“FOR GOD AND COUNTRY”
Veterans Serving America
Since 1919
Paul Stewart Irwin Post 136 Monthly Newsletter – Nov. 2007
http://www.al136.com/
American Legion Family:
First, three important upcoming events:
Veterans Day, Nov. 11, Post 136 will be holding its annual Flag Retirement ceremony at dusk. (Approximately 5-5:30pm). This will be in back at the pavilion. Following the ceremony, we will move inside where the Ladies Auxiliary will have a meal for all. Meat and potatoes will be provided, and it is requested you bring a dish to share with others.
We will also be having a formal initiation ceremony for all veteran Legion members who have never been sworn into the American Legion.
Post Thanksgiving Dinner will be on Monday, Nov. 19, at 6pm. The Post will supply the turkey and ham, cooked up by the officers. Again bring a dish and enjoy some of the best eating you will have all year. This is a special time and we all need to stop, relax and give thanks for what we have. Please plan on this one.
S.A.L. Children’s Christmas Party is scheduled for Dec. 2, from 2-4pm. Santa will be there along with snacks and other activities. Please note, during the children’s party, there will be no alcohol in the dining area. Santa has this image thing going.
Continued Post Improvements: As you have seen, the dining area has been completed. It has never looked as good as it does right now. Those improvements are going to flow out to the bar and new lounge area after the holiday season. Plans include replacing the ceiling, tables and chairs are to be purchased, the wall will be finished, and lighting will be changed. A very important and high priority item, will be to examine and improve the ventilation in the bar area. Will keep you posted with the improvement progress.
The tile fund we set up, hoping to get contributions by asking members to purchase ceiling tile for $3 each, has collected approximately $1,332 so far. This is about half of what is needed and the progress is phenomenal since it has only been a few weeks since it was announced. A good portion of the money collected was made by large donations. This is great, but not everyone can contribute in this manner. We really need a lot of small donations. Any amount can help. $3 buys a tile and the grid to support it. Buy a couple of tiles and let’s make the post a place we can all be proud of and a pleasure to have a drink together. Donations can be given to myself, or Richard Carpenter, or dropped in our mail-boxes by the office. (Please do not put cash in the boxes)
Special recognition and thanks to all who have spent so much time and effort on the latest round of post improvements. Many have helped but a few have done so much more. We have no proper way of re-paying their efforts, but I need to at least give public recognition for their service. Greg Bauer and Phil Horner for supplying so much of the professional labor, equipment, supplies etc. Charlie Hon and Steve McDonald for re-wiring the entire dining area, Tom Knight for providing and installing over $2000 worth of lighting and grids, Jerry Allen, Ron Wolf and Chuck Barshney for installing the tile. Terry Houck for taking the lead on repairing our outside lighting and sign. But there is a very special thank you to Chuck and Monika Barshney for going above and beyond. These two were dawn to dusk workers and did the cleaning, painting, and everything else work. When you see these people, please thank them. This would not have happened without their commitment and love for this Post.
By-law proposals and BOG openings: A significant change to our Post By-Laws was proposed at the Monday meeting. These changes will be voted on at the Dec. 3rd general meeting. There are two proposed changes that are important.
Veterans Serving America
Since 1919
Paul Stewart Irwin Post 136 Monthly Newsletter – Nov. 2007
http://www.al136.com/
American Legion Family:
First, three important upcoming events:
Veterans Day, Nov. 11, Post 136 will be holding its annual Flag Retirement ceremony at dusk. (Approximately 5-5:30pm). This will be in back at the pavilion. Following the ceremony, we will move inside where the Ladies Auxiliary will have a meal for all. Meat and potatoes will be provided, and it is requested you bring a dish to share with others.
We will also be having a formal initiation ceremony for all veteran Legion members who have never been sworn into the American Legion.
Post Thanksgiving Dinner will be on Monday, Nov. 19, at 6pm. The Post will supply the turkey and ham, cooked up by the officers. Again bring a dish and enjoy some of the best eating you will have all year. This is a special time and we all need to stop, relax and give thanks for what we have. Please plan on this one.
S.A.L. Children’s Christmas Party is scheduled for Dec. 2, from 2-4pm. Santa will be there along with snacks and other activities. Please note, during the children’s party, there will be no alcohol in the dining area. Santa has this image thing going.
