AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1184January2020

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.comGaryDoublestein,1stViceCommanderRickWhite,2ndViceCommanderLarryLambert,AdjutantCyndyWierenga,FinanceOfficerDuaneSmith,ChaplainTBD,JudgeAdvocateFreddySmith,Sergeant-at-ArmsDennisSiron,HistorianGarrettVeihl,ServiceOfficerLarryLambert,ServiceOfficerHoytFonger,ServiceOfficerRayRibbink,Executive-at-LargeFreddySmith,Executive-at-LargeJimVette,Executive-at-LargeJohnBilski,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,1stViceCommanderCharlieChittenden,2ndViceCommanderT.L.Lowe,FinanceOfficerAlVanDam,ChaplainCharlieChittenden,HistorianSteveVanderWall,Sergeant-at-ArmsScottKelly,MembershipPaulKubicek,AdjutantJeffWarner,PastCommander

Legion riders JohnKemme,Directorjkemme3@att.net

CharlesPotter,AssistantDirectorChaseKamhout,Sergeant-at-ArmsDianaArens,SecretaryLarryFoose,TreasurerTBD,ChaplainSallyKemme,MembershipChair

post Manager

LoriPulciano(616)842-5310

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

COMMANDER’SCOMMENTSLet’sstartwiththebignews!Asofthiswriting,OperationKP(KitchenProject)hasraised$159,885.00Thisexceeds75percentoftheprojectcost--whichmembershipmandated--beforesigningcontracts.OnDecember13,thecontractwithA.J.Veneklasen,Inc.wassigned!DemolitionbeginsJanuary3.ContractorsarriveJanuary6.Duringthekitchenrenovation(JanuarythroughMarch),ourkitchenwillbeclosed.However,PostManagerLoriisplanningsomeexcitingeventsincludingspecialdinners.CheckthePost28

Facebookpageforupdatesthroughoutthekitchenrenovation.Lastmonth,wewereblessedandhonoredtoreceivea$20,000.00(twenty-thousand-dollars)grantfromtheHomeDepotFoundationforthekitchenrenovation.Walmartdonated$2,000.00whileseveralindividualsdonated$1,000.00each.Otherindividualsdonated$5,000.00.Wearecloserthanevertoreachingthe$200,000.00kitchenrenovationfundraisinggoal.Ifyouwouldliketodonate,simplygoonlinetoourofficialPost28website(www.americanlegiongh.org)andusetheOperationKPon-linedonationbutton.Donorsof$1Kormorewillhavetheirnameproudlydisplayedonabeautifulplaque(brassplate)nearthekitchen.Also,brasschairplatesarestillavailable.Asofthiswriting,however,only16brassplatesremainforchairsintheLounge.Thereare37brassplatesavailablefordeckchairs.Note:deckbrasschairplateswillbedisplayedinthespring.Honorafriendorfamilymemberwithabrasschairplate.SeeourLoungestaffforforms.FormsalsoavailablebyemailingH.R.Fonger@gmail.com(indicateseekingaform).Note:donorsof$1KandmorewillbecontactedbyHoytFongerwithadditionalinformation.DuringtheChristmasholidays,ourPostandtheMonaShoresSingingChristmasTreeprogramteamed--forthefirsttimeever--fora“SalutetoVeterans”nightattheFrauenthalTheatreinMuskegon.YourstrulyhostedadistinguishedgroupofveteransandtheirguestswhileourAuxiliaryJuniorsDirector,NicoleGoldbergarrangedforagroupofJuniorstoattend(withtheveterans)as“SantaBuddies.”ThiswillbeanannualeventforPost28,whichIamhonoredtohost.OurGoodfellow’sprogram–ledbypastPost28Commander,RayRibbink--broughtjoytofamiliesin-needduringtheChristmasseason.Thecoordination(shopping,sorting,wrappinganddeliveringgifts)byourPost’sfamilyunitsisamazing!Onthebusinessfront,PostmembershipapprovedpurchasingaPointofSaleSystem(POS),whichwillactivateJanuary2nd.Thiswillgreatlyenhancecostefficiencyandeffectivenessfortrackingsales,inventorycontrol,anddeterminingfavorabilitytowardLoungeofferings.Accountingreports,inventorycontrol,andtrendanalysiswillbeenhanced,thus,loweringcostsandincreasingrevenuesforourprograms.Please,bearwithusduringimplementationofthenewPOSsystemandstafftraining.ThankyoutoourFinanceofficer,CyndyWierengaforspearheadingthisproject.

