The American Legion Department of Maine 5 Verti Drive, Winslow, ME 04901-0727 Tel: (207) 873-3229 Fax: (207) 872-0501 E-mail: legionme@mainelegion.org Website: www.mainelegion.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/maineamericanlegion January 14, 2016 SMILE Ambition never comes to an end. Congratulations to the following Posts for reaching 100% Please see attached Membership Report Holiday Reminder The Department Headquarters office and Service Office will be closed on Monday, January 18 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Attention: To All Members of the DEC DEC Meeting The scheduled meeting of the DEC to be held January 17, 2016 at the Spectacular Event Center has been CANCELLED due to no Agenda items submitted for this meeting. So if you have made plans to stay over Saturday evening to attend the DEC, you still have the opportunity to cancel your hotel reservation. From the Adjutant s Desk Dues Increase Reminder: All dues being paid at $26 per member must be received at Department HQ by January 19, 2016. All dues received January 20 and beyond will be processed at $31 per member.
From the Vice Commanders on Membership As we continue to travel and present 100% membership awards to Posts all over the great State of Maine, we will be presenting 22 more awards at the Winter Conference this Saturday in Bangor. We are asking that any officer or member from the following Posts, please make every effort to attend this great Conference and to be present to receive your well-deserved Award. Post-208, Masardi Post-48, Washburn Post-91, Yarmouth Post-120, Rangeley Post-141, Hartland Post-128, Standish Post-74, Kennebunk Post-10, Livermore Falls Post-183, Brooks Post-67, Bridgton Post-157, Stockton Springs Post-176, Eagle Lake Post-181, Litchfield Post-142, Peaks Island Post-151, West Paris Post-59, Pembroke Post-33, North Haven Post-20, Brunswick Post-173, North New Portland Post-172, Vanceboro Post-118, Mars Hill Post-82, Norway The members of the American Legion Family Special Olympics Committee are selling winter scarfs at $20 each. The net proceeds will help support our commitment to Camp Tall Pines. Please help support this great cause. The committee members will have the scarfs available to sell at Mid-Winter Conference. If you are not attending the conference and would like to purchase one, please contact Nancy True at 653-3886 or e-mail her at dtrue5@maine.rr.com. Thanks for your support! Nancy True, Co-Chairman Special Olympics Committee American Legion Family Special Olympics Committee Valentines For Veterans We are collecting valentines for veterans again this year. Valentines will be sent to Togus VA Hospital and Maine nursing homes. Please drop off valentines to Veterans Outreach Coordinator Jerry DeWitt at Tri County Mental Health Offices, 1155 Lisbon Street, Lewiston, NLT 8th of February. Use Your Imagination! FMI, email Jerry DeWitt at jdewitt@tcmhs.org or call 783-4663 Ext 228 or 576-0376. The Mid-Winter Conference on January 16, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. is still scheduled to take place. The following requirements are needed: 1) Money/Credit Cards 2) Gloves, Warm Hat and Boots 3) Shovel and Snow Scrapers Mid-Winter Conference Isn t it just great living in the State of Maine!!! And last of all, a positive attitude that reflects what we do as an organization for Veterans.
District Meetings District 11 Waldo: Jan. 17, Belfast Post 43, 2 p.m. guest speaker Eric Conrad, director of Communication and Educational Services, refreshments after mtg. District 1 York: Jan. 17, Sanford Post 19, 2 p.m. Oratorical run off for District Representative. Refreshments to follow the meeting. District 5 Oxford: Jan. 19, South Paris Post 72, Oratorical contest, refreshments. District 8 Sagadahoc: Jan. 24, Phippsburg Post 216 at the (Phippsburg Sports Club), 272 Main Rd., 1p.m. February meetings District 16 S. Aroostook: Feb. 6, Caribou Post 15, 1 p.m. dinner, mtg. to follow, Four Chaplains District 17 N. Aroostook: Feb. 7, Van Buren Post 49, 1 p.m. dinner, mtg. to follow, Four Chaplains service District 10 Somerset: Feb. 8, Skowhegan Post 16, 5 p.m. social hour, 6 p.m. mtg. Nominating new district officers. District 12 Hancock: Feb 9, open District 9 Kennebec: Feb. 10, Maine Veterans