The Newsletter of American Legion Post #746 August 2018 CORNING AMERICAN LEGION. From our Commander: From the Judge-Advocate:

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1 CORNING AMERICAN LEGION 8 RIVER ROAD CORNING, NY (P) (F) American Legion Commander: Greg Jensen Board President: Tom Marmuscak Auxiliary President: Diane Gridley SAL Commander: Tom Barto Newsletter Editor: Steve Schwarz Post Manager: Jill McConnell The Newsletter of American Legion Post #746 August 2018 From our Commander: It s been a whirlwind month with unexpectedly assuming responsibilities of Commander and subsequently being voted into the Office. Thank you to all of you who placed your confidence in me to step up and do my best to work on improving morale and operating income for the Post. I ve already seen a surge of energy and participation in planning events and I ask that everyone continue to assist in moving the Post forward. Many thanks to the SAL and AUX members who are championing the Volume 1, Issue 3 Newsletter Date 100 th Legion Anniversary Membership Picnic on Sunday 8/26 and Family Day outing on Sunday 9/16. These are the types of events that will help bring us back to being a family and not just members of the same Post. Kudos to Tom Barto, Tom Woodhouse, and Jim Ely for their organization and running the golf tournament on July 14 th. It was great to have everyone who participated in the day of golf to come into the Post for dinner and awards. Their fundraising efforts help support the Legion s key missions of Veteran and community support. I ve done a deep-dive audit with the Finance Officer of the Post s financial health and regarding the rumors that the Post has no money, this means that our cost of current operations have exceeded income from operations for a majority of the past 5 years. While we have long-term investments that would support us for another 5 years if we tapped into them, this is not the right course of action to continue to run the Post. Through efforts to bring members back into the Post, holding entertainment activities that generate a net profit, fundraising activities, cutting costs, and enacting an austerity budget for only necessary or revenue generating functions, we all need to work together to turn our Post into a self-sustaining operation. While we are a 501.c.19 non-profit Veteran s organization, we need to be able to generate enough revenue to cover the cost of operations and any net extra is to be used to support the purposes of the American Legion. How can you help turn our financial situation around? Come into the Post! Bring friends as your guests and attend the upcoming events. Volunteer to be on the Entertainment Committee and help plan fun events (contact me to volunteer Commander@CorningAmericanLegion.com). Reach out to long lost members and invite them back! If you know of a Veteran, son of a Veteran, or someone who qualifies for the Ladies Auxiliary, ask them to join! We have a good start on this journey and I hope you feel the same and support us going forward. A new Steuben County organization, Research and Recognition Project, introduced their program earlier in the month for supporting PTSD veterans in the county. Please see their information in this month s newsletter and communicate the upcoming presentations if you know of anyone suffering from PTSD. Thank you again for your help to move us forward and bring us together. From the Judge-Advocate: August Meetings BOD: 9th 6:00 POST: 9th 7:00 SAL: Sept 10th 6:00 AUX: Sept 12th 6:30 Fish Fry Fridays Will be discontinued for the Summer...see you in the Fall!! Formal Complaints status update: Several of the complaints filed have undergone informal evaluations and have been satisfactorily closed. Thank you to those members involved who professionally and respectfully addressed the issues at hand and turned a negative situation into a positive outcome agreeing to come together and support the Post going forward. A couple of complaints are still formally being processed through the Judge-Advocate s office and hearings are to be scheduled. This formal process requires adequate time to schedule and address concerns of all parties. Please be patient as we work through the requirements to properly handle these cases. Sons of the American Legion: The SAL had another successful golf tournament in July. Thanks to all who played and volunteered, the Auxiliary for doing the meal and to the businesses who donated prizes for the event. We are working with the Post and the Auxiliary to put on the Member Appreciation Picnic, which will be held on Sunday, August 26 th from Come out and join us as we celebrate the 100 th Anniversary of the American Legion. There is no SAL meeting in August, our next meeting will be September 10 th at 6 pm. For God and Country Tom Barto SAL Commander

2 PARTY ON THE PATIO!! WEDNESDAY S FROM 4P-9P FOOD DRINK SPECIALS RAFFLES MUSIC WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF AUGUST SO COME JOIN US ON WEDNESDAYS!!

