American Legion Post300 Columbia, Maryland, Home Page.

Welcome to the American Legion Post 300 web site. We hold our Post meeting on the fourth Thursday of each month at 7:30 P.M. at the Owen Brown Community Center in Columbia, MD. You can go to the Map page to see a map and obtain directions, or you will find the phone number and address for the Center at the bottom of this page. In any case we hope you will join us at our next meeting. If you have any questions about the Post please go to the contacts page and anyone of the contacts will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to look over our Web Page and read our Newsletter and if you like drop us an e-mail. "God Bless our Troops & God Bless the USA."

		Columbia Post 300 Post 300 was born on August 3, 2003 and permanently chartered on December 6, 2004 as the newest post in Maryland in 18 years. We the members of Post 300 pride ourselves on the work we do in the community, which gives life to our motto “Serving the Youth & Veterans of Howard County.” Our members actively search out opportunities for the Post to aid Youth, Veterans, and Active Duty Military members and their families wherever they maybe found. The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time veterans organization. A community-service organization which now numbers nearly 3 million members -- men and women -- in nearly 15,000 American Legion Posts worldwide.
Watch Post 300 Grow With Us.	Members
Aug 13, 2003	15
2004	33
2005	44
2006	122
2007	163
Today	195
Pending	0
Total Members	199

"Red Friday"

What is it?

When did it start?

How do I support it?

Click on Scuttlebutt!! to find the answers!!

Scuttlebutt!!

The News You Aught To Know About

Post 300 is supporting our fighting troops in Afghanistan. Our brave soldiers fighting in Operation Enduring Freedom, who are deployed in Afghanistan, need our full and generous support. They are enduring extremely difficult and trying conditions. Besides being separated from their loved ones and the comforts of home, they endure the constant danger of death, dismemberment and the loss of their fellow soldiers. To support them we are sending them some critical personal items to help make their lives more comfortable and tolerable. By donating some of the following items we can show these troops we have not forgotten them and that we truly care.

Items in demand are the following: (* these items are most critical)

*Small Bibles	*Deodorant (Old Spice, Red Zone)	*Baby Wipes	*Coat Hangers
*Zip Lock Bags	*Soap	*Non-perishable food items	Powdered Beverages, Kool Aid, Tang etc.
*Handkerchiefs	Toilet Paper	Cross Word Puzzle Books	Paperback books
Decks of playing cards	Cribbage Sets	Poker Chips	Disposable razors, shaving cream, magazines (recent)
Cookies/crackers (Oreo, etc.) Entenmann’s were specifically requested	Canned nuts, trail mix, granola bars etc.	*Tooth Paste, Tooth brushes, floss and mouth wash	*Bacon Bits
*Bacon Salt	Spiced Salt	Music CD’s	*Jock Itch Spray
Nail files/clippers	Powdered Soups	Coffee, tea, cocoa, cider	Large Neckerchiefs
Envelopes/stamps, pens Stationary, blank cards	Old Bay Seasoning	Board Games	Chess & Checker Sets
*Sun Block (Neutrogena)	M&M Candy	Canned Chili, meats, vegetables, tuna Pop tops	Packaged Candy
*Letters of Support	Small commercial Sealed cans of fruit/dried fruit	Beef Jerky	*Tabasco sauce
AA Batteries	D-Cell Batteries	*Foot Powder	Boot Socks/White
“Q” Tips	Rolls of Film	Packed Snacks (chips, etc)	Irradiated non perishable microwavable meals
DVD & Video Tapes	*Lip Balm	*Hand Sanitizer	Microwavable popcorn
AT&T Phone Cards	Timex watches	Maglights

Items not allowed: Alcoholic beverages, glass items, pornography of any kind, fuel, political materials, flammables, plants, ammunition, perishable food items, and any hazardous or toxic materials. A majority of the soldiers are men; items should be geared toward men (unscented items are best). Each box costs $11 to ship, financial donations are most welcome. Checks can be made out to: American Legion Post 300, mailed to: Mr. Robert Berlett, 5456 Hound Hill Court, Columbia, MD 21045

Saving Money!!

American Legion 2009 Members in Maryland can now sign up for an Electric Co-op.

This can give American Legion Members a15% to 40% savings on their electric bill.

If you are presently a BGE customer signing up for the Electric Co-ops one, two, or three year contract will lock you “OUT” of any electricity price increases for one, two, or three years, your choice. Three-Year contracts price is a full penny per kilowatt-hour LESS than last year's BG&E rate and BG&E continue all the programs you currently have - just at a lower price for your electric supply.

Columbia Workforce Center

7161 Columbia Gateway Drive

Suite D

Columbia, Maryland 21046

410–290-2600

columbia@dllr.state.md.us

The Columbia Workforce Center strives to provide customer driven workforce services for all job-seeking customers. We will provide a variety of employment and support resources to assist individuals in achieving their employment goals and encourage lifelong learning. Information and resources are available for the economic advancement of all job seekers wanting to take advantage of these services.

