The month of March is always in turmoil - cold one day, warm the next; rain, snow, wind - you name it.
Well, Legion membership is in the same boat this March; paid membership is down across the board - from the Post level to County, to District, to Department and finally to National. The American Legion as an organization lost 39,092 members from 2007 to 2008. 10th District is down 1,517 members for that same period of time. To survive as an organization, membership is vital!
Yes, I know you've heard this before. I too have listened to membership woes since I joined. Sadly, the truth is we (at Massillon Post 221) do have a problem; like all posts we are losing an increased number of members to death. In order to reach our post goal we must succeed at retaining current members as well as recruiting new members. We need to do it better - it has to be done. Dues paying members give us the ability (both financially and in manpower) to work the programs so important to our veterans and our community.
Let me show you what the numbers are as of February 11, 2009: Post 221 is at 87.6% of their goal, Stark County at 88.8%, 10th District at 90.0%, Department of Ohio at 95.2%, and National (all the United States and some foreign countries) at 90.8%.
Annual dues should be paid by January 1st each year and you are considered delinquent if still unpaid by January 31st. Each Post has until June 1st to turn in membership toward their goal and make quota.
There will be a Department membership roundup from March 31st through April 3rd. Representatives from the Department of Ohio will be stopping at Post 221 on March 31st to pick up membership for our District. If you have not yet renewed your Legion dues I ask you to do so on or before March 31st. If you have any suggestions for bringing in new members, or would like to meet representatives from 10th District or the Department of Ohio you are certainly welcome to be at the Post on the 31st by 6:30pm.
In closing, let me remind you to mark your calendar for Saturday, March 21st - this is the date we celebrate the American Legion Birthday with a dinner (free) to all members of the Post 221 Legion Family. Our guest speaker for the evening will be Department of Ohio Commander Bob Kimball.
Thanks for reading my sermon.
1st Vice Commander
Did you know that Post 221 has a huge 45-star American Flag, which was flown during the terms of Presidents Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt? (1896 to 1912). Then one star was added for the admission of Oklahoma in 1912. President William Taft was the only president to serve under this flag.
There is still time to pay your 2009 Post dues
If you want to donate items to be sent to our servicemen, you still can. Leave items in the blue room at the Post. Thanks.
Serving Our Country
Sgt. John Flesher
E Co 1 145 AR Regt
Unit # 31530/MFO 52
APO AE 09833
PFC Lawrence Rickerson
C Company 2/12 CAV
4 BCP 1 CD
AO AE 09331
Sgt. Joseph Makan
1-145
31530 MFO 52
APO AE 09533
Remember 9-11-2001
-Bill Matthews, 1st Vice Commander
S.A.L. News for March
As of this writing, there are quite a few members who have not renewed their membership for 2009. If you have not sent in your dues, please do so today. Remember, most of your dues go to S.A.L. and American Legion charities.
Our trip to Rising Sun is scheduled for May 3rd and 4th. At this time, it is full. If you want to go, make sure you are on the back-up list in case we have any cancellations.
Squad 221 has a raffle for a 32" Vizio LCD HDTV. The tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased in the tavern or from any squadron member. The drawing will be on Memorial Day. You need not be present to win. Only 250 tickets will be sold.
Welcome new member Brendon Moore. Our next squadron meeting will be March 11, 2009 at 7pm.
-Bob Lunsford, S.A.L. Commander
Auxiliary President
CONGRATULATIONS to our Unit Secretary Jan Stevenson on her nomination for 10th District President. With our help and support, along with her VA background and deep appreciation of our veterans, she will make a prime candidate. We hope you join us in showing Jan your support and best wishes.
I would like to thank all of you who took a chance on our Valentine's Day Basket. We appreciate your support. Congratulations to the lucky winner - Al (from Canton), I hope your wife was surprised and enjoyed her basket.
Finally, a hint of spring is in the air. Soon the trees will start to bud, the flowers will begin to bloom and our activities will begin to increase. We hope to see you at our Regular Meeting March 3rd at 7pm to discuss upcoming events; we are always open to fewsh ideas. Also, please consider attending the Auxiliary Executive Board meeting ~ March 17 at 7pm ~ we plan to stuff and label the Poppy letters and we could use your help. Thank you in advance.
-Gail Miller, Auxiliary President
Take a Moment To Thank a Veteran
When you see someone in a uniform
Someone who serves us all,
Doing military duty,
Answering their country's call,
Take a moment to thank them
For protecting what you hold dear;
Tell them that you are proud of them;
Make it very clear.
Just tap them on the shoulder,
Give a smile and say,
"Thanks for what you're doing;
To keep us safe in the USA!"
