For our members and associates who are friends with Pat Costanza, you are invited to attend a celebration of life service for Pat’s wife, Betty. The special service will be conducted at the Del Web clubhouse, on Monday January the 13th, 2025, from 10:30 AM to 12:00.
News and Notes for December 2024
2. The agenda for the annual banquet is included below which includes special guest speaker and author Susan P. Hunter.
3. The annual Mt. Juliet Christmas Parade is scheduled for 14 Dec. Our post will have a float with our Post sign and Christmas decorations . Those participating are to be at the SAC NLT at 8:00 AM for prep and movement to the parade staging area at West Wilson Middle School. The parade ends at Charlie Daniels Park or in the vicinity near Woodbridge Road, approximately at noon. Transportation back to the SAC will be by van.
4. The local chapter of Wreaths across America is looking for volunteers to help offload trucks at the National Veterans Cemetery at 1420 Gallatin Pike on two dates, 11 DEC at 0900 and 13 DEC at 0900, as coordinated by Mary Roberts with Mission BBQ. Any interested parties can contact me, CDR Ward, or Chaplain David Hale for more details. As a post, we have contributed $630 towards the purchase of wreaths for this special occasion.
5. Next scheduled post meeting is to be held on 14 JAN 2025 at the Senior Activity Center.
Christmas Banquet Agenda Below:
American Legion Post 281 Annual Christmas Banquet
Rutland Place
435 NW Rutland Rd, Mt. Juliet, TN
10 DEC 2024
Sequence of events:
Our American Legion Riders were out the other day supporting the Veterans Day Parade & Celebration on 11 Nov and the TVHS VA Parade on 16 Nov.
Just a few pictures below from the Tennessee Valley Healthcare Services Parade where there were some curious JROTC cadets. The cadet from the Smyrna HS JROTC marched in the parade and helped us represent some great Americanism in the works. Thanks to all who participated!
Our ALR members are on the ride representing The American Legion, our Post and supporting good causes that help our fellow veterans. We welcome you to ride with us!
Do you have a motorcycle 500cc or greater? Get a hold of Bob Ramsey or Phil Friedli for more information.
If you’re like me, Fundraising is not my favorite subject.
While learning about Wreaths Across America something came to light that seems like a good fit for our membership.
How many of you shop at Kroger? If you do, you probably have a Kroger+ card to get the exclusive discounts by using the card. You may even have a Kroger credit card which is or can be linked to the Kroger+ card.
Our post has been approved to participate in Kroger’s Community Rewards program. In doing so, you can select Post 281 as your favorite charity and a percentage of your purchases will automatically be donated to the post without additional cost to you! Every little bit helps, right?
Here’s some guidance:
To Use the Kroger Community Rewards Program:
Simply encourage your participants to visit http://www.kroger.com. Once logged into their Kroger account they can search for Tyler Cates American Legion Post 281 either by name or DS341 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and a rewards card.
*Customers must have a registered Kroger rewards card account to link to your organization.
*If a member does not yet have a Kroger rewards card, please let them know they are available at the customer service desk at any Kroger
REMEMBER, purchases will not count for your organization until after your participants register their rewards card.
Participants must swipe their registered Kroger rewards card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Kroger rewards card when shopping for each purchase to count.
If you need help, please let us know so we can help you get signed up.
In addition to the Kroger Community Rewards program we signed up for “iGive“
Established in 1997, iGive is the first online shopping mall where a portion of each purchase benefits the shopper’s favorite cause. iGive members have raised close to $10 million for charities across the U.S. and Canada, and this small army of caring shoppers have become an influential force in the internet marketplace. Over 1,700 of the web’s best stores have come to recognize the value of iGive shoppers, and this allows iGive to negotiate some of the best donation rates and exclusive coupons for its members. As an added bonus, when you shop through iGive you always have the extra support of their highly responsive customer service team, just in case something goes amiss.
Help Tyler Cates American Legion Post 281 Raise Much-Needed Funds.
Every time you shop at any of the 1,700+ online stores in the iGive network, a portion of the money you spend benefits Tyler Cates American Legion Post 281. It’s a free service, and you’ll never pay more when you reach a store through iGive. In fact, smart shoppers will enjoy iGive’s repository of coupons, free shipping deals, and sales. To get started, just create your free iGive account.
> Start iGiving at: www.iGive.com/TylerCatesAmericanLegionPost281
Walmart, Tractor Supply, Best Buy, Macy’s, Kohl’s to name a few. If you shop online, please bookmark our page and use iGive to funnel a little extra in our coffers to help fund the things we do.
