Salvo - July 2022
Commander’s Corner:
Please attend the installation of Officers and Executive Committee Members at the regular meeting on July 6, 2022. Please join me in thanking Ron Lowe and Ron Roe who are retiring from their positions after many years of service to Post 246.
I am turning over command of the post to Michelle Lee. Michelle is a recognized leader who will move our post forward and enhance our programs and events that support our fellow veterans, our military, our youth programs, and our community. I encourage all members to give Michelle your full support.
I greatly appreciate your initiative and support which were key to the achievements of our post during the last year. Your team effort along with your personal drive and hard work led to Post 246’s success to bring the Crab Feed back as an in-person event and to support Parks RFTA programs, our Scout Troops and Packs, our Girls State and Boys State delegates, our veterans outreach efforts, and more.
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.
Best regards, Mark Heinemann
Upcoming Meetings and Events:
**** Every Saturday 8:00 am to 12:00 pm Coffee at the Vets Hall
July 4, Monday Fourth of July Parade, SRVHS to the Livery, Danville, 9:00 am
July 6, Wednesday Officer Installation / Regular meeting – Vikram Ravi, Eagle Scout, 12:00 pm
July No Officer and Executive Member Meeting in July
August No Regular Meeting in August
August 20, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
September 7, Wednesday Regular evening meeting – Candace Anderson, 6:00 pm
September 17, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
October 2, Sunday Special meeting with Girls State and Boys State Delegates, 1:00 pm
October 15, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
November 2, Wednesday Regular evening meeting – Renee Morgan, 6:00 pm
November 11, Friday Mount Diablo Beacon Lighting for Veterans Day, 5:00 pm
November 19, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
December 7, Wednesday Regular meeting – Scott Perkins, 12:00 pm
December 7, Wednesday Mount Diablo Beacon Lighting for Pearl Harbor Day, 4:45 pm
December 10, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
December 10, Saturday Army-Navy Game Potluck, 10:30 am
December 17, Saturday Wreaths Across America, Alamo Cemetery, 10:00 am
Meetings:
Please continue to give your suggestions for speakers to Mike Yura, Program Director. We are planning evening dinners in September and November. Please remember to confirm attendance at our regular meeting luncheons and events by leaving a message at (925) 272-8480 or sending your email confirmation to commanderpost246@gmail.com. The full meeting schedule for 2022 is on page 8.
District 9:
District 9 holds its next regular meeting at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, 19 July 2022 at the Veterans Memorial Building, 930 Ward Street, Martinez. Please let Michelle Lee or 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. National reports 93% of our members have renewed their membership through June 17, 2022. 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.
VMB LIBRARY AND HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS COMMITTEE (LHCC):
Interested in military history. Please advise Eric Ardell if you are interested in joining the LHCC as the representative of Post 246 or as Chair. Thank you to Ron Ferrell for serving on the LHCC on behalf of Post 246 and to Bob Sada for serving as LHCC Chair.
AMERICAN LEGION BASIC TRAINING COURSE:
Learn about the American Legion in this self-paced online course; go to:
https://www.legion.org/membership/254637/basic-training-your-home
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
The Finance Committee is investigating investment opportunities through the Three Valley Community Foundation.
FOURTH OF JULY PARADE
Post 246 will participate in the Danville Fourth of July Parade this year. We are again fortunate that Ed Ott with his WWII era jeep and James Bundgaard with his WWII era 1-1/2 ton truck will lead our convoy. PG&E is providing a stake truck to round out our convoy. Please join fellow Post 246 members, Eagle Scouts from Troops 60 and 888, and our Girls State and Boys State delegates to ride in these vehicles. We will meet at 8:00 AM on Monday, July 4 at the south parking lot of San Ramon Valley High School. See you there!!!
MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONIES
Post 246 members participated in Memorial Day ceremonies at San Ramon Memorial Park, Danville’s Oak Hill Park, and at the top of Mount Diablo for the first beacon lighting on Memorial Day. Alan Scharlach deserves special thanks and recognition for attending all three ceremonies as Post 246’s official representative. Alan is third from the left in the back row at the Mount Diablo ceremony.
