DECEMBER 2007
COMMANDER: I would like to thank Bob Grasse for his efforts in obtaining donations from Uncle Bob’s Self-Storage (Karen Bagley) Naval Base Rd, Norfolk and (Piding Quintanilla) Central Dr, Virginia Beach for the Candy and Halloween bags for the Children’s Halloween Party. A special thanks to Joyce Kelly, Jim Dunning and everyone else that helped put out our Thanksgiving Dinner. Take note that after this month, your membership is expired if you have not renewed for 2008. I would like to thank everyone that has already sent in their renewals. As for the Post’s 60th Anniversary Party, it will be held Friday, Dec. 7th. Watch for fliers in the club room for details. At the November Post meeting it was voted to establish a Legion Riders Program at Post 327. Chris Steenrod is heading up forming the Program. If you are interested, please call (757) 333-7455.
Membership is slowing down. I know we can pick it back up to get our 100%. We are currently at 76%. For God and Country, Byron L. Pianalto
SECOND VICE COMMANDER: Well, we are now really gearing up for New Year’s Eve. In case you haven’t heard, we have booked “Premium Blend” to be our entertainment for the party. The festivities are really shaping up. Tickets will be on sale this month, so please look for them soon. I look forward to filling the place up for a good time. For God and Country, Gary L. Rodencal
SERVICE OFFICER: YOUTH COAT DRIVE -The cold weather will soon be upon us, and there are many children in the Hampton Roads area that will be without warm clothing/coats for the winter. I will be holding a Youth Coat Drive until Saturday, December 15, 2007. The staging area will be the main entrance at the Post in which a box will be placed for donations. Please, NO non-serviceable, wear and tear, or foul-odor smelling coats. Thank you in advance for your contribution. I will be at the Post on Wednesday, the 12th of Dec. between the hours of 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. to assist in the Service Officer position; however, if you or someone you know needs my immediate service, please do not hesitate to call me on 757-404-6111. I will not be at the Post on the 26th of Dec. For God and Country. Angela Faith Ellis
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY PRESIDENT: Merry Christmas Ladies, I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving, and I hope everyone has a great Christmas. Membership: Dec. 31st is the due date, so if you still need to renew, do so as soon as possible. Christmas is here, and we all know it’s time to give. The Angel tree this year will be for the children at St. Mary's Hospital, so let’s make sure they have a good Christmas. We are hoping to go there and have Santa and his helpers host a party for them. Proceeds from the MALE DANCERS fundraiser on Friday, 14 Dec. will benefit the “Toys for Tots”. Please buy a ticket as well as an unwrapped toy for the event. Our dinners will be Green Enchiladas on the 14th of Dec. and Barbequed Ribs on the 28th will be by Tommy. The Children's Christmas Party will be Dec 16th from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Please bring cupcakes or cookies. The sign-up list will be posted in the club. Remember, your child must be on the list for a gift from Santa. PLEASE, if your child will not be able to attend, do not put them on the list. We will not hold any gifts back. The Blood Drive will be Jan. 13th, 2008, so put that on your to-do list. To the 27 members who went to D.C. on the 9th and 10th of Nov. for the Healing Field, I want to say THANK YOU for all the hard work you did. For those who don't know what was done, we went to Washington, D.C. and placed 1000 3 X 5 flags at the MALL for our Veterans. It was a wonderful sight to see. By the way, 11 ALA Juniors attended this, and they worked very hard in the cold and rain. WAY TO GO, Juniors! Without you this would not have been done. To our “Movie Star” Andrew Evans, who was on the local news up there, GREAT JOB! For God and Country, Dawn Thomas
SQUADRON 327 COMMANDER: Greetings and Happy Holidays to everyone! First, I would like everyone to look at their membership card, and if it has 2008 on it, I would like to thank you for renewing your dues. If you haven’t renewed, please drop by the post or mail a check before Dec 31st in order to continue to attend post functions and meetings. I would like to thank Dawn Thomas for organizing and inviting the whole Legion family to go to Washington, D.C. for the Healing Field. We had 27 people attend. It was a lot of work to put together and place 1000 flags right beside the Washington Monument. As we were placing the last flag, we had 3 Vietnam Veterans come by to set the flag. ALA JR. Ashley Evans led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and they had tears running down their face thanking us, when we were there to thank all of them. We also toured the Vietnam Wall, as it was the 25th anniversary, and we heard a lot of war stories. Well, December is a busy month for all of us. Please check the calendar for dates for the Children’s and Post’s parties. The Angel tree this year will be for the children in St. Mary's Hospital. Please take an angel and help us help them to a great Christmas. Let’s take the children to a live wrestling show for Christmas. VCW “Toys for Tots” Benefit on Dec. 22nd at 7:30 p.m. at the Pembroke Bingo Hall in VA. Beach. Admission is FREE with an unwrapped toy for those less fortunate. This is just another way we can have fun and help those in need. May all of you have a great Holiday Season! For God and Country, Steve Gower, Sr.
