Members and friends,
 
On this Veteran's Day, don't forget the main reason why we are members of this wonderful organization: OUR VETERANS, let them know we are thankful for their service.

We have been working hard to make sure all our veterans are taken care of, especially
those less fortunate than us.

We are very grateful for the donations to the PIER center, recently we had requests for jackets, blankets and clothing, please keep those donations coming. There has been a special request made for tents; the weather is getting colder and they can use some type of shelter.
If you have an old tent or know of someone that would like to donate one, we will pick it up or drop it off at the Post.
 
This Veteran's Day, there will be a barbecue at the Post from 2 to 5 pm, just a small token of appreciation. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided. Please bring a side dish to share.
 
Once again Knott's Berry farm is having it's annual "Salute to the Military" starting November 1, offering free admission to veterans and active duty personnel and their spouse or 1 guest. Additional tickets are $15 each.
 
Early Bird Dinner and Food Drive November 12 
Cocktail hour at 6pm, Dinner at 7pm. FREE with paid membership, guests $10. See you all then. There will be a collection box for “WE CARE”, please bring at least 2(two) non- perishable food items for the food drive for the Holidays. We thank you in advance.
Thanksgiving Day we are having our annual Thanksgiving Feast, 7 turkeys (including 2, by now famous fried by our Commander Ernie Rodriguez), there will be a sign up sheet for side dishes at the bar or give us a call to let us know what you will be bringing. Dinner will be served from 2-5 pm.
 
I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.

Mary Hernandez
Unit 716 President

Thanksgiving Delights
On Thanksgiving Day we’re thankful for
Our blessings all year through,
For family we dearly love,
For good friends, old and new.
For sun to light and warm our days,
For stars that glow at night,
For trees of green and skies of blue,
And puffy clouds of white.
We’re grateful for our eyes that see
The beauty all around,
For arms to hug, and legs to walk,
And ears to hear each sound.
The list of all we’re grateful for
Would fill a great big book;
Our thankful hearts find new delights
Everywhere we look!

By Joanna Fuchs


SHARON STARR
2nd Vice President

Before I get into the food part of my report ladies make your calendars right now, Nov 6th, 9am-2pm  Holiday Boutique.  This year will be the biggest year ever. 
 
Well looks like winter is coming.  The change is nice.  Speaking of change we (the Auxiliary) have made a few changes in our dinners but before I get to that don't forget Friday Nov. 12th is our Early Bird Dinner.  Cocktail hour and check in from 5-7pm dinner at 7pm.  We will draw the winning ticket of the 32" Vizio Flat Screen TV so be sure you have purchased yours. 
 
On Nov. 25th, Thanksgiving we will be serving a Thanksgiving Dinner with all the trimmings from 2pm-5pm.  Help is always needed in the kitchen and this is a big production for a few helpers but fun when there is a team in the kitchen.  So come and join the festivities bring the family and share the joy with your sisters and brothers of the American Legion.
 
Changes, in December you will no longer need to make reservations for dinner.  We are going to have one price, most meals being $8.00, and we are going to start with spaghetti, ALL YOU CAN EAT.  Yes, it's true all you can eat Dec 10th, 6-8pm, Ladies Auxiliary Dinner.
 
Don't forget Happy Food on Monday and Thursday from 5-7pm
 
Sharon Starr
2nd Vice



JOAN CLAYTOR
Girl State Chairman

At our October Brunch we were pleased to meet with two if our four girls state citizens who were accompanied with their parents. They represented Los Alamitos and Rosary High Schools.

One of our girls was elected to be a Senator for our State and our other girl was head of the Tory Political Party (which is one of the two political parties during the week of Girls state),

Both of there offices are voted on by the rest of the girls State citizens. ‘They did great’ and needless to say our Auxiliary is very proud of their achievements.

Joan Claytor
Girls State Chairman




DEBORAH DRISCOLL
Junior Activities Chairman

Thanks to all that came out for the Meatloaf Throwdown – the Auxiliary and Juniors reigned supreme, but only by three votes. A heartfelt thank you goes out to my worthy competitor, Sons 1st Vice Jeff Puhl – not only did he donate his time and efforts towards the Junior dinner, he made it a great deal of fun. Watch for the Auxiliary to sponsor a Meatloaf Cookoff after the first of the year – we had a lot of requests to get in on the action this time, but couldn’t accommodate them as this Throwdown was personal. Jeff and I had such a good time cooking together that another type of competition is being planned – besides, I accepted his challenge for a rematch.

