The Fargo
Fargo Legionnaire
Fargo, North Dakota
November - December  2008

Commander's Thoughts
Dave Johnston

Dave Johnston, Commander, Fargo American Legion

Membership is the backbone of our Post and the American Legion. Why do we not see more members at the Post meetings, Club activities and in the Club? It is a question I have asked myself many times and we all need to work on this issue. An article in the paper talked about the giving to charities being down 30 -35% in Minnesota and we can already see some decrease in our own organization. When you look at the Monday spaghetti feed, there is no better deal in town for a great meal, bingo and great fellowship. Put Monday on your schedule to come down and join the fun.

Veterans Day is this month and yours truly has been asked to bring the address this year. It is a time to reflect on the many veterans who are no longer with us and gave their life for our freedom. We honor all who have served and those who are still serving our country. Invite your neighbors to join you in the ceremony and then fellowship at the Post for stew. We will have great music by the Red River Valley Concert Band—no better way to honor our veterans.

A source of income for the Post is the rental of the Patriot Hall for weddings, birthday, retirement, and Christmas or employee appreciation parties. You cannot find a better price for your special event and we ask our members to assist us in spreading the word on this great offer. The Post/Club are in the process of developing a marketing brochure that will be used to solicit rental income. This marketing brochure will be completed by December 2008.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas 2008.

Auxiliary President's Message
Mavis Goodroad

Hello Ladies of the Auxiliary

We have had a couple of busy months and the next ones are just as busy. On October 25th the Military Ball is being held at the American Legion and it is a fun event. A great band, good food, and a wonderful silent auction that we can purchase items from. A great event for fund raising money to help families of soldiers deployed.

The American Legion Auxiliary meeting for November will be the first Tuesday (November 4) because the second Tuesday falls on Veterans Day. Also, everyone needs to vote during the day because this is the joint meeting with the American Legion Post 2 and I would like to have lots of ladies present.

Veterans Day November 11th, a time to send a card to your special veteran or even just someone you just met and it is time to attend the American Legion for some fun events happening that day.

Then we have December which brings about events like the VA hospital gift shop and the Auxiliary Christmas Party. The gift shop at the VA hospital is December 3rd. The veterans always are happy for the time to shop for their families. The Christmas party for the Auxiliary is December 10th and it is upstairs of the American Legion. Mark your calendar for December 10th.

Have a great rest of 2008.

Mavis Goodreoad, Auxiliary President, Unit #2

Chef de Gare Notes
Don Wangrud

Fellow Voyageurs:

I want to thank all who help out on Monday nights with spaghetti. We could use some more help as I see some will be leaving for drills.
If you can or know someone that would like to help have them call Ron Gebeke.

I will be going to G.F. on the 25th of October for the new Chef de Gare of N.D.

Don Wangrud, Chef de Gare

Adjutants Additions
Bob Jacobson

Our new year is rapidly approaching. Membership does run on a calendar year. There will always be stragglers, so the Legion starts renewing about 6 months in advance. Renew by January 1 to stay current. National policy declares those not renewed by Jan. 1 to be delinquent and sets a drop date which interrupts continuous membership. These are busy times for you and the Legion. Please take a few minutes and send in your renewal now.

I ask you to invite and welcome the new lifeblood of the Legion and other veterans groups to become active members of our organization. The current doers are primarily Viet Nam era with some older and some younger vets involved. The Viet Nam era vets were on the outside looking in and have sworn to not let that happen again. Let’s bring in the Afghan and Iraq vets, give them the assistance and support they need. Not only as returning vets, but also as the Legion, a gathering place, a place to discuss whatever they want and conduct the activities they want. We need to support them and support the transition of the Legion to the current times.

We are finding times very tight with the decreased business starting with the No Smoking ordinance followed now by the hard financial times, both nationally and globally. Remember only $12.50 of your annual dues goes to our post and supports our facility and operations. Many people have said they stopped coming down because of the smoking – no longer a valid excuse. Every member has an interest in our facility. We ask that you help support it, help us keep it in existence.

The 2008 Navy Ball and the Military Appreciation Ball are past, but the Marine Corps Ball is being held in Patriot Hall instead of West Fargo VFW this year. Veterans Day is coming with our Commander Dave Johnston serving as keynote speaker at the Civic to be followed by stew at the Legion. Thanksgiving and the Holiday events and activities are soon here. Remember we have space available for parties. Some people even make arrangements to have a small group event in the lounge instead of upstairs. Keep your Legion Post in mind. Your Executive Committee reviews the situation at least monthly. Help us maintain its existence.

Did you know that the Golden Corral is a strong supporter of the DAV and offers all vets a free supper once a year? This year it is November 17, 5-9 pm.

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

Oratorical Contest

The 1st District Oratorical Contest will be held at the Fargo American Legion at 3:00pm on Tuesday, December 16th, 2008.  The winner will advance to the Eastern Division contest in Maddock on January 17th. The American Legion Oratorical Contest showcases bright young High School students speaking about the Constitution of the United States of America.  You are invited to attend the contest, coffee and cookies will be served.  We also need a few volunteers to help run the contest, please contact me if you would like to help out.  Thanks

 Dave Rice, 1st District Oratorical Contest Chair
call 701-866-9085
or e-mail commander@tristateveterans.com

Dave Rice, 1st District Oratorical Contest Chair

The Sons of the American Legion (SAL) will be hosting a Pancake Breakfast from 10:00am until 1:00pm on Sunday, December 7th, 2008. The 7th is Pearl Harbor Remembrance day and we hope you come out and support this patriotic organization. The Sons of the American Legion is the single largest contributor to the Child Welfare Foundation; donating over $332,000 and contributing over 34,000 hours on a national basis last year.

