LEGION REPORTS
Department Membership Summary
Post Membership Summary
Weekly Report – September 17, 2020
Hurricane Sally
Bill Hoppner
Disaster Preparedness
Hurricane Sally made landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama early Wednesday morning. Sally is continuing to crawl north-northeast at 3 mph, and the storm’s center will move across southeastern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle through early Thursday. The National Hurricane Center says “Catastrophic and life-threatening flooding occurring over portions of the Florida Panhandle and Southern Alabama”. Department of Florida will be assessing the damage when it is safe to do so, and will keep our Legionnaires informed. Our thoughts and prayers are with our members and their families affected by Hurricane Sally.
After Hurricane Sally rainfall and flooding begins to subside, most of our members will begin to return to their communities and homes to access damages and start the recovery process. We want you to be aware of The American Legion programs that are available to assist you during this time of recovery. If members are in need of continuing housing after a disaster because of damages sustained to their homes and the home is not available to be occupied, they should go to
https://www.disasterassistance.gov or the local FEMA Disaster Center for FEMA Transitional Sheltering Assistance. If member is unable to get FEMA or other government provided temporary housing, members may apply for an individual NEF grant or TFA within the restrictions established for each fund.
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Other Helpful resources: http://floridadisaster.org/getaplan/
State Assistance Information Line (SAIL): 1-800-342-3557
Please stay tuned to your local officials and/or log on to the www.floridadisaster.org
For God and Country,
William “Bill” Hoppner
Department Disaster Preparedness Chairman
Timothy “Tim” J. Tierney
Tim Tierney
It is with deep regret that we report the passing of Past Eastern Area Commander, Timothy “Tim” J. Tierney, of The Villages, Florida on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at the age of 74. Tim is survived by his wife, Ellen. There are no details regarding services at this time, but any new information will be communicated to you through email as well as posted on the website.
Tim was a U.S. Air Force Persian Gulf War Era Veteran and a member of Lady Lake Post 347 with 29 continuous years of membership. Tim served as Post Commander (2013-2017), District Vice Commander (2016-2018) District Commander (2018-2019) and Eastern Area Commander (2019).
Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers in their time of grief. If you would like to send your condolences you may do so through his wife, Ellen, at 3644 Vineland Ave., The Villages, FL 32163.
Weekly Report – September 10, 2020
Weekly Report – September 4, 2020
Charles “Louis” Lee Nicholson
It is with deep regret that we report the passing of Past Southwestern Area Commander, Charles “Louis” Lee Nicholson, of Bonita Springs, Florida at the age of 77. There are no details regarding services at this time, but any new information will be communicated to you through email as well as posted on the website.
Louis was a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam War Era Veteran and a member of John F. Murphy American Legion Post 303, Bonita Springs, FL with 54 continuous years of membership. Louis serviced as 13th District Commander (2000-2002) and Southwestern Area Commander (2002-2003).
Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers in their time of grief.
2020 Fall Conference Cancelled
The American Legion, Department of Florida regretfully announces that the 2020 Department Fall Conference has been cancelled.
Your health and safety are our number one priority, especially in such ambiguous times as these. Your Leadership made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Fall Conference, scheduled for November 5-8, based on an abundance of caution with the information currently available on the COVID 19 pandemic.
If you or your Post have made hotel reservations at the Renaissance Sea World, under the “American Legion” room block, your reservation will be automatically cancelled, and no further action is necessary. In fact, the hotel has currently suspended all operation at this present time.
Over the course of the next few months, we will provide a series of webinars. We will detail information on our website, floridalegion.org, on these upcoming web-based learning opportunities. These classes will focus on current Post Officer positions, and we strongly encourage current officers to participate. Members interested in learning more about Post Officer positions, interrelationship of the Post, District, Department and National organizations are welcome to participate as well. We are even in discussions of a full Virtual Conference. Again, details, will be released soon at floridalegion.org.
We thank you for your understanding and support of our Florida Veterans, families and communities during this challenging time.
Legion National Commander Pledges Support to Storm Victims
INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 27, 2020) – American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford issued the following statement regarding Hurricane Laura’s destructive path along the Gulf Coast:
“The American Legion extends its support and prayers to those impacted by Hurricane Laura. Right now, priority one is saving lives. When the danger subsides, the clean-up and recovery begins. The American Legion Family has a number of support programs for our members to include Temporary Financial Assistance and a National Emergency Fund. TFA grants are also available to eligible active-duty servicemembers with minor children in the home. We have American Legion posts across the country that will offer their own forms of assistance as well. I have directed our national staff to maintain regular communications with the impacted departments to ensure that we do everything we can to help those in need. For now, people with inquiries can call our Louisiana American Legion Department Adjutant, Tony Betts (337) 652-5072 or email tonyb_la@hotmail.com or adjutant@lalegion.org. The Texas American Legion can be contacted at (512) 472-4138 or billw@txlegion.org. More details will be released at www.legion.org during the coming days.”
