Commander's
Message
Legionnaires, Auxiliary,
Sons, and Riders,
Here we are in June and getting close to the middle of the
year with the Post that's at 110% in membership. What a job
by all in making our Post a very successful Post. I know I
have said it many times before but it takes alot of energy
by alot of members to keep the Post going in such a
successful way. It takes alot of planning, hard work,
dedication, and pride by those to insure the Post moves
forward in the right direction. A Post where all members are
proud and want to do more.
Our Veterans, underprivileged children, and community need
our help. We must never swerve from the principles of the
American Legion. We must always do what we feel is the best
effort to help those in need. It might not be financial
efforts each time. It might be in the way of getting a
Veteran the benefits he or she might deserve or it might be
in the form of helping one get to the V.A. Hospital for
services, but we as Post 318 have always been there and we
must be proud of our efforts. Our Memorial Day function was
a huge success. I want to thank the Sons for their
outstanding clams and chowder they served and a big thanks
to all the volunteers for making it all happen. I also want
to thank our Honor Guard, Chaplains of both the Legion and
Auxiliary for their participation in the Memorial Day
services at Veterans Park. If you have never attended any of
the services held at Veterans Park then you should make it a
point to attend when you can. All Veterans Organizations
really do a great job in remembering our Veterans and what
all have fought for for our great land, the U.S.A.
By the time you read this all Elections from all
organizations will have been carried out. I would like to
congratulate all who won and ask that all members give them
their support thru this next year. Its these members who
have stepped up for you, the membership, to carry this Post
Forward. This Month I would like to make Russ Hagerthey our
Member Of The Month. Russ has been on the E-Board and a
great asset to our Post over the past 5-6 years. His
wisdom and input on the many decisions has been what our
Post has needed during those years. Thanks Russ for
your support.
Commander
Daryl Bowie
1st
Vice-Commander
One month to go in this membership drive. Our current
figures show we have 843 paid members . This brings our goal
percentage to 109.06%. We need just 8 more members to reach
110%. We are still in 1st. place amongst Post with
membership of 750+ and should win this year's membership
award at the Department Convention next month.
Now that this years membership drive is almost complete, I
would like to thank all of you who have paid their
membership dues. To the more than 600 members who were
"early-birds" a special "thanks."
As we now look towards the 2008 year, remember, National
should be mailing out the renewal notices after May 20th.
Why not take the time to renew your membership early and get
next year's membership drive off to a roaring start.
Frank Howard, 1st Vice-Commander
Chaplain's Corner
POST EVERLASTING
Bernard J. Maiewski 05/06/07
Our sincere sympathy is extended to the family and friends
of our departed comrade who now enjoy eternal peace.
NEED PRAYERS FOR THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS:
Donald Baldwin, Dale Hollopeter, Randy Hunter,
Harold Bright, Francis Donleavy and Stanley Martin
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: What
we give we get back. Practice friendliness and
openness, and most people will be friendly and open in
return.
If you know any member sick or in Distress
PLEASE call:
JOHN F.H. HAGER, Chaplain Post 318,
879-7095
MATTIE KELLY, Aux. Chaplain Unit 318 879-7095
American Legion Post 318
Honor/color
guard
The month of May was again
a relatively slow month. In our case that is a good thing.
We are always ready to pay honor to any deserving veteran at
a moments notice, but we are glad when our services are not
needed. By the time you read this, Memorial Day will likely
have passed, but you don't need a holiday to pay homage to
our service men and women. If possible write or make some
kind of contact with them to let them know we are behind
them one hundred percent. While you are at it, contact your
representatives, both State and National and tell them we
will not allow them to play games with our soldier's lives.
Legionnaires vote and there are a hell of a lot of us. If
you have not registered to vote, do so today. Speaking of
voting, don't forget to vote for our Post officers on
Friday, June 1. We meet every first Tuesday and third
Thursday of the month at 6:30.
Conrad Tutela, Sergeant-At-Arms
GARY SCHMITT for
COMMANDER, POST 318
Retired U.S. Army Military Intelligence as
Multi-Discipline
Counter Intelligence Operator Analyst
Paid up for life, American Legion & VFW Member. Active
Post member from 2000 to present. Member of New Team that
helped stop the Post from moving to Saint Lucie West. As
Finance Officer, 2001-2004, developed computer based
accounting system that tracks all monetary actions in the
Post. Drafted first Budget,. Member of the E-Board Supports
& Attends most Post events.
2004 to present, Service Officer & Assistant Finance Officer.
As Service Officer assisted Veterans in taking advantage of
their benefits. Purchases Phone & PX cards for our "Support
the Troops" program.
As Commander, I will work with all members and groups of the
Post. We need to continue the advancements we have made.
Gary Schmitt
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At American Legion Post 318
Good Friends, Good Cheer! |
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Auxiliary
President's message
Greetings and Salutations:
At the last meeting the following officers were elected:
President: C. Sunny Lavallee
1st Vice: Robin Burk
2nd Vice: Marion Mason
Secretary: Tammy DePace
Treasurer: Margaret Trocki
Chaplain: Mattie Kelly
Sgt-At-Arms: Rita Woodburn
Asst. Sgt-At-Arms: Laura Mastermaker
Exec. Board: Jodi Murphy, Wanda
O'Neil & Betty Swank
I want to thank all that voted and know that everyone elected
will do their best to make you proud of that fact.
