AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1193October2020

Charles A. Conklin Post #28 Newsletter published monthly by Charles A. Conklin Post #28 of the American Legion

P. O. Box 439 ~ 700 S. Harbor Avenue ~ Grand Haven, MI 49417-1743 ~ www.grandhavenlegion.org

LegionJanetE.Fonger,Post28Commander

jeflegion28@gmail.comJayStevens,1stViceCommanderTBD,2ndViceCommanderJulieJohnson,AdjutantJeffMoody,FinanceOfficerDuaneSmith,ChaplainJackVanWeelden,JudgeAdvocateHoytFonger(interim),Sergeant-at-ArmsDennisSiron,HistorianHoytFonger,ServiceOfficerGarrettVeihl,ServiceOfficerChuckPotter,Executive-at-LargeJerryToogood,Executive-at-LargeHoytFonger,Executive-at-LargeBobWydeck,PastCommanderMikeZeef,PastCommander

AUXILIARY

DarleneDeHaan,Presidentmarcdarlene@gmail.com

MelanieRiekels,1stVicePres.DianeJanusch-Johnson2ndVicePres.GinnyHebert,SecretaryMicheleStetts,TreasurerLindaGieske,HistorianPamMedendorp-Peck,ChaplainBarbKelly,Sergeant-at-ArmsKathleenEdwards,Membership

Sal

RossBerens,Commandersalcmdrpost28@yahoo.com

HansVanHorssen,1stViceCommanderTBD,2ndViceCommanderT.L.Lowe,FinanceOfficerMarcDeHaan,ChaplainTBD,HistorianSteveVanderWall,Sergeant-at-ArmsScottKelly,MembershipPaulKubicek,AdjutantJeffWarner,PastCommander

Legion riders GeraldKeen,Director

gerald.keen88@gmail.comSteveBarnes,AssistantDirectorChaseKamhout,Sergeant-at-ArmsMichelleLucas,SecretaryLarryFoose,TreasurerTBD,ChaplainSallyKemme,MembershipChair

PeteWebster,InterimPostManagerDawnStevens,KitchenManager

(616)842-5310

Hours: Mon.–Fri.1pm–10pm Saturday12pm–10pm Sunday1pm–7pm

COMMANDER’SCOMMENTS

WiththeFallseasonuponus,anewchapterinourPost’shistorybegins!OurPost’skitchenhasofficiallyopened,andanewKitchenCommitteeformed.KitchenCommitteerepresentativesfromeachofourPost’sfamilyunitsweretaskedwithvisioningandsuggestionsforkeepingthekitchenmenucurrentwithouteliminatingourPost'sclassicmeals.KitchenManager,DawnStevens,launchedthePost28kitchenonasemi-regularscheduletogetthingsrollingwithourdeliciousfoodofferings.LaborDayweekendwasabigsuccesswithburgers,brats,hotdogs,pizzas,anda“quicktastyfun”appetizermenu

