Newsletter # 75

October 7, 2003

THE AMERICAN LEGION
Master Sergeant Mario Enrique Gonzales Acker
Guatemala Post # 2
Antigua Guatemala
Founded July 19, 1997

Meetings 1st Tuesday of the Month	Mail: Codigo A-178
Restaurant "Personajes" 1:00 P.M.	P.O. Box 669004
6 Avenida Norte # 6	Miami Springs Fl. 33266
Antigua Guatemala	E-mail: american_legion2@conexion.com.gt
Telephone 011-502-832-1018	Cellular 011-502-494-1560

The American Legion Extension Institute

Did you ever work for a person who knew less about the organization than you did and yet held a higher position???
Frustrating wasn't it!!!!!
Don't let that happen to you in your Post. Have your membership Sign up for the American Legion Extension Institute.

The Department of Mexico Commander Mark A. Walker, The Department of Mexico 1st Vice-Commander William R. Brandt, the Department of Mexico 2nd Vice-Commander, William J. Shetz, The Department of Mexico Sgt-At-Arms Arthur Herbruger, Guatemala Post # 2 Vice-Commander Jerry J. Lightel, Guatemala post # 2 Judge Advocate Hubert J. Williams, Guatemala Post # 2 Service Officer Milo Vukovich and Guatemala Post # 2 Chaplain James E. Ludowese have submitted our test results to National for grading. We are learning where our organization came from and hopefully we can help lead it where it is going. We may not end up being know-it-alls but we will know something. The course is available through your Post Commander, your Department Headquarters or directly from emblem sales at a nominal price. As you are reading this notice Mr. Mark Walker Department Commander of Mexico is personally delivering our answer sheets to The National Headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Veteran's day in San Salvador, El Salvador

November 10th, 11th and 12th 2003
At the invitation of Mrs. Rose Likens Ambassador of the United States to El Salvador, Robert Urbina Commander of El Salvador Post # 1 and the membership of El Salvador Post # 1 we will be celebrating Veterans Day in San Salvador, El Salvador. A shuttle will pick us up on November 10th at 5:00a.m. and transport us to Guatemala City. In Guatemala City we will board the Pullmantur Bus at 7:00A.M. arriving at the Marriott Hotel in San Salvador at 11:00a.m. Between Guatemala and the frontier Breakfast will be served on the Bus as well as movies. We arrive at the frontier at 8:45 a.m., clear through immigration, have a coffee and re enter the bus to enjoy a second movie and the 1 hour and 45 minute trip to San Salvador. Those interested in attending this ceremony need to sign up as soon as possible. The round bus trip including two nights at the Marriott is $99.00 or Q800.00. A formal ceremony will be held at the American Embassy in San Salvador with the Military band of the Army of El Salvador and Members of the Salvador Military. As a foot note, we should be aware that Salvador is one of several Central American countries whose military has a presence in Iraq helping support our troops.

Membership

We currently have 94 members paid up for 2004 including 11 new members. Please welcome to the post, Thomas Ralph a U.S. Army Viet Nam Veteran from Phoenix Arizona and Edward "Pappy" Winkler a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam Veteran from Topeka Kansas. That makes us 59% or our goal for 2004.
Please make out all dues checks for 2004 in the amount of $20.00 (we keep as low as possible so that we may serve as many veterans as possible) and mail to "The American Legion", Codigo A-178, P.O. Box 669004, Miami Springs Fl. 33266. Please write in the remarks section of your check "dues 2004".

The Department of Mexico 85th Annual Convention 2004

Information packets for the convention have been distributed to each post in the Department and more are available from Guatemala Post # 2. Please reserve the week of 6th to the 13th of June to visit "The Land of Eternal Spring". Mr. Mark Walker is delivering over 30 information packets including a computer CD and other tourist information about Guatemala to National Headquarters and the Department Executive Committee meeting in Mexico City to be held Tuesday the 14th of October. Thanks Mark!!

We are currently in the process of talking to tourist agents and hotel owners trying to negotiate the best possible prices for hotel rooms, tours and airport transportation for anyone intending to come to the convention. There are an ample number of web sites on the net that offer information about Antigua Guatemala. Just type in Guatemala or Antigua Guatemala in your search engine and up it will come. Anyone wishing further information need only send an e-mail to the post at American_legion2@conexion.com.gt and we will respond personally.

