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American Legion Post 284News and Views • MAY 2017
20
The
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February 2017 Volume 17, Issue 2
The American Legion Colonial Heights Post No. 284
Colonial Heights, Virginia 23834
Love surrounds us like light. We are warmed by the charm of our devotion.
I love April in Virginia during these warm spring days. We have been awfully lucky watching the storms go around us but bring enough rain for the garden and knock down some of the pollen.
With a great sunny day at the beginning of the month I was able to go to the annual bike blessing at Post 144. I rode up there with 18 other Southern Va. Riders and met more that were already there. After serving up a good breakfast we socialised with another 80 some Riders from around the Eastern Region. The priest gave an inspira-tional message of safety and brotherhood and then walked around blessing the bikes as the Riders stood by their bikes.
The interviews for Boys State went well and was very well attended. I can say we will be sending a great bunch of young men to Boys State.
I hope you were one of the lucky ones who got one of those great tasting Boston Butts that the Sons of the Le-gion cooked up on the hill. It seems the truck didn’t show up and the supplier didn’t have enough for the day. I know I won’t miss out next year.
Please come by the Post and take a look at all the work Building & Grounds have been doing and all the volun-teers that came out after the Membership breakfast. The Post looks sharp and with these April showers making things grow I hope more volunteers come out and keep it looking great.
I haven’t seen such great support then I did for the Spaghetti Dinner the Sons of the Legion put on for those two children in need. Way to go.
The Auxiliary had their Craft/Vender show in the hall. That is always well attended.
I hope to be here for the next one as I have been out of town on the last couple weekends. Finally got more done on my sons house in North Carolina that was flooded last fall. Hard to find contractors that far into the woods.
May is looking like it’s going to be a busy month starting with Law and Order night.Looking forward to the traveling World War I/II Museum that is coming to Colonial Corner the first weekend in May starting on the 4th and ending with a community picnic on May 6th. Of course we will celebrate Memorial Day weekend with trips to Washington DC and the ceremony at the War Memorial on the Boulevard.
Queen of Hearts Jackpot is posted in the Post and is growing every week she isn’t picked. Come out and try to find her.
For God and Country George Ahrend, Commander Post 284
page 1
The American LegionColonial Heights Post 284P.O. Box 57Colonial Heights, VA 23834
This newsletter is published to keep the members and friends of Post 284 involved
Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No. 12Colonial Heights, VA
23834
Postmaster: Dated Material • Please Deliver by May 1
20
The American Legion Colonial Heights Post No. 284 Post Office Box 57 Colonial Heights, Virginia 23834
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No. 12 Colonial Heights, VA
23834
POSTMASTER: DATED MATERIAL PLEASE DELIVER BY: February 1st
This newsletter is published to keep the members and friends of Post No. 284 informed.
Return Service Requested INSIDE THIS ISSUE Legion Family Officer Reports Scholarships! Volunteer Opportunities! SAL Sweetheart Dance!
Feb
ruary 2
017
Volu
me 1
7, Issu
e 2
The A
merican L
egion C
olonial Heights P
ost No. 284
Colonial H
eights, Virginia
23834
Love surrounds us like light. We are
warm
ed by the charm of our devotion.
- Monthly Meetings -
General Membership (Post 284) 2nd Thursday , 7:30 PM
Executive Committee Meeting (Post 284) Last Thursday , 7:30 PM
Auxiliary Membership (Unit 284) 2nd Wednesday, 7:30 PM
S.A.L. Membership (Squadron 284) 3rd Wednesday , 7:00PM
American Legion Riders 1st Tuesday, 6:30 PM
Return Service Requested- commander’s message -
- upcoming events -
June 7Boys State Orientation.
June 18
Boys and Girls State sendoff at Post home
July 13-16 State Convention at Dulles
Election of Post Officers for 2017-2018 ARTICLE II, SECTION 2a, of the post ByLaws states, “Members unable to attend the election of officers may vote by Absentee Ballot, provided that they (member) request such a ballot and submit it to be received by the Nominations Committee at least ten (10) days prior to the elections.” The election, if contested, will be from 1830-1930 on May 11, 2017. Absentee Ballots will be available from the Adjutant (520-2338 - Leave name & phone # on message or e-mail, [email protected]) beginning on April 17, 2017. Return mailing instructions will be on the ballot. If the election is not contested and change in Bylaws discussed at the March meeting is approved, the election will be by voice vote at the April Mem-bership meeting.”
