POST 44
American Legion
NEWSLETTER – January 2015
PO Box 1073 – 1005 Hwy. 195 – Elephant Butte, NM 87935
575-744-4144
COMMANDER – Al Norton
The year 2015 is behind us. I believe it was the best year I’ve seen since I became involved with Post 44.
The generosity of the members has been amazing. Your extreme caring for our community has made it possible for many families in need to enjoy a happy holiday season. I’m sure everyone who received your gifts of presents and food at Christmas gives special thanks to the American Legion Family. I thank all of you very much, especially the many Santa’s helpers who did the collection, wrapping & distribution of the gifts. The teamwork of all the volunteers is what makes this event a success.
I want to invite all of you to the January General membership meeting on the 16th at 10:30 am. We will be giving recognition to a few of our Special volunteers.
God bless all and God bless America!
Charity & Education:
For the year 2015, a grand total of $38,343.20 was given back to the community from the Post’s Charity Gaming Funds.
Activities Committee – Kathy Norton and Linda Amdal
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! Boy howdy, last year sure went by in a flash!!
Wasn’t that Christmas party a hoot??!! SPECIAL THANKS to Gene Barton, Johnny Walker, Lindsey Moore and Margaret Simone for manning the bar, running cocktails and doing the gaming for us!! You guys ROCK!! Special thanks, also, to Vince and Arlea Hadley & Linda & Bill Nenno for your donations of Christmas Spirits!!
Friday, January 1st come in & join us for Mimosa & Bloody Mary Specials to get the new year rollin’!
Sunday, January 3rd @ 2:00, there will be a “Guy’s & Gal’s” 9 Ball tournament. I’m not sure, but I think the Gal’s have been pretty much spankin’ the guy’s.
Sunday, January 17th @ 2:00 there will be a Scotch Doubles Tournament.
On Monday, January 18th, the National Auxiliary President will be here for a visit and a luncheon. Watch for flyers on this event.
Wednesday, January 20th, Tom Cleveland, stand up & take a bow!! You have been selected as Member of the Month!! Your untiring efforts and support around the Post are sure appreciated! Thank you for all you do!!
Saturday, January 23rd@ 2:00 is the Lucero Challenge Pool Tournament. That same day, we are planning a big shindig in honor of Papa Vince Fiato. More information to follow.
We are re-collecting mailing addresses at the bar for those that would like a newsletter mailed to them. If you know someone that could use this service, please let us know.
Take your sweetheart to a Special Valentine’s Concert!! The Bar D Wranglers are coming to town on Saturday, February 13th @ the Civic Center in T or C. They played to sold out crowds here for 12 years with their Family Style Comedy & “Son’s of the Pioneers” style music. Sponsors are being sought out, & sponsor tickets will be sold on a first come/first served basis.
Front row 8-top tables – $500, Second row 8-top tables – $400, Third row 8-top tables $250, Floor seating (4 tickets) $100. General admission ticket sales locations will be announced soon. Adults – $15.00 Children under 12 – $10.00. Sponsors will be invited to a pre-concert party @ the Post, acknowledged at the concert, in the concert program, newspaper and print ads. Proceeds will go toward a building fund to enhance the Post with some much needed upgrades.
Check the calendar for menus & other events happening this month. See you at the Post!!
http://www.americanlegionelephantbutte.com/news/calendar-january-2016/
Sons of the American Legion-
Commander Gene Hill
The Sons didn’t hold a meeting in December so members could be with their families during the Holiday season.
It was a great year for the SAL, participating in fund raisers to benefit the post and contribute to the community. It was fun working with the rest of the families during these events. We are looking forward to these activities in the upcoming year. If you haven’t volunteered in the past you should in 2016. It gives you a good feeling to know you’ve been a part of a great organization.
Membership
We had 15 new members this year plus 2 transfers. We are well on our way to matching that number in 2016. Do your part in recruiting new members.
Our next meeting is January 19th, 2016 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 13 members paid for 2016.
Calendar: Next Riders meeting will be on the first Tuesday of the month: January 5th at Post 44, at 6:30pm.
Rides & Events
- 11/03/2015 The monthly meeting held at the Post
- 11/07/2015 Chapter 5 members participated in the Veterans Day weekend ceremonies and hosted an OWW table at the Car Show with the assistance of the JROTC.
