The Department of California still has 100th anniversary challenge coins for sale. Numbered coins are $15 and non-numbered coins are $10.

We have over 600 of each coin available. They can be purchased on the department website or call the headquarters office.

There will be coins available at the June convention in Visalia. The Amazon Smile program is off to a great start. This quarter, our blue cap legionnaires purchased over $23,000 for a donation of over $115 dollars to our Department’s Veterans Service Officers program.

Can you imagine if all who bought through Amazon signed up for the Smile program? We’d bring in a significant amount of money for service officers. This program is free to our blue caps and only works to benefit our organization.

If you buy on Amazon, please sign up to donate to The American Legion CA Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation. All proceeds goes to support our Department Veterans Service Officers program.

The Ways and Means campaigns are doing good so far this year. If you are not receiving these direct mailings please let Department Adjutant Paul Brown know as soon as possible. Donations directly to VA&R is always encouraged and needed.

The Spring Sweepstakes campaign will be mailed out in next several weeks.
The drawing will be held at the June convention. The Fall Sweepstakes rate of return was around  4% of the direct mailings.  We need your help to have this campaign succeed.

There will be two more direct mailing campaigns this year. Please promote these campaigns in your area, district, and post meetings, in your newsletters, and on social media.

Many blue cap legionnaires have no idea why the department is asking for donations. Helmets for Heroes campaign donations will be collected at the June meeting. Please send your post check to the district finance chair by June 10. The District will present one check at the convention. Every post will be recognized at that time.

Ask your Sons squadron if they are helping with this campaign. Many of our squadrons are supporting this as a fundraiser to help our state’s veterans.

Janice Somers
Author: Janice Somers

Janice is chair of the Ways & Means Commission. janicesomers@charter.net