Dr. George H. Boyce Memorial

Thanks to the generosity of our members and friends we have sufficient funds to enter another child in our 8 years scholarship program. Selecting the child is the easy part turning other applicants away is the most difficult. For this program we collect donations over the year and when we reach the magic number of $2400.00 U.S. we then have enough funds for 8 years of education. We have been able to enter 12 children in the past 6 years and hopefully through generous benefactors we will continue to place children who otherwise would be field hands in this coffee growing country. The price of coffee has fallen through the floor and many people are unemployed in Guatemala. Anyone wishing to donate to this project please make your check out to "The American Legion" and in the remarks section write "scholarship program".

The Stephen Skelton Memorial Library
Of The American Legion, Guatemala Post # 2

The library is open 7 days a week from 11:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. With extended hours on Saturday of 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. The staff is totally made up of volunteers from the community and we appreciate their wonderful work. A tip of the hat to Milo, Marta, Chloe, Marie, Hilda, Jaime, Bill and Joan. We currently have over 40 videos as well as over 6,000 books 1,000 of which are in the Spanish Language. Annual membership is currently available at $10.00 for an individual and $15.00 for families. Give yourself a test and try to read our Spanish collection of the Harry Potter series.

Nido Jesus Nino Orphanage

Our good friend Dr. Mickey Golbus of the casa de las Angeles foundation and a member of Guatemala Post # 2 is in the process of purchasing 20 new cribs for the children of the orphanage as construction continues on the new dormitories. At an average cost of $10.00 each we have planted in excess of 50 citrus trees on the property and they seem to be taking hold. Anyone wishing to donate the cost of a tree would certainly be welcome. Mail a check to "the American Legion" at the post address and mark in the remarks section "orphanage". Many people have offered to ship clothing and other items to Guatemala for the 23 children currently housed at the orphanage. The cost of receiving such packages is truly prohibitive and the trip to Guatemala City is just as problematic. The post maintains a separate fund solely for the needs of the orphanage that may not be used for any other purpose. The orphanage has a web site at http://www.casadeangeles.org . e-mail may be sent to nidojesusnino@conexion.com.gt the sisters only speak Spanish.

Guatemala Post # 2 Officers

Each one of our elected officers has taken the position to serve veterans and the community please feel free to call upon them whenever you feel the necessity.

Commander	William J. Shetz	832-1018 / 494-1560	mailto:american_legion2@conexion.com.gt
Vice-Commander	Jerry Lightel		mailto:Jjlgua@yahoo.com
Vice-Commander	Milo Vukovich	831-0609 / 211-7198	mailto:mvuko68@aol.com
Service Officer	Owen Gallogly	831-0374
Judge Advocate	Jerry Williams	832-3555	mailto:hjwnofun@conexion.com.gt
Sergeant at Arms	Milo Vukovich	831-0609 / 211-7198	mailto:mvuko68@aol.com
Historian	Jim Gibbs	215-9006
Chaplain	James Ludowese

Caribbean Coast property for Sale

1-1/2 story, 1100 sq. ft. house of the scenic Rio Dulce on Guatemala's Caribbean coast, ½ mile from Livingston. Boat dock with 8-foot depth. 0.42 acre-270 foot water frontage. U.S. style bath and kitchen, patio & veranda. Great view, $75,000.00, also 28" fiberglass sloop, $16,000 U.S. and Ural sidecar Motorcycle (copy of a 1939 BMW), $6,000.00 Call Murph (In Guatemala) at 490-8931 or 201-5361 murfbill@hotmail.com

House for Sale

Between Antigua and San Pedro Panorama. Quiet cozy and secure. 180sq. meters. Living room/Dining room with fireplace, fully equipped kitchen; 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2 phone lines, washer dryer, refrigerator, stove. 2 patios surrounded by gardens. Low utility costs. $125,000.00 Contact Sue Patterson 011-502-832-8020 / 011-502-219-0500 spatters@conexion.com.gt

Entertainment and Activities

Our socials are open to anyone who wish to attend so bring a friend to our twice-monthly dinners. This months dinners are as follows.
Wednesday 6:00 P.M. October 15, 2003 at the restaurant "Reilly's Irish Tavern" 5a Avenida Norte # 31 between EL Arco and La Merced.
Wednesday 6:00 P.M. October 29,2003 at the " Rincon de Praga" Calzada Santa Lucia #59 on the east side between 6th and 7th calles

Why do they put Braille on the drive-through bank machine key boards???

William J. Shetz
Commander / Editor