Newsletter

American Legion Post 56 Monthly Bulletin

January 2008

Commander's Message

Just a reminder, we will be serving New Years Eve Dinner and there will be music in the Bar Area.  Remember Tom and Jerry’s on New Years Day.  Bar Menu also available.

Mark your Calendar!  January 12, 2008 there will be a Fish Fry. To kick off Commanders’ Project for this year.  The Club is in need of a new Glass Washer behind the Bar.  The one in there now was purchased when the Club was remodeled.  Replacement cost is about $4,000.

The American Legion Family along with Club Patron’s raised $800 to purchase Phone Cards at Christmas for our Local National Guard Unit in Kosovo.  They have been there since late summer.

The Veterans of Foreign War gave to the American Legion $1000 to be used for debt reduction.  THANKS it is most appreciated.  Last month, remember the local DAV gave the Legion $1000.  If you see either organization please tell them Thank You.

We are in need of volunteers for Weds. Night Bingo from 6pm till about 9:30 pm and every 4th Sunday of the Month breakfast.  It’s enjoyable and you get to know other Veterans, please call or stop by the club.

Saturday, January 12 and 19 our intent is to clean the basement of the Legion.  Remove the old boiler and heating system.  Organize and just clean things up. It gets to be a mess!!  If you have some free time to help.  It would be appreciated.

The 4th Sunday of January we will be hosting Breakfast.

For  God and Country!
Commander, Gary Anderson

Our membership renewals are looking great going into 2008!  A big thank you to those that have already paid their 2008 memberships.  The American Legion Post 56 paid up membership is currently at 925 which is 89% of total membership.  The Auxiliary paid up membership number I have is 502 and the SAL paid up membership number is 84.  For those that haven’t paid up their current membership stop up to the club to save the postage and when you are there have a wonderful meal, beverage or just to say hello and visit.

I wish everyone Happy Holidays and a Prosperous New Year!

See you at the Club!

 
Dave Mullenbach
1st Vice - Membership Chair

Club Update

Happy New Years!  Hope you all had a warm and wonderful Christmas.  I’d like to thank everyone for all the patronage and support you’ve given us this past year.

January is going to be another busy month with Christmas parties, birthday parties and Fish Fry’s.

Jan 1st - Join us for Tom and Jerry’s from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, then stick around to visit with family and friends.  Basket specials will be available throughout the day.  Jan. 12th - everyone join us in helping Gary kick off his Commanders project with a Fish Fry serving from 4:30 - 7 pm.  Jan 14th - Board meeting at 6 pm.  Jan 21st - Post meeting at 7 pm.  Jan. 26th - Daybreakers Kiwanis Fish Fry serving from 4:30 - 7:30 pm.  Jan 27th - join us for the Post breakfast serving from 8 am - 12:30 pm.

Don’t forget our Friday night Karaoke with Laurie - Jan 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th.  It’s always a great time.

Again I’d like to wish you all a Happy and Healthy New Year.  We look forward to seeing you all soon!

Heidi Watson
Food and Beverage Manager

F.Y.I.

For the past several months this part of the Post 56 newsletter has been advocating that the name of Lee Park in Shoreland Heights be changed to Weber Park.  This action would honor the memory of 1st Lt. John Anthony Weber.  He was killed in action during World War II.  The flagpole and bronze plaque on a boulder in the center of this circular park was placed there in 1943 to honor the memory of the U.S. Marine pilot who grew up in a nearby home.

I made an informal inquiry with the city’s parks and recreation department regarding a possible name change and a new sign for this park.  I was told it would require action by the park board plus the city council for any approval for a future name change.

As I explained earlier, I was once a committee of one trying to get a parcel of grass to be designated as Cochran Park.  That caper didn’t work out at all. Thus, I’ve gone as far as I want to go with this project.  It’s up to someone else to try to change  this park’s name.

Meanwhile, I’ll be looking for another topic for next month’s F.Y.I.

Ed Shannon

Editor

Auxiliary News

HAPPY  NEW YEAR!  Here it is 2008 and it seems like just last year we plunged into the new millennium.  I hope you all had happy holidays with you loved ones.

