charles a. conklin post #28 · sally kemme, membership chair post manager lori pulciani (616)...

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American Legion Post #28 Issue #1190 July 2020 Charles A. Conklin Post #28 Newsletter published monthly by Charles A. Conklin Post #28 of the American Legion P. O. Box 439 ~ 700 S. Harbor Avenue ~ Grand Haven, MI 49417-1743 ~ www.grandhavenlegion.org Legion Janet E. Fonger, Post 28 Commander [email protected] Jay Stevens, 1 st Vice Commander Julie Johnson, 2 nd Vice Commander TBD, Adjutant Cyndy Wierenga, Finance Officer Duane Smith, Chaplain Jack VanWeelden, Judge Advocate Hoyt Fonger (interim), Sergeant-at-Arms Dennis Siron, Historian Hoyt Fonger, Service Officer Garrett Veihl, Service Officer Chuck Potter, Executive-at-Large Jerry Toogood, Executive-at-Large Hoyt Fonger, Executive-at-Large Bob Wydeck, Past Commander Mike Zeef, Past Commander AUXILIARY Darlene DeHaan, President [email protected] Melanie Riekels, 1 st Vice Pres. Diane Janusch-Johnson 2 nd Vice Pres. Ginny Hebert, Secretary Michele Stetts, Treasurer Linda Gieske, Historian Pam Medendorp-Peck, Chaplain Barb Kelly, Sergeant-at-Arms Kathleen Edwards, Membership Sal Ross Berens, Commander [email protected] Hans VanHorssen, 1 st Vice Commander Charlie Chittenden, 2 nd Vice Commander T.L. Lowe, Finance Officer Al VanDam, Chaplain Charlie Chittenden, Historian Steve VanderWall, Sergeant-at-Arms Scott Kelly, Membership Paul Kubicek, Adjutant Jeff Warner, Past Commander Legion riders Gerald Keen, Director [email protected] Steve Barnes, Assistant Director Chase Kamhout, Sergeant-at-Arms Michelle Lucas, Secretary Larry Foose, Treasurer TBD, Chaplain Sally Kemme, Membership Chair post Manager Lori Pulciani (616) 842-5310 Hours: Mon. – Fri. 1pm – 10pm Saturday 12pm – 10pm Sunday 1pm – 7pm COMMANDER’S COMMENTS It is with a heavy heart I must share this information on the status of the election of Officers for Post 28. At the directive of the American Legion Department of Michigan, 5th District Commander, Dan Cooper, ordered an emergency meeting with all Post 28 Officers on June 24, 2020. During the emergency meeting, Commander Cooper read the determination letter from the Department Judge Advocate, regarding the Post’s election of Officers including the admonishment of “certain members”, who the Department believes, tampered with the election: A copy of the letter has been posted on the bulletin board at the Post for Members to read. Within 24-hours of the Department’s notification and directive including an investigation of the individuals alleged to have tampered with the election and squandered Post funds, several Executive Committee members resigned. The Department considered the resignations as a “mass form of retaliation” and thus notified the Post Commander that our charter was now under consideration for suspension or worse, revocation. What does this mean? If the Department suspended our Post’s charter, a management team from 5th District would be appointed to run our Post. This leadership team would make all decisions for the Post including programs, activities, and expenditure of funds. The Post would remain open, and all staff would retain their jobs. At any time during the suspension period the Post’s Charter could be revoked. If the Post charter were to be revoked, that’s it. The Post closes and the Department takes the Post’s assets. After receiving this devastating news, I was disheartened that “certain members” would ever place our Post charter in such jeopardy. Our Post belongs to the membership. Therefore, I immediately contacted officials and began working out a plan to keep our Post’s charter and good name. Discussions over a three-day period with the District and the Department to keep our charter were positive. A deadline was given by the Department to establish an Executive Board in order to move forward. As of this writing, an Executive Board is being formed, and I am hopeful this will end on a positive note, with our Post continuing to thrive in fulfilling our mission of “Veterans serving Veterans.” This will only occur; however, if acts of retaliation against our Post cease. Losing our Post charter is a very real scenario based on recent and past behaviors by “certain members”. For the sake of our Post and Post membership, retaliatory actions must stop. On a very positive note, our Post reopened on June 15th with half capacity restrictions and following COVID-19 guidelines as mandated in Executive Order 2020-114. The new kitchen is operating nicely with our new menu items and receiving rave reviews. As expected, the reopening under COVID-19 conditions is a learning curve for all. While a huge success, the reopening of our Post needs an A-Team of volunteers to facilitate kitchen and food service operations. Combining traditional Post 28 food items with contemporary offerings are in the current planning process. Yes, changes are occurring. However, those changes are resulting in revenue increases for our Post and Post 28 veterans and community outreach programs. We understand Post 28 meals help our family units too in generating revenues for their great causes. This too will return as soon as possible Continued on p. 2

