Post #1009
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    05/08/08
            The meeting began with our Financial Officer John
    McQuillan informing the Post members present that with the
    warmer weather the old railroad ties around our front garden
    beds will be replaced with belgian block beds and some new
    plantings will also be put in to spruce up the Post.  The money for
    this was from the grant to repave the front parking area last fall.  
    Again John steps forward to keep our Post looking sharp and
    impressive.  Great Job John!
            Our membership total for the year will be short 11 members
    from last year.  Any members who have not paid last year's dues
    may do so and be re-instated with their membership time
    reflecting continuous time.  Past members should feel free to
    contact us regarding their membership and we will present all
    options available.
            Rich Calbo also reported several new members have
    transferred to our Post from other Posts.  We welcome them all
    and hope to see everyone at either the parades or our meetings.
    Welcome aboard to Legionnaires Bernard Goodman, Leon D.
    Bloom, Dominick J. Otice Sr, and Donald V. Ettari.
            We have a busy weekend coming up over Memorial Day.  
    Saturday May 24 we will be out at the two A&P Supermarkets
    (Shrub Oak & Triangle Mall) from 8 AM to 1 PM selling 50/ 50
    chances and collecting donations for Poppies to support our
    programs.  On Sunday the 25th we need as many members as
    possible to stop in to clean up the Post so we can present an
    impressive image to our guests on Memorial Day after the
    parade.  Of course we have the parade on Monday May 26th!  
    Members can meet at the Post at 10:30 to walk to Town Hall, or
    meet up at Town Hall at 10:45 for the ceremony and the kick off of
    the parade.  If you can find any way to march with us this day,
    please try.  Each year some members are unable to march due to
    age and ailments, and we need to show Yorktown that we
    veterans never forget our country's deceased veterans.  In these
    financially tight times every community is looking to reduce
    expenditures to save money.  If the veterans don't march in the
    Memorial Day and Veterans Day parades then some one will
    surely suggest a better way to spend the money.
            On June 7th the Post will host the 2008 Westchester American
    Legion Convention.  We desperately need volunteers to help with
    the breakdown and clean-up of the hall after 4 PM that day.  
    Please call Pat McDonough at 914-953-6807 if you can help out
    that day.  You will have free food and beverage to enjoy before
    the clean-up begins!
            This meeting was the Post's annual election of Post Officers.  
    No one stepped forward to take over the reins of running the Post
    in any of the officer positions.  An extremely reluctant
    Commander Ken Blish and 1st Vice Commander Al Laughlin
    agreed to continue for their fifth straight year of service to the
    Post!  We must all take part in running this Post!  The Post is
    financially stable.  It is in the best physical shape and appearance
    than it has been in years.  It is a respected institution in the Town
    of Yorktown, running the Veterans Day parade, sharing the
    running of the Memorial Day parade with the VFW, and running
    food drives for the needy veterans at the Montrose VA hospital.  
    Everything the Post planned, organized, and run has been done
    by Ken and Al, and their lovely wives.  People need to step
    forward and take part in the Post and its events.
            Sadly we regret to inform everyone of the passing of the wife
    of a long time member.  Mrs. Marie Bortz, wife of Legionnaire
    Arthur Bortz, passed away after a short illness.  Arthur and Marie
    were active in the Post and in St Elizabeth Seton Church in Shrub
    Oak.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Arthur and his family at
    this time.
            

    04/10/08
            Another good turnout of members for the meeting.  During
    our financial report, John McQuillan reported that the Boy Scout
    Troop we sponsor at St Patrick's made a donation of $250 to the
    Post!  Thank you to a great group of young men and their
    leaders.  There will be a Post Clean-up Day on April 19th at 10 am
    to get the Post looking good for the Memorial Day festivities and
    the County Convention after that.  If everyone could do a little bit
    we could breeze through it quickly.  Just show up ready to work.
            Richie Calbo reported that our membership count remains at
    117, that's 12 short of being 100%.  If anyone hasn't renewed
    please do so now.  If there is a reason why you do not wish to
    continue your membership please let us know the reason and
    hopefully we can rectify the situation.  Your membership counts!  
    We want you to stay in the Legion.  Rich also briefed us on other
    County news.  If anyone knows of a GOLD STAR MOTHER, the
    County Veterans Service Agency(VSA) is administering a
    program where the VA will give a one-time grant to GOLD STAR
    MOTHERS of $500 but they must apply for it through the
    Westchester County VSA.  This is not getting alot of publicity, so
    we need to pass the word around.