News and Notes for the 12 Nov Regular Post meeting.
6:00 PM Pizza, Chips and Soft Drinks during social time.
On or about 6:30, Begin Opening Protocol.
Boys State attendees.
Introduce guest speaker Mayor James Maness to come and address post and answer questions
Adopt Minutes as posted by Adjutant
Christmas Banquet planning. The annual Christmas Banquet will again be held at Rutland Senior Place at 435 NW Rutland Rd. Doors will open at 6:00 PM. To make reservations, let Steve Iles know at our meeting that you want to attend, or you can make reservations online at the following link. Post 281: Christmas Banquet for 2024 . Be sure to choose your main course and your dessert. The cost is $20 per person. You can pay at the meeting or at the door the night of the banquet. Special Guest Speaker for the evening will be Susan Hunter as she describes the writing of her book 77 Letters, regarding letters sent to American Soldiers in Viet Nam from her mother.
Challenge Coin, We have worked up a challenge coin for our post. It will be introduced to the members on Tuesday. The decision was made to offer members a chance to purchase their own coins to give away. The cost of each coin will be $ 8.00 each for members. The coins will be given away to special recipients by the post where their service to our post and our community is noted. Attached is a working proof of the coin. (Terry wrote this. I can’t see how to attach the proof and it looked to tiny. So I thought to make it the featured image, above. Hope you like it! JM)
New Business, Wreaths Across America, New event for the post to participate in. David Hale and 2nd Vice Bob Snuck are our post representatives. A member would like us to consider making this a yearly effort on the part of the post, if nothing else, just that our post should ask for a donation to contribute to the cause. One member of our post is planning to donate $300.00
Flowers for Steven Cates, Tyler’s father, on behalf of the post.
Agenda for 8 OCT 24 Regular meeting.
CDR Ward is traveling on the road with his Craft Show/Baking Sheet business for a few weeks and will also miss Halloween in the Park. Mike Faoro is vacationing in Italy with Janie but will be home in time to help with Halloween in the park. Bring candy to the meeting for the event. Second Vice Bob Snuck will conduct the regular meeting.
New Business:
Menu: Option#1 – Pot Roast w/ Turkey, 2 sides (Potatoes & Green Beans) & either Pecan Pie or Banana Pudding for dessert. Option #2 – Pot Roast w/ Ham, 2 sides (Could be different ones) & either Pecan Pie or Banana Pudding for dessert. Salad, tea & water also provided for all.
*** Veggies meals will also be available per request.
Other concerns or recommendations?
Lebanon Fire Department is hosting a donation center for the victims of the recent disaster of Hurricane Helene. The drop-off location will be at LFD Headquarters, located at 520 Coles Ferry Pike. This location will receive donations from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM until further notice.
Please note, that while local communities appreciate the volunteer spirit during disasters and emergencies, it is important to refrain from sending resources that have not been requested by state or local authorities.
If you would like to bring donations to our upcoming picnic (10/5/24), and/or to our next post meeting (10/8/24), we’ll deliver them to the donation center.
Due to the pending messy weather that is headed our way over the next few days, we are postponing our annual Picnic that is scheduled for this Saturday and moving the picnic to a new date of 5 OCT.
The location for the picnic on 5 OCT 2024 is now going to be Cedar Creek Campground, at 9264 Saundersville Road, Mt. Juliet, which is on Old Hickory Lake.
It is a large recreation area with a large pavilion and a large grill, a playground, and a sand beach on the lake.
If you would, share this information with anyone that you thought was planning to attend this Saturday’s event, so they get the “word”.
Some of you may have received a reminder email from our ‘SignUpGenius’ which still had the original date and location in it. I was able to edit the title of the event which has the updated date and location. The date and location further down in the event can not be changed with out starting a new event and we hope it’s not too confusing. That being said, here’s the link to use for RSVP and helping hands:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DAFA62DA7F5C52-50507636-post
Since things have changed please make any necessary changes in the sign up app.
Please let me know if you need help with the app. I’m happy to help.
Due to the pending messy weather that is headed our way over the next few days, we are postponing our annual Picnic that is scheduled for this Saturday and moving the picnic to a new date of 5 OCT. The location for the picnic on 5 OCT 2024 is now going to be Cedar Creek Campground, at 9264 Saundersville Road, Mt. Juliet, which is on Old Hickory Lake. It is a large recreation area with a large pavilion and a large grill, a playground, and a sand beach on the lake. If you would, share this information with anyone that you thought was planning to attend this Saturday’s event, so they get the “word”.