Oxford also pointed out that Americans can contribute to charities which help recovery efforts by donating to The American Legion National Emergency Fund or Veterans & Children Foundation at legion.org/donate or by sending a check to either of those charities at The American Legion, P.O. Box 361626, Indianapolis, IN 46236.
Weekly Report – August 27, 2020
Words of Thanks from C.O.T.A.
Department Commander Rick Johnson thanks you for your support of his chosen charities. Below are some thanks from some of the recipients who benefited from your contributions to C.O.T.A….
Weekly Report – August 20, 2020
OUR VOICES WERE HEARD: All Posts Can Be OPEN Once Again
ALL POSTS CAN BE OPEN ONCE AGAIN!
Department of Florida American Legion Family Members,
After a lot of hard work by so many people, too many to mention, I am happy to report to you that our Social Quarters can be open and serve alcoholic beverages with food under the below mentioned specified guidelines. Of course this does not apply to the three counties that are still under Phase 1.
We explained to our elected officials that our Post Homes that have Social Quarters (canteens) are much more than a “bar” they are where our members meet, exchange pleasantries, discuss our programs, develop strategies for our community involvement and at the same time raise money to take care of our veterans, their families and the communities in which we live. It was explained that all of our funding is from these grass roots activities and keeping our Posts with Social Quarters closed was prohibiting us from accomplishing our Mission.
Below, you will be able to click on a document from the Deputy Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Mr. Michael B. Johnston. Posts with a valid Liquor License may serve alcoholic beverages with food (as long as you have a food service license or permit from a regulatory authority – (DoH, FDACS or your county) on premises while observing 50% or below capacity, and observing other state and local guidance on sanitation and social distancing to prevent the risk and exposure and spread of illness during this pandemic (i.e. masks, sanitizing, temperature taking, etc.)
Should any Post experience a problem with an ABT Inspector, please give them the attached document and immediately call either myself or the Department Adjutant Michael McDaniel so we can help to resolve the issue.
You can view the document either by clicking on the button below or the document displayed below. Once you have the document displayed on your screen you can right click on it to save it to your computer. If you have problems saving it to your computer, you can email distribution@floridalegion.org and a copy will be emailed to you.
Service, Honor, Sacrifice.
William “Rick” Johnson, Commander
The American Legion
Department of Florida
Weekly Report – August 13, 2020
Join special American Legion-VBA town hall
Dear American Legion members,
I wanted to let you know of a special opportunity this week for American Legion members.
On Wednesday, you are invited to participate in a tele-town hall that will allow Legionnaires to ask questions directly to Dr. Paul R. Lawrence, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Under Secretary for Benefits.
American Legion Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Commission Chairman Ralph Bozella will serve as a special guest host for the town hall that will take place from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday. Legionnaires can participate by calling (833) 380-0417; and press *3 to ask a question.
Topics to be covered include how VBA is operating through the pandemic, and updates on Blue Water Navy veterans and the Veterans Benefits Banking Program.
This is a great opportunity and I look forward to as many American Legion members participating as possible.
Stay safe, my friends and comrades.
For God and country,
James W. “Bill” Oxford
National Commander
Virtual Career Fair
A virtual Career Fair will be held in Orlando on August 27th.
2020-2021 Children & Youth Coin Pre-Order
Pre-order your 2020-2021 Children & Youth program coin today and save $3.00 each! Coins will go to regular price on September 1, 2020 at $10.00 each.
Coins are 1.5″ in diameter and are nickel with gold and silver metal coating, with blue enamel fill.
Profits from the Children & Youth coins go directly in support of the Department of Florida, Children & Youth program. Coins are expected to arrive in late August, and will begin shipping out immediately. They are also available for purchase from your Department Children & Youth Program Chair, Les Martin and will be on hand at the Children & Youth Picnic and Golf Tournament.
“Be SMART Florida” Statewide COVID-19 Campaign
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried announced the launch of Be SMART Florida, a new statewide COVID-19 consumer awareness campaign asking Floridians to take small actions with proven results to slow the pandemic’s spread.
A nonpartisan, bilingual, multi-channel awareness campaign, Be SMART Florida is an acronym asking Floridians to Social distance, Mask up, Avoid crowds, Remember to wash or sanitize hands, and Throw away disposable items like masks, gloves, and wipes. These common-sense steps are crucial to slowing COVID-19; a World Health Organization-backed study showed that COVID-19’s spread is reduced by up to 85% through wearing masks and up to 82% by social distancing.
