A group of fifteen American Legion Riders (ALR) from the Ernest A. Love Legion Post 6 rode their bikes to the front of BASIS Charter school-Prescott on the brisk but sunny morning of Tuesday October 29, 2024.
First grade students eagerly lined up in front of the school entrance and were greeted first by the roar of the motorcycle engines and then by the smiles of riders who are a dedicated, volunteer group of U.S. military veterans, members of the American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion.
Photo by Steve Smull
The ALR’s mission was to present the school with requested school supplies and gift cards valued at $450. This was the first time the group has visited BASIS Prescott.
This event was a coordinated effort between ALR Director, Sandra Tavares and Dean of Upper School- BASIS Prescott, Robin Aitken, who is also a member of the ALR and President of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 40.
Sandra Tavares and ALR member present gifts at BASIS School. Photo by Steve Smull
Community outreach between veterans and their families with students and teachers is key to building stronger social connections and support in the local area.
The American Legion has a proud tradition of supporting our nation’s youth. The organization was founded on the principle in 1919, when Children and Youth was declared one of the Legion’s four pillars. In the years since, a number of youth-oriented programs have been developed including Temporary Financial Assistance, Family Support Network and child safety and well being programs.
Prescott area Legion posts and family chapters provide ongoing support to students with sponsorships and activities such as: Boys State, Girls State, Oratorical contests, and flag events.
I’m observing that many people on this earth are continually repeating negative patterns and unproductive behaviors. There doesn’t seem to be much adaptation or changing of course when mistakes are made. Learning from our mistakes and adjusting how we approach a situation is not a common occurrence today. Perhaps it is because we humans tend to base our decisions more on feelings and emotions rather than logic and facts. Can you ever really “learn” from a feeling?
I wrote the blog below ten years ago in May 2014 and I’m sad to say the sentiment is still valid today. The title “Leadership Challenges in Non-Profit Organizations” is a continuous issue for another who volunteers or is elected to an Officer.
My observations and recommendations on these phenomena also apply greatly to our local, state and federal leaders.
Leadership Challenges in Volunteer Organizations.
Published online on May 30, 2014.
Strong leaders are critical to the success of any organization- be it a non profit, a corporation, a military unit, a church or a bicycle club. I believe that successful leaders can be developed and nurtured through mentoring, coaching and training but I have recently witnessed how unchecked power and bloated egos can corrupt leaders of volunteer groups. Over the last 20 years, I’ve been a member and/or officer in numerous nonprofit and corporate organizations and have seen a negative trend in leadership ethics.
Since college I have had the honor and privilege of serving under many inspirational officers, managers and executives who truly embodied the values of respect, humility and service. These altruistic and motivational men and women were my role models and taught me the importance of recognition, encouragement, honesty and integrity. They taught me to stay focused on the team member’s needs above my own.
In the past few years, I have become concerned by the increase in the frequency and negative impact that “corrupted” leaders are having on their organizations (this is across the board in society- from the local nonprofit and school board to the state and federal governments). There are more power-influenced leaders today and fewer selfless ones. There is more Me and less We and that’s not the way it should be! Another disappointing theme I’ve observed recently is a misplaced focus where the officers of organizations are more concerned about their own power, titles and agendas with little priority or attention given to the actual members.
I recently wrote a speech and created a presentation entitled “Leadership Challenges in Volunteer Organizations” where I outlined issues, impediments and possible solutions to address membership growth and retention concerns in non profit groups like Toastmasters and the VFW. I sadly will cite the destructive and non-collaborative behaviors of power trips, politics and petty personal attacks as key factors negatively impacting the morale and growth of many well meaning, non-profit groups.
Solutions to these issues are often difficult to implement in a broad sense since they need to come from within the individual leaders however, a positive organizational culture coupled with strong team agreements can go a long way toward improving a group’s leadership challenges. An unwavering commitment to the organization’s core Mission, without compromise, is also a critical to ensuring that ethical leaders are rewarded, encouraged and attracted.
Here are the Mission Statements of two organizations I am a member of:
“Provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills.”
“ To serve our veterans, the military and our communities. To advocate on behalf of all veterans.”
Notice that nowhere in the statements above does it mention the role, power or importance of the leaders or officers of the group. They are solely focused on the members of the organization. Losing sight of this simple fact is what I believe is causing many of the leadership issues we see in our volunteer organizations today.