On October 16th, our unit hosted a first ever Junior Jamboree for every girl in the district, planned and executed by District Junior Chairman Stephanie Janji. I know she won’t toot her own horn, but you all should know that Stephanie will be bringing many accomplishments and much glory to our Unit and Post by her hard work and great ideas for the District Junior program. This idea caught the attention of one of our chairmen on the Department level, and will probably some degree by other Districts. We even had in attendance young ladies from another Unit, in another District – we have plans to keep in touch and assist these girls in working on their Junior Patch Program, since they have nothing active going on in their own Unit. We also recruited at least 5 new Junior members for our Unit, which doubles the number of active young members – it’s a whole new ballgame!

Hope to see you all at the next Junior dinner on Friday November 19th – we will be serving all-you-can-eat homemade beef stew. Your continued patronage of the Junior dinners, cookie sales, and 50/50 have so far sponsored over 100 lunch servings at the VA Homeless Vet Center (that’s just the Juniors – overall Auxiliary donations have sponsored in excess of 350 individual meals) as well as 23 comfort boxes sent to Afghanistan. I am always open to suggestions – if there is something special you would like to see on the menu, I am more than happy to try to comply.

It’s November – thankfulness comes to mind this time of year. Personally, I am thankful for all the wonderful people I have come to know since joining the Post five years ago. All have enriched my life in many different ways, and made me a better person. I am truly grateful.

Deborah Driscoll
Junior Activities Chairman



TAMI BELL
National Security Chairman

Happy November all! Wow, can you believe the holidays are upon us?

We had fun while working hard with our Legionnaire's, Sons and Army detachment  at our booth at the Wings , Wheels and Rotors event on the Base. We sure sold a ton of hot dogs, corn and sandwiches with a portion of sales going to the Meals, Welfare and Recreation fund for our Soldiers. You can go to my Facebook page and see the pictures.

Our new Junior Susan , a member of our "adopted" Girl Scout Troop 1133 rallied her fellow scouts and they all  made some fabulous cards for our Veteran's Day project for the 1-140th Battalion.  Thank you to our Juniors for their letters too!.We included them in our own cards of well wishes and Godspeed blessings, which have been mailed out, and hopefully they will receive them by November 11.

Speaking of Veteran's Day- we will be participating in  a Veteran's Day Social hour at the Community Living Center LBVA, Sunday November 7th at 2pm. Snacks are requested, preferably store bought-with some sugar free items needed also. We hope you will join us in thanking our Veteran's for their service.

Thanksgiving will find us serving dinner at the Post for not only our Legion Family , but for those firemen, and police officers that are on duty. We also will be making dinner for about 10 troops that are on duty at the base. If you would like to participate in cooking, or make a food donation, please co-ordinate with President Mary.

We are asked in our National Plan of work to participate in Yellow Ribbon Events. These are usually events for Troops getting ready to deploy, whereby services for themselves or their families are explained. It is a great time to introduce ourselves and explain what the American Legion Auxiliary is and what programs and services we have. Believe it or not, there are many Troops and their family members that have never heard of the American Legion and its Family!
There are 3 local Yellow Ribbon Events planned in Garden Grove this November.

Post-Deployment +60 Days—40th ADT
Garden Grove November 7
Pre-Deployment/Deployment Ceremony—640th ASB
Garden Grove November 13
Post-Deployment +60 Days—223rd FI
Garden Grove November 20


if you would like to participate please contact myself or Cheryl Neifer.

Thank you for all you do for serving our Troops and local police and fire department personnel.

Tami Bell
National Security Chairman


Blue Star Mothers of Orange County

The Blue Star moms thank the American Legion Post 716 so very much for letting us meet in your Hall on the 3rd Sundays of the month.
We have really appreciated meeting you and hope that our relationship will be a long and prosperous one for us both.

Our most recent meeting we packed up and mailed 10 boxes of miscellaneous items for our troops, both in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Not bad for our first time.

In the future, we will have speakers from the Military and other community resources.  Everyone is invited to these meetings and we would love to have you.

Once we get our 501 C 3, our dues will be $20 per year for the Mothers to join and be official members.  Associate members do not pay the dues, but are welcome, of course.  These would include anyone else who is interested in supporting our troops.

For further information please send an email to: Amarya10@aol.com.  I hope to see some of you at our next meeting on November 21st. at 1pm, call 562-430-6033 to make your reservations for the wonderful Champagne breakfast that is served from 9am to 12pm before our meeting.
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Mary Arteaga
President Pro Tem
Blue Star Mothers of Orange County