FIRST DIVISION MARCH 2017 ISSUE WELCOME TO THE AMERICAN LEGION. Please visit the First Division online at: vision.

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1 WELCOME TO THE AMERICAN LEGION FIRST DIVISION MARCH 2017 ISSUE COMMANDER GARY WHYTE Please visit the First Division online at: vision.org FRO M THE DESK O F THE C O MMAN DER Greetings to the 1 st!! I am forgoing my written message to share with you more photos of what community action is all about. To the candidates running for Junior Vice of the First Division: If your District is not 100% plus membership, you need to assist your District Commanders to achieve this goal. Enough said!! LET'S DO THIS!!!! FRO M THE DESK O F THE SENIO R VICE COMMANDER My Brothers and Sisters of the FIGHTING FIRST, Our Membership is showing that your hard work is starting to pay off. We've noticed that so many of our Posts are less than 20 renewals from hitting that 100% mark (including my own). I plan on sitting down with my B.O.D. Commander, Sr. Vice and Adjutant to discuss how we may be able to assist the 9 members that haven't renewed. If the phone calls, Post cards and letters are being ignored, WHY? Is it due to illness? Financial hardships? Or is it that they feel that their Dues are not up for renewal yet? That said, always remain positive! Never Discourage! ENCOURAGE!!!! LISTEN!! There may be something that their upset about or just don't understand. We must do what we can to be creative and make things happen! Example #1 - Every year I 1

2 would leave my Mail-person a Christmas card with a little Thank You note. When I learned of his military service in the US Navy and the time frame he served I signed him up. Now I know what to get him for Christmas: a Gift of Membership!! Example #2: I learned of a man in my area that I had the privilege to get to know. Michael is a US Army Ranger, Staff Sargent, who had 3 tours in the Middle East and is now serving in Alaska. And yes, they are putting their Membership to good use! RECRUIT! RENEW! and RETAIN! By the time this Newsletter reaches our mailbox, we will have had our Service Officers Program. I know it was a success and Thank You for your support! To quote our S.A.L., KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. The time is near to start to focus on our 1st Division Mini-Convention! Date - Saturday June 3 rd, Place - Post# 974 Franklin Park.9757 Pacific Avenue, Franklin Park Illinois Time- 8 AM to 4 PM. Please note, the increase in your Delicate Dues. Dues are now $10 per alternates, no charge. Your Dues must be in no later than May 21 st, 2017 or you forfeit your right to vote!! Make your check out to the 1st Division and on the memo line mark mini convention. Mail to The American Legion. C/O Harold Dillard Adjutant. PO Box # 208 Riverside, Illinois Candidates are: For Commander- Anthony J. Siciliano, for Sr. Vice Commander- Joseph P. Lampert Jr., for Vice Commander- Jan Lepinski 7th District, GiGi Callaway 5th District and Ricky Serrano 8th District. We have quite a well deserving choice of Candidates for The Office of Junior Vice Commander for The FIGHTING FIRST DIVISION. Again, I must remind you of the importance of getting your Delicate Dues in NO LATER THEN MAY 21 st, Don't blow your opportunity to vote the candidate of your choice!!! The success of the Fighting First depends on your vote! Thank You and God Bless America! God Bless You FRO M THE DESK O F THE JUN IO R VIC E COMMANDER Comrades, It looks like we got a little break from the normal February Chicago winter!!!! I hope the warm weather is here to stay! It is also a perfect opportunity to knock on doors and check on our shut-ins! I have enclosed the Armed Forces Day Dinner flyer as well as the 2

3 information for the Past Commanders Luncheon. Please make your RSVP s for both. If you have any questions, please contact me at (847) FRO M THE DESK O F THE SERVIC E O FFIC ER I have just returned from our semi- annual Service Officer Training and the DC conference. In the next issue of our Division newsletter I will share with you what I learned. In the meantime there is still time to sign up for our 3 rd annual Division Service Officer Training. Details are as follows and I encourage as many Service Officers as possible to attend. THIRD ANNUAL SERVICE OFFICERS TRAINING FOR 1 ST DIVISION MARCH 11 TH, 2017 FRANKLIN PARK POST # PACIFIC AVE. FRANKLIN PARK, IL (POST # ) This years service officer training is moving to the north side of the Division and will be in Franklin Park. We have made some changes to make the day more interesting and here is the tentative agenda. A pancake breakfast with scrambled eggs and sausage will be served from 8:00 to 9:00. The morning session starts at 9:00 and will include updates by the new Director of the Veterans Administration Regional Office, an overview of state veterans benefits through the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and my own Power Point Presentation on the duties of a Post Service Officer. Lunch (to be determined) will be served between 12:00 and 1:00. The Post will have a cash bar. The afternoon session will have 3 speakers from Hines hospital who will discuss suicide prevention, the homeless problem, and what a Veterans Administration Social Worker does. Time permitting I will include a Power Point Presentation on Rumors from the Rumor Mill and How to avoid Red Tape. This event is open to not just Post Service Officers but also the auxiliary, our SAL and any interested person. The cost for the entire day is $10. If you only wish to attend the morning or afternoon session then we will prorate the cost to $5. If you just wish to attend the afternoon session and not have lunch then there will be no charge. As in the past we will have door prizes and have over $100 in store certificates. If you wish to attend please make your check for either $10 or $5 payable to American Legion 1 st Division and mail them to: American Legion P O Box 208 Riverside, IL On the memo part of your check please write Service Officer Program or just S.O.P. Checks or cash will also be accepted at the registration desk on the day of the event. So that we can have as accurate head count as possible please also RSVP to Tony Siciliano. His e- mail address is: 3

