POT
SHOTJanuary 2008
Commander’s Corner
Linvel Phillips 983-5410
To all Comrades and Sisters, Happy New Year to all of you, and I hope that this finds you and your families heathy and happy.
It is evident that my last message went unread or was not considered. I must again take this opportunity to remind
all of you of the purpose of all VFW Posts.
The VFW Posts, including our own, are for the support of Veterans and the community. The VFW exists for and serves
the betterment of the Veterans and the community. Some of the main supporters are and always have been our families
and spouses, and we must strive to make the VFW Post a welcome place for them to come to, and to continue that support.
We must make the Post a comfortable place to bring our families and acceptable, assessable and enjoyable for new members
and other guests. Most of the members want a quiet and relaxing place to have a drink and have comradeship with each other.
Let us not forget that this Post is not a place for partying for the benefit of a few and at the detriment of all others. If we can
remember these thoughts, maybe more of our lady friends and families will feel more comfortable and welcome here.
Please consider these words when you visit our Post. Thank you.
Senior Vice Commander
William Heilmann 802-5271
The Holiday season is upon us once again. Christmas Cheer and a Happy New Year to you all. I hope that you will find some
time during the Holidays to remember our men and women in military service and their families.
If you’re not busy on Christmas Day, and you’re looking for someplace to go, why not stop by the Post? Nothing special is
planned just a quiet day, and friendship for anybody who drops in.
Don’t forget our New Year’s Eve party! Friendship…champagne…dancing to live music…feasting on prime rib…party hats…
what more could you want? Stop by the Post canteen, and pick up your tickets soon.
VFW Objectives
To ensure the national security through maximum military strength.
To speed the rehabilitation of the nation’s disabled and needy veterans.
To assist the widows and orphans and the dependents of disabled and needy veterans.
To promote Americanism through education to patriotism and constructive service to the communities in which we live.
Junior Vice Commander
Jerry Mason 989-1378
It is that time of year again when a lot of us will be with family and friends during the holidays; lets all have a joyful and happy holiday season.
We started out with a bang with a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner; thank you Sam and Rich Harnack, as usual you put on one great
Thanksgiving day dinner. Also I extend a thank all of you who helped prepare the food, set up tables, and run errands; in other words,
thanks to everybody that helped. I think most of us will be with family on Christmas day, but lets keep in our hearts a special prayer for
those veterens that don’t have anybody to share the holidays with. We do have a New Years party, so I hope to see you all there.
Linvel and Nina Phillips will be cooking prime rib and Dottie and her crew will do the decorating, I know a good time will be had by all.
Happy holidays to all of you
Chaplain
John Huiting 962-7456
Pearl Harbor survivor, Bill Stockbury passed away 11/26/07. Services were at Mount Vernon on 12/7, the Post sent flowers.
Also Quintin Murer is in a rest home recovering from a fall. Another old time friend of the Post, Kim Mock passed away on
November 22. They will all be missed.
If anyone knows of any member who is in the hospital or is sick, please let me know. You can reach me at the telephone number
above or leave a message for me at the Post.
God Bless!
Voice of Democracy and
Patriot’s Pen
George Gridley
The Post had six entries into the Voice of Democracy speech contest. All six were from Bella Vista High School .
The judging committee was: Dottie Beirn representing the Ladies Auxiliary, Mrs. Edie Martin, a Retired Teacher,
and George Gridley Committee Chairman. The winner was Rachel Wilson from Bella Vista High School .
She is a Senior at Bella Vista. The interesting item is she was second last year and this year she placed first.
She has received a $200 dollar check from the post and her speech has been forwarded to the District for
further judging. All students who entered the contest received a 20 dollar credit card at Barnes and Noble Bookstore.
For the Patriot’s Pen essay contest we had 49 entries, 45 from Andrew Carnegie Middle School and four from
Folsom Middle School. With this number we are able to submit four forward to District for further judging.
The four whom the judges rated as the best were from Andrew Carnegie Middle School . The four submitted forward to District are:
Connor Burke, Karah Kingsbury, Sina Miranda and
Nicholas Mosbaugh. All the essays were judged to be superior. The decision was a very close one and difficult to decide
and this gave the judging team some difficulty. The four top winners each received a $100 check from the post and all 49
contestants received a $20 credit card at Barnes and Noble Bookstore.
This completes the 2007 Voice of Democracy and the Patriot’s Pen competitions for the Post. Next year we are hoping
more schools will be able to participate. There are many students who have the capability to write and speak at the highest
levels of the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen. The new themes will be announced in February and the schools will
all receive notification about the new contest, entry forms and the themes. We also have opening for submitting a Teacher
of the Year. Again the school Principals and active teachers will be notified.