Continued Post Improvements: As you have seen, the dining area has been completed. It has never looked as good as it does right now. Those improvements are going to flow out to the bar and new lounge area after the holiday season. Plans include replacing the ceiling, tables and chairs are to be purchased, the wall will be finished, and lighting will be changed. A very important and high priority item, will be to examine and improve the ventilation in the bar area. Will keep you posted with the improvement progress.
The tile fund we set up, hoping to get contributions by asking members to purchase ceiling tile for $3 each, has collected approximately $1,332 so far. This is about half of what is needed and the progress is phenomenal since it has only been a few weeks since it was announced. A good portion of the money collected was made by large donations. This is great, but not everyone can contribute in this manner. We really need a lot of small donations. Any amount can help. $3 buys a tile and the grid to support it. Buy a couple of tiles and let’s make the post a place we can all be proud of and a pleasure to have a drink together. Donations can be given to myself, or Richard Carpenter, or dropped in our mail-boxes by the office. (Please do not put cash in the boxes)
Special recognition and thanks to all who have spent so much time and effort on the latest round of post improvements. Many have helped but a few have done so much more. We have no proper way of re-paying their efforts, but I need to at least give public recognition for their service. Greg Bauer and Phil Horner for supplying so much of the professional labor, equipment, supplies etc. Charlie Hon and Steve McDonald for re-wiring the entire dining area, Tom Knight for providing and installing over $2000 worth of lighting and grids, Jerry Allen, Ron Wolf and Chuck Barshney for installing the tile. Terry Houck for taking the lead on repairing our outside lighting and sign. But there is a very special thank you to Chuck and Monika Barshney for going above and beyond. These two were dawn to dusk workers and did the cleaning, painting, and everything else work. When you see these people, please thank them. This would not have happened without their commitment and love for this Post.
By-law proposals and BOG openings: A significant change to our Post By-Laws was proposed at the Monday meeting. These changes will be voted on at the Dec. 3rd general meeting. There are two proposed changes that are important.
If approved:
The five member Board of Governors will serve for a 2 year term. (down from the present 5 year term)
One member of the S.A.L. and/or the Ladies Auxiliary will be eligible for a position on the Board.
There are two positions that will be open in Dec. If you are an Auxiliary or S.A.L. member, and have the desire to be a part of the decision-making operation of your Post, please plan on attending the next Legion meeting. Keep in mind; it is not required to fill openings with S.A.L. or Auxiliary. Anyone that wants to take on a leadership role will be eligible if the proposals pass. If you are unclear on the duties and responsibility as a BOG member, please call on Terry Knight, any present BOG member, or myself.
Marine Corp Toys for Tots was a huge success. There was over $8,000 raised and will be presented to the Marine Corp Reserves this Sunday at 1:30pm at the Post. At this time, the event held at the Post is the single largest monetary contributor for this worthy cause. Cregg Hanson was the post coordinator. Ken Lord donated most of the food and got the band set up, and 136 member Dave Stewart donated the diamond ring that collected over $4,000. This was an incredible achievement for an outstanding cause.
A $1000 donation from the Post 136 Children and Youth Fund was approved for the American Legion Children’s Home in Ponca City, Ok.
Our own Sgt. Lou Jacobs presented the Post with a flag mounted in a glass-enclosed case. This flag flew in combat aboard a B-1 bomber during a mission in Iraq. This will be hung in the dining room with pride. Thank you Lou.
Last (but not least)-Smoking: In today’s environment, few subjects can pit friends on opposite sides faster than the imposition of smoking restrictions where there have been none. Most everyone knows someone that will not attend a function or meeting due to the smoke, or has a low tolerance that causes, in some cases, severe reaction. At the same time, smoking is a legal activity enjoyed by a large number of our members and is especially enjoyed in the social setting we provide.
Last week, when the dining area improvements were completed, the decision was made to close the dining area to smoking during dinners and breakfast. After last Thursday’s Board of Governors meeting, the board decided to close the dining room to smoking entirely. The reason was simple. In order to accommodate all members of the post, there had to be a compromise by designating an area where non-smokers can attend without being affected. With the layout of our post, and with the new ceiling and remodeling in the dining area, this was the only feasible place. Members are still free to smoke in the bar area.
