ALASKA LEGIONNAIRE. The. United We Stand! Adjutant s Corner

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1 The November 2008 Alaska Legionnaire Page LEGION NEWS LEGION NEWS LEGION NEWS LEGION NEWS LEGION ALASKA NEWS LEGION LEGION NEWS LEGION LEGIONNAIRE LEGION NEWS LEGION NEWS LEGION NEWS NEWS 1948 POW/MIAs still unaccounted for - Why? Vol. 89 No. 11 Happy Thanksgiving November 2008 The American Legion Department of Alaska 1550 Charter Circle Anchorage, AK s Corner By W.E. Gene Franks, Department It is that time of year again when you, should you be interested, are getting involved with The American Legions upcoming events. These would include but not limited to our Oratorical contest, Boys and Girls State, Boy Scouts, Thanksgiving and Christmas parties and baskets as well as Veterans Day. Some of these programs require more time than others. If you want to be involved, every Post should have a committee already in place for all of these programs and events, if not, Department will have a Chairman for these programs and you will find useful information from these Chairman within the Legionnaire describing what is involved. A friendly reminder for those officers who have not renewed your 2009 membership, their/your name will be on the front cover of the December Legionnaire. This was a decision of the Department Executive Committee (DEC) many years ago. Knowing that this is a touchy subject, as an explanation, one of the reasons was as a member of a Post, if a Post Officer has not renewed his/her membership, why should I. We could use a little help. Last year the Department of Alaska finished in 2nd place for membership. This year we are in 53rd out See Adj on Page 3 Inside... Membership Update...pg. 2 Service Office...pg. 4 Statement of Ownership...pg.5 S.A. L. & Auxiliary News... pg 6 & 7 United We Stand! By Terry Huisman, Department Southeast beautiful and inspiring Southern hospitality at it best. Wrangle, Haines & Ketchikan all, had met their membership goals and exceeded it. Wrangle is beautiful the people are great and the hospitality is wonderful. The post is the center of it all. WWII veterans to children playing around the tables. Many of the elders of the post membership had questions such as where is our leadership in the legion going. Who is at the top? What is a red hat? Who do we have coming up in the legion as tomorrow s leaders? Why are the legion programs important to Wrangle? Why do we have a lady legionnaire as commander? When I was done answering these questions as a commander it gave me much to think about and I believe this was the point the elders were making. They wanted us to tell the younger member of the post the history and the future of the legion. Haines is a town of 2500 energetic people who will be holding the department convention in April The post with the help of the community raised 37, for a family whose house burned down. The legion hospitality and ability to work well with other charitable organizations is an example of how small town legion post make things happen. We were lucky enough that our pilot flew in to Haines so low that we saw Rainbow and Davis glaciers and an island with 500 to 800 sea lions sunning them selves on it. The beauty of southeast was unbelievable. Ketchikan, Home of Joe Craig and Jim Van Horn. The hospitality was great and the conversation was lively. We were shown the post and the town. Much of the history of the Legion in Alaska is centered around this small town of 8,000. As I met the town leaders I was inspired to remember that in Alaska all things are possible. While I was there a special meeting was held to help a veteran, our service officer Bob Tumacder took information to help veterans and set up appointments. The economy and how we as Legionnaires can help our fellow Legionnaires was a hot topic of discussion. These great men and women are leaders of See CMDR on page 8

2 Page 2 Alaska Legionnaire November 2008 THE ALASKA LEGIONNAIRE (USPS ) OFFICIAL MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF The American Legion, Department of Alaska 1550 Charter Circle Anchorage, Alaska Member of The National American Legion Press Association W.E. Gene Franks, Managing Editor Peggy S. Bateman, Editor The Alaska Legionnaire (USPS ) is published monthly for $3.00 yearly subscription. Office of publication is The American Legion, Department of Alaska, 1550 Charter Circle, Anchorage, Alaska Periodicals postage paid at Anchorage, Alaska. Printed by Anchorage Printing, a private firm in no way connected with The American Legion, Department of Alaska. This newspaper is an authorized publication for members and families of The American Legion, Department of Alaska, and other approved subscribers. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements, does not constitute endorsement by The American Legion, The Department of Alaska, or Anchorage Printing, of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. For information on advertising, call (907) , fax to (907) or to: legion@ anch.net. SUBSCRIPTION RATES PAYABLE IN ADVANCE Members of The American Legion, Department of Alaska subscription included in payment of annual dues. ALL OTHERS: United States and possessions - $5.00 per year; Foreign - $10.00 per year. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Alaska Legionnaire, 1550 Charter Circle, Anchorage, Alaska Advertise your business in the Alaska Legionnaire and reach 9,000 PEOPLE YOU KNOW Call Department Headquarters for an advertising rate card at BE ON THE LOOK OUT!!! WANTED EMPTY INK CARTRIDGES! Turn in your old ink cartridges to Department Headquarters. CHANGE OF ADDRESS Using this form, provide new address, attach entire address label from recent paper, and mail to: Alaska Legionnaire 1550 Charter Circle Anchorage, Alaska Name New Address City, State, Zip *** Attach Old Address Label Here *** By Jim Pisa, PDC MEMBERSHIP TEAM MEMBERSHIP TEAM DO YOU COPY? October s mission Operation 55% has ended. Did we have a successful mission? MISSION FAILED At the time of this writing eighteen post achieved 55% or better. Congratulations to those posts who have worked to reach the target date goal. So now starts the November mission of 65% membership, target date Veterans Day. This is an excellent time to reach out to our veteran population and recruit new members or just maybe, get a former member to renew. All we have to do is just ask and they will come. On the national barometer, Alaska is still in 53rd position. We missed the 55% mark by more then 300 members. Once again, post commanders make sure your membership chairperson and post adjutants are processing and sending them in to department in a timely manner. Moreover, be positive about sending the member their new membership card. Unbelievably, Legionnaires are proud to show that card, especially if it has the EARLY BIRD stamp on it. Some times, we have to look outside the box to see what is happening in our organization. Times are hard and we do not expect them to get any easier in the near future. If a member is having a hard time trying to pay their dues, maybe the post could setup a payment plan to help our fellow legionnaire pay their dues. It could mean the different of retaining a member or losing a member. It is up to you. Membership chairpersons do not have an easy job. Most of us have a full time job, but every night we spend at least an hour or two making phone calls, driving over to someone s house to personally recruit or pick up their dues. Sometimes it a thankless job, but most of us do it because we believe in The American Legion and its many programs. Moreover, I know deep down inside that, many of you do to. So let us just get it done and then you will not have to listen to me whine about it. 100% MEMBERSHIP POST; Congratulation to Nome Post 19 for being the first post to reach the 100% goal. Way to go Ben, Jacob and all the members of See Pisa on Page 3 THE AMERICAN LEGION DEPARTMENT OF ALASKA DEPARTMENT OFFICERS Terry Huisman Rivers Street, North Pole, AK First Vice...Harry Pawson Crowberry, Anchorage, AK Second Vice...Dave Webster... HC 30 Box 12885, Wasilla, AK Finance Officer...Gene Franks Charter Circle, Anchorage, AK Service Officer...Leon Bertram Debarr Rd., Ste. 3103, Anchorage, AK Sergeant-At-Arms...Sharon Cherrette Boundary Ave, Anchorage, AK Chaplain...Scott Kline Schoenbar Rd, Ketchikan, AK Historian...Richard Smith...PO Box 2346, Seward, AK Judge Advocate...Dean C. Hill... P.O. Box 1452, Sterling, AK Executive Committeeman...Bill Jacobi Glacier Ave., Juneau, AK Executive Committeeman...Laura McCammon S Rue De La Paix Loop, Wasilla, AK Executive Committeeman...Steve Huisman Rivers Street, North Pole, AK NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEMEN Committeeman...Jim Van Horn Oyster Ave, Ketchikan, AK Alternate Committeeman...Peggy Dettori... PO Box 2594, Kodiak, AK DEPARTMENT COMMANDER S AIDES Seward Post 5...John Moline...PO Box 2336, Seward, AK Merlin Elmer Palmer Post...Willy Eyon...PO Box 183, Wrangel, AK General Buckner Post 16T...Tim Clarke...PO Box 719, Homer, AK North Pole Post 30...Mike Berry Rivers St., North Pole, AK Chappie James Post 34...Ed Wesley Sunburst Cir., Anchorage, AK DISTRICT COMMANDERS Western District...Richard Smith.....PO Box 2346, Seward, AK Southeast District...Bill Jacobi Glacier Ave., Juneau, AK American Legion Department of Alaska 2009 MEMBERSHIP BAROMETER No. NAME GOAL ACTUAL % 19 Nome Skagway Sterling Pioneer SFC Paul R. Smith Gen Claire L. Chennaul Jack Warren Koyukuk Arctic Merlin Elmer Palmer General Buckner Ninilchik John W. Jones Auke Bay Robert G. Blair Ketchikan George H. Plumley Jack Henry C. Russell Huber Matanuska Valley Spenard Department Hdqtrs Sitka Peters Creek Lynn Canal Con Miller Seward Dorman H. Baker Susitna Valley Muldoon Aurora Borealis Chappie James Gladys M. Heintz Cooper Landing Valdez GM-01 Mid Pacific Edward Locken George H. Hohman Jr Headquarters Pacific District Southeast District Western District Grand Totals

3 Department First Vice & Membership Chairman By Harry Pawson Congratulations to Nome Post 19 for being the first post to achieve 100% of their goal for 2009 and completing the challenge of earning all 50 stars. As I stated at the beginning of the 50 years 50 stars program, there will be a special incentive award for the first post in each membership category to completely populate their flag with stars. We really need to crank up the effort on our membership drives. Alaska was close to dead last in the Legion as of the last target date. We did not miss the target by much, but many other departments have been really pushing forward. If your post is currently at or above the target it is no reason to hold membership for the next target. Every post needs to continue to send in transmittals as often as possible. It may not affect your post reaching its goals but it will affect the Department s bottom line on the barometer. If there is a problem putting a transmittal together or if there are any questions you may have concerning membership, please feel free to contact either the Department or me. We may not have the answers to all your questions and problems, but we do know where to find them. 50 years 50 stars 50 Stars Post Stars Post 7 Post Stars Post 4 Post 2222 Post Stars Post 22 Post 9 Post Stars Post 16 Post 18 Post 8 Post Stars Post 17 Post 3 Post 20 Post 1 Post 57 Post 15 November 2008 Alaska Legionnaire Page 3 Post 28 Post 77 Post Stars Post 33 Post 12 Post 30 Post 5 Post 11 Post 35 Post Stars Post 21 Post 34 Post Stars Post Stars Post 2 Post GM-01 Post Stars Post 10 ALERT! L E G I O N N A I R E D E A D L I N E November 15th from Page 1 Needless to say, we re a little behind. It would be helpful if you could see your way clear to drop by your local post or use the renewal notice that you have received from National Monday, November 17th is the deadline For the December issue of the Alaska Legionnaire