VETERANS AND ELIGIBLE SPOUSES WILL BE GIVEN PRIORITY SERVICE FOR ALL PROGRAMS, IN TIME AND FUNDING

Job Seeker Services and Resources:

*Placement and Referral Assistance*	*Resume Development*	*Employment Consultation*
*Job Search Workshops and Seminars*	*Career Assessment and Planning*	*Employment Counseling and Referrals*
*Training Information*	*Veteran Services*	*Youth Services*
*GED Assistance*	*Recruitment and Job Fairs*	*Job Search topics email blasts*
*Certified Professional Resume Writers*	*Microsoft Office tutorials*	*Resume Software*
*Rehabilitation Technology Services*	*Supported employment/job coaching*	*Independent living services*

Howard County Office of Workforce Development: Provides personalized employment services to assist jobseekers and employers with their workforce development needs. Services offered include: Short term courses or Training assistance to meet Labor Market demands, GED/Basic Adult Education, Employment and Career Consultation, Resume Enhancement & Interviewing Techniques, Job Placement Assistance, Youth Services, Referral Services, and Outplacement Assistance for employers who may be downsizing. Contact Stephanie Hill for more information 410-290-2620.

Maryland Workforce Exchange: If you are interested in finding a better job or career, Maryland Workforce Exchange http://www.mwejobs.com allows you to search for current openings in your community. You can create multiple resumes to apply for posted jobs, research in demand careers, and find occupational training that meets your needs. The Maryland Workforce Exchange is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week from your home computer.

Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS): Programs and services that help people with significant disabilities go to work in careers of their choice and become independent in their homes and communities. For more information call 410-290-2640 or visit www.dors.state.md.us.

Disability Navigator: The Navigator enhances the capacity of One-Stop partners to assist job seekers with disabilities to ‘navigate’ the various programs and systems, and be a resource for the business community. Contact Shelia Little for information at 410-290-2620.

Veteran Services: In addition to helping veterans find employment and training opportunities, veteran staff provide vocational guidance, referral to supportive services and case management services to veterans with significant barriers to employment. Contact Al LaBeau at 410-290-2602 or Orion Jones at 410-290-2606 for more information.

Professional Outplacement Assistance Center (POAC): Provides assistance to individuals who are in the professional, technical, and managerial occupations. POAC offers seminars, workshops and counseling aimed at returning the professional to work quickly. To register call 410-290-2630 or http://www.dllr.state.md.us/poac/

Employment Service and Resource Center: Meet with consultants to discuss job search strategies, employment referral and placement and other workforce services. Access copiers, faxes and phones for use in your job search, videos, books and workshops on job search topics. Utilize computers with Microsoft Office, Internet access and laser printers for your job search activities. Discuss your resume with Certified Professional Resume Writers or prepare your resume using MS Word. Utilize EmployOn, a web based system that helps the workforce development system focus on its key mission: helping people find jobs and identifying more employers that are hiring.

Hours of Operation

Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00p.m.

Veterans are you getting all that is due you?

If you are a Veteran collecting Social Security benefit you may not be, unless you know about Special Extra Earnings for Military Service.

Click: Tell me more.

Now did you click and read this info, if so can it help you or anyone you know. If you did not please take a moment to look it over and ask yourself, do I know anyone that this Information may help. Remember there are a lot of older Vets that do not have Internet access and may not know this information so please pass the word.

Thank you!!

If you are interested in purchasing a Post 300 lapel pin please contact Bob Berlett at 410-997-3863 or e-mail him at columbia_berlett@juno.com The cost of the pins are $5.00. The lapel pin is a discrete but visible way of showing the people you come in contact with that you are a proud member of the American Legion and Post 300.

The American Legion helping you help the kids.

Do you know a Child or Youth in need of help

Click: Help The Kids to find the resources to help.

Can anyone that has not worn the boot of a service man or women truly know what it is like? Can they know that love of God and Country gets a soldier to the fight, but the love of their brother next to them keeps a soldier in the fight. Do they know one of the first questions a wounded soldier will ask is when can I get back to my unit? when can I get back in to the fight? Do they know that a soldier dose not ask this for the love of war, they ask this out of love for their brothers in arms. Do they know of the deep seeded feeling soldiers have that no one should come home till they all can come home together. Do they know that the troops just want to finish the mission and come home together with honor. Do they know we as a nation ask so very much of our soldiers and they ask so little of us. Can we give our soldiers the time, money, and support they ask for to complete their mission?

I would say that 15 year old Elizabeth of Columbus, OH has a good idea Click: Remember Me to view her video.

Congratulation Post 300 members we have received several awards for our outstanding membership work this year.

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