ATHLETIC OFFICER: As you all might know, Post 327 is hosting the State 10-pin Bowling Tournament on the 8th & 9th of March 2008. We want to have some door prizes for our guests, so I’m asking you to look around your home for that old wedding, birthday, anniversary, or X-mas gift that you have stuffed away and not used. If you want to donate it, bring it down to the Post, and we will take if off your hands. Thanks, Jim Norton
ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT: SECOND NOTICE on Nominations and Election. Please read the election note below, and if you desire to run please see one of the nominating committeemen; Larry Perez, Byron Pianalto, or me. ASSOCIATION ELECTIONS for 2008: The Election will be held on Sunday, 17 February 2008 with results announced at the Association Meeting on the 19th of February 2008. We will be holding nominations for all Association positions at our Association Meeting on January 15th 2008. If you intend to run for an Association office, you must be nominated and accept the nomination at this meeting. If you cannot attend the meeting, you may accept a nomination to run by providing the Nominating Committee with a letter stating your intentions prior to the meeting. All candidates running for office will have their names posted by 21 January 2008 on the bulletinboards in the clubroom. On Election Day, ballots will be available at the Post Home from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on the 17th of February 2008 when election voting will be closed. You must have a current (2008) membership card from American Legion Post 327 in your possession to receive a ballot. A voting officer will be assigned to verify eligibility and monitor voting procedures. When the polls close, the voting officer and two appointed Association members will count the ballots and provide the results to the Association President. NOTE: Don’t forget the Adult members ONLY Christmas Party on Sunday, the 23rd of December from 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Members must have their membership card with them. You may bring one guest per member. Please bring a covered dish. The club will close after the Christmas Party. On Monday, Christmas Eve, we will close at 8:00 p.m. On Tuesday, Christmas Day the Club will be open from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. You may purchase your new key probably on 2 January 2008. For God & Country, Jim Norton
ASSOCIATION CLUB MANAGER: Please refer to the newsletter calendar for scheduled entertainment and dinners. Happy holidays! For God & Country, Sandra Wright
HUMOR: I received the following in an email: An old lady gets pulled over for speeding. Old Lady, “Is there a problem, Officer?” Officer, “Ma’am, you were speeding.” Old Lady, “Oh, I see.” Officer: “May I see your driver’s license please?” Old Lady, “I’d give it to you, but I don’t have one.” Officer, “You don’t have one?” Old Lady, “I lost it four years ago for drunk driving.” Officer, “I see…May I see your vehicle registration, please?” Old Lady, “I can’t do that.” Officer: “Why not?” Old Lady, I stole this car.” Officer, “You stole it?” Old Lady, “Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner. Officer: “You what?” Old Lady, “His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want to see. The officer looks at the woman and slowly backs away to his car and calls for back up. Within minutes five police cars circle the old lady’s car. A senior officer slowly approaches her car, clasping his gun. Officer 2, “Ma’am, would you step out of your vehicle please?” The woman steps out of her vehicle. Old Lady, “Is there a problem, Sir?” Officer 2: “One of my officers told me that you have stolen this car and murdered the owner.” Old Lady, “Murdered the owner?” Officer 2, “Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car?” The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk. Officer 2, “Is this your car, Ma’am? Old Lady, “Yes, here is my registration.” The officer is quite stunned. Officer 2, “One of my officers claims that you do not have a driver’s license.” The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and hands it to the officer. The officer examines the license. He looks quite puzzled. Officer 2, “Thank you, Ma’am, one of my officers told me you didn’t have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked up the owner.” Old Lady: “I’ll bet that liar told you I was speeding too.” Don’t underestimate the wisdom of old ladies!
EDITOR: Special thanks to DeDee, Nancy, Patricia, Jeannie, Will, and everyone else who helped me with dinner last month. I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. May God bless each of you with good health and happiness. For God and Country, B.J. Miller-Nobles