Post 136 Family,
We had an eventful meeting on Monday, Dec 5. If you read nothing else, please take note of the final subject and help us.
Tis the Season: Membership approved a $500 donation to the McConnell Enlisted Spouses Club, to assist low ranking enlisted families with the purchase of holiday meals. This event has been supported by the Post as well as the Riders for the past 4 years and is a surprise for the recipients.
In the past two months, the Post, ALR, SAL and Auxiliary have donated close to $6,000 for the following causes: Mulvane Toys for Tots, Veterans Home in Winfield, VA Christmas in a box and VA patients Christmas, and the ALR along with a personal donation, gave $1100 to help clean out the Star Tree at McConnell to help low income families give their children a Christmas. This along with the time and personal commitments with veteran funerals, troop homecomings and send offs, ceremonies, the upcoming wreaths across America program, and on and on, should tell you the kind of Post you belong to. We have our problems, but every member can take pride in our keeping what’s important in focus.
Post 136 Web Page: Membership also approved to continue the Post 136 web page by paying the small fee to our Web Master, John Wilson. If you have not been up to www.al136.com in a while, take a moment and check it out. It is professionally done, kept current, and is a true asset to our post.
Remodel Project: Most of the updates on this were sent in an e-mail Nov 23 and we are still working on getting the pledge cards ready to go. The goal is to have it all out by years end so you will be seeing something soon. A full explanation was made on how funds will be tracked and protected and discussion of a membership drive to take place after the holidays was given. In the Nov 23 e-mail, a number of suggestions for committees were made and we really need some help on this.
-Casino: Looking for a few people to help put together a case for solicitations to the new casino. We have the form required to be filled out, but can use ideas and good minds to write it up.
-Ideas committee: If you have a good imagination, we need ideas on how to raise funds. Can we do a Facebook solicitation across the country? Need someone with knowledge and the ability to write it up.
-Pledge recognition: We have one person signed up for this committee to help come up with ideas and implement a process to recognize those that pledge at different levels. Need more
3-5 people on each is all that is needed. If you can help, let me know. Post involvement is by far the biggest factor in our success of this project.
New Board of Governor Member: Phil (Gio) Giovanni was elected to the BOG for a two year+ term. Now that he is involved with our business, we anticipate at having no more problems that cannot be handled with a bucket and cement.
Finally and most important, the BOG is actively looking at all aspects of our Canteen operations in order to access the financial impact on how we are doing business. Bottom line is we have not been meeting the financial obligations of the post without dipping into the general fund. To dispel all rumors at the beginning, yes we are financially sound and are taking steps to be sure that does not change. Our finances are posted for all interested members but will not be published on line.
But here are a few numbers which can be published that you may not be aware of:
We have a tax obligation of over $35K/year and a payroll close to $60k/year
The canteen operations (bar and dining area) is responsible for all recurring expenses (other than insurance). This includes utilities, taxes, liquor costs, satellite, supplies, etc.
All bar activity, Friday dinners, Sunday breakfast, amusement machines, etc. are services for you, the Post membership and your guests
Over all, we have three choices. Reduce expenses, increase business, or both. Without you, our members, we can only reduce expenses.
Some changes are minor, such as an increase in prices for soda from $1 to $1.50, and a 10oz glass of wine from $2.75 to $3. After comparisons to other establishments, we are still a bargain. Some changes are more painful. For the rest of this year, the dining room will be closed for Friday dinner and Sunday breakfast. We are hoping to re-open in January, but adjustments to how we operate will have to be made. Other options are being looked at and data being gathered, but for now, suspending meals (and thus the expense) is the short term action taken.
No one wants to do this. Without the Friday dinner and Sunday breakfast, a lot of members have no incentive to come to the post and we never want to reduce any service to our members. This is a serious situation. We do not want to become just a bar with an American Legion attached to it. Look at other posts and see how many hours they are open and what services they offer. You will see what a good thing we have here in Mulvane. This Post is the shining star in Kansas.
Here is our plea to the membership. Please respond if this applies. All responses will remain confidential
1) If you have not taken part in any social or veteran related aspect of the post in the past 6 months, please reply and tell us why.
2) What are you looking for and what would it take to get you involved, whether it be social visits for dinner or party, or program related.
We can be a full function post with unlimited potential if you are willing. With over 800 total members, lack of bodies in the building should be the least of our worries. Be honest and be fair, but most of all help us understand what we need to do to see you in here.
Rick-Vice Commander
