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.

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.

Post 758 In the News–Power For The Troops III

Just so you didn’t think we forgot about the blog during our time off to recharge, your Vice Commander/blogmeister has been following up on details for “Power For The Troops III”.

Our friend Don Giovanni from WINR Radio (680 kHz AM) invited us to appear on his popular Italian Carousel program on December 1 around 10:30 am. 

We’ll also call our good “kumotre” Bill Flynn at Cool 100 on Sundays so we can remind those listeners about the drive.

On December 7, we’ll be making an appearance on WIVT-TV/DT (NewsChannel 34) at the Oakdale Mall around 5:30 pm to talk about our third annual battery collection drive to collect “AA” and “AAA” alkaline batteries for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On December 14, we’ll make an appearance on WBNG-TV/DT (Action News) on the 5 PM segment of Action News to talk again about the same subject.

We are working on an appearance on WNBF Radio’s (1290 kHz AM) “First News” program with Roger Neel,  Art Penird and Kathy Whyte.    Here’s the link, so you can listen live on Friday, December 14, around 8:20 am:

http://www.wnbf.com

All of this is to remind people to pick up another pack of “AA” and “AAA” alkaline batteries so they can donate them to be sent to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Alkaline batteries last longer than do batteries marked “heavy duty”.  In my real job I can attest to this.  When you think about the conditions under which they will be used, and by whom they will be used, it makes sense to get what will hold up and work in those conditions.

The Fairy Godmother Brigade has a bunch of the alkaline batteries that they will donate on December 16.  There’s plenty of time for you to get a pack of alkalines for those who stand between you and our enemies.  Couple that up with our legendary pancake breakfast buffet…and you have the makings of a great Sunday.

Post 758 in the News–Veterans Day 2007

Here, as of Monday morning 11/12, are links to two of the media outlets which visited our Post on Veterans Day:

Action News, WBNG-TV:  http://www.wbng.com/local/11187426.html

 News 10 Now:  http://www.news10now.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=126245

No link was up at the News Channel 34 site, but our Post’s ceremony led the video report.

Please remember that these links usually work for a limited time, and may not work after time.