Salvo Jan 2022
Commanders Corner
On behalf of Post 246, I would like to wish all of you a Happy New Year in 2022. I hope that you enjoyed a Merry Christmas, Happy Winter Solstice, Hanukkah Sameach, or Joyful Kwanzaa. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. We are calling members whom we do not see regularly at meetings and events to just say hi. Please call us back if we miss you; we really do want to chat! The meeting schedule for 2022 is posted at the end of this month’s Salvo. Please add meeting dates to your calendars. We will enjoy another great line-up of speakers at our meetings in 2022. I hope to see you at our upcoming meetings. Please consider volunteering to replace Michelle Lee as Program Director whose responsibilities include finding speakers for our meetings. Let Michelle or me know if you are willing to take over the Program Director position. Please continue to give your suggestions for Post activities and programs to any of the Officers and Executive Committee members. Please also raise awareness about issues affecting veterans, active-duty military personnel, and youth in our community for action by our Post. Please remember to confirm attendance at our regular meeting luncheons and events by leaving a message at (925) 272-8480 or to commanderpost246@gmail.com
Mark Heinemann
Upcoming Events
**** Every Saturday 8:00 am to 12:00 pm Coffee at the Vets Hall
January 1, Saturday New Year’s Day
January 5, Wednesday Regular meeting with speaker, Tammy Quirin/ARF, 12:00 pm
January 15, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
January (TBD) Post Oratorical Contest
January 22 to 29, Saturday to Saturday Crab Feed On-Line Auction Fundraiser
January 29, Saturday Crab Feed Dinner & Fundraiser, 5:00 pm
February 2, Wednesday Regular meeting with speaker, Hon. Laurel Brady, 6:00 pm
February 19, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
March 2, Wednesday Regular meeting with Alzheimer’s Assn. speaker, TBA, 12:00 pm
March 19, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
March 19, Saturday VMB Corned Beef and Cabbage Fundraiser, 5:30 pm
April 6, Wednesday Regular meeting with speaker, TBA, 12:00 pm
April 16, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
May 4, Wednesday Regular meeting with speaker, TBA, 12:00 pm
May 21, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
June 1, Wednesday Regular meeting with speaker, TBA, 12:00 pm
June 18, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
Meeting Speakers
January 5, 2022 – Tammy Quirin and her team (Amada Conlon, Alex Abrahamson,
and Brooke Stensby) will present the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) Pets and
Vets Program. Tammy retired from the Army where she served as a military police
officer, dog handler, dog trainer, and instructor in the USA, Germany and Korea.
Her team members have extensive backgrounds in animal welfare.
February 2, 2022 – The Honorable Laurel Brady will discuss Veterans Treatment
Court, a Collaborative Justice Court within the Superior Court of Contra Costa
County at the Danville Black Bear Diner at 5:30PM for a dinner meeting.
March 2, 2022 – Speaker (To Be Advised), Alzheimer’s Association
2022 – Please continue to give your suggestions for speakers to Michelle Lee until
her replacement is named.
District 9
District 9 holds its next regular meeting at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, 18 January 2022 at the Veterans Memorial Building, 930 Ward Street, Martinez. Please let Mark Heinemann know if you would like to attend this meeting. The meeting provides an opportunity to learn about activities of other Posts in Contra Costa County and about initiatives of the Department of California.
Membership
Please renew your membership for calendar year 2022. About 79% of our members (132 of 168 total members) have renewed their membership through mid-December.
You can renew your membership using two easy ways: 1) go to www.legion.org and click on the RENEW button, fill out the form, and you are done; or, 2) send the Post a check for $45 to PO Box 133, Danville, CA 94526 and we will process it for you.
New Members
Please welcome Al Kalin to our Post. Al retired from the US Army and is also a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is a biking enthusiast and serves in leadership roles with “Mount Diablo Cyclists” and “Bike Danville” to improve biking safety and accessibility. Please also welcome new members Raymond Alberti and Patrick Chatard, both recent transfers from Post 1000. Raymond is an Army veteran from the Korean War and Patrick is a Navy veteran.
We hope to see all of them at a future meeting soon!
2022 Crab Feed Dinner and Fundraiser
Yes, we are returning to an in-person, live Crab Feed Dinner with a twist by combining it with an online auction during the week leading up to the dinner. We will hold a live auction and raffle during the dinner at 5:00 PM on Saturday, January 29, 2022. Contact Bob Sada for tickets which are $55 per person due to increased costs.
We will follow guidelines set by Contra Costa County Health to stay safe for the Crab Feed. Currently, Contra Costa County requires indoor diners to:
1. Wear face coverings except when actively eating or drinking.
2. Show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination (CDC: two-dose mRNA series or one dose Janssen vaccine) or a negative COVID-19 test result from the past three days. We will check vaccination records and test results. Let’s make this the best Crab Feed we have held and remember all the funds we raise go to help veterans and our community! We need your help with the following:
1. Send us the name and contact information of businesses and organizations that you know which may make donations for the event. Merchandise, gift cards, services, goody baskets, and other donations are all great!
2. Volunteer to help with these aspects of the event, such as donation letter delivery and follow-up, donation pickups, banquet hall set up, food purchase and delivery, supplies purchase, appetizer plates for the event, event check-in, raffle and drink ticket sales, banquet hall clean up, and online auction item pickup/delivery. Contact any of the Post 246 officers and let us know how you will help.
Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner
VMB VSOs will host a Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner and Fundraiser at the Veterans Memorial Building Community Hall at 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Please save the date.
