Newsletter

American Legion Post 56 Monthly Bulletin

November 2006

Commander's Message

Thank you to all that have helped with membership dinners, bar bingo, selling meat packs, cleaning up, and just helping make this go here at Post 56.  also thank you to all that have come in and participated by eating on $1 burger night, bar bingo, Thursday night full dinner menu, karaoke and bar menu along with the 4^th Sunday breakfast and other special dinners.

All of your support has helped the club keep our head above water, however the gaming area is down considerably which pays our utilities, real estate taxes, and some wages.  If gaming cannot pay these the club must pick up the expense and that means we need more participation by members and more profits by the club.  If you have thought of an extra donation that can be made to the D.A.M. dollar a month account.  Hopefully, next month will be better.  Suggest you attend the Post 56 meeting on November 20^th to get updates.

The school packs have been sent and thank you to those that helped send 11 complete back packs along with extra supplies of papers, pencils, etc.  I’m sure the troops in Iraq will appreciate them to help the children of Iraq .

Another thank you to those that have helped the Daybreakers Kiwanis by paying for a package of goodies to be sent to the 25 Freeborn troops serving overseas.  These will be sent the first week in November.

Renewal of your membership is very important to you this year now as National, Department, and District have all increased their dues so it is very important to pay your dues before January 1, 2007.  Dues now are $30 for Legion members.

We hopefully will have had a successful pork chop dinner on October 21^st so we can get the purified air filter fans installed in the lounge area before the holidays.  Thank you to all that have donated to this project.

November offers you a chance to participate in the Veterans service at the Court House on Saturday November 11^th at 11:00 am (parade starts at Legion at 10:40 am) and then back to Legion for lunch – free will donation.  A World War II display by Kurt Barickman will be in the banquet room on Saturday the 11^th also and a free will donation for the Legion will be accepted with snacks and coffee all afternoon.  Also, Saturday November 11^th the Legion will host a LEGION CHICKEN dinner serving from 5-7:30 pm.  Come join us and bring a friend and look at the exhibit and then have dinner.

Other events are the fish fry on Saturday November 4.  Thanksgiving day Tom & Jerry’s.  Saturday November 18^th Chicken and Ribs.

Did you get your community day coupon booklet for Herberger’s for shopping November 11^th yet?  Post 56 will get the $5 you buy it for and if you spend $10 in the store there is a $10 free coupon so you have a win win program – Post 56 and you.

FOR SALE :  Poker table – has experience of many games and years.  Photo on bulletin board or see in basement.  If interested place a sealed bid in envelope and give to bartender and bids will be opened at board meeting on November 13^th at 6 pm.  Thank you.

We will be ringing the bell for Salvation Army in December again so watch for the date.

Fly your flag on November 11^th Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Day.  Other important dates for November are November 7^th – Election Day, November 9^th- World Freedom Day, November 10^th – U.S. Marine Corps established in 1775, and November 13^th – Viet Nam Veterans Memorial Dedicated.

For God and Country

Arnie Mulso, Commander

Club Update

Welcome November...Ufta!.  October was a busy month.  Hope everyone had a good time up here at the club with all the exciting stuff going on.  November looks to be a fun one too.

November 1st the Auxiliary will meet at 7:00 pm.  November 3rd we again welcome the Rotary Club for their noon lunch meeting.  November 4th the Sertoma Club will be hosting a fish fry from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm.  November 11th is Veterans Day...lots going on up here.  Kurt Barickman will be displaying various old military uniforms in the hall from 9 am to 4 pm.  The VFW will also host a free will donation lunch of Goulash and Garlic Toast, after the Veterans Day Program at the courthouse.  November 13th - the board members meet in the hall at 6:00 pm.  November 16th - past Auxiliary President will be meeting in the alcove for dinner off of our Thursday night menu.  November 18th - we'd love to see you all at our BBQ Ribs and Legion Chicken Feed serving from 5 pm-7 pm.  November 19th - TTT Chapter - Dad's Belgium Waffles.  November 20th - Post meeting at 6:00 pm.  November 23rd - Happy Thanksgiving - volunteers serving Tom & Jerry's from 9:30 am - noon.  November 24th - Destination Albert Lea Chili Soup Supper from 4:30 - 8 pm.  November 26th - Dance Line hosts the pancake breakfast.

