POST 44
American Legion NEWSLETTER – March 2016
PO Box 1073 – 1005 Hwy. 195 – Elephant Butte, NM 87935
575-744-4144
WEBSITE – americanlegionelephantbutte.com
COMMANDER – Al Norton
The Bar D Wranglers was a great show. Those who did not go really missed something. I thank all of the people involved in making the show a success, We have a great group of ladies in this club, and some guys too. Unfortunately we didn’t make the profit we hoped for. We did earn enough to pay for 3/4 of the cement slab to start the new patio. It should be finished by the time you receive this newsletter.
The Smoking patio constructions has begun. It will continue when more funds become available, We are getting some donations. I thank you for that. Let’s keep up the good work to get this large project completed.
The nominations for Officers will close at our March meeting. Election is held at the April Meet. We still need more members to step up to help us manage Post 44.
I know we will continue to be a great place to meet and have fun. Post 44 Rocks!
God Bless everyone and God Bless America!
Charity & Education:
In January, $4186.03 and February, $3189.23 was distributed to a variety of local programs and groups from charity & education funds of Post 44.
Finance Officer– Bill Conklin
January ended up another good month for the post, when all said and done ended up with a profit of over $ 8000 and year to date over $17,000. Gaming was down slightly in January, we still aproved $3500 in charity. The bar D turn out with a profit of about $2200, thanks to the activity committee. Don’t forget March is the last month for nomination to office and still open positions. Thats all I’ve got, hope to see you around the post.
Activities Committee – Kathy Norton and Linda Amdal
Thanks to all that supported, attended, sponsored, helped and donated to “The Return of the Bar D Wranglers” concert on February 13th!! Special thanks to all the “Worker Bees” that promoted, sought out donations & Sponsors & worked SO HARD to make this event a success!! It was a fabulous show!
The Auxiliary has been wanting to place poppy pictures in the ladies restroom. Member, Gary Britton was kind enough to donate $100.00 to the Post for the art works that were in there, making room for the new prints. Thank you, Gary!
Effective, Sunday, March 6th, the Post will be returning to our old Sunday Schedule and will be open from noon to 10:00 p.m.
Easter Eggs Are Back!!! Take your chances on winning candy, $1.00 & $2.00 of grill and meals, free grill & meal, free libation, buy one-get one meal or grill, chance to will a Kindle Fire of American Legion Ball Cap. You Can’t Lose!! $1.00 or 6 for $5.00.
We have a new menu item for you to enjoy on Wednesday, March 9th. It is “Chicken Kiev”, a chicken breast with melted herb butter inside and served on a bed of rice pilaf. Once cut, the butter oozes into the rice pilaf…Yum!
On Sunday, March 20th there is a special celebration in honor of Johanna Roberts, our “Queen for a Day!!” We will also be having an Easter Bonnet Parade and contest, so we can all be adorned in proper “Royal” fashion, in honor of our “Queen.” Prime Rib French Dip Sandwich and French Fries will be served for a “Royal Feast.” ($6.00 donation)
I you haven’t noticed, there is a cute little green pick-up truck solar light under the TV by the sign in desk. It is being raffled for $1.00 or 6 for $5.00. The drawing will be on March 17th, Saint Patrick’s Day.
Congrat’s to Bob Nellis, as our March Member of the Month!! Bob is always willing and available to help whatever needs to be done. That includes fixing things, cooking things, moving things – lots of things!! We all appreciate all you do for us & the Post!!
Don’t forget to spring your clocks forward on Sunday, March 13th!!
For the Lucero Challenge Pool Tournament @ 2:00, March 26th, we will be serving Stuffed Baked Potatoes. This has been very popular because of the wide variety of “Stuffings” provided by members. Conjure up your favorite stuffer to share…
Also, don’t forget, if you have suggestions, ideas, comments, complaints or even donation, please use the suggestion box located on the sign in desk. All comments are addressed at the monthly E-Board Meeting.
Thanks for supporting Post 44 & we look forward to seeing you!!
Sons of the American Legion- Commander Gene Hill
The SAL held their monthly meeting February 16th.
Membership
Member dues are coming in slowly. If you still owe dues for 2016 try and get them in as soon as possible..
Members
The SAL will be helping in the kitchen March 16, serving Corn Beef and cabbage. Plan on attending and enjoy the meal and listen and dance to Jim Corrons.
The Bar-D-Wrangler event went well. Thanks to all the ladies who worked really hard to make this event happen.
The SAL will be having a special supper in the next few months. Keep tuned in for the date and time.
Meeting
The next SAL meeting will be March 15 at 6:30pm at the Post.
Plan to attend and support your branch of the family.
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 March 2016
NMALR Chapter 5 Elephant Butte, NM 87935
Membership: We currently have 23 members paid for 2016.
Calendar: Next Riders meeting will be on the first Tuesday of the month: March 1st at Post 44, at 6:30pm.
Rides & Events
This was a quiet month for Chapter 5:
- 02/02/2015 The monthly meeting was held at the Post
- 02/10/2015 Chapter 5 members took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather to ride to Hatch for lunch at the Pepper Pot.
