This Week at Walter Rhoades Post 111
Announcements, news, events, and other information about your American Legion Post.
From the Commander
As a post, we have a lot of business to attend to in the coming months. We’ll be reviewing and voting on changes to our Constitution and Bylaws during our next two General Membership meetings. We’ll also be taking nominations for Executive Board positions and voting for our new leadership. These actions require maximum participation at our General Membership meetings. Please make it a priority to attend. If you are someone I don’t yet know, please introduce yourself!
v/r
Chuck
Announcements
Vietnam War 60th Anniversary: The Veterans Museum Broomfield (aka Broomfield Veterans Museum) and The City and County of Broomfield is sponsoring a VIETNAM WAR 60th ANNIVERSARY SYMPOSIUM on Saturday, March 22, 2025 from 9 am to
4 pm. It is a FREE ADMISSION event and will be held in the Broomfield
Civic Center Auditorium.
Membership: The easiest and best way to renew your membership is through https://mylegion.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Membership/Renew. If you have any questions, please direct them to our Adjutant.
Help Wanted: The positions for Senior Vice Commander and Junior Vice Commander remain open. These are great positions to fill if you one day want to serve as post commander. If you are interested in filling either of these positions please contact the Commander or any member of the Executive Board.
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News
VA exempts Veterans Crisis Line employees from return-to-office requirements
The Department of Veterans Affairs is granting its Veterans Crisis Line employees a full exemption to its return-to-office requirements.
Veterans Crisis Line Executive Director Christopher Watson told employees in an email Friday that VCL “has received a full exemption to the return-to-office executive order.”
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each of you. Please know that we are in this together,” Watson wrote in the email.
VCL employees have told Federal News Network that most of its workforce are remote employees, and that nearby VA facilities do not have space to accommodate them.
President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on Jan. 20 calling for all teleworking and remote work employees to return to the office. The VA, in implementing that memorandum, rescinded telework and remote work agreements for about 20% of its 479,000 employees.
A VA spokesperson previously told Federal News Network that the “VA’s policy is to bring as many employees back to the office as space permits.”
The VA recently rescinded, but later reinstated, final job offers for dozens of VCL hires, after officials couldn’t find office space for them to work out of.
“We regret to inform you that we are withdrawing the current Formal Job Offer,” a VA human resources official told one hire in a recent email. “At this time, remote work authorization has been canceled. The Veterans Crisis Line is actively working to secure office space for new employees while concurrently requesting an exemption that would allow staff to work remotely.”
Erika Alexander, president of AFGE Local 518, which represents up to 1,000 Veterans Crisis Line employees, told Federal News Network last month that VCL employees in Atlanta previously worked in VA office space, but have been working remotely since April 2020. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, VCL employees were put on mandatory telework, but were officially designated as remote workers in 2022.
“Our duty station is our home. Those of us who live in Atlanta, or even the other states, we have no office to go into,” Alexander said. Some VCL employees, she added, live two hours from the nearest VA clinic or hospital, and there is no office space nearby that’s available 24/7 to meet the crisis line’s mission.
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Upcoming Events
General Membership Meeting (March 11, 2025): There will be a General Membership Meeting at 6:00 PM at the post. The lounge will be closed during this meeting.
Blarney Bingo (March 15, 2025): Join us March 15th at 1:00 PM for Blarney Bingo! Hosted by American Legion Auxiliary Unit 111, this event will include bingo, raffles, a silent auction, and 50/50. This event is open to the public. All funds raised support veterans and programs in the local community. This event is open to the public.
Celebration of Life for Charlotte (March 29, 2025): Please join us at the post on March 29th from 2:00 - 4:00 PM for a Celebration of Life for Charlotte.
Live Music by James Hurtado (April 12, 2025): We are excited to welcome back James Hurtado to Walter Rhoades American Legion Post 111. James has been playing professionally for 20 years and has shared the stage with Daniel Valdez and has also performed at the Winter Park Music Festival as well as the Taste of Colorado. Join us from 6:00 - 9:00 PM for a night of wonderful music. This event is open to the public.
Department Convention (June 19-21, 2025): Our Department convention will be held on June 19-21, 2025, at the Hilton Hotel in Ft. Collins. All information about the Department Convention can be found on the department website at https://coloradolegion.org/department-convention.html.
Poker (Every Sunday Afternoon): Join us for poker every Sunday afternoon at 1:00 PM. This is a great chance to try your luck while socializing with friends.
Bingo (Every Monday Night): Join us for bingo, every Monday night starting at 6:30 PM. All proceeds support Veterans and Veterans' Programs.
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Hours
Monday 4-8 PM
Tuesday 4-8 PM
Wednesday 4-8 PM
Thursday 4-8 PM
Friday 1-9 PM
Saturday 1-9 PM
Sunday 12-8 PM
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Walter Rhoades American Legion Post 111
1150 Pine Street
Louisville, CO 80027
(303) 666-6314
