American Legion Family:
Flag Day ceremonies this year will be held at 7:00pm on Thursday, June 14. We will have an honor guard from McConnell to perform a flag folding ceremony, followed by a community Pledge of Allegiance. If you have never seen the folding ceremony with the explanation of what each fold represents, it is a moving experience. Bring family and friends. It will be short but powerful.
Our leaking roof is about to become outdated. Our roof has had issues for many years. Enough damage has been caused to allow us to make an insurance claim that will result in the covering and sealing of the entire roof. We are also making an investment in the future by removing and replacing the old air conditioning and heating units now on the roof. Beginning within the next week or two, we will have four 5 ton units installed. The compressors will be on the ground leaving the roof untouched. The actual units will be mounted above the ceiling. When this is completed, the old units will be taken off, and the roof repairs will begin. This was made possible because we have members like Phil Horner who negotiated an unbelievable deal for us, and the membership voting on a seven year, $20K loan. We will have payments of $330/month. It is estimated over $100 of that loan will be made up with efficiency savings from the new units. We have not had to ask for donations (they will gladly be accepted), or have special fund raisers. It is felt we can cover this with our present operational funds.
Here is what we DO need from the membership though. We need your on going support for all of our functions, especially the upcoming Old Settlers Days. When we have a function, come out and have a good time and in so doing, you will be supporting our ability to continue to move our post home forward. Our hope is to pay the loan off early. With your help, we can. Take pride in your post.
Memorial Day was almost a wash out, but we were able to get 20 flags up around the circle and still pay tribute to those who gave their life so we can live free. My personal thanks to all that put in the hard work over the last month and came our early Monday morning to make sure the program was a success.
Post Historian Rick Johnson, along with his boss Nancy, but together an amazing scrap book for the Post in 2006-2007. It won at District in April and won at Dept. in May. The book is now on its way to the National Convention. You can put your money on this horse. It looks that good.
New date and time for BOG/E-board meetings will begin this month. We will be holding both the BOG and E-board meeting on the same night starting at 6:00pm. These are open to interested members. The next meeting will be June 27.
Old Settlers planning will begin with a meeting June 13 at 7:00 at the post. We are going to increase the 1st and 2nd place prize for the ticket sales this year. I cannot stress enough how much we need your support with the sales of the tickets you will receive in July. If each member only purchased their own tickets we would have over $7K. It is imperative we have your support. Last year we only had about a 27% return rate.
Our own Mike Shock has been appointed by Dept. Commander Dan Roberson to be Chairman of the POW/MIA committee. This is an honor for Mike and reflects on the influence this Post has had at all levels of the American Legion in Ks. Mike will be a fine representative and we are proud of his service.
Our Early Bird dinner is being planned for July 28. If you are not familiar, here is your chance to pay your dues for 2008, and get a free meal. This begins our membership drive for the next year. You’re going to pay it anyway, so you may as well get a meal. Keep in mind, if you are a life member, you can come and get fat without even opening your wallet.
Ladies Auxiliary News:
New officers have been elected and installed.
President- Jackie Johnson
1st VP-Sheryl Carpenter
2nd VP-Christie Wickham
Secretary-Monica McDaniel
Chaplain-Elsie Jenkins
Historian-Nina Sommers
Sgt. at Arms-Mary Hays
E-board-Peggy Sellers and Darla Harper
Donations for Memorial Poppies from locations in Mulvane and the Legion, totaled $134. Proceeds are used for Veterans Rehab programs.
The Unit Prayer Book received honorable mention at Dept. Convention
Memorial Day gifts were given to four veterans at Villa Maria.
Mary Hays received here 100 hour pin for voluntary service at the VA Med Ctr., and as of September 2006, Peggy Sellers has compiled an amazing 6, 250 hours at the VA.
ALR News:
There are now 46 ALR Chapters in the state of Ks. (10 so far this year) This is the fasted growing state in the country. The effects on membership and veteran’s assistance are profound.
District Commander John Thomas presented a number certificates and pins at the June meeting. Post Adjutant Terry Knight received a certificate for her performance during the past year for 100% reporting of Post Data, Post Officers, Children and Youth, Consolidated Reports and Service Officers report. There is a large amount of work that goes into these reports and Terry has proven her dedication to the American Legion and Post 136.
‘Commander of the Year’ certificate was presented to me, but do not let the name fool you. This certificate is truly a Post award for reaching assigned quotas in membership and fulfilling all necessary requirements. Our membership could not have shown the increase it did without the Riders and others signing up members and being ambassadors for the American Legion.
Chuck Barshney received a pin recognizing him for recruiting five new members, and Gunny Cook was given a pin for recruiting ten members.
Congratulations to everyone in the Post.
Social Events were discussed at both the E-board and general meeting. We are looking at generating a little more fun time. Here are a few of the ideas:
Mud Volleyball-tentatively set for July 21. We will have two courts with knee deep mud. Teams can come from the general public, McConnell, other posts, etc. $30 entry fee/team ($5 a head). We can get a liquor license exemption for the day so we can sell beer to the public outside. This could be a big one if the interest is there.
Texas Hold Em-Rules are being looked into
Family Fun day
Horseshoe Tournament-Doc has the inside track to the state champ to generate interest.
More dances-maybe bring in a band, or have theme dance (i.e.: 50’s/60’s sock hop) or karaoke. We would open up the kitchen for bar foods.
Monday Night Football is in the plans
Here is what we need. Give us ideas and lend a hand. Our 2nd Vice, Bruce Simmons is the coordinator of social events, but he is not the guy to do all the work. Most of these will not take a lot, and we would not only increase our bar take, we can have a lot of fun doing it. Do not wait for it to just happen. Ask questions, get back to Bruce or me and let’s get some things going.