November 17th is the deadline for all stories and/or photos to be submitted. All material must be into Department Headquarters no later than 5:00 pm. Please be reminded that only those articles that are typed, preferably sent via or provided on a diskette will be considered for publication. Faxed articles will not be considered. As always, the editorial staff can edit all submissions. Photos are also being sought for publication. They should be clearly marked and must be originals for good quality camera reproductions. Anyone interested in submitting an article and/or photo, or anyone interested in advertising in an upcoming issue contact the Alaska Legionnaire office at 1550 Charter Circle, Anchorage, Alaska or call (907) or us at legion@anch.net. Please request a return receipt for any s you send to us, in order to verify that it was received. THE AMERICAN LEGION SOUTHEAST DISTRICT Bill Jacobi First Vice Jim Moran Jim Pisa Finance Officer Jim Van Horn Chaplain Frank Ockert Headquarters and renew for 2009, no one likes to be in the cellar. HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS 10 NO- VEMBER 1775 THE AMERICAN LEGION WESTERN DISTRICT Richard Smith Senior Vice Michael Berry Zone One Ray Untiet, Jr. Zone Two Tom Schanrock Zone Three April Berry Dave Shandy Finance Officer Tom Stockmal Sergeant At Arms Chuck Philips Chaplain Chris Vrabel Historian Jay Cole Judge Advocate Laura McCammon Executive Committeemen Tim Clarke Kirk Walhaus Milton Roy THE ABOVE ADS ARE PAID ADVERTISEMENTS Cont Pisa from page 2 Post 19. REMEMBER: IT IS NOT THE PRICE WE PAID TO JOIN; IT IS THE PRICE WE PAID TO BE ELIGIBLE. National Dave Rehbein s Incentive Program Pride and Purpose Pin and American Legion Lapel Pin During the membership year, National Dave Rehbein will award his National pin to any Legion family member who signs up at least five new members or renew/reinstate five current members into The American Legion. Any Legion family member who accomplishes both tasks will also receive an American Legion lapel pin. A New Member is defined as any eligible person joining for the 2009 membership year who was not a member of The American Legion during the 2008 membership year. National Rehbein s goal is to recognize those in the Legion family who actively recruit new members into the world s largest veterans service organization and/or who personally contact members to renew for the 2009 membership year. To maintain the integrity of the National s Pin and American Legion Lapel Pin incentive program, only one of each will be awarded per individual. The certification form for this program may be submitted at any time after August 28, Upon receipt, national membership staff will confirm the names and mail the pin and/or lapel pin within three weeks. National Dave Rehbein s Pride and Purpose pin and American Legion lapel pin incentive will end on June 30, or when supplies are exhausted. Pick up your form from Department Headquarters, 1550 Charter Circle, Anchorage, AK From the desk of the Western District Last Saturday was a very sad day for me - I had to put my motorcycle away for the winter. Thankfully, I will be able to visit it in the garage! Membership: I found out that a Past Department was yelling at me on my computer in CAPITAL LETTERS. Please help get him off my back! If you only have a few renewals (or new membership forms) please send them in on a weekly basis instead of once a month. I would like to thank the Kodiak and Nome Posts for their great hospitality. The weekend I spent with these two Posts was truly like being with family. I am looking forward to the Silver Tea at Unit #1. From there I head to P a l m e r a n d Wasilla. Have a happy and safe Halloween; I know I will because that is my homecoming to Seward Post #5.

4 Page 4 Alaska Legionnaire November 2008 It was good to see Huisman and President Lisa in Ketchikan for visitation. Currently the future looks bleak for membership as money is ever so tight with the cost of everything going through the roof. Post having to start to choose which organization really needs the help the most. Sad to see how the economy is going to disrupt our legion family with relocations of families that just can t keep ahead of the utility bills. Our heavenly father we thank you for the opportunities we have just for serving this fine country. As our nation comes closer to selecting a new in Chief we pray that the new one will make the right choices to get our country back to it the prosporous nation it is acustom to being. Also dear lord, give a safe hand to the folks that do head to the lower 48. Keep them safe in their travels and provide them with financial opportunities in their new homes. Felix Bruno Post 15 James Donnelly Post 13 William Godbey Post 7 George Inga Post 17 Taps Taps From the Southeast District s Desk Somewhere in the Panhandle By Bill Jacobi Southeast District For a change of pace, Southeast District President Jean Clayton and I joined Department Terry and Department President Lisa on a road trip to the city of Wrangell and a visit with Merlin Elmer Palmer Post 6 American Legion family. We were met at the airport Saturday afternoon, October 4th by Post Dwight and Past District Steve Murphy. After we checked in the Stikine Inn, Dwight and Steve took us on a tour of Wrangell despite the rain and then we stopped back at the Stikine to change for dinner. We had a wonderful dinner and saw old friends like Willie, Morgan, Palmer and Wilma to name a few as well as other Post and Auxiliary members. T h a n k s again for a wonderful v i s i t a n d I look forward to seeing some of you at our SE District meeting next April prior to Department Convention in Haines. Now about membership. We, Department, did not make 55%, our October goal. Southeast District was at 55.1%. The last National listing I saw, Alaska is still 53rd out of 55; but for the 2008 membership year we ended up 2nd, what is different? By this time we are all on our way to the next goal, keep up the good work. While I was traveling to Indianapolis for meetings, I learned we Calendar & Events 2008 Sven Larsen Post 17 Herman Schirmer Post 6 Lee Sullivan Post 33 November 2nd - 7th National Legion College November 2nd Daylight Saving Time Ends November 4th Election Day November 11th Veterans Day November 16-22nd American Education Week November 23rd - 29th National Family Week November 27th Thanksgiving November 27th - 30 Department Offices are Closed November 28th - 30th Holiday Blood Drive Service Office News lost Edward Locken Post 14 Dewey Duvall to Post Everlasting. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. By Leon Bertie Bertram, Department Service Officer Your Service Office has just completed the first quarter of our fiscal year, July through September. Each quarter of the year we are required to report some of our more important activities to the State Department of Veterans Affairs. It is somewhat of a measure of how we meet our obligations in representing our Veterans. Since July 1st we have served 1,102 veterans, 98 with new claims for compensation of which 50 are new clients (POA s). We have made monthly trip to work with veterans in Kenai and Fairbanks, we visited Ketchikan, Sitka, and Kodiak on two occasions and at least once to Homer, Ninilchik, Wrangell, Bethel, Nome, and Glennallen. Jimmie has made near monthly trips to our Bases to give transition briefings at both Fort Richardson and Elmendorf. Another measure is what we call monetary recovery. This is very important measure showing the State what they get for their money. Bangs of their Bucks. This year to date we have recovered $2,620, dollars for our clients. Those are federal dollars brought into our state. We are hoping to recover nearly 10 million by the end of FY Along with this we have held several hearings, some with the DRO (decision review officer) a VA employee out of Salt Lake City, we have had several hearing before the Veterans Board of Appeals in Washington, D.C. both with the travel board and over video hearings. We have had some great success in these complicated case and that has added greatly to our monetary recovery as well as really help some needy veterans. We have scheduled some 50 trips this year to our travel budget. Our outreach into our communities across the state is a very important part of attempting to see all our state veterans have access to representation. We need all Legionnaires to help us reach the veterans in their prospective communities in connecting us up with local veterans. We are more than willing to visit communities, speak at your meeting, holding call in programs at your local radio stations and talk VA and State Veterans benefits as well as assisting veterans file claims or just discuss what is offered in benefits. Connect any veteran that you see might be assisted by our help or consul. To quote PDC Jim Pisa, It s not the price you paid to join, It s the price you paid to be eligible. From the ALRA State Director By Victoria Kosman ALRA State Director First of all.. Wooo hooo for all ALR s showing up in force during this past summer s visitations, riding even in the rain! Brummm Bruummm, - that s a motorcycle getting ready to take off. And let me tell you, my motor is running in high gear! After having the wonderful opportunity the end of August to meet ALR and soon to be ALR members during a trip my husband, Russ, and I took my energy level is HIGH. We met with members of Posts 5, 20, 28, & 34. What an amazing family we are apart of!! Post 5 and 20 had a great dinner or lunch just for our visit! We are looking forward to another visit of as many posts as we can in December early January. Post 28 & 34 will be starting ALR Chapters, but we need your help.anyone in Anchorage or the Valley interested in becoming an ALR or an ALR Supporter, can meet after the Zone 1 breakfast each month until another date is set. We, (myself, Don G., & Bobby T), put our thinking caps on and thought, what an awesome idea; to meet after a great breakfast, find out who s interested, form a combined Post chapter, or separate chapters for each Post if membership is high enough: choose officers and make a Ride Schedule. (It was discussed in the Sept Legionnaire on how easy is it to start a chapter) --- and away you go. The beauty of ALR, is that you CAN ride and SUPPORT each other during this time of growth. Meet together, share rides together, have special events together that s what family is for. The December Legionnaire will give you all ideas on how easy it is to come up with a Ride Schedule for a busy summer. By the Way, look out for Teddy he s traveling the state, he was in Phoenix and I hear he took a trip to Vegas mid October. He should have made an appearance at Post 5 s Halloween party too. I did hear that a Sarah Palin look alike was planning to be there, maybe Teddy had his picture taken with her, we ll soon find out! Please visit the state website for more information on The American Legion Riders, or feel free to me, Dave Caswell, the ALRA State Secretary, or any of the State Officers if you have any questions at: See ALRA on page 5