            This is political season and the Legion wants to remind
    everyone that it is expressly forbidden to attend political rallies
    wearing your American Legion uniform caps.  Doing so will lead
    to expulsion from the American Legion.
            Pat McDonough updated us on the County Convention
    preparations.  COMMERCE BANK in Shrub Oak has donated
    $500 to the Post for use in sponsoring the County Convention!  
    This will help us off-set the cost of hosting the event at Post
    #1009.  We will have a table at the Post on Convention Day for
    COMMERCE BANK to explain its programs for 'Not-for-Profit'
    organizations.  Everyone be sure to stop over and say thanks for
    their support of our Post and the Westchester County American
    Legion Convention.  Volunteers are still needed on Saturday June
    7th to set up, switch the room over for dining, and clean up after
    the Convention.  Please donate a little time to help the Post
    impress all of its visitors that day.
            Commander Blish offered his sincere thanks to all who
    participated in the ceremony for Past Commander Tom Reilly at
    his wake.  It was a great turnout and several new faces helped
    participate in honoring Tom's memory.
            1st Vice Commander Al Laughlin asked for more volunteers
    for the Memorial Day Weekend Poppy Fundraiser.  We need a
    few more volunteers to help collect donations at the A&P in
    Yorktown and the one in Shrub Oak.  We will be doing this at
    both locations to support our local programs and to remind
    everyone of the real reason for Memorial Day.  We will do this
    only on Saturday May 24, from 9 AM to 1 PM.  We need several
    Legionnaires at each location to allow for breaks and unforeseen
    emergencies which might come up preventing a member from
    participating.  We definitely need two more people at the
    Yorktown Triangle A&P supermarket that day.  Please let us
    know if you can help out that day and which location is better for
    you.
            Other news, the Veterans Service Agency will hold a veterans
    benefits question session at the Jefferson Valley Mall on May 24,
    from 9 AM to 6 PM
            Our Post Mother's Day Brunch is April 27 at 1 PM.  Several
    members signed up and paid their $5 per person to attend with
    their families.  After this meeting the fee is $10 per person to
    attend this function.  Please let us know if you will be attending
    so we can prepare enough for everyone.       
            Summer barbecue anyone?  It has been suggested that we
    have a barbecue in July or August to keep in touch.  A suggestion
    was made that we try to do it in the afternoon of one of the
    Yorktown Parks and Recreation summer concerts at the gazebo.  
    That way we can eat than stroll over and enjoy a free concert.  Let
    us know what you think and we'll try to make it happen.
            Finally, Westchester County Commander and Post #1009
    Membership Officer Richie Calbo addressed the meeting and
    thanked everyone in Post #1009 for their help and support over
    the last two years while he was the County Commander.  He
    informed us that Ray Cook will be the next County Commander.

    03/14/08
            Our March meeting had a good turnout and a relaxed feel to
    it.  We updated everyone on the early start on planning the
    Westchester County 2008 American Legion Convention which our
    Post will host on June 7th.  We may have a donation from
    COMMERCE BANK in Shrub Oak to help alleviate the expense
    of the Convention on our Post.  Bob Dagnino and Patrick
    McDonough, our Convention Chairmen, will report back
    monthly from now on with the menu and other plans.  Keep June
    7th open to lend a hand either setting up, during the Convention,
    or breaking down and clean-up afterward.  If everyone helps it
    will be easier on everyone.
            Our membership report has us at 117 paid members with 12
    still outstanding to have 100% renewal.  If you are one of the
    members outstanding, please show your support and contact us
    now to settle your membership questions.  I apologize to all of
    our new members joining the Post over the last few months.  It is
    our wish to welcome everyone aboard Post #1009 both here and
    in our new e-mail newsletter, the 'Yorktown e-Legion'.  We do
    appreciate your membership and service and want everyone to
    know who you are!  I wish to recognize all of our new members
    and welcome you into our family and hope to see you at our
    meetings and functions.  
            WELCOME ABOARD POST #1009
                    Leo P. Dobrosky
                    Winfred H. Lollar
                    Robert Handelman
                    William J. Bertram
                    Eugene Genovese
                    Anthony R. Russo
                    Michael Zawiski
                    Frank Galella
                    James Cronin
                    Daniel Denisco
            Our Mother's Day Brunch is set for Sunday, April 27, 2008 at
    1pm at the Post.  Things are being done differently this year than
    in the past.  The cost for the Brunch is $5 per person until our
    April 10th meeting, then the price doubles to $10 per person.  We
    need to know early whether you are coming or not.  We need to
    order food and supplies beforehand to have enough for
    everyone.  Reservations and PAYMENT are needed by April 10th,
    or else we may think no one is coming and the event will be
    cancelled.  Please let us know if you will be attending!
