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COMMANDERS
CORNER:
Greetings, this has been a
very busy and exciting time for our Post. To begin with at our
February General Membership Meeting, our special guest was the 17th
District Commander and Staff. The Operations’ Manager has
implemented a limited Food Service Operation and I want to thank all of
you for your support in making this a success. Other
activities/events were; we hosted the
Landstuhl Benefit
Spaghetti Dinner, sponsored several fund raisers to support our Post 162
Team that is participating in the Avon Walk For Breast Cancer Research and
Cure, the Commanders’ Chili Cook Off, the Linda’s Super Bowl Tail Gate
Party, Valentine’s Day Dance, the American Legion Birthday Observance and
Awards Night, Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration followed by an outstanding
meal of Corned Beef Cabbage and Potatoes, and we hosted the Armed Forces
Retirement Home Lunch which has been an ongoing event for the Post
Auxiliary for more than 30 continuous years. Hats off to the
Auxiliary on this accomplishment and for all the other great things they
have done and continue to do to help make Lorton American Post 162 the
great place that it is.
Although it will be addressed in another
column by our First Vice Commander Bill Strawsburg, I am glad to report
that our post has exceeded it’s 100 percent Membership (first in the 17
District) and our New Legion Members Goal for the year. WAY TO GO
TEAM!
Two big upcoming events are, well maybe one
big event depending on how you look at is; March 19, 2007, I will go in
for surgery for total knee replacement. Should be out of the net
physically for 4 to 6 weeks (all the time Ann would allow). And on
April 28, 2007, sponsored by the Winter Heaven Game Farm and Preserve,
there will be a Wild Game Feed, beginning at 5 pm. Yes, there will
be hot dogs and burgers for the kids big and small. Cost of this event is
$5.00 per person. Look for flyers in the Social Quarters.
It is time for our end of year reporting so
I will be contacting all committee chairmen for input into our report.
On another note, elections are just around the corner. The
Nominating Committee will begin canvassing the membership for possible
candidates. We will place a list in the clubhouse of the available
positions. This is your post and now it is your time to become
involved.
For God and Country,
Sam Ramseur
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MEMBERSHIP
POST 162 IS FIRST IN DISTRICT WITH 100%!!!
Lorton is currently at 104.5% of its target goal of 423!!
Everyone who reads the newsletter should be aware of our own Josh Peterson
who recently returned from Iraq. Lorton signed up the majority of
his platoon (32 new members) at the Post’s expense in honor of their
service to our country. This, with some other new members brought
our current total to 442 paid members for 2007. Way to go 162!!!
But as you already know, this is not enough. There
are several 2006 members who have not as yet renewed and we will be
concentrating on them as well. If we get 8 more new or renewal
members, we will qualify for an additional delegate at the District and
Department Conventions. Plus we should qualify for an all-time high
in membership. Let’s all keep up the good work and push for 110%
which would earn Post 162 a Dan Daniel award at the Department Convention.
Bill Strawsburg
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Your Service – Your Benefits
By Art Dupay
Post
Service Officer
Do
you know that your membership in the American Legion entitles you to
$1,000.00 of Accidental Death Insurance until August 31, 2011 at No Cost?
However; your coverage is not
automatic; you must enroll. The good news is that enrollment is easy.
§
This plan protects you anywhere in the world,
24 hours a day.
§
Benefits include $1,000.00 of Accidental
Death Insurance if you die within 90 days from a covered accident which
occurs while coverage is in force, plus an additional $500.00 benefit if a
covered accident occurs while traveling on official American Legion
business.
§
Benefits are paid regardless of any other
coverage you may have.
§
The beneficiary for No Cost To You Accidental
Death coverage is your spouse, children, parents, siblings or your estate.
Don’t pass up this benefit of membership. Log
on to the Legionnaire Investment Trust
www.thelit.com, click on “No Cost Benefit” and then “Enroll Now”.
