John F. Kennedy once said, "Ask not what your country can do for you but what can you do for your country". Now is the season to ask, "What can I do for a fellow veteran ".

I think the most important thing to a Veteran is to be recognized in some way. Just by merely speaking, perhaps a Christmas card in the mail or even better yet, go visit a fellow veteran. But in some way let’s not forget each other this Holiday Season.

Hope all who attended the Early Bird Bull and Oyster Roast had a wonderful time and a filling meal. What a fantastic event put on by Dan McDonald and crew. Thanks Dan. Another thanks to Dale Strait and crew for a great Veterans Day service at the Post. Also thanks to our Auxiliary and crew for a fine meal afterwards.

By the time you get this newsletter the holiday season will be well upon us, hope you all had a terrific Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends. If at the Post thank Ronnie and crew for a great meal.

As your Commander I attended several meetings at the County, District and Department level.

County: Anne Arundel County Council Meeting

10/13 – held at Post 40

Anne Arundel County Council Meeting

11/10 – held at Post 141

District: Southern Maryland District Meeting

10/19 – held at Post 276

Department: Executive Committee meeting (DEC)

11/16 - Rising Sun MD. – Post 194

December County Council Meeting will be held at Our Post 12/8/2003. Meeting is the second Monday of the month at 8:000pm. All Post members are welcome to attend.

As always,

Membership for 2004 is 539 as of 14 Nov, [86.9%] The Post goal is to be 100% by 1 Jan 04, we need only 81 more members to make goal. There are 102 members who paid last year who have not paid 2004. If you have not paid your 2004 dues please do so. If you know anyone who has not paid their 2004 dues please ask them to do so.

I have posted a "WANTED" list of members who have not paid their 2004 dues on the Post bulletin board. Check the names to see if you know anyone on that list and please remind them. Membership is everyone’s job.

If anyone is thinking about becoming a "Paid Up for Life" member [PUFL] now is the time to do it. January 1, 2004, the rate is going up.

Examples:

Age Group 55-59 cost now is $353.00. Effective January 1 the cost will be $427.00. Savings $74.00.

Age Group 60-64 cost now is $316.00. Effective January 1 the cost will be $367.00. Savings $51.00.

We have the PUFL applications here at the Post. If anyone is interested, see any Executive Board member or me. We have to have all applications processed by the Department before December 31, 2003. I would recommend you make application no later than December 15, 2003 to ensure the lesser rate.

Reminder. If dues are not paid by January 1 of each year, the member becomes delinquent. If dues are not paid by February 1, the member is suspended. Don’t let this happen.

If you did not attend the Early Bird Bull and Oyster Roast you missed a great time. The event was a sell out. As with all events it takes volunteers, here are the ones who helped to make this event happen: Buddy George, Jim Corkery, Andre Milot, Richard Bonnett, George Jamar, Rick Digby, Mike Herpel, Mike Helm, Dan Jordan, Roger Scarborough, John Fuller, Pat Rabeau, Barbara Smith, Pat Kloes, Gail Helm, Michele Jordan, Rosemary Gurick, Roni Goughenour, Paula Fuller, Keith Jordan, Jerry Heath, Dave McDonald, and the members of the Kennel Club and SAL who ran the Big Six Wheel.

Big THANKS from me. If you see any of the volunteers around the Post say thanks. I hope I didn’t miss anyone.

The Post is going to refurbish the cannon out front, hope to have the work done before spring. We will be looking for volunteers as the process moves along. See me if you would like to help.

The annual Charity Luncheon [formerly Round Table Luncheon] will be held on Thursday, December 11th from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Those donating 35 dollars or more will have the privilege of dining on a great selection of food and to enjoy an open bar with other generous souls who appreciate the program to provide food for ten (10) local needy families.

All amounts donated will be graciously accepted. However, attendance at the luncheon and open bar requires a minimum donation of $35.00. I am available to accept donations from you for this event. The bartenders in the Post lounge will also be accepting your donations. I will provide a receipt to all donors for tax deduction purposes.

I am inviting post members to donate food and deserts for this luncheon. Please contact me at 410-757-4983 or the post lounge at 410-544-2066 to offer any help in that regard. Thanks in advance.

Thanks to all who help make the post home a better place to be. The post events are usually managed and supported by a relatively small number of post members. They do an outstanding job for all of us.

Please try to find some time to help these members in the tasks in and around the post. Any help from you is truly appreciated.

You may want to consider spending New Years Eve with us at the Post celebration. Some Legion posts do not have a party. However, we have a party with two great bands for your pleasure! Designated drivers will be available to get you home safely if requested.

Have a safe and joyous holiday.

Adjutant

Thanks to all who attended and participated in the Veterans’ Day service at the Post Home. As long as our veterans are remembered, their sacrifices and service to the county will not have been in vain. Special thanks goes to the Auxiliary for providing the nice lunch following the ceremony.

