Post 3 Legion Riders
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
We are NOT a motorcycle club!
We are a part of the nation’s largest wartime veteran’s service organization, members of the American Legion “Family” (Legionnaires, Sons and Auxiliary members) who have joined together to ride our motorcycles for fun and fellowship and to remember and dedicate our self to our original purpose. Service to Our Country.
Being a part of the American Legion, the Riders are committed to:
1. Mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs for them in our communities,
2. Advocating patriotism and honor,
3. Promoting strong national security, and
4. Continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans.
True to the Legion's grassroots tradition, each local Riders chapter manages its programs at the post level. Annually the Post 3 Riders are part of many projects and events.
Membership Requirements
American Legion Riders Post #3 Lincoln, NE
The requirements for membership are.
A. An individual must be a current member of one of the following:
1. An American Legion Post
2. An American Legion Auxiliary Unit
3. A Sons of the American Legion Squadron
B. Each individual shall in order to establish and maintain membership, own (name on title) a motorcycle of at least 350cc in size (no ATV's) that is licensed and insured as required by Nebraska state law.
C.Each individual must have paid the required dues and submitted any required documentation annually.
Dues and Documentation of Membership
a. Dues will be $20.00 per annual year. To remain a member annual dues will be required to be paid by April 1st, each year.
b. To insure accurate information on members is maintained, Members annually shall verify that the information contained on their original application is current and correct or provide any changes to the information at time of renewal of membership.
c. Persons joining the Chapter at any time during the year will be required to submit a completed Post 3 ALR application to verify they meet membership requirements and pay the annual dues for that year.
Membership qualification may be verified at any time by the Sergeant at Arms.
2019 OFFICERS
Leadership 2018
Commander: Jody Schmale
Vice-Commander: Jerry Hutchison
Chaplain: Terry King
Secretary/Membership: MiKe Streeter
Treasurer: Dave Dietz
Road Captain/Webmaster: William Smisek
Sergeant-at-Arms: Ray Gilbertson
Next Meeting Third Thursday of Every Month. 7:00 PM, Denton Legion Club
Minutes February Meeting
Meeting Held Denton Legion Club
February 21, 2019
Denton American Legion Post 355, Denton, NE
1904 Call to order- By Commander Schmale
Present Colors and MIA Chair
Attention to Colors and Pledge of allegiance – by Commander
MIA Chair – By Commander
Prayer – By Glen Masek
Opening Introductions
New Members- self introductions – Elaine and John Falgione
Officers –self introductions
Members in Attendance – self Introductions – 13 total members present
Guests – introductions – John Stevens oldest Grand Daughter.
Correspondence received for information or for action by membership
Commander – Denton Legion Spring Fling poker run May 18th. There are at least two other poker runs of interest on this date. May 18th Sons of Denton Legion Poker Run, this is one we should support with our participation
Commander - Bob Swanson Rider of the Year award, candidates submitted through ALR Chapters by March 15th, will be presented for the first time in 2019. Commander has all the info if you desire to have a Chapter member nominated.
Reports from officers
Commander – Schmale- nothing.
Vice Commander - Hutchison –
Has been in contact with Amy Pappas and she will keep us up to date on the Memorial Day program. Their meeting is the same day and time as ours so we will not have any representation.
Treasurer – Dietz – absent - represented by Hank Bruner
January 2018 report sent to all membership via e-mail on February 9, 2019, Total for end of month $2,736.33, $37 was collected for bunker fund at this meeting. Motion to approve report by Rick Simmons second by John Stevens, motion approved.
Secretary Streeter-
January meeting minutes were posted on the Post 3 ALR web page for all members review and membership notified via e-mail on 1-28-2019. Call for additions, correction, revisions. Motion to approve minutes by Rick Simmons second by Rick Stromer, motion approved.
Secretary Streeter –
Reported on membership-2019 paid membership is 35.
Sgt. At Arms Gilbertson – absent
Road Captain Smisek – absent
Old Business
Streeter – Years of service recognition official Rocker saying “Serving ALR Since YEAR”, the cost would be very high to have a local vendor make each person a rocker patch. Commander will check with Omaha ALR as they have a vendor that makes their patches. Tabled from December until March meeting.
Commander – follow up on approved motion to support boy’s state in 2019 by funding one boy’s attendance. Have 12 applications for review to pick a winner. Four Officers and Ray Paulson will pick final nomination.
New Business
Discussed Memorial for member Donna Stevens who passed away on February 11, 2019, Donna became a member on 2/17/2008 joining as a co- rider with her husband John. She will be missed by our group. Motion by Streeter second by Simmons to provide $200 memorial from Post 3 ALR to Stevens’s family as requested by them. Motion approved.
Fun Rides Committee – was formed by the Commander Committee members (Hutchison, Streeter, Paulson and Gubser).