- 02/16/2015 Chapter 5 members hosted at the Hamilton Military Museum.
The State Riders meeting originally scheduled for February 13 was postponed until March 5th.
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
February was busy as usual. We served 8 Veterans from NMSVH on the first Wednesday. As always, they had a great time.
Five of us attended the Mid-year conference in Albuquerque Feb 5-7. We had a visit from the National Commander and Dept. Commander, Dave Stephens had his Homecoming celebration. We learned a lot and renewed old friendships with members from Units around the state.
Our bake sale on February 13 was very successful, netting us $283.50. Thanks to all who baked and worked the sale. Several of our members worked on the Bar D Wrangler committee, obtaining sponsors, making table decorations and setting up for the concert. They put on a great show which was enjoyed by all who attended. Hope you didn’t miss it.
Our Americanism essay contest is completed, with awards presented to the winners. The Poppy poster is underway and judging will start soon. District 7 will be sponsoring 2 girls from our area to compete in the State Oratorical contest.
Programs of the Month—Education and Children and Youth
Education and Children and Youth are two programs we work that benefit children. They are separate programs but overlap in many areas.
The Education program includes collecting school supplies for our Sierra County schools. All the schools in Sierra County are Title One schools, meaning that 80% or more of the children attending these schools live in or below the poverty level. Therefore, the need for school supplies, clothing and shoes is great. We work with the school’s Social Worker to identify specific needs and do our best to fill those needs. We established a book program and donated books about Veterans, PTSD, the flag and the Poppy story to the library of all the Elementary schools plus the public library. Education also includes giving the opportunity to go to Girls State and Boys State to high school juniors, the Oratorical contest and other scholarship opportunities. We support the ROTC, cheerleaders, and award scholarships.
Two of the projects we do with the schools actually overlap with Americanism and the Poppy program. We work together to bring the Americanism Essay Contest and Poppy Poster contest to the schools and giving awards to the winners in each school.
Children and Youth includes everything we do with and for the children in the schools as well as supplying other needs such as school clothes, coats, Christmas gifts from our Angel Tree, and helping needy families in the community. We also support our local Little League, the Swim Team, and other groups in the community. We work with the Girl Scouts and ROTC involving them in Poppy distribution, helping us with activities at the Veterans Home, and with Care Packages.
If you are interested in getting involved in either or both of these programs, please contact Linda Nenno (575-642-6164) xsklmrm@msn.com or Marty Novak (575-744-4539) novaks@windstream.net.
We will be initiating new members at our March 19 meeting. If you are a new member or one who has never been initiated, and would like to be, contact Ginny Lucero at gashley0223@gmail.com or 505-453-7401. We need to make sure we have enough membership pins and handouts.
Upcoming events:
- March 10—Activities meeting 12:00 Bunco 1:00
- March 12—Breakfast, Bake and Book Sale (Group A bakes) 8:30-10:00
- March 15—Ladies Lunch, Denny’s 12:30
- March 17—Auxiliary Executive Meeting 10:30
- March 19—General Membership meeting and Initiation 10:30
- March 20—Prime Rib Sandwiches, Easter Bonnet Parade and “Queen for the Day” celebration for Johanna Roberts.
- March 22—Bunco 12:00
Check the Post calendar for Wednesday Night menus and other activities. Please come out and support your Post.
Membership—Linda Nenno
Membership keeps growing slowly. We now have 332 paid members, still a long way from our June 1 goal of 442. If you have not renewed, please do it soon. If you need assistance, contact me at 575-642-6164 or xsklmrm@msn.com. Invite your eligible friends to join. You, as a member know what good works we do in the community, and how much fun we have at the Post
The Chaplain’s Corner Marty Novak for 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: :Linda Ross, Terri Smith, Maida Sanders, Sherry Pearce, Jack Hodges, Tom Novak, Doug Leasburg, Pam Guillot, Karen Mogen, Pam Sallee, Bill Curlott, Charles Bucher, Papa Vince, Steve Holmes. Daughter of Moe Graham, Bette Polstin, Johanna Roberts and Moe Graham.
OUR CONDOLENCES: Sandra Hopper on the passing of her husband, Betty Tyree on the passing of her husband, the family of Joy Corpolongo, and the family of Mary Grace Hammons
TO DO LIST
- Practice kindness
- Let go of what I can’t control
- Count my blessings
- Listen to my Higher self
- Instill calmness around me
- Share my light with others
Care packages- -Marty Novak
In February we sent 51 Care Packages. In January we took a picture of all the packed boxes and the packers to made into a Valentine card in our February Care Packages. Thank you, Sharon Pierson for making those beautiful cards. We sent one in each box. Our boxes also included Valentine candies, chocolate hearts. 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 and to all those who come to pack the boxes. It takes us all to keep this project going.
We always do Care Packages on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Our next packing day is March 9. Some of us arrive at 10 to start setting things up and making boxes. We start filling the boxes about 10:30 and we are usually finished by 11. 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..