Perhaps this message and blog can reach others and be shared in order to make a positive impact in our communities and non-profit groups. I hope so!
These words were published in the June 2024 Newsletter for American Legion Post 64 in Phoenix, Arizona.
This is my final report to you as your Commander. One year ago, I was honored to be elected to lead the Ahwatukee Post and I am happy to say that we fulfilled our promise to directly help and assist local veterans and their families.
Adjutant Roddy Charlton and Chaplain Rebecca Schmidt presented me with the Commander’s Award
In mid 2023, the officers of Post 64 came together and crafted an Action Plan which focused on meeting the needs of our members. The plan had 3 points: 1) Engage- Make Connections, 2) Expand- Build Bridges, and 3) Retain- Strengthen Social Fabric. When I look back at the last 11 months and reflect on all the good work, activities, and events that our members participated in, the words Mission Accomplished come to mind.
Engage– We listened to what was important to our members and held three social mixers, two fundraiser dinner dances and numerous activities outside of our 10 regular member meetings at the ARC. The number of veterans and guests who attended and actively participated also increased as the word got out about what value and benefit the American Legion can provide. The outstanding personal outreach of the Buddy Check program by our Service Officer Craig Annis and a small team of volunteers also had an amazingly positive impact on engagement.
Expand– Our strong partnership with Auxiliary Unit 64 helped us expand and improve the quality of our service to those in need. We built bridges to the community with active roles in the Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scout Troop 172, local Middle and High Schools, and other veteran service organizations which extended our service reach. With these actions and an enhanced PR/multimedia marketing emphasis, we increased awareness and visibility of the Legion programs that help those in need.
Retain– Taking care of the needs of our existing members while strengthen the social fabric of our post and local community enabled us to have the high member retain rate in District 12. The key ingredients in this area were members’ passion and service to others with meaningful causes. Having fun added the extra spice that kept people coming back and renewing their membership and increasing their involvement and commitment to our post.
As I pass the baton to our incoming Commander, Tamma Notaro, I am confident that she will keep the momentum going with our goal of Veterans Helping Veterans. Her strong leadership, communication and mentoring skills, in addition to a military intelligence background, will serve her well in coming year.
Lastly, the most important thing I need to say is Thank You to all the post members and auxiliary for supporting me this past year. We couldn’t have accomplished anything without you. I was blessed to have an amazing team of officers who all stepped up and exceeded my expectations. Words of appreciation are not enough to express my gratitude to the leaders of Post 64. I enthusiastically salute the 2023-2024 Post and Unit 64 officers: Al Hunter, Pete Meier, Roddy Charlton, Craig Annis, Jay Hendrix, Rebecca Schmidt, Mark Shillinger, David Green, Darlene Hunter, Joan Uhler, Kristy Hendrix, Judy Steffen, and Bev Shillinger. Great job everyone!
I also want to express my deep appreciation to our Post Photographer, Steve Smull, who has been creatively capturing so many memories and moments at Post 64 for the past 6 years.
A few words from Steve,
“As Post Photographer for Post 64, I was honored to serve and support Brenda’s efforts as Commander. We share a mutual respect for the efforts of our nation’s veterans, not just in defense of our borders, but also in their support of their peers.
Brenda and I will carry our efforts for veterans up the hill with us. I enjoy supporting veteran events with images which support veterans’ efforts. Thanks for allowing me to do it.”
The red poppy is a real and hardy flower that thrives in Belgium, France, England, and along the streets of Georgetown, Texas. This vibrant wildflower is a strong and passionate symbol of the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces across Europe, Canada, and the United States.
Poppies are authentic.
Poppies are powerful.
Poppies are the perfect reminder of the true meaning of Memorial Day in the United States. A stark and true symbol of remembrance and hope.
I first learned about the poppy when I was 10 years old and competing in my local VFW Post’s Poppy Queen contest. Having studied the history and background of the red and black flower, I have grown to appreciate its beauty and enduring symbolism. While paper replicas of the Papaver roheas are hand-crafted and distributed outside thousands of grocery stores on Memorial Day weekend in the U.S., they are not artificial. Rather, they represent the truest of all human experiences – that of noble sacrifice for one’s country.
It is an honor to don a red poppy in remembrance for those who have served in the military and paid the ultimate price.