Fellow Legionnaire George F. Peterson has been called to Post Everlasting since our last newsletter. Please remember him and his family in your prayers. A contribution in the memory of Comrade George was sent to the Visiting Nurse Association Hospice of Maryland. We received a nice thank you letter from the Hospice, which has been posted on the bulletin board inside the front entrance.

The next blood drive will be the third Monday in December, the 15th. Donated blood is especially important during the winter holidays when accidents go up and donors are in short supply. If you can’t give, perhaps a member of your family, friends, or business associates can. Every pint of blood given can benefit up to three people in need of life saving plasma, platelets, or serum. Please give the gift of life by signing up on the bulletin board near the front door. Give until it helps.

Comrade Francis "Pat" Leisenring is in the Genesis Rehab Facility on Truckhouse Road recovering from a broken hip. Pat is doing well, but would welcome anyone who stops by to say hello. Also, I understand Legionnaire Ed Sadowski is still having lots of problems with his knee replacement. He will be returning to the hospital for corrective work. Keep him and Pat and their families is your prayers.

Roma and I wish you and your families a most joyous and happy holiday season. Be sure to drive carefully into the new year.

Please let me know of anyone in the hospital or ill at home. Thanks.

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Congratulations to the Post for a wonderful Early Bird Bull and Oyster Roast! It was a large turnout and the food was excellent. Many thanks to everyone who helped.

Our new joint office for the AUX and SAL is coming along fine and should be finished soon. Thanks to the work of Larry Doran, his crew, and Mike and Gail Helm.

Upcoming events for the next two months are the Children’s Christmas Party on December 14^th; the Post-Aux-SAL Christmas Party on December 20^th; Breakfast on December 21^st; New Year’s Eve on December 31^st. In January, Breakfast on January 18^th and our next monthly meeting will be on Wednesday, January 28^th at 7:30PM. THERE WILL BE NO DECEMBER MEETING.

There will be a Valentine’s Day Dinner on February 14^th, a St. Patrick’s Day Dinner on March 13, the Children’s Easter Party on April 4, and the Texas Roundup on May 22^nd.

On Sunday, March 28^th, our Unit will be hosting the Southern Maryland District Meeting at our Post from 2 to 4PM. A luncheon will be served at 1PM before the meeting begins. All Auxiliary members are invited to attend this meeting.

We are planning to have an Initiation at the April meeting for those new members who have not received their Auxiliary pins. Betty Gentile and Rene Bachman will be organizing this ceremony.

Thank you for supporting our raffles and fundraisers. Many thanks go out to all who participated in the December Fundraiser. We won’t know the results until next year!

Many people do a lot for our organizations and I would like to thank some of them at this time. Kathy Beall for making our Window Raffle Signs; Jerry Heath for helping with hall cleanup after our events; Betty Todd for cleaning up at the Children’s parties; Dawn Weaverling for her donations of clothing for the Veterans in the hospitals; Sheila Sears for her donations of jewelry and other small items for the residents at Future Care where we hold our monthly Bingo; Jim Corkery for helping us with our computer programs. These are just a few. We appreciate your contributions.

A special Thank You to Paula Fuller and all the ladies who participated in Souper Sunday. The meals were enjoyed by all and we look forward to your return next football season.

The Holidays are upon us and the coming of the New Year, 2004. There is much work to be done before the administrative year is over. Please continue to support our programs, events, and fundraising efforts as our Veterans depend on all of us. Together we can make a difference!

Happy Birthday goes to all those who have had birthdays. Get Well Wishes to all who have been ill. Our condolences go out to the family of Paula Browning who passed away in October.

I would love to be informed of members that are ill or home bound so that I can send a card, visit, or give them a call. You can call me at home, leave a message at the Legion or with Pat Rabeau, or you can email me. My home phone number is (410) 315-8349, and my email address at home is almnsam@aol.com.

Peace and May God Bless Us All,

I hope my mailbox will be filled with membership renewals. It is our goal to have 100% renewing by December 31, 2003. Wouldn’t that be a feather in our caps! We have a lot of projects to cover in the Auxiliary and it really helps to have all of our ladies helping by continuing their membership and recruiting new members.

Our people in the military are doing all they can for us, so let’s do what we can for them and their families.

It’s great to welcome new members into our Unit. They are Joann Alexander, Sherry L. Frenette, and Virginia Speights. Any member who signs up a new member is eligible to receive a prize of $25.00.

Many thanks go to all who have paid their dues for 2004.

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Thank you to all those who baked or donated cakes for our cake wheel at the Early Bird Bull and Oyster Roast. There were thirty-three in all and many cash

donations. The proceeds from the wheel will be used for the Girls State Fund. Special thanks to Nancy McDonald for helping with the wheel.

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Well, once again a successful Kid’s Party! Our Halloween Party on October 26^th was a lot of fun for all. We had about twenty-seven children, all in costume.

I would like to thank all of our volunteers, especially Barbara Smith, Eric Smith, our favorite Pumpkin, Jim Corkery and our contest judges; Barbara Smith, John Wolke and Laura Weikert.

