VOL. 57 - ISSUE 6

 LEBANON, OREGON     PHONE: 451-1351    SANTIAM POST & UNIT #51    OCTOBER & NOVEMBER 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.

WELCOME BACK!

The Post had a great summer, the most notable was the annual Post Picnic at River Park here in Lebanon. The attendance was great, close to 600 adults and children showed up for the festivities. The raffle prizes were exceptional, the beer garden was well represented by our members, and the children had games, prizes and painted faces.

I also want to thank the volunteers for th great job. It was a good picnic.

Next up on activity events is the Post Harvest Ball. It's to be held October 8, 2005 at 8:00pm. The Past Commanders are serving a steak, shrimp or combo dinner that evening starting at 5:30pm. The money raised fr4om this event will be used for the Post Christmas Basket program. The food donation will start with Harvest Ball. If you can't attend please send your remittance to the Post.

1st Vice Commander Dave Roe is the membership chairman for 05-06, our present membership is 583. Our goal for this year is 1085. Dave has a membership budget to help us reach our goal and to sign up new members. The Early Bird dinner is scheduled for November 3, 2005.

Usually the summer months are kind of slow at the Post, but this year July and August were very good. I guess it must be the new air conditioner that was installed this summer.

Please use the Post facility, it is one of the best in the state. The food is good, the refreshments are the best and the cheapest in town.

Thank you,
Jack LaFranchise, Commander

The first thing I want to do in this newsletter is send a Thank Your to those who have stepped up and taken an office/chairmanship. They are Tootie and Chuck Lehn for continuing to cut coupons and getting them mailed. Chuck and Tootie have done a great job with helping our recycling efforts and they continue to give of their time. Mary Lou Chewning has come forward and volunteered for the major chairmanship which is the VA & R. We all know that this is our major reason for being. Frankie Gray will continue to send Cheer cards, so if you knows someone who needs cheering up contact Frankie.

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. Please call me.

A big thank you to all of you who worked so hard to make this years picnic a big success. There are so many of you if I tried to name you all I would forget someone and I do not want to do that. So thank you!

The Harvest Ball is the next big upcoming event. Remember, the proceeds of this event go to aid our Christmas Baskets. So Please participate all you can so we can help the needy in our community.

At the September General Meeting we honored our Girls State Citizens.

I look forward to continuing to serve our veterans and children.

Judy Matz, President

How many of you went to Boot Camp in San Diego? Did you ever stand watch or do any work on the USS Recruit?

The USS Recruit - AKA USS never sail was commissioned in 1949. When the Naval Training Center closed in 1997, the Recruit just stood there.

The area is now Liberty Station development that had replaced the old Boot Camp grounds. Now the USS Recruit has a second lease on life. It is an official California State Historical Landmark.

State officials, local dignitaries and Veterans unveiled a monument bearing the historical plaque during the Authust 13th ceremony. The Recruit isn't alone in the retirement. The property which served 70 yeas as Navy's West Coast training center also has 26 historical buildings.

Camp Nimitz is now a fire department training center. The old barracks are now burned out hulks with broken windows and soot everywhere.

I found this story on the internet, Ray Johnson

Thanks to the following volunteers for their hard work!

June - Gerry Barnes

July - Ray Johnson

THANKSGIVING DINNER

November 24th - Potluck - club will furnish Turkey dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy. Club will be open from 10am-4pm

Thanks

Special thanks go out to all the volunteers who helped set up, serve and tear down at our annual Picnic. Thanks for doing such a great job.

Mary Lou

Squadron 51 had a very good year in 2005. We were recognized at the state level, first to goal and highest percentage over goal. We were also recognized for our donation of $500 to the Children's Network Fund.

In just slightly over 18 months we've donated: $1350 to the Post, a TV set with the 40/8 to the pool room, $800 to the Children's Welfare Fund, and $500 to buy a Bar-B-Q for the picnic, but most of all the volunteer hours of our membership to the Post activities.

Let's keep up the good work!

Meetings are still the first Tuesday of the month, Please plan on getting involved.

Drew Lindsey, Adjutant

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.

THANKS a bunch to everyone who has already paid their 2005-2006 membership dues. We have 340 members into Department. Just 56 short of making the National Target date of September 28th.

It would be nice to make this date this year, we haven't hit it in 3 years. So please help! Pay your 2005-2006 dues. Thank you all.

A warm welcome to our new members: Jane Murphy, Diane Healy and Shelia Desjadadon. Hope to see you at our first General meeting September 20th Looking forward to meeting you all.

Carol Standley
Membership Chairman
Unit #51

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS OF THE POST #51 LEGION HONOR GUARD FOR THE HOURS THEY PUT IN AND THE MILES THEY COVER WHEN ATTENDING TO VETERANS FUNERALS.

ATTENTION!

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR NOVEMBER 18 & 19
PLEASE RESERVE YOUR TABLES NOW.
COST $10.00 PER TABLE PER DAY.

Contact Jean Stenberg 451-2579

The first cookie bake for Roseburg Hospital Vets and Eugene Medical Clinic for Vets was September 19, 2005. the next ones will be October 17 and November 21, 2005. these bakes are done at the American Legion Hall at 9:00am. Any baking staples are welcome for the 'cookie bake cupboard'. We thank those that have already brought in sugar, oatmeal, chocolate chips, walnut meats, raisins, etc. Help is always welcome

Jean Stenberg, Chairman

Wow what a response with the coupons! I have mailed out $89,379.60 so far this year, which just started the 1st of July. If you are a new member and would like to help with this program I would be happy to let you know what it is all about.

We clip and total coupons from the Sunday papers and we send them to out Servicemen and women serving overseas. It helps their families buy food and baby items. Food coupons are good up to 6 months expired and  baby items are good up to 1 year.

There is a box in the lounge at the Post for the coupons. Bring clipped or unclipped coupons and drop them in the box. The coupon "Angels" will take care of them for you.

thanks for all the help. If there are any questions please give me a call: Carol Standley 451-1971

Your coupon chairman
Carol Standley

Veterans and aides from the Roseburg VA Hospital will be the Auxiliary's guest for a "meal away from the hospital" on October 20th. I will be asking soon for pies. A dessert they all like. volunteer help will be welcome. post members included.

Coffee pourers anyone?

We will be gathering articles for Gift Shop at the Roseburg BA Hospital. It is to be held December 3, 2005. Things needed are clothing for men, women and children, toys, small appliances etc. No glass please! Gift Shop is where the patients come and choose Christmas gifts for their families. Donations can be brought anytime and left in the auxiliary room or when you come to the dinner and meetings. Please mark them for Gift Shop. Money to purchase items or to pay for shipping is always welcome. Must have by November 22nd.

Mary Lour Chewning VA & R
Phone 258-5537

The Auxiliary owes a big "Thank you to Chuck Lehn". this summer he dismantled a camp trailer and donated all the metal from this to our recycling program. He spent 62 hours and drove 97 miles working on cutting apart the trailer and taking the metal to Burchams Metals in Albany. He also hauled the recycled items members have been donating to our Recycle Program this summer. The funds received are given to the Auxiliary to use for our veterans. We have received checks and cash totaling $207.55 for recycling this summer. This is a project all members can donate to; just bring in your alumi8num foil, pie and cake pans, clean aluminum cat food cans and aluminum pull tabs. The containers are in the Auxiliary room and are well marked.