Post 149 Escondido

Presents 5th Area Fun Weekend

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, March 20, 21 & 22

Riders Poker Run, Chili Cook-off
Fun & Games, Silent Auction & Raffle Dinners,
Bands and Dancing

And yes, the 5th Area Meeting on Sunday!
Chili Cook-Off rules and Entry form    Meeting Flyer

Monthly Newsletter of The American Legion, J. B. Clark Post 149, Escondido, California

POST AND MEETING NEWS

      The Post Executive Board and General meetings were held on Tuesday, February 17, 2009.

      Membership stands at 885 paid members for 92% of our goal.  The Post voted to accept the actions of the Executive Board.  This included setting prices of all merchandise sold at 40% above cost which will include the sales tax.  The position of 2nd Vice Commander remains open.  If you are interested in serving the Post in this capacity, please attend the next regular meeting.

      The Commander announced a special Executive Board meeting for February 24th to consider the Post budget.  At that meeting a budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year was adopted.  Based on this budget there will be a deficit of about $10,000.  To prevent this loss from actually occurring we are asking all members to contribute by attending any functions and fundraising activities we will be planning and also, whenever at the Post, to be sure to conserve as much as possible by turning off lights, heating, and air conditioning when it is no longer necessary.  To reduce costs, this newsletter will only be published every other month instead of monthly beginning in June.  Post news and information will be updated on our web site on a regular basis between publication dates and information will also be available on our automated phone system.

Commander – Joe Watt

      January is behind us, the Post is slow at this time, not many renewals coming in, which reminds me, if you haven’t renewed as of yet, please do so.  This New Year promises some new projects, Fun Day at the Post on March 21st and 22nd, Officer Elections in May, convention in August, and the list goes on.

      If you haven’t been down for one of our Friday Night dinners, try it, you will like it.  Also, we serve a great breakfast on Sunday mornings.

Adjutant - Ed Landis

      On March 1st, the Department of California kicked off the 2009 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 $234,598 net income.  Actual operating expenses of the VA&R division were $963,247.  As you can see, a great need exists for participation.  This program is considered, 2nd only to membership, the most important fund drive in The American Legion.  Its purpose is to subsidize the efforts of the VA&R division expenses in its effort to help the 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!

Sgt-at-Arms – Wayne Louth

      We have over 1000 flags that need to be disposed of.  Disposal of unserviceable flags will be April 4th at 1400 hours.  I am putting out this formal invitation to all American Legion members, family, and friends, to take part in this event.  It will also be a good time to meet new and old friends.  I hope to see you there.

Law and Order – Carl Asher

      This year’s Law and Order program was a rousing success.  We had roughly 140 attendees including the 25 award recipients.  The meal was outstanding from all the reports I received.  The girls from Bethel 154 Job's Daughters did a superb job of serving our guests and clearing the tables afterwards.

      We had more Boosters donate up to the evening of the event and I pass along my thanks to: William and Mary Diaz; Harold and Irene Olson; Ernie Pyle; Larry and Marilyn Lynch; Legion Riders; Louis and Margaret Miller; Jesse and Charlene Longacre; Roy and Ann Brown; Don and Elda Jones.  Ms. Mary De Long an award recipient also sent in a generous donation.  Thanks all of you for your support and we look forward to your kind support in 2010.

Boys’ State – Carl Asher

      I have the packages for the high schools in hand.  They will have been delivered by the time you read this article.  My only problem is the schools are starting SAT testing and we will have to work around that.  Also, at the post most Saturdays in March are taken so interviews are going to be tough to schedule.

      The fees for this year’s Boys State must be in to the District Chairman no later than March 20.  That should happen regardless of when the interviews are held.  The transportation fees should accompany the session's fees just to ensure their timely receipt by the District Chairman and Transportation coordinator at Department.  The blue registration cards are due to the District Chairman in mid April.

      If you have not participated in interviewing these high school juniors for the Boys State program I really encourage you to get involved.  You are in for a delightful awakening as for the most part these boys are the best of the best at their high schools.  Please contact me via email or at the post if you are interested in helping with the interviews.  "Boys State interviews will be conducted on Saturday, March 7 beginning at 11 AM and volunteers are needed to conduct the interviews.  Please visit my website:  www.palomarvoiture1406.com

American Legion Auxiliary

President - Phyllis Bradford

      Good job to Carl Asher and crew for a great Law & Order event.  The 14th was Legion Day at the VA.  At the District meeting 2 of our members were honored.  Ann Marie Brown and Irene Gustafson received plaques from National for service.

      There will a signup sheet in the hall for the Legion Birthday Dinner.  It will be on March 28th.  If you are planning to attend, we need you to sign up and any guest you are bringing.  We need to get a count of everyone that is attending.  All members need to urge family and friends that are eligible to join our Auxiliary.  Irene is working very hard to make goal and we need to help her.

