American Legion Post 853 • Desert Breeze
May 2025
FROM THE LEGION
Post 853 will host our annual Memorial Day ceremony at Christmas Circle on Monday, May 26 at 11:00 to honor our fallen comrades. As is our tradition, lunch will be served afterwards at the Post.
Many of you will miss this ceremony because you’re on the road or already at your summer destination as we wrap up the 2024/2025 season at Post 853. Please honor our Post Everlasting comrades wherever you are on May 26.
I can’t say thank you enough to those who volunteered these past several months at the Post for operations, bartending, and/or maintenance, the Bargain Barn, Bingo, RV Park, Burger Night and meals, or for Legion related activities around Borrego Springs. Volunteerism is the lifeblood of the American Legion. By sharing our time and talents, we can transform our lives. This season, hundreds of hours of volunteerism were given that ultimately support our veterans, community, or youth.
So, as many posts around the country are rousing from their winter hibernation, we’re winding down for our summer dormancy. We’ll work to get a few projects done, heat willing, and keep the doors open at least on weekends to offer a cool zone for our members staying here for the “hot” months. I’ve heard discussions of trivia night on Sunday once a month, reviving game day on Saturday, possibly a movie night, and maybe potluck meals. Let officers in your unit know if you’d participate in any of these events.
I offer a HUGE thank you to all those in the outgoing 2024/2025 leadership team. Our year was filled with challenges and many successes. As the annual reports are filed and the books are closed out, I’m confident this will be a season that continues the proud tradition of generous service and support given by Post 853 - a small desert outpost with a BIG heart. Our incoming 2025/2026 leadership team will assume their responsibilities at the May 15 Officer Installation ceremony immediately following the Legionnaire General Meeting. All are invited to celebrate the 2025/2026 team and to lend them your support. A potluck will be hosted after the installation.
On closing note, it’s been my honor to represent Post 853 at community meetings and events, to present our efforts at District 22 meetings, and to work with the amazing leadership team and members our Post. Indeed, we’re the Hottest Post in the State - as we’ll soon witness - but not only for temperature but for our generosity.
For God and Country,
Dale Jones
Commander, Post 853
Legion Year 2024-25
The American Legion, Department of California
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
I would like to personally thank all the ALA ladies for their commitment this year to our Veterans programs. The bake sale ladies were amazing this year. The Bargain Barn with Mitzi at the helm rocked. Anyone who stepped up to help with burger nights or any other meals I thank you.
Our next and very important meeting is May 12 at 5:00. We will be doing our 2nd round of nominations and election of officers. We will also be making donations. Please attend. Afterwards, bring a dish to share.
I would like to congratulate all our incoming officers for next year on all the Legion Family.
Have a great summer and be well until we see you again. Those who will remain, we have fun things coming up for the summer at the Post. Stay tuned and come to the Post on the weekends for a cool libation.
In service not self,
ChrisAnn Wells
President, ALA Unit 853
FROM OUR OPERATIONS MANAGER
The season has ended, and I wonder where it went. As I consider the time that has passed, I recall my mother's involvement at the Elks in Sierra Vista. I am looking at a picture of her in the Elks kitchen preparing food for their Oktoberfest in 2008. This explains where my sense of service originated.
BAR OPERATIONS
Although Bingo and Burger Nights have concluded, the bar will remain open throughout May. The operating hours are Monday to Saturday from 3 PM to 7 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. This season’s bartenders included Commander Dale Jones, 2nd Vice Commander Dennis O’Leary, Casey McGuire, Luke Mary-Hutter, Sherii Geiger, Denise Bergman, and Kathe Hemesath. If you are interested in volunteering as a bartender, please contact me. I am seeking two additional volunteers. Please note that our bartenders are volunteers, so we kindly ask patrons to tip generously.