Don't forget the Memorial Day Picnic and Honor Guard Ceremonies at
NOON on May 28th. Our compact refrigerator raffle winner
will be selected that day. It's a great event - mark your
calendar.
We are still collecting school supplies!! There is a bin at
the Canteen for you to drop them off. And with the no sales
tax week coming up in July for school supplies - this could
be your opportunity to get some for the bucket.
A big thanks to all who volunteered and to those who served
as officers this year! We could not have had such a
successful year without your assistance.
ALWAYS A PLEASURE
SUNNY LAVALLEE, PRESIDENT
Son's -
American Legion
Hello Post 318,
We are into the month of June and we had our elections, the
results are:
Commander: Andy Saffioti
1st Vice: Harold Barth
2nd Vice: Ron Christian
Adjutant: John Kearns
Finance: Jeff Emmeluth
Chaplain: Bob Baldwin
Historian: Jim McLaughlin
Sgt-At-Arms: Greg Emerson
Executive Board: Tom Bowes, Jim
McNally,
Bill Ord and Jon Rice
I want to thank all the members who attended the meeting and
voted. I also want to thank all the members who took
positions as officers. I look forward to working with
everyone to have another successful year.
Our next meeting will be Monday, June 11th at 7:00pm. Please
Attend!!!
Andy Saffioti, S.A.L. Commander
AUXILIARY
ESSAY CONTEST
I had 8
schools participate in the, "I'm Proud to be an American"
essay contest. put on by the Department of the American
Legion Auxiliary. I was pleased that I received 120 essays
from Port Saint Lucie & Fort Pierce schools.
I read many essays and they were very informative by these
young students. I was notified that our Unit 318 had 2
winners; 6th grader Alex Crespi at St. Anastasia's Catholic
School and 4th grader Christian Medina at Frances K, Sweet
Magnet School, they each won a $50 Bond and a certificate.
Their essays are on the way to National. I will know in July
at Convention whether one of these students make it for the
"National Winner." Every student received a Certificate from
Tammy Dyk, "Americanism Department Chairman." I am very
proud to have 2 winners from Unit 318.
Rita Woodburn, Americanism
FRANK HOWARD for
COMMANDER, POST 318
My name is Frank Howard and I'm running for the position of
Post Commander. I retired from the Army as an Infantry Major
in 1987 after 24 years of service. My service included 3
tours in Vietnam, 2 in Korea and 1 in Germany. I have BS
degree in Business Management from NYIT and a MBA from
Farleigh Dickinson University. After my military career, I
worked for the Star-Ledger Newspaper in New Jersey until
June 2005.
I joined this Post in July 2005, a month after I moved here
from New Jersey, I joined the Post Honor Guard a month later
and am proud to say it is my pleasure to serve with this
unit. Last year I ran ( unopposed ) for 1st Vice Commander
and won. I'm proud to say that this Post was able to achieve
100% membership by the end of December. Only our Post and
one other ( membership of 750+ ) can claim this
accomplishment. My most satisfactory accomplishment to date
is the "Wall of Remembrance." I designed, gathered and
correlated all the information and along with the help of
the Honor Guard, constructed "the Wall." I also wrote the
ceremony for its dedication last July. I am currently the
project coordinator for "Vetfest" scheduled for September
2007 at Traditions Field. This project will establish funds
for the "Heroes to Hometown"program.
One of my goals as your new Commander will be to seek out and
secure a new location for our Post. Be assured, the new Post
will be in close proximity to our current Post.
As most of you know, we are rapidly out growing this
facility. I will strive to continue the recruitment and
retention of legionnaires to insure our continued growth. I
would also like to increase the participation by more
members in the many worthwhile causes this Post contributes
to. Finally, I plan to continue monitoring all the financial
aspects of the Post to insure we maintain our strong
financial position. No changes will be made without
consulting both the E-Board and membership.
In closing, let me say, I have the military background, the
education and most importantly, the time and desire to
devote myself as your next Post Commander. Regardless of
whom you vote for, remember, you have earned your right to
vote, so do so on June 1, 2007. Thank you!
Frank Howard
TEXAS
HOLD EM'
Our next tournament will be played on Tuesday, June 19 at
7pm. Doors will open at 6:30. We play from 7 till 11pm, if
it last that long. You must be a member of the Post (Legion,
Auxiliary, Sons) in order to play. Any member may bring a
guest, but the member must also play. Almost every month we
see a new face or two. Some come back and some don't. In
order to play the game according to the rules we would need
a dealer for every table, which we don't. Every player deals
in turn, as in regular poker and instead of low blind and
high blind, everyone antes up each hand. When we get to the
last table we then have a dealer but we stay with the ante.
Every week we have three volunteers: the person who sells
chips and settles any disputes, which by the way rarely
happens, the server who runs drinks or anything else the
player might need, and the doorman who makes sure that no
one who doesn't belong there, gets in.
Come on down and try it. We have a small but loyal group of
players who have a great time every month.
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KITCHEN
NOTICE:
During the summer months, starting June 6th. the kitchen
will be open for lunch on Wednesday from noon to 3pm. |
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