American Legion Post 0240 Newsletter · August 2019 Volume 1, Issue 7 American Legion Post 0240 Newsletter COMMANDER’S CORNER So, we are now in the dog days of August. Every day

August 2019 Volume 1, Issue 7

American Legion Post 0240

Newsletter

COMMANDER’S CORNER

So, we are now in the dog days of August. Every day is hot,

steamy, and even walking to the mailbox can be a sweat-

inducing slog. But, unlike those poor souls up North, we

have the beaches, the Gulf, and most importantly, our Post

and its Eagles Lair Lounge. Our lounge is air conditioned,

roomy, filled with music on the jukebox, with televisions

tuned to sports and more, and it does not run out of cold

libations.

This Summer we have a few interesting events are under-

way to replace others that went on hiatus until Fall returns.

To start, the Lounge is experimenting with Karaoke on Sat-

urday nights at 1900pm. We already have Karaoke on Fri-

day nights, and now the tunes are flowing on Saturdays too.

Karaoke replaces live bands for the Summer as bands can

be quite expensive and are not as well attended during the

Summer months. There’s also an Italian Cook-off coming

to the Lounge on August 10th at 1700. There will be prizes

I hear for the Best-In-Show for: Appetizers, Entrees, and

Desserts. I do like pasta!

Did you know the AL Riders are operating the Rider’s Grill

on Tuesdays. These Taco Tuesdays start at 1700 and seem

to be picking up quite a following – and no wonder, they

are priced right at a dollar a taco! The Riders are also pre-

paring to begin Meat Bingo nights on the first Saturday of

the month beginning next month on September 7th. If you

don’t know what Meat Bingo is, think Bingo with butcher

(Continued on page 4)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Commander’s Corner .............. 1

1st Vice’s News ........................ 2

2nd Vice’s News ...................... 2

3rd Vice’s News ....................... 3

Chaplain’s Report ................... 4

Lounge News .......................... 4

House Committee News ......... 5

Historian’s News and Notes ….5

Ladies Auxiliary News ............ 6

SAL & Legion Riders News ..... 6

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST

Post Elections for 2019/20 ...... 2

Contact Us ............................... 3

Bingo ....................................... 4

Event Hall Rental ................... 5

Mark Your Calendars .............. 7

Sally’ J’s Kitchen ..................... 7

Sally J’s Kitchen Menu …...…...9

Post 240 Calendar ….………….10

8666 Gulf Beach Highway Pensacola, Florida 32507

Phone: (850) 455-6111 E-mail:

[email protected]

FIRST VICE COMMANDER’S NEWS S. 504:

LET EVERYONE GET INVOLVED IN OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIONAL

SERVICE ACT

In a significant legislative victory for The American Legion, President Trump signed a bill July 30 that de-clares the United States has been in a state of war since Dec. 7, 1941.

The American Legion sought the declaration as a way to honor approximately 1,600 U.S. servicemembers who were killed or wounded dur-ing previously undeclared periods of war.

The LEGION Act (Let Every-one Get Involved In Oppor-tunities for National Service Act) also opens the door for approximately 6 million vet-erans to access American Legion programs and bene-fits for which they previous-ly had not been eligible.

Now that the legislation has been signed, The American Legion’s eligibility criteria immediately changes from seven war eras to two: April 6, 1917, to Nov. 11, 1918, and Dec. 7, 1941 to a time later determined by the fed-eral government. No other restrictions to American Le-gion membership are changed. Until new applica-tions are introduced, we will write “LEGION ACT” if no applicable conflict is listed.

Page 2

Membership season is upon us.

So far, since we received our

new membership cards from

the State convention, we have

processed and mailed out over

220 renewals, and with the

online renewals received from

the State and National offices,

our Post is already over 25 per-

cent renewals barely a month

into the new Legion year.

At our General Membership

meeting on July 9th, we read

the names of 6 new and 2

transfer memberships received

during the previous 30 days.

All were approved by a unani-

mous voice vote.