offoods,sellinglikehotcakes!DawnispreparingaFallmenu,whichincludesPost28classicmealsandnewmenuitemssuchassoupsandsalads.WhiletheCOVID-19contexthassomewhatcreatedashortageofvolunteers,theExecutiveCommitteeandothershavevolunteeredmanyhoursinthekitchen.However,forustooperatethekitchenmoreeffectivelyandregularly,wemustconsidertherealpossibilityofhavingtohirepart-timestaffforthekitchen.Asofthiswriting,weareconsideringseveraloptions.IamhappytoannouncethatwehaveanewFinanceOfficer.Post28Legionnaire,JeffMoodyhasgraciouslyandhonorablyvolunteeredtoserveandbringstotheposition,yearsoftaxandaccountingexperience.OurPostcurrentlyhasaninterimPostManager.PeteWebsterofCatalyst,arestaurantandbarconsultingfirm,hasyearsofexperienceintherestaurantandbarindustryandinservingasaconsultant.PeteisprovidinguswithgreatinsightsonhowtoimproveourPost'senterpriseoperationswhileassistinginrecruitinganewfull-timePostManager.OntheCharitableGamesfront,pastPost28Commander,BobWydeckisheadinguptheCharitableGamesCommittee.Heandhiswife,KathyareseekingvolunteerstoassistwithourcharitablegamemachinesonSundaymornings,forjustafewhourseachweek.IncompletingthefillingofPostOfficerpositionsforthe2020-2021term,weareseekingaSecondViceCommander.IfyouenjoyworkingwithexceptionalhighschoolstudentsandwanttohelpourPostinfulfillingitsAmericanismcommitment,thisisyourcalling!TheSecondViceCommanderisinstrumentalinrecruitinghighschoolmales(juniorsgoingintotheirsenioryear)fortheAmericanLegionBoysStateprogram.Duringthe2020-2021term,youwillvisitareahighschoolstoeducateandrecruitjuniorandseniormalesfortheBoysStateprogram.The2021BoysStateprogramisopentobothjuniorandseniorhighschoolboyssincetheprogramwascancelledthispastJune,duetotheCovid-19context.IfyouareaPost28LegionnaireingoodstandingandenjoyworkingwithoutstandinglocalfutureleadersandwanttocontributetofulfillingourmissionundertheAmericanismPillar,servingasPost28'sSecondViceCommanderisaperfectopportunitytodoso.PleasecontactmeifyouareinterestedinservingasaSecondViceCommanderorhaveanyquestionsabouttheSecondViceCommanderposition.Onafinalnote,thePost28documentaryisscheduledtobroadcastonanotherPBSstation,thisFall.WeareproudofourPostandtohavehadthedocumentarybroadcastonWestMichiganPBStelevisionstations,inAugust.CheckourPost'sFacebookpageandofficialwebpageforupdatesonnewbroadcastsofthedocumentaryonPBSstations,includingspecificdatesandtimes.WishingyouandyourfamiliesahappyandsafeOctober.CommanderJanet

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1193October2020

AtourSeptembermeetingweapproved28newmembers.PleasehelpmewelcomethesenewmemberstoPost28:JohnBates,DonaldBeck,AndrewByrne,NolanCarlson,LarryCrimo,RobertDavis,RossDevos,CollinDinsmoor,KevinFeatheringill,JamesGaler,DaleGoss,AlanGreenfield,HenryHartung,ChadHutchison,DerekJohnson,StaceyKatlin,PeterLinck,DanielOumedian,DavidPellegrom,TonyPizzo,JosephPopiel,DerwinPrins,BryanSmith,KirbySparks,RonWallish,JamesWilson,JosephWilsonandChristopheWright.TheSALGolfOutingdatewasheldonAugust22.Ihopeeveryonehadagreattime!We’dliketothankeveryonewhoparticipated.OurnextmeetingisOctober5andstarts@6:30p.m.Duetorestrictions,ourmeetingwillonceagainbeanExecutiveBoardMeetingsincewearelimitedtotenparticipants.StaySafeandStayHealthy!!ServingVeteransandtheCommunity RossBerens,SALCommander

SAL AUXILIARY

Ridesafe.Staysafe&healthy.Post28LegionRidersDirectorGeraldKeen.

