AUGUST 2006
COMMANDER’S CORNER: The Department Convention was held July 6-9th with five delegates from Post 327 in attendance. The convention, itself, was a good learning experience, and I attended as many committees as time would allow. The Fall Conference will be held October 27-29th at the Holiday Inn in Hampton, VA. For local members, since it’s so close you could commute daily. Put these dates on your calendar and give it a try. You have nothing to lose but lots to gain. I’m proud to say we have four Legionnaires going to the Legion College August 4-6th in Lynchburg, VA. I’m sure that each one of them will come back with knowledge they can pass on to others. We have been advised by the Department of Virginia that National intends to raise dues, which will come up at the National Convention for approval, and I’m pretty sure it will pass, as dues have not been raised in about twelve years. At our last Post meeting, the item was brought to a vote and passed. Post 327’s dues for next year will be $30.00. You can pay the dues for this year if they reach the Post by December 20th. I suggest you be early and mail them in or bring the dues to the Labor Day Picnic on Sunday, 3 September. Byron will have a table set up for dues payment at the picnic. Our next Post meeting is August 8th at 8:00 p.m. I’d love to see you all join us. For God and Country, Mary Lee Lupejkis
FIRST VICE COMMANDER: Well folks, looks like we just made 90% with membership at 1125 for 2006. We have a good start on the “Early Bird” renewals for 2007. I have processed and sent to Department 430 renewals and new memberships as of July 18, 2006. As some of you may have heard, National has increased the annual dues by $4.50 starting in January. If you renew your membership before the Labor Day Picnic on Sunday, September 3rd you may eat for free at the picnic or BEFORE January 1, 2007, the current dues will still be $25.00. On January 1 or after the renewal dues will be $30.00. So be sure to renew before January 1st to avoid paying the increased dues for 2007. New first year memberships will be $35.00 with renewals at $30.00. Hope to see all of you at the picnic. For God and Country, Byron Pianalto.
CHAPLAIN: It is my sad duty to report that Dennis French, Jerome A. Bausch, and Raleigh J. VanSickle have gone to Post Everlasting. For God and Country, Tony Moore
SECOND VICE COMMANDER: The 4th of July Picnic went well. The kids appeared to have a great time. I would like to thank Mr. & Mrs. Gus Anderson, Rose Pearson, and everyone else who helped, too many names to mention. We will do it all over again at the Labor Day picnic on Sunday, 3SEP06 from noon ‘til 6:00p.m. Fish is on the menu. Volunteers and side dishes are needed and appreciated. These picnics are for you, the members, and your families. Your suggestions are welcome, needed, and appreciated. Please contact me at 425-0520. The Children’s Halloween Party will be on Sunday, OCT 29th. New Year’s Eve will be here before you know it. If you have any suggestions for a band, please contact me. Thank you for your support. For God and Country, Johnnie A. Maples, II
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY PRESIDENT: Hi Ladies. As we all know, summer is here, and it’s been a hot one too! Membership is now going on. Please help us make our 100% by the due date. You can come in to renew or mail your dues to us. The convention has come and gone. Congratulations to the Chairman and the Unit for bringing home the 2005-2006 award for education. Our dinner on Friday, 4AUG will be surf & turf. Come and enjoy it with us. Don’t forget our meetings are the first Tuesday of every month. Ladies, please help me congratulate our very own Anne Starke as our new Eastern Zone Vice President. Way to go, Anne! For God and Country, Dawn Thomas
SQUADRON 327 COMMANDER: First, I would like to thank everyone for their support in the elections. I hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th of July. Membership has gotten off to a good start, so let’s keep the ball rolling, renew now and get the “EARLY BIRD”. Congratulations to Steve Gower, Sr., our new Detachment Commander. He and I returned from the conference in Richmond with the awards for Children and Youth and Americanism in our group for the squadron. I’m looking forward to working with and serving you. For God and Country, Brooke Gillespie
BOWLING LEAGUE NOTE: A meeting will be held on Sunday, August 27th at 1:00 p.m. at the Post. Come sign up and have fun with friends and family. For God & Country, Cheri Loyko, Sec/Treasurer
HONOR GUARD: We, the Post 327 Honor Guard, would like to thank you for supporting us and making us one of the best guards in the Department of Virginia. We do fundraisers to make us look good to better represent you. We are available to do programs in the community such as churches, retirements, and anything else presenting “Old Glory”. For more info, please contact Johnnie A. Maples, II. New members are always welcome. For God and Country, Otha Newton, Jr.
MS SOCIETY: Don and I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their overwhelming generosity and support of our recent fund-raising efforts for the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. Today, over 400,000 Americans are living with MS. And, each week, 200 more people are diagnosed. Imagine, one day you are ready to take on the world and the next you are faced with the diagnosis of an incurable and debilitating disease. As you may know, we are participating in the MS Challenge Walk in September and will join 500 people to walk with this personal mission: to end the devastating effects of MS. Our personal goal is to raise $3000 by 1AUG to be donated to MS. Thanks to all the wonderful people who donated goodies. We raised over $100 from our bake sale. To the many who took a chance (or chances) on the 50/50 raffle, your kindness and generosity made it possible for us to raise $1000 towards our goal. Congratulations Mr. Ron Gotta of Norfolk who was the lucky 50/50 winner. And as of the date of this note we still have our seafood dinner at the post on 21JUL. To everyone who has made personal donations, I cannot thank you enough or tell you how much it means to us. Thank you to the Post, SALs, ALA, and the 40/8 for your generous support. Together, our fellow Challenge Walkers, and all of us will fuel research into the cause, cure, and treatment of this disease. In fact, people just like us have already changed MS from being untreatable to a disease that can be managed with various medical treatments. Scientists move ever closer to finding a cure with each dollar we raise. Thank you to each and every one for helping us as we work towards our goal and for all that you do to support our efforts. For God and Country, Don and Sally Klugh.
ASSOCIATION CLUB MANAGER: Dinners for Fridays in August 2006 are: 4th – Surf & Turf; 11th – Ham & Potatoes, 18th – Meatloaf; and 25th – Meatball Sub. The Karaoke KJ’s in August are: Friday, 4th and Saturday, 5th – Mary Frost; 12th- Linda M. & Tim S.; 19th – Walt DeGraaf and “R&W All Star Review “ (floor show); 26th –Mike & Linda Rios. Thank you for supporting our fundraiser dinners for charities. Please check your newsletter calendar for our breakfast schedule. For God & Country, Sandra Wright
EDITOR: If you mistakenly picked up a large Corningware casserole dish with a glass lid please return it to the Post for Penny (Lost at Memorial Day picnic). Also, she’s missing a dinner plate that is brown trimmed and has a beige center with speckles (Lost at July 4th picnic). Note for the Friday night Legion cooks, please let Sandi or me know what the menu is going to be before the 19th of each month so I can get it in the newsletter.
HUMOR: “LIVING WILL” - While watching a football game a couple weeks back, my wife and I were discussing life and death. I told her, "Just so you know, I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug." She promptly got up, unplugged the TV, and threw out all of my booze. Some days I hate being married to a smart aleck. For God and Country, B.J. Miller-Nobles.