— Tere Beckman

CHAPLAIN’S REPORT

It is with deep sorrow that I

must report we lost a great

friend and gentle soul in John

“John W.” Wyers. John passed

at home hospice care on July

30th. John is preceded in

death by his parents, Harold

and Margaret Wyers; and his

beloved wife, Edie Wyers.

Survivors are his son, Rex

Wyers; daughter, Sandy Da-

vidson; plus grandchildren and

great-grandchildren. A memo-

rial service and celebration of

his life will be held at Post

240’s Events Hall on Saturday,

August 10th at 1400. Inter-

ment will be at Barrancas Na-

tional Cemetery. (Date and

time unknown as of our date of

publication).

The family wishes any dona-

tions be made to Waterfront

Mission in lieu of flowers.

You can find the latest news on

funerals and fellow Post mem-

bers who are hospitalized on

our Video Board in the Eagle’s

Lair Lounge at Post 240.

— Barry Hines

SECOND VICE COMMANDER’S NEWS CONTACT US:

COMMANDER

Dave Forsman 850-292-2000

ADJUTANT

Joseph Bodmer 850-455-6111

FIRST VICE COMMANDER

Tere Beckman

SECOND VICE COMMANDER

Tom Williams 850-497-2463

THIRD VICE COMMANDER

Tom Williams (Acting)

FINANCE OFFICER

Ray Hamel

HISTORIAN

Bob Reinhart

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS

Jerry DuPont

CHAPLAIN

Barry Hines 850-712-2810

SERVICE OFFICER

Donna Hudson 850-261-1959

ALR DIRECTOR

Betti Perry 615-962-4256

SAL COMMANDER

Bruce Robertson

HOUSE COMMITTEE

Steve Stillwell - Chair

Hal Eyerly

Bill Evans

Bo Waggoner

Mike Nicholson

LOUNGE MANAGER

Sue Terry 850-455-6111

POST PHONE # & WEBSITE

850-455-6111

americanlegionpost240.org

Page 3

THIRD VICE COMMANDER’S NEWS

Last month’s Car Show and Fish Fry continued its stellar

success with a $360.00 profit on the sales of fish dinners.

Both the Car Show, as usual, and the Fish Fry, were well

attended and financial successes. As always, kudos to Mar-

io, Raybo in the cook shack, and Amy and Becky in the

kitchen, and Neil Gaihmer, Robert Farley David Lawhun

and Dan Quinn for their work helping make this event go

off like clockwork. This month’s Car Show and Fish Fry will

land on August 4th. Hope to see you all there.

By the way, did you know the one Post Officer position that

has yet to be filled is this one? For a commitment of only a

few hours a few days a month, the work of the 3rd Vice is a

truly satisfying job in that you get to see the positive results

of your efforts in real time. The position handles all events

that require outside the Post facilities and support. See

Dave Forsman, Post 240 Commander, to learn more.

Our July Fourth party was a huge success. Between listen-

ing to fabulous music in the Eagles Lair Lounge, to the great

summertime food put on by the Post and the many volun-

teers who delivered great Pot-Luck dishes, to the fun times

had by the many children who played on the Waterslide

erected out in back of the Post. It was a blast! A special

thanks to Amy and Dan Quinn, Linda Beckstrom and David

Lawhun for all their hard work in handling the numerous

food and event preparations.

Coming this month and in September are a number of

events we’re planning for adults of all ages. From an “Italian

Cook-Off Night” with prizes for Best Appetizer, Entrée and

Dessert (postponed to accommodate the John Wyers Me-

morial, a rescheduled date and time forthcoming), to a Ca-

sino Night in the Events Hall on September 21 from 7-10pm.

Lastly, have you heard? There’s now Karaoke on Saturday

Nights from 1900 to 2300 in the Eagles Lair Lounge brought

to you by the same “Lips-A-Go-Go” that performs Karaoke

on Friday nights. Come on out and test your pipes!

