COMMANDER – Al Norton
The holiday season is fast approaching. We lots of activities planned! Remember to join us for the fun and support of our great club!
Our general membership meeting for November is the last one for the year. December is just to busy for meetings.
Those of you who go out of town for the Holidays please be safe. We will be waiting for your safe and happy return.
God Bless everyone & God Bless America!
Charity & Education:
For September, there was $2,462.67 in Charity and Education Revenues from Gaming donated to the community.
Yippee, by the time you read this, the gaming room should have a shiny new heating and air conditioning unit system, thanks to a grant from Home Depot and proceeds from pull tabs. We are sorry for the inconvenience of gaming room closure, but hope you enjoy the benefits.
Finance Officer– Bill Conklin
The month of September ended fair, we ended up with a profit of over 3,ooo dollars. Gaming is holding steady but down from previous years. We are coming on the winter months and our snowbird visitors hoping this might help some. The officer’s and staff are giving it all they have, to keep operating in the black. If you have any suggestions we are now using the suggestion box and read each and everyone of them at the E-board meeting. For now that’s all I have and hope to see you around the post.
Bill Conklin
Activities Committee – Kathy Norton and Linda Amdal
Many thanks to Larry & Sharon Shaw for the donation of a bunch of Halloween Decorations!! We all appreciate it!!
Thanks to all that showed up in costume for the Halloween Party and the Lucky Diamond Give Away, sponsored by Aries Gaming. It was a lot of fun & congrats to the winners!!
Sun, Nov. 1st.another Guys vs Gals 9 Ball Tournament is in the works. The Guys are 0 – 2 and really want to win one!! It’s a hoot & the pot luck is awesome. Be here by 12:30, games & eats start at 1:00.
Sue Barr has come back to Ram Rod the Tuesday Jams!! It’s always great fun! (3-6 pm) & we have $2.00 Taco’s, too!
Sat, Nov 7th, from 8 – 4, join us for the Craft Fair, yard sale, biscuits & gravy and hamburgers & hot dogs. Start your holiday shopping with a fine dining experience!!
Sun, Nov 15th, @ 2:00, Steph Ross is sponsoring a “Pampered Chef Party” for members and guests. Fabulous cooking utensils and lots of great goodies will be available to choose from. We will have $2.00 margarita’s available.
Tues, Nov17th, the Ladies Luncheon will be @ Hodges Restaurant @ 12:30. History has it, this has been a great gab fest!! Contact Ginny Lucero if you’d like to go!
Wed, Nov 18th, Barbara Anderson will be recognized as our volunteer of the month. Barb has been a pretty silent participant, providing fabulous salads for our dinners, crockpots full of goodies for pot lucks & volunteers her time to help in the kitchen! Thank you,Barb, for all you do for us! Enjoy your parking spot!!
Sat, Nov 21st is surprise 75th Birthday Party for Donnie Polstin!! (If it’s in the newsletter, how big of a surprise is it??) At any rate, join us with Bob Acre at D.J. & Karaoke in the celebration!
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving we will have our annual finger food pot luck instead of dinner. The Post will be closed on Thanksgiving day.
Sat, Nov28th @ 1:30 is the Lucero Challenge Poo; Tournament and Soup Supper. Bring a soup to share & root on your pals in the tournament!! (Bet there could be a lot of turkey noodle soup, but who cares??)
Our karaoke Friday’s this month will be split between Carolyn & our new comer, Barbie Carey! They are both awesome and put on awesome shows!! Come on in and show off your pipes!!
Sneak Peak & Heads Up for your Valentines!!
The Post has been given the opportunity to sponsor the “BAR – D WRANGERS” from Durango @ the civic center in T or C, Sat, Feb 13th!! WE ARE EXCITED!! They haven’t played here in 3 years, but have always had a sold out venue for 12 years. These guys put on an awesome family oriented comedy and “Son’s of the Pioneers” style show. Mark your calendars & further details will be forth coming.
Please check the calendar for meals, entertainment and meetings. We look forward to seeing you at the Post and thank you for your support!!
P.S. The Commander has made an Executive Decision to offer free pool on Sundays!! The bar is open from 12 – 6 pm. so don’t hesitate to participate!!
