Fort Hill American Legion Auxiliary Unit #376
A Community of Volunteers Serving Veterans, Military, and their Families
The American Legion Auxiliary is the world's largest women's, and now men's, patriotic service
organization chartered November 10, 1919, 100+ years ago!
Our ALA Unit 376 is almost as old; chartered Dec. 1, 1924. We'll be 100 on Dec. 1, 2024!
Tues., Nov.14, 2023, 6:30 p.m. - Our Unit 376 Meeting, 3rd of the fiscal year, upstairs - Legion. All ALA members are welcome to attend to discuss upcoming plans (or just meet some nice members) and learn how you can participate. This is how we make a difference in our community!
Mon., November 6, at 6:30 pm, the Chenango County ALA meeting at OUR Post 376! The dinner is at 6:00 pm. Please come and represent!
Saturday, November 11, at 11 a.m. Veterans Day Service - Post #376 invites members and the community to join them this Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11. The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m., when they will reflect on the service and sacrifice of members of the Nation’s armed forces with an honorable service, ceremony, “Taps,” and light refreshments.
Post 376 Commander Darlene Ardron requests, “Please come and join the members of our Legion on this special day to thank all who have served in war or peace.”
Veterans and active-duty military personnel: You can receive a complimentary meal at the Legion bar on Veterans Day, 11/11/23. (Eat-in only.) Menu: Chicken and Biscuit with vegetable gravy. Non Military: $5. The bar will be open at noon.
Raffle Nov. 11th Deadline: There’s still not too late to get in on our “Complete Thanksgiving Dinner Basket” raffle. (This includes a whole 17 Lb. turkey. YOU have to cook this one!) Tickets $5 each or 5 for $20 are on sale at the Legion during the Sunday Community Breakfast or down in the bar. The winning ticket will be drawn right after the 11/11 ceremony. (Winner will be contacted if not present.)
2023 Chicken BBQs: Done for the year. Thank you SAL Members: TIM, TIM AND TEAM. A new BBQ pit is being built!
Attention Football Fans: the Legion bar is going to be open early on Sundays for football season –at 12:30!
The 2nd annual Halloween Costume Party was Friday, Oct. 27th. Independent recording artist The Ben Rounds Band played a blend of country, rockabilly, and blues. Bedecked in a white lab coat and goggles, our own “Mad Scientist” Trudy Huggins was behind the bar concocting “Witches Brew” cocktails and a costume contest was held with three winning categories.
The contest winners were: Christine Long and Matt Dowling for “Most Original”, as a cool 60’s couple; Andrea Jones “Funniest”, as a demanding “Karen” complainer; and Rhonda Conant “Scariest”, as a Day of the Dead-witch. Congratulations to all the winners!
The 2023 American Legion Auxiliary Empire Girls State program representative or "Citizens" are: Katie Yates, Elizabeth Knapp (sponsored by Norwich ALA Unit 189), and Madison Laskowski (sponsored by McDonough ALA Unit 1478). We are so proud and fortunate to have had -3- bright, young juniors from Oxford Academy High School accepted! The session dates were (Sun. – Sat.) July 2 – 8, 2023, at SUNY Brockport. Thanks to the EGS Committee and Congratulations students!!! Read more about the program at: EmpireGirlsState.org . There's a fun video about EGS here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIB-_HAWQrc&t=163s Soon there will be interviews for the 2024 season.
On Dec. 14, 2022, ALA Unit #376
held a meeting
that honored five special women who have been Unit 376 members
for 50 (or more)
consecutive years. Shirley Sykora (54 yrs), Judy Estelow (51 yrs),
MaryEllen Sherman
(51 yrs), Gloria Case (50 yrs), and Terrie Miller (50 yrs). Pictured are Louise Spicer, ALA president (center), proudly presenting 50- year ALA certificates to MaryEllen Sherman (L) and Terrie Miller (R). Congratulations All!
Sunday Community Breakfast at the Legion, 7:30 – 11 a.m. (Yes, we have specials*.) We have been serving the All-You-Can-Eat Breakfasts for over 25 years. The pandemic is the only thing that shut it down - temporarily.
*Specials:
1st Sunday of each month: S.O.S. gravy.
2nd Sunday of each month: Western Omelets
3rd Sunday of each month: Sausage Gravy and Biscuits.