President, Ladies Auxiliary
Irene Sidhu 965-7202
Dear Sisters:
We had a very nice meeting last month. Hope to see more of you ladies again soon. it made me really happy.
By the time you read this we will have had our adult party Dec 14th. we will have the dining room decorated nicely for your enjoyment .
Then Feb.15 we will have a valentine party, so come on down and enjoy a good dinner and dance.
It was so great to see so many of you here at early bird dinner. Try and come back and see us again.
Kitchen Corner
Irene Sidhu 965-7202
I'm doing a good job, because no one has come to me to complain about the meals or the service. we are here to serve all of you. SO COME TO THE KITCHEN AND TALK TO ME.
Chaplain, Ladies Auxiliary
Terri Collette 773-0422
For the remainder of the year, I am the New Chaplain. We have lost a Sister or two, hopefully we won’t lose any more. The holiday season is over and we start a New Year. Let’s try to stay well. I also would like you to keep me in mind when a Sister is not well, in the Hospital or has Passed Away.
“We’ve be caught up in the “Busyness” with deadlines to be met. We’ve had our engines set on high and our schedules firmly set. Thank you, God, for showing us what we’ve forgotten and how to do….spending time alone with family and taken time for you.” Jull Lemming.
American Legion Commander
William Heilmann 802-5271
Another year has nearly run its course, so we stand the watch for a new year. A heartfelt Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you. Let us hope that our men and women in uniform may find a spark of holiday joy as they stand their watch at freedom’s gate.
Our VFW 6158 friends are hosting a New Year’s Eve party. The champagne, dancing to live music, and prime rib feast will assure us all of a grand time, to be sure. Stop by the Post canteen, and pick up your tickets soon.
The next general Post meeting will be on Tuesday, 22 January 2008. We are planning to have a CASH drawing at each monthly meeting. The Executive Team is still working out the details, but one rule will definitely be in effect – you will have to be present at the meeting to win. Stay tuned for further details….
Jerry Vargas can no longer continue as our “Head Cookie” in the kitchen. How about stepping up as Jerry’s replacement? You’ll have helpers, but we need you to lead the team and manage the effort. Our monthly dinners and occasional breakfasts are a small but important source of income for our Post.
Our Post will host the American Legion District 6 meeting on Sunday, 9 March 2008. We need several volunteers to help set up, prepare a lunch for 70-80 people, and clean up. I’m listening…is anyone volunteering?
We are still in need of a permanent Post Adjutant. A well-organized individual could get the job done without much effort at all. Please consider volunteering to become our Post Adjutant.
There will be a Flag Retirement Ceremony and family picnic in the spring or early summer. We hope to be joined by the AL Riders, Young Marines, VFW, and VFW Auxiliary. Somebody needs to plan and carry out this event. Won’t you consider helping out?
We are looking for solutions to three significant problems that our Post faces: (1) Poor attendance at meetings, (2) lack of volunteerism, and (3) low recruitment. If these problems persist, then the result should be obvious to you. Plan to attend the January meeting and contribute your ideas for ensuring the future of Post 383.
Finally, be sure to visit our Post web site (www.al383.org) on a regular basis…it’s a great way to stay informed.
Just a Bit of Military History
“I now know why men who have been to war yearn to reunite. Not to tell stories or look at old pictures. Not to laugh or weep. Comrades gather because they long to be with the men who once acted at their best; men who suffered and sacrificed, who were stripped of their humanity. I did not pick these men. They were delivered by fate and the military. But I know them in a way know no other men. I have never given anyone such trust. They were willing to guard something more precious than my life. They would have carried my reputation, the memory of me. It was part of the bargain we all made, the reason we were so willing to die for one another. As long as I have memory, I will think of them all, every day. I am sure that when I leave this world, my last thought will be of m family and my comrades…Such good men.”
…Author Unknown…
Submitted by Jack Whitfield USMC
Post 6158 T-Shirts
As some of you are aware, T-Shirts were made promoting your Post; above is an example of what the Post T-Shirts look like. The flag is present, across the top is “Fair Oaks VFW 6158,” and across the bottom is “We Support Our Troops.” The shirts are a fundraiser for the VFW and the Ladies Auxiliary and sizes range from adult small to 3X large. We also have some tank T-Shirts. All are $15 each. Once the T-Shirts are gone, we will possibly look into other apparel items to fulfill our fundraising needs. Thank you for supporting your Post.
HALL RENTAL
Your Post has two Halls that are available for rentals
Members get reduced rates.
Weddings - Receptions - Birthday Parties
Anniversaries - Fund Raisers - - Meetings
Club Functions
Bar.....Kitchen Facilities....Stage...
Wi Fi available
Ample Parking
Picnic/Barbecue area
Large hall seats 113-242
Dining/Meeting room seats up to 75
For Reservations, Call Don Williams
(916) 966-1663