Sons of the American Legion-
Commander Gene Hill
The Sons of the American Legion held their monthly meeting on October 20th. In attendance were Donnie Polstin, Bob Nellis, Bill Nenno, Bill Laswell, Tillman Smith and Gene Hill.
Membership
The Sons of the American Legion added three new members in September and October.
Make welcome new members Kenny Mac Pace. Christopher Smith and Victor Cano-Liason Jr.
The early bird drawing for 2016 was held and the winner is Justin Norton.
Business
The sale of the caps was well received. We have new ones ordered. They are still $20.00. Check with me or the Bartenders if you are interested.
We have two flag and poles left with a new supply on order.
The SAL will be assisting with the dinner on Wednesday November 18th. If you are interested in helping please contact Gene Hill or any Sal member.
Our next meeting is November 17th at 6:30 PM at the post
As always, remember that organizations are not really organizations, they are just people. Help out when you can and when you see them, thank those that do help out and let’s all work together for the common good.
Thanks for supporting our Post, our Community and most of all —the Veteran
Legion Riders–
American Legion Riders Chapter NMALR 5:
John Bush, President
June 2015 NMALR Chapter 5
Elephant Butte, NM 87935
Membership: We currently have 27 members paid for 2015.
Calendar: Next Riders meeting will be on the first Tuesday of the month: November 3rd at Post 44, at 6:30pm. The next scheduled ride would be on November7th; however that coincides with the Car Show at the Veterans Home.
Special Announcement(s):
Chapter 5 members are planning to host a booth Saturday, November 7th for OWW concurrent with the Car Show.
Rides & Events
10/06/2015 The monthly meeting was held at the Elephant Butte Lake RV Resort on the 6th.
10/15/2015 Chapter 5 members participated in the SAHR rally at Benson Arizona. Five bikes and
eight riders showed the colors around southern Arizona including trips to Bisbee and multiple visits to American Legion Post 24 in Tombstone. In spite of dire weather forecasts for rain, we rode high and dry and had a great time. Kudos to Road Captain Bob Duff who brought us all home safe and sound.
10/24/2015 Two Chapter 5 members attended the State Legion Rider’s meeting in Albuquerque. An appeal was made to OWW to aid in the purchase of a much needed piece of physical therapy equipment for the New Mexico State Veteran’s Home in T or C. Auxiliary Unit 44 had raised $2,250 for the purchase and OWW agreed to pay the balance of approximately $3,600. OWW will order the equipment, have it delivered to Albuquerque and make arrangements for it to be transferred to the Veteran’s Home and assembled by mechanically inclined Legion Riders.
Our monthly meetings are held at Post 44 on the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. – Feel free to drop in, guests are always welcome.
If you are interested in being in the ALR but don’t have a bike – we have a place for you. Ask any ALR Officer or Member for details – membership is $15 plus vest and patches.
Auxiliary-
President- Linda Nenno 575-642-6161
Thank you to all the members who helped with the Veteran’s dinner and the bake/book sale and breakfast in October. Many of us who usually help out were gone, but those who were here made it happen as usual.
We initiated 5 members at our October meeting. Welcome to new members, Susan Buhler, Penni Troxel, Kathy Howe and Jeanine Huber, and not so new member, Lenore VanWinkle. We’re happy you joined us and hope to see you around the Post often.
I’d like to tell everyone about some of the things we do around the community, and especially at the NMSVH. In addition to hosting 8-10 Veterans for dinner each month, several of our members spend many hours helping out at the Veteran’s Home. Every Monday and Friday finds members “walking” with the residents. On the 1st and 3rd Mondays, they walk, sing patriotic songs and then do manicures for the women residents. On Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays, they need help playing bingo. Thursday is board game and card day and help is always appreciated. The Auxiliary is involved in planning and implementing parties for the residents. If you are interested in helping out at the Veteran’s home, please contact Sandi Harrison at (915)637-4144 or email her at sharrison0001@yahoo.com. She can answer your questions and get you involved in an area that interests you.
You may have noticed the pictures in the newspapers of our members giving certificates of appreciation to businesses and individuals around Sierra County. This is our Americanism committee, and they are always on the lookout for signs of Patriotism in the area. If you have a suggestion, you can contact Liz Foster at fosterliz1954@gmail.com.