Streeter suggested for our first fun ride that in late April a ride to the new Veterans Home in Kearney with a dinner stop at Chances R in York on way home. Total of 250 miles round trip, more or less. About 4 hours riding so add an hour for dinner and an hour at the veteran’s home it would be a 6 hour trip. We could leave west Lincoln at 1 PM get to Kearney about 3 PM leave Kearney at 4 PM get to York 5:30 PM eat and leave for home at 6:30 PM back in Lincoln by 7:30 PM. This suggestion will be presented to the Committee.
Comments from Floor –
Commander - Discussed fund raising cause for 2019 no interest from membership was indicated. Discussed Poker Run reviewed the info and discussion from August 2018 meeting on this year’s poker run and the date of September 7th was again suggested as the best date for a poker Run if it is desired by membership.. More information will be discussed and a final decision will be made by membership at a later date.
Streeter Update on member Terry Kings medical condition and rehab after his surgery.
Next meeting date and place – March 21st same time and place.
Commanders raffle drawing- none
Closing Prayer- By Glen Masek
Retirement of Colors – By Commander
Meeting adjourned at: 1940
END
Respectfully submitted by Mike Streeter Secretary February 22, 2019
Commanders Message
October-December
AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS
Time for a Tune-Up
Occasionally, if you own a vehicle, you know you have
to take it in for tune-up or an oil change. If you are lucky,
the mechanic tells you everything is okay. My luck, lately,
is to get a list of things getting old that need to be replaced.
Sometimes, this list is short and not too expensive. At other
times, it feels like you are buying a whole new car. I’m sure my ALR members
also know how this feels.
Well, just like you have to take your car in for a tune-up, sometimes life requires
a tune-up. I have been the ALR Chapter Commander for Lincoln for the last 2
years, and am now starting my 3rd term. I still love this group and its members,
but the last couple years have brought major changes for me. I lost 2 family
members (one being my Mom just in November). No one can prepare you for
this. Even being through it for 2 other family members in the last 10 years didn’t
prepare me for it. I will now (officially) be moving for the first time in 25 years.
That’s more than half my life having been in the same place. Lastly, in the last
month, I had a fender bender that resulted in me having to say good-bye to my
pick-up and hello to a car loan. (Yes, I cried when they took my “baby” away.)
Now, you know my current “sob story.” Want to know the next chapter? This
is the part where I refocus, I reorganize, and I re-energize my commitment to
this organization.
I will be traveling to Washington, D.C. in early March. I am going to tour the
American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation facilities, and it will be my first time
staying in Washington. I will be going back in July for the very busy week of
Girls Nation. I know that this will be an emotional trip. My Mom used to talk
about the trip she took with her brother and my grandmother when she was
younger. I know Washington has changed a lot since then, but I can’t wait to
see all the memorials for those who gave the greatest sacrifice for the freedoms I
have today. This is part of my refocusing. I started serving on this Girls Nation
committee last summer.
I recently talked to another county’s Veterans Service Officer and asked
why Lancaster County doesn’t have a Buddy Check night. This is an informal
gathering of veterans and others as a way to combat suicide. This other county
has been having Buddy Checks since early 2018. They started with no one
attending and now have around 30 every month. I would love to see Lancaster
County get one of their own started and going. This is part of my re-energizing.
The Lincoln ALR Chapter membership has been declining over the last
number of years. I wish I could come up with a magical solution to halt it --- and
even reverse it. But, if I could find that answer, every American Legion post
and Auxiliary unit would want my secret to increase their numbers. Instead, I
am hoping to come up with a new route to finding members. This is part of my
re-organizing.
As I ponder how to find these new members, know that the ALR is still out
“doing our thing.” This time of the year is pretty quiet for us since those loud
motorcycle mufflers are still hibernating. We did, however, help provide a flag
line and escort in January for a man too young to be gone from his family.
In the upcoming months, I’m sure we’ll be called up for more funeral services
and escorts. Parade season will start after May, the Easter Bunny will be making
appearances, and Poker Runs and ALR Romps will be attended. I know there
will be a Regional ALR Romp in June and the State Romp in July. Members
will be getting details as soon as our February meeting. We may even be part
of another veteran escort to an event (like the one that went to Tecumseh last
summer).
If you know anyone who would like to tune-up their commitment to the Legion
Family and is a motorcycle owner, please get them in contact with us!!
At the December meeting, officers for 2019 were elected. They are the same
as last year; but, for new folks, our officers are: Jody Schmale (Commander),
Jerry Hutchison (Vice Commander), David Dietz (Treasurer), Mike Streeter
(Secretary), William Smisek (Road Captain), and Ray Gilbertson (Sgt-At-Arms).
Jody Schmale
Commander
ALR Commander Post #3
