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

SPECIAL EVENTS

Installation of Officers
Saturday, June 6th at 11:00 AM

Flag Day June 14, 2009
Flag Disposal Ceremony at 2:00 on the Patio

Department of California Convention 2009
June 19th through 24th in Riverside

Independence Day 2009
Saturday, July 4th at Grape Day Park

POST AND MEETING NEWS

      The Post Executive Board and General meetings were held on Tuesday, May 12, 2009.  Membership now stands at 933 for 96.6% of our goal or 33 members short of needed for 100%.

      Second nominations and Elections for officers were held.  The following persons were elected: Commander, Joe Watt; First and Second Vice-Commander, no nominations received; Sgt-at-Arms, Wayne Louth; Finance Officer, Art Lubben; 1 year Executive Board, Cyndie August; 2 year Executive Board, Daleen Moore and Ernie Pyle.  Congratulations to our new officers.  Please be sure to step up to help them.  We still need to fill some positions for the 2009-2010 Legion year.  Nominations and elections for the vacant positions will be held at the next regular meeting.

      The latest changes to our Post By-laws and Standing Rules will be posted on the bulletin board at the Post and on our web site.  If you have any questions, contact the Judge Advocate, Art Lubben.

      The Post voted to bestow Honorary Life Membership on Rene Cortez.  Congratulations Rene and thank you for all the work you do for the Post.  Rene announced that he will continue to pay his dues and have them donated to our Children and Youth fund.

Commander – Joe Watt

            Welcome to June, the Post has chosen their new officers, well maybe not new.  I was re-elected your Post Commander and I am now trying to put together a team to make the Post a better place for all.  I am in need of some volunteers for Officers, mainly the Vice Commander spots.  These positions are important to the well being of the Post, so if you wish, come to the June meeting and submit for one of these positions.

            The Independence Day program is well underway with Fireworks at Grape Day Park.  It should be a great event with help from the City and Arts Center.  We need the help of Post members also, so volunteer if you can.

Chaplain – Harold W. Olson

      I must report the passing of Richard Ligouri from the post, and Marge Mara from the Auxiliary.  On the sick call roster, David Concannon had surgery on his foot and is home doing well.  Lee Williams had emergency surgery and as this writing is still in the hospital.

      A thought to consider: Look around you--God's powerful love is present in persons who care about you and about the cause of the legion.  Look within you--God's powerful love is present in all your desires to be effective comrades.

Law and Order – Carl Asher

      Your generous donations continue to come in, and as soon as I can I post your name on the Booster Board.  Thank you for your support.  Added to the Booster Board this month are: Paul and Betty Lochridge and Tom Kmetovic.

      Law and Order pins are available for $5.00 each.  I will leave a few with the clubroom and you can purchase them there.  All proceeds from the sale of the pins go to support your Post law and order program.  I ordered 300 pins and have about 200 left.  Even the police and fire departments are helping in the effort by selling the pins to their peers.  Won't you help too?

Boys’ State – Carl Asher

      Post 149 hosted the 2009 District 22 Boys State Luncheon on Saturday, May 16.  I pass from the District Chairman Scott Williams, thanks to all who helped set up.            Our main hall is not large enough to host the 200 plus guests for the luncheon so we used the Patio grounds.  Scott informed me everything went well.  Due to a last minute scheduling conflict; Post 282 had to withdraw from hosting this great learning annual luncheon.  Your Post stepped up to the plate with less than 36 hours notice.  I don't know who all helped but I share these names with the knowledge I may have overlooked one of you.  If so, please accept my apologies for the oversight: Art Lubben, Ed Landis, Ernie Pyle, Howard Haworth, and Greg Hardesty.  Again I am certain I missed someone.  Thank you for your help.

Scholarship Chairman – Denny Murphy

      The competition for 2009 was tough.  We had 62 applications from all three high schools, Escondido, Orange Glen, and San Pasqual, all hopeful of receiving this award.  The process is very competitive and requires each applicant to submit a package which includes: a GPA (nine through twelve), written point paper on their goals for the future, recommendations from faculty, extracurricular activities, financial needs, and the all-important interview.

      I had a preliminary screening and determined seven candidates that I wanted to interview.  The interview determined Escondido High School as the winner.  I want to thank Escondido High School who is a great supporter of our program for providing a conference room and scheduling of students for our interview.  I agreed that Rachel Ascherl was our winner, bright and outstanding in all factors judged and was the only one who knew the answer to a tough question, “What does TARP mean to you?”  Rachel has decided that the field she wished to pursue is in Hotel Management and hopes to climb to management in some top hotel/ship/resort facility.

      Rachel made it very clear on how a college education is crucial to her.  She stated, “It is what I have worked so hard for in high school.  Every decision I have ever made in the last four years form challenging myself with advanced classes, to participating in after school clubs, was to get me closer to the university and career I want.  This scholarship would go toward my tuition for Palomar Community College to get my general education requirements out of the war so I can focus on my major.  I plan on achieving my goal by attending Northern Arizona University of which they are nationally renowned in this field”

      I was at the senior award night May 14 to present further instructions on receiving her award.  We know the Post investment in Rachel will bring guaranteed returns.  As the chairman of this program I want to thank all the participants who supported this successful program this year.  We are helping our youth and future leaders of America.

=============================

American Legion Auxiliary

President – Phyllis Bradford

      Thanks to all the ladies that attended the last meeting.  We were finally able to get all of our business done.  We still have to fill some of our offices.  If you have would like to hold a chairmanship let us know as we are having a problem getting people to chair.

