Winter, 2008/09 - Give the gift of membership this year. Commander Posey By Mel Posey, Commander, Department of California AMVETS By John W. Byrum, 1st Vice Commander, Department of California AMVETS Continued on page Continued on page
I think by now if not all, most of you know I am tasking each and every one of you to work towards getting one or two new members. A strong membership is a louder voice at state level senate and at our nation’s capitol for congress and senate. If you want your voice heard work on getting the numbers to ensure California speaks loud and clear for Veterans and all current Service Members. Since I have been asked by some what is go- ing on with AMVETS and the Service Foundation and the rumors that are going around - what about service to veterans? I would like to respond. I can tell you that veterans are the number one concern and will continue to be served as always with plans in the works to do more for you and them. I have been very fortunate to have a wonderful project presented to me by Dr. John C. Eastman Dean of Chapman University School of Law, Orange, CA. Dr. Eastman has a plan to help veterans and active duty with free legal services. This would be with- out a doubt one of the best gifts to our veterans and service members that have and continue to give so much. In less than two days I was able to arrange meetings with key personal from Dept. California AMVETS, Dept. California AMVETS Service Foun- dation, VA., Military (a BG), and an AMVETS Ser- vice Officer on Veterans Day 2008. I can assure you that all attending had one goal, to help get the ball rolling for veterans and their needs. I see the Depart- ment and the Service Foundation moving forward as one to not only continue service as before, but new and improved service to all. With the Service Foun- dation and you, the Department of California as one, leading the way AMVETS Department of California will step out front in new and better service to veter- ans and service members alike. National AMVETS has been made aware of the offer and is looking to see what we do as a state. I have assured them I am confident in the Department of California to work together as one to continue new and bold steps for all. As I sit here typing this and thinking of what we can accomplish as one I want all of you to have a goal that you can go to sleep at night knowing that no child of a veteran or a current service mem- ber in California will go hungry, without clothing, without a safe place to live, without a toy they treasure, and without knowing someone cares about them and mom and dad. That a spouse will feel safe and know someone will get help for them and their loved one in need. They should know who we are and that you and I, members of AMVETS Department of California, will step up to help. No more do I want to ever think that you and I didn’t give our honest effort to help for all, with no selfish thoughts, but a kind and caring attitude to above all work together towards a better AMVETS and be a better person for our efforts. As I have been bouncing around ideas for mem- bership, I have come to believe it is YOU, the mem- bers and Posts that can make our membership grow. I asked for ideas and received only one. I would like for you to come up with ways to in- crease our membership, and if it has merit, and comes with a cost (monies) that you think would be worth the investments, please send it to me with the what, how, when, and where’s. I realize we may need to in- vest to make it better and I am currently working on something to present to the Foundation for support. I can’t promise money for a project, but I can darn well ask for monitory support for a good idea. Don’t sit back and complain about getting some- thing done, step up and make it happen! I am here to help you try and get support for your ideas, but I can’t help you if you don’t present your ideas to me. It’s easy to sit around and talk about who may be right or wrong, but if you are stepping up to the plate to help all veterans it’s hard to be wrong. I have been traveling since the last time you heard from me, In October I attended a October fest fundraiser put on by one of our new post: Bryte Post 9126. I am very proud of the members of this post for all of the work that they did to make this fundraiser such a success. On November 9th I visited with Commander Pete Ramirez and the members of Post 113 in Irwindale. November 10th found me in Adelanto visiting Post 20 where Commander Evelyn Barakat gave me a tour of their new building. Thanks to an invitation by District Commander Dennis Boyce, I participated in a Veterans Day program at the Barstow Veterans Home on November 11th. November 13th, I was back in Northern Calif. where I attended Memorial Services in Yountville, another beautiful service put on by the hardworking members of Post 101. This was followed by a tour of the cemetery by Chaplain Tom Sarchipone which was followed by my attending the Post 101 monthly meeting. Dec. 5th found me in Maryland to at- tend the winter NEC meetings. The follow- ing is my report on that. The new Service Foundation President in his message covered the many positive developments coming from the reforma- tion of the Service Foundation Board. As many of you know, I also sit on that Trustee Board and have never seen the type of co- operation within AMVETS Department of California that we are experiencing right now. I can say that every member attending Winter, 2008/09 Vol. 12, No. 4 COMMANDER’S COMMENTS By Mel Posey, Commander, Department of California AMVETS Commander Posey 1ST VICE COMMANDER'S REPORT By John W. Byrum, 1st Vice Commander, Department of California AMVETS BUILDING OUR MEMBERSHIP TOGETHER Give the gift of membership this year. BE PRESENT. Continued on page Continued on page
Transcript
I think by now if not all, most of you know I am tasking each and every one of you to work towards getting one or two new members. A
strong membership is a louder voice at state level senate and at our nation’s capitol for congress and senate. If you want your voice heard work on getting the numbers to ensure California speaks loud and clear for Veterans and all current Service Members.
Since I have been asked by some what is go-ing on with AMVETS and the Service Foundation and the rumors that are going around - what about service to veterans? I would like to respond. I can tell you that veterans are the number one concern and will continue to be served as always with plans in the works to do more for you and them.
I have been very fortunate to have a wonderful project presented to me by Dr. John C. Eastman Dean of Chapman University School of Law, Orange, CA. Dr. Eastman has a plan to help veterans and active duty with free legal services. This would be with-out a doubt one of the best gifts to our veterans and service members that have and continue to give so
much. In less than two days I was able to arrange meetings with key personal from Dept. California AMVETS, Dept. California AMVETS Service Foun-dation, VA., Military (a BG), and an AMVETS Ser-vice Officer on Veterans Day 2008. I can assure you that all attending had one goal, to help get the ball rolling for veterans and their needs. I see the Depart-ment and the Service Foundation moving forward as one to not only continue service as before, but new and improved service to all. With the Service Foun-dation and you, the Department of California as one, leading the way AMVETS Department of California will step out front in new and better service to veter-ans and service members alike.
National AMVETS has been made aware of the offer and is looking to see what we do as a state. I have assured them I am confident in the Department of California to work together as one to continue new and bold steps for all.
As I sit here typing this and thinking of what we can accomplish as one I want all of you to have a goal that you can go to sleep at night knowing that
no child of a veteran or a current service mem-ber in California will go hungry, without clothing, without a safe place to live, without a toy they treasure, and without knowing someone cares about them and mom and
dad. That a spouse will feel safe and know someone will get help for them and their loved one in need. They should know who we are and that you and I, members of AMVETS Department of California, will step up to help. No more do I want to ever think that you and I didn’t give our honest effort to help for all, with no selfish thoughts, but a kind and caring attitude to above all work together towards a better AMVETS and be a better person for our efforts.
As I have been bouncing around ideas for mem-bership, I have come to believe it is YOU, the mem-bers and
Posts that can make our membership grow. I asked for ideas and received only one. I would like for you to come up with ways to in-
crease our membership, and if it has merit, and comes with a cost (monies) that you think would be worth the investments, please send it to me with the what, how, when, and where’s. I realize we may need to in-vest to make it better and I am currently working on something to present to the Foundation for support. I can’t promise money for a project, but I can darn well ask for monitory support for a good idea.
Don’t sit back and complain about getting some-thing done, step up and make it happen! I am here to help you try and get support for your ideas, but I can’t help you if you don’t present your ideas to me.
It’s easy to sit around and talk about who may be right or wrong, but if you are stepping up to the plate to help all veterans it’s hard to be wrong.
I have been traveling since the last time you heard from me, In October I attended a October fest fundraiser
put on by one of our new post: Bryte Post 9126. I am very proud of the members of this post for all of the work that they did to make this fundraiser such a success. On November 9th I visited with Commander Pete Ramirez and the members of Post 113 in Irwindale. November 10th found me in Adelanto visiting Post 20 where Commander Evelyn Barakat gave me a
tour of their new building. Thanks to an invitation by District Commander Dennis Boyce, I participated in a Veterans Day program at the Barstow Veterans Home on November 11th. November 13th, I was back in Northern Calif. where I attended Memorial Services in Yountville, another beautiful service put on by the hardworking members of Post 101. This was followed by a tour of the cemetery by Chaplain Tom Sarchipone which was followed by my attending the Post 101 monthly meeting.
Dec. 5th found me in Maryland to at-tend the winter NEC meetings. The follow-ing is my report on that.
