THE FRANK E BOOMA POST 6

 NEWSLETTER

Founded 1919

OCTOBER 2006

 Commander -- Eugene "Gene" Bragg

COMMANDER’S MESSAGE

REMINDER: Voting for Senior Vice will be held at the next Post Meeting which will be on Thursday, 19 October @ 6:00 pm.  First nominations for Delegates to the 2007 State Convention will also be held on Thursday, 19 October @ 6:00 pm.  Please come out and support your Post and join us on every Monday & Tuesday in October from 4:00 pm to 1:00 am for Texas Hold-Em at the Scoreboard Lounge inside the Bowl-O-Rama on Lafayette Road.

Lastly, just as another note of reminder, because sometimes we all forget....  We as America's veterans shed the blood that flows through this country to make it what it is today. So many times, in so many places, when the freedoms we know and love were threatened, we risked our lives in many ways, in various jobs, no task too small to take on in many places throughout the world like   Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Iraq (and many other places, none to small to oversight, but the list of where and how we served would certainly be endless). Because we served we live free and our children and grandchild live in freedom. We should be grateful to each other’s service and in such, we should treat each other that way. The Auxiliary consists of the women who waited patiently at home for our return from long deployments. They are our mothers, wives and sometimes sisters, daughters and grandmothers whose fight was different, but they nevertheless fought to keep our homes going on while we were away, no matter how long or short a period that may have been. The Sons are those males who are the offspring of those who fought. Have you forgotten the importance of being a Legionnaire? Have you forgotten to support our Programs? Have WE forgotten that we are a family? Come to your Post meetings, you served to have the freedom to do so. Treat your fellow Post members with courtesy and respect - we served to have that freedom. We as American Veterans, both men and women who served honorably, should serve our Legion with the same honor. (Hope to see you at the Post Meeting and sometime during the month of October at our Texas Hold-Em!) For God & Country

 Eugene (Gene) Bragg, Post Commander

ADJUTANT’S MESSAGE

First I want to apologize to your for printing the Post newsletter late this last two months.  July and August are two very busy month for Post adjutants.  Second if it is taken a long time in receiving your 2007 membership card, it is because I am in the process of making out “Continuous Member Certificates” along with the 2007 membership cards to those members who are eligible.  These certificates are to be given for every five years of continuous membership starting with the first five years.  So please bear with me.  At present our membership for 2006 stands at 91%.  Another reminder Post membership dues will be increased to $25.00 starting January 10, 2007. 

ARTICLE IV

DISCIPLINE OF POST AND POST MEMBER

Section 1  - A member whose dues for the current year have not been paid by January 1st shall be classed as delinquent.  If his or her dues are paid on or before February 1st, he or she shall be automatically reinstated.  If he or she is still delinquent after February 1st, he or she shall be suspended from all privileges.  If he or she is still under suspension June 30th of such year, his or her membership in the American Legion shall be forfeited.  A member so suspended or whose membership has been so forfeited may be reinstated to active membership in good standing by vote of the Post and payment of current dues for the year, which the reinstatement occurs.  Provided, however, that the Posts, Departments, and the National Organization may waive the provisions hereof, upon payment of dues for the year in which reinstatement occurs, with reference to former members who have been prevented from the payment of dues by reasons of active military service.

To the Post officers, please check your mailboxes regularly as I am putting informative material in your mailboxes that can help you perform your duties as a Post officer.  I have returned from The American Legion National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.  It was somewhat warm.  Daily temperatures ranged between 95-102 degrees but it rained a little… once!  I brought back what I feel is some very useful information for the membership.  So to all the members – Post, Auxiliary and SAL take a little time and check the table inside the front entrance of the post home.  There might be some information there that could be beneficial to you and or members of your family.

 George McCall, Post Adjutant

 JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER’S MESSAGE

Well, this is a little late but I would like to thank everyone who helped at the Children’s Outing.  It was a great day and the kids had a ball.  The Adult Outing was last week and it went off without a hitch.  Great steak, corn, baked potatoes and all the fixings.  I would like to thank Ken Newpoart for the use of his truck, Joy Allen for the use of her truck.  Janice Brown did a splendid job at the Barbeque, her husband Russell Brown, John Wilkerson, Matt Karlson, and Drew Hogan.  With this small group an amazing job was achieved.  George McCall is the man as DJ.  A good time was had by all. Yours in service.

 Bob Fredette, Post Junior Vice Commander

 SERGEANT-AT-ARMS’ MESSAGE

The Post Color Guard will be holding its monthly Fish Fry on Friday, October 6, 2006 from 4 - 7 p.m.

 Dan Yoder, Sergeant-At-Arms

SURF & TURF SCHEDULE

October 7th -Post

October 14th – S.A.L.

