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 “Jardin Bavaria” P.O. Box 669004
7a Avenida Norte # 49 Miami Springs Fl. 33266
Antigua Guatemala E-Mail Americanlegion2@gmail.com
Telephone 011-502-7934-6576 (new) Cellular 011-502-5494-1560
Your Post celebrated its 12th Anniversary this month and hosted the Department of Mexico National Convention July 7, 8 and 9 here in Antigua.
What have we accomplished on these past twelve years?
We have assisted in the repatriation of 5 people to the United States for medical care who without our assistance would not have survived here, thanks to your support.
We have reunited a Guatemalan son with his U.S veteran father after 18 years of separation much to the happiness of all concerned, thanks to your support.
9 veterans now receive a pension from the Veterans Administration that the veteran was not aware of their entitlement which has helped improve their standard of living, thanks to your support.
At least 7 widows of veterans now receive a pension that they were not even aware that they were entitled to, thanks to your support.
316 children receive a nutritious breakfast on a daily basis thanks to your support. These children would normally have a weak cup of coffee and a piece of bread for breakfast, thanks to your support..
Each Classroom of the Hermano Pedro School in San Antonio Aguas Caliente has a pure water source, thanks to your support.
100 poverty level families have been given a pure water source in their homes, again thanks to your support.
Most Community leaders know that we are the go to organization to get things done not just talked about. All of this is due to your continued support of our activities and we thank you.
Officers of Guatemala Post # 2
Commander------------------William J. Shetz americanlegion2@gmail.com 5494-1560
1st Vice-Commander--------Milo Vukovich mvuko68@aol.com 5295-2587
2nd Vice-Commander-------Rick VanMeter cvincv@aol.com 5199-2318
Service Officer---------------Milo Vukovich mvuko68@aol.com 5295-2587
Judge Advocate--------------Hubert J. Williams hjwnofun@gmail.com 7832-3555
Adjutant/Finance Officer---William J. Shetz americanlegion2@gmail.com 5494-1560
Sgt-at-Arms------------------Bruce Bouford brucebouford@aol.com 2335-0569
MEMBERSHIP
The 2010 membership cards are now available.
The 2010 membership cards are here and will be mailed out as soon as we receive your dues. We currently have 71 members paid for 2010. This makes us 46% of our goal or 154 members for 2010 Please make out all dues checks of $30.00 for 2010 to The American Legion 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 2010”. Below is the paid up for life rates based on our post dues of $30.00. If you wish to pay up for life please let me know and I will forward the form to you. You may pay up for life by charge card, a single payment check, cash or you may make 12 interest free payments.
AGE GROUP
24
& Under 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85& Over $1,045 $994 $938 $878 $811 $739 $662 $582 $501 $422 $348 $278 $217 $176
The Stephen Skelton Memorial Library
A community service of The American Legion, Guatemala Post # 2
4th Avenida Sur Final # 2
The Spanish / English Cookbook “Kitchen Fiesta” is in stock at the library. This hard to come by publication is in limited supply so get one while they last. The library is currently open 7 days a week, from 11:00a.m. Till 3:00p.m. The staff is totally made up of volunteers from the community and we appreciate the wonderful work of Milo, Marleny, Joyce, Maria, Duane and Bill. As more volunteers come aboard we will be extending the daily hours to accommodate those people wishing to use the library. We currently have 30,000 books 3,000 of which are in the Spanish Language. All of the books have been donated by members of the local community. Annual membership is currently available at Q100.00 for an individual and Q130.00 for families. Anyone interested in giving us a hand please contact Milo at 7831-0609 or Bill at 5494-1560.
The library was featured in an article in the local English magazine “Revue” July issue written by post member Michael Sherer.
The American Legion is a non-profit, tax-exempt IRS 501©(19) organization.