All you need is your membership card number and you can have this coverage
in less than 2 minutes.
You want more? Then check out other membership
benefits at
www.valegion162.org. Click on
“Benefits and Entitlements” and select the presentation titled “Member
Benefits”. See how your membership also can help with vision,
dental, medical supplement, and Rx drug plans; travel benefits; product
and service discounts (Dish TV, wireless service, Dell computers, moving
companies, etc.), and a low rate APR Legion VISA card. No computer –
no problem! Come to the Post 162 Legion Hall and pick up Accidental
Death Insurance applications and other benefit materials.
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Member Input Needed to Establish Post Project Priorities
Post 162 has enjoyed several years of a healthy financial
posture due to strong management, a steady income from raffle sales, and a
growing business in the lounge and hall rental. This has allowed us the
Post to make significant donations to numerous Service and community
programs, upgrade automation, telephone, and security, install new point
of sale equipment, and create an investment building fund for life cycle
replacement, facility and equipment upgrades, and Post renovations.
The Building and Grounds Subcommittee on Project
Priorities needs member input to help establish an order of merit list
leading to funding approval for a 2-year project plan. Although the exact
dollar amount of the Project Budget has not yet been decided it will allow
for significant expenditure in the following areas:
§ New furniture and fixtures, e.g., lounge tables
and chairs, kitchen equipment
§ Interior renovations, e.g., remodel lounge area,
office for Legion business
§ Exterior renovations, e.g., enhance entrances to
Post and Hall, sign, painting
§ Landscaping
§ Maintenance and Repair
Currently, individuals who frequent the Post
constitute a relatively small percentage of the 400+ members. The
Subcommittee would like to hear from those who do not presently
participate in activities. What are your ideas on improvements that would
make the Post facility a more attractive place to visit? Make your
opinions known to the leadership by sending an email to the General
Manager (gm@valegion162.org), calling 703-690-3075, or coming to the Post and filling
out a survey form.
A copy of the working project list and survey form
may be found at
Member Input.
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The
Landstuhl Benefit Spaghetti Dinner
Sam Ramseur, PAO
On Saturday Night February 17, 2007, the Post sponsored the
Landstuhl Benefit Spaghetti Dinner.
The Landstuhl Hospital Care Project (LHCP) founded by Karen Grimond is a
non-profit organization that provides comfort and relief items for
military members who become sick, injured, or wounded from service in
Iraq, Kuwait,
and Afghanistan. Donated items are distributed to military patients
at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in Germany, the largest
American military hospital outside the U.S. and to field hospitals in
Afghanistan and Iraq. Many of the military personnel arrive with no
extra clothing and require long hospitalization. The purpose of the
program is to enhance the morale and welfare of the wounded by
contributing quality of life items.
American Legion
dignitaries in attendance at the dinner were the Department Commander
Jerry Howard and his wife Kathy, Department President Marcia Wheatley, the
17 District Commander John Kokernak and his wife, Cindy the 17th
District President. Other guests, were
Joseph Briseno whose son
Jay Briseno, a soldier, who was severely injured in Iraq but has survived,
and Brian Higgins. LHCP members in attendance were Sherry Karlson,
of Woodbridge Unit 364, Sharon Buck, the LHCP treasurer, Rachel Hause, the
LHCP Secretary who made the trip from Minnesota, the 1st vice of the
Stafford Auxiliary Unit 290, and the National Security Chairman for the
Unit, Karen Grimord1.
Volunteers from Post 162,
its staff members, along with the Auxiliary Unit, their family members,
and friends of the post (thanks
Nancy)
supported the project by helping in the preparation of the meal and
volunteering as servers. The President of LHCP, Karen Grimond,
recognized all of our efforts and the Post Commander and the Unit
President were presented Certificates of Appreciation.
There were
100 tickets
sold prior to the event and additional tickets were sold at the door. The
event raised $3,779.00. The biggest honor for our post came when
Cindy Maslinski, Post 162 Unit President announced that our Auxiliary
would match that amount brought the event total to $7,558.00.