- POST OFFICERS -Commander George Ahrend 691-2399
First Vice Commander William “Bill” Shill 218-1198
Second Vice Commander John Woyansky 301-7990
Adjutant Richard C. “Rick” Oertel 520-2338
Chaplain William H. Gibson III 536-1125
Finance Officer William “Bill” Feasenmyer 337-8753
Asst Finance Officer Donald W. “Don” Dobrick
Judge Advocate Terry Kris Brentlinger 400-4406
Service Officer Louis M. “Lou” Vallette 721-8275
Historian Steven Simonson
Mass Media & Comm Jesse Stacy 954-536-9501
Athletic Officer William E. “Bill” Gilmore 520-7445
Sgt-at-Arms Robert G. Emerick Adrian”Skip”Klass
AUXILIARY UNIT 284President Susan Oertel 520-2338 [email protected]
S.A.L. SQUADRON 284Commander Mike Latham 835-3299
Southern VA Chapter, ALR
Director Phillip Vaughan 241-1277
News & Views is the publication of Colonial Heights Post No. 284, The American Legion, Department of Virginia. The purpose of this newsletter is to keep all members of Post No. 284 informed about activities at their Post. The Legion Home telephone is 526-4167. Address comments to the Editor, PO Box 57, Colo-nial Heights, VA 23834.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS:To Rick Oertel at 804-520-2338 or [email protected]
Building Rental Info: Contact Bill Feasenmyer at 337-8753 (cell)
NEWS & VIEWS EMAIL:[email protected] Attn: Editor POST WEBSITE: http://alpost284.x10host.com
- Membership -Fellow Legionaries,
Thanks to Lou Valettee, Rick Oertel, Geri Stephens, Dave Stephens, Lamonte Thomas, John Ronkartz, Tommy Zaddick, and Frank Bell for recruiting a new member last month. We sincerely appreciate it. Please keep after your friends, neighbors and rela-tives. Have them renew or get someone to join. Tell them why we are the best post around. We give more and we do more for Veterans and their families. Let them know we donate to many worthy organizations such as Salvation Army, Children’s Hospital, Disabled American Veterans, VA Hospital and local school programs to name a few. Last year we donated over $90,000 to Children and Youth programs alone. Our Veterans Service Officer processes over 200 Veter-ans disability claims a year besides helping veterans with Temporary Emergency Finances. I challenge all to find a more productive and generous Post in the State. Tell them about our scholarship program for member’s children and grandchildren.
If you have someone interested in joining and don’t have an application with you; please call me imme-diately or have the interested veteran call me. I will bring you an application or tell you how to substitute the application with a signed note.
Save the cost of a stamp and renew on-line. Go to our post website at http:alpost284.x10host.com or www.Legion.org and click on “Renew” on your display.
We are still looking for people to help with Member-ship. Anyone with a few hours a week to spare, please call me. It’s a great opportunity to meet people and you can dictate your own work schedule.
Very respectfully,
William ShillAmerican Legion Post 284Interim Membership Chairman 804-218-1198 • [email protected]
- Building & Grounds -
Good Spring Day to Everyone!
Spring is here with great temperatures and, umm...pollen...mmm, well it works! We had our April clean-up on a off day, the 15th! We did have great help moving topsoil and weeding and mulching, an almost magical transformation of our post home back into a wonderfully cared for property in just 4 hours! Not all cleanups take that long, but there was a lot to do.
By this writing, the cook pavilion has gotten it’s new concrete work done and painted, along with the floor inside. Our outside front and back are shaping up very well. The Sons at Squadron 284 have taken on deck work and scheduled it for the 20th of May, come out and support them with a paint brush, or even cooking lunch for them in the new pavilion!
May’s cleanup will be on the 13th, and as of now we will be washing the building and more outside work, come out and help around your home.
If you haven’t been by the post home in awhile, drop by, check out the pavilion, and starting May 1 we are getting new shingles to permanently fix a few leaks!
As always, join your Building & Grounds and get in on the ground floor on what’s happening at your post, first Wednesday at 6pm in the hall. B & G members not only help steer our physical post property but get in the thick of it and actually do so much of the work. Michael Latham804-835-3299 cellSAL Commander 2016/2017, Squadron 284Building & Grounds Chairman, Post 284
- SAL squadron 284 -
May brings thoughts of a flurry of outdoor activities, spring cleaning, college graduations and preparing for summer vacations. Thank you to Mike Latham and the Legion Family for making our Post look great for the Arbor Day ceremony in honor of our first Unit 284 President Hilda Hubbard. The tree has been planted at the Post by the City of Colonial Heights. Special thanks to Unit 284 members Amy Armstrong, City of Colonial Heights horticulturalist and Past President Rita Feasen-myer.
