Notes from the Commander:
Frank Carlson
and past commander Wes Benge
Updated
08/03/2008->->->->->->->->->
August 3, 2008
Hello Comrades,
My name is Frank Carlson and I was just elected your new post commander. I hope I can do as good a job for you as our last commander, Wes Benge.
Other officers elected for this year incluled; First Vice Lee Sears, Second Vice Carl Adams, Adjutant Bob Pyle, Finance Officer Bill Johnson Sr., Sergeant At Arms Bob Childers, Chaplin/Armorer Jerry Gay and the Historian Tony O'seland. And lets not forget that Jack Elsey has volunteered for the appointment as Judge Advocate.
I am looking froward to all of you coming out to the Post to help support our verterans, legionaires and the community. We are always looking forward to new ideas and assistance.
The Ladies Auxillary has just elected new officers. I know that they are ready and willing to work along side us to further the American Legion goals.
So come out and enjoy the fun.
February 24, 2008
Commander
I was elected by the National Commander to be on the legislative committee, to meet with the 110th Congress, to discuss V.A. allotments as to where they should go. I have been a member of the American Legion Press Association for years and have had some of my articles published in various magazines, that must have caught some peoples eyes. I have been tutored and supplied with the do's and don'ts from the State, and National officials as what is to be covered when I visit the Capitol Building. I will be leaving on March 26th, and coming back April 2nd. Other committees will be Immigration, Terrorism, Economy, and our Future. I think this is great for our government, to request our presence and give an insight of thoughts to them. Because the American Legion is the only veterans organization still growing, the government pick us. I myself am a member of five other veterans organizations, and I see the declines of memberships in the other organizations, for different reasons. I enjoy "sticking" and working for the American Legion. I remember what Tony Blair of England once said: "Judge a country, like the U.S.,by the people trying to get into it, and not leaving it!" Same holds true with the Legion.
Nominations will be for the next two months, then elections, for the next years officers. Come out to your post meeting and be counted again!
Thanks,
Wes
December 21, 2007
Post Commander Wes Benge--- I had to cancel this months general meeting due to the weather. I hope everyone gets through these storms safe and sound. For those who haven't paid their dues yet, you will be delinquint as of Jan. 1st, 2008 . This means you will be starting over in continuing years when you do decide to pay. In the past, we helped out by giving more time and lead-way, but we stop doing that. Besides, it is not fair to the rest of the members who did pay on time. So, please get your dues paid up. We are presently at 85% membership. You late members are holding the post back from attaining 100% goal. Why not look into PUFL, paid-up-for-life? You will get it at a lower rate, never have to worry about paying anymore if the dues raise again, and it will be easier for the Post membership worker. Only thing you will get in the mail will be a new card every year, instead of notices. My PUFL gives me a peace of mind and no more worries.
Our first nominations of new officers will be in March and April meetings, so it is not to early to start thinking of running for office here at Post 135. We never fill up all the positions needed, and it is always good to have new blood with new ideas coming in, and to give other members a chance to be elected in office. I have to say, that we have managed very well and have a corp of helping hands jumping in there when needed.
If you can get to a computer, and get on our web site, you will see the tremendous accomplishments out here. www.oklegionpost135.org. Wado.
November 2, 2007
I want to thank everyone who volunteered and participated in our first all Post community project. It is a positive showing of our all of our going ons here in Oklahoma. We made a smashing point to the public of what the American Legion can do for you and then some. I was very proud of all of you, and watched in amazement the hard working volunteers under tremendous pressure to get it out in time, and making it a night to remember. I see it as a turning point to some of the negative comments against my positive comments about the post and the members, that I have been saying all along. This will show them! From a very grateful Commander; God Bless you and THANK YOU! Commander Wes.
10/18/2007
We have a full set of officers now, so now we can do business. The next two meetings will have on our agenda, the review of the by-laws. Try and make it if you can and help out the review. It has to be reviewed every five years.
The District meeting in Muskogee Post 15 is Saturday, Oct. 27, at 9am. It is open to every member.
The Veterans Day Parade will be on Saturday, November 10th, at 11am, in downtown Tahlequah. Nobody has come forth with suggestions of an entry, so I decided to just enter our Color Guard. I don't know how we could ever top last years P.O.W. entry, which won 1st place, thanks to our Historin, Richard Krug. He put in alot of work on it and recieved a trophy.
