The Fargo
Fargo Legionnaire
Fargo, North Dakota
March - April  2007

Commander Message
Keith Kerbaugh

It is hard to turn on the television right now and not see an ad about the American Legion. The WDAY Honor Flight program and the Post #2 public service announcement are pounding the airwaves.

Currently the Legion is involved in the WDAY Honor Flight program. Our Finance Officer, Virgil Estenson, is acting as the treasurer for the program. As the keeper of the funds the Legion is receiving a lot of air play. The Legion is accepting and processing all the donations. Post #2 has donated $5000 to the program and is one of the major sponsors.

Our public service announcement is being played for the second straight year. Cableone has been outstanding to work with on this project.

Membership is still moving along. We are now at almost 1400 members working toward our goal of 1450. If you have not renewed please take time to send in your membership. If you have not filled out your membership questionnaire please do that also. We are trying to make sure that all our information is correct for the membership including email addresses.

I encourage you to get involved in a Legion activity and visit the Club. Your involvement and support is critical if the Post #2 is going to support veterans and fight for our causes. Call the office and volunteer today.

Keith Kerbaugh, Commander, Fargo American Legion

Auxiliary President's Message
Barb Nash

Greetings –

March is community service month at the American Legion Auxiliary. We all do many things that benefit the community and our Legion Family. Our speaker on March 13th is Dave Pagel from the Patriot Guard Riders. What more important community service is there than showing honor to a fallen American Hero at a time when the families need it most or welcoming the troops back from a mission? Dave will come and tell us a little more about the Patriot Guard. Bring a friend or family member to show support for what they do.
I like potlucks. And, since I am still President for a little while longer, let’s do one in April. This is usually at a time when our snowbirds are returning and it’s always good to have some time to visit with them. Plan to start at 6:00 or so with the potluck.
April is Children & Youth month. Our able-bodied Children & Youth Chair, Vetta Loveland, will have a speaker come on April 10th and talk to us about Sister’s PATH and the fine work done by this organization to those truly in need.
Mavis is planning a “Hats On” event for May 5th. This event will be replacing the style show this year. It will be a fun event where everyone is to wear a hat of some sort, handmade, old or new. There will be prizes in a variety of categories and dessert will be served. Is there anyone out there with a Carmen Miranda style hat? We’d love to see it!
April is also the month when I need to begin preparing yearly reports. We do many good things but we underreport. I really need to know what volunteer work you do on an individual basis as this can be included in our reports. I am learning that the numbers are very important to many of our causes. Please call me to let me know what you do to support the community. And speaking of numbers – PLEASE RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP!

Barb Nash, Auxiliary President, Unit #2

Chef de Gare Notes

As I am writing this we are in the middle of a sub zero cold cycle. As you read this I hope we are seeing the mercury moving up.
February has been a very busy month for us as we have out Flags for First Graders program. We go to all the elementary schoolds in Fargo, West Fargo, and a few in the surrounding area. The program gives us an opportunity to them a brief history and proper respect of the flag. At the end we give them each a flag and a pamphlet to take home to the parents.
Big thank you to all who help lmake this program a success. Special thanks to Bob Long for ordering the flags, bundling them for each school, and contacting the schools for time when we can appear, and to Don Schwinden for putting the crews together to go to the schools and the fine job he does talking to the children, and Mike Borgen for delivering to out of town schools. 1500 Flags, 36 schools. Thanks again to all.
Remember election of officers for the coming year will be at the April Promenade.

