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POST AND MEETING
NEWS
Junior Past
Commander Fred
Sidebottom called
the monthly meeting
to order on Tuesday,
June 19, 2007 at
7:00 PM. Commander
Rene Cortez was
excused due to
illness. Officer and
committee reports
were received. The
minutes of the
previous general
meeting and Board of
Directors meeting
were read and
approved.
Nominations were
opened for the
vacant office of 2nd
Vice Commander.
Ralph Gustafson was
nominated and
elected.
Joe Watt made a
motion that members
receive a free
Friday night dinner
during the month of
their birthday.
Motion was approved.
Watch for further
announcements.
Art Lubben made an
announcement
regarding The
American Legion
Legacy Scholarship
Fund. The National
Commander will lead
a group of American
Legion Riders from
Indianapolis to the
National Convention
in Reno to raise
funds that will
benefit the children
of servicemen killed
in action.
Chapter 149 along
with other chapters
around the country
have joined a
secondary run known
as the Pony Express
which will gather
pledges and
donations for this
fund and ride from
their local Posts to
join the Legacy Run
in Reno. This year’s
goal is $250,000.
Watch for further
information how you
can take part or
donate to this
event.
Finance officer
Ernie Pyle asked for
and was given
approval to spend
the money for an
advertisement in the
North County Times
for a bookkeeper. If
anyone is
interested, please
contact him.
The American Legion
Children and Youth
Commission of the
Department of
California recently
recognized Stella
Diaz, a long time
member of Auxiliary
Unit 149, for
twenty-five years of
dedicated service to
the community of
Escondido, The
American Legion, and
American Legion
Auxiliary. Stella is
a past Auxiliary
District 22
President and Past
President of
Auxiliary Unit 149.
She has worked
tirelessly providing
for children in
need, arranging
Christmas and Easter
parties, assisting
in food drives,
securing aid for
families in need,
heading toy drives,
and working with the
schools and Head
Starts to promote
betterment of youth.
She has assisted in
Poppy Poster
programs in the
schools, community
service programs,
and is Chairman of
the Unit 149 Girls
State program.
Vice Chairman of the
Department of
California Children
and Youth program,
Ann Marie Pina Brown
and District 22
Commander Edward
Grimsley, awarded
her a plaque at a
recent meeting of
American Legion
District 22.
Commander – Rene
Cortez
Let me start by
thanking all the
fine people who
volunteered to be
Legion Post,
Auxiliary, SAL, and
Legion Rider
officers for
2007-2008. Together
all of us will put
our best efforts to
make this another
great year. As we
look forward to many
events scheduled for
this year, let’s
start by
volunteering to help
out this 4th of July
celebration at Grape
Day Park. Please
help any way you
can, to make this
event as special as
it was meant to be.
On July 5th at 6:00
PM I will be looking
for all Legion
Organizations to be
at the Legion hall
for a planning
session for the next
6 months or so, I
hope to see most of
you there. God Bless
You All.
1st Vice
Commander – Joe Watt
We finished the
year with 1018
members according to
the count at
Department. There is
a slight discrepancy
in the count that
our Adjutant, Ed
Landis, will clear
up.
Chaplain – Louis
Miller
We had two
members go to Post
Everlasting, this
month, Edmond Kelley
and John Trost.
Please continue to
let me know of
members who are ill,
or have passed away.
Boys State – Carl
Asher
We loaded 17
delegates to the
Golden State Boys
State Session on
Friday, June 15. All
5 of Post 149
delegates were
loaded.
Unfortunately, two
(2) boys missed the
bus. One reported in
and then wandered
off after being
advised to have a
seat and wait for
the bus, the other
showed up after the
bus departed. Again,
all Post 149's boys
loaded and are at
Boys State.
Law and Order –
Carl Asher
We had another
successful program
this year. We
submitted 2
candidates for the
Department Law
Officer of the Year.
The annual Law and
Order Report has
been submitted to
the 5th Area
Commissioner, Bob
Carlon. In addition,
this year, Post 149
donated $500 to the
Escondido Police
Officer's
Association. We
received heartfelt
thanks when it was
presented at their
First Annual EPOA
Awards Ceremony. We
received a nice
plaque and it is on
display at the post.
Thank you all for
your fine support of
this important
program. I'll be
calling on your
support again later
this year.
Clubroom
No Report
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American Legion
Auxiliary
President –
Jackie Lay
No Report
Auxiliary
Membership – Irene
Gustafson
Soon you will be
receiving your
membership reminder
renewal notice from
National for the
2008 dues.
Please consider
becoming a VIM. VIM
is an acronym for a
“Very Important
Member,” which also
means Lifetime
Membership. VIM
membership is not as
costly as you think.
Based on your age
and the Units annual
dues, the cost is
usually very
affordable. The
advantage is that
your dues are paid,
they will never go
up, no more renewal
notices and you
receive a special
VIM membership card.
There really are no
disadvantages to
becoming a VIM. Your
dues donation goes
to a great cause,
the American Legion
Auxiliary. Ask me
about becoming a
VIM.
I'm still looking
for someone to
volunteer to do the
50/50 drawing on
Friday evenings. It
only takes 2 hours
of your time. Thanks
For The Memories!
A THOUGHT TO
REMEMBER.
