The Time to act is now!!!
Calling all Veterans, Family, Support and True Believers of our Cause. The time to act is now! Recently, our Florida Law Makers elected to abolish several forms of video and mechanical entertainment devices that served multi-dimensional purposes for our great organization.
These devices have not only been a source of pure entertainment for our Posts, they have boosted our membership rankings to all time highs, provide funding for much needed facility repairs and most importantly…they have been a primary source of funding for many charities we Legionnaires support.
The sad reality is that some of our Posts may be forced to close their doors without the revenues these devices generate and most every Post will feel the shortening of this arm of assistance. Simply put, we will no longer have the ‘REACH’ we need to continue offering all the kind acts we have been so graciously able to extend in the past.
The American Legions of Florida are unparalleled and exceptional in all we do, for our own, for our communities and for our State. It is not unreasonable for us to request consideration for our exceptional organization to be ruled as an exception to the recent Bills passed that literally cripple our efforts to support charities as well as our facilities. Few can challenge the historical contributions of hourly man power, administrative assistance and financial aid that the American Legions have credited to their cause.
We are asking every Post member to push for signature support on our petition and to contact their local state representatives. Below are links for the websites where you can email your state representatives as well as a sample letter that you are free to edit or copy. We also have petitions at the Post that can be picked up to collect signatures.
Please join us in petitioning our Law Makers to extend the EXCEPTION the American Legions have earned at home and abroad. To be heard we must have a voice!!!
These devices have not only been a source of pure entertainment for our Posts, they have boosted our membership rankings to all time highs, provide funding for much needed facility repairs and most importantly…they have been a primary source of funding for many charities we Legionnaires support.
The sad reality is that some of our Posts may be forced to close their doors without the revenues these devices generate and most every Post will feel the shortening of this arm of assistance. Simply put, we will no longer have the ‘REACH’ we need to continue offering all the kind acts we have been so graciously able to extend in the past.
The American Legions of Florida are unparalleled and exceptional in all we do, for our own, for our communities and for our State. It is not unreasonable for us to request consideration for our exceptional organization to be ruled as an exception to the recent Bills passed that literally cripple our efforts to support charities as well as our facilities. Few can challenge the historical contributions of hourly man power, administrative assistance and financial aid that the American Legions have credited to their cause.
We are asking every Post member to push for signature support on our petition and to contact their local state representatives. Below are links for the websites where you can email your state representatives as well as a sample letter that you are free to edit or copy. We also have petitions at the Post that can be picked up to collect signatures.
Please join us in petitioning our Law Makers to extend the EXCEPTION the American Legions have earned at home and abroad. To be heard we must have a voice!!!
Sample Letter
No one does more for American service men and women or veterans than the Veterans Service Organizations. We ensure that our active duty military gets the proper equipment and training they need to conduct effective missions. We ensure that our men and women of the armed forces past, present and future get the square deal they've earned, whether it is medical care, education & housing benefits and so much more. The American Legion and VFW members have strength in numbers, numbers that are upwards of 4,700,000 nationwide. That's a loud voice, a voice that demands what's right for our veterans and military.
The Florida American Legion and VFW, with more than 200,000 members and 490 Posts throughout the state, support our military and their families in a variety of ways. In the past year, the Florida American Legion and VFW:
It is imperative that the Florida State Legislature to amend Florida Statutes 849 to allow veterans’ service organization granted a federal charter under Title 36, United States Code to operate amusement games and or electronic bingo machines. The haste and initiative you show as elected representatives, individually and collectively in furtherance of this cause, will be to voters a measure of your success in office.
The Florida American Legion and VFW, with more than 200,000 members and 490 Posts throughout the state, support our military and their families in a variety of ways. In the past year, the Florida American Legion and VFW:
- Provided countless Community Service Hours and funds in support of veterans and their families though the USO, VA Hospitals, VA substance abuse treatment programs, Wreathes across America, Habitat for Humanity and many more
- Contributed to our local community by providing volunteer hours as well as donations to our local community kitchens, disaster relief programs, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and homeless shelters
- Collected more than 2,500 pints of blood for the Red Cross as well as our local blood banks
- Sponsored over 300 students for the Florida Boys and Girls State youth leadership program
- Sponsored 950 Boy Scouts
- Awarded 1,400 School Medals, 552 JROTC Medals and over $77,000 in scholarships
It is imperative that the Florida State Legislature to amend Florida Statutes 849 to allow veterans’ service organization granted a federal charter under Title 36, United States Code to operate amusement games and or electronic bingo machines. The haste and initiative you show as elected representatives, individually and collectively in furtherance of this cause, will be to voters a measure of your success in office.