5 Notes from the National Excutive Committeeman I have just returned from the Fall Meetings of the National Executive Committee in Indianapolis, Indiana on Wednesday and Thursday, October 15 & 16, Just before the start of the meetings, Team Alaska hosted a hospitality room on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings to introduce the attendees to our candidate Jimmie Foster. I am happy to report that the team performed magnificently. We heard nothing but positive remarks about the hospitality room. My thanks to all the Team Alaska folks for their hard work and dedication. I will have a complete list of the team members in a future article. On a personal note, my doggies are still barking after standing in the greeting line for a total of seven hours over three nights. The greeting line consisted of myself, Department Terry Huisman, Department Gene Franks, Department President Lisa Williamson, Department Secretary Judy Pusti, Past Department President Rheta Foster and our candidate Jimmie Foster. It costs a lot of money to host a hospitality room, but it is required of each candidate for National. We have three more we have to host in Indianapolis in the next year and a half, plus two in Washington, D.C. In addition, Jimmie has to travel to most all of the departments of The American Legion, November 2008 Alaska Legionnaire Page 5 which comes out of his campaign funds. I urge all posts to do whatever they can to raise funds for Jimmie s campaign. We endorsed him, he got the nod, let s do our part in getting him elected. On the last day of the NEC meetings, National Robert Spanogle retired with over 36 years of service to the American Legion. The last 27 years as our National. In recognition of his service to The American Legion, the NEC at it s meeting during the national convention in Phoenix, Arizona unanimously voted to appoint him an Honorary Past National upon his retirement. This occurred during the closing of our meeting on Thursday, October 16th. It was an emotional ceremony with many accolades and presentations. The final item on our agenda was to act on the appointment of Daniel Wheeler as the new National of The American Legion. Dan, a Navy veteran, has been the executive director of The American Legion s national headquarters since 1995 and has worked for The American Legion since He is a member of American Legion Post 137 in Richmond, Virginia. I am happy to report that the National Finance Commission stated that the investments of The American Legion were only down 2% in value. Operation Freedom Car Legionnaires who love auto racing have a rare opportunity to see their names, or the names of their posts, on the hood of the American Legion 76 Freedom Car, and at the same time lighten the load on U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. American Legion Racing is sponsoring Operation Freedom Car by sending bottles of 4-in-1 hygiene care to our troops overseas. The extremely concentrated liquid is actually four products in one a shampoo, conditioner, body wash and shaving cream in one convenient travel-sized bottle. Because of its multiple uses, the 4-in- 1 product is very popular. The mission of the Freedom Car team is to send 5,000 cases of 4-in-1 to troops this year, says team owner Jack Johnson. Each case contains 12 travel-size bottles. Reaching the goal means sending 60,000 bottles to U.S. troops by Christmas. It s easy to become both a part of the Cont ALRA from page 4 org Quote of the moment: Freedom Car team and to support the troops. For every $100 donated, a case of 4-in-1 will be sent to U.S. military members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every shipment will contain a letter of appreciation, and a list of all the American Legion posts or individuals who contributed $100 to the Operation Freedom Car project. In addition, posts or individuals who donate $100 or more will see their names displayed on the hood of the Freedom Car in All posts and individuals who participate will receive a certificate as an honorary associate sponsor of the car. It will be fun for the troops to see their local Legion post on the list, and for race fans to find their name on the hood of the 76 Freedom Car show car, Johnson says. To contribute $100 to Operation Freedom Car, make checks payable to Team Johnson Motorsports, P.O. Box 919, Mooresville, NC Catching a yellow jacket in your 70 mph can double your vocabulary

6 Page 6 Alaska Legionnaire November 2008 S.A.L.utations By Kevin Collier, Sons of The American Legion Detachment Once again the Detachment will be doing their 32 oz. T-bone Steak Dinner! This will be our 13th year doing this event. This years STEAK FEED will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at Spenard Post #28, in Anchorage, Alaska. This fantastic dinner will be held from 4:00 pm 9:00 pm. The price this year will be $25, with the proceeds going toward The American Legion Alaska Boys State and the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State programs. See one of your Detachment Officers for tickets. There will be a Detachment Executive Committee Meeting at 1:00 pm on the day of the Steak Feed at Spenard Post #28. If you still have not taken the opportunity to turn in your Certification of Officers, please do so as soon as possible. This helps the Detachment, Brent Willden and myself in having points of contact at your Squadron so we Notes from the S.A.L. National Executive Committeeman By Bill Null November is here and somehow I lost October,nothing got done and I am sorry for that. I was also supposed to go to the National N.E.C. Meeting held October 10th, 11th and 12th, but I didn t get to go due to some problems at home, which have been taken care of, sorry! As of this writing, I have not received the minutes from those meetings, so I can not at this time inform you as to what happened, but I will let you know as soon as I find out. This is what s happening in November. The 11th is Veterans Day, it s the day we as Sons, can shine SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION DETACHMENT OF ALASKA 2009 MEMBERSHIP REPORT may arrange official visits or send important information from the Detachment and from National to your Squadron. Remember November 11th we all need to stop and pay tribute to our veterans by celebrating our freedom and the men and women who fought for country. With out the sacrifices of our veterans this country would not be the great Nation that it is. They have given of themselves so that we all may live in peace and enjoy all the rights and privileges we have being an American Citizen. All veterans gave something of themselves; some even gave all to ensure our blessings of life, liberty, freedom and the pursuit of happiness. Take a moment out of your day