The last stanza of the famous WWI poem, In Flanders Field, strikes me in my heart every time I read or recite it:
“Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die.
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Field.”
The reality of humankind’s warlike ways is painfully evident across the globe and the valiant fight of good against evil continues. The simple red poppy remains a strong and radiant light of truth, power and sacrifice. Nothing is more real than that.
For those whose mothers are no longer living on this earth, do you ever wonder what she would think about our world today? I often think about how my mom would react to my decisions and current situation. What advice would our mothers give us if they were sitting next to us right now?
It’s been almost 24 years since my sweet Mom passed away from lung cancer and Mother’s Day is always one of the saddest days of the year for me.
The best thing I can do is honor my Mom’s memory by doing and saying things that I know she would appreciate and be proud of. Striving to emulate her values with my actions.
Virginia Mary was born during the Great Depression and had a strong, spunky spirit and an infectious smile. She was extremely generous with her time and limited money and always rooted for and lent a helping hand to the underdog. Virginia was kind, jovial and optimistic. Her friends called her Ginny and I called her Mom.
One of my Mom’s favorite sayings was “Live, Love, Laugh” and that was how she lived her life. I never heard her complain or speak poorly of others, She was stoic when she was sick and cared more about taking care of the needs of others than she did for herself.
My Mom was hearing impaired since childhood and wore hearing aids which I don’t think helped her much. She was good at reading lips, body language, and expressions. She loved to read mystery books and write letters to her family. I am so happy to have a stack of letters she wrote to me during the early 1990s when I was in the Army and deployed in Saudi Arabia. This was the best way to communicate with her and they mean the world to me now.
Mom was not one to give unsolicited advice but if you asked she would give her simple and wise opinion. She didn’t use big words but she had large and important ideas, lessons, and experiences to share.
I’d like to imagine that if my Mom were sitting next to me right now, she would encourage me to lighten up and enjoy the small, good things that life has to offer. She would remind me to relax and slow down and look before I leaped. She would smile and tell me to be kind to others and volunteer to help the needy and underprivileged. Virginia Mary was an amazing and strong woman who inspired me to serve my country, my family, and my community. She is one of the main reasons why I became so active and engaged with the American Legion (all 4 of her brothers served in the U.S. military in WWII). The way she lived and loved and laughed in the face of adversity were key examples for me and helped shape who I am today.
My yoga instructor shared this quote below after class yesterday and it made be think of my Mom.
“If you want light to come into your life then you need to stand where it’s shining.” – Guy Finley
Happy Mother’s Day in heaven Mom!
Your values live on in the actions of your children, your friends and everyone who had the honor of knowing you.
Jack Armstrong was a strong and caring man who walked the walked and stood tall for his values, his community, and his nation. He cared about his community through his volunteer efforts at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center (ARC) and the American Legion. He supported his country through his military and government service. Jack advocated for and helped his Legion Post 64 in more ways than he knew. His strength and sincerity were a shining example of what is right and good about our nation.
A few years ago I began meeting with a small group of Legionnaires from Post 64 at the Denny’s restaurant in Chandler, AZ. Jack, Al, Bill and I put our heads together to brainstorm and how we could increase membership and engagement at our local post. I truly appreciated Jack’s quiet command and thoughtful ideas on how we could help our fellow veterans and the youth of in the Phoenix area. He could always be counted on to man the Post’s information/PR tables at public events and assist at Post meetings, social mixers, and fundraising functions. Jack was a true patriot and a leader who was liked and respected by everyone in the American Legion family.
Jack was an intelligent man who wanted to write a book and encouraged me to start a Writer’s Group at the ARC. Below is the email he sent me on May 4, 2023. Together we started a bi-weekly ARC Writer’s Group meeting in July 2023. He was a great inspiration to me and I enjoyed listening to his stories and experiences from his Army Corps of Engineering days in Vietnam to his Office of Inspector General audit days in the DoD.
“Brenda,
The ARC is trying to start a writer’s group. Would you be interested in joining and taking the leadership? I plan to join if the ARC can find a leader. I have always wanted to write a book on fraud in Iraq and Afghanistan, but I am not very creative when it comes to writing. I have written a couple hundred audit reports but nothing creative. Let me know if you are interested.
