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

Happy New Year everyone, I’m proud to announce the Post is firing on all cylinders and moving ahead at full speed. This is great news for the American Legion organization, to give you a recap and express my deepest gratitude to you for the past year; the Post membership increased by 177 new members, the Post’s annual gatherings; being the Children’s Outing, Adult Outing, Thanksgiving Dinner, the Children’s Halloween and Children’s Christmas party’s all have increased in attendance. Then through your participation in the local parades or being present at the Post for these and other events the numbers also have raised tremendously. With this being said one event I want to recognize is after the Christmas parade there was standing room only in the Post. The Drum and Bag Pipe performance was spectacular. Continuing on, the Post Legion baseball team came in runner-up last year. This is great news due to most of the team were new players. Also last year the Post adopted a Boy Scout Varsity team and is waiting to hear about the Cub Scout Pack forming up. Thank you letters have been coming in monthly for the many donations the Post has been supporting not to mention the Christmas cards the received from “you” the membership, this kind of outpouring is just incredible, I want to say THANK YOU for thinking about the Post and in keeping the veteran’s in your heart. Its amazing how one card can bring a smile to someone’s face? A little more interesting news for you; things have gone so well with the Post and its community relations the City Mayor Tom Ferrini and some council members visited the Post earlier last year for a meet and greet to include (later in the year) Past Commander George Remick who stayed and chatted with the members, then National Commander’s David Rehbein and Clarence Hill visited the post to close with Past Post Commander George McCall whom served as New Hampshire Department Commander. It’s an honor when a Department Commander is representing your Post. Let’s keep the momentum going shall we? This will be the last Early Bird Special as promised for those “2010 Early Bird Card holders” On Saturday, February 6, 2010 the Post is hosting its weekly “Surf and Turf” fundraiser for Child and Youth, most rounds cost one dollar per card, if you have an “Early Bird Stamp” membership card I’ll give you your first card free!!! But, if you want to play extra cards you have to purchases them. This offer is only for all Post 6, Ladies Auxiliary, Unit 6 and Sons-of-the-American Legion, Squadron 6 Early Bird card holders and it ONLY includes the one dollar games. The game starts at 3:00 p.m. Don’t forget the label sales hosted by the Grille to be inlayed on the bar will close Friday, January 15, 2010, so stop in or go on line and look at previous newsletters to retrieve an order form to mail in your purchase. Saturday, January 30, 2010 is the mid-winter conference in Laconia, registration time is 0800. Thursday, February 18, 2010 at our Post meeting will be first nominations for Post Officers. If you want to step up a notch and be part of a winning team, be present at this meeting. It’s my sad duty to report that Loukas “Luka” Coussoule has been called by our Supreme Commander, may his soul go marching on.

The Children’s Christmas Party was on Sunday, December 13, 2009 with visits from Santa for the 56 children that came by. There were lots of smiles, gifts and happy children. As always, the volunteers help make the events at the Post home memorable and fun for all. Thank you all for your help, Ladies Auxiliary, S.A.L. and Post, also Trevor, Deb and Moriah. I look forward to all of the other upcoming events with such a great American Legion Family.

Don’t Forget, beginning Sunday, January 3, 2010 and every Sunday following, we will have breakfast upstairs from 7am-12pm. The menu and prices are being worked on as you read this newsletter and will be posted as soon as possible. Al (Butch) LaFrenier has offered to cook and will be looking for a handful of volunteers to help him out. If you can spare some time on a Sunday to help, let Butch know. Mark your calendars, come down to eat or help out.

I would like to start by welcoming the following new members to the Frank E. Booma Post 6 family: Harold Curran, Gerald Schott, Kirk Dodson, Wally Hinton, Michael Uptegraff, Philip Labnon, Herbert Pineo Jr., Merle Straw, Roger Wise, Michael Rhodes, Randy Genier and Coleby Akins.

I want to inform any of our WWII veterans that did not get a letter from me about a program going on. Their is a organization called Honor Flight New England that takes WWII veterans to Washington, D.C. to the WWII memorial and others. This is a first come first served basis; there is no cost to the veteran at all. If you are interested in this, you may contact them at 6035185368 or honorflightnewengland.org for an application or you may contact me at 2072527532 and I can download an application for you and get it to you.

I want to remind all our delegates that the Midwinter Conference is on Saturday, January 30, 2010 in Laconia. The conference starts at 0900 with registration prior to that. There is a banquet after the conference. If you wish to attend, we have the form for requesting tickets for the banquet at the Post.

Our next E Board meeting is on Thursday January 7, 2010 at 1800 and our next Post meeting is on Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 1800. All members are welcome at any of our meetings.

