S.A.L. Commander-Danny Roe
I would like to start out by thanking Doug White, Bob Girou, and Gary Blanchard for donating their time to assemble the new cabinet and shelf for the Kitchen. It is a very nice looking cabinet and will help us to organize our dry goods and kitchen tools.
Your new officers were installed on Sunday, June 25th, and have been hard at work for you.
July 4th fireworks at Eaton’s Beach was a great success. They permitted our Squadron to sell wrist bands for $5 each, and then donate half the money raised to Special Olympics through our Squadron. I am happy to report that $4,400 was raised, so $2,200 will be added to our normal Special Olympics donation. Fantastic! And thanks to all who helped with that.
We have been hard at work setting our base Charity budget for the new fiscal year that just started July 1st. We were at $40,000 base budget for last year with actual charity donations of $74,000. That was a fantastic year. Thanks to our members and their support as we provided the food for the days/nights that we were responsible for the kitchen. I am excited to surpass that amount and donate even more for the 2023/24 fiscal year.
We are continuing our Urn Project for Indigent Veterans this year. The Urns are made by the Villages Woodshop, and we support the Urn Project financially. We also help by delivering them to the National Cemeteries in Florida. Thanks to Doug White for heading up this project! This year we are also increasing our financial support by making coasters at the Village Woodshop depicting the emblems of the 4 members of our Legion Family. We are selling them for $20 a set and will allow us to make two urns for every set of coasters sold. They will be available in the office. Stop in to get a set and support this project. You can buy the Family or mix and match as you choose. You can also stop in the woodshop and have a personal urn made, Approx $100 to $150 , and all profits go the Urn Project.
Save the Date: Our Halloween Party will be October 28th this year, and tickets will go on sale Tuesday, September 26th in the lobby at 4:00 pm, and in the office after that date. I expect it to sell out quickly, with Billy D Williams performing, and a nice Chicken Cordon Bleu dinner. Proceeds will go to one of our favorite charities, Fisher House in Gainesville. Tickets will be $20 each.
AUGUST 2023
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The Following is an article written by Bob O’Neal as he ends his time as Commander. I would just like to congratulate Bob on his dedicated leadership for the past two years. Great Job Bob!!! I look forward to working with Bob in his new role as Adjutant. I am sure he will provide much guidance as I begin my new role as Commander. Just a note, we ended the fiscal year with Memorial Squadron 347 membership at 959 members for 105.6% of our goal.
“The Sons concluded the fiscal year on a high note. John Gorsuch, past Squadron Commander and past 6th District Commander, was elected Eastern Area Commander (also called Detachment Vice Commander for the Eastern Area) at the Detachment Convention in Orlando. The June 15-17 Convention was very interesting and educational. There was a strong emphasis on cooperation among the units of the Post and on planning and training. Florida SAL membership reached 22,653, an all-time high and 105% of the target. Our Squadron received three awards in recognition of donations to the Child Welfare Foundation and Special Olympics. Donations from the floor by Squadrons in attendance totaled $204,707. By the time this is published, Danny Roe will be the Commander. We wish him the best as he embarks on his journey leading the Squadron to new heights.
Yours in God and Country.
JULY 2023