Don't forget Karaoke November 3rd, 10th, 18th, & 24th.  Come have supper and enjoy the entertainment.

Again Happy Thanksgiving and have a great month.

Heidi Watson

Food and Beverage Manager

F.Y.I.

As promised in last month’s newsletter, here’s the list of the members of Albert Lea ’s American Legion Auxiliary Drum Corps based on a photo taken in either 1929 or 1930.  Those members are Mrs. Eddie Whelan, Mrs. Jim Whitcomb, Mrs. Earl VanBuskirk, Mrs. Ralph N. Nelson, Mrs. Jen Ahern, Miss Gretchen Severson, Mrs. Frank Marpe, Mrs. Kate Woods, Miss Rose McGann (the drum major), Mrs. Con Whelan, Miss Peggy Anderson, Miss Ilo Swenson, Mrs. Ray Christiansen, Mrs. Alice Howser and Miss Olive Langdon.

This list and the FYI topics for the past two issues were inspired by a local person asking about a prize winning group of musical legionnaires from Post 56.  Maybe this answers his inquiry, and maybe it doesn’t.

About a month ago I was looking through the 50^th anniversary booklet of Post 56 issued in 1969.  On one of the pages is a photo of drum and bugle corps.  This large group of young boys was sponsored by the Sons of the American Legion.  The photo was taken in front of the Albert Lea High School building in what may have been the 1920’s or 30’s.

To be honest, I know absolutely nothing about this group.  They just might be the group this person was really asking about when he made his inquiry.  More information about this drum and bugle corps would be appreciated.

Special recognition goes to Rebecca Houg, Tribune staff writer, and Tim Engstrom, Tribune editor, for their superb articles about the future Veterans’ Memorial on the Freeborn County Government Center block and near the corner of South Broadway Avenue and West College Street .

Ed Shannon, Editor 

Auxiliary News

This is the November newsletter so that means the holidays are upon us in no time.  Time to go gather friends and family for good times and shared happiness.

The Legion Membership dinner on Monday, October 16^th brought a wonderful crowd and we are so happy to see all of you.

At our Auxiliary meeting of October 4^th, Pat Johannsen read a report from the girls that we sent to Girls State .  Those girls learn so much about how government works, it is one of the most worthwhile things that our Auxiliary dollars pay for.

Sunday, October 22 ladies of our auxiliary helped serve the monthly pancake breakfast.  Remember, they are always the 4^th Sunday of the month and are a chance to join friends for a nice Sunday morning repast.

On Wednesday, the 25^th of this month, Wanda Christensen chaired our fall salad luncheon, always a winner, and a good fundraiser for us.

Where you there?  Monday, October 2, they held the groundbreaking ceremony for the Veterans memorial at the County Government Center .  Located in the northwest corner of the grounds, it will be an impressive salute to all our veterans.  It is scheduled to be dedicated Saturday, November 11, Veterans Day.

If you haven’t already, please buy your Herberger’s Community Day coupon booklet, it only costs $5 but you get it back when you shop with it on Veterans Day, and you can then name your American Legion as the beneficiary.  It is a win-win deal.

Because our November Auxiliary Membership meeting will fall on Wednesday, November 1, our board meeting will be held the previous Monday which is October 30.  We meet at 5:15, to give a break to gals who are coming from work.

May you all have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving.

For God and Country,

Joyce Rhody

SAL Officers

Commander	Jeff Elseth
Vice Commander	Tom Baas
Sergeant At Arms	Scott Rasmussen
Adjutant	Bernie Priebe
Chaplain	Mike Bennett
Membership Director	Jack Briggs

TAPS 

Albert Veldman

Born May 8, 1924.  Died September 22, 2006.  He served with the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and was a member of the American Legion

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

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

Veterans Memorial Update

As of October 17 a total of 1,850 of the paver bricks and 36 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