The new Service Foundation President in his message covered the many positive developments coming from the reforma-tion of the Service Foundation Board. As many of you know, I also sit on that Trustee Board and have never seen the type of co-operation within AMVETS Department of California that we are experiencing right now. I can say that every member attending
Winter, 2008/09 Vol. 12, No. 4
commander’s commenTsBy Mel Posey, Commander, Department of California AMVETS
Commander Posey
1sT Vice commander's reporTBy John W. Byrum, 1st Vice Commander, Department of California AMVETS
The Voice is published quarterly by Midwest Publishing, Inc.. Any articles or photographs received after the deadlines will be held for the next edition. All articles must be signed to be printed. The editor reserves the right to edit any submission for clarity, brevity, etc. The opinions expressed in The Voice are those of the authors and not necessarily the opinion of the AMVETS Department of California. Submit articles to:
California AMVETS Voice, Attn: Rose Blackman611 N. Sacramento St. Tulare, CA 93�74or E-mail: [email protected]
Table of ContentsOfficer’s Reports .................................................................................... 3
News From National ...............................................................................5
Feed a Vet Program............................................................................ 12
Post Reports ........................................................................................ 13
Post Directory ................................................................................... 20
Stories of Service .............................................................................. 24
Vol. 12, No. � California AMVETS Voice—3
Foundation president’s report
My fellow AMVETS, I am pleased to report to you the tremendous gains your newly elected Board of Trustees have made in a mere five
months since the Convention last June. I was honored to be elected President of the California Service Foundation unanimously by your trustees. As I promised to the membership at Convention in Sacramento, I will work tirelessly to restore integrity to “YOUR” Foundation.
California has over three million veterans. With your help, your Service Foundation along with your Department Executive Board are working with the goal making the Department of California the premier de-partment in AMVETS in five years!
With your landslide historic vote for transparent and change in Sacramento last June, your Service Founda-tion is now fully supporting your Department as clearly defined by the Constitution and Bylaws of your Depart-ment, your Foundation and your National AMVETS.
The mandate, you the membership, have given your new trustees will not be an easy one! The challenges we face are many. The once “impossible” task of returning control of your Foundation back to the membership has been realized. Together we have done the impossible.
Happy New Year. Much has been accomplished in our state by our Executive Board and our members in every post in the state. When I
read of the many activities that are taking place in your posts on behalf of our veterans, I feel two things. First how proud I am to be a part of this organization and second that I wish I could attend your activities to be a part of the great things you are doing. Keep up the good work! Now for my usual reminders with information from national so we get things right.proGrams reporTinG:
I’ve had questions as to exactly what we need to report. Beryl Love from National states: We report ACTION / EXECUTABLE / DELIVERY BASED PROGRAMS ONLY! These are programs that are executed/delivered on behalf of veterans/military, and the community. Example: One post could meet
for weeks determining, discussing how to support a Stand Down. Another post could have a 30 min-ute discussion. Neither is reported. The “day” of the Stand Down both posts should report the number of volunteers that participated, the total hours of those volunteers for that day, mileage etc. We DO NOT re-port meeting attendance, travel to and from meetings, work on the post home, etc. If you do not know how to report your programs by computer, please call me and I will walk you through the process. Best time to reach me in the office is between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., if I’m not available to answer the phone when you call, leave me a message and I will call you back. AN-NUAL AND LIFE MEMBERSHIPS; these are to be reported on SEPARATE forms (dues & remittance is for ANNUALS only, life goes on the life transmittal forms only). Only send me one copy of your annual
or life form (I prefer to make my own copy). If you would like application forms or information booklets to hand out, call national at 877-7�6-8387 x 40�1 and they can send them directly to your post. Thank you for all that you do on behalf of our veterans and our active duty service members.
I look forward to seeing members of each and ev-ery post in the state at our DEC at the new Marriott in Bakersfield.
executive director’s deskBy Rose Blackman
2009 ConventionsSPRING DEC /SEC
JANUARY 23-25, 2009 FRIDAY - SUNDAY Holiday Inn Select (soon to be a Marriott)
Rooms: $87.42 (single/ double)Cut off date for reservations is Dec. 23, 2008
Delegate fees are still only $10.00, pre-registration is greatly appreciated.
2009 STATE CoNvENTIoN JUNE 12-14
Doubletree Hotel Ontario AIRPORT222 NORTH VINEYARD AVENUE
ONTARIO, CA 91764ROOM RATES: $93 + TAX
1-800-222-TREE. request the group rate for American Veterans.Cut off date for reservations is May 9, 2009
65Th NATIoNAl CoNvENTIoN- NEw oRlEANS, lA
AUG. 8-15, 2009Sheraton New Orleans Hotel
500 Canal StreetNew Orleans, Louisiana 70130
Room rates: $109+$3+taxToll free 888-627-7033, cut off date July 17, 2009
Jim PidgeonFoundation President
Continued on page �
4—California AMVETS Voice Vol. 12, No. �
these meetings is working towards the same goals… to make this Department one of the strongest in the entire AMVETS organization!
On a different front, some of us have just returned from the winter NEC in Baltimore. Most of us went for the expressed purpose of attending an appeal hearing, as requested by the former foundation trustees. What we faced was something entirely different. Jim Pidgeon, current AMVETS, Department of California, Service Foundation Trustee Board President has provided you with some details of what happened during the four days we were in Baltimore. I would like to provide you with some of the background covering the rules that we should have been following, which had a significant bearing on the experience we encountered.
As a Marine, I was taught to understand and follow the rules of engagement; I think all AMVET Members from all branches of service had the same training. Looking back on the event, I would begin with Article X, Sect. 1 of the National Bylaws. It states: “At all levels of AMVETS, all meetings and all matters a proceedings not otherwise provided for herein shall be conducted pursuant to the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.” National’s appendix B, Sect. 9 provides for each member’s right to appeal. Also in Appendix B, Sect. 12 states: “The procedure for the handling of any appeal to be heard by the National Ex-ecutive Committee or the national convention shall be prescribed by the national judge advocate. ...No such procedure at any level, however, shall be inconsistent or in conflict with the national, department, or post constitution and bylaws or this code.” In the 10th edition of Robert’s Rules, page 631 says “A trial by the so-ciety cannot legally establish the guilt of the accused, as understood in a court of
law; it can only establish his guilt as affecting the society’s judgment of his fitness for membership.” On page 637 of Robert’s Rules of order, I found the following: “In any event, from the time the accused has been thus notified, all of his rights as a member of the society (except as relate to the trial) are suspended pending disposition of the case.” Black’s Law Dictionary defines “disposition as a final settlement or determination. This must include the appeal, since one was filed.
Since there was no meeting of the minds with respect to the proposed settle-ment imposed by National, the appeal process should have gone forward. Instead the settlement devised by National was voted upon by the NEC body. Therefore, it is hard for me to agree with the procedures used at National in Baltimore.
As a point of order, I would also like to state we took great care to insure that fitness for membership was the sole issue at the adjudications, and that no issues to be determined by a judge in any civil court were used in the determinations made by the Department’s executive committee. The verdict and penalties were prescribed by 24 members of the California DEC, and were all unanimous.
People representing our Department are in contact with National at this time. It is hoped some resolution of this matter can be reached. As the Department is now working well with the new foundation board and director, we would also hope to work well with National and other departments so that our time and ener-gies can be directed at helping the veterans that need us.
I am now getting ready to attend the 20th anniversary of the Veterans Viet-nam Memorial in Sacramento. Happy new year! Let’s start the year out right by attending the DEC in Bakersfield Jan. 23 - 25 , by now all posts should have preregistered their two delegates and alternates.
THANK YOU!To the following donors who ‘stepped up to the plate’
in answer to help for AMVETS Department of California. Agustine Perez
Jack WalkerSteve Nichols
John H. SmithElaine Loerch
James E. Sisemore R.H. Perschnick Borghild Gray
Robert & MaryLou Basham Armand P. Marra
John Miranda Dick Hum Post 101
Post 101 Auxiliary
I will repeat over and over - we can make a BIG difference as members of AMVETS Department of California when we work together with each other and the new AMVETS Service Foundation. It is unfair to think that they won’t step up and work hand in hand with us and show that they care about supporting Veterans, when you haven’t even asked them for their support. I hope to have an update soon on some plans.
As mentioned above – I received one suggestion. That was for us to put in the Voice and spread this idea around any other way that we can eg. website, post newsletter, etc. Do you need a gift for the veteran who has everything? Then why not give a gift of a membership in AMVETS for their birthday or a holiday?
We are approaching the holidayseason now, so think about it. I just gave my son-in law a lifetime membership for his birthday. If you can’t afford a lifetime membership, why not give an annual membership? Give it a try! Let us all go forward to a bright future.
commander’s commenTsContinued from cover
1sT Vice commander's reporTContinued from cover
Vol. 12, No. � California AMVETS Voice—�
Together we will reach our five-year goal ... the veterans of California deserve nothing less!
