Monday, March 11, 2019


“Then Jesus told his disciples,
‘If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me.’” 
Matthew 16:24

April 20, 2019 

MARCH 
FOR 
JESUS CHRIST

We start at Lolo’s Set Free Church at 6:45 am and carry the Cross south to Angler’s Roost south of Hamilton.
For more information call the
Christian Veterans of the Bitterroot – 369-5813


March for Jesus Christ Checkpoints North to South



Start Point – 6:45 am – Set Free Church 

Checkpoint #1 – 7:45 am – Park & Ride South of Lolo 

Checkpoint #2 – 8:45 am – West Carlton Creek Road 

Checkpoint #3 – 9:45 am – Florence Town Pump 

Checkpoint #4 – 10:45 am – Larry Creek Loop Lane 

Checkpoint #5 – 11:45 am – Schearbrook Lane 

Checkpoint #6 – 12:45 pm – Genesee Drive

Checkpoint #7 – 1:45 pm – Point of Interest north of Victor 

Checkpoint #8 – 2:45 pm – Victor Park 

Checkpoint #9 – 3:45 pm – Bear Creek Road 

Checkpoint #10 – 4:45 pm – Across 93 from Alpine Granite   

Checkpoint #11 – 5:45 pm – Veterans Bridge Fishing Access 

Checkpoint #12 – 6:45 pm – Opportunity Bank in Hamilton 

Approximate Time of Finish – 7:45 pm

Sunday, March 10, 2019

PLEASE SUPPORT MONTANA HOUSE BILL 0172.01

No photo description available.
As most of you know, Corvallis Post #91, The American Legion, Department of Montana, Inc., is a big supporter of the Valley Veterans Service Center located in Hamilton and serving Ravalli County. 
House Bill No. 172, will help establish more county veteran service offices throughout the state.
The county model is very accessible and user friendly for the veterans in Ravalli County. 
We think that the veterans of Montana should have the option of using county offices.
If the goal is to help veterans, than as a state we should step into the 21st century and offer more choices for Montana veterans. 
We would request that, if you have ever used the Valley Veterans Service Center and feel it is a good model to help veterans, that you travel to Helena on the 18th March and let your voice be heard. House Bill No. 172 goes in front of the Senate state administration committee at 3pm, Monday, March 18th in room 335 in the State Capital in Helena. Below is the bill. Please read it and support more choices for Montana veterans. 


66th Legislature HB0172.01

1 HOUSE BILL NO. 172

2 INTRODUCED BY D. BEDEY

3

4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT ALLOWING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COUNTY AND

5 MULTICOUNTY VETERANS' SERVICE OFFICES; PROVIDING FOR A STATE GRANT PROGRAM FOR

6 COUNTY VETERANS' SERVICE OFFICES; PROVIDING AN APPROPRIATION; AMENDING SECTION

7 10-2-115, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

8

9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

10

11 Section 1. Section 10-2-115, MCA, is amended to read:

12 "10-2-115. County veterans' service officers County and multicounty veterans' service offices.

13 (1) A county may, with the advice of the board, provide for a county veterans' service officer office to assist

14 veterans and their families in filing benefit claims. If a county provides for a veterans' service officer under this

15 section, the officer must be trained, accredited, and supervised in accordance with the applicable provisions of

16 38 CFR 14.629. A county may fund the position as provided for in 15-10-425 or through other means provided

17 by law.

18 (2) The governing body of two or more counties may enter into a memorandum of understanding to

19 establish a multicounty veterans' service office that operates under the same guidelines as a single-county office.

20 (3) Veterans' service officers assigned to county veterans' service offices must be trained, accredited,

21 and supervised in accordance with applicable provisions of 38 CFR 14.629.

22 (4) A county may fund its veterans' service office as provided for in 15-10-425 or through other means

23 provided by law.

24 (5) The board shall:

25 (a) monitor the qualifications of county veterans' service officers; and

26 (b) ensure that the department of military affairs provides technical assistance to county veterans' service

27 offices whenever assistance is requested."

28

29 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Funding county veterans' service offices -- grant -- conditions and

30 reporting. (1) The board shall administer a grant program and award grants to county and multicounty veterans'

1 - Authorized Print Version - HB 172
66th Legislature HB0172.01
1 service offices from funding appropriated by the legislature for the purposes of this section.

2 (2) To receive a grant, a county or multicounty veterans' service office shall:

3 (a) have established county funding as provided for in 15-10-425;

4 (b) have established a physical office at an accessible location where veterans and their family members

5 may visit in person;

6 (c) provide for at least one veterans' service officer working a minimum of 1,000 hours annually;

7 (d) ensure that each county veterans' service officer meets the qualifications and requirements of

8 10-2-115; and

9 (e) ensure that all of the grant money received pursuant to this section is spent in support of veterans and

10 their family members.