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Page 1: Charles A. Conklin Post #28 · Sally Kemme, Membership Chair post Manager Lori Pulciani (616) 842-5310 Hours: Mon. – Fri. 1pm – 10pm Saturday 12pm – 10pm Sunday 1pm – 7pm

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1190July2020

Charles A. Conklin Post #28 Newsletter published monthly by Charles A. Conklin Post #28 of the American Legion

P. O. Box 439 ~ 700 S. Harbor Avenue ~ Grand Haven, MI 49417-1743 ~ www.grandhavenlegion.org

LegionJanetE.Fonger,Post28Commander

[email protected],1stViceCommanderJulieJohnson,2ndViceCommanderTBD,AdjutantCyndyWierenga,FinanceOfficerDuaneSmith,ChaplainJackVanWeelden,JudgeAdvocateHoytFonger(interim),Sergeant-at-ArmsDennisSiron,HistorianHoytFonger,ServiceOfficerGarrettVeihl,ServiceOfficerChuckPotter,Executive-at-LargeJerryToogood,Executive-at-LargeHoytFonger,Executive-at-LargeBobWydeck,PastCommanderMikeZeef,PastCommander

AUXILIARY

DarleneDeHaan,[email protected]

MelanieRiekels,1stVicePres.DianeJanusch-Johnson2ndVicePres.GinnyHebert,SecretaryMicheleStetts,TreasurerLindaGieske,HistorianPamMedendorp-Peck,ChaplainBarbKelly,Sergeant-at-ArmsKathleenEdwards,Membership

Sal

RossBerens,[email protected]

HansVanHorssen,1stViceCommanderCharlieChittenden,2ndViceCommanderT.L.Lowe,FinanceOfficerAlVanDam,ChaplainCharlieChittenden,HistorianSteveVanderWall,Sergeant-at-ArmsScottKelly,MembershipPaulKubicek,AdjutantJeffWarner,PastCommander

Legion riders GeraldKeen,Director

[email protected],AssistantDirectorChaseKamhout,Sergeant-at-ArmsMichelleLucas,SecretaryLarryFoose,TreasurerTBD,ChaplainSallyKemme,MembershipChair

post Manager

LoriPulciani(616)842-5310

Hours: Mon.–Fri.1pm–10pm Saturday12pm–10pm Sunday1pm–7pm

COMMANDER’SCOMMENTS

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ItiswithaheavyheartImustsharethisinformationonthestatusoftheelectionofOfficersforPost28.AtthedirectiveoftheAmericanLegionDepartmentofMichigan,5thDistrictCommander,DanCooper,orderedanemergencymeetingwithallPost28OfficersonJune24,2020.Duringtheemergencymeeting,CommanderCooperreadthedeterminationletterfromtheDepartmentJudgeAdvocate,regardingthePost’selectionofOfficersincludingtheadmonishmentof“certainmembers”,whotheDepartmentbelieves,tamperedwiththeelection:AcopyoftheletterhasbeenpostedonthebulletinboardatthePostforMemberstoread.Within24-hoursoftheDepartment’snotificationanddirectiveincludinganinvestigationoftheindividualsallegedtohavetamperedwiththeelectionandsquanderedPostfunds,severalExecutiveCommitteemembersresigned.TheDepartmentconsideredtheresignationsasa“massformofretaliation”andthusnotifiedthePostCommanderthatourcharterwasnowunderconsiderationforsuspensionorworse,revocation.Whatdoesthismean?IftheDepartmentsuspendedourPost’scharter,amanagementteamfrom5thDistrictwouldbeappointedtorunourPost.ThisleadershipteamwouldmakealldecisionsforthePostincludingprograms,activities,andexpenditureoffunds.ThePostwouldremainopen,andallstaffwouldretaintheirjobs.AtanytimeduringthesuspensionperiodthePost’sChartercouldberevoked.IfthePostcharterweretoberevoked,that’sit.ThePostclosesandtheDepartmenttakesthePost’sassets.Afterreceivingthisdevastatingnews,Iwasdisheartenedthat“certainmembers”wouldeverplaceourPostcharterinsuchjeopardy.OurPostbelongstothemembership.Therefore,IimmediatelycontactedofficialsandbeganworkingoutaplantokeepourPost’scharterandgoodname.Discussionsoverathree-dayperiodwiththeDistrictandtheDepartmenttokeepourcharterwerepositive.AdeadlinewasgivenbytheDepartmenttoestablishanExecutiveBoardinordertomoveforward.Asofthiswriting,anExecutiveBoardisbeingformed,andIamhopefulthiswillendonapositivenote,withourPostcontinuingtothriveinfulfillingourmissionof“VeteransservingVeterans.”Thiswillonlyoccur;however,ifactsofretaliationagainstourPostcease.LosingourPostcharterisaveryrealscenariobasedonrecentandpastbehaviorsby“certainmembers”.ForthesakeofourPostandPostmembership,retaliatoryactionsmuststop.Onaverypositivenote,ourPostreopenedonJune15thwithhalfcapacityrestrictionsandfollowingCOVID-19guidelinesasmandatedinExecutiveOrder2020-114.Thenewkitchenisoperatingnicelywithournewmenuitemsandreceivingravereviews.Asexpected,thereopeningunderCOVID-19conditionsisalearningcurveforall.Whileahugesuccess,thereopeningofourPostneedsanA-Teamofvolunteerstofacilitatekitchenandfoodserviceoperations.CombiningtraditionalPost28fooditemswithcontemporaryofferingsareinthecurrentplanningprocess.Yes,changesareoccurring.However,thosechangesareresultinginrevenueincreasesforourPostandPost28veteransandcommunityoutreachprograms.WeunderstandPost28mealshelpourfamilyunitstooingeneratingrevenuesfortheirgreatcauses.Thistoowillreturnassoonaspossible