Seniors- 62 years & older $8.00,
Adults- 13 to 61 years $9.00,
All Firemen --Thank You! $8.00,
Juniors- 6 to 12 years $7.00,
Children 5 to 2 years $2.00,
Children under 2 Complimentary,
Volunteers Thank You!!,
Re-Orders: Complimentary, and
Take Out Orders $9.00
The American Red Cross is at the Fort Hill Post 376 for blood drives on the 2nd Saturday every other month, six times a year. Correction, it's the 2nd Sat. IF it's 8 weeks from the last blood drive.
The upcoming drive is
November 4, 2023, from 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.(Months are Jan., March, May, July, Sept., & Nov.)
A few 2024 dates: 01/06/24; 03/09/24. 05/11/24. Sometimes they offer little perks (gift cards or t-shirts). They ordinarily take walk-ins, but making an appointment is a much better idea. You can even go online for the pre-screening questions to save time. Visit the website: http://www.redcrossblood.org/ FMI/to find a location near you. "Urgent: Blood Donors Needed!"
Congratulations: Lora A. Rowe, of the Sherburne ALA Unit 876 (a 34-year ALA member), has been elected 2023-24 Dept. of NY 3rd Vice President! She's a Past President of the Sherburne American Legion Auxiliary, Chenango County, and the Sixth District. Because of her love for the American Legion, she is now pursuing her dream of becoming the President of the Department of New York. (This is a three year process and this is the first of 3.) It is our duty and honor to support Lora and she has the full support of her County family behind her! Let's all help Lora work her way to becoming Dept. President!!!
Our annual Harvest dinner on October 13 was a great success! Thank you to all the ALA members who donated pies and to all the volunteers including the SAL and Legionnaires, our "Legion Family" who helped make it all possible!!!
The 4th Poppy Poster Contest is completed! The 6 winners are:
Middle School
1st: Emily Williams,
2nd: Sadie Laing, and
3rd: Abby Polaro. In the High school
1st: Nivayah Demuth,
2nd: Olivia Barbosa, and
3rd: Owen Behr. Congratulations all!!! Special thanks to Terrill Sutton, Poppy Chairman, and art teachers Charity Gipp and Joni Eaton. The winning posters can be viewed for a month, in the Post 376 dining hall during the Sunday Community Breakfasts. Visit Poppy Poster 2022 page to see this past year's winners!
ALA Poppy Coloring books are available for children at the breakfast for free. It's a great way for them to learn about the history, meaning, and purpose of the poppy as it relates to veterans.
News: When at the Legion bar, be sure to ask what food they've got! They often have hot dogs, pizza, sometimes meatball heroes, chili, etc.

Saturdays - 3rd of the month, 7 - 11 p.m. - Legion Karaoke Nights in the bar.
2024 Memberships: You can renew by mail, or online (the easiest way), or at the Post 376 bar. Visit the Contact/Join page for online details. The NEW membership application is there. Dues are $30. Junior dues are $6.25.
The Legion Post 376 Bar is open. Mondays-Sundays 2:30 - close.
Shuffleboard and pool playing available. Current paid up membership cards are required for admission. Call if you have questions: (607) 843-8166.
2023-24 - All ALA Program reports are due Nov. 1 & May 1. (Only 2 reports now!) For future, you can get them online here at the NY Dept website.
The Chenango County ALA meetings - All MONDAY monthly meetings will be at different posts in our County. Dinner will be served. Business meeting begins at 7 p.m. All CCALA meetings are at 6:30 p.m. [usually] on the first Monday of each month [except not held in Jan, July, Aug. It's on *Tues in March due to the joint "Birthday" party meeting].)
2023-24 County ALA officers are: President - Marsha Cornelius, Ed.D.; 1st. Vice President - Ruth Ann "Rudy" Hoke, 2nd Vice President - Angela Jones; Secretary - Jane Utegg; Treasurer - Resi Fuller, Membership - Rudy Hoke.
Sgt at Arms: Lora Rowe; Chaplain & Field Svce/VA&R: Susie Boise; Historian: Jane Utegg; and Jr Activity: Angela Jones.
The ALA 6th District Field Service Representative to the Oxford Veterans' Home, Tami Zebrowski-Darrow has annual events. Volunteers, usually wanted (but, due to Covid, they're being limited). 5 (screened) volunteers are allowed with prior arrangements. Donations are needed every year for the Christmas gift give-away.
Contact info Home phone - (607) 722-5994 ; Cell phone - (607) 759-6891
Tami's 2022 Christmas Gift Give-Away info letter here: Click for complete schedule. It will be held on Dec. 10, 2022.