We celebrated the Christmas season here at the Legion on Wednesday December 5 with our 6 o’clock potluck and the men joined us for a nice supper. Unfortunately, the winter weather kept a lot of people at home.  The wonderful chorale from the Albert Lea High School entertained us with their beautiful music, sung a cappella.  First District President Louise Kleibore joined us for the supper and meeting that followed.  And, oh, yes, we had a surprise visit from Santa Claus!  Isn’t it nice that we have such a wonderful “in-house” Santa Claus?

On Saturday, December 15 we (men from the Legion and women from the Auxiliary) delivered poinsettias to members who are in nursing homes or shut-in because of health.  Doing things like that really makes one feel full of the Christmas spirit because those people are so grateful, not so much for the flower as the thoughtfulness and the little time we took to visit with them.  That is why we try to remind them of other holidays throughout the year.

We learned in our Minnesota Legionnaire paper that anonymous gifts cannot be accepted that are addressed to “Any Soldier”.  So we sent Christmas Greeting Cards through the Red Cross. In the spring we will be packing CARE boxes for troops and we urge you to notify our Auxiliary or the Legion with names and addresses of your loved ones that are serving overseas.  And start now to save the special goodies we like to pack in those boxes.

Giving Winter its due, we do not meet in January.  Stay home and keep warm!  Our next membership meeting will be Wednesday, February 5, with our Board meeting Monday, February 3.  As the sun begins to rise earlier in the day, may your hopes for the New Year rise with it.

For God and Country

Joyce Rhody, President

 

New Years Eve Dinner Prime Rib     $15.95 Walleye     $15.95 Shrimp     $13.95 Chicken Parmesan     $11.50 50's 60's Music by Arlen and Butch Country Western For Reservations call (not required) American Legion 373-7993

 

Debt Elimination: Thank you to the 83 members and friends that have donated to the Post 56 Debt Elimination Fund.  Our barrel is filling up and currently is at $24,291 however the goal is still $120,000.  Remember, it is never too late to donate.  Thank you and have a Blessed Holiday. Arnie Mulso, Debt Elimination Coordinator

ALDEAN J. BROWN
Born Feb. 7, 1926.  Died Nov. 10, 207.  He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was the commander of Post 56 in 1955-56.

ROGER M. JERGENSON
Born July 31, 1924.  Died Nov. 9. 2007.  He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the American Legion.

EARL A. LEVISEN
Born Aug. 10, 1921.  Died Oct. 21, 2007.  He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the American Legion and VFW.

WILLIAM HENRY PAUL
Born Aug. 6, 1922.  Died Nov. 17, 2007.  He served in the U.S. Army during both World War II and the Korean War and was a member of the American Legion, VFW and DAV.  He was also a member of the VFW Color Guard.

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

Glen and Leann Juveland    In Memory of William Paul
Allan and Deb Brown    In Memory of Carolyn Head
Reid and Sherry Ulve    In Memory of David Vanguilder
Clarence and Dorothy Schroeder    In Memory of Earl Levisen
Beverly Hoium    In Memory of Bud Bolinger
Forry and Clarice Porter    In Memory of Clyde Dilling
Robert and Ruth Haskins    In Memory of Aldean Brown
Joan Paczkowski    In Memory of Roger Paczkowski
Bernie and Eva Priebe    In Memory of Aldean Brown
Bob and Betty Guenther    In Memory of Aldean Brown
Bob and Betty Guenther    In Memory of Conky Stanek
Bob and Betty Guenther    In Memory of Barb Meillier
Bob and Betty Guenther    In Memory of Bill Paul
Mary, Marilyn and Mark Claasen    In Memory of Betty Claussen

Honor Guard Donations
Earl Levisen Family    In Memory of Earl Levisen
Robert Knudson Family    In Memory of Bill Paul
Bud Bolinger Family    In Memory of Bud Bolinger
Eugene Otterson Family    In Memory of Eugene Otterson

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 February issue will be the Wednesday following the post meeting.  This will be the deadline in the future!

Veterans Memorial Update

As of December 19, a total of 2,416 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