LEGION RIDERS

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Membershiprenewalseasonisinfullswing!Pleasegoonlinetorenew,ordropoffyourdues($40)toabartenderatthePost(cashorcheck)inanenvelopemarked"AuxiliaryMembership-Attn.KathEdwards.MembershipquestionsmaybedirectedtoKathatgkedwards25@yahoo.com.THANKYOUtoeveryonewhopurchaseditemsforourVeteransattheGRHVviaAmazoninsupportoftheprojectledbyourJuniorsandChairwoman,NicoleGoldberg!UnfortunatelywearestillunabletohaveameetingwithourmembersinsidethePost,althoughwebrieflydiscussedifwecoulddoaZoommeeting-thisisTBD,butwearelookingintoit.Meanwhile,ourAuxiliaryExecutiveCommitteeandProgramChairwomenmetSeptember23todiscussthefallandwinterprogramsandhowwewillgoaboutthemwiththecurrentchallenges.Hereisaquickupdateofactivitiesgoingonnoworinthenearfuture:---ThePoppyPostercontestisagreatfallactivityforareastudents.DianeJanusch-JohnsonandPamMedendorp-Peckareworkingtodeterminewhichschoolswillbeabletoparticipatethisyear.---CherylGeorge,ChairofourNationalSecurityProgram,iscurrentlyleadingafooddrivethroughtheendofOctober,duetoanongoinghighneedforhelpinourarea.Thefoodwillbedonatedtoseverallocalfoodpantriesfordistribution.Pleasesupportthisifyouareable...BoxesareatLoutitLibraryinGrandHaven,IdleHourRestaurantinSpringLakeandJW'sinGrandHaven.WearehopingtoputaboxatthePostalso.---MelanieRiekels,EducationChair,isplanningaspecialactivitytohonorourlocalTeachers.Moreinformationtocomesoon!—-WeareplanningcreativelyforhowwewillserveourVeteransduringtheupcomingholidayseason.PatBest,VA&RChair,isalreadyworkingwithourlocalcarefacilitiestogetthisyear’slistsofVeteranslivingthere.Sheisplanningtoworkwithasmallteamofvolunteerstomakesealed"GoodieBags"thisyearinplaceofthetraditionalfruitplates.OurlocalschoolchildrenwillbemakingChristmascardstogowiththebags.WearethinkingcreativelyaboutnewwaystoraisemoneyforAuxiliaryPrograms,allofwhichhelpusserveourVeterans,activedutymilitary,theirfamiliesandourcommunity.PleasewatchourFBpageforupcomingfund-raisingevents,whichpromisetobefunandentertaining!HINT#1:BrushuponyourcomputerskillsanddownloadZoominpreparationforthis!HINT#2:Makesureyourwalkingshoes,bikes,etc.areingoodcondition!PleasesaveallofyourD&WandFamilyFarereceipts...moreinfoaboutcollectingtheseandwheretodropoffwillbecomingsoon.Pleaseemailmeifyouhaveanyquestions,ideasorwanttovolunteerfor/leadafuturefundraiser!

SALSquadron28loadingfooditemsfordistributionthroughLoveinActionandtheSalvationArmytolocalfamiliesinneed.(PhotocourtesyofChrisPetras)

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Auxiliarycont’dKeyDate:September27-GoldStarMother'sDay(missedthisimportantdatelastmonth)PLEASECHECKOURFACEBOOKPAGEREGULARLYFORUPDATESANDDETAILEDINFORMATION! DarleneDeHaan,AuxiliaryPresident&PRChair

LedbyJuniorActivitiesChair,NicoleGoldberg,theAuxiliaryjuniormemberscollectedadultcoloringbooks,coloredpencils,jigsawpuzzles,wordsearchbooks,snacksandmanyotheritemsfortheveteransatGRHV.

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1193October2020

Ourmonthlymeetingscontinuetobeonstandbyuntilfurthernotice.Pleasestaysafe&healthy!OurCFadoptee,Felix,celebrateshisbirthdayonOctober16! LeChapeau,Becky

8 & 40 salon 499

Ifyouknowofanyonewhoshouldbeaddedtothislist,orwouldbenefitfromacallfrommeastheirChaplain,pleaseletmeknow@dstirlingsmith70@gmail.com,or616.502.1555.InHisandYourService,Duane"Smitty"Smith,ChaplainGeorgeBryant,Jim“Jimbo”Land,GeorgeBennett,CharlesDavis,KenKelly,CarlKuzyk,JimVette,DarrelMyers,MikeRippaandallofourLegionfamilywhoaremourningthepassingoflovedones.