The
American Legion Post 162 Family Comes Through Again!
(PAO)
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AUXILIARY NEWS
Hello Ladies, with the Spring Conference in Virginia Beach only
days away and I hope to see many of you there. It’s always lots of fun,
meet lots of new people and a great learning experience.
Congratulations to Unit 162 for achieving its 95% membership
goal. All we need now is to get the remaining members to renew so we
will be at 100% prior to the end of May. Please, if you know someone
else in the unit who has not renewed, talk to them. We need more
members. We had our annual New Member Initiation Ceremony in
February and 4 new members attended. While it may appear we are
doing well, but I know we can do better. MEMBERSHIP: It’s
every member’s job.
The spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the Landstuhl Hospital Care
Project was a huge success thanks to the Unit members who volunteered
their time. The Unit matched the funds raised from the event
bringing the total to over $7,500.00!!! These funds will greatly
assist our troops at the hospital.
Upcoming events this spring and summer include (but are not
limited to) Poppy distribution at Ft Belvoir; an indoor yard sale at the
Post Home; 3 car washes (dates TBD). Leona Jones will again be
organizing the Poppy times so let her know when you are available.
The Veterans from the Old Soldiers home were again hosted by
Unit 162 on 14 March. Nearly 50 of them showed up. They were
served corned beef and cabbage in honor of St Patrick’s Day and then were
entertained by our own DJ Steve McCarthy. This marks the beginning
of the 31st consecutive year that Unit 162 has done these
luncheons!!
Don’t forget when attending Unit 162 meetings please bring your
badges and you cash or canned good donation for the Lorton Community
Action Center.
Our dear member Maggie Sullenberger has passed into Unit
Everlasting. She will truly be missed, she was a kind sweet lady,
but I’m sure she is smiling upon us, especially Joetta.
For GOD and COUNTRY
Linda Salgado-Kowatch
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CLUB NEWS
Congratulations go out to Ellen and Roy Webb for their
celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniversary on March 17th!!
I would like to thank everyone who has volunteered for a
function or program during February and March. I would try to list
them all, but the newsletter editor says I don’t have the space.
Upcoming events: April: 1st - Children’s
Easter Party and Sunday Brunch; 2nd - Ham Night give-away; 7th
– Special Steak Dinner Night 4 – 8 p.m.
May: 5th Avon Cancer Walk; 13th -
Mother’s Day Brunch; 26th – Place flags in our local
cemeteries; and 27th Memorial Day Observance (1100 a.m.); 31st
– Fried Chicken 4 - 8.
Menu for April:
Mondays – 2; 16; 30 – Spaghetti
9 & 23 – Meat Loaf
Tuesdays - Tacos
Wednesdays – Pot Luck
Thursdays – 5 - Stir Fry
12 - Wing Dings & Fries
19 - Oysters
26 - Spiced Shrimp
Fridays - Free Pizza
Menu for May:
Mondays - 7 & 21 – Meat Loaf
14 & 28 – Spaghetti
Tuesdays - Tacos
Wednesdays - Pot Luck
Thursdays - 3 – Stir Fry
10 – Wing Dings & Fries
17 – Oysters
24 – Spiced Shrimp
31 – Fried Chicken
Fridays – Free Pizza
Last but not least Sue Cumba is back. Stop in and say
hello.
Ann Kuntz
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AVON WALK FOR THE CURE BENEFIT
On Friday February 23rd and Saturday 24th,
American Legion Post 162 Team, (Vickie, Linda, BJ, Tammy) their family and
friends, held their fundraisers for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. The
team with their family and friends are running (not our team members),
walking and training hard for the momentous task that lay ahead of them.
On May 5-6, they each have committed to walking a total of 39.3 miles to
help fight breast cancer here at home and throughout the country. Each has
pledged to raise a total of at least $1,800.00.
