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THE PATRIOTAMERICAN LEGION NEWSLETTERIra Weaver Post 121P.O. Box 247, Blairsville, Ga. 30512NOV 2018VOL 3, ISSUE 11Mike Ayers, Commander 678-378-4663Sr. Vice Cmdr. Steve Stratman, 912-856-7951Jack Waters, Adjutant tpd127@gmail.comDan Navin, Jr. Vice Cmdr. 727-441-5253Phil Gatlin, Chaplin 706-835-1215** IMPORTANT **The cost of mailing through the United States Post Office is becoming prohibitive. If youreceive this NEWSLETTER by US Mail please provide us with an email address in orderto receive the full version of this NEWSLETTER. NEWSLETTERS PROVIDED BY USMAIL ARE AN ABBREVATED VERSION OF THE FULL EMAIL VERSION.CALENDARNOV 3NOV 3NOV 4NOV 10NOV 11NOV 12NOV 14NOVNOV 22DEC 9DECCRUISERS CAR SHOW HONORING VETERANS – FARMERS MKT.LEAF CRUISE ON LAKE NOTTLEY 2-5 PM STEPHEN 912-856-7951SET YOU CLOCK BACK ONE HOUR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDSUS MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAYVETERANS DAY – FLY THE FLAG1130 TO 1330 HRS VETERAN LUNCH – FIRST UNITED METHODIST1030 HRS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE – SAMMIE SUBS SHOPLEGION - NO MONTHLY MEETING THIS MONTHAUXILLARY - NO MONTHLY MEETING THIS MONTHTHANKSGIVING DAY – FLY THE FLAG1230 - 1400 HRS CHRISTMAS PARTY BRASSTOWN VALLEY RESORTCONTACT SENIOR VICE CMDR BEFORE 12-3-18 TO SAVE A SPOTLEGION - NO MONTHLY MEETING THIS MONTHAUXILLARY - NO MONTHLY MEETING THIS MONTHEDITORS NOTE: Editor must receive any information to be published in the newsletterNO LATER THAN the 15th of the previous month in which it is to be published.If you have calendar dates, event details, matters of interest to members and/or Veterans in thecommunity please send them to the Executive Committee c/o the newsletter.Thanks, Dan Navin, Editor, Jr. Vice Cmdr. - EMAIL: fnave@windstream.net

COMMANDER’S CALLWow what a busy October for the “Family”; with all the Festivals and other events we have beeninvolved in. We have met some really nice folks and fellow Veterans. We are also in the midst of renewing ourmembership. The numbers for this year are 187 members plus the Legion Riders, Sons American Legion;Legion Auxiliary. Our renewals are at 87% and if you haven’t renewed, we need you and your voice to continueto serve the Veterans and the community.We still have a number of events we will be involved with in the coming months. On November 3rd wewill have our charity leaf cruise; the ladies will be involved with the Christmas event at the Farmer’s Market toname a few.Place December 9th on your calendar for our Christmas party at Brasstown Valley Resort starting at12:30. We will have our own room and will eat from the buffet. I want to take this opportunity to thank StephenStratman and all those who volunteered their time to help with the festivals and other events. If I tried to namethem all I would miss someone, but you are appreciated.We will not be having anymore membership meetings until January due to the holidays, but theExecutive Committee will continue to meet and we will continue the newsletter. May you each have a blessedThanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.See you all soon!- Mike Ayers, Cmdr.SR. VICE COMMANDER’S CORNERLOCAL BLAIRSVILLE MEMBERS - PLEASE MAKE AN EFFORT TO ATTEND AT LEAST ONEMEETING EACH 6 MONTHS. CARRYING ON THE BUSINESS AND EVENTS FOR A POST THISLARGE REQUIRES MEMBERSHIP PARTICIPATION. THANK YOUSaturday 3 November 2018 between 2-5 pm a Lake Nottely Cruise to view the beauty of the lake as the fallseason will be upon us. This event is sponsored by the American Legion Post 121 Blairsville, GA as a CharityEvent. The cruise will leave from Nottely Marina on Highway 129 North (Murphy Highway). The cost will be 30.00 per person bring your small cooler and snacks. Further information or to register please call 912-8567951 or email smstratman@hotmail.com. Make checks payable to American Legion Post 121 and mail them toSteve Stratman 1323 Mauney Circle, Blairsville GA, 30512.3 NOV 18 farmers market cruisers car show honoring veterans we have a booth need help ALR will be there.11-12-18 1130 to 130pm veteran lunch at methodist church on 515. NO COST.12-9-18, Brass Town Valley Resort X-mas party for legion. 1230PM to 200PM cost 23.95 includes buffet anddrink. Please let Senior Vice know by email at smstratman@legionpost121 or by telephone 912-856-7951 ifyou are coming by 12-3-18 close of business.Legion, ALR SAL it is the time of the year to pay dues. Please take the time to support your organization andpay our dues in a timely manner.Looking for help - need a member to be the legion historian after 1st of the year. Contact Senior Vice Cmdr.Looking for a member to be the legion event coordinator after 1st of the year. Contact Senior Vice Cmdr.Thank you - Steve Stratman, Sr. Vice Cmdr.ADJUTANT’S CORNERLegionnaires, it is getting to that time when you need to pay your dues for 2019. We have 92 members whohave paid and 96 who have not paid. Other posts have much better percentages than that. All dues run out atthe end of the year, December 31. If you have not paid by the end of January, your membership is suspended.If you have not paid by the end of March, your membership is canceled. After that, if you do pay, you startover as a new member. If you have Internet access, you can go to Legion.org and pay on line using a credit ordebit card. Click on the yellow button that says “Renew” on the home page. You will be taken to another pagethat will ask for your Id number and last name. Then you will be taken to another page that will ask you toverify your name, address, etc. Finally, there will be a place to enter your information off of the card you are