The first step restructuring your Foundation began with the hiring of Mr. Marc Woods as the Chief Operating Officer (COO). Marc’s expertise is analyz-ing weak or failing corporations recommending solutions to regain viability. Next an interim Executive Director was hired, Mr. Doug Bradley. Doug is a lifetime member of AMVETS and was a Service Officer in the Los Angeles area for AM-VETS. Mr. Bradley comes highly recommended with a very impressive resume in corporate management. Together Mr. Woods and Mr. Bradley are currently hard at work developing the many programs; systems and guidelines to insure both our Department and Foundation are in compliance with all state and federal corporate laws. In addition much work has been completed updating the way we as AMVETS do business in California including talks with our business part-ners, reviewing contracts and all related details. Updating our computer soft and hardware systems to bring our business and accounting procedures into the 21st. century. Further, we are hard at work improving procedures and handbooks per-taining to our employee job descriptions and benefits to ensure we as AMVETS can maximize our service and benefits to the California veteran.
We have fully funded the Department of California. Your Department Ex-ecutive Board Finance Committee submitted their budget request to the Founda-tion for consideration. Much time and work went into ensuring your Department Budget was updated to a level of similar departments in AMVETS and other Veteran Service Organizations. The budget was approved by your Department of California Finance Officer and the request was submitted for 1.5 million dollars to the Foundation. The budget request was unanimously approved after careful consideration.
Commander Posey has tasked his Chief of Staff to contact all posts to submit budget requests to the Foundation. The response from the posts was alarming. Many posts replied by saying they were sick and tired of submitting requests, only to fall on deaf ears, never receiving a reason for rejection. Others simply never knew they were even eligible for funds from the Foundation.
Your Foundation Board meets once a month. I encourage all posts to submit your budget requests as soon as possible. Your board of trustees will consider all
budgets monthly. The sooner your requests are received, the sooner you will see for yourselves how your Service Foundation can assist you in helping veterans in your communities.
As your President I will promise you receive an answer to your requests in writing. Further Foundation meeting dates and times will be posted on our De-partment website: www.amvets-ca.org. I personally ask that you consider attend-ing to see you elected trustees at work. Our policy of transparency is not just “lip service”! Please make sure your requests are submitted 10 days prior to the scheduled meetings to ensure proper consideration is given to your requests. Also, please advise Foundations Headquarters in Anaheim (1213 S. Dale Avenue) if you plan to attend our meeting.
A totally new and innovative program has been funded by your Foundation in partnership with Chapman University in the state of California. This tremen-dously needed program will supply legal help to California veterans through the state” free of charge “! AMVETS Department of California is on the ground floor of this exciting program virtually assured to receive national attention.
Our reporting to AMVETS National Programs in the past 5 months has been quite astounding. With only 36 % of our posts reporting we have documented over 1.5 million dollars. Even though our percentage of post participation is not impressive, our total number of dollars is “outstanding”! To put this info into per-spective, California has already reported more than twice the money as the largest Department in AMVETS. We encourage you to submit your budget requests ... we will help you report to National and you will see just how easy this program works. The more we report here in California, the more we are recognized at Na-tional. For us to become the premier department in the country we must strive to have 100% post participation. Can you imagine the amount of help we can do for California veterans with all of our posts working together with 100% reporting!
In conclusion, there is much, much more to report of the exciting progress made by YOUR Department of California and Service Foundation. If you have any questions, recommendations or concerns, please feel free to contact your elected officers or me. Working together we will re-write the book on helping veterans in California!
NEWS FROM NATIONAL:AMVETS National HQ is planning a new member (annual or life) recruiting
campaign contest called “Green for the Green Hats.” The contest will begin Veterans Day and run through Memorial Day. The contest is open to “Green
Hats” only. Service officers, Department, District and National Officers are not eligible. For every 25 new (not renewals) members recruited during the above time period, the member will receive a gift card from either Bass Pro Shops or Home Depot. For example, if someone recruits 25-49 new members they will receive a $25 card. From 50-74 they will receive a $50 gift card, for 75-99 new members a $75 gift card and a $100 gift card for 100-124 members, etc. These prizes are in addition to any state or post contest and in addition to the national awards presented at the National Convention. Please note, the post will be required to track the member and the recruitment totals (a form is attached). In order to qualify for a prize the department executive director and the post commander will have to sign the attached document attesting to the fact that each of the new members was recruited by the person whose name has been submitted for a gift card. All paperwork must be post marked by June 5 for eligibility purposes. An additional award is also being developed. HQ is currently designing an Excellence in Recruiting challenge coin. This coin (along with a letter from the National Commander) will be presented to each and every member (not just Green Hats) who recruits five or more new (not renewals) members each year. The coin will have a different design each year. Again, the recruitment totals must be verified by the department executive director and post commanding officer (see attached form). This award will be in addition to program discussed above - of course anyone who recruits 25 or more new members automatically receives a challenge coin! One coin per member per year. All members are reminded to check the Directors Notes (membership tab at www.amvets.org) for current Membership information.
Foundation president's reportContinued from page 3
Our cOndOlences to the families of Pdc Howard dean
1st Vice Commande John Byrum (H) 562-492-6908 18030 Brookhurst St. PMB4 (C) 714-321-3972 Fountain Valley, Ca 92708 [email protected]
2nd Vice Commander Dennis Starkey (H) 909-355-1061 14808 Iris Drive (C) 909 827-5112 Fontana, Ca 92335 [email protected]
Northern Area Commander Thomas Johnson 530-357-3380 17669 Warwick Place Anderson, Ca 96007-9271 [email protected]
Central Area Commander Frank Guerra (H) 559-875-5353 1407 Richard Avenue (C) 559-960-3682 Sanger, CA 93657
Southern Area Commander Cephus R. Daniels 310-397-0810 12023 Allin Street Culver City, Ca 90230-5802 [email protected]
Finance Officer Phil Plascencia 559-686-8289 1586 Avila Dr. Tulare, CA 93274
Judge Advocate Chuck Kissel 714-484-9826 2856 W. Skywood Circle Anaheim, Ca 92804-9826 [email protected]
Provost Marshal Ben Aguayo 626-337-6152 16124 Calle de Paseo Irwindale, CA 91706
N.E.C. Man Filbert Bejarano 559-686-0335 1398 Coehlo Street Tulare, CA 93274
Alt. N.E.C. Man Gene Sustaita 559-686-9317 13902 Ave 228 Tulare, Ca 93274
Trustee S.E.B. Leo Simon 530-275-0574 4444 Fort Peck St. Shasta Lake, CA 96016
Trustee S.E.B. Baldemar Salmon 559-732-8923 3805 Colonial Dr. Visalia, CA 93277
Chaplain Tom Sarchipone 707-226-3978 3978 Alexander Street Napa, CA 94558
Executive Director Rose Blackman 559-688-3407 240 East King Avenue [email protected] Tulare, CA 93274
Issue Deadline
Vol. 13, No. 1 March 1 Convention Book April 1 Vol. 13, No. 2 June 1 Vol. 13, No. 3 September 1 Vol. 13, No. 4 December 1
Deadlines for Quarterly Submissions by Issue
Department Officers 2008-09
Vol. 12, No. � California AMVETS Voice—7
ATTENTION ALL POST COMMANDERS
& FINANCE OFFICERS: By Rose Blackman, Executive Director
Finance Officer Phil Plascencia and I have been in contact with the Ca. Secretary of State regarding AMVETS Dept. of Calif. suspended posts in the state. We have a current list of all posts that are active and those that
have been revoked and those who are suspended. Our review of this list has revealed that various posts are no longer in existence
or have been dissolved because of inactivity or noncompliance reporting. We will continue to contact the known posts to find out if they know that
they have been suspended by the Sec. of State for non-compliance. And offer our assistance to help them comply.
COMPLIANCE REqUIREMENTS: 1- All Posts have an IRS ID # (charitable), This is the EIN # that was issued to you when you applied for your post charter. 2- All Posts have a State Corporation # (charitable) from the Secretary of State. 3- All Posts must file a Statement of Information (Domestic Nonprofit Corporation) with the Secretary of State. 4- IRS Form 990 is required; Posts that make less than $25,000 MUST file electronically. 5- Franchise Tax Board form 199 must also be filed annually by all post. 6- If your post has been suspended or is not in compliance, please contact my office immediately.