Continuedonp.2

Page 2: Charles A. Conklin Post #28 · Sally Kemme, Membership Chair post Manager Lori Pulciani (616) 842-5310 Hours: Mon. – Fri. 1pm – 10pm Saturday 12pm – 10pm Sunday 1pm – 7pm

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1190July2020

COMMANDER’SCOMMENTScont’d.

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giventhecurrentCOVID-19context.Post28membershipmeetingshavebeenonholdduetotheGovernor’sExecutiveOrdersregardinggatheringsandsocialdistancing.OurPostisclassifiedinRegion2asdefinedbytheGovernorwhichhasnotyetmovedintoastageoflessrestrictionsthansomeotherRegionsinMichigan.OurRegioniscurrentlyinStage4oftheGovernor’sCOVID-19gatheringsandsocialdistancingrestrictionswhichmeanswecannotholdamembershipmeeting,justyet.Only10peopleorfewermaygatherinthePostformeetingswithsocialdistancingof6-feet,required.MyunderstandingiswhenourRegioniscategorizedasStage5;wewillbeabletoholdamembershipmeeting.PleaseunderstandourPostoperationsandfunctionshavebeencompletelythrownoffbytheCovid-19pandemic.Yourpatienceandunderstandingisgreatlyappreciatedandneeded.IfyouareaPost28Legionnaireorfamilyunit(SAL,Auxiliary,orRiders)memberandinterestedinvolunteeringatyourPost,pleaseemailorcallthePost.Yourhelpwillbegreatlyappreciatedandwillhelpkeepourveteransandcommunityprogramsthriving.Ingratitude,CommanderJanet

OPERATIONKP

Leonard&WandaAndersonRandy&AbbyCrowTom&CathieSherwoodChristineHolstromPhillip&HelenVannoyFloydMorrison

TheOperationKPFundraisingCommitteethanksthefollowingdonors,aswellasseveralanonymousdonors,fortheirsupportofthePost’sKitchenRenovationProject.

PhotoscourtesyofChrisPetras

Page 3: Charles A. Conklin Post #28 · Sally Kemme, Membership Chair post Manager Lori Pulciani (616) 842-5310 Hours: Mon. – Fri. 1pm – 10pm Saturday 12pm – 10pm Sunday 1pm – 7pm

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1190July2020

Greatnews…..SummerishereandthePosthasre-opened!ThenextSALmeetingisscheduledforJuly6@7:30.WewillbediscussingfutureeventsandtheimpactoftheCoronavirusgoingforward.Pleasebringyourmasks.Wewillbepracticingsocialdistancing.Ihopetoseemanyofyouatthemeetingaswegetbacktosomewhatnormalcy.TheSALGolfOutingdateisAugust22.RegistrationformsareavailableatthePost.ServingVeteransandtheCommunity RossBerens,SALCommander

SAL AUXILIARY

TheRidershavebeenmeetingandusingtheZoomwebconferencingservice.WerodeforGrandHavenandSpringLake,bothonMemorialDay.WehadaPoliceledmotorcadefromthepost,touringthroughbothcities,seeingmanypeopleandafewpets.WewereabletorideintributetoseeJimLandandLt.ColBaronbytheirhomes,too.Weaddedacouplenewmembersalso. Post28LegionRidersDirectorGeraldKeen.