11 (3) If the requirements of subsection (2) are met, a grant must be awarded:

12 (a) to a county veterans' service office established before [the effective date of this act];

13 (b) to a new county veterans' service office during the biennium immediately following the date it was

14 established; and

15 (c) each subsequent fiscal year a county veterans' service office continues to meet the requirements in

16 subsection (2).

17 (4) The amount of grant money a county veterans' service office receives is in proportion to the number

18 of veterans residing in the county or counties served by that office.

19 (5) A county veterans' service office that receives a grant shall report data and information to the

20 department at the end of the fiscal year in which a grant was dispersed. Reported data and information shall

21 encompass the following:

22 (a) disability benefit claims data and information, including but not limited to:

23 (i) the number of claim forms submitted by the county veterans' service office to the U.S. department of

24 veterans affairs; and

25 (ii) the number of notices of disagreement or appeals submitted through the county veterans' service

26 office to the U.S. department of veterans affairs;

27 (b) the number of medical enrollments submitted by the county veterans' service office to the U.S.

28 department of veterans affairs;

29 (c) the number of veterans' education enrollments submitted by the county veterans' office to the U.S.

30 department of veterans affairs;
- 2 - Authorized Print Version - HB 172
66th Legislature HB0172.01

1 (d) the number of county and state burial benefits processed by the county veterans' service office; and

2 (e) a description of any other ancillary services provided to county veterans, such as transportation

3 services, mental health services, homeless services, crisis intervention, and military records requests.

4

5 NEW SECTION. Section 3. Appropriation. (1) There is appropriated from the general fund to the

6 department of military affairs $130,000 for the biennium beginning July 1, 2019, for the purposes of [section 2].

7 (2) For each biennium beginning July 1, 2021, the department shall include in its base budget an amount

8 necessary to provide grants to all counties that have met the requirements established in [section 2(2)], taking

9 into consideration the population of veterans residing in these counties and the degree to which the county

10 veterans' service offices reduce the workload of state veterans' service offices.

11

12 NEW SECTION. Section 4. Codification instruction. [Section 2] is intended to be codified as an

13 integral part of Title 10, chapter 2, part 1, and the provisions of Title 10, chapter 2, part 1, apply to [section 2].

14

15 NEW SECTION. Section 5. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2019.

16 - END -


Bill Draft Number:LC2064   Current Bill Text:      Current version of this bill Bill Type - Number:HB 172Short Title:Establish county veterans' service officesPrimary Sponsor:David Bedey  (R) HD 86

Friday, March 8, 2019

June 29 - Trina Petersen Memorial Poker Ride

Trina Petersen was a huge supporter of the Corvallis American Legion Post 91 Legion Riders. Her family and friends lost her do to a motorcycle accident Dec. 2018. She will always be in our hearts. We have decided that we want to dedicate our annual Poker Ride to her. From here on out it will be known as the Trina Petersen Memorial Poker Ride. More information TBD.

May 11 - Post 91 Chapter Overnight Ride

The Corvallis American Legion Riders will be hosting an overnight ride to Jackson Hot Springs in Jackson, MT. We Will be meeting at Woodside Town Pump at 12:45 and Kickstands up 1 pm. We will ride to Jackson Hot Springs for dinner, drinks and a soak in the spring. We will socialize stay the night and head back Sunday morning after breakfast. Anyone can join in this ride. Only requirements for riding with us are. 1) Sign a liability waiver. 2) Have current registration. Please message us for RSVP by 5/3/2019. You would be responsible for your own costs on this trip. If you want to reserve a room Please go to the link below and make sure to put in "AL10" in the promotion spot.

https://secured.sirvoy.com/engine/html/5bc4e5239ba8a.html

April 28 - Post 91 Chapter Ride to Polson

  • Corvallis American Legion Riders first ride of 2019. Come join us for a ride up to Polson for lunch. Don't have to be a member to ride with us. Only requirements are 1) you must sign a liability waiver. 2) have current registration. We will meet at the Woodside Town Pump at 9:45 with Kickstands up at 10. We will have stops about 50-75 miles for breaks. Hope to see you there.....

Corvallis American Legion Post #91's Consolidated Post Report

Background - The Consolidated Post Report (CPR) shows the many ways Corvallis Post #91 is making a difference in the community, state and nation. This year we are going to post our data on this website. The CPR year runs from June 1st to May 31st. Some of the data will be left blank until the event actually happens or until the closing date of May 31st. So lets begin.

