Nov. - Dec. 2025 Newsletter

Post 112
Oct 31, 2025
5 min read

Updated: Dec 15, 2025

Check out the Highlights or Download the Full PDF below!

Commander

Hello Everyone, I hope and pray everyone had a wonderful summer. I also pray for everyone’s physical and mental well-being. We need to be there for each other. Thank you to all that helped with the Rib Fest. The planning, organizing, set-up, take down and clean up also the members who participated in the cooking teams. Can’t forget the ones who tasted the ribs as well. Our Legion Family stepped up and made it a success. Thanks again.

Everyone knows that we switched all of our lights to LED lights. We do have dozens of slightly used 4’ and 8’ tube lights that we are offering to anyone who can use them. Just ask Keith or me and we will gladly help.

Veteran Day is near so please let us know if you are planning to attend the Veterans Supper November 9th at 6 pm, social at 5pm.

The American Legion Riders Sunday breakfast is starting November 2nd and every third Sunday after.

Take care and be safe.

Vaughn

Commander

Adjutant

Fall is flying by GOOOOD MOOORNING Elk River Post 112. We survived the Ribfest wind and had a great time. Lisa did a great job putting it all together. And a big thank you to all the members who helped make it happen. We’re already thinking about next year. But first we’re going to concentrate on our upcoming events; the annual golf tournament on 18 Oct, the BBB, (Breakfast, Bloody Marys and Bingo) on Nov 2, and our Veterans Day supper on 9 Nov, and Veterans Day school programs.

Again, I need to thank all the members of The Honor Guard for everything they have done. Funerals

and sporting events, sometimes we have two football games at the same time. And sometimes in the rain. The Honor Guard is always looking for a few good Men [and Women] to fill our ranks so if you might be interested let us know. It’s a very rewarding experience and doesn’t take as much time as you think.

Our Membership goal for 2026 is 310 and we are already at around 200. If you haven’t paid your membership dues please do so. And thanks to Bill Stevenson for his tireless work as the membership director. It’s our members that keep us strong. As always, a good place to learn how to get involved would be to come to our donuts with the commanders on Saturday mornings at 8:30. It’s a good way to meet people and see what’s going on. Sometimes the Mayor stops by and gives us updates about what’s going on in Elk River.

We wish Tom Kulkay all the best as he continues to recover from his knee surgery. Stop on by the post to say hello and sign the book.

Gregory Crow (G2)

Post Adjutant

PS. If you’re going pheasant hunting it’s a good idea to practice a little ahead of time if you want to hit anything! Don’t ask me how I know.

Auxiliary

Hello Auxiliary Members, just a little of what we have done since our last newsletter. Oct 4th, we sold hotdogs and brats for the rib fest at the post and also helped with ticket sales. Thank you Marilyn, Joannie, Becky, Carol Heath, Carol Ann, Stacy, Nicole and Lori Crow. We have also had an event with the District Junior Fun Day with the Junior Auxiliary members. We met at the Pickle Paradise (new Pickle Ball venue [old movie theatre]). We had 11 juniors from Melrose, Atkin, Pequot Lakes, Upsala and Kimball. We played Bingo, colored pumpkins and color sheets and also played a ping pong game and finally went to the park at Lincoln School. Thank you Lori Crow and Diane Telfer for all your help and Laurie Tonsager for helping with supplies. Now on to baking for the Craft and Bake Sale on the 25th.

Hope to see everyone at the meeting. 7:00pm

Michele Smith

Unit 112 President

Auxiliary Membership

Hello, the goal that the Department has put on the Auxiliary is 134 we have 77 paid so we are at 58%. Also, a reminder that our Craft, Vendor and Bake sale is October 25th 8:30am -4pm at the Post.

Diane Telfer

Riders

Greetings from the Post 112 Riders. Our Motorcycle riding days are dwindling with the temperatures and daylight hours. The deer on the roadways are becoming more frequent with the mating season and the extra hunters in the woods. I found a large buck standing on Meadowvale Rd. near 109th Ave after our monthly Post meeting. I was thankful for the high beams on my motorcycle to see him with plenty of room. The buck just stood there until I stopped and he casually walked off the road.

The Second Annual Rib Fest was another successful event at the Post. Manager Lisa coordinated the many moving parts that included; signing up the various cooking teams, permits from the City of Elk River for the outside alcohol event, notifications of the event to the properties within 500 feet of the Post, procuring parking lot barriers from the Fair and outside lavatories. Lisa also coordinated the judging of the ribs and working with the Riders, the SAL and the Auxiliary.

Special thanks to the many members that volunteered countless hours of cleaning up the parking lot. The same volunteers and others then set up and took down the tents, barricades and tables. The preparation took at least two days before and the cleanup took another couple days after. The Riders will be selling more Ducks Unlimited gun raffle boards. We have completed three boards and have had six winners. We will be selling more tickets at various times and using Friday evenings to draw the winners during or just after the Meat Raffle. On November 2nd the riders will be having our November breakfast BB & B and partnering with the Elk River High Trap Shooting Team. This is a couple weeks earlier than our regular third Sunday for Breakfast. We wanted to have this event before the Minnesota deer opener. This breakfast will have our regular Bingo, Bloody Mary beverages, silent auctions and probable raffles for hunting and outdoor items.

The Riders are looking forward to this inaugural event with the trap team to work with another community organization. The Trap Team Leader, Jim Sherret is a go-getter and also leads the High School Fishing Team. The Riders have worked with the Legion Baseball Team the last two January breakfasts and are scheduled to work with them in January 2026.

Anyone with kids, grandkids and hearty appetites are also invited to our annual breakfast with Santa on December 21st. The breakfast includes a small goodie bag, hot chocolate and a chance to let Santa know what the children want to see under the tree. The Riders and the Post Auxiliary will be providing cash to the many veterans in our area assisted living facilities for incidentals like haircuts and personal items. The Riders are always seeking new members and suggestions for great rides.

Post 112 Riders Director, Todd Jagdodzinski