LEGION RIDERS

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Julyisamonthofbeautifulweather,summerfunandvacations!Ihopeallofyouareenjoyingthistimetorejuvenateandenjoytimewithfamilyandfriends!JulywillbeverydifferentforthePostandforAuxiliarywiththecancellationoftheCoastGuardFestival,aswellastheongoingimpactofCOVID-19oneverything!Wewillletyouknowassoonasweareabletostartmeetingagain...maybeAugust?????Aboveall,IhopethatallofuswillcelebrateIndependenceDaywitharenewedsenseofpatriotismandappreciationforthosewhofoughtanddiedforthisgreatcountry!ThefreedomsthatweholddearcanNEVERbetakenforgranted!ThismonthIwouldliketohighlightanotherfamiliarfaceofAuxiliary,andsomeonewhohasbeenafaithfulandvaluablementortomeduringmyfirstyearasUnit28President.KathleenEdwardshasbeenanAuxiliarymembersince2013,andhastirelesslyvolunteeredforourAuxiliaryinsomanycapacities.Thisincludesplanningandservingatcountlesseventsanddinners,coordinatingvolunteersforevents,servingasourUnit28Presidentforthreeyears,andmanagingmembershipofourunitofmorethan1600members.ShewasalsoinstrumentalindevelopingtheMembershipmanualwithLarryLambertandScottKelly.ShealsohasandcontinuestorepresentusattheDistrictandDepartmentlevels.ItissafetosaythatshelovesAuxiliary,whatwestandfor,andwhatwedo.ThisisKath'sstoryinherownwords. DarleneDeHaan,AuxiliaryPresident&PRChair

SpotlightontheAuxiliary"Mygreat-great-grandparentsimmigratedfromDenmarkandGermanyinthemid-1800's,andtheyeventuallysettledinNebraska.Fateknitthreemoregenerationstogether,andmyparentsweremarriedin1952whilemyfatherwasintheArmy.IwasborninNorthPlatte,Nebraska.Manyyearslater,Ilearnedabout“TheMiracleoftheNorthPlatteCanteen”duringWWII.MorethansixmillionGI'spassingthroughontrooptrainsmadeabriefstopforcamaraderieandamealservedbycommunityvolunteers.Theycookedandbakedandservedallday,everyday,forfiveyearstogreetthoseGI'sgoingtowar.Mygrandmotherwaspartofthatamazingstory.Myfather-in-law(alsoanArmyveteran)wasamemberofAmericanLegionPost64inFlint,Michigan.MyhusbandandIhadouroutdoorweddingtherein1977.Oursearchforahappyretirementplace35yearslaterledustoGrandHavenin2012.FriendstookustoAmericanLegionPost28,andwedecidedtobecomememberstohonorbothofourfathers'ArmyserviceduringtheKoreanconflict.Soon,Iwasanxiousto“giveback,”andvolunteeredtohelpwithAuxiliarymembership.Iwaswelcomed,andmentored,byphenomenalwomenwhohadbeenleadingourAuxiliaryUnitformanyyears(AnnKammeraad,CleoPhipps,RuthKelly,MyrnaPuse,MicheleStettstonameafew).AsIlearnedandmanagedmembership,IalsofoundoutthereissomuchtolearnabouttheAuxiliaryanditscommitmentto“Service,notself.”ThreeyearsasPresidentweretremendously

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challengingandrewardingatthesametime.I'mgratefulforthesupportofourExecutiveCommitteeleadership,asweaccomplishedsomuchtogether!IalsohadthephenomenalexperienceofbeingamemberofthePost's2017PatriotDayCommitteeandthe2018CentennialCelebrationCommittee.OurAuxiliaryUnit'smembershiphasdoubledsince2011,butalargepercentageofannualduesgoestothestateandnationalAuxiliary.Whatwekeeplocallyissupplementedbyvolunteerhoursandfundraisingtokeepourprogramsstrong.LookatourLeadershipBooklettoseeourmanyprogramsandimagineourimpactonthePost,Community,andState.OurGirlsStateprogramisabsolutelylife-changingforyoungwomen.Badlynicknamed“governmentcamp,”thehighschoolgirlswesponsoralwaysreportwhatanamazingexperienceitis!Theyaredestinedtobeourfutureleaders.OurPostisblessedwithits“milliondollarlocation,”andenticingtomembers.Whilewesocializeandenjoytheview,it'seasytoforgetourpledge:“ToparticipateinandcontributetotheaccomplishmentoftheaimsandpurposesofTheAmericanLegion.Toconsecrateandsanctifyourassociationbyourdevotiontomutualhelpfulness.”Myhopeisthatthe2020Pandemichasremindedeveryonewhatistrulyimportantinlife,andthatmorememberswillgetinvolvedinourPost'sactivities.Wehavesomanyveteranstohonorandprogramstosupportthem!"

