SGT. PRESTON ASHLEY AMERICAN LEGION POST 228 21423 SHARP STREET P.O. BOX 207 ROCK HALL, MD. 21661 LEGION PHONE NUMBER 410-639-7081 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2016 NEWSLETTER Published 6 times a year in January, March, May, July, September & November. ISSUE NO. 01-16 EDITOR: JOE STROLLO PHONE # 410-708-2045-EMAIL-alpost228.newsletter@gmail.com WEB SITE: www.almdpost228.org. POST EVERLASTING EDITORS NOTE: Don t forget to find the Eagle hidden in the ads. In the last issue- the Eagle was hidden in Pasta Plus s ad.. The winner was Carol (Teach) Faggiani. I would like to thank all of our 50 advertisers. We have a lot of new advertisers and many who have been with us since we changed the format of our newsletter. We will continue having our find the eagle contest as this encourages members to look at the ads to find the eagle. We urge you to support our advertisers and if you use them tell them you saw the ad in the newsletter. This is very important, as we lost a few advertisers because no one mentioned that they saw their ad. TEE SHIRT SALE- $10.00 Limited quantities available. Joe Strollo, Editor: alpost228.newsletter@gmail.com
COMMANDERS MESSAGE Before I forget, I need to thank all of our officers for the jobs they are doing to keep our Post in running order. Jack Jester keeps the club room running smoothly, and stays on top of hall rentals. Neal Metzbower always makes sure we have money to work with and our taxes are up to date. Pres Jacobs does an excellent job of keeping our records up to date. Ted Cumings stays on top of service related issues and works with members trying to secure them benefits. Bob Ritchie keeps track of our ill and bereaved members. Herb Prewitt keeps doors fixed, light bulbs changed and other things that need repair or replacement. Ray Brilz keeps our rowdy members under control during meetings and other affairs. Again, thank you all for stepping up to keep our Post in top running order and for making my job easier. A big thank you to Jack, Herb, Neal and Mark Joiner for stepping up and doing those extra maintained details around our Post, and also to anyone else that I have missed. A special thank you to our past Post Commander, Larry Crouch, for his guidance and sound advice throughout the year. Thanks to J. R. Trego for painting our handicap parking area and also to Herb Prewitt for repairing the light on our tank and placing it in the proper position to light up our flags We would like to offer our prayers and condolences to the family of comrade Philip L. Mench who passed on to the Post Everlasting on Dec. 3, 2015. He will be forever remembered by the American Legion. Our Post Everlasting ceremony was held on Sunday Nov. 15, 2015 and was well received again this year by all that were in attendance. The Senior Thanksgiving Dinner was again a great success and thanks to the Legion Family members who stepped up for the occasion. Everything was donated with no charge at all to our Post. It goes to show we have a lot of dedicated members that are willing to help our Kent County Seniors for a special meal. A special shout-out to Chelsie Blackiston for cleaning up after the luncheon. If you have anything pertaining to the American Legion, contact Chelsie Blackiston who is our Facebook Coordinator. Chelsie has set up a link in Facebook to our Website, and Joe Strollo Jr. has set up a link on our Website to Facebook. Our Post is really moving forward with Social Media. I would like to thank all of our Advertisers. We have a lot of new advertisers and a lot of our old advertisers have been with us since changing the format on our Newsletter. Please support them and tell them you saw their ad in the newsletter. The North Eastern Shore District meetings were held at our Post on Sunday Dec. 6 th, consisting of the Legion and Auxiliary unit members and were well attended. A luncheon was served at noon by our Auxiliary members. A special thank you to those members who stepped up to prepare and serve the luncheon. Our next family meeting will be held on Feb. 9 th at 7 PM. to discuss upcoming function. Please come out and don t forget to support the events of our Legion family. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and have a prosperous and healthy New Year. Keep our service members and their families in your prayers throughout the year. For God and Country Walter V. Rodney, JR. Commander
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AROUND THE POST SENIOR S THANKSGIVING DINNER BLESSING THERE WAS AN ABUNDANCE OF DELICIOUS FOOD NESD MEETING NESD MEETING Service Officer By Ted Cumings The Northeastern Shore District Commanders' Meeting held at our Post was briefed on, and unanimously approved and adopted our Post's Resolution #1--a resolution calling on Congress to establish an annual Day of Remembrance for the Veterans and the Families of the COLD WAR. We have waited too long for the millions of veterans, and their families, to be recognized for their excellence and sacrifices in winning the longest and most dangerous war ever fought. All veterans who served during the period July 1945 through December1991 will be honored by adoption of this resolution by Congress. We have started a grass-roots effort to get this done. You can help by talking it up with your friends and neighbors.
