March 2011
Commander's Comments -
Post member Jim Knox passed away in February. He will be missed greatly. Please read his obituary to learn of his accomplishments on behalf of veterans.
Corrections to last month's newsletter:
The District E-Board meeting at Post 416 is on March 5th.
The Mardi Gras celebration will be held on March 8th, Fat Tuesday.
Boys' State Interviews will be held from 10-1 on March 5th.
Nominations:
First nominations for next year's Post officers will occur at the March 9th membership meeting.
Valentine’s Day was an enormous success due to the SAL's wonderful breakfast and the Auxiliary's sweetheart decorations. The SALs even presented a rose to each of the ladies.
I had the pleasure of giving Andre Simpson of San Diego Veterans' Village a $1000 check from the Post to help our veterans who are in need.
Changes:
Starting March 6th, the club will no longer have the $1 drinks with breakfast. Instead, Happy Hour prices will be in effect all day Sunday.
Bill Hicks, Commander
1ST Vice Commander's Report -
March has rolled around pretty quickly and I’m still sending out renewal notices. If you get one from me be sure and send in your renewal. But if you get one from National be sure and check to see if you have already paid it. They get their information after it goes through a number of processes. Thanks for your help. As you also know if your membership is not up to date the ABC can give us a lot of grief, because their rules say that you must be paid up by Dec 31. That’s their rule not mine.
As well as being Membership Chairman I’m also VA& R chairman. Which means I’m very involved with the Veterans and that is why we need all the members we can get. The dues helps, and the donation your membership makes all goes to help the veterans. Right now I’m also working on Blankets for the Veterans Village, money for that also comes out of your memberships. If you would like donate blankets, they need Twin or Twin/Large. All donations are welcome. Drop them at the Post or if you are going by the Veterans Village drop them off there. Thanks again to all my paid /up members, and those soon to be.
Shirley Reeves, 1st Vice Commander
2nd Vice Commander's Report -
In March, we start serving dinners on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month. A lighter fare will be available on the other Saturdays.
March 5th – SAL Dinner
March 19th – Post ‘s St. Patrick’s dinner – corn beef and cabbage with all the fixings by Kent Moser
($7 only)
Other Saturdays will feature appetizers in the Bar area with donations welcome.
Let’s support our Post 416, so can raise money for our Veteran charities. Volunteers are always needed. We train! Call the Commander or myself.
Kent Moser, 2nd Vice Commander
Chaplain's Report -
In Memoriam:Joe Kennedy, Memorial Service at Riverside National Cemetery, Feb. 18th 12:00.
Jim Knox, Memorial Service at the National Cemetery on Pt. Loma, Feb 28th 10 am.
Perry Comeau, Chaplain
Adjutant's Report -
No Report.
John Noonan, Adjutant
Service Officer’s Report:
At the last meeting, Lowell Grimaud, Post Service Officer passed out information on
planning for your funeral. Lowell is available to assist anyone with information
regarding VA burial Benefits, Amer. Legion information and other plans for
making arrangements for your funeral. This is essential to ensure that the state
and Federal Government does not destroy or take your savings, benefits or property.
Do not put this off, even if you just complete the VA and or the American Legion
data forms and leave a copy with your will and or trust, you will save your family
a lot of trouble.
Lowell Grimaud, Service Officer
SAL NEWS
SAL Commander's Report -
We, the Sons of the American Legion, would like to thank all new Squadron 416 members, members of Post and Unit 416, and our friends young and older for making our Squadron Valentine’s Breakfast a great success. We served 69 meals which were well beyond our target. What a joy to hear laughing, tall tales and males asking for SAL applications. We recruited 3 potential new members that Sunday. It reminds us of the reasons we help our Veterans and support our Can Do Post.
We’re making some exciting changes, recruiting members, motivating more volunteers, streamlining our efforts for better efficiency and developing a means of delivering useful information to our members.
We will gratefully continue our efforts to Preserve and Promote.
Greg Phillips, Commander
AUXILIARY NEWS
President's Report -
March will be another banner month. We will have a speaker at our next meeting (March 1st) from the Encinitas Senior Center. The Auxiliary is raising money for the free coffee they offer anyone who comes to take part in their many activities: recreation classes, open gym hours, tax advice, senior nutrition lunch program & outreach services, bridge, library services, etc. Their funds from the city have been reduced and there are many Veterans who use their services. It’s a place where they can find social camaraderie. I want to thank Merry Culhane for bringing this need to our attention. They will recognize the Auxiliary in their literature.
