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JULY 2009

COMMANDER:  I would like to thank the members for their confidence in electing me as the Post Commander again. Thank you to the outgoing officers for all the support you gave me during the past year.  Special thanks to Jean Lewis for all your hard work and a job well done with the newsletter the past 21 years.  Special thanks to Don Gotta, Jerry Mason, Victoria Bell, and Cliff Carney for the numerous hours spent getting nearly 1,500 flags ready for proper disposal prior to Flag Day. Thanks to everyone who took the time to attend the flag retirement ceremony.  FYI: According to the Norfolk Department of Environmental Quality it is not illegal to burn flags that are made of synthetic material such as polyester, rayon, or nylon, etc.  If you need to dispose of a flag made out of these materials, you may cut the blue field out prior to burning or discarding it.  Thanks to everyone who attended the installation of officers on the 23rd of June. Tony Moore did another outstanding job filling in for the Chaplain. Sharon B. did a wonderful job with the buffet and Jeanne A. with the shrimp. The Department Convention will be held at the Sheraton Richmond West Hotel from 9-12 July 2009.  Glen Allen Post 244 will be hosting a pork barbecue & fried chicken dinner on Thursday, 9 July from 6-8:00 p.m. Cost is $10.00 per person & cash bar for those of you who will be going to Richmond that day.  Their location is 2522 Indale Ave., Glen Allen, VA.  I’m looking forward to seeing you at our 4th of July picnic.  Upcoming events:  Leadership College will be 8-10 August at the same hotel.  It is highly recommended that all Post officers who have not attended do so. The Post will help with the expense. Please see the Post Adjutant Michael Bukowski for Reservation forms.  For God & Country, B. J. Miller

FIRST VICE COMMANDER: Membership!!!  We now have the 2010 Membership Cards at the Post.  On the 4th of July we will kick off our “Early Bird” Membership.  Renew for 2010 between the 4th of July until Labor Day Sept. 7, 2009, the Labor Day cookout is free.  Currently, our Membership is 96%.  We need members to renew for 2009, check your cards.  I would like to thank Skip Kelly for the fine job he did as 1st Vice Commander.  For God and Country, Jerry Mason

SECOND VICE COMMANDER: Well, we are finally into summer. July 4th is fast approaching and it’s time for a picnic.  It will be held on July 4th from 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.  Our menu will be Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Chicken and Sausages.  Please bring a covered dish or dessert to feed 10 people.  If you don’t there will be a cost of $5 per member.  Volunteers are sorely needed.  Watch for the sign-up sheets at the Post.  You are what makes the picnic a success.  If you would like to help please call me at 544-2435.   For God and Country, Larry Turner

CHAPLAIN:   Post Everlasting will be held at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 14 July 2009 for Grover C. Bowen, Dorothy Lawless, and Stanley Zedd.  Family and friends are invited to attend.  In the hospital:  John Hopkins at Lake Taylor and Michael Connell at Bay Point.

ALA PRESIDENT:  Hello Ladies, summer is in full swing.  As you all know our beloved treasurer Maryemma Brown passed away in June.  Her graveside service and luncheon went very well.  I would like to thank everyone who helped with everything.  It was very hard on the Auxiliary and without everyone’s help it would have been harder.  Thank You.  Dinner on July 3rd and is Meatloaf.  The July 4th Picnic is on Saturday the 4th, get your “Early Bird” stamp when you pay your membership.  Our convention is July 9th – 12th in Richmond.  Anne Starke was elected to step in as treasurer and Cheryl Loyko to Executive Board, thanks to Anne and Cheryl.  Have a safe 4th.  For God and Country, Nancy Bell

SQUADRON 327 COMMANDER:  Greetings Comrades!  We had the elections at our June meeting with the following results. I would like to welcome Cliff Carney as our new 2nd Vice Commander and Gerald Willis as our new Historian.  Charlie Gower moved to Sgt-at-Arms.  All other officers stayed the same.  I would like to thank all the officers for their support and hard work and their continued support for the upcoming year.  We have a good group of dedicated SONS working together year in and year out, but I would still like to see some new faces with fresh ideas come out and get involved.  We had the biggest turnout in a long time at the Memorial Day Parade in Portsmouth.  It was good to finally see the American Legion so well represented.  Thanks to everyone who helped with the 3rd Annual Poker Run, from helping with getting donations to working the 5 stops. Everyone did a great job! Special thanks to VINNIE AND THE SHEDNECKS for donating their time and talent keeping everyone entertained at the party.  We had the biggest turnout of riders yet with 85 people registering.  Considering the weak economy, I was amazed when the final numbers came in.  We raised $2,700 to donate to the YWCA and the American Legion Legacy Fund.  Each year we are learning more to make this work, and next year should be better yet!  Don’t forget to come in with your laptop and try our WIFI. I heard it’s working great.  Hope to see all at the July 4th picnic.  Also, we have the State Convention in Richmond coming up July 9th thru July 12th where we will be electing our new Detachment Officers for the upcoming year.  The Squadron will pay for registration for any member who would like to attend.  It would be nice to have someone join Jeff and me; these meetings are a lot of fun and no stress involved.  You need to come and see what you have been missing.  For God and Country, Steve Gower  

ATHLETIC OFFICER:  Well, American Legion Baseball is well under way in the Tidewater Area.  Post 327 has had problems with rain, but as of this writing they were one and one.  The schedule is posted outside the Post office along with the league standing.  The rest of the schedule is listed below, but you need to keep in touch with the Post or myself because of rain. Also, we will make up games:

DATE                  TIME                      WHERE                         WHO WE PLAY

8 July                 6:00 pm                  Lakewood                         Post 60

10 July                6:00 pm                  Lakewood                         Post 60 (make up 

11 July                11:00 am                 Granby                            Post 60

14 July                6:00 pm                  Atlantic Shores                   Post 204

16 July                6:00 pm                  Granby                            Post 280

For God and Country, Jim Norton

ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT:  Due to ABC regulations drinks of any kind cannot be carried out of the club room unless a special license has been obtained for such areas as the pavilion.  Under no circumstances can drinks be carried into the restrooms anywhere in the building.  Also, due to sanitary reasons, no food will be carried into the restrooms. Profanity in the Clubroom is getting out of hand and will not be tolerated.  The bar managers will give you two warnings about your language.  The third time you will be asked to leave.  Refusal to leave will be treated as conduct unbecoming a legionnaire.  We are a family-oriented organization, and it’s time to start acting that way.  For God and Country, Jim Martin

CLUB MANAGER:  Remember, it is the Members responsibility to check the dates on their bottles, also you cannot have more than 2 bottles behind the bar at any time.  If you have a locker PLEASE PUT BOTTLE BACK IN LOCKER AFTER EACH VISIT.  With the number of members and limited space for bottles, we are finding too many bottles behind the bar, some with old dates have been destroyed.  This is an ABC Rule and needs to be enforced by employees and members.  NOTE:  You are required to have your membership card on your person at all times, if you do not have it you must be signed in by a member. If you are waiting for someone you must wait outside the building.  For God and Country, Sandra Wright

Editor:  I would like to send your newsletter via email.  This would save the Post a lot of postage expenses and ensure that you would receive it quicker.  Please email your name, address, phone number, and email address to me at amlg327@yahoo.com.  Also, if you change your address please notify the Post.  For God & Country, B. J. Miller