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SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS CHAPLIN S CORNER By Bob Ritchie IT S A BOY As we approach this season let us remember that the Baby Jesus was born to come into this world to save us from our Sins Luke 2:14, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rest. Pray for the family of Phil Mench, 15 year member of post 228, who has crossed the river to be in the house of the Lord. It is an honor to serve as Chaplain for the past several years. Please don t hesitate to call if you need my assistance or to let me know of any one that is ill, so I can send them a card from the Legion. Bob Ritchie Cell: 410-708-2461 or email: bobritchie2@verizon.net
January 2016 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Dec. 31 st 1 2 New Year s Eve Party. No cover charge. 2 DJ s and lite fare. 7PM. Post Open 4 PM Post Open Noon 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Post Open 1 PM POOL Night 700 AL. Exec. Mtg. Check Pool Schedule for Wed Pool Night Post Open 4 PM Post Open Noon 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Post Open 1 PM POOL Night AUXILIAY CASH BINGO Door open 6PM- games 7PM Bar will be open.. Post Open 4 PM Post Open Noon 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Post Open 1 PM POOL Night Dr. M.L. King Jr. Day 6:00 Sal. Gen. Mtg. 7:30 AL. Gen. Mtg. Post Open 4 PM Post Open Noon 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Post Open 1 PM POOL Night Post Open 4 PM Post Open Noon 31 Post Open 1 PM
February 2016 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 POOL Night 7:00 Aux. Gen. Mtg. 7:00 AL. Exec. Mtg. Check Pool Schedule for Wednesday Pool Post Open 4 PM Post Open Noon 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Post Open 1 PM POOL Night FAMILY MEETING 7:00PM 7:00 AL Riders Gen Mtg. Post Open 4 PM Post Open Noon \ 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Post Open 1 PM POOL Night Presidents Day 6:00 Sal. Gen Mtg. 7:30 AL. Gen. Mtg. Post Open 4 PM Post Open Noon 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Post Open 1 PM POOL Night Post Open 4 PM Post Open Noon 28 Post Open 1 PM 29 POOL Night t
AUXILIARY NEWS As we begin a New Year I wish each of you good health, happiness, peace and love in your heart. Let us always remember our military men and women, their families, and our Veterans. Our organization was founded on the ideals and principles of serving those who served our Country. Membership is vital to keeping our Unit active. Currently we have 115 paid members out of 165. If you are one of those not yet paid, please remember your 2015 membership expires Dec. 31, 2015. Please submit your $18 per senior member (18 and over) and $5.00 per junior member (birth to 18) promptly. We do not want to lose you as a member. It takes each of us to promote our Veterans, community service, children and youth programs. Although some of you are not able to join us at our events, your membership is still very important to us! National American Legion Auxiliary has raised each member s dues by $3.00 beginning in 2017. At the renewal time for 2017, you will see this reflected in our local Unit dues. Please remember, if you are interested, you have the option to pay for life which is a onetime fee and is calculated according to your age and the amount of your Units dues. If anyone is interested please contact me and I can tell you how much yours will be. Welcome aboard Barbara Fancher, Martha Hoover and Bette Cruikshank! Our Auxiliary has a catering contract we are implementing for our services. Anyone wishing to have the Auxiliary cater; please contact the current Auxiliary President to review the contract for pricing and food options. We are now on face book! Please like us and follow our events. Please contact Chelsie Blackiston if you have something relating to our Post, Auxiliary, SAL or Riders you would like posted. Veterans and their families? RHES students will be participating in this contest. We are currently looking for a high school junior girl to attend Girls State in June at Salisbury University. If you know a girl interested please tell her to contact us. The many programs and functions we participate in require a lot of time and sacrifice. I would like to personally thank Mel for chairing the Senior Thanksgiving dinner, Caroline Starr for volunteering at Perry Point Veterans Hospital, Libby for chairing the Alumni dinner, Joyce and Betty for chairing the children and youth program, Patsy for making the soup for the NESD, Louise for chairing our Sunshine program, Carolyn for always setting up and decorating, Carol, Jenny, Doris, Sheila, Ina, and our youth group Lacey, Tammy, Holly, and Chelsie for their continued energetic support. These young ladies are the future of our organization and I thank them sincerely for their participation! If I have forgotten anyone, please accept