Dr. George H. Boyce Memorial Scholarship Program
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
We currently have 12 students in 4 schools receiving the benefits of our scholarship program. The scholarship programs average cost per student for 8 years of education is $3,000.00. This includes tuition, books, uniforms, Social activities and transportation where necessary. The parents select the school and we pay the bills directly to the providers. Our wives to insure that our funds are used wisely conduct the selection process for recipients of the scholarships. In all cases these children would not be attending school were it not for our assistance. This year our eldest student Maria age 18 will graduate from bi-lingual secretary school and will enter the work force in support of her widowed mother. Your support has made this project possible and we THANK YOU.
PURE WATER PROJECT
The pure water project for the students and their families got a real boost in the past month. We received $3500.00 in donations and put them right to use. We contacted the school in San Antonio
Aguas Calientes and asked the administration to invite the 100 poorest families to attend a meeting which was held May 15th 2009. At the meeting the producers of the water filters made a two-hour presentation on the benefits of pure water and the care and maintenance of the eco-filtro. At the end of the presentation the post donated to each family a 20-liter filter. The filters that have been distributed so far have reduced gastrointestinal infections by more than 50%. You may see the web page of the organization that produces the filter at: www.ecofiltro.org. A special thank you to Ray Boozer (member of post # 2) and his daughter and son in law for their generous contribution that made this project work and Jack Sorrow member of Guatemala Post # 2 whose donation to this project covered a major portion of its cost.
This project will be expanding into other schools and communities as contributions are received.
We have received a request from the Avivara organization to assist in a pure water project in their school north of Sumpango. The statistics on the school are;
El Yalu
Student Enrollment: 364 (Pre-school-6th)
Number of Faculty: 11
Community Characteristics: Predominantly Kaqchikel Mayan community; Spanish is a second language; lacking potable water system
Primary Occupations in the Community: Campesino; small farm and finca laborers
Primary Products: Corn, other vegetables
Municipality & Department: Sumpango, Sacatepequez
Latitude & Longitude: 14º 41′ 49.92″ N, 90º 44′ 42.83″ W
Poverty Statistics: 68% living in poverty, 24% living in extreme poverty (total-92%)
Improvement Grant Focus: Classroom desks and chairs, student supplies, teaching supplies
SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM
At the Hermano Pedro School in San Antonio Aguas Caliente we have been providing the children a healthy warm fortified breakfast drink for past 2 years and a half. We wish to extend to the very kind donors to this program our sincerest gratitude. The teachers and staff of the school have noted a marked improvement in the children’s attention span and attendance. The cost of this program is approximately $2500.00 for an entire year and the children benefit immensely. Anyone wishing to contribute to this program should make a check out to The American Legion and in the remarks section of the check please notate “Scholarship Program”. We are currently feeding 316 children a daily highly fortified breakfast.
A special thank you to Steve Lareau of Post 2 and Arthur Herbruger of Guatemala Post # 1 whose kind and constant donations to this program have helped make it a success.
The American Legion is a non-profit, tax-exempt IRS 501©(19) organization.
The American Legion Auxiliary
The Auxiliary is up and running and doing their part to project a positive image of the United States to the local community.
If your wife, (including common law wife) Mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, granddaughter or great granddaughter are interested in becoming involved in community service work of the Auxiliary please have her contact Diane Finnegan larry@mgemaine.com phone 5049-9693 or Marleny Shetz marlenyruiz2000@yahoo.com at 5567-8238 to get the details. United States Citizenship is not a prerequisite in the establishment of eligibility for membership in the American Legion Auxiliary.
The Auxiliary has already involved itself in local charitable projects and as it grows so will its projects.
Socials Community Bulletin Board
We have moved our Thursday Morning Breakfast to the Café Condessa
Every Thursday at 9:00 A.M. an information swap takes place at the Café Condessa on the West side of the Central Park. Those new to the area or just in need of information are invited to attend.
Sunday breakfasts are spontaneous as to the location please call 5494-1560 at 8:00a.m. On Sunday for our location.