The Ladies Auxilary is doing a fantastic job on the Halloween Carnival on Oct. 31st. We could use more volunteers, and it is just for two to three hours only, so come on out and help support your Post and Community.
Log on to www.oklegionpost135.org. Commander Wes.
9/1/2007
Post Commander~Wes Benge
We have two new officers which I appointed to fulfill our Post's conducted business. They are Bill Johnson Jr., as 1st Vice Commander, and Jerry Gay, as the Chaplin. We need five officers to conduct and pass motions brought on to the floor, and they said they will fill in at least till next year. On behalf of our post, we thank them for helping out. Remember, this is "our post", and not "my post". The commander's duty is to delegate, and over see, and not to do the other officer's work. He does not even have a vote as to what is going to pass or not to pass. When a post is short of officers, then the commander has the duty to approve things. You can read this on the web site of the American Legion under the "Officers Guide Book". This is going to help out tremendously because I never wanted to be the only voice at the post. It was thrust upon me because of lack of participation. Again, this is "our post", not "my post! Join in with us! I would like to tell you about a rule we pasted a year ago, and that is to only allow members or friends and family of the members, to rent out the room at the post. You have to be present to rent out the place, and you can never rent out the bar. Our beverage license doesn't allow that. Call the post for more details. 4566768 National will be sending out the second notices on you dues if you haven't paid yet. I know they say 25 dollars due, because after we voted on the 30 dollar dues, it was sent in to National after they printed the notices. Also, there was a big misunderstanding as to when the Legion year starts. It has always been July to July. I found out that members were informed in the past of it being Jan. to Jan. Now I know why some members called the post in Jan. thru July asking for their cards. Hope this clears thing up. Most of you know the history of the legion, though, and didn't call. We are caught up now, and things got corrected. We are back in business! Stay informed by logging on to the web site. http://www.oklegionpostl35.com Come meet the new State Commander on his tour on Thursday, Oct. 4th, at 9am -9.30 am at the post. We will have coffee and donuts. Ask him anything you like. He is a real, " go getter" who I think will do great for the State. Also, the District Convention will be at Muskeogee Post 15, on Sat., Oct 27, 9am-1pm. We will be printing the Newsletter every other month starting this month, to save money. Send in your membership dues now, so we can budget now, out future here, at Post 135.
7/26/2007
Post Commander
I will try to explain the need of the 2008 dues of 30 dollars now. We were paying 25 dollars for membership this year, and some were still paying the old rate of 20 dollars a year. We covered the difference for the ones who couldn't afford the hike, but, now it is impossible to do that again. When we send in your dues, the state takes 11.50 and the national takes 12.50, making it a total of 24.00 dollars.
This year the post made only 300 dollars from membership, and I was hoping for at least 1,500. It takes 400 dollars a year to put out the newsletter. We have programs this year that will have to stop, like Boys State, children's home, poppy donations, etc. Lucky for us, the club picks up all of the utilities and maintenance and other bills totaling over a thousand dollars a month. Insurance on the place is taking up quite a bit. I hope this gives you some idea of what is needed here at Post 135.
At past post meetings, it was voted on to raise it to 30 dollars, like the other posts in the state already been doing since last year. Some as high as 30 and 60 dollars a year, planning ahead, for they knew it was going up! Come to the monthly meeting and log on to our web site;
http:/www.oklegionpost135.org
At the state convention, I got an award and standing ovation for bringing in legion baseball to Cherokee County, starting a Sons of the American Legion charter, and 100% membership that was attained. You all should be proud of your post and deserve a pat on your back. Lets maintain the honor of being the best post in Eastern Oklahoma! Imagine what we can accomplish if we have more participation instead of just a few. Come to the meetings. This is your post. Can't come out, then don't complain on what and who and why the post is being run, the way it is. I always said that, any fool can criticize, but can they get in there and do it?
The Bandits finish the season at over 500 ball, a winning season. They start regional's and district playing next. If they stay healthy, they could make it to the World Series in Bartlesville, in just their second year of play. It was a rough year for the teams around Oklahoma, and other neighboring states, due to the rain outs. That is how they make their money thru food stands and gate.
The meeting falls on Aug. 9th, which will also be the Women's Auxiliary meeting at the same time. Anyone interested in the Auxiliary be at the meeting at 7:00.