Page 4: Charles A. Conklin Post #28 · Sally Kemme, Membership Chair post Manager Lori Pulciani (616) 842-5310 Hours: Mon. – Fri. 1pm – 10pm Saturday 12pm – 10pm Sunday 1pm – 7pm

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1190July2020

Around The Bar

Honor guard

Commander’sCommentscont’d.

WereopenedJune15,2020.Everythinglooksalittledifferent.Weareathalfcapacity,adheringtosocialdistancingincludingontheupperandlowerdecks,askingthatallmemberswearmaskswhilenotatatable,notmovingtablesandchairsandallofourbartendersarewearingmasks.LookslikepizzaswillbebackbyJuly!Alsoforthoseofyouwhoenjoyadrinkontheupstairsporchordeck,wewillhavetheupstairsbaropendailythroughthesummer.Bartendersarechangingaswell,wesaygoodbyetoKaleenaandChelsea,bothhaveleftusformanagementopportunities.Greatnews,Richie,CJandMaryarestillmixingyourfavoritedrinks.ForthoseofyouwhohavebeeninthePostyoumayhavealreadymetsomeofournewbartenders,ifnotstopin,say“hi”andmeetJudy“HeyJude”,Brandon,MissyandMatt.I’msureyouwillenjoygettingtoknowthemandenjoythenewenergytheybring.Lori,PostManager

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Ifyouknowofanyonewhoshouldbeaddedtothislist,orwouldbenefitfromacallfrommeastheirChaplain,pleaseletmeknow@[email protected],or616.502.1555.InHisandYourService,Duane"Smitty"Smith,ChaplainGeorgeBryant,WalterPedersen,Jim“Jimbo”Land,GeorgeBennett,CharlesDavis,KenKelly,CarlKuzyk,MikeEy,JimVetteandallofourLegionfamilywhoaremourningthepassingoflovedones.

SICK CALL

TheRide

rs

Memorial

DayRide

MemorialDay2020WhilethecommunityobservanceofMemorialDaywasgreatlyreducedbecauseofCovid-19issues,theHonorGuardofPost28honoredthelong-standingtraditionofplacingflagsonVeterans’gravesburiedinourlocalcemeteriesinobservanceofMemorialDay.Post28Guardonceagainfulfilledourcommitmentevenwhileundersocialdistancingrules.Restrictedto10members,ourHonorGuardplacedwellover400flagsonfinalrestingplacesatLakeForestCemetery.OrganizedbyPastCommanderDaveMacKellar,membersoftheHonorGuardmeton21May,awindyThursdaymorningpriortoMemorialDay,tohonorourfallenveterans.

PastCommandersRayRibbinkandDaveMacKellerprepareflagsforvolunteers.

PastCommanderJimPorentaandRifleTeammemberHaroldWeaverplaceindividualflagsintheirassignedarea.

Mike,CourtneyandJunior(SALmember)MichaelThurberquicklycovertheirassignments.

Page 5: Charles A. Conklin Post #28 · Sally Kemme, Membership Chair post Manager Lori Pulciani (616) 842-5310 Hours: Mon. – Fri. 1pm – 10pm Saturday 12pm – 10pm Sunday 1pm – 7pm

AmericanLegionPost#28 Issue#1190July2020

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Now,morethanever,ourveteransneedyoursupport.PleaseconsidermakingadonationtotheAuxiliary’sPoppyFund.Onehundredpercentofyourdonationssupportveterans,activedutypersonnel,andtheirfamilies.MAILinadonationto: PAYONLINE,anytime,withacredit/debitcard,at:ALAUnit28 https://www.americanlegiongh.orgATTN:PoppyFund clickontheINFOmenu,selectDONATE,700S.HarborDr. thenchoosePOPPYPROGRAM. GrandHaven,MI49417(CheckspayabletoALAUnit28) Thankyouforyoursupportofveterans.

PleaserefertothePost’sFacebookpageforcalendarupdates@

https://www.facebook.com/pg/veteranswithacause.org/posts/?ref=page_internal