Monroe County Council Veterans of Foreign Wars

200 West Avenue, Rochester, NY 14611

585-436-6130 or e-mail MONROEVFW@AOL.COM

Upcoming events:

·         12/1/09             County Council Meeting – 40 & 8        7 PM

·         12/7/09             Pearl Harbor Remembrance

·         12/12/09            Patriot’s Pen / VOD Judging, District 8, Geneva

·         12/13/09            District 8 Meeting – 40 & 8

·        1/5/10               County Council Meeting – Post 8495, Fairport, 7 PM

Commander’s Message:

Comrades and friends,

As you read this, Thanksgiving Day will have come and gone. I hope you all had a good, joyous day with family and friends. We as a nation have much to be thankful for. Even in these difficult times, we are a nation blessed with abundance.

At our last meeting we were honored with a visit by Department Commander Davenport. His message was and is that we must be recruiting constantly if we are to hold the attention of our elected officials. When resources are limited, numbers count. Our comrades in VA facilities all over this great nation are relying on us to advocate for them. We must not let them down.

As a county, we are doing well. At this writing we are at 87.5% of last years membership levels. Commanders, remember that one of the requirements for All State this year is to recruit 2 new members or reinstate 2 members. Posts that have achieved that milestone are:

Post 307 - 2 new                   Post 412 – 2 reinstated                       Post 8495 – 14 new / 2 reinstated  

Post 9483 – 2 new

 The following posts are above the county average in membership:

Post 16 – 93.24%                  Post 820 – 92.59%                Post 1457 – 90.32%              Post 6591 – 100%

Post 6703 – 92.09%              Post 8495 – 97.95%             

Well done to you all! Keep up the good work.

 Community activity reports are also required for All State status. Sadly, only 2 posts, Post 16 and Post 8495 have submitted their first report. Commanders, let Department and National know of the good works your post and its members do – send in your reports.

 Trustee reports for the period of ending 9/30/09 should have been completed by your Post Trustees. Reports have been received from the following posts:

Post 16                   Post 6595               Post 6703               Post 8495               Post 9483

Commanders and quartermasters, if your post is not listed here, talk to your trustees and get the report submitted.

 Commanders, follow the lead of Post 6703 and order your Buddy Poppies now! Avoid the spring rush J

 Patriot’s Pen essays received from the posts have been judged at the County level and forwarded to District 8 for the next step in the competition. I am proud to announce the following winners will move on to District 8 to be judged on December 12^th in Geneva.

First Place              Tabitha Truelson                 6^th Grade Bay Trail Middle School          Post 820

Second Place        Michael A. Rhodes              7^th Grade Gates – Chili Middle School    Post 412

Third Place            Jeanette E. Petti                    8^th Grade                 Martha Brown Middle School  Post 8495

Congratulations to all our winners. Our judges had a difficult time selecting the best of all very good essays.

I will report on the results of our Voice of Democracy program at the County Council meeting. Congratulations to the following posts for participating in this important program:

Post 307                 Post 412                 Post 820                 Post 8495               Post 9483

I wish to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy and Joyous Holiday Season !

Merry Christmas!

Rick Gough, Commander

Ladies Auxiliary President’s Message:

 Dear Comrades and Sisters:

The holiday season is here and I would like to express my heartfelt “thanks” to all comrades and sisters for their support this year in all our projects.  I truly appreciate it.

Our “Blankets and Books” Project for the Rochester Education Foundation was very successful.  I sent 4 boxes filled with blankets and books to help make the Christmas season brighter for the K-3 elementary students.  Thank you for your support.

On Sunday, December 13^th, State President Barbara Hodges will be making her official visit at the District 8 Meeting, which will be held at the 40&8, 933 University Avenue, Rochester.  The audit is scheduled for 1 PM and the business meeting will begin at 2 PM.  A spaghetti dinner will follow the meeting.  A reminder to all for the District 8 meeting;

1. Please remember to bring your filled Christmas Stockings for the Hospitalized Veterans
2. Please remember to being a new Christmas toy which will be distributed to the Marines for Toys for Tots
3. The Pink Ribbon Fleece Blanket winner will be drawn at the District meeting.  Tickets are still available – 1 for $1; 6 for $5.  All proceeds go to State President Barbara’s Special Project – Children Cancer.  Tickets available at the meeting.

State President Barbara Hodges will be making her official visit to Monroe County Council Ladies Auxiliary on Monday, December 14^th.  State President Barbara will visit the Canandaigua VA Medical Center with a small contingent of sisters and then will stop by the Blue Star Mother’s Canteen for a short visit.  President Barbara will be distributing the Christmas Stockings to the hospitalized veterans during her visit.

A light luncheon will be served in State President Barbara’s honor at approximately 12:30 PM at the Danforth Community Center, 200 West Avenue, Rochester.  Immediately following the luncheon, we will commence with our Monroe County Council Ladies Auxiliary Meeting.  I hope you will be able to attend the luncheon/meeting and greet State President Barbara.  She is looking forward to meeting you.

As of November 22, 2009, Monroe County Council Ladies Auxiliary has achieved over 90% in Membership and District 8 has achieved 87.19%.  Great Job Sisters!  Thank you for all your support of our Membership Program.

Don’t forget to fly your Flag on December 7 (Pearl Harbor Day), Christmas, and New Year’s Day. 

From my family to yours, I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year. 

Loyally,

Karen Dotson,

Monroe County Council President

Tony’s Report:

Did you know that retirees and all veterans are allowed to salute the flag? Traditionally, members of the nation’s veteran service organizations render the hand-salute during the national anthem and at events involving the national flag while wearing their organization’s official head-gear. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 contained an amendment to allow un-uniformed service members, military retirees and veterans to render a hand salute during the hoisting, lowering, or passing of the U.S. flag. A later amendment further authorized hand-salutes during the national anthem by veterans and out-of uniform military personnel. This was included in the Defense Authorization Act of 2009, which former President Bush signed on October 14, 2008.

Pearl Harbor Remembrance:

On Monday, December 7^th, 2009, the members of NY Chapter 5, Pearl Harbor Survivor Association will hold their 68^th annual commemoration of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7^th, 1941. The ceremony will be held at the Rochester Yacht Club, 5555 St. Paul Boulevard, just south of the US Coast Guard station on the east side of the river. We will assemble at 0740 hours.

Immediately following the ceremonies, there will be a breakfast at the American Legion Post Home on Dorsey Road, corner of Mt. Read Boulevard. Then at 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM, the Town of Brighton will remember Pearl Harbor with a ceremony at Brighton Town Park Lodge on Westfall Road with a free dinner to follow. All are invited. VFW Post 9251 Buffalo Soldiers will present the colors.

Talk about dedication:

Karen Dotson, President of the Monroe County Council Auxiliary travels from Binghamton monthly (sometimes more often) to fulfill her duties. Karen is the daughter of Past County Auxiliary President Marita Fredette. She is also 8^th District Auxiliary President.