Information as of 8 March 2019


Post Information         
Final 2019 membership: 171     

Veterans Affairs 
Number of cases handled by Post Service Officer:

Amount of emergency aid given to veterans from Post funds:        $

Total volunteer hours recorded at VA hospitals:    

Contributions to VA Voluntary Service Program:  $

Post has a VAVS coordinator:     

Number of VAVS Volunteers:    

National Security        
Number of donated pints of blood:       

Number of blood donors:    

Number of ROTC medals presented by Post:

Post has an National Security Chairman:      

Post has a Crime Prevention/Law and Order Program:        

Post has a Fire Prevention/Protection Program:     

Participates in Homeland Security or Disaster Relief program:  

Post has a POW/MIA chairperson:       

Public Relations 
Post has an active PR Chairperson: Yes      

Post produces a Post publication:

Post produces a website: Yes    

Number of annual community events Post participates in:    

Planned or participated in a 100th Anniversary event:        

# of social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, etc.): Facebook        

Number of times Post was mentioned on radio:     

Number of times Post was mentioned on TV:       

Number of times Post was mentioned on cable access TV:  

Number of times Post was mentioned in newspaper stories:      

Number of times Post was mentioned in Letters to the Editor:      

Ceremonial Funeral Honors for Veterans       
Post sponsors Color Gd/Firing Squad: Yes     

Post provides wake services honors: Yes    

Number of funeral honors provided for veterans:  

Expenses   $

Veterans Employment and Education   
Post has an Employment Chairperson: 

Post has a Homeless Veterans Chairperson: 

Post participates in Career Fairs: 

Number of Veterans referred to LVER or DVOP: 

Number of Veterans placed in employment: 

Number of Veterans placed in job training program:        

Promotes programs such as Employ the Older Worker
week and Employer of the Year: 

Award Nominations Submitted For:  
Homeless Veterans Outreach:     

Employer of the Disabled:  

Employer of Older Workers:       

Local Veterans Employment Representative:

Disabled Veterans Outreach Program: 

Department of Labor Local Office:      

Employers of veterans, large category (+200 employees):       

Employers of veterans, medium category (50-200 employees):       

Employers of veterans, small cat. (less than 50 employees):       

Internal Affairs & Membership
Sponsors Legion Riders chapter: Yes

Total chapter membership: 

American Legion National Emergency Fund:         $

Support Our Troops-cost to post: $

Support Our Troops-volunteer hours:  

Support Our Troops-# volunteers:        

All Other Fund Raising Not Captured Above:        $

TAL Amateur Radio Club: KG7SPL Club Callsign

Americanism      
Boys State Number Of Boys Sponsored:      

Boys State Cost: $

Donated to American Legion Legacy Scholarship: $

Participates in citizenship/naturalization activities:

Sponsors an American Legion Baseball team:       

Total cost to sponsor baseball team:      $

Post sponsors other athletic teams:       

Total cost to Post to sponsor other teams:      $

Post sponsors Scouting unit(s):   

Number of youths in sponsored unit(s):        

Total donated to Scouting activities:     $

Post sponsored local Oratorical Contest:       

Number of local contestants:       

Total cost to Post to sponsor:        $

Post participates in School Award Program: 

Total number of awards presented:      

Post participates in American Education Week:    

Total number of schools assisted by Post:     

Total cost to Post:       $

Total number of scholarships awarded:

Value of scholarships: $

Total hours of service given to Education Program:        

Additional amounts expended on Education Program:         $

Participates in Vets in the Classroom:  

Flag education presentations to local groups:

Total cost to Post:       $

Participates In The Following Programs:   
Flag Day: 

Get Out The Vote:     

Veterans Day: Yes   

Memorial Day: Yes

July 4th:   

Legion Birthday: Yes       

Four Chaplains Sunday:     

Estimated hours of community service:

Cost to Post:       $

Youths sponsored in JR Shooting Sports Program:

Total cost to Post:       $

Number of Clubs in JR Shooting Sports Program:

Participates in Operation Comfort Warrior:  

Youth Cadet Law Enforcement Participant: 

Jr Law Cadet # Youths:      

Children and Youth    
Number of Children and Youth activities held:     

Cash aid given to needy children: $

Value of goods given to children (estimate): $

Total number of children given aid (cash or goods):        

# of volunteer hours for C & Y programs and activities:  

Post Participation:  
Halloween Safety:     

Family Support Network:   

Number of families assisted:        
Health & Child Safety:       

April is Children & Youth Month:       

National Family Week:       

Temporary Financial Assistance:

Administrative costs (paper, equipment, etc.):        $

Parties, dinners, prizes, and gifts: $

All other expenses:     $

Contributions - Dollar Amounts To Other Agencies Or Legion Programs: 
Family Support Network:    $

Temporary Financial Assistance: $

American Legion Endowment Fund:    $

All other child serving charities:  $