MemberHighlightThememberIwishtohighlightthismonthisYOU.ThePost28Legionnaire,SonsoftheAmericanLegionSquadron28-member,AuxiliaryUnit28member,andPost28Rider.YOUserveasthebackboneandcentralnervoussystemforourPost. Thankyou.CommanderJanet

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1184January2020

HappyNewYeartoAll!!AtourDecembermeetingweapprovednewmembers:JoelVanHoevenandSamuelWesthoff.PleasehelpmewelcomethesenewmemberstoPost28.OurnextmeetingisJanuary6andstarts@7:30p.m.Iencourageallmemberstoattend.OurusualSALAnnualOpenHousehasbeeneliminated,atleastforthisyear,duetotheattendancelastyear.WewillbeannouncingtheSALVolunteeroftheYearatourFebruarymeeting.UpcomingEvents:

• KitchenClosedduetoRemodel• VegasNight–January25• February3(SALMeeting)–Announcementofthe

SALVolunteeroftheYearAward• ChiliCookOffSign-up@2:00–January11• ChiliCookOff–February8

ServingVeteransandtheCommunity RossBerens,SALCommander

SAL AUXILIARY

HonorGuardhadfiveservicesfromlastPostmeeting.TheArmyNationalGuardhelpedwith

twoservices.Thankyoutoeveryonewhocameouttotheschoolsandassisted-livingprogramsinGrandHavenandSpringLake.RifleTeamLeader:DavidMacKellar

Honor guard

ThePost28RidershopeeveryoneintheLegionFamilyhadawonderfulHolidayseason.ThankyoutotheLegionfamilyfortheirgeneroussupportofourSocks/UnderweardrivefortheG.R.VeteransHome.Aswebeginanewyearitistimetolookbackat2019.TheRiderscompletedtheir12thyearofPulledPorkDinners.TheRidersdidelevenHotDognightsatthePost,theScottvilleClownbandconcert,andHotdogsfortheChiliCook-off.During2019Post28Ridersdonated$7,400toLegionprogramsandothercharities.Wedidfindtimetorideourmotorcycles,includingthreeparades,theMichiganLegacyride,Grab&Runridesandjustfunrideswitheachother.TheRidersrodeover70,000milesandaveragedover2,875milesperbike.Andtothebestofmyknowledgewehadnocrashes,sothatisagoodyear.Lookingforwardto2020. JohnKemme,DirectorPost28Riders.

LEGION RIDERS

IwanttowisheveryoneaveryHappyNewYear!However,beforelookingahead,Iwouldliketohelpusbrieflylookbackto2019...torealizetheworkthatwasaccomplished,thechallengesthatweremetandthegreattimesexperienced.Herearesomehighlightsforme...• Amonthlyemailtoour1700+Auxiliarymemberswas

implemented.• AnewapproachtoPoppyFunddonationswasutilized,

resultinginasignificantincreaseindonations.• Wereceived14Departmentawards,2NationalAwards

andrecognitionforthe2018-2019Report.• Wesponsored12localGirlsStatedelegates,whichwas

life-changingforthem.• WesponsoredaverytalentedOliviaScheeletoperform

atCarnegieHall.• WewereinvitedtoparticipateintheCoastGuard

HeroesandLegendsDinner,andreceivedanawardonbehalfofthePostforfeedingourlocalCoastiesandtheirfamiliesduringthegovernmentshutdown.

• WeplannedandexecutedthePost'sveryfirst"HalloweenSlopFest",tosupportOperationKP.