-Jack”
Jack was an active supporter of his community and a leader with a positive message of unity and respect. He lived authentically and was grateful for all that he had. Jack Armstrong embodied the values and pillars of the American Legion which are: Rehabilitation for Veterans, Youth & Children, Americanism, and National Defense. He not only lived these values- he boldly took action to make the world a better place.
As Commander of American Legion Post 64, I was honored to have worked with Jack Armstrong on countless efforts and events that supported our “Veterans Helping Veterans” focus. We will honor and remember Jack in the best way we can- by continuing his legacy and great work and by being positive, helpful, and caring volunteers in the local community.
In the United States, November 11th is the national holiday when we recognize our fellow citizens who have served their country in the military. Veterans Day, unlike Memorial Day, is meant to appreciate the sacrifices of the millions of living veterans who raised their right hand and pledged to defend the U.S. Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
This year Veterans Day has more meaning for me than usual. With the active and brutal battlefields in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, I am acutely aware and distressed at the heavy price that is being paid by both military personnel and civilians during wars.
As a U.S. Army Veteran from the Gulf War, it my honor to serve as the Commander of Ahwatukee American Legion Post 64 which is focused on helping veterans and their families in our local community.
Now more than ever, we need to strengthen the social fabric of our society and in our neighborhoods and, in my opinion, this is best done by connecting and bonding with people in person with a sense of common purpose. One of the things I miss most about my time in the military is the camaraderie and sense of shared values with fellow service members. When in a foxhole together at the morning stand to during my deployment in Saudi Arabia and Iraq, it didn’t matter what color your skin was or what your religious beliefs were. The only thing that mattered was that you were an American and believed in freedom, liberty, and our country’s Constitution.
As part of our Post’s Veterans Helping Veterans initiative, we are conducting Buddy Checks, where American Legion members are actively calling members to check in and see how they are doing. We are letting veterans know that we miss them and are thinking about their health and wellbeing. This focus is in support of the American Legion’s “Be the One” program, a suicide prevention effort which is addressing the growing health concern among those who served and are suffering with PTSD, TBI, or other debilitating issues.
American Legion Post 64 is Ahwatukee’s sole Veteran’s Service Organization and we meet monthly (3rd Wednesdays at 4PM) at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center (ARC). This November 11th you can visit with veterans from Post 64 at our table at the 19th Annual Ahwatukee Car Show on 4700 E. Warner Rd.
Please visit our website at www.americanlegionpost64.com for more information on the many events and social activities we are hosting in the local area.
The Ahwatukee community mourns the loss of a great friend, teammate, and citizen. Alice Maynard passed away on August 20, 2023, and will be remembered as someone who was always busy helping other people. Whether it was for charity or fundraising events at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center or Color Guard services with the American Legion Post 64, Alice was the embodiment of Selfless Service.
Photos by Steve Smull
As the Commander of the Ahwatukee American Legion Post, I honor and salute Alice for the countless hours of support and sacrifice she gave to so many active-duty military members and veterans. She never stood idle and actively volunteered in numerous groups including: Support the Troops, American Legion Auxiliary and Color Guard, Ahwatukee Recreation Center (ARC), and the RD-1 sub HOA.
Alice moved to Phoenix from Illinois in 1999 following the death of her husband, Harold L. Maynard, who was a Marine veteran and served in the Korean War. For over two decades she was active in the ARC activities and enjoyed swimming, water volleyball, and lawn bowling.
I first met Alice in 2018 when I joined the American Legion Post at the ARC and was immediately impressed with her kindness and generosity at every monthly membership meeting. She always made sure that the attendees of our events had a full spread of food, desserts, and drinks. I especially loved it when she made her deviled eggs for special occasions.
Alice donated her time and her talents to make the world a better place for those in need and those who served their country. She participated in Honor Guard flag folding ceremonies that gave the solemn respect to deceased veterans and their families.
Words can’t adequately describe the impact of the loss of Alice Maynard to her family and friends. It is my hope that this article provides some sense of the large amount of respect and admiration many felt for her. I have been active in volunteer service organizations for decades and Alice was the most loyal and dedicated person I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Alice was a patriot and always spoke her mind. She was passionate and caring, fierce and determined.
As someone 30 years her junior, I greatly admired Alice’s energy and often wondered where it came from. Perhaps it was her sense of Selfless Service.
All I know for sure is that Alice’s contributions to our organizations and community will be sorely missed, fondly remembered, and greatly appreciated.