to say Thank You!! to our veterans. The Detachment as a whole has 366 members transmitted out of our year-end goal of 1467 (so far). by helping out where ever posible and showing our presents at the functions. A lot of Squadrons are having their Early Bird functions on or around that day and with your presents, it should bring in a lot of membership (here s hoping),then there s Thanksgiving, I hope it is received by you and your families as well as it is mine, and don t forget your friends at Squadron, Post and Unit. Let everyone know that you belong to one of the largest and oldest Son s Organizations in the world. No. SQUADRON NAME GOAL ACTUAL % 29 Muldoon Chappie James C. Russell Huber Jack Henry Susitna Valley Matanuska Valley General Buckner Robert G. Blair George H. Plumley Spenard Lynn Canal Seward Auke Bay Ninilchik Peters Creek Con Miller Dorman H. Baker Sitka Merlin Elmer Palmer SOUTHEAST DISTRICT WESTERN district TOTALS This is equivalent to 24.9% of our goal. Remember that membership is everyone s responsibility! Keep up the great job. Don t be a duffer and get left in the rough. Lets hit holes in ones so we will be at 100% membership by the end of the Golf Match. As of writing this article we have had a total of eleven Squadrons turn in membership so far for the 2009 Membership year, the other eight Squadrons are still stuck in the rough or in a sand trap. Membership Goal Dates or Target Dates will be the Holes you are aiming for. Each Hole begins with a Drive Toward Membership. The Holes (Target Dates) are as follows: Hole #3 11/14/08 35% Hole #4 12/10/08 45% Hole #5 01/14/09 60% Hole #6 02/11/09 75% Hole #7 03/11/09 80% Hole #8 04/08/09 90% Hole #9 05/13/09 100% Hole #10 07/20/09 105% We need your cards into Detachment Headquarters about 1 week The American Legion or Sons of The American Legion members affected by Hurricane Ike and Gustav are encouraged to apply for National Emergency Fund (NEF) grants through their post, district, department or national headquarters if they were displaced or evacuated. NEF grants are intended to cover temporary emergency needs such as temporary lodging, food, water, diapers, clothes and other needs. The National Emergency Fund has awarded more than $6.5 million in grants since it was created in 1989 after Hurricane Hugo and an earthquake in San Francisco. Members of The American Legion and the Sons of the American Legion can receive up to $1,500. American Legion posts that FEB. FEB. 2-4 Southeast 2-4 Southeast Dis prior to the Target Dates in order to get them processed at National in time to count as reaching the goal or making a Hole in One. As more come out on the National Membership Theme we will make sure to get it out to you. Lets all aim for those Holes in one and not be left in the Rough or in the Sand Trap. We are well on our way to obtaining the goal of 35% set for the Hole #3. Lets beat that goal prior to the November 14th cut off. Keep up the great job you are doing in membership. Remember the three R s Renew, Recruit and Reinstate. Do not just sit on it! Keep it rolling in. I would like to personally thank each and every one of the veterans for their service and sacrifices that they made. God Bless you and God Bless America. If there is anything that any of your Detachment or District Officers can do to assist you or answer any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. My is kcollier@ alaska.net. Hope to hear from you soon. The American Legion s National Emergency Fund Assists Ike and Gustav Victims have been damaged by the hurricane can receive a grant up to $5,000. Because of the severe devastation inflicted by Hurricane Ike and Gustav, the NEF will be in need of donations. Members can donate online here, or they can send a tax-deductible contribution to: The American Legion, National Emergency Fund, PO Box 6141, Indianapolis, IN Information about applying for a grant can be obtained by calling national headquarters at (317) , the Department of Texas at (512) or the Department of Louisiana at (512) Applications for grants can be downloaded here. pdf/nefapplication_1007.pdf. National Dave Rehbein s The American Legion Belt Buckle During the membership year, National Dave Rehbein will award 100 Legionnaires with an American Legion Belt Buckle. Any Legionnaire who recruits 8 new members into The American Legion will be eligible for this drawing. There will be 20 winners drawn from each of the five regions based on the National Vice s. The certification coupon for this program may be submitted at any time after August 28, National Dave Rehbein s Belt Buckle incentive will end on April 30, 2009 and the winners will be drawn during the Spring NEC Meetings.

7 District Convention in Sitka From the Desk of the Western District President By Jeannie Shandy Now that we are certain that winter is here, it is time to begin planning for the various events, such as Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. many thanks to the Units that I have visited so far this year. Your companionship and camaraderie is priceless. Although your hospitality isn t any help to diet. Thank you all. By now we all know of President Lisa s membership challenge to the Department of Arizona as to who will hit 100% first. Let all get with our Units and try to save President Lisa $100.00, help our Girls State Program, and help build our membership at the same time. Probably UNITED WE STAND IN MEMBERSHIP!!! By Lynn Bash Department 2nd Vice President & Membership Chairman November is a very special month to me because of Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. On Veterans Day I reflect on and honor what our veterans have done for us, many making the supreme sacrifice. And as a result of their dedication and sacrifices, we are able to live in a country free to do whatever we wish every day of our life. I am so very thankful and salute each and every one of you. God Bless you all! HAPPY VETERANS DAY AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING! November is membership month. Hopefully you will have a Veterans Day ceremony and/or Thanksgiving festivities. This is an opportune time to set up a membership table either at your Post or at a local business. Have plenty of applications and benefit brochures to hand out. Remember the Juniors can help at your membership table. In the membership year, when Department President Lisa was Department 2nd Vice President and Membership Chairman, the Department of Alaska had their last all time high of 3763 members. The Department of Alaska s goal for this membership year is We only need to achieve 22 more members over goal and we will have another all time Happy Thanksgiving to all members and their families. This year has went by so fast and since we did not have any summer it seems impossible that is time for any of the fall activities. Veteran s Day and my granddaughters birthday, time to get the letters out for Poppy orders and as always membership. by the time you read this, the Annual Silver Tea sponsored by Unit 1, to raise money for the Veterans Domiciliary will be over. Thanks to all who attended, And made donations. On that note I would like to encourage all Posts, Units,and Squadrons to make donation to this worthy cause. Please make donations to Jack Henry Unit Of Course a big day on our Calendar is November 11, Veterans day. I encourage every one to attend and take part in any Post functions or ceremonies honoring our Veterans. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Don t forget to hug a vet! high With every unit doing their job in achieving their membership goal, we can STAND UNITED IN MEMBERSHIP and make this another ALL TIME HIGH YEAR! We have two remaining target dates, Target 2, 75% to Department Secretary Judy by January 25, 2009 and Target 3, 100% to Department Secretary Judy by May 25th, This gives Judy time to process and forward to National prior to the closing deadline. Remember also that Department President Lisa will be having a special drawing/prize for all those units that have 100% membership by January 1st, As I said before and will continue to say: Have those Early Bird or Late Bird Dinners; Have your membership transmitted at least every other week; Have those forms filled out and sent in for the Top Recruiter and Silver Brigade Awards; Have all available Juniors signed up from your Unit; and, thank you for all your hard work and keep that membership rolling in!! FOR GOD AND COUNTRY and ALWAYS OUR TROOPS! From the SECRETARY S DESK By Judith Pusti, Auxiliary Secretary Another reminder for all of you that do not have pass ports, you will need them to cross the border if you are driving to Haines for the department convention. Reminder again! Transmittal fees are $12 for seniors and $4 for juniors. God Bless. United We Stand... In Thanks! As I reflect on the month of November, I think of Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. I begin my list of all that I am grateful for. It makes me remember those that sacrificed to grant us our freedoms. Listen to this story printed in Dear Abby recently: Dear Abby: I am one of your many male readers. I have been up all night and need to put my thoughts down and thank someone for his act of kindness to my son. My son, a US infantry soldier, left yesterday for a 12-month deployment. After a tearful goodbye to me and to his young wife at the airport, he flew to Atlanta to join the other members of his unit for their flights overseas. He called me the evening he reached Atlanta and related this story: He was eating a late dinner at a restaurant in the Atlanta airport. A man who appeared to be about 60 years old saw him show his military ID to the waitress when he ordered a drink with his meal. The man took my son s dinner check when he got up to leave, saying Let me buy a soldier a meal. When my son tried to politely refuse, the man insisted and said it was his way to thank Attention Military Spouses We want to know how you plan to celebrate Veterans Day. Record a short video message detailing how The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has created a new website to educate children aged 8-12 on ways to navigate the Internet safely. NSTeens. org highlights the potential dangers of cyber bullying, along with ways November 2008 Alaska Legionnaire Page 7 From thedesk of the Auxiliary President him what was he was doing. Because Army privates don t make much money, my son was grateful. This act of kindness made a strong impression. To that gentleman, I want you to know that this father is grateful, too. I sent my son into harm s way yesterday, and you, sir, a stranger, took care of him on his journey. You bought him a meal when I could not. Thank you, and God bless you. A SOLDER S GRATEFUL DAD DEAR GRATEFUL DAD: I m pleased to convey your gratitude. Today, 190,000 members of our US military are stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq doing tours and extended tours of active duty. It is completely appropriate for any civilian who sees someone in uniform to approach that person and offer thanks for his or her service. The gentleman who treated your son to dinner did it in a more tangible way than many do and for that he is to be commended. Have you ever seen one of our military walking past you and wanted to convey to them your thanks, but weren t sure how or it felt awkward? Have you ever wanted to say thank you, but didn t..then wish you had? your family or your local military community celebrates this holiday. Then, upload your video titled, How I Plan to Celebrate Veterans Day, to Military.com s Shock & Awe channel. Videos will be featured on our Spouse Network and the Family Newsletter. Website Promotes Online Child Safety to responsibly use social networking sites. The website utilizes animated videos and online comics to reach out to today s youth. For more information, visit the NS Teens -- Making Safer Internet Choices website.

