I Want You to Join the American Legion Riders of Maine

        MAINE CHAPTERS

AUBURN ~ 153

CARIBOU ~ 15

DAMARISCOTTA ~ 42

FARMINGTON ~ 28

OXFORD ~ 112

RICHMOND ~ 132

ROCKLAND ~ 1

RUMFORD ~ 24

TOPSHAM ~ 202

Officers Elected at the Annual 2008 Meeting held in Topsham, Post 202

Public Information Officer: Paul R. Bernard, post111@megalink.net  Chaplain Greg Pierce, pierce@suscom-maine  Secretary Kaye Bouchard, kayeb@blazenetme.net  Director Paul L'Heureux, afdpal@aol.com Assistant Director Otto "Bill" Kilde, trbn54@207me.com  webmaster Don Duplesis, tsgcruiser@yahoo.com  Sergeant-at-Arms Ray J. Gilliam RayGilliam7@aol.com .

It was a great turn out for the Annual American Legion Rider Meeting held in Topsham. As you click on some of the pictures below you'll find that riders came from Mechanic Falls/Minot 150, Turner 111, Auburn 153, Caribou 15, Rumford 24, Rockland 1, Oxford 112, Richmond 132, Madawaska 147, Madison 39, Frenchville 145, Topsham 202 and Corinna 73.

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(1) Ron Bilodeau Post 153 New Auburn working the Legion Rider patches and pin table (2) The right hand side of the room (3) the left hand side of the room (4) Bob Doyle, Post 1, Rockland, (5) Ed Ellis, Director Post 24, Rumford (6) Gary O'Connell, Post 153, New Auburn (7) Alfred "Al" Healy, Post 112, Oxford (8) Lester Dearborn, Post 132, Richmond (9) Chuck Starbird, Post 150, Mechanic Falls/Minot (10) Warren Clark, Post 111, Turner (11) Paul & Tonja Flick Post 15, Caribou (12) Mike Gantnier, Post 147, Madawaska (13) 72 year old Bill Mahoney, Post 39, Madison (14) Ron Bilodeau Post 153, New Auburn (15) Berthier J. Michaud Post 145 Frenchville.

Chuck Starbird will keep us informed on the Barbecue set for Friday, June 20th at Togus VA

American Legion, Department of Maine Commander Paul L'Heureux moderated the meeting with extreme professionalism answering questions and presenting clear information on the foundation and development and future growth of the American Legion Riders of Maine.

Otto "Bill" Kilde challenge all of us to raise twice the monies for the 2008 Legacy Run. There is no doubt that the American Legion Riders of Maine will double in membership this year. Also Legion Post across the State are considering starting Rider programs. This year at the Annual American Legion meeting to be held in Bangor, for the first time we will have a Legion Rider Table and possibly Chuck Starbird's Trike.

Legion Riders attend meeting
Tuesday, February 26, 2008

TOPSHAM - The American Legion Riders, Department of Maine, held the annual meeting at Topsham Post 202.

Legion Riders from Mechanic Falls/Minot Post 150, Turner 111, New Auburn 153, Rumford 24, Rockland 1, Oxford 112, Richmond 132, Madawaska 147, Madison 39, Frenchville 145 and Corinna 73 were present.
Department of Maine Commander Paul L'Heureux moderated the meeting of 50-plus members and provided information on the foundation, development and future growth of the American Legion Rider program in Maine.
L'Heureux suggested all new posts hold their first fundraiser in support of one of the Legion programs.
Assistant Director Otto Kilde challenged all riders present to double the monies raised for the Legacy Scholarship Fund for 2008.
There are Legion Rider programs in Auburn, Caribou, Damariscotta, Farmington, Oxford, Richmond, Rockland, Rumford and Topsham, with many other posts forming the program.
For more information, contact L'Heureux at afdpal@aol.com. Web sites include http://legionriders.mainelegion.org and www.maineamericanlegion.com

Today across America thousands of American Legion Riders get on their bikes to ride for Americanism and Children and Youth programs in virtually every state in the nation, and more are organizing each month. It is one of the fastest-growing programs offered by The American Legion. The American Legion Riders are a very diverse group, and so are the programs that they support. What do American Legion Riders do? The activities are far too many to mention in this space, but here are a few examples:

ANNOUNCING 2008 ANNUAL MEETING 

3rd District Public Relations Historian, Paul R. Bernard and American Legion Rider, Director, Otto "Bill" Kilde of Topsham Post 22 at the Mid-Winter Conference at the Fireside Inn in Auburn on January, 19th, 2008

The annual meeting of The American Legion Riders of Maine will be held at 1 pm, Saturday, February 2, at Topsham Post 202, American Legion. There will be a light lunch served at noon and a chance to meet and talk with other Legion Riders from all over the state. 

Due to unexpected growth of the program during the year, members will conduct a business meeting to move the Legion Riders forward as we expect more posts to join. The group presently has more than 300 members and three more posts are showing interest.

Guidelines set by the national organization will be discussed as will both a state ride and comparing calendars to share events. Bill Kilde of Topsham Post 202 will lay out the plans for the Legacy Run and fundraising programs.  The meeting is open to anyone interested in starting a Rider group. Any veteran with an honorable discharge, son, adoptive son, stepson, grandson or great grandson of a veteran may be eligible.