• Wehosteda5thDistrictdinnermeeting.• WecelebratedournationalALACentennialinavery

specialmeeting.• Weassembled475wonderfulfruitplatesforlocal

veterans.2020promisestobeamazing!Iamsoencouragedbyyourresponsestothemonthlyemail,bynewfacesinourmeetingsandbythefaithfulandamazingvolunteersatourevents.Iaminspiredbyyourgenerosity(e.g.PoppyFund,schoolsupplies,candyforOperationGratitude)andyouractsofkindnessinourcommunities!IamsogratefulandhonoredtobepartofsuchagreatorganizationandUnitatthistimeinourhistory! DarleneDeHaan,President&PublicRelationsChair

AdjutantLarryLambert,LeoDeGram,PastCommander#87RayRibbinkandSgt-at-ArmsFreddySmithdemonstratetheceremoniousthirteenFoldsoftheAmericanFlag.

Above:Celebrating100yearsoftheNationalAuxiliary.Below:Assembling/delivering475fruitplatesforveterans.

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1184January2020

Around The Bar

Commander’sCommentscont’d.

1

CheretteGRoup,LLC GHAreaCommunityFoundationBruceByl John&SusanBromely-RohAlexFricano Dan&ChristineNelson Robert&RuthBolt William&JacquelynHoffmanEileenAshley Lawrence&MaryKallio JohnFrisch Steve&KathleenMaus CynthiaOgdenFant

2

Neil&PamelaBlake William&KathleenScholtzJulieJohnson JeffferyStuckey&MaryJaraczDennis&VickySiron SusanVanderweg Robert&DianeBlackmer William&DianeByl KathyVandomelen JanetFonger VISRealtyGroup,Inc. BarbaraBreen HomeDepot

TheOperationKPFundraisingCommitteeheartilyconveysourthankstothefollowingdonors,aswellasseveralanonymousdonors,fortheirsupportofthePost’sKitchenRenovationProject.Donationsarestillbeingaccepted.

OPERATIONKP

NEWMEMBERSJohnMiller,ColdWarUSAAlanSabene,Gulf/ActiveUSNMichaelJager,ColdWarUSMCLucasHoughton,Gulf/ActiveUSNArthurMiller,VietnamUSARogerWilliams,GulfUSNBryanKarl,Gulf/ActiveUSAChanceAnderson,Gulf/ActiveUSMCDanielSlavin,VietnamUSAFCarlMetcalf,ColdWarUSATRANSFERSRaymondSortman,VietnamUSAFDanielGustafson,VietnamUSADennisStiles,VietnamUSAGilbertHiddema,VietnamUSA

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

TAPSWEREPLAYEDFOR:LarryClodfelter,VietnamUSAJackJackson,VietnamUSNDavidGreer,ColdWarUSAMarshallTeunis,KoreaUSARaymondBerg,KoreaUSARonaldBraak,KoreaUSA

Ifyouknowofanyonewhoshouldbeaddedtothislist,orwouldbenefitfromacallfrommeastheirChaplain,pleaseletmeknow@dstirlingsmith70@gmail.com,or616.502.1555.InHisandYourService,Duane"Smitty"Smith,ChaplainGeorgeBryant,WalterPedersen,Jim“Jimbo”Land,GeorgeBennett,CharlesDavis,RonBauer,KenKelly,andallofourLegionfamilywhoaremourningthepassingoflovedones.

