9800+ Batteries=Big Time “Power For The Troops”

The Crew at 758:   From Left to Right:  Carol Mc Murray, Auxiliary Activities Chair, Don Sturdevant, Chaplain, Stan Smith, First Vice Commander, Jim Muska, SAL Commander and Chef for our Legendary Pancake Breakfast Buffet,  Donna Pandich,  leader and pixie in charge of the Fairy Godmother Brigade (who helped us box and seal all of those boxes, and spearheaded the collection of 6529 on Thursday, December 20), Past Commander Dick O’ Donnell (who helps keep the place pointed in the right direction), Past Commander Hal Chrisler,  (whose dedication to Post 758 I hope to match someday)  Commander Dave McDonald, and  Jeff Spring, Treasurer of the 204th Engineer Battalion Association, who’s helping Post 758 to send those batteries.

 We ended up with 9800 batteries when all of the donations were finally totalled.  We fed 170 people, and were mentioned a lot, by our kumotre Bill Flynn on Cool 100.

 You might want to check out our three local television stations for coverage on the air and on line:

http://www.wbng.com

http://www.newschannel34.com

http://www.wicz.com

As we find out about other video, we’ll link to it.

Power For The Troops III–Midweek Collection Report

NewsChannel 34 (http://www.newschannel34.com)  and Action News (http://www.wbng.com)  visited the Post home on Thursday, December 20, to see a wonderful and visible manifestation of generosity.  Donna Pandich and the Fairy Godmother Brigade worked some big time magic, and brought in a donation of 6,529 batteries.   Here’s NewsChannel 34’s Peter Quinn behind the camera taking video of the close to 7400 batteries we have now in the house:

As of right now, we have almost as many batteries in the Post Home, as we sent overseas in the past two years (7,445).  If Sunday is any indication, we will really have a great collection and beat our past record, thanks to your generosity.  The men and women who will get these batteries will appreciate them in a way that most of you will never know.  We hope you will be convinced to donate “AA” and “AAA” alkaline batteries for the troops on Sunday, December 23rd, and at the same time, enjoy one of Johnson City’s traditions–the Post 758 All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast Buffet, of which it is said, “If you go away hungry from Post 758 it is not our fault”.  Bill Flynn sends his regrets that he cannot broadcast live from our Post Home because we had to reschedule to this weekend…which is one of his busiest on Cool 100.  Bill is always welcome at Post 758, whenever his schedule permits.

 You may ask “Why alkalines?  Aren’t super heavy duty batteries good enough?”  For what the troops need, the answer is a resounding NO!  We’re donating batteries to power off duty electronic equipment, of which the makers specify at minimum, alkaline batteries, for recommended power.

We at Post 758 can also accept donations of batteries on BINGO night, December 21.  We hope you’ll visit our Post Home on Sunday.

Power For The Troops III Rescheduled to December 23; Mid Week Collection on December 20 added

Power For The Troops III has been rescheduled to Sunday, December 23, 2007 at the Post Home, 429 Main Street, Johnson City, from 8am to Noon.  Our Post Leadership made the decision based on the weather forecast for Sunday, December, 16, and concern for the safety of those who would normally attend the pancake breakfast buffet.

This rescheduling will give people another chance to make a donation of “AA” and “AAA” alkaline batteries on that Sunday.  Your vice commander and blogmeister will also be accepting donations of “AA” and “AAA” alkaline batteries on Thursday, December 20 at the Post Home from 5-8 pm.   You may, as our friends from Post 1194 did (THANKS!), also donate while the Post Home is open for bingo on Fridays from 5 PM on.

 

 

Power For The Troops III Weather Update–12/13/2007

We suspect you’ve seen/heard the weather forecast for our “Power For The Troops III” weekend (December 16, 2007).  So have we.  We’re monitoring the National Weather Service, AccuWeather, The Weather Channel and Weather Underground to keep up with the forecasts.  There is a possibility of heavy snow in the forecast for Sunday the 16th.