VETERANS HELPING VETERANS
By David L. Diehl, Commander Post 66Palm Springs
AMVETS Post 34- NORTHERN CALIF.
In San Mateo County, our Veterans Employment Committee will provide transportation tickets and other help. Usually it is coordinated through the local EDD office. Michael Taylor is the current contact at (650) 802-5064.
There are two new County Service Officers but we don’t know their names yet. Otherwise, they will keep a list of request. Our local Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 464 also provides Safeway food certificates at the holidays. Our contact is President Leo McArdle (who is also the AMVETS Post 53 Commander). His cell is (6�0)303-�7��. DAV Chaper 16 in our area is another resource: Commander Mike Esposito is the contact. In the Santa Clara County area, the Palo Alto VA (650) 493-5000 can be contacted for the Homeless Emergency Shelter number, and for the Homeless Veterans Rehabilitation Program (HVRP) both housed at the Menlo Park VA Division grounds
AMVET Post 56- CENTRAL CALIF.
Transportation to Fresno VA, Mondays & Wednesdays, to the Tulare VA clinic, Tuesdays & Thursdays, call at least two weeks in advance of your appointment and leave a message and they will call you back.
AMVET Post 66-SOUTHERN CALIF
Our van goes to Loma Linda V A five days a week. We have flyers posted at various points around the Cochella Valley. This service is offered to all Veterans and we work closely with the Volunteer office at Loma Linda.
They can contact us either thru the V A @ 1-800741-8387 ext. 2071 or 2778. Or call me at 1-760-3�3-908�.
There are groups here in the valley that help feed the Homeless Veterans. They are located in Palm Springs and in the City of Indio. The Palm Springs group is called Well in the Desert. Not sure of group in Indio it may be the same.
Yountville PicnicPicture by Neil Remant
Sept. 13th, 2008 the annual picnic which is hosted by AMVETS was held at the Yountville Veterans home. Good food, good entertainment equaled a good time by
all in attendance. Some of the special guests in attendance were: State Cmdr Mel Posey, PDCs Leo Simon and John Reece and Concord Post Cmdr Steve Nichols. Members of Post 1990 and home volunteers, chaired by Mike Chiribel, organized and put on the luncheon. Dick Hum expressed his appreciation to AMVETS and the home volunteers for the enormous contributions and effort by so many who made the picnic and activities an outstanding event. Marcella McCormack (home administrator) expressed appreciation for funds from AMVETS Calif. Service foundation to support many programs at the Home. Programs such as the home’s newsletter “Grapevine” which is now in color and has increased it’s distribution; KVET-TV has been converted to digital mode, the Oral History project continues (collecting personal and military histories of the home members for their families and the Library of Congress; the “It’s Never to Late” program which brings the internet world to disabled and handicapped members.
Besides the picnic, the post and their auxiliary continue to work hard on their many activities, some of which are: support-ing their community (sending money monthly to a local low in-come school), our active duty (sending gift cards and appreciation cards) and veterans.
8—California AMVETS Voice Vol. 12, No. �
southern area commander’s reportBy Southern Area Commander Cephus R. Daniels
As the Southern Area Commander I was honored to participate in The Veterans Home of California-Barstow and AMVETS Post 311; Thirteenth Annual Veterans Day Celebration, Tuesday, November 11, 2008 in the
Main Dining Room. Veterans and their guests enjoyed a sumptuous prime rib & salmon dinner with all the trimmings. AMVETS were well represented. Guest Speakers were AMVETS State Commander, Mel Posey, and Brigadier General Dana J. H. Pittard, Commanding General of the National Training Center, Fort Irwin.
I would like to thank District 9 Commander, Moises Renteria for his gracious hospitality and allowing us to have a successfully Southern Area meeting at Post 1240-Fontana.
My fellow AMVETS, I am writing to apprise you, the voting membership of California, regarding recent events at our National Convention this past December 5th which have since become a hot topic of discussion
among our members about which much false information has unfortunately been circulating. As President of the Department of California Service Foundation, I am writing to set the record straight and tell you what really happened.
As most of you know, this past September 20, 2008, all twenty-four members of your Department of California Executive Board voted unanimously to sus-pend the membership rights of certain California members who formerly served as trustees for the Service Foundation. The primary reason for their suspension of membership was their illegal attempt to steal your voting rights over the Foun-dation’s board. The charges against them for conduct unbecoming an AMVET were properly served and the adjudication process was painstakingly followed by your Judge Advocate. They were all found guilty and their membership rights were suspended.
A number of weeks later, the suspended members filed appeals to National, as was their right under National’s Constitution and Bylaws, seeking to have their AMVETS membership reinstated. National does not review the merit of their suspension (meaning National does not review the Department’s finding of guilt), they only review whether proper procedures were followed at the adjudi-cation hearing and whether proper notice was given for the hearing.
Their appeal hearing was scheduled for December 5, 2008 in Baltimore, and your Department Commander, Judge Advocate, and legal counsel all traveled to Baltimore to attend.
A few hours before the hearing, our legal counsel met with National’s Judge Advocate and suggested that the hearing should be continued until after our state court lawsuit against the suspended members was resolved. This sugges-tion was proposed so as to spare National the embarrassment that would result if they voted to reinstate the members as AMVETS members in good standing for some “procedural issue” only to have a California Superior Court later find the members guilty of violating state law. The public’s perception would be that
AMVETS has no standard of integrity for its members and that would hurt the organization. Thus, postponing the hearing seemed like the best thing to do. In making this proposal, we (our legal counsel) understood the appellants would remain suspended unless and until their appeal was heard and a different result was handed down. National’s Judge Advocate suggested that we could make a motion for such a continuance at the appeal hearing.
In the hallway prior to the appeal hearing, however, National’s Executive Director informed us he had heard we reached a “deal” to continue the hear-ing until after the California lawsuit was resolved. We had not, but the lawyers from both sides promptly conferred and ultimately agreed to a continuance. We were then told to enter the hearing room so the agreement could be placed on the record. But once inside, National’s Judge advocate purported to recite the terms of the continuance wherein he indicated for the first time the appel-lants would have full membership rights until the hearing. Commander Posey vehemently disagreed, saying this was not what we discussed in the hallway. But National’s Executive Director said that, under National’s appellate rules, the suspensions were lifted automatically the instant the appellants filed their appeal. We continued to disagree, however, and were eventually all asked to leave the room.
We left the room and waited outside for the hearing to begin, but it never happened. Instead, after a few minutes, the Executive Director came out and in-formed us there would be no hearing, the committee had voted to continue the hearing and that the appellants would have membership rights in the interim, and that this would be the committee’s recommendation on the NEC floor the next day. We were all shocked, but if National’s Executive Director was cor-rect that the rules say an appellants’ membership is “automatically reinstated” when they file an appeal, then there was nothing we could do.
But as we confirmed later that day, National’s Executive Director was not correct, he was dead wrong. National’s CB&Ls on the rules for suspensions say
National’s Blunder inBaltimoreJames D. Pidgeon, PDC
Continued on page �
Vol. 12, No. � California AMVETS Voice—9
8th District Commander’s ReportBy Lewis Derfuss 8th District Commander
13 Sept AMVETS Annual Picnic at Yountville Veteran’s Home
AMVETS Post 101 Host. This annual event was again a great success and attended by posts throughout the Northern Area as well as Department leadership. Many thanks to Post 101 leadership and members as well as all the Post 1990 and other members
for all your hard work on this event. A Northern Area meeting followed the picnic. (Photos available by contacting Post 101).
19 Sept POW/MIA Ceremony Vacaville CAThis event again featured AMVETS Post 1776 Service Officer and AMVETS Service
Foundation Service Officer Richard Lowden as Master of Ceremonies. Several AMVETS Post 1776 members were in attendance including Leonard Augustine Vacaville Mayor, John Angier, Joyce Foster, Bruce Garland, Jim Daniels, Rocky Glucksman, and Lew Derfuss. Also in attendance were several former POWs their wives and surviving widow spouses. The Guest Speaker was Ex-POW from Korean War Retired Army Sgt. William C Marshall.
