THE AMERICAN LEGION WILLIAM E. BLAIR POST 95 P.O. BOX 9093 EAST RIDGE, TN 37412

Let me welcome you to the new Millennium!  I would like to thank all the Legionnaires, Auxiliary, SALS, and our Band for making our Christmas activities, and our New Year’s Eve Party a great success!  It takes everybody working together to make it happen.  Congratulations. I would like to remind everyone that we will not have our regular monthly meeting this month, due to the Mid Winter conference being held the same weekend, Jan 21 - 23.  Our next regular meeting will be February 18, 2000.

We now have a copy of the 1999 Federal Benefits manual for Veterans and Dependents.  This has new and updated information.  You are welcome to review this manual at the Post, but it can not be taken home.  Please see Bob Owen, Service Officer.

The Third District Meeting will be on Saturday, Jan 8 at Tracy City, Post 74. This is the annual Coon Supper.  Dinner at 6:00 CST, and the cost is $5 per person.  Plan on attending.

Check the entertainment out for this month.  Steve Hemstreet did a good job in getting the ones that you like.  So, come on out.

For God and Country,

Jim Ratcliffe, Commander

I know that you are all getting tired of hearing from me on membership.  With the end of the year, we have 1,015 members signed up or renewed for the year 2000.  That is 74% of our goal of 1,367.  We are 32 members short of being at an all time high at Post 95.  Jan 1, 2000, we will be changing the Key card lock.  You must have a 2000 membership card to receive your new Key card.  You may pay your dues that day.  Let’s all work together and reach our goal.

Cathy Brown, Adjutant

There will be no monthly membership meeting for January. Members are urged to attend the Mid Winter Conference at Kingsport Jan. 21-23.

And the Third District Coon Supper will be at Tracy City Jan. 8.

Prayer:  Philippians 4:13.  I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me.

We must keep these members in our prayers:  Bob Doss, Bob Gentry, Allen Brooks, Bob Nettles, John Harwell, Don Waters, Ralph Hardeman, Bill Curr, and Everett Mitchel.

Let us remember these members in the Post Everlasting:  John North, Jr., George Joyce, and John Underdown.

Larry Wirth, Chaplain 855-5824

My News Year Wish is that I would like to see some of our younger men, say some of the SALS and others to form a Volunteer Pallbearer’s team.  Our Honor Guard cannot handle both jobs.  The fact is I estimate over 50% of our Veteran’s of World War II have bad backs and/or other health problems.  We have a Standard Operating Procedure Rule that we don’t furnish the Pallbearers.  It conflicts with the Military Funeral orders at the cemetery to show respect for the Veteran who has served this great Nation.  Have a great 2000!

Ralph C. Wilson

Honor Guard Commander

The Auxiliary would like to thank the American Legion for the wonderful Christmas Dinner and also thank the ones that prepared it.  Santa was a lot of fun and the children had a lot of fun meeting him. I would like to thank everyone for their help on the World War I widows luncheon.  The Lakeview Middle School Choir did a wonderful job on singing the Christmas carols.  The ladies rally did enjoy them. We now have 405 paid members.  If you haven’t paid yet, please see Dot Stewart as soon as possible.

We will have our Las Vegas night on Feb. 19 at 6 PM.  We are asking that everyone donate something for our auction.

We would like to thank all the ladies that baked cakes and pies for our bake sale.  Dot Stewart and the ones who helped her did a great job. I would like to ask all of our Juniors to please come to their meeting on January 27th at 6:15 PM.  Let’s make this a great year for our Juniors. We will have guess speaker Carl Levi on National Security at our next monthly meeting.

Congratulations to Randy Padgett for winning the $500 give-a-way at our Christmas dinner.

I’m sorry I made a mistake on the last newsletter.  I hope it didn’t cause any problems.

The Auxiliary would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year.

Board Meeting    Jan. 12^. 7 PM

Covered Dish      Jan. 27 7 PM

Regular Meeting Jan. 27. 8 PM

Junior Meeting    Jan. 27 6:15 PM

 

Geraldine Perkins, Auxiliary President

 

BLOOD ASSURANCE

Donations for November: Jess Williams, David Crownover, and Joann Gentry.

Melvin Brown, Chairman 867-3449