Special thanks to Mike Helm and Chuck Wolf for their balloon and magic act.

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the Children’s Christmas Party on December 14^th, 1-3PM. PLEASE SIGN UP YOUR CHILDREN NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 9, 2003 so Santa knows how many gifts to bring from the North Pole.

The Children’s Christmas Party Raffle will feature, among other things, tickets to the New Years Eve Party donated by the Commander—Thank You Buddy.

Volunteers and donations of gift-wrapping are needed to wrap the gifts. Please remember that attendance at Children’s parties is limited to children and grandchildren of Post Members only age ten and under. Any questions call Michele at 410-761-6781.

The Auxiliary’s annual Americanism Essay Contest is officially underway. Contest rules were hand delivered to all of our participating elementary and middle schools.

Students will convey their thoughts and feelings pertaining to America’s flag under the title, "Every Heart Beats True For the Red, White, and Blue—Old Glory". We look forward to an enthusiastic response from all that participate.

I wish to thank all the wonderful people who volunteered their delicious meals, and their time. It was delightful for me to watch and participate in Souper Sunday. Most of the football games we watched were a little more enjoyable because of you. We even managed to make a little money for our ongoing Auxiliary programs. Thank you Pat and Barbara for filling in for me when I was on vacation. We hope to have some winter time specials after the holidays. Please call me at 410-271-3394.

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The "Breakfast Crew" wants to wish all our friends and family a Merry Christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year. The "Crew" thinks you should take a break from the Christmas rush and join us for breakfast on Sunday, December 21^st. We guarantee when you leave---you’ll be full of a lot more than Holiday Spirit!!

We would also like to welcome our newest member to the "Breakfast Crew"—Jerry Heath.

Any questions call Pat Kloes at 410-647-3756.

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We hold bingo the 3^rd Monday of every month at Future Care Nursing Center at 7:00PM. Prizes and refreshments are truly appreciated. We can always use small items like lotions, powder, etc. Items for men are also needed. If you would like to join us, please call at 410-757-1540. Help is always needed and appreciated.

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My sincere thanks to everyone who participated, donated, or just bought tickets to the dinner. I know I have said thanks to certain people who helped me pull this off. But let me say it one more time. Thank you Mr. Commander (Buddy) and Richard Bonnett for your guidance and advice. Andre’ for the same and your donations too. I know you weren’t in the best of positions at the time. To Mike Clutz and his company for the donation of all the bread. To the SAL for their tickets and donation and to all of the wonderful people who bought tickets and /or gave to help our fellow comrade in his most desperate need. Thank you all for your support. But most of all; I want to thank my wife Paula for her support. Sometimes I forget to acknowledge how much she really is there for me. Thanks again.

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Ravens Roost #33, which meets at the Post, invites

Post members who are football fans to join the Roost. It is one of 50 Roosts that work together to promote football and local charities in addition to cheering for the Ravens. Roost members have fun watching the games, but we enjoy other activities throughout the year. We hold our annual convention in Ocean City. In February, members participate in a bull roast that is attended by Brian Billick and Ravens players. Membership dues are $15.00 per year plus a $15.00 Initiation fee. For more information, please call Dave Schultz at 410-757-5505 or Lil Ellis at 410-757-7924.

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Happy Hours

Very Happy Hours...Mon-Friday 4- 6 PM, Saturday 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM.

New!! New!! - Happy hour Club - New!! New!!

Donate a dollar a week and have a Happy Hour surprise on Wednesdays. See Kathy for details.

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Daily lunch items, usually a secret until that day, but always a pleasant treat to the taste buds. Often it’s a guarded /secret recipe. The lunch crowd is now nearly as big as the Friday night howlers.

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Executive Board meets last Monday of each month. [Dec. 29th – Jan. 26th] at 7:00 PM.

SAL Unit meets 2nd Tuesday of each month.

[Dec. 9th – Jan. 13th ] at 7:30 PM.

General membership meets 2^nd Wednesday of each month. [Dec. 10th – Jan. 14th ] at 7:30 PM.

Auxiliary Unit meets the 4th Wednesday of each month. [NO MEETING DEC. – Jan. 28th at 7:30 PM]

The Severn River Lions Club, a service organization, sells select Florida citrus each month from November through April. All proceeds of the sales go to charities and school scholarships. The club offers premium fruit shipped directly from the orchards to Severna Park. Ruby Red grapefruit is offered each month. In December navel oranges and tangerines are also available. In January, Temple oranges are offered. Frequently navel oranges are also available in January. Grapefruit costs $10 for a 2/5 bushel box and $18 for a 4/5 bushel box. Navel oranges run $11 for 2/5 bushel and $20 for 4/5 bushel. Cost of tangerines and Temple oranges is not yet available. If you are interested in enjoying some Florida sunshine right here in Severna Park this winter while contributing to charity, call Dale Strait at 410-987-4879. Thanks.

Phone #: __________________________________