Home, Augusta, 7 p.m. District 3 Androscoggin: Feb. 14, Lisbon Post 158, 2 p.m. District 5 Oxford: Feb.16, Dixfield Post 100, nominations, 6 p.m. light supper, 7 p.m. mtg. District 14 Piscataquis: Feb. 20, Dexter Post 53, 12 p.m. Lunch, 1 p.m. mtg. Military Trivia How many minesweepers participated in the D-Day invasion? Directory Changes Pg. 39, Mechanic Falls Post 150 Adjutant Larry Newth, 87 Winterbrook Rd., Mechanic Falls 04256 (998-3039) (c 831-3285) e-mail: lnewth1112@gmail.com Pg. 39, Mechanic Falls Post 150 Finance Officer Gary Purington, 57 Clifford St., Mechanic Falls 04256 (c 274-3942) e-mail: gpurington@rsu16.org As our National Organization continues to solicit donations from our members here in Maine, we continue to receive phone calls on this issue. The most asked questions are: Does the donation stay in Maine to help Maine Veterans? The answer is NO. Does this effect our Programs? The answer is YES. What can we do? The answer is send all donations to: The American Legion, Department of Maine, 5 Verti Drive, Winslow, Me. 04901-0727. Make check payable to: The American Legion, Department of Maine and earmark it to a Veterans Program or Children and Youth Program! If you should have any questions, please call Dept. HQ at 207-873-3229. Paul L Heureux, State Adjutant To All Maine Legionnaires Re: National HQ Fundraising Solicitation
Membership Condolences Joseph F. Cooney, Jr., of Norway, Maine, died suddenly January 7, 2016, at his home. He dedicated many hours to several veterans organizations including the Western Maine Veterans Advisory Committee, which he was Chairman for 15 years. He was Post Commander at the American Legion Post 82 for two years and was Commander of the South Paris Maine Veteran of Foreign Wars for four years. His funeral will be held from The O Donnell Funeral Home, 46 Washington Sq., (at Salem Common) Salem, Tuesday, Jan. 12, at 9:15 a.m., followed by his funeral Mass in the Immaculate Conception Church, Hawthorne Blvd., Salem at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends invited. Burial is private. Visiting hours Monday, Jan. 11 from 3 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Joe s memory to the South Paris Veterans Home, Activities Fund, 477 High St., S. Paris, ME 04281. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com. Cards may be sent to his wife Linda and family at 16 Crescent St., Norway 04268.
CANADIAN FRIENDSHIP AWARD Nomination Report (Information Sheet) Purpose: To submit nomination(s) for the Canadian Friendship Award. Conditions: It shall be awarded to specific individuals who shall be war veterans within the accepted meaning of the term and members of an authentic veteran s organization in Canada. The award shall be given to individuals in recognition of outstanding service in the field of veterans affairs and in the development and perpetuation of the spirit of international goodwill and comradeship between The United States and Canada and between their veterans organization and The American Legion. Nominations may be made by any member of The American Legion in good standing, under such rules and regulations as shall be approved for such award. Nominations: Receipt of award is limited to one (1) per branch and nominations are limited to one (1) per post. Documentation: Each nomination shall be thoroughly documented (testimonials and other credentials, newspaper clippings, copies of awards, etc.) by the person placing the name in nomination. If space on the nomination form is insufficient, additional pages may be attached for consideration. The nominator will be responsible for making definite time/place/presentation plans, subject to approval of the nominee for the award. Deadline: Nominations must reach Department Headquarters by January 31. Mail to: The American Legion Department of Maine 5 Verti Drive Winslow, Maine 04901-0727 NOMINATION FORM AT END OF SMILE - DUPLICATE AS NECESSARY Form Must Reach Department by January 31
Maine Veterans Creative Arts Festival: March 1, 2016, Togus VA. The visual art will be on display in the afternoon by the theater at Togus and the performing art show will start at 2 p.m. Donations to help with the cost of this show may be sent to ALA, Department of Maine earmarked Maine Veterans Creative Arts Festival.