If you enjoy being outside please consider helping out with Poppy distribution this month. Come to our next meeting on May 10th and sign up to help or contact our Poppy Chairman Lynne Norton ([email protected] or 896-1141). We can arrange to have you go with a partner. If seven year old Miss Poppy can do it, you certainly can! The Memorial Day ceremony will be May 29 on the Boulevard followed by food and fellowship at the post sponsored by the VFW (time not yet available).
- auxiliary unit 284 -
- BINGO -
BINGO is just a number away! Come out and help with your post Bingo. Every week we run short on help, every week. Bingo can use between 30-32 people every Monday and Friday, we generally get 22-24 people. We make it, but it is not fair to the dedicated people who show up every day to have to do double jobs. With almost 1500 members in this post family we should have 50 people every bingo, easy! All we ask is to do a day, or two a month. Come in and try a station, all are easily learned, all are easy. Once you do it a time or two it will become old hat and soon you may find you love it, and the players, and maybe one day can give some of our regular workers a day off.
Michael Latham 804-835-3299 cellSAL Commander 2016/2017, Squadron 284Building & Grounds Chairman, Post 284Assistant Bingo [email protected]
Pollen has not slowed the Sons one bit this spring! Our Boston Butts flew off the cookers on April 8th and compliments flew back, great flavorful butts! The one hitch was our supplier shorted the order on us and we ran short, very short if you count the last minute people want-ing more! Start thinking of Boston Butts in the fall, look for signs around the post and I the News n Views.
Then on April 18th we had the opposite prob-lem, spaghetti for days! With last falls lines we were determined not to run short, or out! Again, compliments flowed in as people left rubbing their full bellies. We had two very special people for this fundraiser, and over $3,000 was raised to be split between these two children, both with continuing medical needs.
When everyone gets this News n Views we will have completed two more fundraiser’s, both on April 29th. The first is the Autism Awareness at the middle school, we provided labor and food-stuffs to help fund raise for the autism athletes. The second one was supporting the Colonial Heights Community day, cooking hot dogs and burgers at Pickwick shopping center for the community after the community cleanup that morning.
Unless you think the Sons are taking May off, May 3rd is our Law and Order night thanking local fire/rescue, police and more. This is an invitation event where state and local police, sheriff and fire will be honored for their service. Then on May 6th we have the WWI/WWII mu-seum at Colonial Square Shopping Center. We will be cooking hot dogs and providing water for everyone attending this closing day. Come out and see us and the Legion membership tent and the Museum! Your Sons will be putting out American flags on the 20th and 29 of May, Sons drop by and help and everyone, if a flag isn’t out at your local favorite place, ask them why not!
Remember, if you have sons from young to 18 and are not members of the Sons, we have a dedicated Jr Sons program developing now and after two meetings it is headed for greatness. Jr Sons, or prospective Jr Sons meet at the post May 13th for breakfast (7-8:30) then cleanup and meeting. This is a great opportunity to meet your Legion family.
Michael Latham804-835-3299 cellSAL Commander 2016/2017, Squadron 284Building & Grounds Chairman, Post 284
April was a very busy month and I want to thank all our chairmen for getting their reports to me on time. Many of these reports are a require-ment (ROAR) and with all the hard work our chairmen do, they deserve the recognition.
We had our election of officers for the com-ing year and they will be installed at our June meeting. The incoming president will be look-ing for chairmen for next year so please give it some consideration. We would like to see new faces on the Executive Committee. Those who will not be returning as chairmen are more than willing to help you. As I have said in the past, it is a committee, so you certainly can have as many people on your committee as you wish. Maybe you do not want to be a chairman but are willing to help with events like the Auxil-iary BINGO or Yard Sale. Please contact me or any one on the Executive Committee and let us know your interests.
More information is in our monthly General Membership minutes. If you would like to receive them via email, please contact Secretary Sherri Racer: [email protected]
For God and Country,Susan OertelPresident Unit 284
- Special topside announcement -
Topside will be installing a new key card system starting May 8th. All current cards must be reentered manually and will be completed as fast as possible but there will be sometimes when cards will not work. To ensure that your card will work after this update please have your membership card with you always and be prepared to show it to bartender.
It must show that you are a member of Post 284 for the year of 2017.
Thank you for your patience while the system is being upgraded.
- chaplin’s report -
I visited with George Elko; I gave him a medal for his participation in WWII. He was very appreciative. Greatvisit!! I also visited with Past Commander John Ronhart. He really appreciated the visit and I did too! My wife and I went to Myrtle Beach for a little R & R. I needed it!! I had spoken with Mike Mullen after his surgery. He is ready to get out of bed. I am planning trip to Philadelphia, PA to see The Four Chaplains Chapel in May.