FACILITY OPERATIONS
Getting the Post ready for the summer off-season! Tuning up the HVAC systems. Making new additions to the kitchen and bar with new dishwashers (no, not new volunteers). To save everyone’s back (and if you’ve done dishes in the kitchen or bar, you’ll know what I’m talking about) and consistently clean and sanitized cook, dish and flatware the upgrade will be taking off soon. Speaking of consistently clean, I want to give a big THANK YOU to Sandra Carson for keeping our Post spotless. You do so much more than anyone knows!
For those of you who are unaware, the post has quite a large brush pile behind the dry camping area. We’ve started knocking this down and will take several burn piles and permits to get it accomplished. I want to say THANK YOU to State Park employees Mike Hopkins with his chainsaw and Frank Padilla the Burn Boss who is also a SAL member here. Also, thanks to the SAL 1st Vice Commander Mark Dedes with his tractor and camper John Knaul for keeping the fire fed. Not only has Mark been instrumental in moving the brush pile, but he has also used his tractor in spreading gravel throughout the Post property, trenching, back filling and leveling RV sites 11 – 15.
RV OPERATIONS
When a camper makes an online reservation, I try to make it a point to ask them for feedback on their experience with the system. All the feedback that I’ve received was for the most part positive and constructive. The reason for seeking feedback is that I can take campers ideas and / or suggestions to the software company and talk about changes, improvements and I continue learning the reservation system.
The upgrades to sites 11 – 15 are underway and should be completed by the 7th of May. The upgrades include electrical pedestals, new water lines, relocation of 1 sewer connection, adding gravel and leveling the sites. Once completed, all full hook-up sites will be able to accommodate a 30A or a 50A rig. The crew consisted of Tom Collins, John Knaul, Mark Dedes with David Farley as the electrical lead. The next project for those sites will be the addition of concrete pads, but those will have to wait until next season.
I will be taking possession of the Camp Host phone when Tom Collins leaves this month. Tom has been instrumental in the overall operation of the RV park while I’ve been away this season. I have grown to respect and enjoy Tom’s input, ideas and our planning sessions. The dad jokes are killing me tho! though! We’ve learned a lot about an RV park and one another. We’ve learned what works and also what doesn’t. I want to thank Tom for being the point man for all the upgrades to sites 11 – 15. With his knowledge and insight, this project would not have been so smooth. Thank you Tom, safe travels and I look forward to seeing you next season.
Jim Keith
Operations Manager
American Legion Post 853
4515 Borrego Springs Rd.
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
(972) 330-9076
FROM THE HOUSE COMMITTEE
The House Committee met on 13 April 2025 at 1:00 PM.
Dennis O’Leary gave an update on the dishwashers. They have been awarded and we are waiting for the contract and measurements to be finalized.
We voted to consolidate positions that Jim Keith fills, such as Bar Manager, Facilities Manager and RV Manger into one positon called Operations Manager.
We voted on and approved concrete work to enlarge the Handicap 1 May and Combat Wounded Parking Spaces.
The next House Committee Meeting is cancelled due to a conflict with Mother’s Day.
Gary Saunders
House Committee Chairman
BARGAIN BARN
The Bargain Barn is closed for the season.
BINGO!
On April 29, the last ball was called, and the tables were covered.
We had a successful season thanks to the dedicated team of volunteers. A very special thank you to George Thompson, Mitzi Siebert, Linda Barnard, Virginia Miller, Beverly Ries, Dale Jones, Gary Saunders and Heide White.
Thank you to all of our bingo players and the wonderful food they shared. Every week was a surprise with the variety of tasty treats. We will miss your smiles and banter. You were always generous in tipping the bartender.
There was always a great variety of door prizes. Thank you also to those who generously donated. The Bargain Barn also passed along some door prizes.
Your support of this fundraising program of The American Legion Post 853 helps veterans, our community, and youth.
If you would like to provide feedback, are interested in volunteering or donating prizes, please contact Gina Moran at 209-327-1803 or maxchibby1987@gmail.com.
We will begin again on Tuesday, October 7.
See you next season!
Gina Moran
Bingo Manager