VFW District 20 Sentinel Newsletter

There are several Dates that you need to remember in the month of March.

1- On March 01, 2009 is the deadline to submit Eagle Scout of the year award to post

2- On the 11th of March is the Deadline to submit your Post Publications to Texas VFW HQ for Publication Award

3- On the 23rd of March is the Deadline to qualify for National Community Active by reported 20 different Community Action projects on VFW

Community Service Active Report Forms.

This date is also the Deadline for Qualifying for National Youth Citation by reporting all 6 categories of

Youth Projects.

4- And the 23 of March is also the Deadline to qualify for National Americanism Citation by reporting 9 different Americanism Projects

5- April 01, 2009 is the Deadline to submit Scout of the Year award to Department

NOTICE:  An individual by the a.k.a. of Mitchell Johnson, is calling post in Texas saying he is stranded in Missouri and asking for money.

A call was made to Missouri VFW and we were informed that this individual is a scam artist..

As we try to restart this news letter the District 20 Quartermaster will be receiving any information to enter in the letter.

The cut off dates are. 20 April 2009, 20 May 2009, and 20 June 2009.

Please try and correct any mistakes that you find and not get your feelings hurt if we make some mistakes.

It's not that we went out of our way to do it.

Comrades now is the time you need to start looking at your choices for next year.

There are a lot of good Comrades that could/would do a great job for our District.

I hope that this newsletter finds you and all your loved ones well and that the Easter Bunny shows up for the young at heart.

As we look at this time let us remember that we also were out on the lines during this time. Stop and say a prayer for those that now are serving.

May God Bless and Keep us Safe.

Lewis E. Gravelin (The Grand Slam)

Commander

Texas VFW District 20

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I want to start off by thanking each one of you for what you do for Veterans and their Families.

I know that you are out there working very hard to do what you can to support the mission of the VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary.

Remember to get those reports in.

As District 20 Junior Vice I am asking for your support.

Many of you are aware that District 20 has not had a successful fundraiser in the past 2 years.

Due to that we will have a very hard time completing our programs next year. I am making it my personal mission to not let District 20 fail.

However, to do that I will need everyone's support. Post 7108 in Helotes is going to sponsor a Turkey Shoot on 4 APR 09.

I am asking that each Post in the District contribute by doing the following:

1. Donate $25

2. Purchase one scatter sheet. Each circle is $.50 each or $25 for the page.

3. Support a 50/50 cash dawning ( to be drawn at conclusion of Turkey Shoot)

4. Make the short drive out to support the Turkey Shoot and have FUN!

Each Post will receive a Scatter Sheet and more will be available at the event.

Targets will be sold at the event for $2.00 each or 3 targets for $5.00.

Ammunition and weapons will be provided.

As I come out to your Post I will have the 50/50 tickets.

Together we can!

Tish McCullough

District 20 Jr. Vice CDR

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From the District 20 Chaplain - Dave Alexander

'Bless and strengthen the sick, the needy, and the afflicted.'

My services are available anytime, anywhere, so please do not hesitate in

requesting them.

My phone# is (210)590-9385, and my email is SuprDave62@aol.com

“Trust the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your understanding”

PROVERBS 3:5

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During my last article, I introduced myself and we have had a couple of District meetings and our District Training workshop which a hand full of you were unable to make, but due to the weather conditions, and other community activities and rescheduling to make a Department quota we didn’t have a good attendance, but it was very informative and a lot of good informative material was prepared and handed out for all the Post Commanders to put out to their Quartermasters and other Post’s officers and staff as well. It is very important as I continue to emphasize that all the Post’s Commanders and their Quartermasters remember to get your copies of your quarterly ‘Post’s Trustee’ reports to Department on time on the following month of each quarters by the cutoff by the 30^th of the following month and not to wait to the last minute and to also furnish me a courtesy copy for monitoring and keeping the District Commander updated as well on your progress and this mandatory requirement.