SICK CALL

Happy2020!It'sanewyearwithlotsofnewandexcitinggoingsonattheAmericanLegionPost28.Asmostofyouknowwehaveanewfantasticbarstaff:Richie,Kyle,Tonia,CJ,Chelsea,Kaleena,MaryandDavid.Ifyouhaven'thadanopportunitytomeetthem,stopinandhavethemmakeyouadrinkandsayHI.2020isalsotheyearwegetanewkitchen.Andwhilethekitchenisbeingremodeled,weareworkingwithlocalrestaurantsandcatererstocontinuetheWednesdaydinnersandFridayburgers.Staytunedformoredetails.CheckFacebookforupdates.Wearealsoaddingnewlocalbeersandnewdrinkscontinually.Nexttimeyouarein,tryoneofour$2or$4margaritasorgiveourTopShelf$6MargaritamadewithPatronandGrandMarnieratry.ThisyearwehaveanewChairfortheChiliCook-off,BillBackman.HeisholdingthedrawingfortheCook-offonJanuary11at2:00PM.Heisalsoincreasingtheteamsfrom11to15.Volunteerandteamsignupsheetsareavailableatthebar.VegasnightisJanuary25th,anothergreatevent.NOTE:StartingJanuary2ndtheservicedoorwillnolongerbeaccessibletomembersafter5:00pm.Pleaseusethefrontentrancedoors.Thankyouforallyoursupportandafantasticyearin2019.Lookingforwardtoanamazing,fun2020. Lori,PostManager

Christmas Buffet

CookieContest&CookieDisplayContestWinners:(L)KathleenEdwards#1CookieDisplay&(R)NanVanderHoff,#1Best-TastingCookie.

Kids Christmas Party

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1184January2020

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

January1POSTCLOSED

KITCHENCLOSEDFORREMODEL

(JanuarythruMarch)

27pm

ALRMeeting

$1Margaritas

36-8pm

DinnerTBD

4

5$3Soup/Chili

$1Draft$4Pitchers

Bud&MillerLiteonly

68amBldg&Grnds

7:30pm

SALMeeting

$2U-CallTall(Well&CallONLY)

76pmHouse

Committee

7pmPostMeeting

$1CANBEER(DomesticONLY)

85PM

Lee’sCateringJumboChicken

StripsMashedpotatoes

VeggiesBiscuit

Adult$10Children$4

96pm-register6:30pm-Start

$1Margaritas

106-8pm

DinnerTBD

11

12$3Soup/Chili

$1Draft$4Pitchers

Bud&MillerLiteonly

138amBldg&Grnds

$2U-CallTall(Well&CallONLY)

14No8&40Meeting

$1CANBEER(DomesticONLY)

155PM

DinnerTBD

167pm

$1Margaritas

176-8pm

DinnerTBD

1984TheSupremeCourtrulesthattapingonhomeVCRsdoesnotviolatecopyrightlaws.

18

19$3Soup/Chili

$1Draft$4Pitchers

Bud&MillerLiteonly

208amBldg&Grnds

$2U-CallTall(Well&CallONLY)

217pm

ExecutiveCommittee

$1CANBEER(DomesticONLY)

225PM

DinnerTBD

23

$1Margaritas

246-8pm

DinnerTBD

256pm-MidnightVEGASNIGHT

PublicWelcome!

26$3Soup/Chili

1875TheDentalDrillwaspatented.

$1Draft$4Pitchers

Bud&MillerLiteonly

278amBldg&Grnds

$2U-CallTall(Well&CallONLY)

287pm

AuxiliaryMeeting

$1CANBEER(DomesticONLY)

295PM

DinnerTBD

1900Baseball’s

AmericanLeagueisfounded.

30

$1Margaritas

316-8pm

DinnerTBD

WineSpecial:KendallJacksonChardonnay

$5/glass;$14/bottle

Thesign-upfortheannualChiliCookOffwillbe@2pmtoday.CookOffisFebruary8,2020.

Greetings,Partners!BringyourdecoratingideasforSpringPouvoir(wearehosting)toourFebruary11meeting.Usingflowerbouquets,thethemeis“Infullbloomforourspecialchildren.” LeChapeau,Becky

8 & 40 salon 499 VegasNight,SaturdayJanuary25,2020startingat6:00p.m.tomidnightwithanopentothepubliclicense.Everyoneiswelcome.Therewillbeadealertraining&informationsessiononThursday,January23rdforallthedealerswhoappliedstartingat6:30.AllproceedsaregoingtotheFisherHouseofMichigan.

100ActsofKindnessBoard–anAuxiliarychallenge.AddyourActofKindnesstothevines.Thanks,ChaplainPamMedendorp-Peckforsettingthisup.