Honoring Our Veterans Our nation s veterans earned our respect through a career of public service and sacrifice, and Governor Paul R. LePage wants to make Maine an attractive destination for both current and future military retirees. Earlier this year, the governor proposed a comprehensive two-year budget that contained a number of significant tax reform proposals. While many of the governor s proposals including dramatically reducing Maine s income tax were rejected by the Maine Legislature, the LePage Administration was successful in securing the passage of a number of provisions that benefit Maine veterans. Among these were: Elimination of the tax on military pensions. Military pension benefits, including survivor benefits, will be completely exempt from state income tax beginning on January 1, 2016. With this important reform, Maine joins 22 other states that honor their veterans by not taxing their pensions. Veterans with civilian employee retirement plan benefits may continue to utilize the $10,000 pension exemption for qualifying plans. Reducing the burden of Maine s death tax on families. Starting on January 1, 2016, the State of Maine s estate tax will conform with federal estate tax exclusion amount. This important change protects our veterans and their property, and Maine s veterans can rest assured that the businesses and the property they own will be passed on to the next generation instead of being sold off to pay a burdensome tax bill. Doubling the value of Maine s homestead exemption. Beginning in 2016, the homestead exemption will increase to $15,000. In 2017, the homestead exemption will double from its current amount, protecting Mainers and veterans from local property tax increases by exempting the first $20,000 of their home s value from taxation. Prepared by the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services www.maine. gov/dafs www.maine.gov/revenue Pool League Tournament: Mondays, Winthrop Post 40, 7-10 p.m. Free Pool: Saturdays, Winthrop Post 40, anyone can sign up. Public Supper: Second Saturday of the month, Dixfield Post 100, $7 adults, Children ½ price, meals vary, FMI call 562-8030. Live Music: Fridays, Sanford Post 19. Recurring Events Friday Night Karaoke: Fridays, Augusta Post 2, 6:30 p.m. 3 Card Challenge: Fridays, Gardiner Post 4 Club Room, 6 p.m. Saturday Night Dance: Saturdays, Augusta Post 2, 7 p.m, $7, live bands.
Texas Hold-Em Poker: Sundays, Winthrop Post 40, 2 p.m, $55 Buy-in. Lakeside Dining Lunch Wagon: Sunny days, Winthrop Post 40, 12-4 p.m, in front of Post. Livermore Falls Post 10 Public Supper: Always the third Sat., 17 Reynolds Avenue, 4:30-6 p.m. The best beans and casseroles around, $7 Adults, $4 students under 12. For local delivery call 897-5676 Baked Bean Supper, Biddeford Post 26, third Sat. of each month, 4:30 6 p.m., $8 adults, $5 under 12. Line dancing: Thursdays, Sabattus Post 135, 6:30 p.m. Texas Hold-Em Tournament: First and third Tues. of the month, Augusta Post 2, 6:30 p.m. Dart Tournament: Every other Monday, Sabattus Post 135. Cribbage Tournament: Tuesday, Sabattus Post 135. Texas Hold-Em Poker: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 6:30 pm. Windham Veterans Association & Post 148 at Dena s Restaurant, next to Windham Post Office - Jct. Rtes. 115 & 302. $60 buy in. Current Events Windham Post 148 Bean Supper: Jan. 22, Windham Veterans Center, 35 Veterans Memorial Drive, North Windham (behind Hannaford s), 5-6:30 p.m. and proceeds are going to the Vietnam Committee fund. Tickets are $8, under 12 free. Texas Hold' Em Tournament: Jan. 23, Locke Mills Post 68, 595 Gore Rd., Locke Mills. Doors open at 11 a.m., games start at noon. $50 buy-in, $5 license, high hand option. 50/50, light meals and beverages, BYOB. FMI - Ray 890-3737. Unit 135 Pot Luck Supper: Jan. 30, Sabattus Post 135, 4-6 p.m. Call 751-1495 for more information. Donations Ronie Ray, Sabattus Post 135 James and Patricia Seward, Dayton Post 177 $700 Special Olympics, Lobster Dip $15 VETAID Answer to military trivia question: 277 Best Wishes to The Legion family, Paul L Heureux Department Adjutant
THE AMERICAN LEGION CANADIAN FRIENDSHIP AWARD NOMINATION FORM PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT LEGIBLY Nominee s Full Name Address Nominee is a member of, an authentic veterans (Veterans Organization Name, Branch or Chapter #) organization in Canada. Nominee is a veteran of the Armed Forces of Canada and served during, at which time Canada was allied with the United States of America. (Name of War) Nominee holds, or has held, the following offices in (Name of Veterans Organization) This nomination for the Canadian Friendship Award is recommended in recognition of outstanding service in the field of veterans affairs and for service and contributions made in the development and preservation of good will and comradeship between the veterans organization of the nominee and The American Legion, as is evidenced by the following: (NOTE: PLEASE ATTACH ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTION TO THIS FORM.) RECEIPT OF THIS AWARD IS LIMITED TO ONE PER BRANCH AND NOMINATIONS ARE LIMITED TO ONE PER POST. THIS SECTION TO BE COMPLETED BY MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION SUBMITTING NOMINATION (Name) (Department) (Post) (Member ID No.) (Street Address) (City) (State) (Zip Code) (Signature) (Date Submitted) MAIL COMPLETED NOMINATION FORM BY JANUARY 31 TO: The American Legion Department of Maine 5 Verti Drive Winslow, Maine 04901-0727