You are all aware of the new mandatory requirement to submit your copies of your IRS Form 990’s as well to Department for their new requirement. If your Post’s canteen operation or general fund make less than $25.000.00 on separate IRS EINs then all you to do is fill out the new EpostCard Fm 990-N and submit for that requirement and ensure you send a copy to Department and to me as well; but if you make more than $25,000.00, then you will have to continue to submit your Form 990-EZ/T as before, if your Quartermaster doesn’t do this for you and you have an Accountant/Bookkeeper do it for you, then you need to ensure compliance in accordance with the IRS in Ogden UT, the time period for everyone is 1 July – 30 June each year, that is why you have until 20 November of that reporting year to get your copies to Department by their suspense, unless you can get a further extensions by writing to the IRS in other cases as with some other Posts and also to remember to send those notices to Department of Texas, ATTN: Carlos Susitata-Asst QM as to why it’s taking your Post so long to comply.

Also for now on to communicate or contact me by email at my home website for now on at ‘jhuff26@satx.rr.com’. This is due to my work hours and working for the government, better to email me for any communication and follow-up at home.

Thanks again for the confidence – In Comradeship – John Huff –District 20 Quartermaster

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I am happy to report the three Men’s Auxiliary units have all been inspected and look real good. During my visits I advised them all, gave them updated paperwork, examples of letters and other paperwork for their Treasurers to make their organization more efficient and proficient in their documentation in record keeping and filing, especially for their quarterly audits, financial reports and monthly minutes. They were all informed about the new IRS Fm 990-N E-Post-Card requirement and how easy it was to complete on the website and also informed them that the time period for each year as it is for all the Posts for the period 1 July – 30 June of each year as in accordance with my discussion with the IRS in Orden Utah that handles this area. I also need to announce, if you were not aware by now, the membership dues increased from $10.00 to $12.00 per new member when someone joins your unit. You can add to that for your dues, but it must be approved in your’By-Laws’ for each year or amended when National mandates this.

If some of you Posts still have the interest to try and create a Men’s Auxiliary – you must get 25 names or more to establish a Charter and properly document, once you have done that, then the Post Commander must get approval by the Post membership and an intitial fee of $25.00 sent with the documentation.

If you are really interested, please email me at my home website at ‘jhuff26@satx.rr.com’ if you have this capability, if not call me a home

(210) 829-0253 with a recorder at home and leave a message and I’ll be glad to arrange a meeting and sit-down to assist you with the proper paperwork, advice, etc.

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The Ladies of District 20 do an exceptional job taking care of all Veterans and their Families; and our Active duty Soldiers and Families. Your work was never more evident than in the Auxiliaries’ Mid-Year Reports. I’m proud to say that District 20 was 100% in reporting at Mid-Year; and Sisters the number of hours and donations reported was outstanding. If you missed the Mid-Winter Conference, you missed a wonderful and informative time. I enjoyed getting to meet and talk with our National President Dixie Hild.

Congratulations to the Auxiliaries recognized at Mid-Winter Conference for attaining 100% and above of their quota in membership (Units 76, 8541, 2059, and 4815); and to the Auxiliaries recognized by National for their exemplary work and donations to National programs such as Operation Uplink and Snow Ball Express. District 20 is at 90.15% of its membership quota. There are some new incentives for those Auxiliaries that have not attained 100% in membership. District 20 was over 85% of its membership quota by December 15, 2008 so I got to go to the District President’s 85% Dinner. Thanks for allowing me to enjoy that experience. To the Auxiliaries that are struggling with Membership, please don’t give up.

Contact your continuous members and find out why they have not renewed their membership. Offer help, if needed. Remember, the success of our organization depends upon its membership.

Our Department President Debbie Daniels will be making her visit to District 20 on March 12-13. Although some of the activities such as visits to the Hospitals are by invitation only, the Dinner and other visits are open to all. Velma Rivera, President’s Visit Chairman, will be contacting your Auxiliary President with all the details. There will be a Buddy Poppy Display. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible. To those that may want to attend the Dinner but need transportation please contact me or any District 20 officer for assistance.

