Newsletter

American Legion Post 56 Monthly Bulletin

February 2008

Commander's Message

The winter months are a slow time for us.  The Snowbirds & Cold Weather has a big impact on the Club.  Our expenses remain relatively the same.  Our income is a lot less that other times of the year.  Please help us and use the club during this critical time of the year.  We want to stay current with our bills.

Heidi - our Club Manager has decided to return to Civilian life.  Heidi will be missed around here.  The past year & a half she has done a good job, revenue is up, more traffic through the club.  THANK YOU HEIDI!
We conduct interviews the last week of January and hope to have the new Manager on board by mid February.

HELP NEEDED!!! Wed. evening we have Bar Bingo at the Club.  This is done with volunteers.  We have added Mega Bingo, this is a one bingo game that is run statewide on T.V. monitors.  Prizes run $1,000 to 2,000 depending on number of players.  We anticipate a larger number of players.  The Auxiliary & S.A.L. are also eligible to help with this project.  Please sign up.  We can use the help.

Past Commander Arnie’s Debt Elimination project has come to a stand still.  He has collected $25,896.  We still owe about $88,000.  If you can help erase the debt, the money will always be appreciated.

Happy Valentines Day.  Be sure and get your Sweetheart their favorite box of candy or flowers.  Here at the Legion we will be serving a Special Dinner that evening.

Our Sunday Breakfast will be held on February 24, volunteers are always needed.  Thanks!

Say a prayer for our Military Troops that are doing a great job defending this Nation.

For  God and Country
Commander Post 56, Gary Anderson

Club Update

Hi, Happy February - Hope your all surviving the cold spell we’re having.  As most of you already know February will be my last month as your Food and Beverage Manager here at the Legion.  I’d like to take this time to Thank all of you for the support you’ve given me and the many, many friendships I’ve made here.  I’ve enjoyed my time here.  Your all very kind, generous and patriotic men and women.

On to business:  Feb 2nd - Minnesota Deer Hunters Assoc. Fish Fry serving from 4:30 to 7:30 pm.  Feb 6th - Auxiliary meeting at 7 pm.  Feb 11th - Board meeting at 6 pm.  Feb 14th - Bring your sweetheart and join us for our Special Valentines Day Dinner menu serving from 5 to 8 pm.  Reservations recommended.  Feb 16th - Pelican Breeze Fish Fry serving from 4:30 to 7:30 pm.  Feb 17th - Noon Kiwanis Dads Belgium Waffle Feed.  Feb 18th - Post meeting.  Feb 24th - join us for the Post Breakfast serving from 8 am to 12:30 pm.  Feb 27th - Auxiliary Salad Luncheon from 11 am to 1 pm.

Don’t forget our Friday’s - Feb 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th with Laurie’s Karaoke Korner.  It’s always a great  time.

Again Thank You for all your support & kindness.  I’ll miss ya.

Heidi Watson
Food and Beverage Manager

F.Y.I.

Sometimes the best Legion news can be found in the Albert Lea Tribune.

Proof of this can be found in the Tuesday, Jan. 15 issue.  My colleague, Sarah Stultz, did excellent coverage of National Commander Marty Conaster during his short stop at the Wells Legion Post on the previous day.

Sarah’s article stressed the message of his short speech which asked members of the Legion to make a special effort to encourage other veterans to join this organization.

In the last issue of this publication there was a new photo of the Post 56 Honor Guard without any names to identify the members.  Thanks to Arnie Mulso, this same photo complete with names of all the members was on page 2c of the Tribune’s Lifestyle Section in the Jan. 13 issue.

Above the Honor Guard photo was another photo which featured the donation of $11,015.78 from the Worth County Development Authority that helped to purchase the 24 new uniforms.  This donation paid for 75 percent of the costs.  The remainder was raised with the sweet corn and brat feed at the Legion Club.

Now let’s change the topic.

I intend to conclude the editing of this newsletter when Gary Anderson completes his present term as the Post 56 Commander.  Thus, there’s an opportunity for someone else to become involved in this aspect of post life later this year.

Ed Shannon

Editor

Auxiliary News

Well, once we get through a snowy and cold January, February looks pretty good, doesn’t it?  And then there are some holidays to brighten our mood. President’s Day is Monday the 18th.  Don’t forget to fly your flag!  And Valentines Day is always February 14th.  It is a good day to honor your loved ones, whoever they might be.  I even make a cupcake for our cat (and fill the center with tuna) because her owner (my husband) says that is her birthday !