      Our installation is on the 6th of June.  Please try to attend.  We have been asked to bring salads and desserts.  Please let me know what you are bringing so I can coordinate.  We will be putting on Friday night dinner on the 12th of June.  It will be “cook-your-own steak.  Your help would be much appreciated.  I also will need help for breakfast on the 7th, and for tacos on the 10th.  Let’s keep our sister Glenna in our thoughts and prayers.

Auxiliary Membership – Irene Gustafson

      I'm sorry to tell you, we did not make our membership goal this year.  It is the first time since the 2000-2001 year that we missed our goal or didn't exceed it.  Our loved ones that gave us the eligibility to belong need our continued support to help preserve what they gave up so much for.  As families of Veterans and our current Armed Forces, we must continue to be their main support.  By paying dues to the Auxiliary, you are giving Veterans support.  The more members we have, the stronger we are as an organization and the more attention Congress pays to what we have to say on Veteran's issues.  So, reconsider renewing and being a member again.

      Have you ever wondered, "How do I receive this 149er Newsletter?"  Well I'll tell you.  The bulletin is published by Art Lubben, printed by Ed Landis, and then the following dedicated Legion and Auxiliary Members come out each month, when called, to fold and prepare approximately 1,140 bulletins by zip codes, for mailing.  Please thank Fred and Ruth, Gene and Irene, Gaye and John, Elda and Don, Marie and Howard, Lewis Hill, Richard Hasselman, Joan Dresch, Lanny and Leslie, and Margaret and Louis.  After folding Ralph (Gus) and I take them to bulk mail at the Post Office.  We thank all of you as it wouldn't happen without all of you!

      As mentioned in a previous newsletter, Auxiliary member, Leslie Peterson, contributed 20 tablecloths for the dining room.  Well she bought 4 more beautiful white flannel backed ones.  Thank you, Leslie.  Your contribution improves the looks of our dining room.  Helpers, when you use them, wipe them off, and fold them properly so they will be in good condition for a long time.

      Thanks for the memories.

Chaplain – Elda Jones

      We have set a date for our installation, June 6th at 11:00 AM.  I hope you will attend.  Thanks to Phyllis Bradford for accepting the Presidency for the New Year.  It doesn’t seem possible that another year has past.  We had a sad year.  We lost nine of our Auxiliary members.

      Irene and I went to see Glenna.  She is progressing, but still needs our prayers.  Thank goodness none of our members caught the Flu so far.  Keep well Ladies.  God be with you all.

      “He is truly wise who gains his wisdom from the experience of others.”

=============================

      Sons of the American Legion

      The Sons of the American Legion meet on the second Wednesday of the month following the patio BBQ.  Membership is open to the male descendents of Legion members and deceased Veterans.

=============================

American Legion Riders

President – Chuck Faupel

      Another month has gone and another one in, why when you get older time seems to go faster?  The Riders are putting time in the field supporting different events.

      On Friday-Sunday, April 17th and 19th Dan L, Lyle, Dave C, Rick, and myself rode to Arizona to join other rider’s for the 48th annual Yuma Prison Run.

      On May 1-3 Jake Jacobsen and Art Lubben drove up to San Leandro in the San Francisco Bay area for the Annual American Legion Riders, Department of California Convention.  A couple of changes to the Department by-laws were approved and new officers were elected for the coming year.  Jake was re-elected as Vice Commander for the 5th Area.  The Convention was well attended by Riders from around the state.  Next year’s convention will be hosted by Chapter 555 in Midway City, Orange County so we hope to have a larger delegation going next time.

      Our Brother rider, Lyle, had an accident on May 7th while returning from a Patriot Guard ride.  He broke his left wrist and dislocated his right shoulder and the bike had some damage.  The crash was low speed, approaching the merge from I-215N to I-15N with quite a bit of traffic.  He was bumped by a cage that did not stop.  An off duty fireman was there to help.  Keep Lyle in your prayer’s and we will get him back on the bike.

      On Saturday, May 9th the Riders supported the “Nuts for the cure” for Susan Komen 3-day walker fundraiser for helping to fight the deadly disease of breast cancer.  The event was held at Bates Nuts Farm in Valley Center. They had a Queen of heart’s motorcycle ride.  Helen Lloyd walked the 5K walk around the 100-acre farm.

      Thanks to the Riders that came and supported Commander Joe Watt and veteran rider for another term as Post 149 Commander at the May 12th Post meeting.  The next day they departed for the Run For The Wall to D.C.

      June 14th will be our monthly ride.  We will meet at the Post at 8:00 AM and KSU at 8:15 to go out for a breakfast ride and be back at the Post for the Flag Disposal Ceremony at 2:00 PM.

      On June 19-21, 2009, Tim Heck has opened his door to the Riders to come and join him at Lake Elsinore for  boating, BBQ or just getting out and having fun and ride.

      Reminder: July 4th, Saturday, Post 149 and American Legion Riders will host the fireworks at Grape Day Park.  We need all the help we can get.  Come down and support this event.

      Our Riders meeting is on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.  If you haven’t been to one in a while come down and join us. 

      Until next time, Semper Fi Chuck

=============================

Editor – Art Lubben

      Unless the Executive Board reverses it’s previous decision, this will be the last of the monthly newsletters.  In the future the newsletter will be published every other month.  The next newsletter will be in August.  Remember the deadline for articles and announcements is the 15th of the month.  For the next newsletter that will be July 15th for August and September.

      Updates on activities will be posted on our web site and flyers will be distributed at the Post.  Menus for Friday night dinners will be available on the automated phone system as well as on the bulletin board at the Post.