Salvo- November 2020
Original Document (with images)
COMMANDERS CORNER
Our regular meeting in October was a virtual edition of our Boys and Girls State Luncheon and we were joined by all of our Boys and Girls State delegates (all thirteen of them). We also had numerous special guests join us including Danville Council member Newell Arnerich, SRVUSD Director Ken Nelson, SRVUSD Trustee Ken Mintz, San Ramon City Commissioner Scott Roberts, Head of Athenian School Eric Niles, Athenian School Trustee Guy Henshaw, AL Dept of California Area 2 Vice Commander Dave Jackson, AL District 9 Commander Randy Reid, ALA Unit 161 President Vicki Bean, ALA Unit 161 Girls State Co-chair Harvalee Grimm, San Ramon Valley High School Asst Principal Liv Hanley, Daughters of the American Revolution Regent Kate Hare, Soroptimist Intl of San Ramon Valley Carol O’Keefe as well as many of our post members.
Our keynote speaker, Michele McKay-McKoy, provided a great historical prospective on the Constitution. Then, our four Boys and Girls State panelists, Boys State Chief Counselor Tim Aboudara, Boys State Legal Advisor Dale Major, Girls State Counselor Maggie Taylor Aherne, and President of the Girls State Alumni Foundation Guang Ming Whitley. The panelists answered many questions about the Boys and Girls State experience.
For our November meeting we will again be on Zoom (unless things improve rapidly in the next couple of weeks. We will work on having a speaker to be determined.
I am repeating this note from last month - - There is an especially important message from the Department Commander about the upcoming election. Please read it and call me if you have any questions. And remember to VOTE!
The state is still mandating you wear a mask and social distance. Let us do our part and wear them in any public setting. I am seeing information from county officials that there may be some changes coming soon so we will try to keep you posted.
We are now at 77% of members = renewed as of 10/15/20! If you have not renewed as of 10/14 you will be receiving another renewal notice from National. Plasee take a minute and renew on line or send us your check for your dues. Thank you all for your continued support for this great organization and our local post.
We have now made enough progress on our new website that we have gone live at the usual URL, www.americanlegionpost246.org. Check it out!!
Stay safe and wear your masks!!!
Eric, Commander
UPCOMING EVENTS
**** Every Saturday 9 to 12 Coffee at the Vets Hall **** Still on hold
October 21st – November 11th 2.2 for 22 CHALLENGE FOR VETS
October 31st, Saturday Halloween
November 3rd, Tuesday Election Day
November 4th, Wednesday Regular Zoom meeting with speaker, 12:00 pm TBD
November 7th/8th, Saturday & Sunday NO VMB Museum Displays
November 11th, Wednesday Veterans Day
November 21st, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
November 26th, Thursday Thanksgiving Day
December 2nd, Wednesday Regular meeting with speaker, 12:00 pm TBD
December 19th, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
December 19th, Saturday Wreaths Across America, Alamo Cemetery. 10:00 am
December 25th, Friday Christmas Day
January 1st, Friday New Year’s Day
January 6th, Wednesday Regular meeting with speaker, 12:00 pm TBD
January16th, Saturday Executive Committee meeting, 8:30 am
January (TBD) Post Oratorical Contest
January (TBD) No Crab Crab Feed Auction Fundraiser
MESSAGE FROM OUR DEPARTMENT COMMANDER
To all California Legionnaires:
As we approach the upcoming election, I am compelled to speak again about the stance we have to take as members of this great organization. We're a very political organization, in regard to the issues which directly affect our veterans and their families. We are not, nor have we ever been, an organization which supports political candidates, political parties, or participate in partisan activities or endeavors. Powers will always try to use outstanding organizations such as ours, to legitimize their efforts and put their candidates over the top. If you follow the rules outlined in this link, The American Legion is Nonpartisan, you will avoid dragging yourself and your post into controversies which always tend to occur this time of the election cycle.
As always, our American Legion stands for the principles we have outlined in our preamble. Stay focused on this whenever we engage our organization with our community, and we will ride this wave together regardless of the outcomes of this and every election, yet to come. As veterans, our focus remains on helping veterans. Let us remember we have a long-term relationship with each other and our communities which extends much further than next November 3rd.
2.2 WALK FOR 22 VETS VIRTUAL CHALLENGE
REGISTER NOW
Join us in the 3rd Annual
2.2 for 22 CHALLENGE FOR VETS
October 21st - November 11th, 2020
(VIRTUAL)
The 2.2 for 22 Challenge Walk for Vets is designed to raise awareness that 22 veterans lose their life to suicide daily. The goal of the event is to help inform others about this important issue, and to allow those who have experienced the loss of a fellow veteran be given an opportunity to share their story. Join us in remembering those we lost to suicide, and to unite as a community to remind others they are not alone. Sign up as an individual participant or as part of a team; or make a donation to sponsor one or many student veterans. We appreciate your support!
Registration is NOW OPEN
$22 per person
Registration includes the shirt, commemorative metal and a great time for an important cause.
(must register before October 20th for medal and shirt)
To register for the 2.2 Challenge:
22for22WalkforVets
Our own Michelle Lee says you are invited to join her team created with you in mind. “We’re the HEART GUARDS!” (Don’t make fun of the name—it’s much better than the other ones proposed!!). Join the team with heart! The more the merrier, and it’s for a very good cause.
