American Legion
Post 305

Citizens Flag Alliance

The Post 305 Bugle

March 2007

Volume 3, Issue 2

COMMANDER'S CORNER

In January the Post entered Lauren van der Dys from the Woodlands College Park H.S. as a contestant in the District 7 Oratorical Contest. Lauren won that contest and received a $100 scholarship from the Post as well as a $250 scholarship from the District. In the Division contest she placed second and will be an alternate to represent the 2d Division at the State Contest on February 19.

The first weekend in February was the State’s Mid-Winter Conference in Austin. Five members from the post attended and took part in workshops designed to help us in our jobs of running the Post. The highlight of the meeting was a class on the course presented by the American Legion Extension Institute. The primary purpose of the Institute is to make available to all Legionnaires a complete course on the historical background of The American Legion, its programs, policies, development, progress, and future goals. The course is a home study and can be completed by any Legionnaire by ordering the books through Emblem Sales Catalogue for $10.

March is a preparation month for the Post Rummage Sale that will be on April 21st with a set-up day on the 20th. Also the District Convention will be held on April 21 and 22. During that Convention, the 7th District will elect a new Commander who will serve for the next two year. The Post will have over 14 votes to cast during the election and should have a delegate for each vote. If you would like to attend, let us know at the March meeting as we will elect or appoint delegated then. The meeting is at the Porter Post 615.

Also at the March meeting, the refreshment after the meeting will be Cincinnati Skyline Chili. If you have never had this type chili you won’t want to miss it.

Elections for Officers for the 2007-2008 year will be in May. Nominating Committee is at work preparing nominations to be submitted to the membership in April. If you are interested in running for office, contact Dutch Dettinger at bdetti6419@aol.com and let him know.

For God and Country,

Jim Bolin

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

At our January meeting we found out that we had achieved our membership goal for the year. We also voted to spend $75 to place an ad in the interfaith directory for The Woodlands. January was also the meeting at which we have our Chili Cook-off. There were seven entries and the winner was, Mickey Fussel who won with a chili made with venison.

At our February meeting we voted to fund five boys to Boy’s State instead of the three in the budget. We also voted to buy JROTC medals for award to selected members of The Woodlands H.S. new JROTC program. We also recognized our Legionnaire of the Year, Pickens Jones.

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The Children and Youth Committee shall be charged with aid and service to children of veterans, cooperating with other established agencies in the community; laboring for the betterment of child conditions and in coordinating services and agencies in the community for the above purposes. To act as intermediary for the needy child of a veteran in obtaining the fulfillment of the Legion’s pledge that “no child of a war veteran shall be in need of the necessities of life” and “a square deal for every child.”

MEMBERSHIP

We have 347 members for the year 2007 signed up. That is more than our goal of 317, and means that we have reached an All Time High in membership for the 6th straight year. As great as that is, we still have almost 200 members from last year that have not renewed. We need you. Send in your membership now.

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VETERANS ADVOCATE

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS:

Department of Veterans Affairs -- 1-800- 827
Houston VA Regional Center 1-713- 383-7842
Montgomery County Veterans Service Office 1-936-539-7842
Your Legislators (Toll Free) 1-877-762- 8762-----1-866-272-6621-----1-888-762- 8760

President's Proposed 2008 Budget:  The DAV and the PVA both see some flaws in the President’s proposed 2008 budget. Mainly they see a problem with increasing the co-pay for VA drugs from $8.00 to $15.00 per prescription: Doctor’s co-pays and enrollment fees of $250.00 to $750.00 per year for some military retirees. This would mean veterans and military retirees would pay $1.9 billion of their own health care costs to help pay for the Middle East war. They also voice concerns that the government cannot guarantee that the VA will receive its funding at the beginning of each fiscal year (1 October).
MY OPINION: I think “some flaws” is putting it mildly. Its mid February now and the 2007 budget still hasn’t been approved. Very seldom is it ever approved prior to the start of the fiscal year. The answer is easy. A set amount for VA and Military health care automatically in the annual budget, with alterations later if needed. Just like how Medicare funds are appropriated. It’s just too simple an answer for the government. President Bush has proposed in the 2008 budget to increase annual Medicare fees again, depending on your annual income. He wants the veterans and the elderly to pay for the war and their own health care, but give the rich more tax breaks. I guess this is how we can get rid of a $300 billion deficit so easy. On the backs of those with the least.

Proposed Change to Military Retiree's Medical Liability Costs:  The Bobbsey twins, DOD’s Dr Chu, Undersecretary for Personnel and Readiness and Dr Winkenwerder, Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs, are still pushing for a change in military retiree health care, namely that some military retiree’s pay larger fees for their drugs, doctor’s co-pays and annual enrollment fees. Their claim is that the government is paying out too much in annual Military Health Care costs ($1.9 billion) and they can’t afford to fight the war unless changes are made. They recommend changing or doing away with the TriCare and the Medicare health care systems as they are today.
MY OPINION: These are Rumsfeld trained men and they have been recommending this plan since the war began. The younger veterans of today’s Armed Forces better take heed and be concerned about their health care (we weren’t, and look what happened). These two government employees will be around DC for years to come, just like Cheney and Rumsfeld, and I think that’s frightening!!!

Dutch Dettinger, Veteran's Advocate
The American Legion

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SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

By separate email, I sent you a review of what the Executive Committee has been discussing for the past several months. It was entitled “What do we want to be?” I have not been overwhelmed with feedback. If you haven’t participated yet, do it while you think of it, now. Send it to me by email. My email is: jpb20006@sbcglobal.net. Let me know.

Jim Bolin

POST'S POLICY

A Blue Star Banner has come to mean that the household where it is displayed is the home of a serving military member. The Post will present a cloth Blue Star Banner to a member of the Post who has a family member serving in the military. We will provide you with a paper Blue Star Banner that you can present to a family who has a son or daughter serving in the military.

We will be looking for a person to become our contact with the mail order location where we order all the emblems and other Legion particular items. That person will become the order taker for those items, will have a copy of the Emblem Sales Catalog at all meetings, and will help you to order what you want from the catalog.

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• LOST at the membership meeting on Feb. 15, a watch belong to Joe Watz. Any one having any information about the watch please let me know and I’ll put you in contact with Joe.
• WANTED: Someone to step up and volunteer to be the Emblem Sales Person and relieve the Adjutant of this job.
• WANTED: Anyone who would like to help out at any funerals, please contact the Chaplain, Warren Gartman.
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to lack of funds, future issues of the Bugle will be distributed by email, except for the April issue which will be announcing the elections in May to the entire mailing list. If you know anyone who gets the Bugle by mail and not by email, please share this information.

POST ACTIVITIES

• March 2007 in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• January 2007 (as a web page) - January 2007 Newsletter in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

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

• 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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