AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY (ALA),
UNIT 66

The ALA is busy with the Girls State program interviews.  Janice Somers, Jacqueline Plumey, and I (Laurie Richards) have interviewed 5 schools. The ALA sponsors San Luis Obispo High, Mission College Prep, Morro Bay High, Atascadero High, and Templeton High.  The ALA will be sending 5 young ladies to California State University, Sacramento where the girls will be submerged in an amazing week of learning.  Focused on responsible citizenship, leadership, and love for God and country.

Our unit is working with local schools for Americanism-Essay-Contest and Poppy Poster/Essay contests.

Levi Gonnion, Legion 66 member who is currently deployed, has requested American flags to be sent to his battalion to fly from their Apache Helicopter. American flags waving from the helicopter were approved by the ALA.  Our unit will also be adopting his battalion, Unit TF Attack, to support them with letters, cards, flags, and whatever they need.

On February 19 a workshop was held in Santa Maria for anyone from the ALA.  Several of the Unit 66 members were able to attend.  Those who attended were recertified in Leadership Training.

Auxiliary Unit 66 sponsors the family night movies on the last Friday of the month.  All movies are geared toward young viewers.  Popcorn is available along with candy bars. Our March Movie Night will be on March 25, at 6 p.m. The movie will be “Secret Life of Pets.”

Laurie Richards
Unit 66 President
The American Legion Auxiliary

Sons of The American Legion (SONS) SQUADRON 

HOT  TOPIC – POST BUDGET

It is time for our Post leaders to develop the Post 66 Budget for our 2022-2023 fiscal year, which runs concurrently with the Post Leadership term of office (July 1 to June 30). Developing a balanced budget is often one of the biggest challenges our post leadership faces. During the past few years, our financial status has suffered because of the COVID19 pandemic. Developing a balanced budget has also become even more difficult to produce. A basic review of some key elements of the budgeting process may be helpful.

Income & Expenses – Our Post 66 budget is basically an itemized summary of income and expenses expected for the coming year. Or, a best guess of the money we will need to operate.

Income Sources often seem to be too few, but traditionally for Post 66 include member dues, member dinners, bar sales, our annual Pancake Breakfast, and a variety of donations. These income sources are unrestricted income, which means we are free to use the funds as needed. Although donations can be an important source of income, they can be unrestricted or restricted funds.

Expense Items include basic business expenses such as food supplies, post insurance, post utilities, American Legion fees, bar supplies, and building maintenance. In addition we have expenses for The American Legion programs we support.

What are Restricted Funds?
As a nonprofit corporation, Post 66 also receives donations that are to be used for a specific purpose. These money reserves are restricted in their use and may only be used for the specific purpose the donor requests. As an example, a donor may donate money with a request that the money be used to support the Boys State Program. We are obligated legally and morally to use the money only to support the Boys State Program as the donor requests in this example. We cannot use this restricted money for anything else.

What Is an Endowment?
An endowment is a donation of money or property to a nonprofit organization, which uses the resulting investment income or interest for a specific purpose. Most endowments are designed to keep the principal amount intact while using the investment income for charitable efforts.

This short article will help you understand the difficulties and challenges our post leaders face as they develop our Post 66 budget for the coming year.

Hey, There Bartenders!

As per California AB 122, the “Responsible Beverage Server” law, training is mandatory for all bartenders. You must complete the training and receive your certification number by June 30, 2022. Your certification number will be kept on file in Sacramento and is good for 3 years., at which time you will need to do a refresher course to maintain your certification.

There is no waiver for private clubs or the fact that we are volunteers. If you tend bar, serve drinks or handle alcohol for 1 day, 1 hour, or 1 minute you must complete being trained to serve beverages. If you fail to receive your certification by June 30, 2022, you will no longer be able to bartend in California.

The good news for all our Post 66 bartenders, old, new, or those who want to be bartenders, we have been invited to join in with the SLO Elks Club bartender’s training session. This training will take place on May 14, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The cost for the training is $35 and includes lunch.

If you are unable to attend this training session, there are several training classes that will be available for you to complete online.  Visit abc.ca.gov to view all available certified courses.

“We are in the process of putting our bartenders’ schedule together for the remainder of the year. In order to do this, we need to know who is willing to participate in the Elks or the online training session and get certified.

Let me know if you plan to attend the training at the Elks Club or take the training with an online certified course. But either way, if you want to bartend after June 30, this training is necessary. We hope to get enough bartenders to continue our current schedule.

Your help is appreciated.

Jim Miller
Post 66 Bar Manager
Email: Stickman4919@gmail.com