January 2020 Newsletter · American Legion Post #28 Issue #1184 January 2020 Charles A. Conklin...
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American Legion Post #28 Issue #1184 January 2020 Charles A. Conklin Post #28 Newsletter published monthly by Charles A. Conklin Post #28 of the American Legion P. O. Box 439 ~ 700 S. Harbor Avenue ~ Grand Haven, MI 49417-1743 ~ www.grandhavenlegion.org Legion Janet E. Fonger, Post 28 Commander [email protected] Gary Doublestein, 1 st Vice Commander Rick White, 2 nd Vice Commander Larry Lambert, Adjutant Cyndy Wierenga, Finance Officer Duane Smith, Chaplain TBD, Judge Advocate Freddy Smith, Sergeant-at-Arms Dennis Siron, Historian Garrett Veihl, Service Officer Larry Lambert, Service Officer Hoyt Fonger, Service Officer Ray Ribbink, Executive-at-Large Freddy Smith, Executive-at-Large Jim Vette, Executive-at-Large John Bilski, Past Commander AUXILIARY Darlene DeHaan, President [email protected] Melanie Riekels, 1 st Vice Pres. Diane Janusch-Johnson 2 nd Vice Pres. Ginny Hebert, Secretary Michele Stetts, Treasurer Linda Gieske, Historian Pam Medendorp-Peck, Chaplain Barb Kelly, Sergeant-at-Arms Kathleen Edwards, Membership Sal Ross Berens, Commander [email protected] Hans VanHorssen, 1 st Vice Commander Charlie Chittenden, 2 nd Vice Commander T.L. Lowe, Finance Officer Al VanDam, Chaplain Charlie Chittenden, Historian Steve VanderWall, Sergeant-at-Arms Scott Kelly, Membership Paul Kubicek, Adjutant Jeff Warner, Past Commander Legion riders John Kemme, Director [email protected] Charles Potter, Assistant Director Chase Kamhout, Sergeant-at-Arms Diana Arens, Secretary Larry Foose, Treasurer TBD, Chaplain Sally Kemme, Membership Chair post Manager Lori Pulciano (616) 842-5310 Hours: Mon. – Fri. 1pm – 10pm Saturday 12pm – 10pm Sunday 1pm – 7pm COMMANDER’S COMMENTS Let’s start with the big news! As of this writing, Operation KP (Kitchen Project) has raised $159,885.00 This exceeds 75 percent of the project cost -- which membership mandated -- before signing contracts. On December 13, the contract with A.J. Veneklasen, Inc. was signed! Demolition begins January 3. Contractors arrive January 6. During the kitchen renovation (January through March), our kitchen will be closed. However, Post Manager Lori is planning some exciting events including special dinners. Check the Post 28 Facebook page for updates throughout the kitchen renovation. Last month, we were blessed and honored to receive a $20,000.00 (twenty- thousand-dollars) grant from the Home Depot Foundation for the kitchen renovation. Walmart donated $2,000.00 while several individuals donated $1,000.00 each. Other individuals donated $5,000.00. We are closer than ever to reaching the $200,000.00 kitchen renovation fundraising goal. If you would like to donate, simply go online to our official Post 28 website (www.americanlegiongh.org) and use the Operation KP on-line donation button. Donors of $1K or more will have their name proudly displayed on a beautiful plaque (brass plate) near the kitchen. Also, brass chair plates are still available. As of this writing, however, only 16 brass plates remain for chairs in the Lounge. There are 37 brass plates available for deck chairs. Note: deck brass chair plates will be displayed in the spring. Honor a friend or family member with a brass chair plate. See our Lounge staff for forms. Forms also available by emailing [email protected] (indicate seeking a form). Note: donors of $1K and more will be contacted by Hoyt Fonger with additional information. During the Christmas holidays, our Post and the Mona Shores Singing Christmas Tree program teamed -- for the first time ever -- for a “Salute to Veterans” night at the Frauenthal Theatre in Muskegon. Yours truly hosted a distinguished group of veterans and their guests while our Auxiliary Juniors Director, Nicole Goldberg arranged for a group of Juniors to attend (with the veterans) as “Santa Buddies.” This will be an annual event for Post 28, which I am honored to host. Our Goodfellow’s program – led by past Post 28 Commander, Ray Ribbink -- brought joy to families in-need during the Christmas season. The coordination (shopping, sorting, wrapping and delivering gifts) by our Post’s family units is amazing! On the business front, Post membership approved purchasing a Point of Sale System (POS), which will activate January 2 nd . This will greatly enhance cost efficiency and effectiveness for tracking sales, inventory control, and determining favorability toward Lounge offerings. Accounting reports, inventory control, and trend analysis will be enhanced, thus, lowering costs and increasing revenues for our programs. Please, bear with us during implementation of the new POS system and staff training. Thank you to our Finance officer, Cyndy Wierenga for spearheading this project. Member Highlight The member I wish to highlight this month is YOU. The Post 28 Legionnaire, Sons of the American Legion Squadron 28-member, Auxiliary Unit 28 member, and Post 28 Rider. YOU serve as the backbone and central nervous system for our Post. Thank you. Commander Janet
Transcript of January 2020 Newsletter · American Legion Post #28 Issue #1184 January 2020 Charles A. Conklin...
AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1184January2020
Charles A. Conklin Post #28 Newsletter published monthly by Charles A. Conklin Post #28 of the American Legion
P. O. Box 439 ~ 700 S. Harbor Avenue ~ Grand Haven, MI 49417-1743 ~ www.grandhavenlegion.org
LegionJanetE.Fonger,Post28Commander
[email protected],1stViceCommanderRickWhite,2ndViceCommanderLarryLambert,AdjutantCyndyWierenga,FinanceOfficerDuaneSmith,ChaplainTBD,JudgeAdvocateFreddySmith,Sergeant-at-ArmsDennisSiron,HistorianGarrettVeihl,ServiceOfficerLarryLambert,ServiceOfficerHoytFonger,ServiceOfficerRayRibbink,Executive-at-LargeFreddySmith,Executive-at-LargeJimVette,Executive-at-LargeJohnBilski,PastCommander
AUXILIARY
DarleneDeHaan,[email protected]
MelanieRiekels,1stVicePres.DianeJanusch-Johnson2ndVicePres.GinnyHebert,SecretaryMicheleStetts,TreasurerLindaGieske,HistorianPamMedendorp-Peck,ChaplainBarbKelly,Sergeant-at-ArmsKathleenEdwards,Membership
Sal
RossBerens,[email protected]
HansVanHorssen,1stViceCommanderCharlieChittenden,2ndViceCommanderT.L.Lowe,FinanceOfficerAlVanDam,ChaplainCharlieChittenden,HistorianSteveVanderWall,Sergeant-at-ArmsScottKelly,MembershipPaulKubicek,AdjutantJeffWarner,PastCommander
Legion riders JohnKemme,[email protected]
CharlesPotter,AssistantDirectorChaseKamhout,Sergeant-at-ArmsDianaArens,SecretaryLarryFoose,TreasurerTBD,ChaplainSallyKemme,MembershipChair
post Manager
LoriPulciano(616)842-5310
Hours: Mon.–Fri.1pm–10pm Saturday12pm–10pm Sunday1pm–7pm
COMMANDER’SCOMMENTSLet’sstartwiththebignews!Asofthiswriting,OperationKP(KitchenProject)hasraised$159,885.00Thisexceeds75percentoftheprojectcost--whichmembershipmandated--beforesigningcontracts.OnDecember13,thecontractwithA.J.Veneklasen,Inc.wassigned!DemolitionbeginsJanuary3.ContractorsarriveJanuary6.Duringthekitchenrenovation(JanuarythroughMarch),ourkitchenwillbeclosed.However,PostManagerLoriisplanningsomeexcitingeventsincludingspecialdinners.CheckthePost28
Facebookpageforupdatesthroughoutthekitchenrenovation.Lastmonth,wewereblessedandhonoredtoreceivea$20,000.00(twenty-thousand-dollars)grantfromtheHomeDepotFoundationforthekitchenrenovation.Walmartdonated$2,000.00whileseveralindividualsdonated$1,000.00each.Otherindividualsdonated$5,000.00.Wearecloserthanevertoreachingthe$200,000.00kitchenrenovationfundraisinggoal.Ifyouwouldliketodonate,simplygoonlinetoourofficialPost28website(www.americanlegiongh.org)andusetheOperationKPon-linedonationbutton.Donorsof$1Kormorewillhavetheirnameproudlydisplayedonabeautifulplaque(brassplate)nearthekitchen.Also,brasschairplatesarestillavailable.Asofthiswriting,however,only16brassplatesremainforchairsintheLounge.Thereare37brassplatesavailablefordeckchairs.Note:deckbrasschairplateswillbedisplayedinthespring.Honorafriendorfamilymemberwithabrasschairplate.SeeourLoungestaffforforms.FormsalsoavailablebyemailingH.R.Fonger@gmail.com(indicateseekingaform).Note:donorsof$1KandmorewillbecontactedbyHoytFongerwithadditionalinformation.DuringtheChristmasholidays,ourPostandtheMonaShoresSingingChristmasTreeprogramteamed--forthefirsttimeever--fora“SalutetoVeterans”nightattheFrauenthalTheatreinMuskegon.YourstrulyhostedadistinguishedgroupofveteransandtheirguestswhileourAuxiliaryJuniorsDirector,NicoleGoldbergarrangedforagroupofJuniorstoattend(withtheveterans)as“SantaBuddies.”ThiswillbeanannualeventforPost28,whichIamhonoredtohost.OurGoodfellow’sprogram–ledbypastPost28Commander,RayRibbink--broughtjoytofamiliesin-needduringtheChristmasseason.Thecoordination(shopping,sorting,wrappinganddeliveringgifts)byourPost’sfamilyunitsisamazing!Onthebusinessfront,PostmembershipapprovedpurchasingaPointofSaleSystem(POS),whichwillactivateJanuary2nd.Thiswillgreatlyenhancecostefficiencyandeffectivenessfortrackingsales,inventorycontrol,anddeterminingfavorabilitytowardLoungeofferings.Accountingreports,inventorycontrol,andtrendanalysiswillbeenhanced,thus,loweringcostsandincreasingrevenuesforourprograms.Please,bearwithusduringimplementationofthenewPOSsystemandstafftraining.ThankyoutoourFinanceofficer,CyndyWierengaforspearheadingthisproject.
MemberHighlightThememberIwishtohighlightthismonthisYOU.ThePost28Legionnaire,SonsoftheAmericanLegionSquadron28-member,AuxiliaryUnit28member,andPost28Rider.YOUserveasthebackboneandcentralnervoussystemforourPost. Thankyou.CommanderJanet
AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1184January2020
HappyNewYeartoAll!!AtourDecembermeetingweapprovednewmembers:JoelVanHoevenandSamuelWesthoff.PleasehelpmewelcomethesenewmemberstoPost28.OurnextmeetingisJanuary6andstarts@7:30p.m.Iencourageallmemberstoattend.OurusualSALAnnualOpenHousehasbeeneliminated,atleastforthisyear,duetotheattendancelastyear.WewillbeannouncingtheSALVolunteeroftheYearatourFebruarymeeting.UpcomingEvents:
• KitchenClosedduetoRemodel• VegasNight–January25• February3(SALMeeting)–Announcementofthe
SALVolunteeroftheYearAward• ChiliCookOffSign-up@2:00–January11• ChiliCookOff–February8
ServingVeteransandtheCommunity RossBerens,SALCommander
SAL AUXILIARY
HonorGuardhadfiveservicesfromlastPostmeeting.TheArmyNationalGuardhelpedwith
twoservices.Thankyoutoeveryonewhocameouttotheschoolsandassisted-livingprogramsinGrandHavenandSpringLake.RifleTeamLeader:DavidMacKellar
Honor guard
ThePost28RidershopeeveryoneintheLegionFamilyhadawonderfulHolidayseason.ThankyoutotheLegionfamilyfortheirgeneroussupportofourSocks/UnderweardrivefortheG.R.VeteransHome.Aswebeginanewyearitistimetolookbackat2019.TheRiderscompletedtheir12thyearofPulledPorkDinners.TheRidersdidelevenHotDognightsatthePost,theScottvilleClownbandconcert,andHotdogsfortheChiliCook-off.During2019Post28Ridersdonated$7,400toLegionprogramsandothercharities.Wedidfindtimetorideourmotorcycles,includingthreeparades,theMichiganLegacyride,Grab&Runridesandjustfunrideswitheachother.TheRidersrodeover70,000milesandaveragedover2,875milesperbike.Andtothebestofmyknowledgewehadnocrashes,sothatisagoodyear.Lookingforwardto2020. JohnKemme,DirectorPost28Riders.
