DECEMBER 2005

COMMANDER’S CORNER:  Hello.  The holiday season is upon us once again, so let’s be careful out there, crooks don’t take days off.  Be alert in parking lots and malls, and try not to travel alone.  Membership is coming along slowly.  Please check your card.  If it doesn’t have 2006 on it, it’s time to renew.  Thanks to all who have renewed, and I’m hoping everyone else will.  New Year’s Eve tickets are on sale behind the bar at $15.00 for a single and $25.00 for a couple.  Seating chart is also available.  We now have the electronic bugle, and it sounds great.  Good job Jim Cevora.  On Friday, 23 December the Clubroom doors will be locked at 6:30 p.m.  The party will be from 6:30 until 9:00 p.m.  Cleanup will follow.  Keep those hours and miles coming folks.  We are doing great.  Happy holidays!  For God and Country, Jim Dunning

1st VICE COMMANDER:  NO INPUT!  For God and Country, Roy “Skip” Louis, III

2^ND VICE COMMANDER:  Greetings and Happy Holidays fellow Legionnaires!  As you may have heard, our New Year’s Eve party will be a little different this year.  First of all, the seating arrangement will be individual tables arranged five on one end of the hall and four on the other end.  This will leave the middle area free to serve as the dance floor.  The band will take its usual place on the stage.  Entertainment will be the band “Loose Change” and will play from 9:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m.  They WILL NOT miss New Years!  Champaign will be provided to toast in the New Year, and there will be plenty of munchies throughout the evening.  See the flyers posted at the Legion for the exact menu.  The color scheme will be silver and black with balloons and party favors for all.  Breakfast will be served at 1:00 a.m.  I have pretty much firmed up all the details, but if anyone has suggestions or inputs, I will be happy to do my best to accommodate.  For God and Country, Todd Baitis.

ALA UNIT 327 PRESIDENT:  Merry Christmas Ladies.  December is a very busy month.  Please remember to pay your dues to help us meet our 75% goal by 15 December.  The shopping day will be Tuesday, 13 December at 7:30 p.m., gift-wrapping party will be Thursday, 15 December, and the Children’s Christmas Party will be Sunday, 18 December from 1-4:00 p.m.  Child’s name must be on the list and be in attendance as well.  Please don’t forget our angel tree.  Pick an angel, buy a gift and bring it back.  Let’s help put a smile on a child’s face Christmas morning.  Our dinner on 2 December will be Mexican and our January Friday night dinner will be steamed shrimp.  I hope everyone has a very safe and Merry Christmas.  For God and Country, Dawn Thomas

DONATIONS NEEDED:  From the results of Hurricane Katrina devastation on the Mississippi gulf coast in the Biloxi area, there were eleven children whose families lost everything.  Members of Post 280 got together and are storing clothing or any goods that can be donated to go directly to these families; delivery by U-Haul.  There is a poster on the entrance door to the Clubroom stating the clothes sizes of all the children.  PLEASE HELP!  You may call me at 681-1866.  For God and Country, Jim Pearson.

SQUADRON 327 COMMANDER:  Hello members.  I hope you had a very nice Thanksgiving.  The oyster roast was nice.  Thanks to everyone who helped.  The dinner was excellent.  A special thanks goes to Dawn Thomas and June Sanchez for all their help.  Membership is doing very well, but please remember without a 2006 card, you cannot get a new key New Year’s Day.  Ticket help is always needed.    Racing is almost over.  Hope to see you next year.  For God and Country, Dave Samson

Pool Tournaments will start the first Friday of January 2006 at 7:30 p.m.  See Byron Pinalto for details. 

