American Legion [Frank E. Booma Post 6 - Portsmouth, New Hampshire]

Start dusting off the salt and sand, Spring is right around the corner. With Spring come the blossoms of new. Do you want a new and rewarding challenge? Do you want to continue serving

America

and the Community? Do you want stand up front and be counted? Do you believe in Freedom and Democracy? If you say yes to any of these questions, consider becoming an officer of the Post. Our first nomination for officers will be held at the Post meeting Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 1800 hours. If becoming an officer of the Post does not coincide with your daily schedule, we also nominate the upcoming year’s Audit Committee, consisting of 3 members. To give you some insight on this committee, they meet once a month and give their report at Post meetings. A complete outline on this and all other committee’s are in the Post By-Laws and Constitution. If you do not have a copy of the By-Laws, request one from the Post Adjutant. I encourage everyone to come out and nominate your candidate for the upcoming year. Don’t forget, the last “Early Bird” event is Saturday, February 6, 2010. As promised during the Surf and Turf game that day, present your early bird card from Post 6 and get your first card free! This offer is only for the $1.00 games. If you want to play additional cards or play the other games offered they will have to be purchased. The game starts at 3:00 pm, get here early to get a good seat. Good Luck and Thank You for being an early bird member of Frank E. Booma Post 6.

I want to say thank you to Al (Butch) LaFrenier and his wife Angie for starting up the Sunday morning breakfast again. They are doing very well, I hope everyone makes time to stop in and enjoy the elaborate menu they have prepared for you. Breakfast is served from 7:00 – 11:00 am. With Valentine’s Day being on Sunday, February 14, 2010 bring your special Valentine to breakfast then come back later for the Post traditional Valentine’s Dinner. This year’s dinner will be spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread, salad and dessert. The dinner is free for ladies, all men including guests will be required a $6.00 donation. The dinner will be served from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. As a reminder, this dinner is for the Post 6 family and bonafide guests, all other American Legion members and guests will be required the $6.00 donation.

ATTENTION, for those members who are retired from active duty. The following message was posted from National Headquarters in early January. It reads; On Aug. 24, 2009, The American Legion National Executive Committee adopted Resolution 1, The American Legion Policy on VA and National Health Care Reform, and Resolution 2, The American Legion Policy on DoD's Medical Health System and National Health Care Reform. The goal of these resolutions was to make sure that neither DoD's or VA's health-care delivery systems were adversely affected by legislation introduced and passed in each chamber. Very early in the process, The American Legion received assurances from key congressional leaders and the president that nothing in the national health-care reform legislation would adversely affect either the DoD or VA health-care systems. Both the House and the Senate have passed their versions of national health-care reform legislation, and both bills span over 2,000 pages of legislative language. In a review of each bill, it appears neither DoD or VA health-care systems will be adversely affected; however, the current ongoing negotiations between House, Senate and the White House are being conducted in "closed sessions" with little to no detailed information being officially released or reported. The American Legion will continue to closely monitor developments and keep The American Legion family informed as specifics are revealed. Clearly, changes to Medicare's reimbursement rates to participating health-care providers could possibly have an effect on TRICARE and TRICARE for Life beneficiaries. This is just one of the many provisions The American Legion has publicly expressed concerns over. Another concern deals with any requirement for mandatory public or private health-care insurance. Neither TRICARE nor VA health care is an insurance provider, but rather a health-care provider. So The American Legion has publicly expressed its concerns with "cookie cutter" approaches in mandating health-care insurance coverage with the threat of fines or penalties for noncompliance. Both DoD and VA health care are earned benefits for honorable military service and the thanks of a grateful nation. In keeping with the constitutional intent of the democratic process, the voice of We, the people, remains absolutely critical in the representative form of government we enjoy; therefore, you are encouraged to ask your two senators and your representative specific questions you may have on the issue of national health-care reform as it relates to veterans, service members and their families. Please feel free to share any responses you receive from your elected officials with The American Legion National Legislative Commission so we can follow up as necessary. Find your elected officials at the Legislative Action Center. To view more comments on this issue or post a comment, log onto www.legion.org. Click on more headlines… then click on Jan 4 – 10. It is my sad duty to report that Richard (Mickey) Tessicini (41 year Paid-Up-For-Life and Life member) was called by our Supreme Commander. May his soul go marching on.

I want to start by welcoming the following new members to our Post. David Dean and reinstatements Linda Khalsa and Ray Martin, welcome to the Booma family. Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 1800 is the next meeting. We will be having nominations for office at this meeting. If you are interested in running for a position please attend this meeting or have a letter of intent to my by that day. The Commander is looking for a volunteer to assume the home and hall position. If you are interested contact the Commander. I need to remind everyone that any applicant for new membership, reinstatement or transfer not approved prior to March of the election year shall not be eligible to vote. That means the deadline is our February 18th Post meeting. Our membership has been coming in much slower and we need to pick it up some. We are just under the 80% mark. We have many long time members not renewed for this year. If you know of anyone, please talk to them and encourage them to renew now. It is wish regrets that I report that Richard "Mickey" Tessicini passed away. He was a prior Finance Officer and a Paid Up for Life member as well as a Life Member with 41 years membership. May he rest in peace. I just learned of a program called cell phones for soldiers, if you have an old cell phone with battery you can bring it to me and I will forward them to this organization. You may also claim a tax deduction for these. For more info you may contact me at the Post.

