Commanders CornerGreetings MembersI would like to send out a huge thank you to everyone

who helped with all our events this past month. Wewouldn't be able to host all our events and fund raiserswithout your ongoing support!

Thanks again to all who have been volunteering in

between all the events to get the back room of the hall

remodel completed. With all the time from the volunteersand donation from Home Depot the room looks verynice.

My condolences go out to the family of Kathleen

Tauscher "Kay" who passed away January 14, 2020.

I want to thank Michael Schaller for volunteering to be incharge and the Point of Contact for our Post Firing

Squad.

It is time for "Celebrate West Salem 2020 Business Expo"

which will be held on March 15, 2020 from 11:00 am to2:00 pm at West Salem High School. We are going tohave three tables again this year and we need volunteers

to be at the tables. You can contact me at 608-769-1045 orleave a message at the Legion for me.

Also, if you know someone who doesn't belong to the

American Legion and is eligible to join, encourage them

to join. Just a reminder that if you need to renew your

membership or get in touch with me and prefer to do itfrom home you can log in to HYPERLINK''http://www.wilegion.org/'' \t "_blank"

www.wilegion.org. Thank You.

Don't forget to check out our website HYPERLINK''http://www.westsalempost51.org/'' \t "_blank"www.westsalempost51.org

Post CommanderVern Tranberg

Presidents CornerHello Auxiliary Members!As we move into 2020 we are faced with endless oppor-tunities, it is time to move into the future and build upour Legion Family. We need to work as a cohesive fam-ily and remember our why. Why does the Auxiliaryexist? To assist our Veteran's, our Community and ourNation. We need to always honor those that camebefore us while looking to the future. At our Januarymeeting we had some great ideas for our Auxiliary tobe more active in our community. I love the fresh ideasand look forward to the great things we can do togetherthis year and beyond!Thank you to everyone that has volunteered to help atthe events at the post - I truly appreciate everyone thathas stepped up and assisted with our efforts, with therenovation of the building we are seeing a steadyincrease in attendance at the events. We are reachingout to everyone for assistance - We need people atevery event to help take money, prepare the salad bar,cook, wait tables, clear tables, wash dishes, clean upetc... The bar can always use licensed bartenders aswell. We welcome your assistance. If you want tohelp, but don't know how let me know.Do you have a fun skill/ talent/hobby that you are will-ing to share? I am looking for people that would like tohave a fun afternoon (playing cards, knitting, crafting,painting, scrapbooking, card making, baking, packingcare packages, etc. ... ) of friendship and fellowship.Let's meet some new people, connect with those wehave lost touch with and have some fun together.If there is an event you would like to attend, but arehaving trouble getting to the Post, let us know. Call thePost (786-0051) and leave a message and we will do ourbest to get you in to enjoy the event and home after-wards.Everyone have a great month and stay warm! Makesure you check the calendar and plan to attend theupcoming events.

Nikki Vidal,Unit # 51 President

Building Update

At the January meeting, fundraising was dis-cussed and noted that our efforts raised just shyof $65,000 in 2019. The building fund committeevoted to take a combined total of $30,000 fromthe Bingo Account and Building Fund Accountand make a principal payment on the buildingloan. It is our goal to get the loan paid off asquickly as possible - after this principal paymentand the January payment the loan balance will bedown to just over $264,000.

As we move into 2020, we need the membershipshelp more than ever. We need some fresh facesat our meetings and stepping up to work/plan

, events. We are all in this together as a familyand the renovated building is bringing in morepeople to every event to see and enjoy our beau-tiful facility - the renovation is a success and ourPost is a wonderful addition to our community.

The back room project is in full swing, HorneDepot generously donated most of the materialsfor this project and we are very grateful for theirgenerosity.

We have several events for February - Pancakebreakfast on Sunday the 9th, Liver Lovers &Chicken too on Saturday the 15th and WallyTranberg & his band of friends will be here onSunday February 16th and our Monthly Fish &Shrimp night on the 28th. Please watch theFacebook page or website for upcoming events.

If you have any ideas for a fundraiser, please letVem or Nikki know.

Nikki Vidal

March Event2 Bingo 6:003 SAL Meeting 7:004 Ex Board Mtg. 6:306 Fish& Shrimp 5:308 Aux Breakfast 8:00-11:0010 Aux Meeting 6:3011 Legion Meeting 6:3012 Clean Smelt13 Smelt Fry 5:3014 Legion Birthday 5:3015 Celbrate West Salem16 Corm Beef & Cabbage 5:3018 Building Comm 6:3020 Fish & Shrimp 5:3021 Rod Staff Anniversary25 Lunch 11:30/Tomah Bingo27 Fish & Shrimp 5:30

The month of February has afew days in the month that arespecial to anyone happening tohave a Birthday on that day.If you know someone with abirthday on 2-2-2020, 2-20-2020,or 2-22-2020. These dates willnot happen again in their life.

Happy Valentine's DayFebruary 14, 2020

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1Gamegettors

2 3 4 5 6 7 8Aux Breakfast Bingo 6:00 SAL Mtg Ex Board Fish & Shrimp Car Club8:00 -11:00 7:00 Mtg 6:30 Plus 5:30-8:00 meeting

9 10 11 12 13 14 15Pancake Aux Auxiliary Mtg Legion Mtg West Salem Bus Valentine's Liver Lovers &Breakfast Meatball 6:30 6:30 Association Day Chicken 5:30

KT 1-5pm Dinner

16 . 17 18 19 20 21 22Wally Tranberg Rod & Gun Building Comm

Fish & Shrimp WeddingMusic 1-5 pm Plus 5:30-8:00

6:30 -

23 24 25 26 27 28 29BBB H. S. Robotics Noon Lunch Fish & Shrimp

Tomah VA Bingo 5:30-8:00

Happy Valentine's Day! February 14, 2020

American Legion Post 51 Officers:Commander: Vern Tanberg 608-769-10451st Vice Commander: Gary Merfeld 608-304-38992nd Vice Commander: Alex Vidal 608-385-1214Finance Officer: Jim Jenks 608-406-1430Chaplain: Kent Kramer 608-317-8699Historian: Tom Bonsall 608-737-5116Sgt at Arms: Roy Warthan 608-786-2047Sgt at Arms Warren Moquin 608-501-0597Adjutant: Jim Witte 608-451-2613Service Officer: Jim Gilbertson 608-769-9069

Hall Rental contact Steve Craig 608-797-1735

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 51 Officers:President: Nicole Vidal 608-385-1838Vice President Annette Fechner 608-787-07872nd VicePresident Mary Schaller 608-786-2398Treasurer Interim Karen Wolf 608-486-2686Chaplain: Joyce McLaughlin 608-799-2214Historian: Wendy Tranberg 608-769-6110Sgt at Arms: Amy ThillSgt at Arms Kelsey ThillSecretary: Fran Amundsen 608-790-4860Sunshine Chairman: Sue Haack 608-786-2923