LEGION RIDERS
IwanttowisheveryoneaveryHappyNewYear!However,beforelookingahead,Iwouldliketohelpusbrieflylookbackto2019...torealizetheworkthatwasaccomplished,thechallengesthatweremetandthegreattimesexperienced.Herearesomehighlightsforme...• Amonthlyemailtoour1700+Auxiliarymemberswas
implemented.• AnewapproachtoPoppyFunddonationswasutilized,
resultinginasignificantincreaseindonations.• Wereceived14Departmentawards,2NationalAwards
andrecognitionforthe2018-2019Report.• Wesponsored12localGirlsStatedelegates,whichwas
life-changingforthem.• WesponsoredaverytalentedOliviaScheeletoperform
atCarnegieHall.• WewereinvitedtoparticipateintheCoastGuard
HeroesandLegendsDinner,andreceivedanawardonbehalfofthePostforfeedingourlocalCoastiesandtheirfamiliesduringthegovernmentshutdown.
• WeplannedandexecutedthePost'sveryfirst"HalloweenSlopFest",tosupportOperationKP.
• Wehosteda5thDistrictdinnermeeting.• WecelebratedournationalALACentennialinavery
specialmeeting.• Weassembled475wonderfulfruitplatesforlocal
veterans.2020promisestobeamazing!Iamsoencouragedbyyourresponsestothemonthlyemail,bynewfacesinourmeetingsandbythefaithfulandamazingvolunteersatourevents.Iaminspiredbyyourgenerosity(e.g.PoppyFund,schoolsupplies,candyforOperationGratitude)andyouractsofkindnessinourcommunities!IamsogratefulandhonoredtobepartofsuchagreatorganizationandUnitatthistimeinourhistory! DarleneDeHaan,President&PublicRelationsChair
AdjutantLarryLambert,LeoDeGram,PastCommander#87RayRibbinkandSgt-at-ArmsFreddySmithdemonstratetheceremoniousthirteenFoldsoftheAmericanFlag.
Above:Celebrating100yearsoftheNationalAuxiliary.Below:Assembling/delivering475fruitplatesforveterans.
AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1184January2020
Around The Bar
Commander’sCommentscont’d.
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CheretteGRoup,LLC GHAreaCommunityFoundationBruceByl John&SusanBromely-RohAlexFricano Dan&ChristineNelson Robert&RuthBolt William&JacquelynHoffmanEileenAshley Lawrence&MaryKallio JohnFrisch Steve&KathleenMaus CynthiaOgdenFant
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Neil&PamelaBlake William&KathleenScholtzJulieJohnson JeffferyStuckey&MaryJaraczDennis&VickySiron SusanVanderweg Robert&DianeBlackmer William&DianeByl KathyVandomelen JanetFonger VISRealtyGroup,Inc. BarbaraBreen HomeDepot
TheOperationKPFundraisingCommitteeheartilyconveysourthankstothefollowingdonors,aswellasseveralanonymousdonors,fortheirsupportofthePost’sKitchenRenovationProject.Donationsarestillbeingaccepted.
OPERATIONKP
NEWMEMBERSJohnMiller,ColdWarUSAAlanSabene,Gulf/ActiveUSNMichaelJager,ColdWarUSMCLucasHoughton,Gulf/ActiveUSNArthurMiller,VietnamUSARogerWilliams,GulfUSNBryanKarl,Gulf/ActiveUSAChanceAnderson,Gulf/ActiveUSMCDanielSlavin,VietnamUSAFCarlMetcalf,ColdWarUSATRANSFERSRaymondSortman,VietnamUSAFDanielGustafson,VietnamUSADennisStiles,VietnamUSAGilbertHiddema,VietnamUSA
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
TAPSWEREPLAYEDFOR:LarryClodfelter,VietnamUSAJackJackson,VietnamUSNDavidGreer,ColdWarUSAMarshallTeunis,KoreaUSARaymondBerg,KoreaUSARonaldBraak,KoreaUSA
Ifyouknowofanyonewhoshouldbeaddedtothislist,orwouldbenefitfromacallfrommeastheirChaplain,pleaseletmeknow@[email protected],or616.502.1555.InHisandYourService,Duane"Smitty"Smith,ChaplainGeorgeBryant,WalterPedersen,Jim“Jimbo”Land,GeorgeBennett,CharlesDavis,RonBauer,KenKelly,andallofourLegionfamilywhoaremourningthepassingoflovedones.