my apologizes, I m getting old! This year we donated $2100.00 to five families for Christmas. We hope this helped put smiles on 16 children s faces. We are having a CASH BINGO (to include several special games) on January 14, 2016 weather permitting. Please plan to attend and support us. Doors open at 6 P.M. and games start at 7 P.M., $20 for one packet, $30 for two and single sheets for special games $1 each. The bar will be open for refreshments. Please check our face book and website for information regarding this. As you have read it takes everyone to keep our Unit thriving. Thank You to each of our members for your service and dedication! God Bless! Cindy Crouch, Auxiliary President The Americanism essay contest theme this year is How do we keep Lincoln s promise to our
AROUND THE POST SAL Fishing Trip Winner- Lois Hunt SAL Gun Raffle Winner-Mark Canarelli & Steve Kendall Alumni Prom Night Alumni Prom Night Rock Hall Elementary Bingo Night Rock Hall Elementary Bingo Night
SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS MEMBERSHIP REPORT YOURS IN AMERICANISM Walter V. Rodney, JR. COMMANDER Six months have gone by and as of the writing of this newsletter we have 267 members paid up. Our goal for this year is 294 paid up members. The increase was due to the influx of new members signed up from the past year. A big thank you to all who brought new members aboard. Check your Legion card and if it s not a current 2016 it would be greatly appreciated if you could send in your dues for 2016 so our Post can maintain its high membership rating. The winning members in our early Bird drawing were: Raymond Webster $20.00, Mark Bobik $40.00, Larry Keys $60.00, Kenneth Ervin $80.00 and Herb Prewitt $100.00. All members who paid by Nov. 1 st for 2016 are also entitled to a 2 drink credit in our lounge. All prizes must be redeemed by June 30 th, 2016., the end of the Legion year. Your credit will be kept at the bar and will be given out at your request. PUFL s are also included. Remember, it s not the dues you pay to belong; it s the dues you paid to be eligible. Welcome aboard new members: William N. Cruikshank, John W. Scoon, JR., William D. Walls, Robert Sipe, Calvin E. Coursey, Richard S. King, James R. Kelley, John Bilbrough, Alexander Alejandro, David B. Hauer, and Richard E. Proctor.
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SUPPOR OUR ADVERTISERS RIDER NEWS, DIRECTOR JERRY The Riders hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We also hope that 2016 is as enjoyable as 2015 was for all. We are on our winter schedule for meetings, just one a month. We participated in the toy run. The weather was excellent and we had one of our best runs to date. We are in the process of scheduling a Valentines Dance. Hope to see you there. SONS NEWS, JOE STROLLO TREASURER I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and wish you a healthy and prosperous New Year. We have a new winter schedule for our meetings. We will meet the 3 rd Tuesday only for Jan, Feb. and March. Our annual Thanksgiving dinner was again a huge success. There was an abundance of food and everyone had a wonderful time. We will have a report on the Children s Christmas Party in our next newsletter. For the fiscal year starting July 1 st 2015 we have donated almost $6000.00 to a variety of organizations. We are able to do this because of the success of our fundraisers. DUES FOR 2016 ARE DUE. STOP BY THE LEGION AND MAKE YOUR PAYMENT OF $13.00. MEMBERSHIP CARDS ARE AT THE LOUNGE. WELCOME NEW MEMBER- MERRIT L. GEORGE
SGT.PRESTON ASHLEY AMERICAN LEGION POST 228 21423 SHARP STREET P.O. BOX 207 ROCK HALL, MD. 21661 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT No. 6 CHESTERTOWN, MD 21620 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED 2015-2016 OFFICERS Commander Vernon Rodney 410-639-7422 Commander-David Townsend 443-480-3814 President-Cindy Crouch 410-490-3486 Director- Gerald Creighton 410-708-1514 Vice Commander-Jack Jester 1 st Vice- Buster Blackiston 1 st Vice- Lacey Cox Asst. Director-Bob Lewis 443-480-3606 Adjutant-Preston Jacobs 410-708-6541 2 nd Vice-Mark Joiner 443-480-4501 2 nd Vice-Mel Trego 610-357-1762 Tre./Road Cap.-Bob Pyfer 410-778-6277 410-778-5608 410-639-7638 443-553-6253 Treasurer-Neal Metzbower Adjutant-Hal Hopkins Secretary- Holly Smith Road Captain-Tom Lins 410-778-2652 443-480-8588 410-725-1695 410-708-6917 Historian-Herb Prewitt Treasurer- Joe Strollo Treasurer-Libby Creighton Secretary-Pam Powell 443-553-6451 410-708-2045 410-708-8530 443-480-3657 Chaplain-Bob Ritchie Chaplain-J.R.Trego Chaplain-Louise Durocher Sgt. At Arms-Ricky Kendall 410-708-2461 410-708-9395 410-639-7315 410-708-2393 Service Off-Ted Cumings Historian-Steve Kendall Historian-Carolyn Metzbower 410-920-8778 410-480-4876 410-778-2652 Sgt. At Arms- Ray Brilz Sgt. At Arms-Steve Kendall Sgt. At Arms- Caroline Starr 410-639-7261 410-490-4876 410-639-2192