1 oct Tribute to seniors recognition Vacaville caLynn Jewel the wife of AMVET member Jeff Jewel was nominated by Lewis Derfuss of
Post 1776 and 8th District Commander and was selected as an Outstanding Senior Citizen. Lynn was accompanied by Lew in the recognition ceremony held at the Vacaville Community Center on 1 Oct 2008. This event also served as a fund raiser parking detail for the Vacaville Veterans. It was lead by Lewis Derfuss and manned by members of all the Vacaville Veteran Organizations
13 – 17 Oct North Bay Stand Down Dixon CASeveral members of AMVETS Post 1776 were an integral part on this event that included
year long planning meetings, set up on 13 Oct, the actual event on 14-16 Oct and clean-up on 17 Oct. Some of the AMVETS Post 1776 members involved include Richard Lowden AM-VETS Service Officer, Lewis Derfuss Staff member for Recovery Services, John Vasquez Solano County Supervisor, Leonard Augustine Vacaville Mayor, Elwood Wilkerson, Michael Esposito, Meleah Carrell, Bruce Garland,
9 Nov AMVETS Post 40 Renaming Ceremony Santa Rosa CAI was honored to attend the renaming ceremony of Post 40 to the Michael Ottolini Post 40.
This ceremony was headed up by the elected members of Post 40 Commander Jay Matthews, Adjutant Bud Simmons, Marie Artesse, and Chaplain Hattie. Honored Guest & Speaker was Brigadier General Gary Medvigy, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army’s Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), Ft. Bragg, N.C.First Sergeant Michael Ottolini of the Army National Guard’s 579th Engineer Battalion, a member of the California National Guard since 1979, was stationed at Camp Anaconda with other members of the 579th Engineer Battalion. Camp Anaconda is located 50 miles west of Baghdad. Sgt Ottolini, of Sebastopol, died on 10 November 2004 when an improvised explosive device detonated as he traveled in a Humvee in Balad, Iraq. Sgt Ottolini gave his all for his country and AMVETS Post 40 is honored and proud to bear the name of MICHAEL OTTOLINI AMVETS Post 40 of Sonoma County in his memory.
27 Nov Vacaville Veteran’s Free Community Thanksgiving DinnerThis event which is a joint effort of 6 Vacaville veteran organizations and 3 veteran organi-
zation auxiliaries was for the third year headed up by the 8th District Commander Lewis Der-fuss of AMVETS Post 1776. This event was lead off with two weeks of manning the Veterans Hall to accept phone calls from volunteer signups, accepting food and monetary donations. AMVET Post 1776 Chaplin Joyce Foster along with other Vacaville Veterans were helpful in this effort. This was followed by three days of food preparation cooking 42 turkeys, 40 hams and all the fixings. These efforts headed by our head cook Enrico and include the dedicated efforts of AMVET Post 1776 members John Angier, Elwood Wilkerson and Lewis Derfuss. These activities culminated on Thanksgiving Day when about 700 meals were served, deliv-ered or prepared for take outs. This effort lead by Lewis Derfuss entailed coordinating the efforts of about 180 volunteers who help in final food prep, serving meals, coffee, drinks and desserts, preparing and delivering meals to shut-ins and cleaning up pots and pans, tables and the hall.
nothing about reinstating membership rights when an appeal is filed, and because they are silent what happens while the appeal is pending is dictated by Robert’s Rules of Order. (National CB&Ls, Article X, Section 1.) So what does Robert’s Rules of Order say? “[F]rom the time the accused has been thus notified (of his sus-pension trial date), all of his rights as a member of the society ... are suspended pending disposition of the case.” Robert’s Rules of Order, (10th Ed.), section 61, page 637. National’s CB&Ls state regarding handling an appeal that “[n]o such procedure at any level ... shall be inconsistent or in conflict with” these rules. (National CB&Ls, Appendix B, Section 12.)
So National screwed up. They failed to follow the clear edict spelled out in Robert’s Rules which their CB&Ls say they must follow. Since the suspensions were not lifted by their mere fil-ing of an appeal, and since National had no authority to reinstate their membership rights without a hearing, we believe those sus-pensions are still in effect. We attempted to bring this error to National’s attention at the NEC meeting the next day, but unfortu-nately we were censored. In fact, the way in which National muz-zled us was entirely unprofessional and inappropriate. You should feel free to read the report from your NEC man or give him a call, as he will be happy to confirm the foregoing.
It is not too late for National to fix its error, and we will continue to reach out to the leadership at National in the hope they would “do the right thing” and follow the rules and proce-dures “ALL” members of this great organization are bound to fol-low. In the meantime, we continue to pray for a speedy resolu-tion to this issue and that the good name of AMVETS will emerge unscathed so we can continue the work of helping veterans. To-gether we will restore the Department of California and build it to be one of the premier departments in this great organization.
1st VICE PRESIDENT AMERICANISM OFFICERLinda Diaz Irene Cervantes, PDP136 Edenfield Ave 2645 BloomdaleAzusa CA 91702 Duarte CA 910109732-9732-9732 626-359-4625
2ND VICE PRESIDENT HOSPITALDebbi Johnson Jan Devenish17669 Warwick Pl. 18029 Broomall Ave.Anderson CA 96007 Lake Elsinore CA 92530530-357-3380 951-678-9468
3rd VICE PRESIDENT SCHOLARSHIPPat Martinez Gloria Sandoval427 S. Sunset Ave. 432 E. 2nd St.Azusa CA 91702 Azusa CA 917022809-2809-2809 626-334-5474 [email protected]
N.E.C. WOMAN RECORDING SECRETARYIrene Tellez, PDP Charlene “Charlie” Newell, PDP820 Meeker Ave. 3050 W. Ball Rd. #73La Puente CA 91746 Anaheim CA 928045829-5829-5829 714-226-0690 [email protected]
TREASURER CORRESPONDING SECRETARYRita Garcia Helen Blanchette, PDP4444 Hornbrook Ave. 12016 BartlettBaldwin Park CA 91706 Adelanto CA 923019510-9510-9510 760-530-0926
CHAPLAIN PARLIAMENTARIANMaria Moreno Hazel Hogan, PDP4536 Irwindale Ave. 34605 Orange St.Covina CA 91722 Wildomar CA 92595626-960-1774 951-674-9157
SGT. AT ARMS WAYS & MEANS CHAIRMANDolores Sanchez Benny Aginiga661 Keenan Ave. 13436 Palm Ave.Los Angeles CA 90023 Baldwin Park CA 917061611-1611-1611 626-338-6783
CREDENTIALS CHAIRMAN CO-CREDENTIALS CHAIREileen Hogan Maria Rodriguez20290 Midland 16058 Calle De PaseoSonora, CA 95370 Irwindale CA 917063071-3071-3071 626-814-3198
CONVENTION CHAIRMAN CO-CONVENTION CHAIRShirley Cullum Carol Smith18015 Concord Pl. 11420 Lee Ave. #40Adelanto CA 92301 Adelanto CA 92301760-246-6905 760-684-5382
SECRETARY: Doris Simon 1661 Deercreek Rd., Shasta Lake City, CA 96019
(563) 275-0574
Local Auxiliaries, cont.
president’smessage
By Michelle A. Scovil
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the women in the California AMVETS Auxiliary
for electing me their President for this year. I am truly honored to have your confidence in me for this position.
I am currently recovering from my knee replacement operation. I have been limited in regards of trav-eling as much as I would like to visit you in your posts. I have been able to visit AMVETS Post 113 in Irwindale for the change of Officers meeting. I have additionally visited the Mather Medical Center in the Sacramento area. By the time you are reading this information I will have attended the Sacramento Stand Down an the Yountville Picnic.
Throughout this limited travel, and past AMVETS meetings, I have become even more resolved to bring our AMVETS Auxiliary closer to-gether through my sincere efforts to bring harmony and teamwork to my executive board, and all Auxiliary members, in California. Therefore, my theme for my tenure is “Reach Across The Isle and Reconnect With an Old Friend in The Auxiliary”. We are here to support the California Department of AMVETS to our best ability.
Finally, I would like to cite a written comment from the Ameri-can Veteran Magazine Summer Issue submitted by Rolf J. Peterson. He wrote, “Remember fellow veterans, we are and were on the same team. If you are serving in a veteran’s orga-nization as an officer, you better be serving for those who are serving our country and those who have. We have enough self-serving people leading posts.” My concern is that some of our AMVETS members in California have forgotten this message.
Together we will advance our be-liefs with all AMVETS in our great state of California.
Veterans Advocacy
The Veterans Advocacy is an independent consulting advocate, assisting veterans with claims and appeals. The website address is
TheVeteransAdvocacy.com.I am a lifetime member of AMVETS Post 30
and a Viet Nam veteran. I am experienced in what I do and am well connected in the veteran’s area of services. Please contact me if I can be of assistance to you.
1�—California AMVETS Voice Vol. 12, No. �
programs reporting 1- You can report at anytime as long as you do it at least once in each
reporting period.
2- Reporting online gives you quick easy access to tracking what your post is doing in the community.
