Fargo American Legion
Grant Request
www.tristateveterans.com/fargolegion
American Legion Post #2 Capital Campaign
For 86 years American Legion Post #2
has served our community and veterans. The Legion has operated out of its
downtown location for the last 55 years. During that time the Post has given
in excess of 25 million dollars to the community and donated additional
millions of man hours.
High profile projects include Legion baseball, Maris Museum, Lindenwood
Park, Veterans Auditorium, Trollwood and the North side soccer complex. Less
high profile but equally as important are color guard duties, nursing
scholarships and assisting homeless veterans.
The Legion has reached a road block that has to be crossed. Our 55 year old
building must be renovated and updated. This cannot be put off any longer.
The Legion has four major sources of revenue: annual memberships, leases
(KC Club), event facility rental and non profit
gaming. We operate in the black but do not have any extra funds to renovate
the building. Our biggest source of income, gaming must be donated back into
the community.
An assessment of the building needs produced a list that totals $550,000.
The funds will update all the mechanical systems, fully insulate the
building, install new windows, update the bathrooms, and upgrade all the
wall and floor coverings of the public areas.
The American Legion is requesting grant support from you for $5,000. This is
a one time request and we do not see any reason to come back to you again in
the future. Once the building is remodeled our monthly receipts will be able
to keep it operational. Your assistance will allow us to continue to provide
programs and support for our veterans and other non profit activities in the
community. This effectively turns your grant funds into hundreds of
thousands of dollars given back into the community. All donors will be
honored on the entryway plaque.
The Legion does not have any professional fundraisers and we have never gone
into the community before for assistance. We actually do the exact opposite.
We go out into the community and asked how we can be of help. Your grant
will make this process easier and let us return faster to what we do best
which is helping others.
Keith Kerbaugh
Capital Campaign Chairman
866-6700
American Legion Post
#2 Capital Campaign
Basic Proposal Facts
ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION
The American Legion was born nationally in St. Louis in 1919 and chartered
by the US Congress that same year. American Legion Post #2 was formed on May
29, 1919 as Gilbert C. Grafton Post #2. The Post was named after veteran
Grafton who enlisted in the Army in 1885 and served until 1917 retiring as a
Lt. Colonel from North Dakota’s 164th Infantry. He died and was buried in
1919 in France.
The American Legion was formed to serve the needs of the veterans and of the
community. As a grass roots organization its activities are targeted at the
needs of the local population as detailed in the Preamble.
Preamble to 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 the masses; to make right the master of might; to
promote peace and goodwill 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.
The Legion is the world’s largest veteran’s group. Post #2 is the largest
Post in North Dakota. It has a long and magnificent history of dedication
and service to the greater Fargo/Moorhead area. No local organization has
given more in money and man hours than Post #2, A sampling of programs are
listed in the evaluation section and in the brochures included in this
application.
In the past and still today everyone with needs looks to the Legion. This
includes the city of Fargo, the Fargo Parks Department and various other
community organizations and service groups. Post #2 has been an outstanding
partner as the community has grown and prospered. The Post has taken the
lead with its own programs such as Legion baseball, Boys/Girls State and
many others. The Post has proved to be a worthy partner with the hundreds of
community groups it has assisted.
The Legion has 11 board members which is known as the Executive Committee.
The committee is comprised of the Post Adjutant, the current Commander, the
immediate past Commander,1st Vice Commander, 2nd Vice Commander, 3rd Vice
Commander and five elected positions.
The office staff consists of a full time secretary, full time custodian,
and elected Legion members who serve as Adjutant and Finance Officer. The
gaming area has a full time manager and several part time workers. The
current 1,500+ members makes up a large volunteer force that supports the
veteran and community programs.
The key to all its programs and service has been its 22,688 square foot
facility. All Legion programs and community activities start from this
building which is paid in full. The Legion also owns Jack Williams Stadium
which has hosted many local, state and national baseball and softball
events.
PURPOSE OF GRANT
The Fargo American Legion has existed for 86 years. For 55 of those years it
has operated out of its home at 505 3rd Avenue North in Fargo. During these
years the Legion has given millions of man hours and in excess of 25 million
dollars to the greater Fargo Moorhead community. These programs are not only
for veterans but have affected every walk of life.
