American Legion
Post 305

Citizens Flag Alliance

The Post 305 Bugle

October 2006

Volume 2, Issue 8

COMMANDER'S CORNER

Next month’s meeting [October] will be a Picnic at the Shadow Bend Park. The entrance to the park is just West of the corner of Lake Woodlands and Gosling. The menu is Bratwurst, Hot Dogs, Burgers, sweets and more. Drinks will be soda, real beer, and what you may bring for yourself (in plastic containers please). Time is 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. A short meeting will begin the festivities followed by comradeship. Don’t miss this opportunity to get to know your fellow Legionnaires better. Dave Lips is the big kahuna with help from Chuck Suhr. Call Dave or me if you have any questions.

Both State and National have found it necessary to increase the dues they receive from the Post. The last increase in 1999 was for $2.50, and the Post did not pass that along to the membership. The amount of the $25 that the Post retains from the dues dropped to $5.00. This time the increase is $1.50 from State and $4.50 from national. The Post now must send $26.00 on to State for each member. Since the dues make up about 22.5% of our budget, we are unable to absorb this increase. The members at the September meeting voted to keep the amount of money the Post retains from the dues to $5.00 (not increasing the Post’s share of the dues). However, the increase from State and National must be added to the $25 to make the dues $31, effective December 31, 2006. Although this is a distasteful action at every level, I can understand that it is necessary due to the increase in the cost of living since 1999. The Good News is that until after December 31, 2006 you can still get your membership for 2007 at the old rate of $25. Also, the Paid Up For Life rates have not been raised. If you haven’t looked at this option you might reconsider in light of the current increase, and those to come.

For God and Country, Jim Bolin

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MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Dave Lips reported that we received $2,241.30 from the Birdies for Charity fundraiser. According to our policy, we put 25% of the money into the current account and 75% of the money into allocated funds for the eventual purchase of a Post Home.

Chuck Suhr reminded us of the rummage sale on October 21st, and passed out sign up sheets for volunteer help on Friday Oct. 20 from 12 to 4 p.m. and workers on Saturday Oct 21st from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you didn’t sign up and can help, come on down. If you have something you would like to contribute, bring it to Robinson Road during the above times.

Dave Lips asked for volunteers to cook at the Picnic next meeting.

The Post passed a budget for July 2006 to June 2007. We’re just like Congress. Can’t get it done on time. The expected income is $7,530, and the expected expenses are $7,241. That, as you can see doesn’t give us a lot of wiggle room. So help with fundraising if you can. Remember the cash for your Junk Mail paid by Advantage Mailing.

We also voted to increase the dues as indicated above.

We appointed delegates to the District Meeting on October 14th at Camilla Post.

We deferred action on the election and changes to the Constitution and by-laws to further study the changes to the C&BL.

Agreed to celebrate Veteran’s Day on Nov. 10th at the Jr. ROTC Review at Moorhead Stadium, Conroe. Car pool will leave at 8 a.m. from Advantage Mailing. Anyone wishing to ride to the ceremony should show up there before 8 a.m.

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The American Legion has National Security policies in the areas of Aerospace, Energy, Merchant Marine, Defense Civil Preparedness, Law and Order, and Military and Naval Affairs. Implementation of these policies is accomplished through legislative action and coordination with the Department of Defense, Military Services and other agencies.

MEMBERSHIP

Brad Wall reported that we have received membership renewals for 226 members. Hopefully, the remaining members will take advantage of the grand fathered rate of $25 and get their renewals sent in before the December 31st deadline for the increase.

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VETERANS ADVOCATE

At the meeting, Dutch Dettinger spoke about the proposed cut in compensation to Medicare Providers. He noted that in some cases, the doctor who is treating you might drop out of Medicare because of this cut. In that case, you would become liable for the entire bill. Also if you were using Tricare as a second provider, Tricare would not pay if Medicare did not pay. He recommended that you call you current Medicare Provider and ask them what they intend to do should the proposed cut become law. According to Dutch’s conversation with Congressman Brady, Congressman Brady believes the cut will become law.

Dutch Dettinger, Veteran's Advocate
The American Legion

MORE AWARDS

At our June meeting we gave length of service pins to those members of the Post who regularly attend membership meetings. There are some members whose longevity provides an excuse why they may not be attending meetings and the Post believes that they should also be awarded pins and certificates for their long and loyal service. They are: Thomas E. Hauser – 40 years, Margaret Brown Horan – 67 years, Errett L. Montgomery – 55 years, Jack Share – 60 years, and Clarence E. Thompson – 57 years. Thanks for your support.

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WASHINGTON REPORT

Defense Appropriations Bill Agreement Reached
The House and Senate agreed on Thursday to a final version of H.R. 5631, the Defense Appropriations bill. Acceding to reported pressure from the White House to limit any cuts in the President's request, the final amount of $447.4 billion includes $70 billion in emergency supplemental spending for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally the bill includes a continuing resolution that will fund programs in bills not completed by the start of the new fiscal year on October 1. This measure, known as a stop-gap, will fund those programs at their 2006 levels through November 17. The conference report is expected to be completed on Monday, September 25, and debate should begin in both the House and Senate reportedly by the 27th. Work Continues on the 2007 Defense Authorization Bill.

While information on progress in the conference remains tightly held, we understand that the steep increase in TRICARE fees proposed by DoD has been rejected. However, it is reported that language dealing with pharmacy issues remains under negotiation. As NAUS readers know, the House bill contains a provision to increase pharmacy costs from $3 to $6 for generic drugs and from $9 to $16 for brand name. The Senate language would keep copays at current levels. (See NAUS related article on Wal-Mart pricing initiative begun this week in Florida.)

Also at stake in the conference is advance on the SBP/DIC offset, military pay raises, concurrent receipt changes and a number of other issues important to NAUS and our members. Though most of the bill apparently has already been settled, we invite you to use our legislative alert system to send additional messages to your Representative and Senators. Nothing is finished until the conference report is filed.

Conversation with conferees and congressional staff also indicate that the House provision on providing postal assistance to families with loved ones overseas may not make the final cut. The provision would help families and friends with troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan get limited free mail privileges to send letters and care packages to those defending our freedom.

Evidently, the DoD and the Senate think there is a possibility that the free postage could result in transportation complications due to the upswing in mail that would result from the proposal. All we know is that a letter or package from home is always appreciated by troops stationed overseas, lifting morale and bringing a welcomed reminder of home.

Jim Bolin

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POST ACTIVITIES

• September 2006 (as a web page) - September 2006 Newsletter in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• August 2006 (as a web page)

• July 2006 (as a web page) - July 2006 Newsletter in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• May 2006 (as a web page)

• April 2006 (as a web page) - April 2006 Newsletter in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• March 2006 Newsletter (as a web page) -- Click here to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• February 2006 Newsletter (as a web page) -- Click here to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• January 2006 Newsletter (as a web page) -- Click here to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• December 2005 Newsletter (as a web page)

• November 2005 Newsletter (as a web page)

• August 2005 Newsletter (in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format)

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