4 or call/text him at: Hope to see you there. The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary The Fighting First Division's Mini Convention Information The following information is in regards to The Fighting First Division's Mini Convention. Date: Saturday June 3 rd, Location: Franklin Park American Legion Post # Pacific Avenue. Franklin Park, Illinois Phone # Registration - 8:00 AM sharp! Meeting to open at 9:00 AM sharp! Meeting will then be suspended for the election of Officers. Candidates are: For Commander - Anthony J. Siciliano, for Sr. Vice Commander - Joseph P. Lampert, and for Jr. Vice Commander - Jan Lepinski out of the 7th District, GiGi Callaway out of the 5 th District, and Ricky Serrano out of the 8th District. I personally would like to thank Jan Lepinski, GiGi Callaway and Ricky Serrano for throwing their Legion Caps into the ring! The best to you and God Bless!!! Please note the Delicates Dues is now $10 per Delicate!! Alternates No Charge. Your Delicate Dues must be in no later than June 21, 2017!! Please make checks out to The 1st Division. On the memo line of your check, please state Delicate Dues!! Mail to The American Legion 1st. Division of Harold Dillard Adjutant. P.O. Box 208 Riverside, Illinois Please don't hesitate and don't procrastinate. Mail Now!!! Take Care God Bless America and God Bless You SR. Vice of The FIGHTING FIRST DIVISION, Anthony J. Siciliano 4

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8 JANUARY 15, 2017, MEMBERSHIP CARAVAN JANUARY 8, 2017, FRANKLIN PARK AMERICAN LEGION FAMILY SPONSORED A STAND DOWN TO HELP HOMELESS VETERANS. 8

9 JANUARY 8, 2017, STANDDOWN AT FRANKLIN PARK POST 974 MEMBERS OF FRANKLIN PARK AUXILIARY 974 DELIVERED HOLIDAY COOKIES TO THE FRANKLIN PARK POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT 9

10 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Service Officer Training Program - March 11 th, :00 AM- 4:00 PM Franklin Park Post Pacific Ave., Franklin Park, IL $10.00 per person to cover cost of breakfast & Lunch First Division s Past Commander Luncheon- April 2 nd, :00 4:00 PM Banquets at the Mayor s Mansion, A European Chalet 5445 S. Harlem Ave. Chicago, IL $25 per person Contact Bernie Darmetko (708) , bcdarmetko@att.net to RSVP Armed Forces Day - Saturday May 20, 2017 Social Hour 5:00 PM, Dinner 6:00 PM Des Plaines Elk Lodge No Lee St., Des Plaines, IL $31 per person *In Remembrance of our Fallen Legionnaires* If there are any names that should be included in our Remembrance list, please Nfcicero@gmail.com 10

11 OFFICER CONTACT INFORMATION COMMANDER: GARY WHYTE Phone: (773) SENIOR VICE COMMANDER: ANTHONY SICILIANO Phone: (312) JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER: JOE LAMPERT Phone: (847) DIVISION ADJUTANT: HAROLD DILLARD Phone: (773) FINANCE OFFICER: BERNARD DARMETKO Phone: (708) CHAPLAIN: JAN LEPINSKI Phone: (847) SERVICE OFFICER: RAYMOND TOCZEK Phone: (312) ASSISTANT SERVICE OFFICER: CHARLES BOSKO Phone: (312)

12 First Division, Cook County Council The American Legion, Department of Illinois 4531 South Woodlawn Ave., Chicago, Illinois Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Bloomington, IL Permit No. 18 If you would like to be added to the First Division Newsletter, or for any other issues, concerns, or address changes, please feel free to contact: Natalie F. C. Durec Monthly Publication Editor Gary Whyte, Commander 12