We are doing well on membership for 2010 but we could be doing better, we still have many members that have not renewed. If you know of anyone that has not renewed please let them know.

Winter is here and I need to let everyone know that the Post policy on parking in our parking lots during storms. If you have to leave your vehicle in the parking lot overnight, park on the left side of the parking lot against the fence, no double parking and only first come first served. Thank you,

Our next Fish Fry will be Friday, February 5, 2010 from 4-7 p.m. THERE WILL NOT BE A FISH FRY ON Friday, January 1, 2010. Thank you for your loyalty and please continue to support us.

Ihope everyone had a very merry Christmas and the beginnings of a great New Year. The S.A.L. adopted two (2) families for Christmas. It was heartwarming to visit with them and help make their holidays brighter. Our next meeting is Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 6 p.m. I hope to see you there. ** Please note that the March meeting will held on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 instead of the regular meeting night Wednesday, March 17, 2010 so not to conflict with the St. Patrick’s Day Dinner. ** Till next time, be safe

I hope every one had a good Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Yer. If you have not paid your dues this will be your last news letter. We have supported two needed familie again this Christmas who were very happy for the assistance. Just to let you know that at our February meeting it will be first nominations for SAL officers for the 2010- 2011 we need more people to take interest in being an officer. Come to a meeting and get involved

BAND SCHEDULE

January 2nd – No Band

January 8th – Karaoke w/DJ Darlene

January 9th – Jen Thayer

January 16th – The Delrays

January 23rd – Downtown Rhythm

January 30th – Echo Tones

SURF & TURF SCHEDULE

January 2nd – Post

January 9th – S.A.L.

January 16th – Unit

January 23rd – Color Guard

January 30th - Grille

Happy New-Year! I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and a safe New-year! We have a great line-up this year for entertainment we have a lot of new bands as well as some of your favorites from last year. Jen Thayer Band is back by popular demand and is scheduled through out the year so watch your newsletters. We will be having a Super Bowl Party on Super Bowl Sunday with a buffet free to all members and their guest, so come on in and enjoy the game. Also a reminder - sales for bar tags will end Friday, January 15, 2010. So please if you have-not purchased yours, please do so. See the bartender for details or mail your check with the proper spelling of the name you want to Post 6 Attn: Sue Desper. We will be completing the bar soon after the closeout date. Once again I would like to thank the many volunteers for all your help last year as well as Carol Tuley; she's still at it donating her beautiful baskets for our occasions, thank you! Until next month stay warm and safe.

Thank you to Carol Tuley for donating the Christmas items for the Unit to raffle off. The winners were Austin “Nick” Nickerson, Tina Herron and Sheila Katsanos. Congratulations and thanks to everyone who took chances helping us to raise money for our scholarship program.

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and I wish you well in the year 2010. Please remember to note what you have been doing over the past year, and send it on to us so that we can show the Department and National Organizations how busy we, as members, have been. Drop me an e-mail with what you have been doing; we will sort it out onto the correct reports. Did you buy Girl Scout Cookies, Boy Scout Popcorn? Did you help a neighbor with something? Did you give a Veteran a ride to an appointment or cook him a meal? (family does not count.) Did you make a donation to a charity? Did you start flying a flag in your yard? Are you involved with any other charitable organization? Did you write or email your elected officials? Did you send items to our troops? All of these things and many more are reportable.

As of January 1, 2010, your 2009 membership card is no longer valid. Please be prepared to show your 2010 membership card when you come in the Post or to a meeting or have the $15.00 with you to pay the Auxiliary dues. If you have not paid your 2010 dues, I hope you do not have the Legion Insurance because it will lapse. National has let it be known that if you have the Insurance and DO NOT pay your membership in time for it to be processed on to National prior to January 1, 2010 it could take you as much as 3 months to get things straightened out so that you are covered again.

Would you like to do something fun on a Saturday afternoon? Come by the Legion at 96 Islington Street, bring a little money, about 3:00 PM. Join us at Surf N' Turf. There are many laughs to be had and great prizes to be won.

We have soda, juice or water for those that do not imbibe in alcohol. The money raised goes to worthwhile programs of the Organizations. The Auxiliary uses the money for Scholarships.

Have you got a little time on your hands? Are you a leader? At the March meeting of the Auxiliary we will be having nominations of Officers for the coming year. Please feel free to come to the meetings, listen, learn, join in, and get involved if you can. Our meetings are the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM with the exception of April which is held on the 3rd Thursday after close of the elections of the new Auxiliary Officers at 6:00 PM. During the winter months if the roads are icy or a storm is imminent call the post at 436-7575 to check to see if the meeting has been cancelled.