Adams Township Post #553 has a HIstorical Marker https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=262383
FROM THE DESK OF POST ADJUTANT JIM BENSON
My Comrades. brothers in arms, a hearty welcome to all vets and your families! It has been my honor and privilege to serve the American Legion and veterans everywhere through my participation in the offices, programs and events over the last 20 years. To help guide our post through the years.
With that in mind I would like to you to think about becoming more active here in Adams Township post#553. All us old guys aren’t getting any younger and many of us who were there just aren’t anymore. Simply put we need more leadership and volunteers in order to keep providing for our members, families, and our community just as we have ever since the post was founded in 1932. many of you don’t realize the amount of time and effort our Post puts into the American Legion and its’s members, our Community, three local Schools and the VA clinic here in Toledo. Therefore I encourage you to embrace our post and get involved. I guarentee your life will be enhanced and more fulfilled if you do so. OooRah!!
District March newsletterThe American Legion Great FIRST District Newsletter
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American Legion Post 553 Chaplain’s Newsletter – April 2025
Theme: Counter-Culture: A Legion of Answers and Results
Dear Fellow Legionnaires,
April brings a time of renewal and growth but also a time to assess our direction and purpose. As we move forward, we must recognize the need for our organization to embrace a counter-cultural stance. We cannot afford to be an echo of the prevailing winds but rather a beacon of strength and integrity.
We must reject the culture of mediocrity that permeates so much of our society. We must demand accountability from ourselves and others, refusing to tolerate excuses and inaction. We must dismantle the entitlement fantasies that breed dependence and apathy. And we must challenge the notion that being in debt is acceptable, recognizing the burden it places on individuals and our nation.
Instead, we must be an organization that provides answers and delivers results. Our veterans and community are looking for leadership, solutions, and a sense of purpose. We must be the ones to provide it. We must be a source of strength, integrity, and unwavering commitment.
Let us be known as an organization that stands for something greater than ourselves. Let us be a counter-cultural force for good, a voice of reason in a world that often seems to have lost its way.
Book Recommendation: “Good to Great” by Jim Collins
This month, we delve into Jim Collins’ “Good to Great,” a powerful exploration of what separates genuinely great organizations from simply good ones. Collins and his research team analyzed companies that leaped greatness and identified key principles that drove their success. These principles include:
• Level 5 Leadership: Humble yet fiercely determined leaders who prioritize the organization’s success over their ego.
• First Who…Then What: Getting the right people on the bus before deciding where to go.
• Confront the Brutal Facts: Facing reality head-on, no matter how difficult.
• The Hedgehog Concept: Understanding what the organization can be the best at.
• A Culture of Discipline: Combining a culture of discipline with an ethic of entrepreneurship
• Technology Accelerators: Using technology to accelerate momentum, not create it.
• The Flywheel: Building momentum through consistent effort over time.
In our pursuit of becoming a counter-cultural organization that delivers answers and results, “Good to Great” provides invaluable guidance. By embracing the principles outlined in this book, we can:
• Challenge mediocrity and strive for excellence in all that we do.
• Cultivate a culture of accountability and discipline.
• Develop leaders who are focused on serving the greater good.
• Build a sustainable foundation for long-term success.
I encourage every member to read “Good to Great” this month and consider how its lessons can be applied to our Post. Let’s discuss how we can implement these principles in our meetings and activities, transforming our organization into a great force for positive change in our community.
Scripture Reflection:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Thank you.
In Service to God and Country,
Darren L. Griffin
Chaplain & Americanism Coordinator
American Legion Post 553
Toledo, Ohio
419-508-9769
darrenlgriffin@outlook.com
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Post members recently attended a Flag presentation for the Maumee, Ohio school system
On October 18th members of our post attended the funeral services for Edward Schultz, a 16 year member of our post. We presided over funeral services both at his church and Elliston Cemetery, Graytown, OH.
On October 27th the post membership presented their annual Halloween party for the Post families.
.On October 29th members participated in a charity run for The Toledo University ROTC program called “Ruck and Roll”.
On November 4th Bob Watson, Jim Benson, Bill Garber, Dave Georgia, Bob Klostermeier, Gary Hayes, and John Dixon attended the Lucas County Council of the American legion meeting.
On November the 11th, many members attended the Veterans Day ceremonies at Toledo University and Whitmer High School.
On November 11th Dave Georgia, Darren Griffin and Gary Hayes served as an honor guard at Bowsher High school for their ROTC committed students. Jim Phillips was the keynote speaker.
On November 18th Bob Watson, Jim Benson, and Bill Garber hosted the Lucas County Council of the American legion meeting.
On December 2nd Bob Watson, Jim Benson, Bill Garber, Dave Georgia, Bob Klostermeier, Gary Hayes, and John Dixon attended the Lucas County Council of the American legion meeting at Conn Weisenberger post