SICK CALL

NEWMEMBERSRobertVlasblom,USCGRobertaAVinton,USAFRogerHouseman,USNRonaldPHoffmeyer,USAFSebastianVelasquez,USCGShaunMoore,USNStevenKirtley,USMarinesTimothyMonkman,USAWilfredJDietrich,UsaDerrickLeroyJackson,USN,GulfWarGeraldTHarvey,USCG,KoreaJamesCBrennan,USN,PanamaJeffEverett,USAF,GulfWarJohnHenzler,USN,VietnamJosephBates,USA,OtherConflictsLanceCNowak,USA,PanamaLazaroNVegaJr,USAF,KoreaMarkPrice,USCG,PanamaMitchellMueller,USAF,OtherConflictsRichardPardini,USA,OtherConflictsRobertoJavierChavez,USA,OtherConflictsSharonSwendner,USA,OtherConflicts

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

TAPSWEREPLAYEDFOR:JamesSzymas,USAEudarelBastian,USALawrenceStebbens,USAJohnDoezema,USAAndrew“Andy”Groenhout,USN

ByDuaneSmith,ChaplainPost28SomeweeksagotheVeteransAdministrationannouncedthatitwasfocusingonthesewordsfromPresidentAbrahamLincoln’ssecondinauguraladdress–“tobindupthenation’swounds,tocareforthose…..”ThisstatementfromtheVAstimulatedmythoughtsontheAmericanLegion,bothourpost,andbeyond.BoththeVAandtheLegionhavesimilarmottos-atthecoreofeach“istheVeteran’sconcernsandissues.”WebothfunctionindifferentwaystoliveuptoourmissionbutmythoughtsrightnowarehowwellareweasindividualmembersandaPostfunctioning,becauseitiswheremostofususeourtalentsandspendourtime.Manyyearsago(I’moldenoughnowtosaythat)Ireadamanagementtextthatsetforththefollowingtoaccomplishone’sgoal: Strategy,Tactics,andLogistics. Strategy–whatdoyouwanttodo,andwhatisyourplan? Tactics–amoredetailedplan Logistics–whatresourcesaregoingtobeneeded?Maybeitistimeforallofustodoapersonal“gut”checkonhowwellwearedoingasindividualmembersofPost28.Committeescoulddothesamething.TheLegionwascharteredandincorporatedbyCongressin1919asapatrioticveteran’sorganizationdevotedtomutualhelpfulness.Itisthenation’slargestwartimeveteransserviceorganization,committedtomentoringyouthandsponsorshipofwholesomeprogramsinourcommunities,advocatingpatriotismandhonor,promotingstrongnationalsecurity,andcontinueddevotiontoourfellowservicemembersandveterans.ArewelivinguptothatmissionandthevisionwhilemaintainingourcommitmenttotheFourPillarsoftheAmericanLegionlistedhere?

1.VeteransAffairsandRehabilitation2.NationSecurity3.Americanism4.ChildrenandYouth

Icannotspeakforthenationalordistrictorganizations,butonlyasaproudmemberofPost28.Arewetryingtoholdtootightlyontothepast,ortryingtogetridoforrewritethevision,policiesandrulesthathavemadeusstrongfor101years?WhenIwasaskedtosayafewwordslastfallaftertheshowingofthevideoonthepost’shistory–IquotedthisversefromProverbs29:18:“Withoutavisionthepeopleperish.”Whatismyvision,whatisyourvision,whatisourvision?Justsomethingtothinkaboutaswemoveforwardinthisyearofservicetoveterans.

CommanderJanetpresentsPost28Legionnaire,AlOwens,withhis50-yearLegionnaireServiceAward.(PhotocourtesyofChrisPetras)

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1193October2020

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PleaserefertothePost’sFacebookpageforcalendarupdates@

https://www.facebook.com/pg/veteranswithacause.org/posts/?ref=page_internal

MAILDONATIONSTOTHEPOSTORPAYONLINE,anytime,withacredit/debitcard,at:https://www.americanlegiongh.orgThankyouforyoursupportofveterans.