"What counts in life
is what you do for
others."
Chaplain – Elda
Jones
The Auxiliary was
dark in the month of
June. Our new
President, Jackie
Lay, fell and broke
her eye socket and a
bone in her cheek.
She also broke her
wrist. She stayed a
few days in the
hospital and is now
home recovering.
Please remember her
in your prayers.
We had our District
meeting in San
Diego. Stella Diaz
was awarded a plaque
for her 25 years as
Girls State
Chairman.
Congratulations
Stella.
We also had another
of our members in
the hospital.
Margaret Miller was
in for a procedure.
She is also at home
now and doing fine.
We need to keep all
of our members in
our prayers. Summer
is coming, so keep
safe. May God’s
Grace shine on you.
“When we pray, God
wraps us in His
loving arms.”
Americanism – Ann
Marie Brown
The Auxiliary
year ended
successfully and I
would like to share
with our members
some of the
highlights of these
programs.
Thirteen classes
from six schools
entered our
Americanism Essay
contest. The
following schools
entered: Warner
Springs High School,
Warner Springs
Elementary School,
Ramona High School,
John Paul Jones
Elementary, Miller
Elementary, Charter
Heritage School
grades 4 and 6.
There were 163
essays to be judged
and I would like to
thank Edith and
Lewis Hill and Amy
Brown for assistance
with the judging.
Awards were given to
the 1st, 2nd, and
3rd place and
honorable mention in
each class. The Unit
provided $940 in
award money and
thanks to our
Children and Youth
Chairman, Phyllis
Bradford; we were
able to provide more
than $100 in Baskin
and Robbins coupons
for participants in
4 schools. We also
received gift
coupons form Wendy’s
and McDonalds so
that all
participants in the
elementary schools
received a gift
coupon for food.
Special thanks to
Irene Gustafson and
Lanny Peterson for
providing us with
beautiful
certificates for all
participants. A big
job!
We went to the
participating
schools this year to
make the awards and
were warmly received
by all of our local
schools, teachers,
and parents as well
as the students.
This coming year we
will keep the
contest in the local
schools, as we were
unable to
accommodate several
schools that wished
to enter from
Escondido. Stella
Diaz, Phyllis
Bradford, and our
President, Linda
Lopez, assisted in
presentations at the
schools.
Although our essay
contest is a small
part of what we
accomplished all
year, it is perhaps
the most involved
program and the most
rewarding. These
students indicate
that they appreciate
our country our
history, and the
ideals that we as
Americans hold dear.
Community Service
– Ann Marie Brown
Community
Service awards were
made to 11th grade
students in San
Pasqual Academy,
Escondido Charter
High, and Escondido
High School. These
awards were made on
the basis of service
to their community,
church, and School.
All of the
recipients were
Girls State Nominees
and they had
certificates
provided by Children
and Youth Chairman,
Phyllis Bradford. My
thanks to Irene,
Phyllis, and Stella.
This was a combined
program with Girls
State and Children
and Youth.
The Unit also
recognized a sixth
grade student in
Classical Academy
for her service to
her school and
patriotism. She
received a flag that
had flown over the
Capitol from
President Bush. Our
Children and Youth
Chairman Phyllis
chaired this award
and a plaque and
gift certificate was
awarded at the
school.
Unit awards were
given to Nancy
Hansen and Irene
Gustafson for 1000
hours of service to
VAVS, community
service, and
Americanism. Plaques
were presented at
the Unit meeting.
Edith Hill was
presented a plaque
for 1000 hours of
tutoring at 2
elementary schools
and her work with
the literacy
program.
As you can see, the
ladies of Unit 149
continue to serve
the organization,
their community, and
the youth of our
nation.
======================================
Sons of the American
Legion
We will not have
burgers on the first
Wednesday of July
due to The
Independence Day
celebrations at
Grape Day Park.
======================================
American Legion
Riders
President –
Woody “Gunny” Harris
We have seen another
busy month for the
Riders. On May 16th
many of the Riders
left Ontario for
"The Run for the
Wall", and "Rolling
Thunder" ending at
the Vietnam Memorial
on Memorial Day. The
only mishap that has
been reported to me
was that Smoke’s
Bike died. Several
of us made the trip
to Ontario to say
"Keep the shiny side
up, and fair winds.”
On May 19th many of
the Riders
participated in a
poker run supporting
Wounded Warriors
hosted by the
Brotherhood of
Marine Riders in
Temecula. We had a
fine ride around San
Diego, and Riverside
Counties and were
glad to show the
Legion Spirit.
On June 10th Jerry
Craft led a ride to
the harbor where we
toured the Soviet
Submarine B-39. For
all of the Sailors
out there, be glad
you were U.S. Navy
as this craft was
right out of "Das
Boat!” We had a
great ride and lunch
at Seaport Village.
Until Next Month,
Semper Fi
======================================
Editor – Art
Lubben
Welcome to all
the new officers and
committee chairman.
As we start the new
Legion year, I
promise to continue
providing you with
all the assistance I
can to publicize
your events and
activities, but I
cannot do this
without your help.
Please get me your
articles, schedules
and activity plans
as soon as possible.
I have a mailbox at
the Post if you
write out your
information, or
preferably, send me
your information by
e-mail at artlubben@att.net. |