3- If you do not use internet, paper forms are available from Dept. Headquarters, please return them to me at least 2 weeks BEFORE the end of the reporting period so I can get them in for you.
4- If you can answer yes to the following question you can report it: ARE YOU HELPING VETERANS?
5- Report often! Reporting is used for legislation purposes!
6- Need help reporting? Contact Rose Blackman at ��9-688-3407 or by e-mail at [email protected] any Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 9 and 5.
Auxiliary ReportBy Eileen J. HoganAMVETS Auxiliary, State Credentials Chairman
Congratulations to Auxiliary #20 Adelanto, CA. They worked very hard to reopen their ‘burnt-out kitchen.’ Do take the time to visit their Post and participate in their celebration.
Registration reminder - all Auxiliaries Ladies, a new year has arrived and it’s time to sharpen your registration and voting skills both for the Spring SEC and our convention. Standing Rules & By Laws: Please remember that at our Spring SEC only two delegates from each auxiliary can represent their auxiliary. Alternates and guests are always welcomed. REGISTRAION fees: State officers & PDP’s…ONLY State Officers and PDP’s are exempt from registration fees. REGISTRATION: Delegates, Alternates & guests remain at $5 per person. Delegates & Alternates: Please have ready your current membership card and a completed registration form that has been dated and signed by your local President or Local secretary. No change is made at the registration desk. We accept either cash or check. The auxiliary would like to extend to all AMVETS their many thanks for participating in our raffles. We have so much to be grateful for. Our freedom has been a blessing from those who sacrificed so much today and all our yesterdays. Thank you veterans, everywhere.social studies From the web, author unknown
A social studies schoolteacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock did something not to be forgotten.
On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom.
When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks.
Ms. Cothren, “Where’re our desks?” She replied, “You can’t have a desk until you tell me what you have done to earn the right to sit at a desk.”
They thought, “Well, maybe it’s our grades.” “No,” she said. ‘Maybe it’s our behavior.’ She told them, ‘No, it’s not even your be-havior.’ And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom.
By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms. Cothren’s classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.
The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the desk less classroom, Martha Cothren said, ‘Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.’ At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in p lace those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.
Martha said, ‘You didn’t earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it’s up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don’t ever forget it.
By the way, this is a true story. Please consider passing this along so others won’t forget that the freedoms we have in this great coun-try were earned by U.S. veterans.
Vol. 12, No. � California AMVETS Voice—13
POST Reports
Here are some great ideas your post can do to help veterans and your community!
Post 2By Post 2 Commander Joe Juarez
Post 2 participated in a veterans Halloween community dance on October 25 and hosted the last bingo event at the West Los AngelesVA.
Commander Jurarez and AMVETS member Keith, were part of the Culver City Veterans Park Commit-tee. Commander also attended the Redondo Beach Veterans Day Memorial Event and Air Force Week
in So Cal Proclamation & Expo where he and other post members handed out AMVETS information at Hollywood and Highland (Kodak Plaza) and at the Wings Over Long Beach event.
Post 18 participated in a variety of Veterans Day activities
On Saturday, November 8, Ivan Ashbaugh served as the La Palma Days Parade band competition Reviewing
Officer. This was the 25th year of the La Palma Days parade, which has been proclaimed as the Official Orange County Veterans Day Parade by the Orange County Board of Supervisors.
On Sunday, November 9, an impromptu Post meeting was held at the Santa Ana Mc-Cormick’s and Schmick’s Sea Food Restaurant, where a delicious FREE meal was provided to all veterans in attendance. The McCormick and Schmick’s chain, nation wide, honors veterans on Veterans Day with the free dinners.
On November 11, Ron Lane led members of the California Historical group in a 21 gun salute to com-merate the opening of the Veterans Service Center and the ground breaking for the new American Veterans Park at the Los Alamitos Joint Armed Forces Train-ing Base. The Historical Group were dressed in uni-
forms from 1917 through Vietnam, with the corresponding rifles. Ron played Taps follow-ing the rifle salute.
In a non-related event (below), Legion of Honor member, Brent Nielson, carried the Post 18 “banner” and rifle to the state of Utah. His brother in law, a Marine in WWII and Chief of Surgery of “MASH” unit 8255 in Korea, passed away in Salt Lake City. Since there are no AMVET posts in Utah, he went there to provide the appropriate military hon-ors at the funeral. He was able to recruit an American Legion Post to do the main honors and his uniform and rifle matched theirs, so he fit right in with the team.
CA Post 19 remembers Beirut bomb blast; Also honors Police & Gold Star Mother
Post 19
Post 18
post 11On Nov 5th, the Post 11 honor guard took part
in a special flag ceremony at Whitethorn Elementary School as they dedicated their new flag pole. The post honor guard demonstrated the proper way to fold a
flag while Tom Pietila read what each fold of the flag means. They then presented the new flag to the school principle and presented 68 students from Whitethorn 4 x 6 inch flags and Americanism books with the history of the flag.
14—California AMVETS Voice Vol. 12, No. �
POST Reports
Here are some great ideas your post can do to help veterans and your community!
Post 20On Saturday, November 22, the
post held the grand opening of their post home at 17960
Adelanto Road, Adelanto, Ca. We would like to thank all members, volunteers and contributors in the rebuilding process of our post.
Post 22Veterans Day Celebration
Patriotism was high at this year’s 2008 Veterans Day Celebration in Visalia. One of the best, if not the best ever, sponsored by the Visalia Veterans Day Committee. At exactly the 11th Hour, 11th Day, 11th Month, the
Central Valley Community came together once again to honor it’s Veterans at the 9th Annual Visalia Veterans Day Celebration, Tuesday November 11th at the Fox Theater.
Even though is not a AMVETS sponsored event all of the Committee Of-ficers are Officers in AMVETS Post 22. Chairperson, Bob McNabb is Post 22’s Service Officer, Finance Officer, Bill Morland is Post 22’s 1st Vice Com-mander and Adjutant Dan Kelley is Post 22’s Judge Advocate.
This free two-hour celebration featured four slideshow presentations con-taining scenes from WWII, Korea, Vietnam and recent campaigns in the Global War on Terror. Each presentation was meticulously put together by Ellie Cook, a senior at El Diamante High School. The main speaker was Dr. Karen MacK-enzie, a Kaweah Delta Medical surgeon who is also a United States Air Force Reserve Major who presented an excellent slide presentation explaining her operating on critically wounded soldiers while in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Local talent has always been a must for this Celebration. This year singers included Alyssa Almaguer the 2008 Visalia Teen Idol, Vanessa Martinez and Steven Braswell the 2008 Visalia Teen Idol runner’s up and former Visalia City Councilwomen Wendy Rudy. For the past nine years Dance Arts which is owned by Theresa Vidak again performed a couple of wonderful numbers. Special Guest included Stan Carrizosa, Jr. the winner of the ABC and Disney productions, High School Musical: Get in the Picture. Rounding out the Cel-ebration was the Awards presentations where AMVETS own Bob McNabb was named Visalia Veteran of the Year.
Thanksgiving dinner
November 20, 2008 AMVETS Post 22 along with VFW Post 1864 held their Annual Thanksgiving Dinner at the Veterans Memorial Building in Visalia. Both Posts provided the meat and everyone that attended
brought either a side dish, a desert or drinks. As usual there were more deserts than side dishes but no one really seemed to mind! There was more than enough for everyone to eat. There were about 75 to 80 members & family in attendance. What made this year’s Thanksgiving Dinner even better than past dinners was that there were no paper plates and plastic utensils. The Visalia Veterans Memorial Building provided actual dinner plates and silverware.
Special guests were: family members, AMVETS Dept. of Ca. Executive Di-rector Rose Blackman and her husband Rod, Fresno Post 99 Commander Pete Molina, and Tony Pacheco (who is the AMVET Service Officer at the Fresno VA Hospital.
As a special bonus Post 22, 1st Vice Commander Bill Morland had ten local Foreign Exchange students from the local High Schools attend dressed in their countries traditional dress. They all were more than eager to help out and each one gave a wonderful 5 minute presentation on their particular country.
Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance Ceremony December 7, 2008
The Visalia Veterans Day Committee will host the Third Annual Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance Ceremony on Sunday December 7, 2008 at the “Greatest Generation,” World War II Mural which is located at
26572 S. Mooney Blvd, in the City of Visalia. Starting at 7:00 am those in attendance may honor their loved ones who served during this time in History with the tying of a symbolic Red, White & Blue Ribbon with your loved ones Name, Branch of Service and Home Town to the guard rail that surrounds this Mural. These Ribbons are a symbol to ensure that those members of the Armed Forces will never be forgotten. Each ribbon will remain attached to this Guard Rail until that evening at dusk. At that time a member of the Visalia Veterans Day Committee will collect each Ribbon to become a permanent part of the Committees Historical records.