      Our next meeting will be on March 5th.  We will have a planning meeting with Commander Joe Watt at 6:00.  Please try to attend as we have some important events coming up.

Auxiliary Membership – Irene Gustafson

      Please welcome the following new members and add their name to your roster: Mary Kirby, Joyce Haeger and Kimberly Wogomon.  Thanks for joining our Unit.  We made our Target #3 goal by getting 85% of Memberships paid to Department on time.  The next Target #4 goal is to have 100% in by May 10th.  There still are 37 members that have not paid their 2009 dues and therefore are delinquent.  Please help us make our next goal, as Membership dues are vital to the many programs we support.  I am still looking for someone to help with the coupon program for our Military families.  Thanks for the Memories!

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER:  Why is it you have to wait for the night before you can call it a day?

Chaplain – Elda Jones

      January was a quiet month.  Stella Diaz is still in a lot of pain with her broken ankle.  Please remember her in your prayers.  Doris Heard fell.  She has to take it easy for 6 weeks.  She just celebrated her 104th birthday last month.  We have a lot of things coming up in the future.  Keep watching the bulletin for dates and details.

“Listen to understand then speak with love.”

Sons of the American Legion

Commander – Gary Janes

      I have been elected to be your Squadron Commander.  I am introducing myself to you for the first time, although you have seen me cooking meals for a while.  I hope that I can do all members proud.

      I would also like to get a lot of local members to join in to support what we do.  We cook Wednesday night dinners, Sunday breakfasts, and occasionally Friday night dinners and we would like to have more volunteers.  In December, we donated food cards and helped with the food drive for needy and military families.  We are helping down at the VA Hospital with prizes, cooking and bingo.

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American Legion Riders

President – Chuck Faupel

      What happens in this country depends on politics.  You can stand there and say I can change this country, but reality you cannot.  As a group of men and women on the same page, we can change this country.  Together everyone achieves more.  The Riders will continue to come together whether this economy is up or down because we have a stake in the future.  Have fun, contribute to causes, and unite as one.  Unity will pull the sled.  Join us at our events and be part of the group.  You joined for a reason.  Let that be your cause.

      On Saturday, January 31st, Post 149 and Post 146 (Oceanside) came together and supported the dedication of the San Marcos Memorial Wall to Veterans.  It was an incredible event knowing that men and women give their time to recognize the veterans who served this country.

      Thanks to Dave Cline and his wife Sandy for sponsoring a fabulous dinner on February 6th.  It was great.  Nothing but good compliments were received.  Thanks to all the riders who participated in making it a success.  This like others meals will be in our history books.  Dave invited the Minutemen group and they joined us for dinner.  Commander Joe invited them in the Clubroom for music and dancing.

      Thanks to Tim Heck for gathering everyone together to celebrate Smoke’s 86th Birthday on February 14th.  Smoke is an active rider and has become one of our dearest friends.  You can always count on him.  Younger riders have no excuses.  Thanks Smoke for being part of our family.  We also celebrated John’s (Coach) birthday.  What a day to remember.  Chapter 146 came over to join in the event.

      March 20th-22nd will be our Area 5 meetings with a special Friday night dinner.  Saturday, come out and join us for a Chili cook off at our Post, a poker run, silent auction, raffles, fun and games all day.  We want all riders that can make it.  Let’s set a goal to get maximum participation.  We joined to ride and be part of a team.  Invite your friends to join us also.  Semper Fi

Post 149 Escondido

Presents 5th Area Fun Weekend

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, March 20, 21 & 22

Riders Poker Run, Chili Cook-off
Fun & Games, Silent Auction & Raffle
Dinners, Bands and Dancing

And yes, the 5th Area Meeting on Sunday!

Legion Birthday Dinner

Saturday, March 28, 6:00 PM

Presented by American Legion Auxiliary

Stuffed Pork Chops
Green Beans w/ Mushroom Sauce

Cheesy Potatoes

Salad, Rolls, Apple Sauce
Birthday Cake for Dessert

Ada Jones - Annual Porcelain Show

Saturday, March 28th

9:30 AM to 3:30 PM

At the Veterans Memorial Building.

demonstrations, door prizes, sale items
opportunity drawing, admission is free. 
Ada Jones 760-745-0761
 or Jean Bell 619-462-3638

The One Forty Niner

The Official Publication of

The American Legion
 J. B. Clark Post 149
Escondido, Calivornia

760-745-1159 - Fax 760-745-1676
Web - www.calegionpost149.org
Address correspondence regarding mailing to the Adjutant at
calegionpost149@sbcglobal.net
Send comments to the editor at
editor@calegionpost149.org