An evening dance at Post 202 will follow and there are many quality motels in the area as well as many places to dine.  For more information, contact Department of Maine Commander Paul L'Heureux at 754-6044.

 

Riding high
Friday, January 11, 2008

 

Auburn - American Legion Post 153 Commander Emmett Stuart received a certificate of appreciation from National Commander Martin Conatser for his support of the newly adopted American Legion Rider program. The New Auburn post signed 55 new members into the Rider Program. The American Legion Rider program is riding for Americanism and Children and Youth programs in virtually every state in the nation, and more are organizing each month. It is the fastest growing program offered by the American Legion. The American Legion Riders are a very diverse group, and so are the programs that they support. Anyone interested in joining at New Auburn Post 153 should call 782-1118 or visit the post home on South Main Street, Auburn.

 

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN LEGION
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
October 17-18, 2007

Resolution No. 35: American Legion Riders as a National Program
Submitted by: Finance Commission

WHEREAS, American Legion Riders (ALR) was established in 1993 as a Post
level activity at Garden City American Legion Post 396, Department of
Michigan; and

WHEREAS, Today there are more than 700 The ALR groups at the Post,
District and Department levels whose membership consists of members of The
American Legion, The American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of The American
Legion who share a common interest in motorcycle ownership and pleasure
riding for veterans’ causes; and

WHEREAS, The ALR groups exist in at least 48 states and three foreign
countries and evidence a growth pattern over the last five years that
reflects a genuine interest in ALR for both current and potential members
of The American Legion Family; and

WHEREAS, The purpose of ALR is to use their common interest and
association to promote the aims and purposes of The American Legion as
well as the promotion of motorcycle safety and awareness; and

WHEREAS, During the 2006 and 2007 calendar years, ALR raised more than
$500,000 for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship while at the local
level ALR groups contributions were valued at more than $75,000 in
contribution or volunteer hours to support the programs of The American
Legion; and

WHEREAS, Membership growth in The American Legion has increased in many
Posts that have supported ALR and in some cases these members now serve in
leadership positions within The American Legion; and

WHEREAS, ALR support those serving in uniform today through participation
in such activities as the Patriot Guard, which was founded by the
Department of Kansas ALR to provide escorts for our fallen heroes
returning from war and taking care of the needs of the families left
behind; and

WHEREAS, Many Posts and Departments of The American Legion have already
acknowledged their ALR groups as a program and have established guidelines
for ALR to follow; and

WHEREAS, In April 2007 an Ad-Hoc Committee appointed by the National
Commander met in Indianapolis to discuss the future of ALR as a program
based on guidelines developed by the Internal Affairs Commission in 2003;
and

WHEREAS, These guidelines, which were validated with minor additions by
the Ad-Hoc Committee, will serve as the standard under which all current
and future The ALR groups will operate; and

WHEREAS, As The ALR groups continue to increase in number it would be
beneficial to both The American Legion and ALR to establish basic
guidelines for consistency in all aspects of The ALR groups; and

WHEREAS, The ALR status has been reviewed by the Internal Affairs
Commission, which recommends the ALR become a National program; and

WHEREAS, National Finance Commission has reviewed ALR and the need for
funding and insurance for the National organization for this program,
recommends this program to the National Executive Committee; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, By The National Executive Committee of The American Legion in
regular meeting assembled in Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 17-18,
2007, That The American Legion adopt American Legion Riders (ALR) as a
national program; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That all The American Legion Rider groups must be a program
supported by a Post or Department of The American Legion and shall uphold
the declared principles of The American Legion as well as conform to and
abide by the regulations and decisions of the Department, Post or other
duly constituted Department governing body; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the following guidelines are recommended for The ALR
program of The American Legion:
1. All members of The American Legion Riders shall be current members of
The American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary or Sons of The American
Legion
2. Each ALR member shall own a motorcycle
3. Each ALR member shall be properly licensed and insured as required by
state law
4. All ALR members shall strive to maintain the image of The American
Legion, at all times upholding The American Legion name and emblem, which
symbolizes the integrity and principles of this great organization
5. All The ALR groups shall avoid the perception of being a “motorcycle
club” or biker club”
6. The only recognized The American Legion Rider logo is that which is
copyrighted and sold through The American Legion National Emblem sales
7. All Members will obey the motorcycle laws of their state
8. No use of rockers with the ALR patch because touching the patch
violates trademark laws of the ALR patch
9. Sponsoring organization (Post and Department) will review liability
insurance coverage to ensure that adequate coverage is available to cover
the organization to include coverage for any specific special riding
events; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That American Legion Rider groups shall abide by The American
Legion Constitution and By-laws as well as the established Post and
Department directives; and, be it finally
RESOLVED, That The American Legion National Headquarters and the
respective Departments shall maintain general oversight of ALR Program as
regards to proper use of the name and emblem of The American Legion, ALR
and The American Legion Legacy Run, and compliance with the National
Constitution and By-Laws of The American Legion.
 

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