STILL SERVING GOD AND COUNTRY.
6/27/2007
Post Commander-Wes Benge
Is there anyone out there, with new advice, on how to entice returning service members to join any veteran's organization? The latest research shows that the returning men and women are not joining the ranks of past returning patriots, thinking there is no more need of there service, when that is totally opposite of the truth! Are the present members getting it all done with all we got now? NO. Are there enough numbers in our group to pass along knowledge of government benefits? NO. Are we advertising and sending out the word to our young people? NO. does the largest veterans organization have the clout and knowledge, to get it all started again? YES!
Why are we not getting all this done? One word. "Participation"! If every member gets out and recruits and don't worry about rejections, word will spread around the armed services like wildfire, and we can sit back and watch membership grow. Two things I feel sorry for. One, is the returning forces who doesn't understand the importance of the Legion, and the help they will receive in the future for them and their families. The second thing that I feel sorry for, are our past legion members who got out on their own and pushed for membership for us all, after they left us. Now we are seeing declines in memberships that should, considering the circumstances, be escalating to a peak! We are doing something wrong, here. I read that the V.F.W. are having to close up Posts because of lack of returning service persons not joining. These times right now, should be the banner years in membership growth; but it isn't! Are there any ideas on how we can get started again? Seems a shame, that we are letting down our forefathers again.
The 9/11 ceremony will be the next showings of patriotism, to the world, and I hope everyone gets out there and makes it a famous holiday for the country. I know those terrorist, harbor, helping countries hate to see us using the sad event as a positive means and not a negative means, like they intended it to be. It's kind of like: reversed psychology! It keeps us going after those cowards, forever. Wado.
6/1/2007
It has been a year now since I was elected as your commander, and I feel that it was a very progressive year. We have done more for the post and the members than I expected to happen on a short notice.I was asked to run for commander after transferring back to Oklahoma from San Diego, where I was working full time and being a post commander for ten years. To tell you the truth, I was planning on retiring as a commander and just help out at the new post. One of the many things that was accomplished here at 135 that should rate as the number one item, as would be in any othe posts, is the 103 % membership that we got.It was up from 70% the previous year.I feel that alot of this was the result of the personal post cards to over 130 members I wrote to, asking to send in your renewals and stating that this place is under new management of officers. Sort of like starting over again! Then, word spread around of the great comradeship and fun getting together, cook outs, and different ideas produced by the enthused new members. Sometimes people say to me, "you can't do this and that'"or "the rules you must abide", etc. I say, why can't we do this? If it doesn't work, at least we tried. I use the book as guidelines. Life is to short to be ruled to death! Now the post is back on its feet! So, now, retention of membership is the new project for the next year. I have proven ways to do this also, if everyone sticks by me again. Another item of great interest building is the new awesome web site that was created by a concerned member who wanted to do something for his post without being able to drive the long distance from Tulsa . I've received tremendous applauses from viewers after the logged on it, and not just from the locaarea, but from all over the country! They think it is the best web site ever! Check it out for yourselves. http//:www.oklegionpost135.org It covers just about everything that is happening out at the post and activities and then some.
I applied for a charter of the Sons of the American Legion, Squadron 135, and after a long wait, I received it and now we have over 25 members who now belong here. Also, after a lull, I finally am getting the Auxilary going again with new 'lionesses" with new ideas. This will make a stronger post with a Unit, and the Sal. We haven't forgot the past requests that was put in from the previous years. A whole new electrical rewireing and a brand new beverage cooler and storage; a back door was put in for anothe exit,and we should be getting a new flag pole any day now. We have plans of adding on new additions, which is sorely needed if we are to continue to grow in membership. The building got smaller! Founded in 1973. We started up with Boys State again after a lull, continued supporting a child at the childrens home in Ponca City, and successfully brought in a legion baseball team to Cherokee County. We entered parades and recieved awards for it, participated in funerals, school assemblies. and the lists goes on! I see members getting out there to help fix things, cooking or grilling, cleaning and doing everything under the sun, without me asking them! They just see the need, and jump in there, making me the proudest commander in eastern Oklahoma. Because of all the members, employees, and friends, I was elected to District Commander, a position for future Post 135 advancements. We will be having a flag retirement at the Post on Flag Day, June 14th, at 5pm . It is suppose to be at dusk, but we have a post meeting at 7pm, and the participating scouts will get back home earlier. See you then. Wado.
