Note From Alice Foster:

 I just want to say a big Thank You for all your help with the American Legion Auxiliary cake bake off.  We raised a total of $1,517.25 for the American Legion Riders Phone Card Program, which equates to approximately 80 phone cards.  In the words of Rockin Rick, think of all the troops who get to call home and hear “Merry Christmas, I Love You”.  Then think about all the Mom’s who get to talk to their babies.  We are going to touch so many lives with this contribution.

If you missed it there was a great story on KAKE last night at 10:00 showing our Post Commander pulling his gloves on like a doctor getting ready to do surgery.  They did a great job showing all the cakes.  Bobbi was great at keeping me organized, Maria did an awesome job on the certificates and cakes, Terri did a great job getting the word out, Cheryl was a wonderful sounding board and donated the great Tupperware basket, and Darla’s support was amazing.  Thank you to Chuck and Rick for the outstanding support and help during the judging and eating and also to Chuck and Monika for the refreshments (Monika, you are the best, every time you see a need you just jump in there and do it).  I have to give kudos to my husband here for putting up with me and believing in “another one of my crazy ideas”.  Everything went crazy and fast yesterday so if I forgot to mention anyone please let me know so I can personally thank them.

A huge “THANK YOU” to Rockin Rick for promoting this event and for being there, it was a lot of fun.  Rockin Rick does such an outstanding job for the troops, he is so passionate about it, this came through loud and clear during the event.  Every single entrant told me “don’t worry, the first one is always the hardest trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t.  There will be a second annual bake off, won’t there?”   We will see how that goes, but if there is a next time there will be more time to plan!!! 

Just in case, I am sending out a survey asking all the entrants what we could have done differently and I will do an after-action report so that we will be prepared.  I am also sending thank you cards to all the participants and to the businesses who supported us with donations.

Bill and I are both grateful to be involved with such a great group of people, you all are terrific.

Now J how about an “Adopt a Hero Tree”!  We have the names of troops who are single and need contact with people who support them, someone to send them shampoo and soap when they need it, someone who will be there as an anchor to home, even if it is just to send them a newspaper.  What if we paired the troops with members of the public who want to help and they can be the troops guardian angel until they come home?  The Auxiliary and American Legion Riders can support the program by paying for the postage whenever the sponsor wants to mail a care package to the troops.  Give me some feedback on this.   I am greatly disturbed by the fact that one of our own has a troop in Iraq and they fight over the last bottle of shampoo because there is never enough to go around.  Let’s do something about it, because we can!  And not just for Christmas, but for the duration of their tour of duty.

Again, THANK YOU to everyone.  I thought it was a great success and we had great public support.

Sincerely,

Alice Foster