Reminders: Ladies report your community service to your Auxiliary President or Chairman. We do so much on a daily basis that goes unreported. If you still have Cancer Aid and Research (CAR) Pins that have not been sold, call me. If you cannot sell them, please return them to me, so I can return them to the Department CAR Chairman. If they have been sold, please send the money to the Department Treasurer. Make sure the check is earmarked “CAR pins” and make a copy of the check and send to the Department CAR Chairman Kathy Marrelli and keep a copy for you.

Also, if you have Ways and Means Tickets that have not been sold please call me.

I continue to stress the importance of communication. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at (210) 662-9515 or any of the other District 20 officers and chairmen, if you need assistance. We are here to assist when and where we are needed. I look forward to seeing you at my next visit to your Auxiliary/Post Home.

Please keep all Veterans and their Families and those Service Members serving in hostile areas and recuperating in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities and their Families in your thoughts and prayers.

“Serve With Smiles, Hugs and Caring Hearts” so that by doing we “Make our Dreams Become Rainbows”.

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At this time the only information I can pass on is, that at our last District meeting I was asked what was I going to do to generate funds for next year. I asked the members to give me a couple of days to get in touch with the other Post Auxiliary presidents for some suggestions, so far it is believed that a Basket of Spirits to raffle would be good. I will also have possible have better information on this. If you have any suggestions you can reach me at 830-303-5563 at home or at 210-385-7972 on my cell, Get well to all of you soon who maybe or are under the weather.

To those of you that have lost a loved one - our sympathy to you and your loved ones and family.

Congratulations to those of you celebrating your ‘Wedding Anniversary’ this month and ‘Happy Birthday’ to those of you born in the month of March.

Until next time, take care - God bless you all and God bless our troops and keep them out of harms way!

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Try to make time in your hectic schedule to think of our hospitalized Veterans and active duty military that are serving our country far from their family and loved ones.

Send a card to a military hero in a VA facility, hospital or nursing home. Better yet, deliver it in person. Be sure to thank them for their service to our country. It doesn’t take much time to show that we appreciate what they have done to keep our freedom.

The most important persons to remember is our POW/MIA’s still unaccounted for and pray for them and their families. Everyday should be Veteran’s Day and POW/MIA Day until they all come home.

It does not cost anything to give someone a warm smile and a hug. This little jester is priceless but means so much to the person on the receiving end.

Please keep our active duty military and hospitalized veterans in your prayers. My sympathy to those who have lost a loved one; to those who have been ill, I wish you a speedy recovery.

Loyally, Joyce Dalton, Jr. Vice President of the District 20 Ladies Auxiliary

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I would like to ‘ thank’ all the Posts that donated towards the ‘Wreaths Across America ‘ceremony. Also, ‘Thank You’ all who donated monies to ‘Specialist Bonifacio Benavides’, a veteran who recently returned from Iraq who lost his home in a fire and tragically also lost his 9 year old son. Our District sent in $1,600.00. He was very appreciative.

Thanks again my fellow Comrades and Sisters,

Sylvia C. Sanchez
Past District 20 Commander

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Contact Information:
Commander Lewis E. Gravelin	Quartermaster John Huff
President Bobbie Rollins	Treasurer Nellie Rodriguez
Questions or Comments about site contact the webmaster at: jamesb3@sbcglobal.net

Contact Information:

Commander Lewis E. Gravelin

Quartermaster John Huff

President Bobbie Rollins

Treasurer Nellie Rodriguez

Questions or Comments about site contact the webmaster at:
jamesb3@sbcglobal.net

Contact Information:

Commander Lewis E. Gravelin

Quartermaster John Huff

President Bobbie Rollins

Treasurer Nellie Rodriguez

Questions or Comments about site contact the webmaster at: jamesb3@sbcglobal.net

Questions or Comments about site contact the webmaster at:
jamesb3@sbcglobal.net