Members and guests attending these Post
fundraisers enjoyed good music, table pool, a great assortment of food,
bid on bake sale items (rumor has it that Chuck Voccio baked an
apple pie to die for), participated in several raffles, and won some great
door prizes!
Several members of the team also had websites that accepted
donations from members and guest. Thanks to the generosity of our
Legion family, at the close of the day the team had raised almost
$4,000.00, the Post contributed $750.00, and another $50.00 in remembrance
of Alice Dupay. It’s not to late to contribute to this worthy cause,
just drop your donation by the post or mail a check or money order to
American Legion Post 162, 8210 Legion Drive, Lorton, Virginia 22079, Attn:
Breast Cancer Walk. Together, we can find a cure
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AVON FUND RAISER
A BIG BIG THANKS to you all! American Legion Post 162
Family comes through again! On February 23rd and 24th, our team,
Family and Friends, held a couple of fundraisers for the Avon Walk for
Breast Cancer. We are part of a team of people getting ready to take
extraordinary steps (many, many steps) to help fight breast cancer here at
home and throughout the country. On May 5-6, we are walking a total
of 39.3 miles and will be raising at least $1,800 a piece!
The fund raisers consisted of lots of music, pool, great food...both to
eat and a great bake sale, raffles, and door prizes! Thanks to the
generosity of our Legion family, we raised almost $4,000 for the cure for
Breast Cancer. Thanks so much to all that helped, baked, and donated. You
all are awesome and we love you all!
Vickie Pickering, Linda Reed, Tammy Clark and
Brenda Tislow
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On Saturday February 11, 2007, the Post
sponsored the Commanders’ Chili Cook-off challenge. This was the
second year for this event and the turn out was great and the chili was
outstanding. Of course the guest was treated to a varity of home
grown special recipes for chili. There was Venison chili, chili from
secret recipes, Dewitt’s special chili, the Commanders’ 3-meat chili,
something called Fire Chili, and last but not lease Lee’s Bear Meat Chili.
Members and guests accepting the challenge to demonstrate their
mastery in the art of cooking this renowned dish were Betty O’Connor, Lee
Winter, Dewitt Duggar, Doreen Lommel, Larry Tislow, Kellie Grant, and Sam
Ramseur. According to the members and guests in attendance, all the
entries were winners but the final decision went to the bravest group of
all, the judges. Because it was that group who had the courage to
taste test the entries. Many thanks to Helen Voccio, Paul Goodin,
and John Windsor, and a special thanks to BJ who ensured we kept the
samples in order. Winners were Doreen, Larry, and Lee with Lee
winning the best over all, BEAR CHILI; wonder what will win next year?
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This e-mail was received by
Post 162:
Good morning all . . .
I went to the American Legion in Lorton on Wed (March 14)
to help with the St. Patrick's Day luncheon for the veterans from the
(Armed Forces Retirement) Home (from Washington DC).
It was a heart wrenching day. Many older men (and some women) were
there in their 70s, 80s, 90s. One guy hit on me. It made me
laugh, smile and when I got home, I cried. They seemed to like
the day out. One guy tried to pay for his lunch. Their caregivers
seemed to love them and took great care of them. The bus
drivers told me that they take them every Wednesday to different places.
Their favorite stop is WalMart. That, too made me chuckle when I
thought about this bus dropping them off outside of WalMart and all these
guys wheeling around the store at the same time. It put a big smile
on my face. I gave the t-shirts to the caregivers who placed them on
the bus to take back to the home. They were appreciative of shirts.
...
All in all, it was a bittersweet day for me.
Several men reminded me of my dad, a veteran who served in WWII and Korea.
It reminded me of how much I missed him. Anyway, days like Wednesday
will make you realize that we can not forget our veterans, no matter what
their age. Be sure to thank a veteran when you can!
Take care!
Sharon Buck
Treasurer, LHCP
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