American Legion Post 94
DECEMBER 2018 Newsletter
Up-Coming Meetings and Events
Monthly Membership Meetings (Second Friday of every month except July)
6:00 pm – Social
6:30 pm – Dinner
7:30 pm – Program
14 December 2018
The Thurston County Veterans Assistance Fund Program Manager will be presenting an overview of this program, how it is funded (hint: from your property taxes), who is eligible, and program requirements. In addition, Frank Sterling, 4th District Commander, is visiting and will be invited to speak as well.
11 January 2019
Boy Scout Troop and Venture Crew 1208 will be giving their annual update on what they have been doing and what they have in store for 2019.
8 February 2019
Sidewalk Homeless Services of Thurston County is being asked to talk about their program on assisting homeless veterans.
Post and American Legion News
First things first. Here is wishing you, your family, and friends a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
The American Legion Department of Washington will be holding its mid-winter conference on 1 and 2 February 2019 at the Red Lion Hotel in Olympia. Everyone is well to attend. The agenda can be found at the Department website: walegion.org.
At the 16 November 2018, our Post distributed 82 Thanksgiving food baskets at the Olympia armory. Those food baskets brought a lot of smiles to many veterans and their family and was a very rewarding and heart-warming experience for all. Many thanks to everyone to helped.
The Post now has a website in addition to its Facebook page. Please check it out at:
http://centennial.legion.org/washington/post94
You can also follow Post activities on Facebook. Check it out and like us to follow events.
Our Facebook page is American Legion Post 94 Lacey Washington.
General Veteran, VA, and Safety News
Christmas Safety Tips
The National Traffic Safety Institute has some safety tips to make sure your Christmas is a joyful one.
Christmas Tree Safety
· Consider an artificial tree as they are much safer and cleaner
· A real tree should not lose green needles when you tap it on the ground
· Cut one inch off the trunk to help absorb water
· Leave the tree outside until ready to decorate
· The tree stand should hold a minimum of one gallon of water
· Check the water level daily
· Make sure the tree is secured and cannot be knocked over
· Keep the tree away from all heat sources
· Use miniature lights that have cool-burning bulbs
· Always turn off the tree lights when going to bed or leaving the house
· Never use candles even on artificial trees
· Dispose of the tree properly after the holidays
Home Safety
· Make sure you have a properly working fire alarm
· Use only outdoor lights on the exterior of the home
· Never use worn light strings
· Connect no more than three strands of lights together
· Never use an indoor extension cord outdoors
· Avoid overloading wall outlets and extension cords
· Keep outdoor electrical connectors above ground and out of the snow
· Never use electric lights on a metallic tree
· Extinguish fireplace ashes before going to bed or leaving the house
· After parties, check under and around chairs, sofas and other furniture for smoldering cigarettes if there have been people smoking in the house
· Have at least one working carbon monoxide detector in the house
· Have a fire extinguisher available
Keep Your Clothes Dryer Vent Clean – Some Simple Tips from Consumer Reports
Not taking care of your dryer causes several issues, starting with longer drying times, which can lead to shrunken clothes and heat-damaged fabrics. It can also drive up your utility bills, since the dryer is one of the more energy-intensive appliances in the home.
Another symptom of poor dryer maintenance: your dryer's automatic cycles could start to be less accurate, resulting in laundry that's either damp or dried to a crisp.
Last but certainly not least, a neglected dryer poses a serious fire hazard. In fact, some 7,000 fires, 200 injuries, and 10 deaths are attributed each year to dryer fires, according to estimates by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Not cleaning the dyer is the leading cause of the blazes.
Here’s how to get peak performance, efficiency, and safety out of your clothes dryer in a few simple steps.
Step 1: Empty the Lint Screen
This needs to happen every time you use the dryer. Not every week or every so often—every single time. If you allow too much lint to build up on the screen, heated dryer air won’t move freely through the machine, which will prolong drying times.
