Travis Mills recently had an "ad" where he acknowledges the volunteers that enabled The Travis Mills Foundation to be so successful helping veterans and their families re-calibrated through various programs that help these heroic men and women overcome physical and emotional obstacles, strengthen their families, and provide well-deserved rest and relaxation. That caused me to reflect on the important roles' volunteers play in society and that virtually everyone in the community is positively affected by our volunteer neighbors in one way or another. I am part of Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation, an organization that provides a full range of activities, year around, for people with disabilities. Those over 300 volunteers are the heart of Maine Adaptive and frankly, don't get thanked enough. Rotary, Lions Club, Knights of Pythias, the Boothbay Community Resource Council, all are area churches, and so many of our local business, and I apologize for the many I am missing, but the point is we are blessed in this country to have so many of our friends and neighbors willing to serve, often going with out the recognition they deserve. No one volunteers in order to be recognized, but it makes a volunteer's steps just a little more "springier" when someone stops just long enough to say "Thank You." Sunday breakfasts at the American Legion are a great example of how generous of their time our volunteers are. Our breakfasts take over 20 volunteers to host this event that is enjoyed typically by over 110 of our friends, neighbors, and visitors to our communities. These breakfasts are what support the Post and in turn support our mission. So, a big thank you to all of you that support the many great organizations that serve this community and beyond, both financially and with your time, energy, and enthusiasm!

Our Post website (https://www.post36maine.org) is going through a major upgrade! While it is still work in progress, the Hall calendar is now available. There are many scheduled events that happen on a regular schedule, but there are other events, such as Hall rentals, that will be added as they are known. Always call the Hall at (207) 633-4487 if you have any questions. And our Historian, Fran Nicoletta, is our Facebook guru (https://www.facebook.com/AmericanLegionPost36Maine/). Our intent is to keep our membership and our community aware of all that we do, encourage veterans to take part in supporting our mission, and reach out to potential volunteers as we couldn't do what we do without them.

By the time you are reading this, we will have elected our new slate of officers for the 2022-2023 term. Elsewhere in the register, that slate is being announced with the induction of new officers happening on June 13.

The next breakfast is May 22 and the next Post monthly meeting is June 13.