Post 381 News: February 2016

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Oyster Bowl

The Oyster Bowl will take place on February 27th at
Jameson-Harrison American Legion Post 238,
6265 Brandywine Road,
Hughesville, MD 20637
Southern Maryland District Oyster Bowl 2016
Oyster Bowl Schedule Social Hour 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Dinner 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Award Presentations 7:00 pm
For further details or directions call the Post @ 301.274.3522 or visit us on the web @ www.alpost238.org
Menu
Raw, Steamed and Fried Oysters
Oyster Stew
Roast Beef, Parsley Potatoes
Green Beans, Cole Slaw, Dessert
Draft Beer Included
Cocktails and Wine Available
Award Categories
I - Membership 15 - 150
II - Membership 151 - 300
III - Membership 301 - 500
IV - Membership 501 - 750
V - Membership 751 - 999
VI - Membership 1000 plus
Ticket Information

Thursday, February 4, 2016

VA funding for FY 2016

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) received $162.7 billion for the current fiscal year. Of that total, $71.4 billion goes to discretion-ary programs, an increase of $6.4 billion over the previous year. These areas include:

$50 billion for VA medical services. Individual accounts which interest The American Legion include $7.5 billion in mental health-care services; $6.7 billion in homeless veterans treatment, services, housing and job training; $1.5 billion for Hepatitis C treatment; $605 mil-lion for family caregivers of seriously injured veterans; $232 million for traumatic brain injury treatments; $270 million in rural health initiatives; and $144 million in suicide prevention activities.
$165.8 billion in advance appropriations for all veterans programs for FY 2017. Discretionary medical programs will be funded in 2017 at $63.3 billion. In addition, mandatory programs for next fiscal year will be funded at $102.5 billion. This was done to eliminate the possi-bility that veterans programs would not receive funding in case of a government shutdown.
$2.7 billion to address the disability claims processing backlog. This funding will support 770 additional staff to tackle claims and appeals work.
$1.2 billion for major construction. Funds will be used for correcting critical seismic deficiencies, new hospital and clinic construction, and repairing crumbling infrastructure in some of VA’s oldest structures. Minor construction received $406 million for various smaller pro-jects.

Funding for other programs include $271 million for the National Cemetery Administration; $120 million for state veterans homes con-struction grants; $46 million for state veterans cemeteries construction grants; and $32 million for the U.S. Court of Appeals for veterans claims.

The Department of Defense (DoD) received $514.1 billion for its discretionary programs, with an additional $58.6 billion in Global War on Terror/Overseas Contingency Operations funding. Its various funding amounts include:

$129.2 billion to provide pay for active-duty troops and reserves. It also funds a 1.3 percent pay raise.
$32.3 billion for the Defense Health Program to provide care for troops, military families and retirees. It includes an additional $1.1 bil-lion to address research on traumatic brain injury and psychological health, cancer and suicide prevention outreach programs, among others.
$167.5 billion for operations and maintenance, such as essential readiness programs, training, depot maintenance and base operations. Also included is $263 million for sexual assault prevention and response programs, and an additional $25 million to continue the expan-sion of the Sexual Assault Victims’ Counsel program.
$69.8 billion for research, development, testing and evaluation of new defense technologies.
$111 billion for new military equipment and upgrades.

National Commander

I had the pleasure last month of letting members of The American Legion’s National Membership & Post Activities Committee know that 36 departments were either at or above the 80 percent membership target date for January. For the past two years, less than 10 departments had met the January membership goal.

I was smiling when I shared the good news, and I hope I continue to smile and see more green membership numbers than red ones as we focus on finishing the game. We have to be close to that 100 percent membership target date of May 11 if we are going to grow this organization.

The dues increase and revitalization efforts are two reasons I believe membership is in the green.

A dues increase doesn’t usually represent growth, but with it being implemented in the middle of the membership year it created a focus for the membership team that there was a reason to get out there early and work membership. And with revitalization, I’ve seen the fruits of those efforts. Not every department has implemented a revitalization effort while others have implemented it extremely well. Where we’ve done revitalization efforts is where we are seeing membership growth.

One way to grow membership is by discussing with potential members during a Walk for Veterans event what the Legion has done for you and then share how they can get involved to serve their country once again. Since taking office as national commander last September, I have participated in 16 walks during my travels to departments. And no two walks have been alike, but there is one commonality − they all have been successful because we got The American Legion out of the post home and out into the community, visible in the community.

I want people in the community to ask what we are doing and for us to tell why we are a member of The American Legion Family. That is something we have lost in this organization; we don’t tell our story.

I want to be able to say that The American Legion is growing when we go into our 100th year. We can grow; it’s got to be a team effort.

National Commander's Pin

National Commander's Pin Incentive Program

During the 2015-2016 membership year, National Commander Dale Barnett will award hisNational Commander pin to any American Legion Family member who obtains three new members into The American Legion.

A new member is defined as any eligible person joining for the 2016 membership year who was not a member of The American Legion during the 2015 membership year.

Each member listed must be eligible for membership in The American Legion. Please forward names of SAL members or Auxiliary members to your detachment or unit for use in their respective incentive programs.

To maintain the integrity of the National Commander's pin incentive program, only one pin will be awarded per individual.

The certification form for this program may be submitted at any time after Aug. 30. Upon receipt, national membership staff will confirm the names and mail the pin directly to the person who earned it. Commander Barnett's pin incentive program will end June 30, 2016, or when supplies are exhausted.

National Commander's Incentive Pin New Member Form (PDF) »