VOL. 57 - ISSUE 5

 LEBANON, OREGON     PHONE: 451-1351    SANTIAM POST & UNIT #51    AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2005

THE PREAMBLE OF THE
"CONSTITUTION OF THE AMERICAN LEGION"

For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes:: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; To maintain law and order: To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism; To preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars; To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; To combat the autocracy of both the classes and masses; To make right the master of might; To promote peace and good will on earth; To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; To consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.

It's renewal time again. your America Legion Post is one of the finest in the State. Please send in your renewal cards as soon as possible. At the State Convention, in Pendelton, our Post received two of the three distinguished service awards for outstanding individuals and two other awards for services as a Post. We would like to continue this program. This Post is worth belonging to - take advantage of this great offer.

I would like to congratulate the Trustee Committee for their work on completing the air conditioning project. I especially would like to thank the bingo people and the Club for their generous contributions to pay for the air conditioner. Without their help it would have put a large burden on the Post finances.

The annual Legion picnic is the third Sunday in August - the 21st. Make plans to attend. We plan to have the finest barbeque chicken, fresh corn and all the other food and drinks that go withy a great picnic. The prizes are the best we have had to offer. A beautiful stainless steel barbeque, three hundred dollars cash and numerous fine prizes. The raffle tickets are $1.00 each or eleven for $10.00. You don't have to be present to win. The odds are in your favor.

Regular meetings will start in September, plan to attend. The Post needs your input. I see the same faces at all of the meetings., the other 1000 members are not there and not being heard. I welcome some fresh ideas and view points.

Jack LaFranchise, Commander

This is the first newsletter of the 2005-2006 year. First I want to thank the Auxiliary for their faith in me to be your President this year. We have a great slate of officers and I am looking forward to working them and my chairpersons. This is going to be a great year for Unit #51.

On this note I want to thank those people who have already volunteered to take a chairmanship and invite anyone who is interested to call me at home 541-451-4400 or my cell 409-1641. Please leave a message on my voice mail if no one answers and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

If you are interested in volunteering to help our veterans or our children, now is your chance. We need many volunteers to help our programs to work. Again, the phone numbers above are where to reach me.

Speaking of volunteers, I know I can use some help with the upcoming picnic and I believe that the Commander could also use some help.

Since this newsletter is for August and September we will begin our meetings on the first Tuesday of September.

Judy Matz, President

There was a poor response from the phone calls, but we had a good turn out at the registration. we are sorry for the long wait some of you had, but the new system that the Red Cross was using was a bummer. I want to thank all of the ladies that volunteered to help - in fact we had more ladies volunteer to help than we could use - thank you  very much.

There will be a beer garden and everyone under the age of 26, be sure to bring ID or you WILL NOT be served.

After the picnic the Club will be open from 3 pm to 11 pm.

Also the doors will be open for Bingo at 5 pm. This will be a busy day so don't forget any of the events.

We are saving ink cartridges. Please bring them and put them in the box in the back hallway over the coat rack at the Post.

Fred        

A great big Thank You to Val Blanchan, the trophies in the Auxiliary Room really shine.

You did a great job cleaning them, Val. We do appreciate all of your work.

Val does a lot of nice things for the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Also "Thank You to the Dinner Crew" for this past years dinners. If you haven't been down to all the dinners you don't know how much you are missing. A full dinner each time and tasty desserts too! Our volunteers are great.

Department of Oregon Convention is over and I'm expecting dues for the year 2005-2006. We have 67 members sent into department. The dues notices will be sent out from National soon. If you have already paid your dues for the year 2005-2006, please disregard this notice. they will be sent out about 3 times this year.

If your haven't paid your dues for the 2005-2006, it is not too late to do so. You can still pay them and keep your continuous years of membership up to December 31, 2005.

A welcome back to our reinstated member Valarie Govereau. Also a big welcome to our new members Sherry Hite, Cynthia Wach and Ellen Muir. Hope to see you all at the Annual Post Picnic on August 13, 2005 and the General Meeting the 3rd Tuesday of September.

Carol Standley
Membership Chairman
Unit #51

Our 2006 dues are coming in real fast. We already have 107 paid into the Department. You can still pay your 2005 dues until December 31, 2005.

National Headquarters will be sending out dues notes 5 times this year. If you have paid your dues for the of 2006, please read the article in red under your name and address.

Please disregard if you have already paid your 2006 dues.

Thank You.

Dave Standley

The Vets at the Roseburg V.A. Hospital and Eugene V.A. Clinic must be hungry for cookies since our last bake was in May. We will get them happy at the first cookie bake on September 19,. 2005 at 9:00am at the American Legion hall.

We have plenty of four for a couple of bakes but would appreciate donations of white and brown sugar, eggs, oatmeal, shortening, chocolate chips, nuts, cookie dough or cash donations. We could also use HELP!

Jean Stenberg, Chairman

A new year of saving coupons is here and what a great start we have. So little time since the Oregon Convention and the start of the new year. We already have sent out $56,842.85. The box is waiting for your clipped and unclipped coupons. Let's give the "Angels" something to do. Let's beat last year's amount and send those coupons to our Service men and women over seas. Thank you all for the great year last year. Let's do it again!