February 2008 Newsletter

COMMANDER: We have just over 200 previous members who have not renewed their membership, please check you membership card to see if it has 2008 on it, if not please renew as soon as possible so that National can receive your renewal before next years membership cards are printed. Current membership is at 87%. Air Compassion for Veterans is searching for WWII and Korean War veterans in the Hampton Roads area. They would like to schedule an interview with a local student to preserve their stories of their time and service of our country, to be published. If you are interested you may contact me at the Post (757) 587-2641 most any evening after 7 p.m. for more information or to schedule an appointment, they will be interviewing between Feb and May. The Four Chaplains Service will be held on Feb 3rd at 3 p.m. at the Zion Bethel Church of Christ, 1617 Des Moines Ave, Portsmouth, VA. Uniform will be blue and gray. Anyone is welcome to attend this very moving ceremony. For God and Country, Byron L. Pianalto

SECOND VICE COMMANDER: I wish to thank everyone for helping me pull off one of the most successful New Year’s Eve parties in the last 10 years. My personal thanks go to Dawn Thomas, Tammy English, Earl and Clarika Tanner, for decorating and basic hall setup, my wife, Donna, for putting the food together for the party and Kay Skidmore for bringing that wonderful dip, Bill Craig, Roger Harner and Sam Huffman for putting on a very delicious breakfast, plus cleaning up the kitchen. To everyone who stayed after the party to help get the trash together, I’m sorry but I was too exhausted to take muster for that but you know who you are. Lastly, myself for sweeping and swabbing the entire hall floor. I owe you guys and gals big time for the help. So once again, thank you. For God and Country, Gary L. Rodencal

ATHLETIC OFFICER: The State Bowling Tournament is just around the corner, and we will have a bowling meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, 10 February 2008 at the Post Home. If you are on a committee, please try and attend. I’m still looking for some more door prizes, something you are not using around the house. If you have anything, please bring it to the Post home and give it to me or Dawn Thomas. Thanks, For God and Country, Jim Norton.

AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY PRESIDENT: Hello Ladies! If you have not paid your dues, your membership is now past due. You need to pay them as soon as you can. The ALA dinner for Friday, 1 February will be open-faced sandwiches. The Juniors will have their annual Chili Cook-off and a bake sale on 9 February. Bring in your best chili and see who wins the ribbon. We will serve a steak dinner on Friday, 15 February. Southern Gentlemen will be here on Monday, 18 February. All proceeds will go to the veterans. The Juniors’ breakfast is the 24^th of February. We would like to say thank you to all who came out for the blood drive. Out of the thirty volunteers who came out, we had twenty-seven that were able to donate blood. Ladies, the 60th Anniversary is by reservation, so you will need to call the Legion and ask for Dawn, Jean Lewis, or Nancy Bell. The 60^th will be held on 22 March at 7:00 p.m. For God and Country, Dawn Thomas
SQUADRON 327 COMMANDER: Greetings Comrades! Well, football season is over, and it’s time to go Racing! The “Freedom 76” Nationwide (formerly Busch) series Legion Race Team is planning to qualify for all events this year. Of course, they need everyone's help. The S.A.L. along with the Post purchased 3 Daytona 500 Party Fundraiser packs. Please come out and cheer for your Driver and help support our race team. Hey, the Legion Family has arrived at 327. The 3-family emblems for outside the building should be in place by the time you read this. Also, the front of the newsletter has been changed. I would like to thank everyone who has helped and supported me in making this happen. Post 327 is not only the leader for the District, but is becoming one of the best in the State. Our membership is doing great. We had 29 renewals and 3 new members voted in this month. Dave Samson is doing a great job, but I think we could work him a little harder, so let’s keep'em coming in. The S.A.L. Friday night dinners are back. Our first will be Cabbage Rolls on February 8th. Please come out and show us how much you missed us. For God and Country, Steve Gower, Sr.

ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT: Hope everyone enjoyed the Association Christmas Party. I think it went over quite well. A special thanks to Lee Hemmrich and Jim Dunning for the extra effort on getting the food ready. Nominations were held on the 15th of January 2008 at the Association Meeting, and the following Legionnaires were nominated:

Four will be elected for 2 years and one will be elected for 1 year. Do not forget to vote on Sunday, 17 February 2008 from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. in the Legion hall. Please remember that the people we elect will run the business side of 327, so please vote for the best qualified individuals. Results will be announced at the Association Meeting on the 19^th of February 2008. For God and Country, Jim Norton

ASSOCIATION CLUB MANAGER: Hello Everyone! Just a couple of reminders: First, if you have not paid your locker fee by the time you read this newsletter you are late - fee is due no later than January 31st of each year. Locks WILL be changed. Also, PLEASE put your first and last name as well as the date on every bottle you bring into the Clubroom and keep dates current (ABC regulation). Have your membership card on you whenever you are in the Legion (also ABC regulation). Remember entertainment and dinners are for YOUR enjoyment, so please try to support both. All dinners are charity fundraisers!! If you have any suggestions concerning Club activities or operations please remember we have a suggestion box in the lobby area of the Club. For God and Country, Sandra WrighT

HUMOR: From my friend, Sandra: (No offense intended, ladies) Top 10 Reasons Why Men Prefer Guns Over Women: #10 – You can trade an old 44 for a new 22, #9- You can keep one gun at home and have another for when you are on the road, #8 – If you admire a friend’s gun and tell him so, he will probably let you try it out a few times, #7 – Your primary gun doesn’t mind if you keep another gun for a backup, #6 – You gun will stay with you even if you run out of ammo, #5 – A gun doesn’t take up a lot of closet space, #4 – A gun functions normally every day of the month, #3 – A gun doesn’t ask, “Do these grips make me look fat?”, #2 – A gun doesn’t mind if you go to sleep after you use it…and the #1 reason a gun is favored over a woman…you can buy a silencer for a gun!!!

EDITOR: I want to personally thank everyone who helped me with the Post dinner on Friday, 18 January: Sandra Wright, Nancy Bell, DeDee French, Bill Craig, Cathy Rook, Sharon Bukowski, and Kim. Please remember to get out and vote in the Primary Elections on Tuesday, 12 February 2008. For God and Country, B.J. Miller-Nobles