For more details, see the link below, and please join the HEART GUARDS team!
https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Livermore/22for22WalkforVets
ALAMO WOMEN’S CLUB / BLUE STAR MOMS OF DANVILLE
Together We Give for Blue Star Moms of Danville. Dec. 9th, Wednesday, 2 to 5 pm. Curbside drop off donations at Alamo Women’s Club at 1401 Danville Blvd., Alamo. We will also take monetary donations for them. Make checks payable to Alamo Women’s Club and on memo line note Blue Star Moms. Items wanted are listed at www.bluestarmoms.org. or on our website at www.alamowomensclub.org.
Let’s all pitch in, check the Moms website (above) and provide whatever you can.
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA. ALAMO CERETERY
Our post is co-host of the Wreaths Across America Ceremony honoring the veterans in the historic Alamo Cemetery. Because of the participation limits placed on public events this year, the Alamo-Lafayette Cemetery District will allow only 40 people in the Cemetery at one time.
With this limit in mind, there will be abbreviated opening ceremony and a 2-hour period for placing the wreaths. Beginning at 10 AM, December 19, 40 people will be allowed in to place 40 wreaths. As individuals exit, others will be allowed to enter and place wreaths. So, it will go, until every veteran is honored, ending at 12 noon.
We will provide unloading and stationing support before Saturday as we have in the past. On Saturday we will provide entrance control. We intend to have a short ceremony of the pledge of allegiance and playing of taps. Service flags will be included but no color guard and no speeches. This year we will help remove all the wreaths later (to be determined).
MEMBERSHIP
Of our 155 members (including new transfers), we now have 119 who have renewed your membership for 2021 (that’s 77%). Again, THANK YOU!!
For those of you who have not renewed your membership yet, there are two easy ways to renew: 1) go to www.legion.org and click on the RENEW button, fill out the form, and you’re done. Or send us a check for $45 and we will process it for you.
THE NO CRAB CRAB FEED ONLINE AUCTION EVENT
Hi all – I want to remind you of my recent email about our most important event for our post – the Annual Crab Feed dinner and Fundraiser, or I should say the No Crab-Crab Feed Auction Fundraiser.
Due to the pandemic, the Executive Committee, has been discussing alternatives to a live event in the banquet hall of the VMB. We have settled on working on a standalone online auction to be held in late January 2021. To that end we have moved ahead with soliciting donations by sending some 100 letters to previous event donors asking for donation support. We have already receive several donations.
There are many things that all of you can do to help the post gain exposure for our auction (more on that later) and to receive donations such as:
· Recommend to us businesses are service providers that would consider merchandise, gift certificates, services, gift baskets, or cash donations.
· Personally, contact friends and acquaintances that might approach their companies for donations or provide donations themselves/yourself. We are not planning tickets or fees for participating in the auction.
· Have a timeshare or vacation rental that you might donate?
I attached to my email a list of things that could be donated (and maybe a few that can’t be due to the pandemic).
You may email me directly, but please be specific with names, contact info, and or complete description of donation.
Thanks in advance for your help. Let’s make this work and successful!!
I could also use some help drafting a flyer to advertise the event. Anyone have some computer skills with illustrator type software?
Flag & Emblem Store
The post now has a Tax-Free account with the Flag & Emblem Store. Alan Scharlach is our post “Supply Officer” and is available to order items for individual post members. Go to https://emblem.legion.org/ to do your shopping; then email Alan with the item number, quantity, color, and any other item details needed to purchase the item you want.
CONCORD VETERANS SERVICE OFFICE VIRTUAL MEETUP
Missing the camaraderie of being with your fellow military affiliated community? Want to connect with like-minded veterans to talk about relevant topics? Need answers about how to manage your education benefits and other VA programs and services during the pandemic? Join Hector Moncada, Contra Costa College Veteran Program Coordinator, and Maurice Delmer, Concord Vet Center Veterans Outreach Program Specialist, for a weekly virtual meetup every Tuesday from 9am to 10am. We’ll connect and talk about whatever interests you, as well provide resources and referrals to meet your transition needs. Please RSVP with Hector: hmoncada292@contracosta.edu, or myself: maurice.delmer@va.gov, if you are interested in participating, and we will email you a link to join. We look forward to connecting with you.
CUB SCOUT POPCORN SALES
Need popcorn for all those Netflix movies you are watching these days? Well here's the answer: BUY POPCORN FROM OUR CUB SCOUT PACKS!!
Cub Scout Packs 997 and 995 are run by parent volunteers. Popcorn fundraiser accounts for half of the packs budget which is used to cover:
- BSA National and Council Fees
- Boys Life Magazine Subscription
- Awards: Rank Badge, Adventure Belt loops/pins and participation patches
- Subsidize outdoor/STEM activities like camping, pinewood derby, space derby
- Supplies and Facilities Fees
2 ways to buy:
1. Go to Online Store: https://www.trails-end.com/store/scout/BK8FDLT1 Your order will go to PACK997 and for a limited time, shipping is free for orders >$30. Popcorn will ship within a week.
2. You can also email also pack997.sanramon@gmail.com for pack 995 and they can start an online order for you via email/phone. They can text you a link to enter credit card and address info and the products will be shipped to you same as Online Order.
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.
There is a requirement to attend many our functions, etc. If you are interested, please give me a call.
AMERICAN LEGION BASIC TRAINING COURSE
Learn about the American Legion in this self-paced online course; go to https://www.legion.org/alei.
USAA INSURANCE
To further USAA’s mission of being the provider of choice for the Military Community, they have opened their membership up to all military retirees and those who separated with a ‘discharge type of honorable’.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them."
--
Thomas Jefferson
POST OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Post Website: www.americanlegionpost246.org Post Webmaster.....Charlie Jursch
Salvo Editor: Eric Ardell
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 133, Danville, CA 94526 Message Center: (925) 277-7775
Keep saving your pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters for Helmut for Heroes at a future live meeting!!