At 7:30 am Minister Steve Paddock will give the invocation which will be fol-lowed by a Patriotic song by Tammie Weyker. At 7:45 am while a new 10’x19’ American Flag, 6x10 California Flag & POW Flag is being raised Tammie will sing the “National Anthem”. At exactly 7:55 am which is the exact time the sur-prise attach began in 1941 there will be the Firing of a Cannon by Dick Hover, DDS and a moment of silence. At 8:00 am we will be honored to participate in the Reenlistment of Petty Officer Danny Hernandez who is currently deployed onboard the USS Ronald Reagan. This will be the second US Navy Member to hold their Reenlistment at the “Greatest Generation,” World War II Mural.
Best of the Best , Holiday Concert, December 9, 2008
This year the Visalia Veterans Day Committee is sponsoring the first annual Visalia Best of the Best Holiday Concert. It is scheduled for 7:00 pm Tuesday December 9th at the Visalia Fox Theater. Performing
will be the Mt. Whitney High School Choir, the Golden West High School Choir, th El Diamante High School Choir, the Redwood High School Choir and the College of Sequoias Choir. For your entertainment pleasure each Choir will perform three separate musical selections that will certainly put you in the Holiday Spirit. Then to complete the evening each Choir will join forces to bring you a sound that is sure to be unforgettable.
Congratulations!
Vol. 12, No. � California AMVETS Voice—1�
POST Reports
Here are some great ideas your post can do to help veterans and your community!
Post 26On Tuesday evening, October 30th, members
of AMVETS Post 26 helped to welcome seven young Marines home from Iraq. The
Marines are members of the 4th Landing Support Battalion based in Concord, California. Following a four-day debriefing at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, the seven warriors headed home to California by commercial airliner. Upon landing at Oakland International Airport, the Marines were welcomed home over the airliner’s P.A. system. Simultaneously, two fire trucks used their water cannons to create an arch of water over the aircraft as it taxied towards the terminal. The Marines’ departure from the airport in two vans was escorted by a contingent of eight Patriot Guard motorcyclists. A short time later, the group arrived at the Concord Vet Center, where they
were greeted by a flag waving crowd of families and veterans. The Marines were enthusiastically welcomed home by all, speeches were made, and hamburgers and hot dogs were served. The returning heroes then headed home with their families. Post 26 members supporting the event included our resident post chef Mike Keppel, along with members Nathan Johnson, Denver Mills, Mirabella Youkhaneh, Ed Morris, and Gary Pforr. On Sunday morning, November 2nd, members of AMVETS Post 26 entered the Concord Vet Center’s Vietnam-era UH-1 Huey Helicopter in the Twelfth Annual Tri-Valley Veterans Day Parade in Pleasanton. The post is affiliated with the Concord Vet Center, which is operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide re-adjustment counseling and outreach services to
veterans having served in combat zones. The trailer-mounted aircraft was escorted to the parade by flag-flying motorcyclists of the American Legion Riders and Patriot Guard Riders, who also rode with the Huey in the parade. A high-powered sound system, added last year, projected music of the Vietnam War era out into the crowds as the Huey passed by. As always, the crowd cheered the Huey and gave it the thumbs-up.
Support for Walk of Honor in Crockett Post 26 members recently supported the 2008 Walk of Honor for Our Veterans held on November 8th in Crock-ett, sponsored by Conoco Phillips. Sponsored par-ticipants walked across the Carquinez Straits on the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge, then returned to a barbeque held at the historical ‘Old Homestead’.
Valentine Sweetheart Dinner & Dance Fundraiser
Saturday, February 14, 20096:30 p.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Visalia Veterans Memorial Building - 609 W. Center Street
“Back to the 50’s & 60’s”
Best Dressed Couple (Dinner for “2” at “The Depot”) $100.00 value
Music by the “Pete Ortega Band”Silent Auction
Dinner provided by A&N SpecialtiesNew York Steak, Scallop Potatoes, Green Beans, Green Salad, Rolls & Salsa & Chips
Tickets are @ $30/eachRSVP by February 6, 2009- No tickets will be sold at the door
Starting January 5, 2009 tickets are available at Valhalla’s Restaurant314 W. Center, Link’s Men’s and Women Wear, 115 E. Main in Visalia.
Also on Monday’s starting January 5, 2009 at the Visalia Veterans Memorial Building,609 W. Center St. between 11:30 am & 1:00 p.m.
Post 22, cont.
Congratulations!
16—California AMVETS Voice Vol. 12, No. �
POST Reports
Here are some great ideas your post can do to help veterans and your community!
post 34
Contributions will go to local veterans programs. The post’s UH-1 Huey he-licopter display was a real hit with kids and adults alike, many of which had their photos taken in the pilot’s seat. Post members Jim Oram and Ron Zach-ary ensured that kids climbed on safely while member Gary Pforr helped to set-up and man the Concord Vet Center’s informational table. As a result of the event, two new post members were recruited.
Veterans Day Ceremony in Concord Post 26 members Ron Johnson, Ron Zachary and Gary Pforr manned an AMVETS informational table at the City of Concord’s Veterans Day Ceremony. Following a speech by Congressman George Miller, post member Denver Mills spoke to attendees about current veteran issues, including re-adjustment services for vets returning from the middle east. Post members also handed out informational pamphlets for the VA’s Concord Vet Center to prospective clients, as well as parents of service personnel presently on active duty.
Post 26 members (left to right) Ron Zachary and Ron Johnson manned an AMVETS informational table at the City of Concord’s Veterans Day Ceremony held on December 11th.
AMVETS Post 26 members Denver Mills, James Oram, and Gary Pforr pause after preparing their UH-1 Huey for the Pleasanton Veterans Day Parade. Post finance officer John Lock passed
away on November 22, 2008. John was a former Post 34 Commander,
past Northern Area Commander and 2001 AMVET of the Year. He was the AMVET VAVS deputy rep at Ft. Miley VA. He served in the Army during WWII. Our condolences go out to his family and fellow post members.
Post 26, cont.
Post 40posT naminG ceremonY
On 9 November the post had a ceremony to rename their post to become the Michael Ottolini
AMVETS Post 40. First Sgt. Ottolini of the Army National Guard’s 579th Engineer Battalion, a member of the Ca. National Guard since 1979, was stationed at Camp Anaconda with other members of the 579th Engineer Battalion. Sgt. Ottolini, of Sebastopol, died on 10 November 2004 when an improved explosive device detonated as he traveled in a humvee in Balad, Iraq. Sgt Ottolini gave his all for his country and AMVETS Post 40 is honored and proud to bear his name. Honored Guest Speaker at the ceremony was Brigadier General Gary Medvigy, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army’s Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne), Ft. Bragg, N.C.
VeTerans’ daY parade
MICHAEL OTTOLINI AMVETS POST 40 proudly marched in its first Veterans Day Parade in Petaluma, which is the largest Veterans Day
Parade North of San Francisco! We were one of the leading contingents. We had two of our great supporters, Jackie Richey & Larry Gray leading with our banner, followed by our rifle bearers, Dennis Smith & Bud Simmons escorting our Flag bearer, Dave Richey. Following in the jeep (Hattie’s) was Hattie Stone, our Commander Jay Matthews (the driver) and our outstanding Judge Advocate, Marie Artesse.
Vol. 12, No. � California AMVETS Voice—17
POST Reports
Here are some great ideas your post can do to help veterans and your community!
post 53Post 53 is co-sponsoring a Christmas party, on
Dec 11th, for the Veterans-in-Transition at the Menlo Park VA facility along with the United
States Volunteers and the Cathedral of Faith from San Jose. We donate money to purchase food, bus
tokens, phone cards and other needs for these men and women and we sit with them just to talk and let them know we care. Post 53 has voted to sponsor Cub Scout Pack 565, Boy Scouts of America, Pacific Skyline Council, San Mateo County. This
sponsorship begins in January 2009. Pack 565 is located in the Menlo Park/Atherton area o San Mateo County. We look forward to a long relationship with them, helping to develop young men into the future leaders of our country.
post 56Post members were very busy with many activities during the last part of
2008. On 9/11 they participated in a blood drive with the Tulare Rotary and helped collect more than 800 pints of blood. Members of the post donated
stuffed toys to Child Protective Services to be handed out to children who are being put into foster care. These toys help bring a smile to the child during a stressful time in their lives. In addition to their many duties at funerals paying respect to our veterans who have passed on, the honor guard has been busy with other activities such as: posting colors prior to the opening race at Thunderbowl raceways in Tulare; this event helps to bring in some needed funds to the post. The honor guard took part in two veteran’s week parades this year; the first in Tulare on Nov. 8 (Manuel Toledo was grand marshal of the Tulare Parade), the second parade was in Porterville on Nov. 11.