5/13/2007
It will be a very busy month of May for the dedicated legionaires from around our country, mainly because of my favorite holiday, Memorial Day and the planning days for the special observance. Out here in my community, we have many old, kept up graveyards, that is always visited by the local scouts, helping out with the flag placings, that our post provides. I will try to make it to most of them, if I can find them! I am still new to the area here and a lot of the sites are 'backyard graveyards".
My wife and I visited our sponsored child at the American Legion Childrens home and met for the first time our posts child. He has been there for seven years now and will be graduating from high school in May. He will be eighteen in July and will have to move out then, to make room for another. The home was started in 1928 for children who has lost both parents through war or sickness. Well, now they are letting in other cases of needy children and are squeezing out the veterans children because of the 1970 laws of equal rights, when you are receiving grants or donations from a sanction organization of the government. The organization of the Human Resources are helping out monetary, but it all goes to the non veterans children. The current home director is asking the State American Legion fora new dorm building just for veteran children, because they have to turn away many of them noting over crowding. It is a sad thing to hear, when both parents are deployed over seas, and you wonder if anything is done to take care of the abandoned veterans children, opposed to the others. We don't take care of our homeless veterans either. At a recent conference of City Mayors in Chicago, a study was reported on the fact that 42% of the homeless are veterans, and mostly war heros! The legion has made tremendous strides to curb these two issues of great importance; but it keeps getting out of reach for us to do anything, because of the politics involved. I say, "lets get back to the basics"! Remember our motto? "Veterans helping Veterans and their Families", and" Still Serving God and Country". The government is sending millions of dollars to other countries for humanitarian aide, but forget about the veterans aide. Why go to war if you and your family won't be taken care of? The war torn country that we were sent to is always being taken care of with our aide. Write the congress! Take issue!
Anybody who wants to help and donate to the American Legion Childrens home should also state as to where the money should go, like an veterans child, or towards a new dorm, etc. If you don't, it may be going to other causes that is already been taken care of. Maybe after the war is over, the government can divide it up among other cases, but they are short of shelters and such, for the very thing it was set up to be, for the American Legion Childrens Home of veterans.
We need your help! Date dependent.
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4/9/2007
Nominations as you all know, are April, and I have always wondered as to why there is never an abundant showing of participation to join the ranks at the time. I personally have fun helping veterans and families and the youth, even though it takes most of my free time. I always felt while working 40 plus hours at my job was for me and family, and doing Legion work was called God's work. I hope to go to heaven and be let in because I was doing God's work here on earth. I think medical professionals do God's work also, but they don't get the satisfaction like I get because they get paid for their work. Doesn't seem like the same thing. Volunteering at your posts is self gratifying, and it doing God's work here on earth.
4/9/2007 Click here to view Honoring the Fallen and photos.
I had a new experiennce in my commander's duty recently. I had a tree planting dedication for a KIA Iraqi war hero (Sgt. William "B.J." Beardsley) from here, at the request of the Sgt. Mother. Well, it turned out to be bigger than I figured. Sixty "Patriot Guard Motorcyclist" came from other states and were led into the city with sirens blasting from police squad cars. They were very impressive to all of us gathered at the site at the local city park. If you have never heard of them, they come to funerals and the local police let them form lines in between the funeral and the anti-war demonstrators. When the demonstrators shout out their slurs and slogans at the grieving event, the bikers, who are mostly war veterans, rev up their motorcycles to where you can't hear the opposition! I thanked them all for being here and the leader told me that my speech was the best he had ever heard and wants me to go to other burial events and speak again. He Thanked me, and it was a good thing for me. Not just because I was hoping this would all turn out good for not anticipating a larger crowd, but, the guy looked scary to me! Thank God!
4/9/2007
This was my speech after a short prayer
The memorial poppy in our wreath here, is a national symbol for the flowers in Flanders Fields that embodies the sacrifices of men and women who served and died for their country in all wars. The green stem means the young ages of the departed, the red petals signify their blood that was spilled, and the green wreath signifies the battlefield or green seas on which they fought. We now leave these poppies with you in your honor, and as an eternal reminder of the binding comradeship we feel for you.