8 Page 8 Alaska Legionnaire November 2008 Jack Henry Post 1 Meets 1st and 3rd Thursdays Jim Grant 1st Vice Myron Jenson Greg Kowatch Finance Officer Bill Wolter Service Officer Nettie Peratrovich Sergeant At Arms Leslie Howard Chaplain Dave Mazack Executive Committeemen Lester Parsons Larry Rensink Tom Bornback Office & Bar Managers Debbie Cross & Glenda Brovillette , FAX P.O. Box Anchorage, AK Ketchikan Post 3 Meets every Monday, 7pm Potluck every 3rd Saturday MARSHALL PRATT Calvin Anderes, Joe Craig, Serv. Off , P.O. Box 5121 Ketchikan, AK ktnpost3@yahoo.com SEWARD POST 5 Meets 2 ND Tuesday 7p.m. JOHN MOLINE Taco Tuesday ~ 6p.m. Steak night Friday ~ 6p.m. P.O. Box 306 Seward, AK Dorman H. Baker Post 11 Charles Rogers Daniel Swisher Larry NelsonService Officer Pull tab sales at the club , 129 First Ave. Fairbanks, AK Haines Alaska Post 12 JAMES MORAN First Vice - Pat Murphy Second Vice - Mike Case Finance Officer - Pat Murphy - Terry Pardee Matanuska Valley Post 15 Mike Outterson Jesse Sawyer Club Manager \ Tom Domeier Meets 1st & 3rd Mon., 7 p.m. P.O. Box 1146, Palmer, AK Robert G. Blair Post 17 Ronald Eads Mike Nichols Robert Lachowsky, Service Officer 318 Center Ave., Kodiak, AK Office: / Bar: NINILCHIK POST & UNIT 18 Herb Downs Gary Jackinsky Roberta Rieth President Chris Calabrese Sec./Treas. Betty Randall Mile Sterling Hwy Phone George H. Plumley Memorial Post 20 James Herrick Robert Harrison, Herb Stettler, Service Officer , P.O. Box 1044 Kenai, AK Aurora Borealis Post 21 ELEXZANDERIA CARR Ruby Tyree McMillian Meeting 3rd 2 pm P.O. Box Anchorage, AK Spenard Post 28 Bob Tumacder 1st Vice Russell King 2nd Vice Jimmie L. Foster Finance Richard Gingras Chaplain Marvin Barington Historian Wesley Lancaster Service Officer Jim Garrigues Sgt-At-Arms Russell Reinhardt Judge Adv. Arnold Heck Exec.Committeemen William Dudley Patrick Barney Kirk Waldhaus PPC Stan Nelson Annual Sponsors of Boys & Girls Program AL Baseball Service High Boys Scout Troop 214 Cub Scout Pack 214 Dimond High JROTC Post 28 Scholarship Program 7001 Brayton Drive Anchorage, AK Support Our TROOPS & VETERANS Happy Thanksgiving Gladys M. Heintz Post 27 BRUCE HEATON Meetings are the 1st Wednesday of the month at 6PM Mile Glenn Highway Muldoon Post 29 Meets 3rd Tuesday 6:30 PM Robby Robinson Service Officer, Carol Gross 1467 Muldoon Rd Anchorage AK (907) FAX ( muldoon29@gci.net Peters Creek Post 33 Michael Forte Dan Hay, James Rosin, Service Officer P.O. Box Chugiak, AK Last 2008/09 Memberships as of Friday 08/15/2008 Post 1 09/16/08 Post 2 01/25/08 Post 3 09/16/08 Post 4 07/30/08 Post 5 09/16/08 Post 6 09/16/08 Post 7 10/26/07 Post 8 08/15/08 Post 9 07/30/08 Post 10 02/29/08 Post 11 09/16/08 Post 12 09/16/08 Post 13 09/16/08 Post 14 01/25/08 Post 15 08/15/08 Post 16 09/16/08 Post 17 09/16/08 Post 18 09/16/08 Post 19 09/16/08 Post 20 09/16/08 Post 21 08/15/08 Post 22 09/16/08 Post 24 02/01/08 Post 25 09/16/08 Post 27 09/16/08 Post 28 09/16/08 Post 29 08/15/08 Post 30 09/16/08 Post 33 09/03/08 Post 34 09/16/08 Post 35 07/25/08 Post 57 09/03/08 Post 75 09/16/08 CH /15/07 GM /02/08 Post /26/07 General Chappie James Post 34 Don Garrett Vonso Pate, Durand Tyler, Bar Manager John Youmans, Service Officer Mayfield Evans, Finance Officer MONTHLY MEETINGS, 8 p.m. General Membership 4th Wed, D Ingra Anchorage, AK C. Russell Huber Post 57 Milton G. Roy Milton G. Roy, Service Officer Pete Duchscherer, Ajutant 1634 S. Cushman St. Fairbanks, AK AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY WESTERN DISTRICT Jeannie Shandy, President Marlene Walker, 1st Vice Pres. Lynda Schmidt, 2nd Vice President Marge Blankenship, Secretary Bobby Shaw Treasurer Barbie Walkoff, Historian Helen Hartman Chaplain, Sgt-At-Arms Jack Henry Unit 1 Debra Schrader President Jill Pawson, Secretary Meets 1st and 3rd 7 p.m. P.O. Box 92747, Anchorage, AK Matanuska Valley Unit 15 RUTH HODSDON, President Juhree Loyer - 1st Vice President Juhree Loyer - Treasurer Kelly Sawyer, Secretary Meets 1st Monday, at 6:00 p.m. P.O. Box 541, Palmer, AK Pull Tabs Available C. Russell Huber Squadron 57 Darrel williamson Bill Malkuch, First Vice Francis Boisseau, Bob Hoyt, Finance Officer P.O. Box Fairbanks, AK George H. Plumley Memorial Sons of The American Legion Squadron 20 Glenn K. Siebert First Vice Tom Salmon Second Vice Anthony Diaz /Finance Officer Dean Hill Sergeant-At-Arms Ryan Holmes Chaplain Ken Bartlett Historian Austin Diaz Executive Committeemen Dante Diaz GRANDE DU ALASKA GRAND CHEF DE GARE Glenn Willis GRAND CHEF DE TRAIN Charlie Palmer GRAND CONDUCTEUR Lenny Tunison GRAND CORRESPONDANT Dan Hay CHEMINOT NATIONAL Gary Red Smart Cont CMDR from Page 1 was a hot topic of discussion. These great men and don t make it home on time. I suggest you allow three hours between women are leaders of the local and state Legion and each leg of your journey we are blessed with their unless you are just flying leadership and knowledge from one town to another. Indianapolis and s conference. I was We sat on the plane three hours before getting off a good student and took and re-booking our flight lots of notes and learned getting us home10 hrs a lot. Something I want to later. Whether it be land, pass on to you as flying sea or air travel we as Legionnaires will always be members of our Alaska community is remembering that airplanes break!!!! there for you. When airplanes break you