Rick Babinger
Commander-Post 136
Flag Day ceremonies this year will be held at 7:00pm on Thursday, June 14. We will have an honor guard from McConnell to perform a flag folding ceremony, followed by a community Pledge of Allegiance. If you have never seen the folding ceremony with the explanation of what each fold represents, it is a moving experience. Bring family and friends. It will be short but powerful.
Our leaking roof is about to become outdated. Our roof has had issues for many years. Enough damage has been caused to allow us to make an insurance claim that will result in the covering and sealing of the entire roof. We are also making an investment in the future by removing and replacing the old air conditioning and heating units now on the roof. Beginning within the next week or two, we will have four 5 ton units installed. The compressors will be on the ground leaving the roof untouched. The actual units will be mounted above the ceiling. When this is completed, the old units will be taken off, and the roof repairs will begin. This was made possible because we have members like Phil Horner who negotiated an unbelievable deal for us, and the membership voting on a seven year, $20K loan. We will have payments of $330/month. It is estimated over $100 of that loan will be made up with efficiency savings from the new units. We have not had to ask for donations (they will gladly be accepted), or have special fund raisers. It is felt we can cover this with our present operational funds.
Here is what we DO need from the membership though. We need your on going support for all of our functions, especially the upcoming Old Settlers Days. When we have a function, come out and have a good time and in so doing, you will be supporting our ability to continue to move our post home forward. Our hope is to pay the loan off early. With your help, we can. Take pride in your post.
Memorial Day was almost a wash out, but we were able to get 20 flags up around the circle and still pay tribute to those who gave their life so we can live free. My personal thanks to all that put in the hard work over the last month and came our early Monday morning to make sure the program was a success.
Post Historian Rick Johnson, along with his boss Nancy, but together an amazing scrap book for the Post in 2006-2007. It won at District in April and won at Dept. in May. The book is now on its way to the National Convention. You can put your money on this horse. It looks that good.
New date and time for BOG/E-board meetings will begin this month. We will be holding both the BOG and E-board meeting on the same night starting at 6:00pm. These are open to interested members. The next meeting will be June 27.
Old Settlers planning will begin with a meeting June 13 at 7:00 at the post. We are going to increase the 1st and 2nd place prize for the ticket sales this year. I cannot stress enough how much we need your support with the sales of the tickets you will receive in July. If each member only purchased their own tickets we would have over $7K. It is imperative we have your support. Last year we only had about a 27% return rate.
Our own Mike Shock has been appointed by Dept. Commander Dan Roberson to be Chairman of the POW/MIA committee. This is an honor for Mike and reflects on the influence this Post has had at all levels of the American Legion in Ks. Mike will be a fine representative and we are proud of his service.
Our Early Bird dinner is being planned for July 28. If you are not familiar, here is your chance to pay your dues for 2008, and get a free meal. This begins our membership drive for the next year. You’re going to pay it anyway, so you may as well get a meal. Keep in mind, if you are a life member, you can come and get fat without even opening your wallet.
Ladies Auxiliary News:
New officers have been elected and installed.
President- Jackie Johnson
1st VP-Sheryl Carpenter
2nd VP-Christie Wickham
Secretary-Monica McDaniel
Chaplain-Elsie Jenkins
Historian-Nina Sommers
Sgt. at Arms-Mary Hays
E-board-Peggy Sellers and Darla Harper
Donations for Memorial Poppies from locations in Mulvane and the Legion, totaled $134. Proceeds are used for Veterans Rehab programs.
The Unit Prayer Book received honorable mention at Dept. Convention
Memorial Day gifts were given to four veterans at Villa Maria.
Mary Hays received here 100 hour pin for voluntary service at the VA Med Ctr., and as of September 2006, Peggy Sellers has compiled an amazing 6, 250 hours at the VA.
ALR News:
There are now 46 ALR Chapters in the state of Ks. (10 so far this year) This is the fasted growing state in the country. The effects on membership and veteran’s assistance are profound.
District Commander John Thomas presented a number certificates and pins at the June meeting. Post Adjutant Terry Knight received a certificate for her performance during the past year for 100% reporting of Post Data, Post Officers, Children and Youth, Consolidated Reports and Service Officers report. There is a large amount of work that goes into these reports and Terry has proven her dedication to the American Legion and Post 136.
‘Commander of the Year’ certificate was presented to me, but do not let the name fool you. This certificate is truly a Post award for reaching assigned quotas in membership and fulfilling all necessary requirements. Our membership could not have shown the increase it did without the Riders and others signing up members and being ambassadors for the American Legion.
Chuck Barshney received a pin recognizing him for recruiting five new members, and Gunny Cook was given a pin for recruiting ten members.
Congratulations to everyone in the Post.
Social Events were discussed at both the E-board and general meeting. We are looking at generating a little more fun time. Here are a few of the ideas:
Mud Volleyball-tentatively set for July 21. We will have two courts with knee deep mud. Teams can come from the general public, McConnell, other posts, etc. $30 entry fee/team ($5 a head). We can get a liquor license exemption for the day so we can sell beer to the public outside. This could be a big one if the interest is there.
Texas Hold Em-Rules are being looked into
Family Fun day
Horseshoe Tournament-Doc has the inside track to the state champ to generate interest.
More dances-maybe bring in a band, or have theme dance (i.e.: 50’s/60’s sock hop) or karaoke. We would open up the kitchen for bar foods.
Monday Night Football is in the plans
Here is what we need. Give us ideas and lend a hand. Our 2nd Vice, Bruce Simmons is the coordinator of social events, but he is not the guy to do all the work. Most of these will not take a lot, and we would not only increase our bar take, we can have a lot of fun doing it. Do not wait for it to just happen. Ask questions, get back to Bruce or me and let’s get some things going.
Rick Babinger
Commander-Post 136
