Oro Valley Post 132 and Family activities/notices and information, November 20, 2022
Post and Auxiliary membership meetings:
Post and Auxiliary membership meetings: Thursday, December 15 at the Vistoso Memorial Chapel, 2285 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Oro Valley. This is our special December meeting. A complimentary catered meal will be served beginning at 5:30 pm. An abbreviated business meeting begins at 6:30 pm. In addition to our very own WWII veterans, we will have the company of a WWII veteran who served with the Army Air Corps as a radioman/gunner on B-17s and who was held as a POW for 19 months at Stalag 17B. All members of the Post, Auxiliary, SAL, and Riders are invited to attend both meal and meeting and are welcome to bring one guest only, please. The Auxiliary will not have a separate meeting.
Riders Chapter 132 membership meeting:
Wednesday, Dec 7, 6:00 pm at Elks Lodge #385, 1800 N. Oracle Rd. Meetings are on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 pm. Riders Chapter 132 Director Gary Lawrence can be contacted at phone 520-245-8521 or email faretired@gmail.com.
Upcoming Dates, activities, and events to remember:
December 1, Civil Air Patrol Birthday (USAF Auxiliary):
Created on December 1, 1941, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) carries out emergency services and disaster relief missions nationwide. The CAP is the auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. The organization is made up of citizen volunteers who are there to search for and find the lost, provide comfort in times of disaster, and work to keep the homeland safe. There are about 60,000 members nationwide. They promote aviation and related fields and help to shape future leaders through CAP’s cadet program.
December 3, Post 132 “Adopt-A-Road” quarterly clean-up:
Saturday, 0900 hrs. Meet in the parking lot of St. Marks R.C. Church, 2727 W. Tangerine Rd. in Oro Valley. Please provide name and phone number in advance to POC Tom Roblee, email roblee.thomas@yahoo.com or call 509-910-9323. Equipped with pick-up tools and trash bags, help pick up trash along a stretch of Tangerine Rd. while enjoying the company of fellow volunteers. This is a low-stress, fun activity. Post, Auxiliary, SAL, and Riders members welcome.
Sportsman’s Warehouse $1,500 store gift card raffle:
Only 300 tickets will be sold, $20 Each. All proceeds are for the Post’s award-winning programs. Drawing will be held when all tickets are sold or NLT 24 December 2022. The winner does not need to be present to win. Volunteers are requested to help staff a raffle table at the Sportsman’s store. Contact Bob Franke at 520-909-2070 or bfranke206@aol.com. The next date to staff the table is November 25, 9 am-4 pm. If you have a little time to spare, sign up for a two-hour time slot. Thank you.
Past Activities and Information:
November 1, Oro Valley Riders Chapter 132 donation to Wreaths Across America (WAA):
L to R: Jeff Fawks Chapter Assistant Director, Onita Davis Auxiliary Unit 132 member and Garry Lawrence Chapter Director present Onita with a check for $150 toward the Auxiliary’s WAA Remembrance Wreath program. Auxiliary Unit 132 is the leading contributor of Remembrance Wreaths for placement at the State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Marana. A Remembrance Wreath will be placed at each interment site on National Remembrance Day, December 17 at 10 am. The public is welcome to help place the wreaths.
November 4-6 pm, 2022 Dept. of Arizona Annual Fall Conference:
Post and Auxiliary Unit 132 were the “Host” Legion Post and Auxiliary Unit for the conference. Held at the El Conquistador Resort in Oro Valley, a combined total of 562 Legionnaires, Sons of The American Legion, and Auxiliary members, from across the state, attended the three-day conference. The Post’s color guard performed during the opening and closing ceremonies. The Post received special recognition during the event receiving three 2021 Dept. of Arizona first-place awards. One for our color guard activities, one for our honor guard activities, and one for our Post’s history book submission, which was assembled by then historian Dan McGregor. Every Post member can be proud of these prestigious awards. In case you are wondering, the “host” is responsible for volunteers to staff and handle advance and on-site registration and check-in of those attending the event. The host is also responsible for promoting, and processing ads for the event program book and for the printing of the book. The host promotes the event among the business community and takes requests for vendor tables. The American Legion Department of Arizona takes care of the event planning and all hotel arrangements.
What is in it for the host Post?
– Proceeds from the registration fee of Legion and SAL members attending.
– Proceeds from the sale of ads published in the event program book.
– Proceeds from raffles promoted throughout the event.
– Proceeds from fees paid for vendor tables.
November 9, Thanksgiving helping hand for Veterans :
With a combined financial contribution of $1,350 by Post and Auxiliary Unit 132, in addition to donations from other organizations, Tucson Veterans Serving Veterans (TVSV) provided grocery store gift cards to 178 needy veterans, including 53 families. Veterans participating in the Thanksgiving program are under the care of and were recommended by social workers at the following agencies/organizations: Old Pueblo Community Services, Project Action for Veterans, Esperanza en Escalante, Rally Point, and The City of Tucson (sheltered veterans).
We continue to make a difference:
1. The Post and Auxiliary Unit contributed toward the rent on behalf of a veteran to prevent eviction. The Veteran, with multiple deployments to Afghanistan, and a single parent of two children had been released from his long-term employment. He obtained new employment but because of the time between jobs, he was in arrears and was facing eviction. With financial support from Post and Auxiliary Unit 132 and Tucson Veterans Serving Veterans, the landlord agreed to terms and ceased eviction proceedings. Once again, the Post and Auxiliary Unit helped secure a stable life for a veteran determined to provide for his family. 2. Grocery store gift cards were provided to several Guard members struggling to provide for their families due to circumstances beyond their control. “Words cannot express the appreciation we feel for willing organizations like yours to help out families in times of need. Your kindness reminded us of how blessed we really are. Thank you members of Post 132”.
All you need to know about the VA administered updated COVID -19 booster vaccines:
https://news.va.gov/110559/you-asked-we-answered-all-about-updated-covid-19-booster-vaccines/