Green Lake American Legion Post 306 Building Fund Appeal

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1 Green Lake American Legion Post 306 Building Fund Appeal

2 American Legion Post 306 In 1885, 37 Civil War veterans formed the Harry Randall Post of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) in Green Lake. In 1928, the GAR became the Willis- Chapel Post of the newly-created American Legion. Today, our American Legion has 130 veteran members with another 150 members in the American Legion Auxiliary. The number of participants in our activities in the hall has outgrown the building s floor plan. We appreciate everything that Legion members did in the past to start and grow this post to what we have now. We believe it is our turn to continue that tradition by undertaking a major fundraising drive to construct a new building one which will not only serve our needs but also be an asset available for the community and the surrounding area for many years. We are seeking contributions from members as well as individuals and businesses in the greater Green Lake area. On average, only 2% of the population has served in the military, but 100% are benefiting from their service. We need your help to keep alive one of The American Legion mottoes: Veterans still serving. We thank you for your support in the past and your consideration to aid us in this vital endeavor. Mark Kramer, American Legion Post 306 Commander American Legion Auxiliary Unit 306 The American Legion Auxiliary s mission is to support the American Legion and to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military and their families. Green Lake Unit 306 members are engaged in serving the needs of our veterans and active duty troops though a variety of programs such as the Veterans Day Dinner, adopting families for Thanksgiving and Christmas, sending care packages to deployed troops and involvement with the youth in our schools. The support of the community is vital to the continuation of our programs. What better way to honor the memory of the veterans in our families than by contributing to the American Legion Building Fund? We thank you for all the support you have given us throughout the years and look forward to future opportunities to serve our veterans, military and community through your generosity. Legion and Auxiliary members of all ages help fill care packages to send to active duty troops deployed overseas. Alice Bartow, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 306 President

3 American Legion and Auxiliary in Green Lake The American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary have been active in the Green Lake community for more than a century. Members serve the community in these important ways: Actively participate in the Memorial Day parade and ceremony, the Independence Day parade and the Veterans Day ceremony; Maintain veterans memorials in Dartford, Bluffton and Mitchell s Glen cemeteries; Provide an honor guard at veterans funerals; Donate to hospitalized and homeless Wisconsin veterans; Collect and ceremonially retire unserviceable American flags; Regularly send care packages to active duty, deployed troops; Support the American Legion Baseball team; Sponsor Green Lake Boy Scout Troop 630; Sponsor Badger Boys and Badger Girls; Maintain the American flags on the downtown Green Lake flag posts; Provide three $1,000 scholarships for Green Lake High School students; and Maintain the American Legion Post building for members and the community. Flags are raised in time for Memorial Day and are maintained until Veterans Day throughout downtown Green Lake. American Legion Post 306 baseball team. Learning patriotism. Post 306 supports Old Glory Honor Flight, which sends veterans to our nation s capitol free of charge. Eric Kahler and Spencer Anderson are Post 306 members who recently served in Afghanistan. Both joined after receiving a care package.

4 View from Lake Street Proposed Building Program The Post s current facility at 518 Water Street was purchased in It has been remodeled several times but is no longer adequate to serve the needs of the community. The furnace and electrical systems are outdated. The building is not handicap accessible. The rooms are overcrowded during major events and do not function well to serve our members and friends. Post and Auxiliary members voted overwhelmingly to raze the current facility and build a new structure on the same site. A new building with equipment and furnishings could cost $850,000 to $1 million and will expand the square footage from 3,500 to 5,000. This would increase capacity from 80 to 250 for meetings, events and hall rentals. Conceptual Building Plans The renderings in this brochure are only ideas. The success of the building fund appeal will determine the scope of the project. Final plans will not be developed until the fund appeal is completed. View from Water Street

5 Conceptual plans courtesy of Blowfish Architects, LLC Building Fund Appeal Post members are conducting a campaign to raise $1 million in three-year pledges, in-kind donations and no-interest loans. Pledges Number of Amount Gifts Needed of Gift 1...$ 150, $ 100, $ 50, $ 25, $ 15, $ 10, $ 5, $ 3, $ 1, $ 1,000,000 Of course, gifts at all levels are much appreciated. Post 306 is a 501(c)(19) tax-exempt veterans organization. Your contribution can be tax deductible. In-Kind Donations Our Building Committee has a list of possible in-kind donations. Here are ways you might support the building program through donated labor or materials: Building Supplies Electrical Landscaping Storage Carpentry Equipment Painting Appliances Concrete Excavating Paving Furnishings Deconstruction Flooring Plumbing Drywall HVAC Roofing No-Interest Loans Our goal is to pay for the new building as quickly as possible but we may need short-term financing to complete the project. We are prepared to receive no-interest or low-interest loans to fund the building program. These are legal, demand notes which the Post is obligated to repay when the donor requests the return of the funds.

6 The Appeal Team We are now asking our members and friends to support this very important community appeal. Here are the leaders of this campaign: Coordinating Committee Mark Kramer, Post 306 Commander Alice Bartow, Unit 306 President Harley Reabe, Post 306 Finance Officer Tonya Alling, Unit 306 Treasurer Mark Alling Bob Hawse Georgine Parise Todd Weir Building Committee Mark Alling Bill Bannasch Alice Bartow Bob Hawse Mike Jankowski Dave Nawrocki Georgine Parise Todd Weir Fundraising Committee Tonya Alling Cletus Alsteen Laura Bartow Phil Burkart Ray Hudzinski Julie Jankowski Mark Kramer Megan Peotter Kristy Sadlon Luann Van Lanen Dusty Walker Finance Committee Ken Folberg Harley Reabe Steve Sorenson Terry Williamson Chris Wolk Honoring veterans who came before us is a time-honored tradition at our local cemeteries. Contributions may be remitted to the American Legion Post 306 Building Fund, PO Box 448, Green Lake, Wisconsin Conceptual Floor Plan

7 Veterans in the Memorial Day parade. Vietnam veterans on Independence Day. Honoring a blue star mom. Auxiliary members raise funds to support veterans. Post 306 supports local scouting efforts. Junior Auxiliary members love our veterans. Poppy Princess marks a veteran s grave. Placing a wreath next to red geraniums. POW-MIA remembrance. We will never forget.

8 American Legion Post 306 Building Fund PO Box 448 Green Lake, Wisconsin