Even though a veteran is in mourning everyday, because another veteran has just died, we feel more sorrowful, and hurt more, when on doesn't come home. We veterans feel inside of ourselves a guilt feeling of coming home without out fellow freedom fighters, and thinking to ourselves,. "how could this happen, could I have helped and prevented this, and why must they die young?" Only God knows the reason. But we do know the reasons for fighting for our country, as we look around and see what we fought for. Peace, Family and Home. Since the day of creation, war starts, and young people die. I tend to think Sgt. Beardsley, was proud of his country, peace, family and home, and is now looking down at us right now saying; bury your sorrows in doing good deeds like I did, my soul has been set free? It is all part of the master plan, and we will each go alone.
Sgt. Beardsley has helped to preserve out freedom, and I think we owe it to him, and in his honor, live free ad love our life here in earth, as he would have. Let's set him free to do what he has to do now in God's platoon. WE will miss him, but we should also, let him go. At ease Sgt! Stand Down! You did it. I would like to end this tree planting with a poem, but not just a poem, but which has significance about all of this. It was written by a famous poet who also lost his life as a soldier in WW1 at Marmne in France while with the Fighting 69th New York Irishers of the 4th Division. His name is Joyce Kilmer and like those of us away from home, tend to think of simple things that we never noticed before.
It is named-Trees
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;
A tree that looks a God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that many in summer wear,
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
3/1/2007
I would like for a member to step up and volunteer as the editor of our newsletter. If you have had any experience in journalism like in your school newsletters, and would like to help your Post out by doing something, this would greatly be appreciated. I didn't know that the commander was suppose to put out letters, fold them, address them, stamp them, and send them! If I had known this before I was asked to be the commander, I would not have accepted the position. The by-laws simply states that the commander delegates the jobs to others and doesn't say anything about anything else, other than OVER-SEEING, the operation of the Post. So if you wonder why the newsletter is not coming out, it is not my fault. I am the only one getting it done. Correspondence does not fall into the heading of the commander.
We now have a web page! This will help out tremendously in communication as well as a calendar of events. Log on to it and see how great it looks. It covers all news about our post and going-ons, as well as my monthly messages to the membership.
Web site: http://www.oklegionpost135.org
3/1/2007
Our April 12th meeting will have as our guest, the Sons of the American Legion District Commander. He will give a speech on our new charter and the workings of it. Hope to see you SAL members there. Also on April 24th we will be having a visit from the State Commander in the morning around eight-thirty am. So if you have any questions to ask him, now is the time to do it. A week later on the 28th, Muskogee Post 15 will be hosting the district meeting with nominations of offices starting. If you want to vote, then be there at 9 am.
3/1/2007
Our American Legion baseball team will be starting try-outs in May for 15 year olds thru 19 year olds. This year I need for you to come out and help me at
the concession stand for a couple of hours during the home games. I was by myself last year and sure could have used some help. It is also good to see the legion out there wearing the emblem and promoting and volunteering.
We will be picking twelve boys out of over twenty that have applied for Boys State, at our May 10th meeting. They will tell us why should we pick them to go.
Hope to see more of you volunteering at your Post. Wado.
3/1/2007
Coming Attractions
We are starting to have on a regular basis, a potluck every Wednesday. Just bring a dish.
We will have a St. Patrick's Day party on Saturday, March 17th, at 4 pm to 7 pm. Tickets are on sale at Three dollars for Singles and Five dollars a couple.
We will be having an out door feast at your Post coming soon too clean-up the grounds. The ice storms wrecked havoc out here, just in time for spring-cleaning. As soon as the 2nd Vice Commander makes the date, I will post it at the web site and at the clubroom. http://oklegionpost135.org.
I was contacted by the museum director of the Eastern Band Cherokees in North Carolina and asked to find out if there are any Cherokee code talkers out there. They have only one confirmed Cherokee, George Adair. It seems that a Texas Senator is going to put in a request of a bill to honor all code talkers of all wars of all tribes. He would like to get more names on the bill and asked me to find the ones out here. If anybody can help me look for him or her, it will greatly be appreciated. Please don't say for me to look up a potential source; you look, and then send me the results of your search.
We have a service officer out at the post every Tuesday at noon till about three, or when they decide to go home. If you have any trouble with V a problems, stop in to see them. They don't work for us, but for the VA. So they should be able to help you. By having a new web site, I can get to you more news on a timely matter and serve your needs as they arise. Click on the web site and use it for communication purposes.
Commander Wes.
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