COMMANDER:
Spring has sprung, and we have a host of activities at the
post in May. The landscaping has got a big jump with Bob
Perkins and his band of weed wacking warriors.
They are doing a
fine job and can always use some help.
Memorial Day weekend is always a very important event, and
this year will be no exception as the 2nd vice has a fun
filled day planned. Please plan to attend and if you have
events that you would like to see tried, get with Frank
Lorence and share them. This is the way we need to do
business at the Legion.
THIRD AND FINAL
NOTICE:
May the 10th will be the Post Elections for the coming
year’s board. Please put your name in the ring and come out
and vote. This is a very important election.
We held our annual Awards Night on 26 April. Legionnaire of the Year is Alonzo Scott. Frank Lorence was awarded the W.C. Claude Memorial Cup. Ray Steckman was awarded the Legion Meritorious Service Medal. The ALA Lady of the Year is Delia M. French. Congratulations to all recipients.
It appears that our membership goals for 2010/2011 are in big trouble as we have a shortfall of about 75 members who have not renewed/new members joining. I want to ask each one of you if you will help with a final push and help us reach that goal of 1067. Ask those you know who have not renewed to please come in and pay their dues. I know that times are very hard, but this is how we support our programs and vets. If we make our membership goal of 1067 I will sit on top of the American Legion Post 327 on the 4th of July and wave a full American Flag for 1 hour to say Thank You. For God and Country, Larry Turner
FIRST VICE COMMANDER:
Membership is at 91% for the year 2011 with 973
members renewing. Will the other 9% please renew?
Dues are $35.
Please help us meet our goal.
For God and Country, B.J. Miller
SECOND VICE COMMANDER: The Memorial Day picnic will be Sunday, May 29th from 12- 6:00 p.m. Cost is $5 a member and $7 for guest. The member fee will be waived if you bring a dish to share. If you wish to help at the picnic, a sign-up sheet has been posted in the hall. Hope to see all of you there! For God and Country, Frank Lorence
CHAPLAIN’S CORNER:
Joseph “Smoking Joe” Giffear is home from the
hospital. Our
Post meeting in April was great, as there was “No Post
Everlasting” to conduct.
Our next Post meeting will be Tuesday, May 10th
at 8:00 p.m.
Please plan on coming out for some great fellowship with
your comrades. I’m
looking forward to seeing everyone at the elections. For God
and Country, Tony Moore
SERVICE OFFICER:
Since last month I have 6 new VA claims.
I have 2 claims for financial assistance from our
Service Officer fund which were approved and 1 TFA is
pending. I’ve
had 22 Service Officer related calls since our last
newsletter. No funds were approved from our Special Charity
fund. Veterans that are 100% disabled who have not received
a verification of benefits from VA please call me at
757-227-5296.
If no answer, please leave a message and I will get back to
you. For God and Country, Alonzo Scott
AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS: The American Legion Riders are gearing up for a new and exciting riding season. Upcoming rides and events include the Bay Bridge Run on May 14th to benefit the Special Olympics, and of course, the much anticipated Rolling Thunder – Ride for Freedom in Washington, D.C. on May 29th. The mission of Rolling Thunder is to publicize and educate the public on POW-MIA issues as well as to provide support and assistance to our American veterans.
On the home front, the big ride-event is our 5th
Annual American Legion Post 327 Gum Ball Run on June 4th.
Hosted by the Sons of the American Legion and assisted by
our American Legion Riders, this gala event begins in the
morning with a charted motorcycle and automobile course ride
through the Surry countryside and culminates in the early
afternoon back at the Legion for lunch, games, music and
lots of prizes. Money raised from this event will go to
benefit the ALR Legacy Fund, which provides scholarship
assistance to the children of single-parent veterans, and
the Fisher House, which offers living quarters to the
families of wounded veterans at Portsmouth Naval Hospital.
I do want to point out that parking for motorcycles
that Saturday will be restricted to the grassy areas
adjacent to the Legion’s parking lot in order to free up as
many automobile parking spaces as possible. For additional
information, please feel free to contact me at
tedvanhorn@gmail.com or visit our web site at
www.alr327.org. For God and Country, Ted Van
Horn.
SQUADRON 327 PAST COMMANDER:
Greetings
Comrades.
Well, time is slipping away and our Gumball Run will be here
before you know it. Please try and get some items to donate
for our silent auction. We are planning a full day of
activities at the Post on the 4th of June. The ride is open
to Car Clubs as well as motor-cycles. You don't have to ride
in the run to come out and play the games. The more games
you play the more tickets you can get for auction Items. It
should be a good time for all and for a good cause! At our
meeting last month we voted to raise 2012 dues to $25.00 per
year for all SAL members over 21 years of age. All DUAL
members and those under 21 will remain @ $10.00 per year. We
value our dual members and would like to have more.
As you know
membership is what drives all of us, and I'm sure a lot of
Post members are eligible to join the SAL.
Remember IF YOU’RE
NOT DUAL, YOU’RE NOT COOL! Thanks to all who came out and
helped or ate our Spaghetti Dinner last month. It was a
success and we made a nice donation to the ALA's Wounded
Warrior Rider program. As a member of the National Homeland
Security Committee, I can't stress enough how we need to get
ready for the upcoming Hurricane Season. Please check the
wall outside Post office for information I have put there
from FEMA. There is a lot of info on making
your
home safe and getting kits together so you will have
supplies needed in case of storm damage and power outages.
Also, we need to be ready to help our friends and Legion
Family in times of need. One of our long-time family members
had a tree fall and destroy his home
during the last batch of bad weather. Please keep Don Gotta
and family in our thoughts and prayers and try to help them
any way you can. I cannot count how many members have come
from this family or how many hours they have put in this
Post. They are well deserving of all the help we can give
them.
THIRD NOTICE: Elections will be held at our May
meeting to keep us in line with the Post and ALA. There is a
sign-up sheet on the back board by restrooms. Please come
out and get involved with your squadron. Sign up or come to
the meeting. Elections are open to all current members. For
God and Country, Steve Gower, Sr.
ALA PRESIDENT:
Hello Ladies. Well,
summer is almost here.
Hopefully, all the strange weather is behind us.
May is bringing us into dinner on the 6th and
ticket weekend.
If anyone is ever interested in helping out with a 2-hour
shift in tickets, please give me a call.
Also, let’s not forget the Memorial Day picnic.
We always need covered dishes and lots of help.
The picnic will be on Sunday, 29 May.
Everyone had a great time at the Easter party as always.
Thanks to all the volunteers.
Elections will have been held by the time you get this
newsletter.
Congratulations to everyone that won.
I
know I’m preaching again about membership, but we are at
90%. So close.
Please help us. For God and Country, Nancy Bell