14TH DISTRICT
Serving Fresno, Kings, and Madera Counties
LEGION
NAIRE
FRESNO, KINGS AND MADERA COUNTIES
VETERANS DAY 2020
“The Nation that forgets its Defenders, will itself be forgotten.”
COMMANDER’S CORNER GREETINGS COMRADES Greetings Legionnaires, and Legion Family members. We have had a number challenges facing us this year. Despite all we are facing, Legionnaires and our Legion Family members have proven themselves to resilient, determined, and resourceful. There are many things we have little, or no, control over. However, there are opportunities if we take the time to seek them out.
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COVID-19 has had a huge impact on us directly and indirectly. Businesses and working individuals have been affected the most. Many businesses have had to alter their business practices or been forced to close altogether. It has affected our ability to hold in-person meetings and curtailed most of our fund-raising activities. We will eventually Frank Ducar get back to some semblance of normality. Despite these issues, opportunities do exist. Many our meetings are being conducted via videoconferencing. We need to take advantage and evolve as many of our younger veterans would be extremely interested in attending our Post meetings via videoconferencing vs. sitting through a in person. Wildfires, specifically the Creek Fire, have affected us all to some degree. In some cases, it has forced the evacuation of families from their homes. It has destroyed homes and buildings and burned over 400 square miles. It has affected the air quality throughout the Valley. Many Legionnaires have volunteered at various evacuation sites cooking meals and helping the evacuated families and livestock. A side benefit has been several veterans seeing what we are doing have joined up on the spot. Our Political Parties and this year’s election have been especially polarizing. Remember the American Legion is a non-partisan organization. We are all entitled, and encouraged, to participate in political processes; just remember while under Legion “Colors” we are non-partisan and should conduct ourselves as such.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE We are a few months into a new year for the American Legion Auxiliary and things are still not back to normal. I know a lot of Units and members have struggled with COVID-19 and the changes it has brought. Humans are, by nature, social creatures for the most part and isolation tends to take a toll on Geni Lefler us. It has also been challenging to run programs, especially the distribution of Poppy’s and for the most part there have been no fundraisers. We missed the Girls State Luncheon, Girls State was a virtual Town Hall Meeting and there was no Department Convention to catch up with our extended family.
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Although, the isolation aspect was a negative some found the extra time as a chance to catch up and reflect on life. We came together and overcame obstacles. I think for most of us Zoom meetings were new. A little different, but a great way to see one another. We have started to slowly emerge from the confines of our homes but of course still following COVID-19 Protocols. Taking care to protect those at higher risk. Holding a District 14 meeting in September was wonderful although we could not hug everyone like we used to. It was still a glimpse that we are hopefully headed back to normality. A few changes this year with Department. The membership clerk and data entry clerk positions have both been outsourced to a third party company so please make sure that you are sending membership and money to the proper address. I want to thank Unit 3, Unit 4, and Unit 509 for stepping up to help with the first responder relief during the Creek Fire. Whether it was decorating bags to boost the morale of first responders or helping to make the sandwiches, wraps, or burritos it meant the world to the men and women who were assigned to the fire. I had the honor of getting to work
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PLUS INSIDE Updates From the ALR.....Page 10
Post 100 Donation........Page 22
Art Contest.....................Page 24
Squaw Valley Updates.........Page 26 1