Currently the Legion operates in the black. The Legion building houses its
bar and lounge, and a small restaurant. In the bar there is a charitable
gaming operation that produces monthly profits that are given to the
community.
The problem that has arisen focuses on the general condition of the
building, insulation and mechanical systems. After 55 years the building is
in desperate need of repair, updating and remodeling. Over the years the
issues have only been addressed in a very surface manner. This has brought
things to a head where the Legion needs a total makeover.
The unique twist is that even though the Legion gives away money into the
community from its gaming operation it cannot use any of that money for its
own purposes. This places the Legion in a position to have to go into the
community and raise the money required for this makeover of $550,000.
The following is a list of areas that require renovation:
1. Insulate ceiling, Insulate walls, Replace all windows and block windows,
Upgrade heating, Remove and upgrade cooling, Upgrade clean air system in
downstairs area that circulates the air and cleans it, Upgrade electrical.
2. Upgrade entryway, Upgrade downstairs entryway, Upgrade upstairs entryway
and open up the area, Put in double door for west offices, Remodel upstairs
area for meeting rooms, Move cabinets from east side room to back storage
areas.
3. Install wireless internet for meeting rooms and bars, Install wireless
phones for meeting rooms.
4. Remodel all bathrooms including new self flushing fixtures.
5. Take out old bar in Patriot Hall, Take out one back door on top floor to
increase the area for the bar, Remove the excess around the pillars to allow
for better viewing of stage, Put in permanent higher stage that extends with
table storage underneath, Reduce the size of the raised area to add one more
row of table space, Remove north ramp from raised area. Bring out
kitchen serving wall to allow for better serving room.
6. Put in stage that can be extended and has table storage underneath,
Install clean air system in all areas keying on the bar area. Put in
stage that can be extended and has table storage underneath, Add meeting
room areas with moveable curtains downstairs in sw corner.
7. Add parking lot on east side, Upgrade outside signage for Legion, Add
signage for new businesses.
8. Redo all back storage areas.
9. New roof .
EVALUATION
These funds will have a long lasting and profound impact on our local
community. This guarantees the Legion will have a home from which to reach
out to our veterans and the needs of the community. The renovation is
planned to allow the Legion building to continue to operate another fifty
years without any serious renovations or mechanical upgrades. The list below
is a sampling of what the Legion has given to the community and what it will
continue to bring from its newly renovated home.
American Legion Baseball
Jack Williams Baseball Stadium
American Legion World Series
Boys State
Boys Nation
Girls State
Girls Nation
Legion Open Wrestling Tournament
Soccer Fields ($115,000)
Nurses Training
Shanley Track Meet
Music groups
Trollwood Programs and Technical Building
Island Park Activity Center
Toy Shop and Bike Shop
Cemetery Flags (Memorial Day & Veterans Day)
Diabetes Education Unit
Wheelchair Basketball
VA Hospital Programs
Homeless and destitute veteran assistance
State Oratorical contest
Veterans Hospital Programs
Veterans Memorial Auditorium at Civic Center ($200,000)
Lindenwood Park Fountain area ($80,000)
International Music Camp
Easter Baskets
Veterans Memorial Cemetery
State Vets Hospital
Policemen’s Ball
Roger Maris Museum at West Acres Shopping Center
Roger Maris Golf Tournament
Color guards – funerals and events
National Oratorical Contest
Mile of Dimes (March of Dimes)
Light for Safety
ROTC
North Dakota Veterans Home
Gift of Life organ donor program
Fargo Schools crossing guards ($66,000)
164th Fighting Regiment memorial
ND American Legion Hall of Fame
Diabetes Education Center
164th Infantry Memorial
Boys Scouts of America
God Bless American Baseball Tournament
For More Information Contact
| Keith Kerbaugh Campaign Chairman 237-4178, 866-6700 cell kerby@cableone.net |
Fargo American Legion 505 3rd Ave N Fargo ND 58102 Post HQ (701)293-3930 legionoffice@ideaone.net |