3 Community Outreach: On Saturday, 7 July 2018, the 50-year anniversary of the class of 1968 from East and West High Schools was held at the Radisson and the leaders of the reunion reached out to our Post to provide recognition to the Vietnam era veterans from the class. While the attendance was a large turnout of over 250 classmates, there were 21 Vietnam veterans who received Proclamations from the Corning American Legion delivered by Post Commander Greg Jensen and Honor Guard Commander Gerry McDonald (a Vietnam veteran himself). It was a moving ceremony and a great community support event. SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT: The Corning and Big Flats Legions have challenged each other to a softball tournament on 9/29 with a rain date of 10/6 at the Big Flats Post. Other area veterans organizations will be invited to form a team as well. If you are interested in playing, please sign up on the sheet in the Post lounge. If you would like to help coordinate the event, please let Commander Greg Jensen know! Congratulations!! Dick Naylor on your induction into the NYS Veterans Hall of Fame. And Gerry McDonald on your selection as a Hometown Hero. In Memory of MaryLou Belles It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to advise you of the passing of a great supporter of the Corning American legion, a dedicated Ladies auxiliary member and a member of our post ritual team. She died 26 July 2018 at Corning Hospital and will be missed by her family and many friends. As post and ritual team chaplain and on behalf of our legion family and ritual team we offer our deepest sympathy to her family and friends. We will all have a difficult time not seeing her at the post for meetings, dinners, poppy day and so many other activities that she participated in over her many years of service. It has been a great honor for me to have known such a wonderful person. GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN Respectfully Submitted, Richard G. Naylor, Past Post Cmdr.

4 Research and Recognition Project

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6 Auxiliary: On Friday, July 6 th, the Auxiliary hosted the Roadside Rest at the Campbell rest area. Even though the weather was not very cooperative fun was had by all. All funds received help to support our veterans programs. On Saturday, July 14 th, the Auxiliary assisted in preparing, serving and cleaning up for the SAL Golf tournament. Thank you to all those who volunteered to make this a success. From Wednesday 7/18 to Saturday 7/21 the following Corning Auxiliary officers and members attended the 99 th Annual NYS Department Convention at the Hyatt Regency in Rochester: Treasurer-Mary Ann Mineo Executive Committee Member-Jackie Williams 2 nd Vice President-Emma West 1 st Vice President -Joyce Nehring Secretary-Brenda Swanson The highlight of the convention was at the Past President s Parlay Breakfast when Mary Ann Mineo accepted the Member of the Year Award for Diane Gridley. The Corning Auxiliary submitted Diane s name as Member of the Year because of her dedication and commitment in the American Legion Family. Diane was unable to attend the convention as it is her 50 th anniversary to her husband, Stan. Diane is co-chair with Emma West for the Auxiliary dinners that are held twice a month (on Mondays) from September until June. Emma and Diane not only set the menu for the dinners, but assist in preparing them as well as buying groceries. Diane has also created most, if not all, the centerpieces for the tables on the nights dinner have been held. Diane was instrumental in coordinating and planning the American Legion Family Open House on Sunday, January 21 st. This was a huge success in that the American Legion Family had 30 new members in total join at the open house. Diane was also co-chair to Children and Youth and for many years coordinated and assisted in making the Children s Christmas Party a success. Diane has been the Auxiliary representative to the Board of Directors for several years and was recently elected as Auxiliary President. Diane was very deserving of this award and we, as a unit, are very proud that Diane was selected. The Member Appreciation Picnic will be held on Sunday August 26 th. All paid American Legion members, SAL members and Auxiliary members are invited. Additional details are forthcoming. The American Legion Family Day will be held on Sunday September 16 th from 9:00 3:00 p.m. There will be fun and games for everyone of all ages. Please keep an eye out for additional information. To all 2018 and 2019 paid Auxiliary members please consider attending an Auxiliary meeting to see what we as a team can and do for our Veterans and Military. Our next meeting will be held Wednesday - September 12th at 6:30 p.m. in Barrett Hall dues are now being accepted for American Legion Auxiliary Dues are as follows: Senior dues-$35.00 Junior dues-$10.00 Please send dues payment to: Mary Pipe 125 Weller Place Painted Post, N.Y Membership cards will be mailed to members. Be sure that we have current/correct address

7 August 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Anniversary Party 1pm 5 Bridal Shower Blood Drive BOD Mtg 6pm Post Mtg 7pm Women s 8 and 40 Meeting and Lunch 9a-3p th Birthday 11a-6p th Anniversary of American Legion 25 Wedding 9a-12a th Anniversary Member Picnic 12-5p CLUB HOURS Monday-Thursday 12 Noon to 9:00 PM Friday and Saturday 12:00 Noon to 12:00 AM Sunday 12 Noon to 6:00 PM We re on the net Monday, September 3 Monday, September 10 Thursday, September13 Sunday, September 16 Saturday, September 22 Monday, September 24 Mondays- Tuesdays- Wednesdays- Thursdays- Fridays- September Calendar Weekly Happenings Labor Day Auxiliary Dinner 4pm Voting Primary Board Mtg 6pm Post Mtg 7pm Auxiliary Family Day Hummel s Jug Country Band Auxiliary Dinner 4pm Quilters Queen of Heart Drawing 6pm Weekly Raffle Drawing 7pm FREE DRINKS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST, 2018 SPONSORED BY VETERANS DAY RAFFLE FUND PAT ZINE SHIRLEY ROSS DOUG KAPRAL JIM MAYLE VAL BERLEUE If you know people who are eligible to join The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, or the Sons of the American Legion, Please invite them to join. REMEMBER: It s not the price you pay to be a member; it s the price you paid to be eligible