Post Photographer
Like to take pictures with an iPhone or camera? We need YOU!! We are looking for a post photographer(s) to help capture pictures and videos of our post activities. Please call or contact a Post Officer or Executive Committee member if you are interested.
Investment Committee
The post expects to complete investment of funds from the post savings account in East Bay Community Foundation investment funds available to non-profit organizations as approved at the June 2, 2021 regular meeting. Veterans Memorial Building of the San Ramon Valley invested funds successfully through the EBCF.
Attention: Stamp Collectors
Our fellow member, Dr. Bob Mixson, receives postage stamps for his collection from the Wounded Warrior Program. He would like to pass on, completely free, the stamps that he cannot use to other veterans who collect stamps. If you are interested, please contact him.
Keep Your Medical Record Updated
If you received a COVID-19 vaccine outside of VA, please help keep your medical records updated. How can you do that?
1. Bring your COVID-19 vaccination card to any VA NorCal location and present it to one of the VA clerks.
2. Take a picture of your COVID-19 vaccination card. Send a copy of the card to your care team in a Secure Message on the My HealtheVet website.
3. Fax a copy of your COVID-19 vaccination card to 916-366-5376. If you have questions, please call 1-800-382-8387.
CC Vets Service Office
The virtual office is accessible from the County’s Veterans Service Office website at contracosta.ca.gov/vets. In the virtual office, Veterans can receive assistance with filing for VA benefits from an accredited Veterans Service Representative. The Contra Costa County Veterans Service Office (VSO) is accepting appointments for meetings at the Veterans Memorial Building, Room 208, 400 Hartz Avenue, Danville, CA. Veterans can schedule appointments every Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Please call the VSO office at (925) 313-1481 to schedule an appointment.
Stand Down on the Delta
Stand Down on the Delta 2021 was postponed to 2022 after consulting with Department of Veterans Health and Contra Costa County Health Department.
Contra Costa County Fairgrounds is secured with the following schedule:
31 May to 2 June 2022 / Set Up
3 to 6 June 2022 / Stand Down
6 to 8 June 2022 / Take Down
As more information is provided in early 2022, updates will appear in the Salvo.
Wreaths Across America
Post 246 members supported the annual Wreaths Across America event at Alamo Cemetery on December 18, 2021. Left to right in the photograph are members Ron Rowe, Gary Soto, and Michelle Haines who served in the color guard for the ceremony. Eric Ardell coordinated Post 246 support to the organizer of the event.
Scout Troop 888 Court of Honor
Post 246 recognized three Eagle Scout recipients at the Troop 888 Court of Honor on December 20, 2021. Alan Scharlach, Post 246 Scouting Representative and 2nd Vice Commander presented certificates to the new Eagle Scouts.
Las Positas College “Adopt a Family For The Holidays”
Thank you to all Post 246 members who donated to the Las Positas College “Adopt a Family for the Holidays”. Your participation made it a great success according to Todd Steffan of LPC’s Veterans First program.
Flag & Emblem Store
Alan Scharlach is serving as our “Supply Officer” and will order items for post members. Go to https://emblem.legion.org/ to do your shopping; then email Alan with the item number, quantity, color, and any other details needed to purchase the item you want. If you call Alan, please leave a detailed message including your call back number.
Uniform Items Available From Post 246 Inventory
Contact Eric Ardell or Mark Heinemann if you would like to purchase Legion uniform items (no shipping or taxes required) from Post 246 inventory:
Plain Short-Sleeved Uniform Shirt with patches (size Med) (2) - $20.00 ea.
Legion Metal Collar Devices (8) - $10.95 ea.
Navy Blue Polo with white neck trim (Medium) - $29.95
Black Polo with white neck trim (Medium) - $29.95
Navy Blue Polo no trim (X-Large) - $29.95
Navy Blue Polo no trim (X-Large) - $29.95
Legion Cap (size 7) new - $49.95
Legion Cap (size 7) used – $19.95
Post Officers and Committee Chairs
Post Officers for 2021-2022:
Commander: Mark Heinemann
1st V. Cmdr: Michelle Lee
2nd V. Cmdr: Alan Scharlach
3rd V. Cmdr: Eric Ardell
Adjutant: Bob Landy
Finance: Phil Connolly
Chaplain: Jon Heinson
Historian: Gerald Lindahl
Judge Advocate: Ron Lowe
Sgt-at-Arms: Floyd Cox
Service Officer: Leroy Vares
Past Commander: Eric Ardell
Executive Committee:
Gary Soto
Dick Seavey
Ron Roe
Neil Giles
Mary O’Donnell
Appointed Officers & Committee Chairpersons
Asst Adjutant: Mike Yura
Asst Finance: Raoul Miranda
Asst Sgt-at-Arms: Raoul Miranda
Supply Officer: Alan Scharlach
Boys State: Eric Ardell
Girls State: Michelle Lee
Oratorical: Neil Giles
Program. Dir: Michelle Lee
Scouting Rep: Alan Scharlach
VMB Ops Committee: Bob Landy
Museum Committee: Ron Farrell
Protocol Officer: Floyd Cox
Board of Trustees: Ron Lowe / Eric Ardell
East Bay Standdown Rep: Mark Heinemann
Veterans Outreach: Mark Heinemann
Post Website: www.americanlegionpost246.org
Post Webmaster: Rusty Orvik and Sons
Salvo Editor: Mark Heinemann / Eric Ardell
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 133, Danville, CA 94526
Message Center: (925) 272-8480
Email Address: commanderpost246@gmail.com