Most important for us, ladies of the Auxiliary, is our luncheon on Wednesday, February 27.  It is always a good fundraiser for us and somehow seems like the presage of spring.  Half of you will be called for donations and we feel sure you will be generous, as always.  Of course we will be needing help too and there will be sign-up sheets at the February meeting.

Also at that meeting we will have installation of new members.  It is such a good sign for our organization that new younger members recognize the value of the American Legion Auxiliary and want to be a part of it.

We will be bringing news from the District 1 meeting in Mabel, held Saturday, January 26.  Gathering at district meetings keeps us in touch with other units and inspires us with information about their activities.

The forms for April reports have come in the mail and will be available at our February meeting on Wednesday the 6th at 7:00 pm.  The board will meet at 5 on Monday the 4th.  With no meeting in January we hope you missed us and will be happy to join us at our February meeting.

For God and Country

Joyce Rhody, Auxiliary President

 

Valentines’ Day Dinner Thursday, February 14th Prime Rib - $15.95 Shrimp - $13.95 Chicken Oscar - $11.50 Stuffed Pork Loin - $11.50 Serving 5 pm - 8 pm Reservations Preferred - 373-7993

 

Debt Elimination: Thank you everyone that helped lower the debt for Post 56 during 2007.  The total amount of donations amounted to $25,896 which amounted to 22% of the original amount to eliminate which was $120,000.  With the club making payments and the donations the balance today is about $88,000 so can we get rid of that in 2008?  In 2007 we had 89 members donate for an average of $290.97 so we still have another 1000 members that by donating $88 would eliminate the debt.  Let’s go for it in 2008.  Thank you from the executive board of Post 56.

KENNETH N. BRUHN
Born June 20, 1918.  Died Dec. 19, 2007.  He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the Lions Club, Kiwanis and American Legion.  He was also a member of the Careyaires.

ROGER M. JERGENSON
Born Sept. 6, 1923.  Died Dec. 24, 2007.  He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and a member of the Elks, Eagles and the American Legion.

Dollar-A-Month (D.A.M.)

Gene and Barbara Lysne    Donation
Leo and Elenora Carey    In Memory of Uncle Leo Carey
Forry and Clarice Porter    In Memory of Aldean Brown
Dean Schwarz    In Memory of Bud Bolinger
Julia Slegh    In Memory of Cornelius Slegh
Phil and Kay Beaver    In Memory of Carlyle (Conky) Stanek
Duane and Eunice Hatleli    In Memory of Bill Paul
Reid and Sherry Ulve    In Memory of Luke Trumble
Karin Mattson    In Memory of Thomas Mattson
Karen Callahan    In Memory Alton Neve
Ray and Ruth Porter    In Memory of Bill Paul
Jan Doyle    In Memory of Betty Claussen
Kathy Neff    In Memory of Bud Bolinger

Donations to the Honor Guard
Bob Nielsen    In Memory of Bill Paul
R.A. Kaufman    In Memory of Bill Paul
B. Weigand    In Memory of Bill Paul
Brian Paul    In Memory of Bill Paul
Joanne Hansen    In Memory of Bill Paul
Gordy Sorenson    In Memory of Bill Paul
Allan Brown    In Memory of Bill Paul

Thank you for your contributions to the Dollar-A-Month fund.  All contributions support the Post 56 club facilities, maintenance & continued growth of our organization.

Judi Olson,

D.A.M. Account Manager

To make a donation, click on the link to our D.A.M. Fund Account Page.

The deadline for the March issue will be the Wednesday following the post meeting.  This will be the deadline in the future!

Veterans Memorial Update

As of January 16, a total of 2,422 of the paver bricks and 45 sponsorships have been sold to honor those who served in the nation’s armed forces.  There’s still room for more paver bricks and more sponsorships!  

Post 447 VFW and Auxiliary meetings are held on the 2^nd Monday of every month at the American Legion Post 56 Clubrooms @ 7:00pm. Come and join VFW Post 447. 

Veterans helping Veterans.

Book Your Upcoming Special Event

with Heidi  373-7993