— Tom Williams

cuts of prime beef, pork and chicken, etc., as prizes instead of cash. My grill can hardly wait!

In other news, I am pleased to report that two teams from our Post played in the NAS Pen-

sacola 69th Invitational Golf Tourney – and both teams placed in the money, coming in

third in their respective flights! Congratulations to the teams of Rick Morgan and our Adju-

tant Joe Bodmer, and also to the team of Bradley Hampshire and Rob Mangan. A hearty

well done!

As for other golf news, our Post is sponsoring two teams for the Pensacola Area CPO Associ-

ations Charity Golf Tourney on Friday, August 30th. Our sponsorship, approved by the

General Membership meeting held on July 9th, includes our Post’s name and information

prominently displayed on all of the tourney’s advertising and signage, as well as all entry

costs for our two teams. Sign-ups to join one of the two teams are being taken on a sheet

behind the bar. A random drawing from among those who signed up will fill the two teams

of four. We’ll do the drawing before our General Membership Meeting on August 13th.

And lastly, there was some big news coming out of Washington, DC this past week with the

U.S. Congress passing, and the President signing, the “The Let

Everyone Get Involved In Opportunities for National Service

Act (LEGION Act)”. The Act opens the door for millions of vet-

erans to access American Legion programs and benefits for

which they previously had not been eligible.

You can read more on this and how the eligibility requirements

for membership in the American Legion have changed for the

better on Page 2 of our newsletter.

To find out the latest, up-to-the-minute news, follow along with

Post 240’s website at:

americanlegionpost240.org

— Dave Forsman

COMMANDER’S CORNER (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1)

EVENT HALL

RENTAL

Need a place to hold

an event? Birthdays,

anniversaries, recep-

tions, parties: we have

the space!

Our Hall holds 199

people, has a private

bar, band stand, dance

floor, etc. Catering is

also available. Rea-

sonable usage fees

apply.

For further info contact

the Lounge at (850)

455-6111 and speak to

the Lounge Manager,

Ms. Sue Terry, or our

Second Vice Com-

mander Tom Williams.

Hours:

Wed: 1600—2000

Thu: 1700—2000

Fri: 1700—2000

Sun: 0800—1100

Menu

SANDWICHES SIDES

Hamburger $5.50 Onion Rings $4.50

Cheeseburger $6.00 French Fries $3.50

Patty Melt $6.00 Cheese Sticks $4.50

Bacon Cheeseburger $7.50 Appetizer Platter $10.50

Ham or Turkey Sandwich $5.50

Grilled Cheese $4.00 SALADS

Bacon-Lettuce-Tomato $6.50 Regular Salad $3.00

Grilled Ham & Cheese $5.50 Chef Salad $7.00

Club Sandwich $6.50 Grilled Chicken Salad $7.00

Taco Salad $7.00

APPETIZERS $10.00 DINNER NIGHTS (Wed, Fri.)

Lumpia (9) $5.50 Country Fried Steak

Chicken Wings (7) $5.50 Pepper Steak

Chicken Tenders (3-4) $5.50 Chicken Breast (Grilled or Fried)

Add Fries $7.00 Sweet & Sour Pork or Chicken

All Dinners include Salad, Roll, 2 Sides

DINNER SIDES: Baked or Mashed Potato, Corn, Steamed Rice, French Fries,

Steamed Broccoli, Green Beans

THE AGENCY OF PENSACOLA

Your Real Estate Source 5705 N. Davis Hwy~Pensacola, FL 32503

Rob Wilmer, Realtor (o) 850.472.2500

(c) 850.723.3250

[email protected]

BINGO HALL OPERATIONS

The Bingo Hall con-

tinues to request vol-

unteers to assist with

event operations.

Volunteers are re-

quested to state their

preferred start and

end times relative to

their availability.

Assistance and sup-

port for the early

hours of Bingo

Nights is especially

requested.

Our games have six

$250 pots and all

other games have

$50 winners. Bingo

starts at 1800 on

Wednesdays. Bingo

is open to the public,

so grab a friend and

come on down!