            We need your help!  This Memorial Day Weekend we will be
    collecting donations and handing out traditional red poppies to
    commemorate the true meaning of Memorial Day.  We will be
    doing this collection only on Saturday, May 24 from 9am to 3pm
    at the Yorktown A&P and the Shrub Oak A&P.  The donations
    are used to fund our local programs like the Boy Scouts, the
    Memorial and Veterans Day parades, and other County events.  
    Could everyone spare two hours to remind the public that
    thousands of veterans never returned home from America's
    conflicts?  Please call 1st Vice Commander Al Laughlin(914-528-
    6221), or Patrick McDonough(914-953-6807) to volunteer.
            Commander Ken Blish informed us that the Post is
    purchasing American-made Post #1009 baseball caps and that the
    Post will have them available for anyone to purchase.  It shows
    who we are and advertises at the same time.  Please think about
    picking one up for the warm weather season.
            Election of Post Officers is quickly approaching.  We need
    new voices and everyone's help in keeping our Post going in the
    right direction.  Contact us if you are interested in serving on the
    Post's Executive Committee or in another capacity.  We will have
    nominations from the floor at the April 10th meeting, please try to
    attend to have your say in the path we take.
            Let us know if anyone is interested in a Post BBQ sometime
    in August to keep in touch over the off season.  We can make it a
    family affair and kids and grand kids can attend.  This way Erin
    and Kevin McDonough won't be the only kids there.  They love
    coming to the Post events.
            Please keep in your thoughts and prayers our members who
    are ill especially; Past-Commander Tom Reilly, Past-Commander
    Tony Raccioppi, Mrs Arthur Bortz, and Anne Samoylo.
            See you at the April 10th meeting.

    02/20/08
            The February meeting fell on Valentine's Day which limited
    the turnout of members.  Everyone's family takes first priority in
    their lives and it should be that way.
            A suggestion was made to have a St Patrick's dinner with the
    date of 3/14/08 as the date.  A few members present were
    agreeable to the suggestion and we decided to have a one week
    RSVP period to see if enough people would attend to make it
    worthwhile.  Unfortunately after the week to RSVP only 5 people
    were planning on attending.  Therefore the dinner was cancelled.
            The Post was invited to march in the White Plains St Patrick's
    Day parade which is on March 8th.  The small turnout at the
    meeting had only 4 members available to march that day.  We
    agreed to wait one week to see if anyone else expressed interest in
    marching.  When the week ended we didn't have enough
    members to have a color guard and a banner team so we declined
    the parade invitation.  We hope that we will be invited again next
    year.  Hopefully we can get a large enough contingent to commit
    to marching to look good for the crowds next year.
            The Memorial Day Poppy hand out program might be
    changed this year.  Every year we share the Jefferson Valley Mall
    with other Veteran's organizations collecting for their programs.  
    This year we might move to the local supermarkets to do face to
    face collection where the public can see and talk to us.  We had a
    marvelous response when we did this collecting food for the Food
    Pantry at the Montrose VA hospital.  Stay tuned for our final plan
    for this event.
            Commander Blish updated everyone on Post baseball caps.  
    We will purchase American-made caps which means we will have
    to purchase them in bulk.  The caps will be $15 each and we'll let
    everyone know when they arrive.  Buy one for yourself and one
    to give to a friend.  The Post benefits with the advertising when
    everyone wears them.
            Patrick McDonough informed everyone that a new issue of
    the Post's newsletter, the 'Yorktown e-Legion' was sent out via e-
    mail.  This issue will be printed and mailed out to the entire Post
    membership with the mailing of the Post's Memorial Day raffle
    tickets.  Any members wishing to receive the newsletter should
    send an e-mail to the post at post1009@nylegion1009.org
    requesting the free newsletter.
            We welcomed aboard Frank Gallela, a new member to the
    Post.  Hope to see you again Frank.  We remembered those who
    are on the Sick Call including Tom Reilly, Tony Raccioppi,
    Arthur Bortz's wife, and Anne Samoylo.  Our wishes for speedy
    recoveries.
            See you all March 13 at the next meeting
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