Chef de Gare Bob Lechner
40 et 8 Voiture 240 Fargo

Adjutants Additions
Bob Jacobson

We are moving into a very busy spring season. The host for the District 1 Spring Meeting had to cancel and Fargo has picked up the event. We hope to see many good friends, good food and camaraderie with the business meeting on Wednesday, March 21. Preparations are also underway for hosting the 2007 Department Convention June 22-24 at our Post.
We are looking towards quite a lot of clean-up and sprucing up this spring. We have been through the building conducting inventory and have started cleaning out some closets and storage rooms. We have more to do there and then organize what we are keeping.
I would like some volunteers to assume responsibility for the upstairs museum cases. I would like to have a list of whom the various items belong to and maybe do digital images we can edit with the name and particulars. We might even find some storage space and rotate some of the items if needed.
March 15-17 is considered the anniversary of the founding of the American Legion. Please consider what we can do as individuals and as a post to demonstrate the Legion’s involvement in the community. Boys State process is getting into full swing. April brings us to “Children and Youth” month. Material should be coming from national to recognize our more experienced members with 50 or more years of membership.
Last year Boots Anderson chose to retire from her position as chairperson of the Easter Baskets project. I wish to publicly thank her for many years of dedicated service to that project. I have not heard of anyone stepping up to take on this project.
Remember, continuous membership is the way to gain that “Old Timer” status of 50+ years. Do you know someone who has not renewed their membership yet? The dues have gone up to $39.00.
 

Robert (Bob) Jacobson, Adjutant
Gilbert C. Grafton Post 2

Post #2 American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame Inductee Jim McLaughlin	Baseball GM George Ellis	Chaplain Linda Whaley

The 2007 class of the Post #2 American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame has been inducted. Jim McLaughlin, Bernie Graner, George Rulon, Dave Johnson and Jeff Fiechtner were honored at a full house at the Holiday Inn on February 5th. Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Paul Molitor was a great speaker sprinkling humor along with stories from his 21 years in the Major League.
 

Post #2 to Host State Convention

Plans are in full swing to host the North Dakota Department Convention June 22-24 at Post #2 and the Civic Center.
Convention Chairman Dave Johnston is heading up a committee that is dedicated to making this an exceptional event.
Put this event on your calendar now and plan to attend and learn more about the Legion.
More details are available at www.ndlegion.org
 

Sons of the American Legion (SAL)

The SAL Squadron # 2 will be meeting at 1:30 pm after the KC’s lunch upstairs on March 10th and April 21st in the upstairs ballroom. These meeting will be to start to organize the squadron and to have an election of officers for SAL Squadron # 2. All members of the squadron and non-members are welcome to attend.

Chad Rice, Department SAL Sergeant at Arms
and Post #2 SAL Squadron Member

1st District

The 1st District Spring Meeting will be hosted by Gilbert C. Grafton Post #2 on Wednesday, March 21st. We appreciate Post 2 agreeing to host on short notice after our scheduled had to cancel because of a scheduling conflict. The meeting will start at 7:30pm, see details elsewhere in this newsletter. We hope Post 2 Legionnaires show up in force and welcome our fellow Legionnaires throughout the District.

Dave Rice, 1st District Commander

Band Schedule

The band Schedule for March and April 2007 will be announced at a later date.
 

Have Your Wedding, Anniversary, Christmas or Any Party Here

The American Legion has space available for any party or special occasion size up to 250 guests with a variety of amenities from wireless internet access to having a cash bar. Please see Mona for details at 505 3rd Ave N, Fargo or call 237-4013.
Catering is available through the Fargo KC’s. They can be reached at 232-6386.
Discounts available for Legion, Auxiliary, Social and SAL members.
Birthday Parties
Anniversary Parties
Weddings
Retirement Parties
Christmas Parties
Reunions
Office Parties
Private Parties
Any Other Special Occasions you may be celebrating

  Click here for additional information. 

Attention: In accordance with North Dakota Charitable Gaming Regulations, American Legion Club notifies its membership that the organization's cash profit; cash long or short; net proceeds expenses, if any; reimbursement of excess expenses, if applicable; and a list of eligible use contributions is available for review. The information is available at the American Legion Club, 505 3rd Ave N,. Fargo, 8am - 4:30pm, Mon.-Fri. (701)237-4013