Step 2: Clean the Dryer Vent
Even if you’re diligent about emptying the lint screen, small fibers will get through the trap and into your dryer vent. Left unchecked, this lint can slowly snowball, to the point where an errant spark could lead to a serious conflagration inside the dryer vent. That’s why it’s critical to clean the dryer vent every few months or so, depending on how often you use the dryer and the types of laundry you dry.
It’s a pretty simple task, assuming you can access the dryer vent by pulling the dryer away from the wall (if not, you’ll need to hire a professional). Always disconnect the dryer from its main power source at your home's electric panel. Then separate the vent from the dryer and vacuum both ends using the crevice attachment of your vacuum.
A few years ago, Consumer Reports tested the Lint Lizard, a device that can be attached to the end of your vacuum. It was extremely effective at sucking up dryer lint, so it might be worth the $10 investment. Just note the Lint Lizard’s sharp point could harm flexible dryer ducts made of foil or plastic. That being said, they (Consumer Reports) strongly recommend metal dryer ducts, because they don't sag, making lint less likely to build up. Also, if a fire does start, a metal dryer vent is more likely to contain it than one made of plastic or foil.
Step 3: Clean the Moisture Sensors
Our top-rated dryers all have moisture sensors that work in conjunction with auto-dry cycles to detect the laundry’s dampness and shut off the machine when clothes are dry. Over time, these sensors can get covered with film, especially if you use dryer sheets. The buildup can prevent the dryer from knowing when the laundry is dry, leaving them either damp or overcooked.
To counter this problem, clean the sensors with a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol every few months, or any time the auto-dry cycles seem to be missing the mark. The sensors are usually located just inside the dryer, underneath the door. Look for thin metal bars, about 6 inches long, with a slight curve that follows the contour of the door. If you don't see the sensors there, check your owner's manual for their location.
Murphy’s Military Laws of the month
· The quartermaster has only two sizes, too large and too small.
· Mines are equal opportunity weapons.
· The combat worth of a unit is inversely proportional to the smartness of its outfit and appearance.
· The enemy never monitors your radio frequency until you broadcast on an unsecured channel.
Adjutant’s Report
American Legion National and Department Headquarters voted to raise their dues by $5.00 each for a total of $10.00 starting January 2016 for a grand total of $50.00 per year. The Post voted to not raise its dues at this time.
Building Rental
If you were not aware, the Post offers both the post building and the pavilion for rent.
Building
Post Members
Non-Members
Post Building
$175.00
$325.00
Pavilion (available only on week nights)
$175.00
$325.00
Pavilion is no longer available for weekend rentals. The post has a Church renting it for both Saturday and Sundays.
There is a $200.00 refundable security deposit requirement as well. Please contact Larry Granish at 360.701.5921 or email at lgrani@comcast.net to reserve either facility.
Chaplain’s Corner
Contact the Post Chaplain, Otis Chapman, at lukie1964@gmail.com if you need assistance.
Service Officer
Do you feel that you have a residual health problem that is linked to your time in the service? Have you applied for benefits with the Veterans Administration and been turned down? If so, do not try to deal with the VA on your own. My name is Rose Hodgeboom and I am the Post 94 service officer. It is my job to help you navigate the benefits system. Call me at 360-491-3621 if you need assistance with a claim. The Legion also has a Temporary Financial Assistance program that could help you one time with paying your utilities, rent/mortgage, or other emergency needs. This is an American Legion Children and Youth program and to qualify you must have minor children in your home. If you feel you need help from this program let me know and I will be glad to help.
The Lacey Veterans Service Hub also provides a wide variety of assistance to veterans and now has over 35 providers working out of there. The Hub is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (except holidays) and is located at 4232 6th Avenue SE, Suite 202, Lacey, WA 98503. The phone number is 360.456.3850.
Post Officers for 2017-2018
Commander – Gary Walker
1st Vice-Commander - Bob Nakamura
2nd Vice Commander - Larry Douglas
Adjutant - Larry Granish
Finance Officer – Dave Hodgeboom
Sergeant at Arms – Kevin Lindsey
Chaplain – Otis Chapman
Veteran Service Officer - Rose Hodgeboom
Judge Advocate - David Hodgeboom
Post Historian – Eric Strom