 As of now, we’ll continue to plan for the Sunday Pancake Breakfast and Power For The Troops III as scheduled on Sunday, December 16 (8-noon), with a backup date of 12/23/2007 in case the event must be postponed.  We at the Post, will make any decision to postpone not later than 10 am on Saturday, December 15.  We’ll get the information on our decision out to WNBF (1290 AM), since they have a 7 day a week news operation,  Cool 100 (for Bill Flynn),  WINR (680 AM)  (Don Giovanni Program if it is not a “best of” edition), and the three television stations plus News 10 Now.  And obviously, we’ll update you here.   Your “AA” and “AAA” alkaline batteries are still needed and appreciated by our men and women who stand between us and our enemies–we’ll get ‘em to those men and women with your help!

Post 758 In the News–Dialed In on XM 144/If you can’t make it on 12/16

Our friend Claire B. Lang called the studio this morning; she and your blogmeister had a conversation about “Power For The Troops III” which will run during Claire’s program on XM Satellite Radio, Channel 144 sometime between 4 & 7 pm Eastern Time.  Her audience, like some of you, may not be able to stop by the Post Home (429 Main Street, Johnson City NY 13790) on December 16th for “Power For The Troops III”.  If you want to contribute, you can send batteries (“AA” & “AAA” alkalines only) to our address, or if you’d like, you can send a monetary contribution to Post 758 and mark it: “for batteries for the Troops”, and we’ll take it from there.  

The address again:

Power For The Troops III

Frank A Johnson American Legion Post 758

429 Main Street

Johnson City, NY  13790

The telephone number for the Post is 607-770-1979

The soldiers who will get and enjoy these batteries, as they power off duty equipment, will thank you for thinking of them.

Handicap Ramp Done!

The railings are now in, and the first patrons used the ramp for the County Legion Meeting last night.   This will help our present members who have mobility issues, and also our potential future members.  The Post and its Corporation is working to fix our Post Home.  It’s a pretty big building and has been open for more than 80 years; a lot of systems need TLC, repair or flat out replacement.  Be assured we’ll do our best to try to make a Post Home for you, our Legion family members, that is neat, clean and inviting.    

 

A Veterans Day Reflection from Mr. Justice Thomas

The following paragraph is excerpted “by permission from Imprimis, a publication of Hillsdale College (Hillsdale MI, www.hillsdale.edu ).”  In an interview with The Honorable Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice of the  United States Supreme Court, he answered a question about making unpopular stands.  The following excerpt is especially relevant to the Veterans Day that we commemorate on Sunday, November 11:

 ”Will we allow the people who have fought our wars for our liberty to have died in vain?  In recent years, I’ve had some wounded vets in my office, young kids who have come back from Iraq missing limbs, blinded, in wheelchairs.  And people say that I take hits?  Do I look wounded to you?  These kids have given a lot more.  What a price people have paid for us to be right here.  I think of them like I think of my grandparents.  One of the things I’m always trying to do is to make sure that everything they did was worth it–that if they were to appear right now they would say ‘You’ve made our sacrifices worth it.’  That’s all I want.”

National Commander at Post 758

National Commander Martin F. (Marty) Conatser, Department of New York Commander William Burnett Arrive at Frank A Johnson Post 758 for their official visit on October 28, 2007.

Auxiliary Happenings for 4th Quarter of 2008

With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, it starts a busy time for all of here at post 758. I would like to start out by saying “hi and thank you” for your ladies continued support through out the  year.Remember we meet on the second TUESDAYof every month at our post home at  7:00 pm. Please try and attend to keep our communication line open between us and the Legion and Son’s. We have to continue to work together or we’re all doomed. DECEMBER 14th, 2008 is our annual “Power For The Troops” breakfast with Bill Flynn broadcasting live from our hall. Our Auxillary members will also be holding a bake sale the same morning so please come have breakfast and buy some “goodies”. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and Healthy and Happy New Year, Your President,  Carol McMurray.

Handicapped Ramp Going In/Leaf Peepers Keep Breakfast Crowd Down

In Progress as of October 21, 2007

Our patrons saw the forms and footers for the handicap ramp as they enjoyed our Pancake Breakfast Buffet last Sunday.  We competed with church french toast breakfasts and a picture perfect leaf peeping day, so our crowd was down.  

This ramp is being installed by the Legion Memorial Corporation thanks to a member appropriation grant by Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo.  The wooden ramp is now in the landfill; that set of stairs on the East Side (where the wooden ramp was) will be refurbished as well.