“Sweep your heart clean with the broom of life.” by Suze Orman
-Rev Gibson
- AnnouncemENts -Southern virginia chapter of the american legion riders Changes of address:
Changes of address should be submitted to the Adjutant as soon as known. The Adjutant can and will make the changes at National for you. Address changes can be submitted to [email protected]; sent to American Legion Post 284, Attn: Adjutant, PO Box 57, Col Heights, 23834-0057; or submitted to the Adjutant by phone message, 804-520-2338.
If you wish to be on the Post e-mail distribution list and receive items of general interest to Veterans and their fami-lies, please send an e-mail to [email protected] and request to be added. Messages are sent out via blind copy and you may be removed at any time if you request.
Rehabilitation Information:VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS NEEDED ON SUNDAYIt’s a great feeling seeing how the disabled and handicapped Veterans respond to our visits to McGuire VA Hospital get them to the Chapels’ service. Try to imagine knowing you will spend the rest of your life in a Hospital. It’s no wonder a visit from the Post 284 volunteers to get them to the Chapel, always brings a smile to the patients.
These volunteers meet at the Legion Hall on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays for breakfast at 8:00 AM (Chefs Tony Rea-gan or Howard Perross usually cook) and take the Post 284 Van to the hospital (it leaves about 9:00 AM).On the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month, some of the regular volunteers drive to the hospital in their private vehicles to get the patience to the Chapel. If we had as many volunteers as we need on these Sundays, we could take the Post Van to McGuire. For more information please call Bill Shill at 804-218-1198 or John Wills at 804-458-3236.
We are also looking for someone to “Chair” this committee and track the work they do for fellow veterans with these serious health issues. It is not a time consuming job, but it would require working with the committee on some Sun-day’s.
Service Officer:For all Service Officer needs and inquiries, please callLou Vallette at 804-721-8275.FOR GOD AND COUNTRY,Lou Vallette, Service Officer, Post 284
Happy Spring to All,
We all know the old saying “April showers bring May flowers”, well it also brings GREAT riding weather!
On April 2nd a group of about eighteen riders attended the annual Blessing of the Bikes at Post 144 in Sandston. We all enjoyed a beau-tiful ceremonial blessing which began with fantastic breakfast with riders from all around the area. If you have never participated in this event, it is certainly one that you should plan to attend.
On Easter Sunday Jim Althouse organized small ride of about seven riders who took a long but leisurely ride across some lovely Vir-ginia country side. It was short notice but glad a few people could attend.
Our new gun raffle started on March 17th for a Sig Sauer 9mm and all the tickets are almost sold. We will draw the winner once all tickets are sold. Tickets are $5.00 and are limited to 500 tickets. If you don’t play, you can’t win. Don’t wait too long or you will miss out.
There are so many events coming up over the next couple of months to mention so the next time you see a Rider, stop them and ask what events are coming up.
A quick reminder to all riders, our monthly meeting is the first Tuesday of every month. Hope to see you all on May 2nd at 6:30pm.
Lastly, don’t forget to come to the Topside on Friday nights for the American Legion Riders Queen of Hearts from 5-7pm.
Until next month, enjoy the open road and ride safe!
Phillip Vaughan, SVALR Director
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Post 284
Topside Lounge May Dinner Specials
May 6 Baked pork chops, rice pilaf, mixed veggies $7.95
May 13 Zesty Italian Chicken, potatoes, green beans $7.95
May 20 New York Strip Steak, baked potato, salad $10.95
May 27 Seared scallops with farmers’ market salad $9.95
All dinner specials include coffee or tea. Specials are in addition to our regular menu items and are subject to change and may have limited quantities based on availability.
DAILY SPECIALS
Sunday: 2 topping Medium Pizza $5 Monday: Hot Dogs $1
1st & 3rd Tuesday: Shrimp .40 each
2nd & 4th Tuesday: Pasta (price varies)
Wednesday: Tacos $1 Thursday: Wings .40 each
Special notice: All to go orders on daily specials will be limited to 20 pieces. This is to ensure that we have enough of special items to accommodate all
patrons. Thank you for your understanding.
Entertainment Schedule
May 6: Karaoke with Lynne Carnes
May 13: Karaoke with David Allen
May 18: Open mic with John Stevens
May 20: Free jukebox night
May 27: Karaoke with David Allen
Friday Night Specials
May 5 Italian Sub and fries $5
May 12 Fish & chips $5
May 19 BBQ, slaw and fries $5
May 26 Roast beef cheddar melt, fries $5
Topside will be installing a new key card system starting May 8th, All current cards must be reentered manually and will be completed as fast as possible but there will be some times when cards will not work. Please have your membership card with you at all times and be prepared to show it to bartend-er if asked. Thank you for your patience while the system is being upgraded.
Mem
ber
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st7-8
:30 a
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