Authority for the BOG to make this decision was challenged and a demand for membership voting on the subject was heard loudly. You, the membership, have given the authority to the BOG. They are elected for this reason. However, any decision made by your post officers or BOG, are at the mercy of the membership who has the ultimate power. At Monday’s meeting, the issue was discussed. Extra time was given so that anyone having any input on the subject could be heard. Both sides were expressed. In the end, the decision as to which direction the post wanted to take, was put directly upon the membership. Smoking, non-smoking, restricted smoking etc. A motion was made with no rebuttal. The motion was for a strict up or down vote for making the dining area off limits to smoking. If the motion failed, the dining area would have no smoking restrictions. A significant majority of the members voted to make the dining room non-smoking at all times.
Depending which side you come down on, will determine if you feel this was the correct course of action. But it was the only way a true compromise could be worked. Smokers can still smoke, and improving ventilation in the bar will be explored. At the same time, non-smokers can attend meetings, meals, and social functions without the affects of smoke. And yes, the smoking ban extends to party and rental activity in the back room. If members are being asked to step into the bar, non-members will surely be asked to do so also.
Let’s hope the differences can be put behind us and that we do not lose site of the real purpose of the American Legion, to support our Veterans.
Rick Babinger
Commander
The five member Board of Governors will serve for a 2 year term. (down from the present 5 year term)
One member of the S.A.L. and/or the Ladies Auxiliary will be eligible for a position on the Board.
There are two positions that will be open in Dec. If you are an Auxiliary or S.A.L. member, and have the desire to be a part of the decision-making operation of your Post, please plan on attending the next Legion meeting. Keep in mind; it is not required to fill openings with S.A.L. or Auxiliary. Anyone that wants to take on a leadership role will be eligible if the proposals pass. If you are unclear on the duties and responsibility as a BOG member, please call on Terry Knight, any present BOG member, or myself.
Marine Corp Toys for Tots was a huge success. There was over $8,000 raised and will be presented to the Marine Corp Reserves this Sunday at 1:30pm at the Post. At this time, the event held at the Post is the single largest monetary contributor for this worthy cause. Cregg Hanson was the post coordinator. Ken Lord donated most of the food and got the band set up, and 136 member Dave Stewart donated the diamond ring that collected over $4,000. This was an incredible achievement for an outstanding cause.
A $1000 donation from the Post 136 Children and Youth Fund was approved for the American Legion Children’s Home in Ponca City, Ok.
Our own Sgt. Lou Jacobs presented the Post with a flag mounted in a glass-enclosed case. This flag flew in combat aboard a B-1 bomber during a mission in Iraq. This will be hung in the dining room with pride. Thank you Lou.
Last (but not least)-Smoking: In today’s environment, few subjects can pit friends on opposite sides faster than the imposition of smoking restrictions where there have been none. Most everyone knows someone that will not attend a function or meeting due to the smoke, or has a low tolerance that causes, in some cases, severe reaction. At the same time, smoking is a legal activity enjoyed by a large number of our members and is especially enjoyed in the social setting we provide.
Last week, when the dining area improvements were completed, the decision was made to close the dining area to smoking during dinners and breakfast. After last Thursday’s Board of Governors meeting, the board decided to close the dining room to smoking entirely. The reason was simple. In order to accommodate all members of the post, there had to be a compromise by designating an area where non-smokers can attend without being affected. With the layout of our post, and with the new ceiling and remodeling in the dining area, this was the only feasible place. Members are still free to smoke in the bar area.
Authority for the BOG to make this decision was challenged and a demand for membership voting on the subject was heard loudly. You, the membership, have given the authority to the BOG. They are elected for this reason. However, any decision made by your post officers or BOG, are at the mercy of the membership who has the ultimate power. At Monday’s meeting, the issue was discussed. Extra time was given so that anyone having any input on the subject could be heard. Both sides were expressed. In the end, the decision as to which direction the post wanted to take, was put directly upon the membership. Smoking, non-smoking, restricted smoking etc. A motion was made with no rebuttal. The motion was for a strict up or down vote for making the dining area off limits to smoking. If the motion failed, the dining area would have no smoking restrictions. A significant majority of the members voted to make the dining room non-smoking at all times.
Depending which side you come down on, will determine if you feel this was the correct course of action. But it was the only way a true compromise could be worked. Smokers can still smoke, and improving ventilation in the bar will be explored. At the same time, non-smokers can attend meetings, meals, and social functions without the affects of smoke. And yes, the smoking ban extends to party and rental activity in the back room. If members are being asked to step into the bar, non-members will surely be asked to do so also.
Let’s hope the differences can be put behind us and that we do not lose site of the real purpose of the American Legion, to support our Veterans.
Rick Babinger
Commander