The 2022-23 6th D. Bingo dates & Oxford Veterans' Home Events Schedule is here.
Some older news:
Our Oxford Post 376 celebrated its 100th anniversary on March 16, 2019. We received 2 beautiful proclamations from US House of Representatives Anthony Brindisi and NYS Assemblyman Clifford Crouch! At left are Post 376 Legionnaires Ernie Spicer, Commander Darlene Ardron and Ron Blanford with the Assembly proclamation..
Did you know: there are 3 American Legion Posts in Chenango County that are "Centennial Posts" and they are Norwich Post 189, Oxford Post 376, and New Berlin Post 348. A beautiful commemorative coin featured a list of all 11 Posts with the Centennial ones listed at the top.
What's happening soon-- (please visit our calendar page too)
NEW: Our Unit 376 2020 Constitution and Bylaws as well as our Standing Rules have been updated and officially approved by Dept. Read them to learn the rules we follow. Both docs are PDF links at the top of the "Q and A" list on the FAQ page. This will have to be redone in 2023, for 2024, when the price increase goes into effect.
The fifth Chenango County ALA meeting was a special day: Tuesday, March 12, 2019., held at Post #876, 15 S. Main Street, Sherburne, NY- it was the American Legion's 100th Birthday meeting!
There were historic pictures, a WW1 - Vietnam era uniform display from the Oxford Historical Society, and 20's era music to reflect on these first 100 years.
[At left is CC ALA President Joy Lawrence, CC Legion Treasurer: Patricia J. Cobb, and the late CC Legion Past Commander, Bill Olsen.]
Have you seen the Veterans' Memorial Walkway in Oxford, NY. The Walkway, with engraved memorial pavers, was officially dedicated on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. in LaFayette Park. It's quite beautiful! For more on this and order forms, visit http://www.villageofoxfordny.com/paver-stones.php
ALA dues went up in 2019! We had to raise our rates because National raised theirs. $3.00 for adults and $1.25 Juniors. That means your dues are: $28.00 - Adults; and $6.25 - Juniors.
Seniors $28 breakdown:
National Rate (increase from $9 to) $12 +
Department Rate (- the same) $8.
Unit portion will be $8.
Juniors $6.25 breakdown:
National Rate (increase from $1.25 to) $2.50 +
Department (no increase) $3.75.
Our Unit portion: -0-.
May 9, 2018: officers honored special member - Marguerite Stiles - with a 66-year ALA member certificate and lunch out at Applebee's in Vestal to celebrate her 101st birthday! The news coverage was aplenty! The photo at right was a full screen image at the CNY News website! Even Sen. Akshar sent a birthday wish to Marguerite. We were also in the (National) Auxiliary magazine, Aug. 2018 issue. We had a lovely afternoon together. Sadly Marguerite passed away 12-22-2019.
Some of What We Have Done--
TELEVISION COVERAGE '14: Tuesday, November 11, 2014, was the Legion's Veterans Day ceremony. Ch. 12, WBNG's Kerry Longobucco came to film it, complete with interviews, too. http://www.wbng.com/…/Honoring-military-members-and-their-f…
TELEVISION COVERAGE '13: Monday, May 27th, 2013, was the Legion's Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony. (Read more on the fundraising page under Events.) It was filmed by Channel 12 Action news. It's modest, but be sure to see it here! They have a few photos too.
The ALA focuses on three major areas: Veterans, Young People, Americanism and the community. On the local level, the Oxford ALA has over 200 members, giving many volunteer hours to help the initiatives and programs of the Oxford Legion and the Oxford community.
Oxford Auxiliary members have achieved their own unique identity while working side-by-side with the Legionnaires and the Sons of the American Legion (SAL's), of Fort Hill Post #376. They have the honor of marching in the Memorial Day parade but they do a lot more!
The ALA is involved in youth activities such as the Oratorical Contest and Girls' State. Some members volunteer at the NYS Veterans' Home, nursing homes, food and clothing banks, and they organize fundraisers like Bake Sales and Soup Sales, Memorial Poppy sales, and the Cinco de Mayo fiesta dinner. They have even established an American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship. They're involved in other community projects such as promoting child literacy*; education; charities; and more. It is all accomplished with volunteers!
*Each fall Unit 376 sponsors a Harvest Dinner to raise money for the Finch Memorial Book and Education Fund which donates books to the Oxford Academy Primary School.
The Great Garage Sale Day & Bake Sale, has been canceled. Thank you to everyone for all your hard work.
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