- 11/21/2015 Chapter 5 participated in the OWW visit to NMSVH, delivering the NuStep cross trainer along with lap quilts and personal care products. After the visit Chapter 5 hosted the visiting Riders to pizza and a free drink at the Post.
- 12/12/2015 Chapter 5 participated with Post 44 Legionnaires and Unit 44 Auxiliary members in hosting a campsite at the Annual Luminaria Beach walk. The Riders served hot chocolate and passed out the mini muffins provided by the Auxiliary.
- Chapter 5 claimed five children from the Post 44 Angel Tree and purchased Christmas gifts for 4 boys and 1 girl, ranging in age from 3 years to 8 years..
- Chapter 5 officer election was held at the December meeting; the results were:
President: John Bush
Vice President: Donacino Armijo
Secretary: Craig Pierson
Treasurer: Craig Pierson
Rd Captain: Bob Duff, & Jim Coslin
Sgt. at Arms: Brian Nikiforow
Historian: vacant
Chaplain: Ron Crom
These officers assume their duties January first.
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
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Talk about a BUSY group. We started the month with our Veteran’s coming to dinner. Thank you, Martha and David, for helping in the kitchen. Nice to see some new faces in there.
December 5 we decorated the Post and put up the Angel Tree with over 50 tags for needy children. We made cookies and candy for 50 care packages so our troops would get a little taste of home for the holidays. We also made dozens and dozens of pecan pie muffins for the Luminaria Walk on the beach. Then we continued to bake for cookie trays that were delivered to the local banks, post office, teachers, newspapers and first responders who have all supported us through the year. Everyone was delighted to receive these homemade treats and those trays were overflowing! Thank you to all who baked and helped with distribution in all these endeavors. We couldn’t do it without all the help.
On December 15, we tackled the mountain of Angel Tree gifts that had come in. We spent over two hours wrapping and were in awe of the generosity of our members (and some non-members) for these children. You guys are wonderful!! I wish I could see the look on the faces of these children when they open their gifts. I know Bill and I had a lot of fun shopping and I hope the rest of you did too.
Our Post Christmas party was a lot of fun. We had a “White Elephant” gift exchange for those who wanted to participate. Some pretty interesting things turned up at that party. Everyone who participated had a really good time.
20 food boxes were presented to needy families in the area so they could have a nice Christmas dinner. Again, everyone was very generous in their donations. Thank you all.
Program of the month: Leadership. Ginny Lucero is going to begin teaching the Leadership class this month. I highly recommend that you take it if you can. It covers the history of this great organization both nationally and locally. You’d be amazed at some of the things our Unit is responsible for in the community. Check your calendar for dates and times, or contact Ginny at gashley0223@gmail.com or (505) 453-7401, to sign up.
Upcoming Events
January 9—Breakfast and Bake/Book sale
January 14—Exec. Committee meeting 10:30
Bunco 1:00
January 16—General membership meeting
January 26—Bunco 12:00
Membership—Linda Nenno
Happy New Year
Thank you to those who have renewed for 2016. The dues are still $30/year, and help us continue the programs that serve Veterans and their families. Membership is our most important program, since without members, we cease to exist. Tell your non-member friends about us, what we do and encourage them to join if they are eligible. Carry a membership application in your purse. You, as a member, know we have some really good things going on at the Post, and we always have a lot of fun, so spread the word. As of December 22, we have 286 paid members. Remember, door cards change January 1, 2016 and you will not be able to get a new one without a 2016 card.
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: Terri Smith, Maida Sanders, Sherry Pearce, Jack Hodges, Tom Novak, Doug Leasburg, 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
CONDOLENCES: The family of Bill Calahan in the loss of your father and husband. Theresa in the loss of your husband Robert Dunn, and the loss of Cathie Fewell .May God bless you and be with you during this time of sorrow.
Care packages-Cell phones for soldiers-Marty Novak
In December we sent 48 Care Packages filled to the brim with homemade cookies, fudge, peanut brittle, candy canes, Christmas cards from the Girl Scouts and cards and letters from the Pre-K class at Appletree and a lot of love, plus the salsa and socks and other goodies we send every month. We sent an extra box to each name so they would have more to share with those who have to be away from home and family at Christmas time. Thanks to all who came to pack. These packages mean a lot to our Service men and women who are far from home and especially at this time of the year.
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 always do Care Packages on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Our next packing day is January 13. 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..