October 21st – Unit

October 28th – Post

 SERVICE OFFICER’S MESSAGE

FY 2007 VA APPROPRIATIONS – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mission is to serve American Veterans and their families as their principal advocate in ensuring they receive the care, support and the recognition they are earned in service to the nation.  The VA’s operating units include the Veterans Benefit Administration, Veterans Health Administration, National Cemetery Administration, and staff support offices.  The American Legion’s request is about $800 Million above the House and Senate Committees request for total medical care dollars.  However, The American Legion opposes offsetting the discretionary appropriations by third-part reimbursements; therefore the difference is closer to $3.1 Billion.  In medical and prosthetic research, The American Legion’s request is $57 Million more than the House and Senate Committees.

 Merton Mobbs, Post Service Officer

 SQUADRON COMMANDER’S MESSAGE

We had our first meeting September 20th after our summer recess.  The turnout was light but we accomplished a lot.  I would like to thank all the Squadron members who helped out over the summer at the various Post events.  We will be running the Surf & Turf every 2nd Saturday of the month.  Please come by and support us.  We will be doing the Haunted House again this year.  Please contact a Squadron officer, or myself if you can help setup, break down or work the house.  Our next meeting is Wednesday, October 13, 2006 at 6 p.m.  Hope to see you there.

Drew Hogan, SAL Commander

PAST COMMANDER'S MESSAGE

 I want to congratulate the Legion baseball team for coming in 3rd in the State Tournament this year. They had a good year and all of us enjoyed their enthusiasm. I also would like to thank the faithful fans from the Post, Unit and Squadron. Shirley Calvert as always, Sheila Brooks, Ken Newport, Bob Prendergast, Rick O'Brien and George McCall. We also had a good turnout of members for the Tournament in Manchester. I also want to congratulate the Portsmouth Little League team for the success they have had in the regionals as well as the Little League World Series. We are sponsors of two Little League teams in the City and I look forward to some of these players playing for the Post in the future. I apologize for not being around much so far this year but I have been working a lot of hours and weekends. I hope to be more available to help with things in the next few months as things slow down at work.

 Richard "Brooksie" Brooks, Past Commander

SQUADRON ADJUTANT’S MESSAGE

I hope everyone enjoyed the Adult outing and had a good summer.  Our meeting is the 3rd Wednesday of each month.  I hope that more members will attend.  The next meeting will be October 18, 2006 at 6 p.m.  At the next meeting we will be nominating delegates for the 2007 State Convention.  Upcoming events for SAL are the Halloween Party in October, Thanksgiving Dinner in November, the Children’s Christmas Party and we going to adopt a family for Christmas.  SAL is still doing Surf & Turf the 2nd Saturday of each month.  We are always looking for people to help us out so that the same people do not have to do it ever month.  Our 2007 SAL dues cards are in.  You need to have your new card by December 31, 2006.  Get your card now before the holidays and you forget.  Get your card now and be an Early Bird.

Bob Prendergast, SAL Adjutant

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Hi Ladies – Hope you have all had a wonderful summer.  As usual the Auxiliary was busy working for our veterans and families and our programs.  Our first unit meeting was September 14, 2006.  It was very successful.  We have lots of things planned for the rest of this year.  Our unit meetings are the 2nd Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.  Won’t you come and join us so we can get your input on ideas!  Our monthly dinners are going well.  They are the 3rd Friday of each month form 5-7 p.m.  We are always looking for volunteers.  Our Children’s Halloween Party is this month.  Shirley Williams, Trish Buckman and others have been planning for some time now.  It should be lots of fun.   If you are interested in coming to one of the District meetings, the next one will be Friday, October 12, 2006 in Kensington at 7:30 p.m.  I know that our Department President Karyl Horn would love to see you there.  My thanks to all who have spent the summer helping me to better serve our veterans, their families, our communities and our country.  Remember ladies… All for one, one for all, together we stand, divided we fall.  Yours in friendship and service.

 Ella Studrance, Unit President

AUXILIARY NEWS

Please join us for some Halloween fun on Sunday, October 22, 2006 from 1:30 –3:30 p.m. for ages 0-10 years.  We will have a great time making Halloween treats.  We will also be having a Halloween Costume Contest for Scary, Creative and Best Costume.  We will bob for apples, play musical chairs and serve light refreshments.  Hope to see you there.  All help is needed and greatly appreciated.

 Shirley Williams & Trish Buckman, Unit Children & Youth Co-Chairmen

 Thanks go out to all who have helped with the Surf & Turf for the Auxiliary.  Especially to Ken Newport who helped me get everything going in the right direction and to all the members who played.

 Shirley Calvert, Coordinator

 For the month of September, I am looking for bottles of dandruff shampoo to donate to the VAMC in Manchester. Please no conditioner, they have plenty. Look for the box located in the Grille near the bathrooms.

 Mariann Perreault, Unit VA & R Chairman

 AUXILIARY MEMBERSHIP

Ladies  - I would like to THANK all Unit 6 members who have paid their 2007 dues.  Remember we are trying for 100% for our Department President Karyl Horn.  As you know she is from our Unit.  So Ladies, please keep those dues coming.

 Shirley Calvert, Unit Membership Chairman