If you have any questions about the American Legion, please bring them to my attention, some people have asked questions in the past to the wrong people and gotten incorrect information. It is my job as Adjutant to serve you and give you an answer and if I don't have one, I know who to contact to ensure you get the right answer. Respectfully,

On Wednesday February 3, 2010 at 7:30 P.M. there will be a meeting of the Portsmouth Central Veterans Council at the V.F.W. on Deer Street . Any member of any of the veterans organizations are welcome to attend this meeting.

Our next Fish Fry will be Friday, February 5, 2010 from 4-7 p.m. Thank you for your loyalty and please continue to support us.

Our next meeting will be Wednesday February 17, 2010 – First nomination for officers. S.A.L. members that have not paid their 2010 dues are only entitled to be signed in one time until your 2010 card is paid. I am also looking for volunteers for Surf N Turf every second Saturday of each moth. Hope to see you at the next meeting. Until then, stay safe.

Our next meeting is Wednesday, February 17, 2010 we will be having first nominations for officers for the 2010- 2011 term. All that are interested should attend the meeting or give a letter of intent to the Commander or Adjutant. If you know some one who has not paid their 2010 dues, please remind them to pay as soon as possible.

BAND SCHEDULE

February 6th – Dirty McCurdy

February 12th – Karaoke w/DJ Darlene

February 13th – Triple Play

February 20th – Bill Vendasi

February 27th– Black Brook

SURF & TURF SCHEDULE

February 6th – Post

February 13th – S.A.L.

February 20th – Unit

February 27th – Color Guard

Hello, we had a great New Year’s Eve Party – fun was had by all!. The Prime Rib Dinner went well. I hope everyone’s new year is going well. Dirty McCurdy is back on Saturday, February 6, 2010 and a new band, Triple Play will play on Saturday, February 13, 2010 requested by popular demand. Our Super Bowl Party went good, Every one cheered for their favorite team. Thanks to those that donated a dish, great job as usual. The sale of the bar tags ended January 15th and it is projected that the bar will done the middle of March. Check your March Newsletter for further details. We will be having a St. Patrick’s Day Dinner on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 from 4 -6 p.m. $5.00 a plate. Come out and enjoy a Corned Beef Dinner. A special thanks to our Jazz Band for entertaining for us. Stay warm and be safe these wintry days.

The Auxiliary gives THANKS to all the people that made the Cherry Tree Raffle a huge success. Thanks to all that donated and made cherries. The Cherry making really helped to make the fund raiser a success. Ladies, you know who you are. It would not be a success without the help of the cherry makers. The donations were great. The winner of the boy's bike was Jeff Ryan and Viola Levesque was the winner of the girl's bike. Other multiple winners were Pamela Climons, Ken Newport, Bill Phelps and some of the Dover girls. We had 152 gifts and gift certificates to hand out for the correct numbers in the cherries. I thank all the merchants that donated also the members and the Post. Thank you again from the Ladies of the Auxiliary.

Ladies –We only need 80 more for 100%. Continue to stay informed and pay your dues today. Also, if you have a change of address, please be sure to notify me. If you have any questions and/or concerns, please feel free to call me at (603) 988-8267.

We have had a relatively easy winter so far. Hopefully the remainder will be as kind. Easter will be here on April 4, 2010, that is less than two months. On Saturday, March 27, 2010 the Auxiliary will be holding an Easter Fund Raiser to raise monies toward the Auxiliary Scholarships and tuitions to Granite Girls State . If all prizes are not won on Saturday the event will carry over into Sunday, March 28, 2010 (but don't wait 'til Sunday or you may miss out on it). The Auxiliary has sent out over 100 letters to area companies trying to get donated prizes to go along with the two porcelain dolls donated by Joe Calderara that his dearly departed wife Rose, had made. These dolls are worth at least $250.00 each. The Auxiliary extends a BIG Thank You to Joe and greatly appreciates the donation. The price of the "Eggs' will be set after we receive the remaining donated prizes. Remember to keep track of any volunteering you have been doing and let us know how many hours you have put in, the amount of money you spent, and how many miles you drove to do these things. Spending money for causes also can be included. The next monthly meeting of the Auxiliary will be on Thursday, February 11, 2010. At the March 11th meeting we will be holding nominations for the Officers of the Auxiliary for the coming year. Thank you Trudy Huff for filling in on short notice at our January Surf N Turf. GREAT JOB!