Did you happen to know?

• Cal Fire wildfire incidents: Cal Fire tracks its wildfire incidents here. You can sign up to receive text messages for Cal Fire updates on wildfires happening near your ZIP code here.
• Wildfires on federal land: Federal wildfire incidents are tracked here.
• Preparing for power outages: Ready.gov explains how to prepare for a power outage and what to do when returning from here. Here is how to track and report PG&E power outages.
• Keep informed when you’ve lost power and cellphone service: How to find a National Weather Service radio station near you.
• Be prepared for road closures: Download Caltrans’ QuickMap app or check the latest QuickMap road conditions here.

“Don’t worry be happy”…

“Don’t worry be happy”…do you remember the song? A simple message to be sure, but a very profound one.

A wise man once encouraged us to let tomorrow worry about itself, live life abundantly, and live it abundantly. I realize that this can be easier said than done. As veterans, we answered our nation’s call to serve. We set aside our personal wants so that we could help ensure the continuation of our precious way of life. Many of you faced imminent danger and, in those moments, didn’t have the time or luxury to worry about tomorrow. In those moments, you focused on doing your job, completing the mission, and returning home to loved ones.

I don’t know what your biggest worry is today. Maybe it’s your health, maybe it’s your finances, or maybe your worry is for your loved ones. Some things are in your control and some things are not. You can’t change other people, but you can certainly change yourself. Bring positive change where you can today and don’t spend too much time worrying about yesterday or tomorrow. Live today to its fullest and focus on the positive. Your positive action combined with positive thinking results in success.

Choose to be happy today.

Chaplain Saul Castillo – American Legion Post 233 Chaplain

With the exception of our Life Time Members, everyone else should have already been receiving 2025 Legion Membership renewal notices in the mail from our National Headquarters. Many of you, with my thanks, have been renewing your membership online through the National Website “Legion.Org“. It makes my job a little bit easier…however, for those of you mailing me a personal Check for your renewal…that’s just fine too. Just a little bit more work but very doable all the way around.

As of this date, July 29th, 2024…79 Legion members have renewed their membership for 2025. Our Post has 89 Life Members for a total of 162 renewals. We have over 400 members in our Post. Looking forward to many more renewals as the days pass by. I am making all attempts to have a 24–48-hour turnaround time to mail you your new and updated membership card. I will be going on vacation here and there between now and September… so there will be a slight delay from time to time.

Our Elk Grove American Legion Post 233 is still growing and growing… we are all recruiters… please refer them to me so that I can process their membership with my Thanks!!

Sincerely,

Henry Sanchez
Post Adjutant & Finance Officer
The American Legion
Elk Grove Post 233
916-205-9296 (C)

The Funny Page?

American Legion Auxiliary

Congratulations to our very own Jenniffer Turner, the new District 6 Auxiliary President for 2024-2025. A well-desired honor…

The New Auxiliary Officer for Unit 233:

President ~ Max Baumgartner
1st Vice President ~ Jennifer Turner
2nd Vice President ~ Rosa Hernandez
Secretary ~ Doreen Long
Treasurer ~ Ann Sanchez
Chaplain ~ Wendie Phillips
Sergeant-At-Arms ~ Heather Paton
Assistant Sergeant-At-Arms ~ Cindy Hernandez
Executive Committee ~ Laura Suarez ~ April Medina

It’s an honor for me to be elected as the new president of the ALA Unit 233. Some folks have asked me why I would be the president of a women’s organization. The ALA is not a women’s organization anymore this has changed and our unit already has several male members. So why did I accept to be president, because this organization is 100% plus committed to supporting veterans and the families of veterans. The members of this organization worked very hard in finding creative ways to help those in need. It’s not about building a big bank account, or not wanting to commit hours of volunteer time from their personal lives. The American Legion is about veterans, for all the legion programs. I cannot be prouder of a group of individuals in the American Legion Auxiliary who I have seen work so hard and give so much of their time through fund raising efforts, supporting military functions, helping families during the Holidays and so much more. This truly is a privilege for me that this wonderful team has chosen me to be their president.

On another note, and very important message. PLEASE READ AND PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE AUGUST MEETING, 22 August 2024. The ALA Unit 233 is doing the annual school drive:

WE NEED YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES

American Legion Auxiliary is collecting school supplies for the upcoming school year to donate to our local children. Please collect the following and fill a backpack for a child in need. Please bring all backpack donations to the next Post/Unit meeting in August or contact egalaunit233@gmail.com for pickup or drop off

• Pencils/Pens
• Crayons/markers/colored pencils
• Notebook paper (loose, notebooks or composition)
• Glue sticks
• Erasers
• Hand wipes/Sanitizer
• Rulers
• Pencil sharpeners
• Pencil pouch/box
• Folders
• Scissors

Thank you:  Max Baumgartner – President

“Legionnaire of the Year” Award

Leadership Commission

Fellow Legionnaires:

This letter is being written to nominate an extremely deserving Legionnaire for the “Legionnaire of the Year Award”. This Legionnaire, between July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2024 has:

• Completed year as Second Vice-Commander.
• Completed year as Captain of Post 233 Honor Guard.
• Outstanding Post 233 Honor Guard member assisting Post 77 Honor Guard weekly in rendering honors at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery.
• Chair for the Elk Grove Veterans Day Parade and participant.
• Memorial Day Committee member and Honor Guard participant.
• Western Festival Committee member and participant.
• Posting of the Colors for the City of Elk Grove 4^th of July Celebration.
• Committee member and participant for the Post fundraiser.
• Full Military Honor participant for many veterans’ funerals at local cemeteries.
• Sacramento Stand Down Committee member and event participant.
• October Great Pumpkin Festival committee member and participant.
• Posting of the Colors for GOP Ladies of California.
• Worked December Christmas Dinner for the National Guard group and their families.
• February Four Chaplain celebration participant.
• March 29 Vietnam 50^th celebration participant.
• Posting of the Colors for a local College graduation.
• July 4^th Food Bank Fun Run participant.
• Member of Sacramento Stand Down helping unhoused Veterans.
• Posting of the Colors for Women Lawyers convention.
• Monthly advisor to the American Legion Son meeting
• Weekly for nine months of the year (Sept to Jun), the opening of the Veterans Hall for Post 233 Scout Troup
• Blood Donor program volunteer and weekly donor of plasma and/or platelets.

This Legionnaire has been working in the organization for many years and has served in many roles at the Post level. As a result, this Legionnaire knows about resources, services, and support groups for all veterans in our area. To this Legionnaire supporting veterans is a way of life not just something to do “when needed”.

Due to the spectacular commitment and many roles successfully filled during 2023-24, I enthusiastically nominate this outstanding Legionnaire for “Legionnaire of the Year” 2024.

Thank you for your attention to this letter.

Regards, Chuck Forbes

Save the Date

For tickets, go to Post233.AmericanLegionElkGrove.com; Click on the Fundraisers tab at the very top of the page. Below the graphic is the link to buy tickets. You can go directly to the PayPal Purchase page here.

2025 Oratorical Scholarship Program : A Constitutional Speech Contest

Please join Susan Mason if you are interested. Contact her at 916-683-6128 (H) or freedom9115@1791.com. Thank you!!

Elk Grove American Legion Post 233

Elk Grove American Legion Auxiliary Unit 233

General (In Person) Meetings

General Meeting

August 22nd, 2024

No ZOOM Logins to Meeting at Present Time

Elk Grove Elks Lodge

9240 Survey Road

Elk Grove, Ca. 95624

Please come and join us for dinner & meeting August 22nd, 2024

FALL/WINTER BOYS SCOUTS MEETINGS INFORMATION:

Boy Scouts Troop 288 meets every Tuesday evening at 7 pm at District 56 Veterans Meeting Hall from September to June. During the summer months, they meet at Elk Grove Park. Keep an eye on this location for possible changes throughout 2024.

Elk Grove Sons of The American Legion

Squadron 233

General Membership Meeting

Join us on

Monday, August 5th, 2024

Squadron Meeting at 5:45 pm

Elk Grove Veterans Hall

8230 Civic Center Drive

Elk Grove, CA 95757

The meeting is also available via Zoom

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7849960776?pwd=WmhKMnpMeitQdEVhT0xabGZweWVIQT09

Meeting ID: 784 996 0776

Passcode: 1776

Dial In Voice Only !

669-900-6833

Meeting ID: 784 996 0776

Passcode: 1776

The Sons of the American Legion Honor our Parents & Grandparents Service to our Nation. If you are already a member of the Legion, become a Dual Member, and your dues are only $15 a year for you to join the S.A.L.

If you are over 18 years of age and your Parents or Grandparents Served it is $25 a year, If you are under 18 years of age your dues are only $15. All membership dues were due by July 1st of each year.

The Sons of the American Legion is a Support group of the Legion.  If you are a member and have a Son or Grandson, we need them too.

Did you Know?

The Sacramento Sheriffs are proud to join forces with the Yolo County Sheriff Marine Patrol Unit in the recent Sacramento Blitz Operation, dedicated to enhancing the safety of our Delta waterways and providing an enjoyable environment for all who visit and use these beautiful waters. A big thank you to everyone involved for their hard work and commitment to safety.

Elk Grove American Legion Post 233

Dept of California, The American Legion.org

Mylegion.org (where members can check on their personal information)

The American Legion National website

Saturday Post Breakfast

American Legion Post 233

Saturday Morning Breakfast

will be held on August 3rd, 2024

Breakfast at Bert’s Diner @ 9 am

8972 Grant Line Rd, Elk Grove, CA 95624

916.686.6622

Won’t you join us for breakfast?

Elk Grove American Legion

Post 233 Honor Guard

Rendering Honors for a Fallen Veteran.

Click Link Below to Watch Video

Rendering Honors

If you have any problems watching video cut and paste this link into your browser and press enter