LOUNGE NEWS

In June, the Eagle’s Lair Lounge reported that it again took in

approximately $5,000 in Pull Tabs revenue, and that the

Lounge also took in approximately $3,500 in revenue from

food and beverage sales for last month.

The Queen of Hearts drawing continues apace, with the pot

climbing to over$2,808 as of August 1st. The drawings are held

each and every Friday at 1800 in the Eagles Lair Lounge. Tick-

ets are $1.00 apiece, and seating at the bar fills up some 2-3

hours before the drawing, so come early and enjoy some fun

times with friends and comrades.

The Lounge had planned an Italian Cookoff Party coming on

the 10th, with judging and prizes for Best Appetizer, Best En-

trée, and Best Italian Dessert. Regrettably, we lost a truly great

friend and Legionnaire in John Wyers and necessarily post-

poned to accommodate the Wyers family’s Memorial service

schedule for that day. Known affectionately to all as “John W”,

he was always active in the Post, whether he was singing big

band era tunes and sharing a dance on Karaoke Night, teaming

up with the Twizards on Thursday trivia nights, or just regaling

us with his stories from his birthplace in England, his adven-

tures during the Vietnam War, or just everyday life. He will be

sorely missed!

— Sue Terry

Page 6

Cell (850) 281-1816

Toll Free (855) 747-ROOF (7663) Bradley Hampshire

Lic#CCC1328259

If anyone has any pictures of the history of our post, please get in touch with our new His-

torian, Bob Reinhart so he can include them in next year’s scrapbook. And please re-

member to include any names of individuals in your pictures so we can correctly attribute

the faces in the pics. In other news, our previous Historian, Steve Stillwell, has finalized

the 2018/2019 Post Yearbook and it has been forwarded to National Headquarters

for entry into the Legion Yearbook of the Year competition. Good luck and stay tuned!

HISTORIAN’S NEWS

HOUSE COMMITTEE NEWS

On this month’s maintenance front, the

House Committee had a relatively quiet

30 days. We did a bunch of small tasks

around the Post, but nothing of note to

report, which I suppose is a positive. In

other news,

We had two new volunteers join the

House Committee to fill two vacancies. Please join me in wel-

coming Mike Nicholson and Bo Waggoner to the House Commit-

tee. In addition, the House Committee elected Steve Stillwell to

be the Chair of the committee.

On July 20th, the House Committee, joined by all of the elected

officers of Post 240 conducted our annual Post Inventory. The

inventory counted and verified all spaces in the Post, and all of

our Post’s hardware, equipment and non-consumables. And I’m

pleased to say, everything checked out.

— Hal Eyerly

SALLY’S J’S

KITCHEN

Sally J’s Kitchen is

open for Bingo on

Wednesday nights, Fri-

day nights for Karaoke,

and Sunday mornings for

breakfast.

For now we are pleased

that the Kitchen is also

open on Thursdays for

Pub Quiz “Trivia” nights.

Hungry for a Steak dinner

with all the fixin’s? That’s

a Sally J’s Kitchen spe-

cialty on Friday nights

with Steak Dinners that

include two sides, roll,

salad, and a sweet

dessert. YUM!

IN THE EAGLES LAIR LOUNGE

EVERY DAY 4-7pm

$2.00 DOMESTIC BEER

$2.50 IMPORT BEER

$2.50 WELL DRINKS

AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS

The next Post 240 American Legion Riders meeting is

scheduled for August 1st @ 1800.

Our Rider’s Grill on Tuesdays

starting at 1700 continues to show

strong support by the Post. Cur-

rently featuring tacos (hard and

soft) and taco salads, everything is

prepared fresh and to-order, so

come in and get yours, and you’ll

have to try “Alex’s Margarita Specials” too! At $2.00

apiece, that go perfect with a couple of loaded tacos.

