Welcome to Fall!
The temperatures in the valley are starting to cool down and the AFSG Charter Club is starting to heat up! There is much to cover in this months AFSG Newsletter so without further
adieu:
Membership Meeting
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
Mesquite and Palm Room
Sonoran Plaza
10 AM
This is a very important meeting where will discuss our upcoming 2023 Veterans Event Fundraiser and ask you for your suggestions for club activities in the 2023 season!
We will also have a guest speaker, Mr. Joe Brett, who will represent the Veterans Heritage Project. This is a program that tries to record Veteran experiences with the help of high school students.
These student/Veteran interviews are published in a hard cover book format and preserved in the Library of Congress! Connecting our Veterans with the today’s youth is a win - win opportunity. The Veterans history is preserved and the student has a direct connection to those who served.
Joe Brett’s bio - U.S. Army, Vietnam War: Joe Brett deployed to Vietnam in 1969 with the 108th Artillery Group in Dong Ha. His aerial forward observer group, the Sundowners, monitored enemy movement along the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) and called in artillery and air strikes on North Vietnamese (NVA) soldiers, assessing the body count after each action. Today, Joe works tirelessly to help veterans suffering from moral injury to cope with their memories.
A Sad Note
It is with much sadness that I want you to know Lois Smith the wife of Tom Smith has passed away. Many of our members have worked with Lois and Tom who were the coordinators of our Raffle Ticket Sales Volunteers. Without their continued support we would not been able to achieve the success we have with our Veteran Support Foundations.
The family has requested a private service, however, if you would like to make a donation in Lois’s name, her charities are listed below Ronald McDonald House Charities Chicagoland: rmhccni.org Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: lls.org
Tom”s home address:
The Smith Family
18828 N. Diamond Dr.
Surprise, AZ. 85374
Please keep the Smith family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Dues are Due!
Please remember your membership fee is not a donation to a 501 C 3 foundation but rather helps us with our annual club expenses, i.e. web site provider, storage shed, and other expenses that are not connected to our fundraising event. All our costs have increased this year.
Our 2022-23 Annual Dues will be going up to $20 per person or $30 per couple after our November 8, 2022 Membership Meeting.
Dues will remain only $10 per person until November 8th. If you have not already paid this season’s dues, please plan to do so at our Membership Meeting or send your check prior to that date to our club
address:
Armed Forces Support Group
19753 N. Remington Dr.
Surprise, AZ. 85374
It is also important that we maintain our minimum of 100 PAID members level to keep us at a Charter Club status with CAM. This allows us many discounts and scheduling advantages that we will need to maintain.
Soldiers Best Friend Golf Tournament
Palmbrook CC, Sun City
Sunday, November, 20, 2022, 7 AM
$150 before Oct. 1, $175 after
The AFSG has been a proud major sponsor for the tournament for a number of years. They created a new title for us this year - Tango Mike Sponsor. It is a great event for a greater cause!
Contact: soldiersbestfriend.org for registration information
Honor flight Arizona Guardian Information
A number of our members have inquired about becoming a Guardian (chaperone) for an Honor Flight Arizona Veteran Flight. HFAZ is needing help with the following dates:
- October 11 - 13, 2022 - need 4
- October 25 - 27, 2022 - need 4 confirmed + 4 stand by
For information on becoming a Guardian, go to web site: honorflightaz.org/ get-involved/guardians. It will give you all the information that you need to know for this honor!
Veterans Day - City of Surprise
November 11, 2022, 10 AM
The City of Surprise does a great job with a Veterans Day Parade! If you would like to participate please contact: daniel.luvis@surpriseaz.gov and register to participate or call 623-222-2251
American Legion Annual Spaghetti Dinner
Jim Angarella, one of our new AFSG Board Members, is also on the Board for the Legion Riders a motorcycle group that honors our Veterans. FYI below is a flyer for their upcoming fundraising event.
Annual Spaghetti Dinner
Open to All - November 12th
A New Leaf’s Riverboat Bingo
18300 W. Bell Road, Surprise AZ
1700 hrs. to 2000 hrs. (5-8 pm for you non-military folks)
Door prize, raffle, and 50/50 drawing at event
Dine in or Take-Out
$15/plate —Spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, soft beverage + entry for door prize drawing. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door
Contact: Jim Angarella — (401) 578-4268
Proceeds support the American Legion Law Enforcement Career Academy for Surprise High School Students
Phew! A lot of information to kick off our new season and much more to look forward to!
Stay safe!
AFSG Board of Directors