Our largest bake sale of the year is coming up on November 7, at NMSVH Veteran’s Day Car Show. Please label your baked goods and deliver to the Post on Friday, the 6th or bring to the bake sale that morning. Be sure to indicate if your item has nuts and what kind. We’ve also had requests for sugar free and gluten free items, so if this is something you bake, be sure it’s labeled as such. All proceeds go directly back to the Veteran’s Home from this sale. Last year they were able to purchase many items the residents had on their wish lists.
Ginny Lucero has started the Leadership classes again. They are to be held on Tuesdays at 2 PM at the EB RV Resort. Each class lasts about an hour and you will learn a lot about the history of the American Legion Auxiliary. We belong to an awesome organization! You can contact Ginny at gashley0223@gmail.com to get more information.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
10/31 Potluck, Halloween costume party, Lucky Diamond giveaway
11/7 Bake sale Veteran’s Day Car Show—NMSVH lawn 8 AM-2 PM?
11/12 Bunco 1:00 at the Post. Come see how much fun we have!
11/13 Clothing Sale fundraiser at 403 Cactus in EB. 7 AM-1 PM.
11/15 Pampered Chef Party at the Post 2 PM $2 Margaritas
11/17 Ladies Lunch at Hodges 12:30
11/28 Soup Supper at the Post
Membership—Linda Nenno
Membership is in coming slowly, but surely. As of October 24, we have 218 renewals, 1 transfer, 3 reinstatements, and 15 new members, for a total of 237 paid members. Keep those renewals coming in. Early Bird ended September 30, and Vivion Severns and Lynn Loewenstein were drawn as our early bird winners. They both won a free membership for this year. Carry an Auxiliary application in your purse and encourage eligible friends to join. If you are not sure about eligibility, or have questions about dues or your membership, contact me (575-642-6164) or Ginny Lucero (505-453-7401). Our goal for 2016 is going to be hard to reach, but we can do it if we all work together to grow membership.
The Chaplain’s Corner Linda Ross
PRAYER FOR THE MILITARY: Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen
GET WELL WISHES: Sheila Barton, Cyndi Wipf, Maida Sanders, Walt Toothman, Sherry Pearce, Jack Hodges, Tom Novak, Doug Leasburg, Elaine Garlow, Pam Guillot, Karen Mogen, Pam Sallee, Bob Dunn, Wally Flucky, Bill Curlott , Charles Bucher, Papa Vince and Steve Holmes.
May God bless each of you and aid you in your recovery.
Amen
VETERAN’S DAY PRAYER: Our Father in Heaven, we beseech You to usher into our world of confusion and doubt, the peace and tranquility which alone can come from Thee. Bless and protect our Nation and our Veterans. Be merciful to our honored dead, the memory of whose valor, courage and heroism inspires us to noble action and to eternal vigilance in the preservation of our priceless liberty and of our inalienable rights to enduring happiness. Guide and direct our minds to a thorough understanding of our duties to Thee, to our Country and to one another. Awaken in our hearts the desire and the will to accomplish the ideals for which this Nation exists so that out of our determination and endeavor there may emerge a better world—a world founded upon faith and understanding. Amen
The cornerstone of modern civilization must continue to be religion and morality.
William Howard Taft
Care packages-Cell phones for soldiers-Marty Novak
We sent 30 Care Packages in October. Thanks to all who came to pack. These packages mean a lot to our Service men and women who are far from home.
Thanks to our American Legion Family for the help and support they give us, to the members, non-members, groups, organizations, and business of our community for their monetary donations, memorials and donations of supplies. It takes us all to keep this project going.
We had several new people join us in October, which was great since we had a few of the regulars missing. Thanks for helping and we look forward to seeing you again in November.
We always do Care Packages on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Our next packing day is November 11…Veterans Day. I know there are other celebrations/ceremonies on that morning but it is a problem trying to get in touch with everyone to try to change it. I don’t have phone #s or email for everyone. So we just decided to keep it on the regular day and work with whoever is there to help. We start about 10:30 and it takes about an hour to finish. Anyone is welcome.
Cell Phones for Soldiers
We are still collecting used cell phones. These phones are sent for recycling and provide calling cards for our Troops. There is a collection container in the entry way of the Post.
What is a Veteran: A Veteran…whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve…is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to “The United States of America” for an amount of “up to, and including his/her life.” That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today, who no longer understand that act..