The pancake breakfast will be upstairs at the Fargo American Legion, 505 3rd Ave N in downtown Fargo. Cost is $5.00 per person, preschool is free, and includes pancakes, bacon or sausage, coffee, juice and milk. Treat the family with a nice breakfast before church, or a lunch afterwards. Please help spread the word and bring some friends along.

Chad Rice, Squadron Commander

Thoughts from the 2nd Vice Commander

The spirit of volunteerism - - an incentive to increase our involvement in Veteran issues.

I read the article (“The Four Pillars”, pg 10-38, The American Legion, September 2008) and asked myself how does Post 2 embrace these four pillars? I am new, involvement wise, so I pondered over the pages. I tried to recall things I have heard the past year and a half while at the Post and visiting with members.

Pillar I: Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation
Access and better funding to health care, the first bullets maybe was hinted at by a program, at a Post Meeting with the Director of the VA, early in 2008. Our Veterans Service Officer is one person that works in this area and does a great job for the Post. What do other members do? Each month Dave Lee provides a report on VA support, needs and general information. Besides the great job our members have done with bingo on Thursday nights, are there other things our members have done there as volunteers? I can’t recall.

Career opportunities for veterans’, GI bill, employment and business, H2H, final respects are other bullets in the article. We do have a color guard attending funerals and other activities. We provide gaming dollars to the VA projects. Does this speak to volunteerism?

Post 2 could collaborate with Guard and Reserve units to host a “Veterans’ Career Day”. Securing our members (that own business) to become prime attendees at this career day event. We could assist family support groups with activities and events they have planned by providing the person power and space. They could then take part in the activities. I am sure our members have other great ideas and we need to hear from them.

Pillar II: National Security
The pillar talks a lot about a strong national defense, quality of life, homeland security and support for our troops. We have members who greet returning service members. Our Legion Riders collaborating with the Patriot Guard provide a great service to our veterans and families.

Pillar III; Americanism
In this area I think we do quite well. The flags for first graders, Legion baseball, other sports events and support for Boys State and Girls State are all great programs. I know we put dollars into all of them. We have several members who work hard on the flag program. And the Bike shop is a going place. Thanks to all the members who are involved in these areas.

Pillar IV: Children & Youth
I don’t hear of anything we do either in dollars or volunteerism in this arena.

Well these are my thoughts. How do they stack up? What am I missing of the thing we do? What can or will you or I, do as a volunteer on these Pillars of the Legion?

Eugene Orson, Second Vice, Post 2

Veteran’s Day Ceremonies

Veteran’s Day ceremonies will be on November 11th starting with a wreath laying ceremony on the Veterans Memorial Bridge, followed by the parade to the Civic Center with the flag raising ceremony at 11 am. Toby McPherson will be doing a fly-over in a P-51 Mustang. The Guest Speaker for the Veteran’s Day Program will be Post 2’s Commander, Dave Johnston. The American Legion will be serving stew immediately following the program at the Civic Center at the American Legion.

Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11 is soon upon us. Join us for Jack and Sandy’s live broadcast on KFGO at the Legion from 10:30 – 2 pm. This broadcast is sponsored By Boulger Funeral Home, Wealth Enhancement and Stop & Go Stores. They are looking for local veteran’s to interview on their show. Call me if you would like to be on the radio.

As always, stew will be served at Noon upstairs and the Red River Valley Veteran’s Concert Band will play a concert at that time. They will also play at the Civic after the parade, Moorhead Legion and West Fargo VFW.

The club will have various drink specials all day.

**VEGGIE PEELERS NEEDED ON MONDAY, NOV. 10 AT 1 PM

Band Schedule

November 4th - Meeting Night
November 11th - Veterans Day
     11:00 am City Program
     12:30 pm Fargo Legion
       3:30 pm Moorhead Legion
       7:00 pm West Fargo VFW
November 13th - Sheyenne Crossings West Fargo
November 20th - Elim
December 2nd - Meeting Night
December 4th - Bethany
December 10th - Auxiliary Christmas Party

See the RRVVCB Web page at:  http://www.rrvvcb.org/

Have Your Wedding, Anniversary, Christmas or Any Party Here The American Legion has rental space available for a wide variety of events at a very reasonable price.  To Schedule an Event please Contact our Office at 701-293-3930. Click here for additional information.

Rental Space is Booking Up Fast

The American Legion has space available for your private party or special occasion. Our rental space features a dance floor and a dining area with a bar and can hold up to 250 guests. Discounts are available for Legion, Auxiliary, Social and SAL members. Please call Mona for details or to set up a time to come and see what the Legion has to offer for all your special event needs.

Birthday Parties - Anniversary Parties - Weddings - Retirement Parties - Christmas Parties - Reunions - Office Parties - Private Parties
Any other special occasion you may be celebrating

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