COMMANDER: RUDY “COACH” AVELAR, is running the Post and the name of the American Legion straight into the ground. He believes Post 241 is his personal playground and the money brought in is for his own use to pay off his personal debts. How can anyone get elected COMMANDER when he can”t handle his own finances or his personal life. In the past several years he has been arrested in Riverside County, has filed bankruptcy, has had several Federal Tax Liens against him, several evictions and a judgment against him from an ex-landlord. He sexually disrespects all of the female bartenders, cheated on his wife with two of them in the past 6 months, allowed his finance officer Steve to physically knock a guest to the floor and did nothing about it. He himself attempted to charge after another guest in the parking lot intending to beat him but was stopped by another member. A long-time bartender was seen on camera stealing money from the office safe and he did nothing about it, no doubt because she knows what he does and she could blackmail him. The bartender who took money from the safe has also been stealing from the register every time she works a function, the Commander has proven it and yet, he has done nothing about it. The post is losing hundreds of dollars with every hall rental. The commander was also seen by myself and several other members purchasing a stolen pressure washer inside the bar, when he didn”t have enough cash on him to pay the thief, he took a key out of his pocket and unlocked the Post Juke Box and took the all the cash out of it and paid him. The commander has surrounded himself with all the officers he has chosen, new members, who he uses as his puppets. One of these new members, only became a member 6 months ago and the Commander has paid for his election into the position of 2nd Vice, Bar Committee and a place on the E-Board, 18th District, this person is on disability for mental issues. He and his officers are daily customers in the Post bar from opening to closing, drinking straight alcohol and pitcher after pitcher of beer until way past closing. The Post recently underwent a complete remodel in the back hall and although he agreed to the estimate given to him by the contractors when the job was complete, the commander refused to pay them. A special meeting had to be called to vote on rather or not to pay them, everyone voted yes and no one could understand why he refused to pay? The contractors gave the Post a $2, 000.00 veteran discount but still, the only way the commander would pay them was if the contractor took an additional $3500.00 off of their bill, which was not what was agreed to when the original estimate was discussed. . The commander also recently fired two bartenders, the first one because he was done sleeping with her and the latest one because she wouldn”t sleep with him. He has blatantly spoken about the bartender”s private parts out loud, so the entire bar could hear him. The kitchen and bar are overrun with *** Roaches and Gnats and rats that have chewed through the syrup lines, the Pepsi company has repaired them over and over again, but he still refuses to get an exterminator for the rats. Upstairs, the roof is leaking, either from rain or the air conditioning unit, and the Commanders solution is to place pots and pans under the dripping water, pots, and pan that no one empties out, so they overflow, it”s caused mildew and black mold in the carpet and wood. This list could go on and on as Post 241 has endless problems with it. I have been a member there for the past 6 years and I have never seen it in such need of cleaning and repair. The Commander needs to be replaced along with all of his officers. It”s the most unprofessional Post I have ever walked into and I am in the midst of changing my membership over to a different Post. Two last things I should mention… one is that when they sell food out of the Roach infested kitchen, much of it is cooked at various peoples houses and then brought in and heated up. I happen to know that this is not tolerated by the health department unless each of those kitchens has been inspected and have a permit to do so. And lastly, when the latest bartender was fired, I suggested she go file for unemployment, she informed me that they were all paid cash. The commander has not been paying taxes on any of the 5 bartenders he employs, this bartender has been here about a year, but others have been paid under the table for as long as 15-18 years. I AM CERTAIN THIS COMPLAINT WILL GO NO WHERE AND NOTHING WILL BE DONE TO RUDY AVELAR AND HIS PUPPET OFFICERS, WHICH IS WHY I AM SENDING THIS SAME LIST OF COMPLAINTS TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE I.R.S., THE LABOR BOARD, THE AMERICAN LEGION 18TH DISTRICT and to ANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS I CAN THINK OF THAT WILL MAKE THIS SO-CALLED MAN ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS UNLAWFUL, SELFISH, UN-VETERAN LIKE BEHAVIOR AND HOPEFULLY WILL HAVE CRIMINAL CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST HIM FOR STEALING MONEY FROM THE POST TO PAY OFF HIS ENDLESS PAST DEBTS.
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I made payment through credit card which posted 11/12/2019 in the amt of $599.00 for Lifetime membership including promotional commemorative coin. I have talked to 3 call center representatives and have been lied to. I recently talked to Teresa on 01/13/2020, 9:35am and informed me packet with coin was mailed 12/20/19. I talked to another rep and was informed packet would be sent out first week of January due to no coins available. I talked to Frey on 01/13/20 11;19 am and informed her that I haven”t received packet nor coin. I am not concerned about the coin, I am concerned for lifetime card as I didn”t have prove of being a member while traveling and getting discount rates. I would appreciate getting this resolve and being lied to. If I can”t get my lifetime membership card, I would appreciated getting back the $599 charged to my credit card as I have already paid for. Sincerely, SEMPER Fi member no. [protected]
The American Legion Reviews & Complaints
I purchased hospital insurance through the American legion. Approx a year past and I had to have surgery and was in the hospital back in May 2018. I filed a claim sent them itemized bill, doctor sent one too, all the tests and results and every couple weeks I get a paper telling me I have to send the same info again. Then in August they sent paperwork saying i was deceased, 2 weeks later after talking with them and faxing them the paperwork they ask for I got another paper saying I was deceased. So I called again and they said it was all good. Today I get yet another letter telling me to send the itemized hospital bill for the 3rd time? Is this insurance even real? It”s a ripoff!
The American Legion Reviews & Complaints
I use to be a highly supportive member however the American Legion allows local posts to do whatever they want which includes bullying individuals.The commander Bret Reistad ignored my FB message then blocked me .The legion can pick and choose members as they want and have meetings behind closed doors about members .They have individuals handling the money as officers who have been sued for not being able to handle their own finances .I donated countless hours, raised money was on the color guard to be told I was no longer welcome since I was told that the previous commander Cherie Korn did not like me although the current commander now denies he told me that in a conversation and then attacked me after I filed a complaint .She now is suppose to represent women veterans .I have now joined veterans groups that are very active in the community supporting fellow veterans as well as first responders .I can no longer stand with a group that asks women to show their *** on Veterans Day to support veterans .I was told that I could be part of the women”s auxiliary but I am a veteran and until the end of the year a current member .The American Legions membership is declining as current veterans are more interested in being active not drinking /smoking /eating .It is truly sad the It appears the Legion has lost sight of its mission and also attacks fellow veterans on FB .I showed the State office they lied but was told the local posts are allowed to govern themselves and do whatever they want so I will no longer be paying my dues or supporting the legion as I have joined a couple awesome groups that do not judge individuals, accept all individuals and helps them instead of tearing them down .I highly recommend before you join you do your research and so thankful I did not pay lifetime dues as they make so much money by members paying them for life .They do not respond to complaints and they slander their members .Its very sad but this holiday I am focusing on the positive and leaving the legion in my rear view mirror and they do NOT deserve one more second of my time .Unlike them I do not talk behind their backs but if they continue to treat members in this manner they will eventually fail as the majority of their members are much older as as they pass away the have very few new members in their place as most people want to be active .I wish them nothing but the best and meet some truly outstanding individuals that are lifetime friends .The leadership clams to be Christian but they judge who they want and are dishonest .Its truly heartbreaking.