SICK CALL
Happy2020!It'sanewyearwithlotsofnewandexcitinggoingsonattheAmericanLegionPost28.Asmostofyouknowwehaveanewfantasticbarstaff:Richie,Kyle,Tonia,CJ,Chelsea,Kaleena,MaryandDavid.Ifyouhaven'thadanopportunitytomeetthem,stopinandhavethemmakeyouadrinkandsayHI.2020isalsotheyearwegetanewkitchen.Andwhilethekitchenisbeingremodeled,weareworkingwithlocalrestaurantsandcatererstocontinuetheWednesdaydinnersandFridayburgers.Staytunedformoredetails.CheckFacebookforupdates.Wearealsoaddingnewlocalbeersandnewdrinkscontinually.Nexttimeyouarein,tryoneofour$2or$4margaritasorgiveourTopShelf$6MargaritamadewithPatronandGrandMarnieratry.ThisyearwehaveanewChairfortheChiliCook-off,BillBackman.HeisholdingthedrawingfortheCook-offonJanuary11at2:00PM.Heisalsoincreasingtheteamsfrom11to15.Volunteerandteamsignupsheetsareavailableatthebar.VegasnightisJanuary25th,anothergreatevent.NOTE:StartingJanuary2ndtheservicedoorwillnolongerbeaccessibletomembersafter5:00pm.Pleaseusethefrontentrancedoors.Thankyouforallyoursupportandafantasticyearin2019.Lookingforwardtoanamazing,fun2020. Lori,PostManager
Christmas Buffet
CookieContest&CookieDisplayContestWinners:(L)KathleenEdwards#1CookieDisplay&(R)NanVanderHoff,#1Best-TastingCookie.
Kids Christmas Party
AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1184January2020
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
January1POSTCLOSED
KITCHENCLOSEDFORREMODEL
(JanuarythruMarch)
27pm
ALRMeeting
$1Margaritas
36-8pm
DinnerTBD
4
5$3Soup/Chili
$1Draft$4Pitchers
Bud&MillerLiteonly
68amBldg&Grnds
7:30pm
SALMeeting
$2U-CallTall(Well&CallONLY)
76pmHouse
Committee
7pmPostMeeting
$1CANBEER(DomesticONLY)
85PM
Lee’sCateringJumboChicken
StripsMashedpotatoes
VeggiesBiscuit
Adult$10Children$4
96pm-register6:30pm-Start
$1Margaritas
106-8pm
DinnerTBD
11
12$3Soup/Chili
$1Draft$4Pitchers
Bud&MillerLiteonly
138amBldg&Grnds
$2U-CallTall(Well&CallONLY)
14No8&40Meeting
$1CANBEER(DomesticONLY)
155PM
DinnerTBD
167pm
$1Margaritas
176-8pm
DinnerTBD
1984TheSupremeCourtrulesthattapingonhomeVCRsdoesnotviolatecopyrightlaws.
18
19$3Soup/Chili
$1Draft$4Pitchers
Bud&MillerLiteonly
208amBldg&Grnds
$2U-CallTall(Well&CallONLY)
217pm
ExecutiveCommittee
$1CANBEER(DomesticONLY)
225PM
DinnerTBD
23
$1Margaritas
246-8pm
DinnerTBD
256pm-MidnightVEGASNIGHT
PublicWelcome!
26$3Soup/Chili
1875TheDentalDrillwaspatented.
$1Draft$4Pitchers
Bud&MillerLiteonly
278amBldg&Grnds
$2U-CallTall(Well&CallONLY)
287pm
AuxiliaryMeeting
$1CANBEER(DomesticONLY)
295PM
DinnerTBD
1900Baseball’s
AmericanLeagueisfounded.
30
$1Margaritas
316-8pm
DinnerTBD
WineSpecial:KendallJacksonChardonnay
$5/glass;$14/bottle
Thesign-upfortheannualChiliCookOffwillbe@2pmtoday.CookOffisFebruary8,2020.
Greetings,Partners!BringyourdecoratingideasforSpringPouvoir(wearehosting)toourFebruary11meeting.Usingflowerbouquets,thethemeis“Infullbloomforourspecialchildren.” LeChapeau,Becky
8 & 40 salon 499 VegasNight,SaturdayJanuary25,2020startingat6:00p.m.tomidnightwithanopentothepubliclicense.Everyoneiswelcome.Therewillbeadealertraining&informationsessiononThursday,January23rdforallthedealerswhoappliedstartingat6:30.AllproceedsaregoingtotheFisherHouseofMichigan.
100ActsofKindnessBoard–anAuxiliarychallenge.AddyourActofKindnesstothevines.Thanks,ChaplainPamMedendorp-Peckforsettingthisup.