They also attended several schools where they demonstrated the proper way to fold a flag and spoke about their experiences in the service. One such event is put on by our local high schools called “Veterans’ Appreciation day”. This annual event started by Post member Kent McNatt, takes place every year in November to help the students learn history from those “who have actually lived it”. The post with the help of the Tulare Rotary sent boxes of children’s books to Iraq so the service members could read stories on CDs to send home to their children. I just wanted to let you know that I received the books and blankets today. Thank you so much! I already got my dibs on the books I am going to read to my baby. TSgt Brown. Stella Usery donated a red, white and blue afghan that she crocheted for a raffle to help raise funds so the post could send more packages to our service members overseas. Member (and Dept. E.D.) Rose Blackman decorated several blankets with patches that thanked the troops for their service. The post bought the blankets after a request came from a unit in need of them. Thank you so very much for all of the packages that AMVETS have sent. The soldiers have really enjoyed the movies, blankets and other items. It certainly makes the time here pass more quickly, and it means so much to us to know that someone back home cares enough to send these nice gifts. Thanks again, and please tell all of your friends at AM-VETS that we truly appreciate everything that you have done for us. Matt Tallyn We also sent more than 300 Christmas cards to be handed out. The post held their annual Veteran’s day picnic serving hot dogs, hamburgs and the fixings to more than 200 veterans and their family members. The children enjoyed the Big Bounce that has become a new part of our picnic. Thanksgiving Day found many
members (under the direction of chairman PPC Charlie Ramos) cooking and serving dinner to more than 400 members of our community. This is an annual event going back more than 30 years. Members under the chairmanship of Phil Plascencia, helped the Salvation Army raise Christmas money by ringing the bell outside Meryvns. At the final meeting in Dec. we had our annual post Christmas dinner/ party for our members and their families, complete with Santa handing out gifts.
post 116By Commander Cephus R. Daniels
Post 116 meets every second Saturday of the month at 10:00 a.m. at a new meeting location AFGE Local 1061 Union Hall W.L.A. Medical
Center. If you need help getting to the meeting, please do not hesitate to call Commander, Cephus R. Daniels, at 310-463-6380. The Post continues to
host a bingo at the WLA VAMC nursing home every second Sunday of the month at 2:00 p.m.
Post 116 has successfully completed this year’s fishing program, providing a fishing experience to approximating 300 veterans, including wheelchair bound vets and 12 recently returning Iraqi Vets. We were honored to receive a Certificate of Appreciation
from the recently separated veteran program at the Village at Cabrillo.
Post 116 Women’s Coordinator, Ann Reeder, and Post 116 Ladies Auxiliary sponsored the Annual Women’s Veterans Conference. Ann Reeder, who is passionate regarding advocating for women veterans, was able to assemble an impressive array of speak-
Eric Campbell and Max Silva, cooks
18—California AMVETS Voice Vol. 12, No. �
POST Reports
Here are some great ideas your post can do to help veterans and your community!
Post 116, cont.ers. Post 116 sponsored a continental breakfast and the Auxiliary cooked and served lunch.
Post 116 donated three turkeys to our heroes at the Nursing Home Care Unit Buildings 213-215 at the W.L.A. Medical Center. Post 116 was honor to be able to participate in the serving of a delicious home made Thanksgiving Dinner.
Post 116 would like to
welcome two new life-
members, Mr. Randy
Bond and Jeff Buegel
to the AMVETS family!
Dept 1st Vice John Byrum, Ann Reeder, Frank Barkley (post 116 members) and George Barney Newell post 80 Commander.
Women Veteran’s Conference
Vol. 12, No. � California AMVETS Voice—19
Post 2813
POST Reports
Here are some great ideas your post can do to help veterans and your community!
Participated in a stand down on Oct. 11th, Sept. 14th the post sponsored and participated in the first annual Push Cart Grand Prix race that benefited the Community Action Agency of
Butte County. The Bingo Babes girled (manned) the push cart that was built by Commander Gene Clements and member Del Clements. John Thomas fertilizer helped with the construction of the cart frames (which were modified hand trucks). The Bingo Babes won the prize for the team most likely to make it to Hollywood. Bingo is held the third Sat. each month.
Post 922Post 922 attended the
ceremony when Tejon Ranch deeded property to
VA for the Bakersfield National Cemetery. Post Commander Cliff Pierce also attened the Dec. 7th groundbreaking ceremony. The post members continue to collect cell phones for our service members overseas.
COMMANDERS NOTE’S FOR NOVEMBER 2008
I want to express my thanks to the Officers and cadets of MarVista High School in Imperial Beach CA. I was and still am highly impressed with these young folks. Their appearance and conduct is remarkable and is reflected in
their grades at school. My thanks to Commander Doug Hatfield, Master Chief Strait and Master Chief Alberto for allowing their cadets to attend our meeting.We also had representatives of the AMVET Riders at the October meeting, and they gave a great presentation on the Rider group and their objectives. Anyone desiring to “RIDE” talk to Clarence Wright, our resident biker. BINGO DID WELL, $124.00 was turned in for the scholarship fund. Well done to the bingo committee.
Post 700 Post 1996Tom Johnson
This year the Enterprise High School JROTC came out in force to assist Tom Johnson (Tent erection Chairman) with the tent erection making it our best tent set up yet. The weather was nice and with the assistance of
many people we had the tents up in record time. AMVETS was the only VSO to have a Providers booth set up to offer any assistance to the veterans attending the Stand Down. Our booth was manned through out the weekend by myself, Pat Paternoster, Tony Perez, Leo P. Simon, Bill Silva and Debbi Johnson. We also had guests from AMVETS Post #1 attend and help us out in the booth. Department Auxiliary President Michelle Scovil and AMVETS Service Officer Roger Scovil were a great help in promoting AMVETS as was No. Area Chaplain John Neverkovac.
Leo P. Simon, Pat Paternoster, Tony Perez, Debbi Johnson ,Michelle Scovil
Since the Stand Down Post 1996 has taken part in a Veterans day parade and a large gathering at the cemetery
on Veterans day. The following day we honored 12 more veterans with full military honors at the Cemetery. In December we will be taking part in a wreath laying at the Cemetery. We will be laying a wreath at every grave in the cemetery. Last year it snowed the day we did it and left an absolutely beautiful tribute.
One last project that Post 1996 is working on is Honor Flight Nor Cal. Post 1996 along with several other Post in CA have adopted Honor Flight as a Post Project and will be working to help Honor Flight to fulfill it’s mission. The Honor Flight Nor Cal Board of directors is primarily made up of AMVETS from Post 40, 101 & 1996. Our primary goal at this time is to get our first flight out early in 2009. more info can be found at http://www.honorflightnorcal.org
�0—California AMVETS Voice Vol. 12, No. �
posT direcTorYnorthern area
POST 1 *** SACRAMENTO-- NORTHERN AREA
Contact & Commander: Bruce McBurnett (916) 392-31237215 Lindale Drive Sacramento, Ca 95828
MEETING TIME AND LOCATIONTHIRD THURSDAY EACH MONTH 1900 HOURS7215 LINDALE DRIVE SACRAMENTO, CA 95828
(916) 392-3123
POST 6***SAN JOSE ---NORTHERN AREA
Contact: Raquel Kubinski 408-420-2220 Commander: James D. Reese 408-226-5667
925 Franquette Avenue 6226 Shadelands Drive San Jose, CA 95125 San Jose, Ca 95123-4645 [email protected] Please send all correspondence to both Raquel and Commander Reese.
MEETING TIME AND LOCATION:4TH TUESDAY EACH MONTH 7:30 PM
1504 MINNESOTA AVE, SAN JOSE, CA 95125
POST 11***GARBERVILLE—NORTHERN AREA
Contact: Tom Pietila Commander: David P. Stevens(707) 956-9611 (707) 943-3472
• Legislative Action • State and National Publications • Local Post Activities • Community Service • Memorial Carillons • V.A.V.S. • Scholarships
EligibilityAll American Veterans who were honorably separated after September 15, 1940 or are now serving in the Armed Forces, National Guard or Reservists, are eligible for membership in AMVETS.