The campaign’s launch comes after Commissioner Fried, a member of the Florida Cabinet who oversees Florida’s consumer protection agency, has heard from Floridians, families, parents, teachers, farmworkers, business owners, and others concerned about COVID-19. Last week, Fried also held a virtual roundtable discussion with frontline doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers on the state’s COVID-19 response.
“We’ve never needed to be more united than right now, yet we’re divided by simple actions like wearing a mask and keeping our distance. To reopen our state and our economy safely, we must all be in this together and do the small things that make a big difference in slowing down COVID-19,” said Commissioner Fried. “As Florida’s consumer protection agency, we take seriously the responsibility to help Florida’s people, businesses, essential workers, and economy be safe. I’m hopeful that by working together, we’ll all do our part to beat COVID-19 – so let’s be SMART, Florida!”
VIDEO: HD B-roll and photos of the press conference may be downloaded here
The campaign features short #BeSMARTFL social media videos from well-known Floridians and influencers, shareable graphics and animated videos with important information, and a social media toolkit that encourages everyone to spread the word. In the coming weeks, radio PSAs will also begin airing, and other campaign elements will be introduced. Today, the campaign is launching with short videos from former Miami HEAT player Alonzo Mourning, Congresswoman and former U.S. Secretary of Health Donna Shalala, City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, entertainer and entrepreneur DJ IRIE, and State Rep. Javier Fernández (in Spanish). These videos will be found on the department’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
More information including the social media toolkit and sample videos and graphics can be found at FDACS.gov/SMART.
Commander’s Charity raises $63,107.96 for C.O.T.A.
Help us congratulate Commander Johnson on his efforts of raising $63,107.96 for COTA! Thank you to all those who supported him and made a contribution to help him reach his goal. A special thanks to those who took on the challenge and cut their hair for the cause!
NOTE: Commander Johnson has chosen PROJECT: VetRelief and COTA as his charities for his second year in office. Let’s all help him double his contributions to both charities and support veterans and children in their time of need!
Commander’s Charity raises $116,180.37 for PROJECT: VetRelief
Commander Rick Johnson was also able to raise $116,180.37 for PROJECT:VetRelief!! Taking care of veterans is something he’s passionate about. We appreciate all those who contributed through this charities of choice.
NOTE: Commander Johnson has chosen PROJECT: VetRelief and COTA as his charities for his second year in office. Let’s all help him double his contributions to both charities and support veterans and children in their time of need!
FDACS Asking Floridians to Report Suspicious Seed Packets from China
Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is continuing to warn Floridians about unsolicited packages of seeds received through the mail. The seed packets, which may arrive unexpectedly in packages bearing Chinese characters, may bear the name China Post, and may be labeled as jewelry, have been reported in multiple states including Virginia, Kansas, Washington, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Utah, and others.
As of July 28, FDACS has received at least 631 reports from Florida residents reporting having received suspicious seed packages. The content of the seed packages remains unknown at this time, until testing by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) takes place.
UPDATE: Today, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the lead regulatory body on this matter, issued guidance. The USDA believes the seeds to be part of a “brushing” scam, where unsolicited items are sent in order to post false customer reviews and boost online sales. Upon receiving seed packages from recipients, the USDA will test the contents to determine if a risk is posed to agriculture or the environment.
The introduction of plant seeds into the United States is tightly regulated by the USDA. Seeds of unknown origin may constitute agricultural smuggling, may be invasive, may introduce pathogens, toxins, or plant and animal diseases, may pose a risk of foodborne illness, and may pose a threat to plant and animal health. FDACS is continuing to work closely to receive additional guidance from the USDA and APHIS, in consultation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“Plant seeds from unknown sources may introduce dangerous pathogens, diseases, or invasive species into Florida, putting agriculture and our state’s plant, animal, and human health at risk,” said Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “Anyone receiving these suspicious seed packets should not plant them, but should report it to our department immediately, so that our inspectors can safely collect them for analysis.”
UPDATED: What To Do: Anyone receiving unsolicited seed packages from other countries should follow these directions:
- Do not open the seed packet and avoid opening outer packaging or mailing materials, if possible
- Place the seed packet AND mailing materials into a sealable plastic bag – this is important to determining the origin of the seeds
- Do not plant the seeds or discard them in trash that will be landfilled
- Report the seed package to the FDACS Division of Plant Industry at 1-888-397-1517 or DPIhelpline@FDACS.gov
- After reporting the seed package, an Inspector from the FDACS Division of Plant Industry will contact seed recipients to schedule a safe, contactless collection of the seeds, packaging, and mailing materials
When reporting the seed package to FDACS and USDA/APHIS, please be prepared to provide one’s name, physical address, phone number, and email address for contact and seed collection purposes.
PHOTOS: Photos of seed packages received by Floridians can be found here.
Photo credit: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services