Weekend Tickets:  Thank you to all of you who have helped with the ticket sales.  You’re doing a great job, and your time is greatly appreciated.  For God and Country, Marylee Lupejkis

The ceremonial bugle is here!  Thank you to all that helped with this fundraiser.  Some bought knives while others contributed cash and others spread the word about the fine quality and cost of the knives and sets being sold.  Anyone needing some nice Christmas gifts for loved ones and friends give me a call at home at 583-6407 or 573-6407.  I will get you a catalog.  All proceeds go to our Post 327 charities.  My last order will be sent on Monday, 5 December 2005.  A special thank you to Jack’s Barber Shop and its crew for their help.  For God and Country, Jim Cevora.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:  Happy holidays to all of our American Legion families.  It’s the season to be thankful, and it’s the time to be giving.  It’s also time for our annual blood drive.  I have been in contact with the American Red Cross, and we have arranged to have our blood drive on Sunday, 15 January 2006 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  Sign-up sheet is available at the Legion.  Please help us help others.  For God and Country, June Sanchez

ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT:  On behalf of your Association Board Members and Association employees, I want to wish each and every member of the Legion Family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  The Legion Christmas Party will be held on Friday, 23 December from 6:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.  This party is for ADULT members of Post 327 ONLY.  The Board has received some complaints regarding unacceptable language from patrons in the Clubroom.  This must come to an end.  The Bar Managers have been instructed to warn the individual, and if it continues, the individual will be asked to leave.  Remember PLEASE have respect for your fellow Legion family members.  Please read Club Manager’s article regarding the hours of operation over the Christmas weekend.  Flyers will be posted regarding the Christmas hours.  Election of Officers and Board of Directors for 2006 – 2007 will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, 12 February 2006 at the Post Home.  (SECOND NOTICE)  The nominating committee is David Birch Chairman, CDR Jim Dunning, and Jim Pearson.  You can give your name also to any board member.  For God and Country, Jim Norton

CLUB MANAGER:  Merry Christmas to each of you and your loved ones!  Hope everyone has a healthy, happy, and safe holiday.  Hope “Santa” brings you exactly what you want.  We have decided to do things a little differently this year.  Our annual Christmas Party will be the 23^rd of December and not Christmas Eve as in years past.  We felt that by having the party a day early our employees and members could spend Christmas Eve with their families and loved ones.  Our hours of operation will be as follows:  23^{rd –} Normal operating hours will be from Noon until 6:30 p.m.  The Christmas Party will be from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.  Clubroom will close promptly at 9:00 p.m. – remember you will be asked to show your membership card at the door, and the door will be locked at 6:30 p.m.  So you may want to arrive early.  24^th – Noon - 8:00 p.m. (last call will be at 7:30) The Clubroom WILL be closed at 8:00 p.m.  Please be courteous and leave on time so that our Bar Manager can spend time on Christmas Eve with her family and loved ones.  25^th - The Clubroom will open Christmas day from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m.  Again, last call will be at 7:30 p.m., and we ask that you not linger at closing time.  The Friday night dinner schedule is:  2 Dec – Mexican (ALA), 9 Dec – Pork Loin (40/8), 16 Dec – Meatball Subs (VA&R), 23^rd – Christmas Party 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. KJ’s schedule is as follows:  3^rd - Mary Frost, 10^th - Melissa VanWagner, 17^th - Mike & Linda Rios, and 30^th - Allen Woodruff.  For God and Country, Sandi Wright   

EDITOR:  A “Special Thanks” to Sandi Wright for all her help with the Post’s dinners and lunches.   Note:  Our local food banks are almost empty.  If you can help, please do so for the hungry and needy.  Our membership is at approx. 68% of our goal at this time.  Please renew ASAP and help us meet our goal.  Also, inform me if you have a change of address.  Thank you.

HUMOR:  Dear Diary, Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with the expensive double-pane, energy-efficient kind.  But this week I got a call from the contractor who installed them complaining that his work had been completed a whole year ago, and I had yet to pay him.  Boy oh boy, did we go around!!  Just because I’m a blonde woman doesn’t mean that I’m automatically stupid.  I proceeded to tell him just what his fast talking sales guy had told me last year; which was that in one year the windows would pay for themselves.  There was silence on the other end of the line, so I just hung up…and I haven’t heard anything from him since.  Guess I won that stupid argument. 

I pray that God will bless each of us during the upcoming holidays.  I wish you a very Merry Christmas and the best New Year ever.  For God and Country, B.J. Miller-Nobles