At our February meeting, Betsy Schreiber invited the Director from Veterans Village to talk about how they used our donations for military families and efforts to help veterans transition back into civilian life. The military prepares them to become soldiers but doesn’t help them return to civilian life. They need 2,000 blankets for their shelters (twin and double bed sizes). Blankets can be used or new! I am challenging Auxiliary members to spread the word to their friends and contacts who want to donate blankets through the end of 2011. Start bringing them in and we’ll get them down there. Our first big collection night will be at our Mardi Gras party on March 8th.
Thank you to Kimberly St. John and her committee for decorating the Post for Valentines and our Mardi Gras fund raiser for the coffee fund at the Encinitas Senior Center. They need $100 a month, so all proceeds from our raffle baskets will go straight to the fund. People can donate cans of coffee, too.
In closing, I would like to congratulate our Auxiliary for all the things we do with a small cadre of volunteers. I attended a District meeting with Auxiliaries that are 2-3 times our size, and I was proud of what we do with a much smaller number of members. I hope that we can convert more members to becoming more active volunteers this year. Please contact me because our committees will train you (amy@tristaff.com or call me at (858) 481-6698).
Amy Moser, President
1st Vice President's Report -
Those of you that haven't paid your dues are now in the "delinquent' mode of the Auxiliary. So that you don't lose your membership privileges, please send me your annual dues of $15 - if you are only holding a 2009 membership card, you need to send $30 to catch up or I won't be able to send you the current 2011 card.
National has been sending out reminder/late notices to those that haven't paid and I have received checks from some of you. Thank you. But, some of you still need to pay the 2010 year, so you will be receiving from me another reminder notice. If you don't catch up, the Department will not accept the money you have sent for this current year. Please look at your card and if it's a 2009, you need to send me the amount of $30 as soon as possible. We need all dues paid by the middle of March or you won't get on the roster of membership this next term coming up in July. Help keep our programs alive and send me your dues (216 Barbara Ave., Solana Beach 92075). Our programs are very important as they help our Veterans, children and youth, and community service, to name just a few.
Names of our chairmen and their phone numbers are available. Please contact our President, Amy Moser for this information and how you can be more than a silent member. We need volunteers all the time and if you have a particular niche, let Amy know. I guarantee you; there always is something to do for the Auxiliary. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call me. Thank you.
Roxene McGrory, 1st Vice and Membership
2nd Vice President's Report -
No Report.
Kimberly St. John, 2nd Vice President
Auxiliary Chaplain's Report -
No Report.
Anne Cassidy, Chaplain
Auxiliary Public Relations -
You can still sign up for enews at WWW.legion-aux.org. The information to sign up is at the bottom of the Home page. You will find interesting information in this publication. For members, Post and SAL members, the Auxiliary is very active in supporting our Veterans, Veterans Children and Community. One project that we now have is collecting twin size blankets for the Veterans. See President's article for full details. One of our ongoing project is the Back Pack Program for children of deployed parents. Join us helping our Veterans.
Jo Maus, Public Relations
MISCELLANEOUS
2011 Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Fund Drive:
On March 1, 2011, the Department of California kicks off its 2011 Rehab Fund Drive. The purpose of the fund drive is to offset the expenses incurred by the Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Division (VA&R). Last year, the Rehabilitation Fund Drive raised $183,682.72 net income; actual operating expenses for 2009-2010 were $949,794. This year’s budget of $866,132 creates a more challenging aspect. With a budget reduction of $83,662, we are still able to get a return of $559.13 per dollar of American Legion money invested. As you can see a great need exists for participation. This program is considered 2nd only to membership, which makes it the most important fund drive in The American Legion. Its purpose is to subsidize the VA&R division expenses incurred while helping veterans obtain US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits in the state of California. EVERY DOLLAR DONATED TO THE REHAB FUND DRIVE IS APPLIED TO REHAB. IT DOES NOT GO IN THE DEPARTMENT GENERAL FUND OR ANY OTHER FUND!!
Harley T. Santos, Chairman
Ways and Means Commission
Harold F. Tattan, Chairman
VA & R Commission
March 2011 Calendar