By Joanna Fuchs
John Tsocheff Memorial Museum and Library - March 2009
From Dan Webber: One large 256 page book titled; "A Day in the Life of the United States Armed Forces", forward by Walter Cronkite. On October 22, 2002, more than 125 photographers set out on a unique mission all over the globe. All of the pictures are taken in a 24 hour picture and story day. Ask to see it! Also, Danny Webber has has been very much appreciated by Post 221 through the years. He has turned in twenty three certificates, some were framed. KI do not have room to hang them so they will be placed in one booklet for all to see. What do you say to make March 2009 "Danny Webber" month?
DID YOU KNOW? Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments may be available for surviving spouses who have not remarried, unmarried children under 18, helpless children between 18 and 23, if attending a VA approved school, and low income parents of deceased service members or veterans. For survivors to be eligible, the deceased veteran must have died from: (1) a disease or injury incurrede or aggravated while on active duty or active duty for training, (2) an injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty while on active duty training, (3) a disability compensable by VA; death cannot be the result of the veterans willful misconduct. If a spouse remarries, eligibility for benefits may be restored by death, annulment, or divorce.
-John Tsocheff, Historian
Proposed Amendment to Post 221 Constitution & By-Laws
If we do not find ways to reduce the increasing costs that we are facing here at Massillon Post 221, in a matter of two years we will have to shut our doors. (Example - Gas & electric - over $30,000/00 this past year.)
A planning committee has been formed to come up with ideas on what needs to be done so that Post 221 can survive. The first suggestion at the committee's first meeting was that we must get out of this gigantic building we are now in. There were different ideas on this subject that will be discussed at regular meetings and special meetings.
To begin to immediately reduce expenses, it was recommended that we close down the second floor except for Bingo and profitable rentals.
Therefore, we must change the day and location of our regular membership meetings from the first and third Tuesdays to one meeting on the second Tuesday. The executive board meeting must be changed to the fourth Tuesday. These meetings would then be held in the lower dining room. To do this we must ament part of Article IX, section 3 of our Constitution which now reads [The Post Executive shall meet on the second Tuesday of each month and may hold special meetings as necessary for the conduct of business.] This proposed amendment would change the word second to fourth.
We must also amend part of Article II, section 1 of our By-Laws which now reads [Regular meetings of this Post shall be held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month commencing at 7:00 P.M. local time.] This proposed amendment would change the words first and third to second.
*** AMENDMENTS to the Constitution and By-Laws of Massillon Post 221 to be voted on at the Regular Meetong on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 ***
-Jack L. Bigler, Finance Officer
February Tavern News
ATTENTION MEMBERS! YOU MUST HAVE YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD WITH YOU TO BE SERVED ALCOHOL, NO EXCEPTIONS! NO CARD - NO SERVICE - THE LEGION IS A NON-SMOKING FACILITY
| HOURS: SUNDAY |
11 A.M. TILL 11 P.M. |
| MONDAY-THURSDAY |
12 P.M. TILL 12 A.M. |
| FRIDAY-SATURDAY |
12 P.M. TILL 1 A.M. |
| HAPPY HOUR - MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY |
4-6 P.M. |
| FRIDAY FISH FRY |
4-8 P.M. |
| FRIDAY SPECIAL: CHICKEN BREAST W/MUSHROOM GRAVY |
|
WEDNESDAY SPECIALS FOR MARCH
| MAR 4 |
- |
BAKED STEAK W/ONION & PEPERS, BAKED POTATO, SALAD |
| MAR 11 |
- |
MEAT LOAF, MASHED POTATOES, SALAD |
| MAR 18 |
- |
HAMBURG, FRESH CUT FRIES, SALAD |
| MAR 25 |
- |
LASAGNA, GARLIC BREAD, FRUIT, SALAD |
TUESDAY MARCH 17 "ST. PATRICK'S DAY"
CORNED BEEF, CABBAGE AND POTATOES - STARTING AT 4 P.M. UNTIL IT IS GONE
EVERY MONDAY - 4PM-8PM
CONEY W/ GRILLED BUN AND FRENCH FRIES $2.50
XTRA CONEY $1.00 - SORRY NO TAKE HOME
THURSDAY: WING DINGS 25 CENTS FROM 3 P.M. - 7 P.M.
(MINIMUM ORDER OF 6/TO GO REGULAR PRICE)
SUNDAY SPECIAL - "12 OZ MUG OF DRAFT" $1.00 - 3 P.M. TO 7 P.M.
22 OZ DRAFT - $1.75
NEW!! BUD LIGHT ON TAP
FOOD AVAILABLE MONDAY - THURSDAY AND SATURDAY NOON - 8 P.M.
FRYER FOOD AVAILABLE STARTING AT 2 P.M. MON-SAT
Bob, Dixie, Mike, Deb, Alice, Denise, Char, Vickie, Smiley, Cheryl, David, Brandon, Michael, Justin, Merrie Ann, and Dan
