
President's Report -
Happy New Year (“Hau’oli Makahiki Hou” in Hawaiian)! We’ll be starting off the year with more projects and reflecting on 2011 successes and fun.
The holiday party was a real success with 16 members who brought gifts to exchange and barter, as well as delicious desserts and appetizers. Someone said there weren’t any calories involved. It was fun to get together on a social basis without an agenda except to enjoy ourselves. We got to hear how much fun our members had decorating the “pods” at the Veterans Home in Chula Vista and the tree at the Post. Thank you to all who came and made the party fun! The potluck following our party left everyone very, very full.
Special recognition to everyone who helped with the Thanksgiving and Holiday Baskets and Presents for military families who needed help. It was heartening to see how many resources helped make these a success: the Elks, Republican Women, Optimist Club in Solana Beach, Betsy’s contacts, and Amy’s Solana Beach neighbors. These projects were a great example of the Auxiliary reaching out and working with other groups to help veterans and their families. Our membership may not be large but our results are! Thank you to Betsy Schreiber for organizing these projects and storing things at her house.
We’ll be seeking a new 2nd Vice to replace Kimberly whose job keeps her busy on weekends in LA. We need volunteers to cook our monthly Auxiliary dinners on the 2nd Saturday of every month. Please let me know if you can cook any of the remaining 5 dinners through May. Kimberly promises to help with Mardi Gras!
Bingo went on “vacation” for December but will be resuming in January. Get people out to play!
Amy Moser, President
1st Vice President's Report -
We are coming to the end of the year and if you haven't sent me your dues, you will soon be considered "delinquent". Please send me your $25 (Juniors $10) so you can get your 2012 card. The Club Room will start checking membership cards by Jan. 1, so let me send you your card. Be proud to show it. We are trying to get our 100% goal by next month and renewing your membership helps us with our programs. Stay a member and help your unit.
Several weeks ago, we were asked to go down to Balboa Hospital by the Warrior Foundation to decorate one of 15 Christmas trees for the warriors. Shirley Reeves, Rhonda McKenney, and I showed up at 7am (awfully early) and met up with 150 other volunteers. The Foundation was nice enough to feed all the volunteers first before everyone went crazy decorating 5 decks of the hospital, hallways, railings, walls, etc. Our Auxiliary Unit 416 for the third year was given the honor to decorate the "Purple Heart" tree and when it was finished, it was a beauty. All gold and purple bows including Purple Hearts (symbols of the actual Purple Heart medal). Shirley took many pictures and hopefully she will share them with us at one of our next meetings.
Hope your New Year is wonderful, be healthy, happy, and I wish you prosperity. We all need a good year coming up.Roxene McGrory, 1st Vice and Membership
2nd Vice President's Report -
Well, Happy New Year -------------- I'd like to thank everyone for all of their hard work last year and appreciate all of your time and effort.
Since the New Year is upon us - I would like to ask for Volunteers for February, March, April, May, June and July DINNERS! We all know that the dinners at the Legion are very important and do a lot for our happy little community. So please volunteer! If you can't volunteer - well participation is appreciated, necessary and delicious!
On January 14, 2012 our official first dinner by the Auxiliary will be prepared by our own: ConnieLou and Barbara - ALL - U - CAN - EAT - LASAGNA, with salad, garlic bread and spumoni! All this for an unbelievable $6.00 per person, yes folks, believe it ALL - U - CAN - EAT -LASAGNA for only $6.00. Hope to see you there.
Kimberly St. John, 2nd Vice President
Auxiliary Secretary's Report -
Merry Culhane, Secretary
Auxiliary Chaplain's Report -
Anne Cassidy, Chaplain
MISCELLANEOUS
Bingo -
Well folks, this is it…. January 2012 will be the last month of the Bingo Program for YOUR Post. 15 and 17 players each Monday just doesn’t cut it. I’ve been begging and begging for help and no one seems to care. Eliminating the Bingo Program will cost the Post $5999 to $6000 NET annually as will the Auxiliary suffer the same amount of loss. Sad, but true.
We also need more volunteers; for the past year we see the same 4 or 5 people working. This is getting old. I’ve been working the Program since 1992 and I don’t mind showing up every Monday night as long as we get a decent amount of players. We need at least 25 players to survive.
Combined (Post, Auxiliary, SAL’s) we have over 500 members, and we can’t get friends of, or members to show up to support the most consistant fund raiser the Post and Auxiliary has?? There’s something wrong with this picture. IT’S YOUR POST……SUPPORT IT!
Perry Comeau
Betsy Schreiber, Auxiliary
I would like to thank all who participated in the Thanksgiving Food Baskets for Veterans Village Welcome Home Family Program. We received a thank you from Crystal Scott: "Thank you for all you are doing. Please express my gratitude to The Elks, American Legion and your Republican Women that participated in making it happen. My clients loved the Thanksgiving Baskets".
Also, I received a separate note from one of the families thanking us for the Wonderful Thanksgiving that they were able to have because of our wonderful baskets.
January 2012 Calendar