May is the month for poppies in the U.S.A. These simple, red flowers represent so much passion and emotion that I often marvel at their worldwide impact. Millions of members and supporters of veteran organizations like the American Legion and the VFW distribute handmade paper poppies in the lead up to Memorial Day (the last Monday in May was declared a U.S. federal holiday in 1971).
For almost 100 years, the poppy has been a powerful symbol of remembrance, respect and honor for military veterans in the UK, Canada, France, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
For many, the red poppy represents sacrifices made in the defense of freedom.
Photo by Brenda Smull
For me, the month of May is a time of solemn tributes and memorial services for veterans who have lost their lives while serving their country and more personally, for my father, who passed away on May 2, 2003.
Fifteen years ago this month, I gave an impassioned speech at the Austin Toastmasters club titled “In Flanders Fields”. I opened with a recitation of the powerful World War I poem by Canadian Lt Col. John McCrae and told stories of how important the red poppy and the solemn Memorial Day traditions are to me and my family.
This year I share an excerpt of the poem “We Shall Keep the Faith” written by an American woman named Moina Michael in 1918.
We cherish, too, the poppy red That grows on fields where valor led; It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies, But lends a lustre to the red Of the flower that blooms above the dead In Flanders Fields.
Photo by Steve Smull
In keeping with the spirit of this poem and the opening thoughts of this article, below is a portion the First Vice Commander report I submitted for my American Legion Post’s newsletter.
“Across the country, May is an important month of remembrance which culminates in the Memorial Day holiday and tribute ceremonies. American Legion Post 64 continued with its annual tradition of holding an Honor and Remembrance Service during our May 17th member meeting. This year we rang the bell and called out the names of ten post and auxiliary members who passed away in the last year. This experience was especially impactful for me, since I participated in an honor guard ceremony and penned tribute articles for three of the deceased veterans. It was a simple, solemn and touching ceremony that gave our fellow legionnaires and auxiliary members the honor and respect they deserve. The meeting room was tastefully set up with a remembrance table of photos, programs and red roses for the family and friends of the deceased. In front of the lectern was an honor table with a beautiful wrought iron cross, candles, a Bible, a Koran and a yarmulke. Red poppies stood out brilliantly against the white tablecloth and added the strong and significant symbol of loss, sacrifice and hope.”
Over forty-five U.S. military veterans and American Legion Auxiliary members gathered at the Ahwatukee Recreation Center in Phoenix on April 5, 2023 to share experiences, eat, drink, laugh, and play cards. The event opened up with Post 64 Commander, Pete Meier, leading the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Photo by Steve Smull
Five large, round tables were set with color-coded tablecloths and signs to denote the military branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard).
Photo by Brenda Smull
The Emcee of the event, Brenda Smull, went around the room with a microphone so that the veterans could introduce themselves and share where and when they served their country. The dates ranged from 1962 to the early 2000s. All branches of the military were represented with the Air Force table having the most people. John Augustyn was our sole Coast Guard veteran and he enthusiastically shared light blue playing cards with the crest of his branch.
Photo by Roddy Charlton
The Auxiliary table was full with supportive and generous spouses and daughters of veterans. This group is a newly forming Unit of the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) and provided a great deal of help and assistance with the food and drink at this event.
Photo by Roddy Charlton
All enjoyed large and delicious pizzas from Venezia’s, salads, spinach dip, and homemade molasses cookies by Darlene Hunter.
Photo by Roddy Charlton
A brightly colored information table displayed history books titled Letters to Ann, Shoot Like a Girl and Ashley’s War. Red, white and blue pamphlets on the American Legion, the Auxiliary, and U.S. flag etiquette, provided information about the history, services, and benefits.
Photo by Roddy Charlton
Rockin’ music from the 1960s, 70s and 80s added to the fun and festive environment. A small, blue Bose speaker filled the large meeting room and did its job admirably.
The energy and connection of this positive gathering helped strengthen the social fabric of our community. Camaraderie, respect and support go a long way to bridging generational gaps and mending past wounds.
Photo by Roddy Charlton
During this small, simple social mixer, there was a feeling of being united– not just as veterans and supporters but as united citizens of our country- One Nation, Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All.
A bonus of this Veteran’s meeting was an increased sense of belonging in the community and a renewed focus and appreciation for those who have bravely and selflessly served their country.
Strong Words & Simple Truths 