Speaking of Rider events, we are planning for our first

Meat Bingo for Saturday, September 7th. The time is

still TBD, but it should be a hoot, with winning bingo’s

receiving prime butcher cuts of meats versus cash priz-

es. And just as a heads-up for next month, we will have

our 12th Annual Homeless Veterans Poker Ride, and

will also have a Blessing of the Bikes. Mark your calen-

dars and we’ll see you for this important event on our

calendar!

— Betti Perry

There isn’t a lot of news from the Sons

this month, as summertime is usually

the slowest part of the year for us.

We are still raising revenues through

the 50/50 raffles we sponsor immedi-

ately after the Queen of Hearts draw-

ings on Friday nights and again later

in the evening during Karaoke. They

continue to make a steady contribution to our funds and

thus our ability to serve our mission and charitable giving

throughout the year.

— Robert Farley

Page 8

LEGION RIDERS DIRECTOR

Betti Perry

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Neil Gahimer

SECRETARY

Bruce Robertson

TREASURER

Robert Farley

MEMBERSHIP

Vacant

CHAPLAIN

Jana Staples

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS

Spirit Gebbia

SAFETY

Jerry Sires

ROAD CAPTAINS

Geno Graham & Larry Barrows

SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

COMMANDER

Robert Farley

FIRST VICE COMMANDER

Neil Gahimer

SECOND VICE COMMANDER

Robert Qualls

TREASURER

John Maxwell

ADJUTANT

Justin Farley

CHAPLAIN

Bruce Ganis

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS

Alan Getman

HISTORIAN

Rick Davis

SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

LADIES AUXILIARY NEWS

MARK YOUR CALENDARS ( SEE PAGES 10 & 11 FOR MORE INFORMATION)

LADIES AUXILIARY

PRESIDENT

Earlynn Stillwell

VICE PRESIDENT

Sherry Hamel

SECRETARY

Amy Quin

TREASURER

Kathy McCaffrey

HISTORIAN

Vacant

CHAPLAIN

Jana Staples

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS

Becky Ohning

We have our first event of the new Auxilia-

ry year planned for September 21. Our Ca-

sino Night event will be held from 7pm to

10pm with all sorts of table games (Craps,

Blackjack, Poker, Roulette, and more). The

cost will be $20.00 per person and is an

adult-only event.

Lastly, remember to come out for our regularly scheduled

monthly Ladies Auxiliary Meeting, which is always held on the

same day as the Post’s General Membership meeting, which is

this month is on August 13th.

Here are this month’s notable events and meetings:

• Every Friday @ 1800—The NEW Queen of Hearts drawing begins anew each Friday

at 1800. Come in to the lounge and get your tickets: $1.00 a ticket.

• Every Tuesday @ 1700—Riders Grill: ”Taco Tuesdays”

• August 1 @ 1800—AL Riders Meeting.

• August 4 @ 1200—Car Show & Fish Fry (Fish Fry @ 1300).

• August 10 @ 1400—Memorial Service and Celebration of Life for John Wyers.

• August 13 @ 1730 and 1830—House Committee, General Membership & Ladies Auxilia-

ry meetings (respectively).

• August 20 @ 0800-VA Clinic Donuts Charity event. Come out and help us deliver do-

nuts to VA staff and patients alike.

• August 20 @ 1800 — Sons of the American Legion Meeting.

• August 27 @ 1800—House, Executive & Planning Committees meet.

Page 9

AMERICAN LEGION POST 240 WEBSITE

IS UP AND RUNNING !!!

Type into your web browser the following URL:

americanlegionpost240.org

That’s all there is.

It’s fast, responsive, and informative.

We’re constantly looking for the right kinds

of information to add to our website,

so if you have ideas, just see the

Adjutant and share your thoughts!

JOIN US for

BINGO NIGHTS

Wednesdays @ 1800

in the Event Hall

KARAOKE !!

EVERY FRIDAY @ 1900Brought to you by

LIPS A GO-GODJ AND KARAOKE

TAMMY CALVERT OWNER