AMAZING RACE/SCAVENGER HUNT
Post 246 participated in the Danville/Sycamore Rotary Club Amazing Race event in downtown Danville on 12 June 2022 and took 3rd Place! Way to go team members Michelle Haines, Mary O'Donnell, her husband Claes Elfving, Ken McKenzie, and Bob Sada.
Danville Farmers Market Recruiting Event
Post 246 members Bob Landy and Mike Yura volunteered to staff a recruiting table at the Danville Farmers Market on 11 June 2022. Renee Morgan stopped by for a long conversation; meantime, they talked with one potential new member. At the same time, it provided a great PR effort by letting the many, many shoppers know that the American Legion is here!!
POST 246 PHOTOGRAPHER
We are looking for a post photographer to help capture pictures and videos of our post activities. Please contact a Post Officer if you are interested.
DEPARTMENT OF CALIFORNIA CONVENTION
The Department convention will take place 24-26 June 2022 in-person in Visalia, CA. Eric Ardell, and Michelle Lee will attend as the Post 246 delegates.
Keep your VA medical records 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.
COVID-19 booster vaccinations are available at the VA – Martinez Building AB6 Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m.
CCC 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.
TOWN OF DANVILLE
The Town of Danville website contains links to notices, alerts, news flash, calendar, etc. about all things Danville: http://www.danville.ca.gov/list.aspx
CITY OF SAN RAMON
The City of San Ramon website contains links to notices, alerts, news flash, calendar, etc. about all things in San Ramon: https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/home
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
Baseball Cap (size – adjustable) - $21.90
Assorted Polo Shirts (X-Large) - Donated by Carol Reid – No Charge
POST OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Post Officers for 2022-2023:
Commander: Michelle Lee
1st V. Cmdr: Mark Heinemann
2nd V. Cmdr: Alan Scharlach
3rd V. Cmdr: Eric Ardell
Adjutant: Bob Landy
Finance: Phil Connolly
Chaplain: Jon Heinson
Historian: Gerald Lindahl
Judge Advocate: Mary O’Donnell
Sgt-at-Arms: Floyd Cox
Service Officer: Leroy Vares
Past Commander: Mark Heinemann
Executive Committee:
Neil Giles
Michelle Haines
Mike Yura
Gary Soto
Appointed Officers & Committee Chairpersons
Asst Adjutant: Michelle Haines
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
Scouting Rep: Alan Scharlach
VMB Ops Committee: Bob Landy
Museum Committee: OPEN / TBA
Protocol Officer: Floyd Cox
Board of Trustees: Ron Lowe / Eric Ardell
East Bay Standdown Rep: Mark Heinemann
Veterans Outreach: Mark Heinemann
Program Dir: Mike Yura
Scouting Rep: Mike Yura
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
Keep saving your pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters for donation to Helmets for Heroes at a future meeting!!
2022 Meeting Schedule
Regular Meetings (First Wednesday of the Month from 12:00 to 3:00 PM in the Second Floor Meeting Room, Veterans Memorial Building)
05 January 2022
02 February 2022 – Meeting at 6:00 PM at the Danville Black Bear Diner
02 March 2022
06 April 2022
04 May 2022
01 June 2022
06 July 2022
No meeting in August
07 September 2022 – Meeting at 6:00 PM at the Danville Black Bear Diner
02 October 2022 – Meeting at 1:00 PM at the VMB Community Hall to recognize 2022 Boys State and Girls State Delegates (No regular meeting on 05 October 2022)
02 November 2022
07 December 2022 – Meeting at 6:00 PM at the Danville Black Bear Diner
10 December 2022 (Army-Navy Game Potluck)
Officers and Executive Committee Meetings (Third Saturday of the Month from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM in the Second Floor Meeting Room)
15 January 2022
19 February 2022
19 March 2022
16 April 2022
21 May 2022
18 June 2022
No Meeting in July
20 August 2022
17 September 2022
15 October 2022
19 November 2022
10 December 2022 (Changed due to expected conflict with Wreaths Across America at Alamo Cemetery on 17 December 2022)
district 9
Next regular meeting at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, 19 July 2022 at the Veterans Memorial Building, 930 Ward Street, Martinez. Regular meetings are held on the third Tuesday of odd numbered months.