using. There will also be an opportunity to mark that you want your dues paid automatically through that carduntil you stop the automatic payments. Several of us have our dues paid that way as it is definitely less of ahassle.If you pay the Post directly we have started a new procedure. The Post is forwarding the paying membersrenewal dues through the Legion’s web site, using a Visa card that belongs to the post. This means wewill need every member’s date of birth in order to complete the payments online. If you have submittedyour DD214, we have your DOB as it is on that document. If you have not, I need an email with yourDOB.There are a number of awards that individual legionnaires and our post can win for recruiting people,both new members and people transferring from other posts. Please carry one or two copies of ourapplication, and if you give one to someone, put your name on the bottom where it says, “Recruited by:” Iwant to start keeping track of our recruiters to apply for these awards.Once again, we need DD214, a Record of Enlistment and Service, or an Honorable Discharge from as many ofour members as possible. If you have not sent a copy of yours to me please do so at the Post’s address, P. O.Box 247, Blairsville, GA 30514. If you don’t have a copy of your DD214, get in touch with me and I will helpyou get a new one from the Archives.WWII Vets : The post will pay the dues for all World War II veteran members. If you are a WWII era member,or know of someone who is a WWII era veteran, please send me an email at tpd127.jack@gmail.com.If you have paid your dues and have your ID card, and you are still receiving reminders from LegionHeadquarters, please let me know. Send your name and ID number to the email address above so that I cancheck to see if there is any problem with your membership.Jack Waters, AdjutantMINUTES OF OCTOBER 2018 MEETINGBlairsville, GeorgiaDate: 16 OCT 18Call to Order: Commander Mike Ayers called the regular monthly meeting of the Ira Weaver American LegionPost 121 to order at 1830 hours.Pledge of Allegiance and Preamble: Commander Mike Ayers led the meeting in the reciting of the Pledge ofAllegiance and the American Legion Preamble.Invocation: Chaplain Phil Gatlin performed the invocation to open the meeting.Officers:Commander:Mike AyersU.S.A.Senior Vice Commander:Steve StratmanU.S.A.F.Junior Vice CommanderDan NavinU.S.A.Finance Officer:Ron TannerU.S.A.F.Adjutant:C. J. [Jack] WatersU.S.A.Judge AdvocateRoy BatemanU.S.N. [Absent]Chaplain:Phil GatlinU.S.A.F.Post Service OfficerRobert Spaulding;U.S.A.F.Sergeant at Arms:Roger HarkinsU.S.M.C.Historian/P.I.O.:Steve StratmanU.S.A.F.WebmasterSteve StratmanU.S.A.F.Quorum: It was noted that a quorum of 23 members and guests were present, and one officer was absent due toa death in his family.Minutes: The minutes from 16 SEP 18 were not read as they were sent out with the Ira Weaver Patriotnewsletter. It was moved, seconded, and passed that the minutes are approved as written.

Financial Report: Finance Officer Ron Tanner presented the financial report. It was moved, seconded, andpassed to approve the financial report. A copy of the Financial Report is attached to these minutes and made apart thereof.Guest: N/ACommander: Reminded all that this is the last meeting of the year. ExCom will continue to meet monthly.Several recruiting opportunities will be coming up in the next two or three weeks.Reminded us again that in the future we will have stick-on name tags for all attending the meetings.Reminded all again that there is a 5,000 accidental death life insurance policy that is available free of charge.We will be getting applications for those for anyone interested.Commander stated he is looking for a volunteer coordinator, someone who will call members to ask them tovolunteer for various needs of the Post.The Christmas party will be December 9 at Brasstown Bald. We will eat off of the buffet and have a privateroom to eat.Veteran’s Day Lunch is coming up November 12. Hot dog lunch, with missing man table and ceremony andawarding of the Commander’s Award.Chat and chews continue monthly.Flag sales are doing very well.The new JROTC unit from Mountain Area Christian Academy in Morganton came and raised the flag Saturdayand did a fine job.Senior Vice Commander: Wreathes across America is trying to obtain more wreathes for the veteran cemeteryin Canton. They also need help placing the wreathes.If requested, a picture can be taken of a particular grave at Arlington National Cemetery and sent to a loved one.Post Service Officer: Gave a report. A copy is attached to these minutes and made a part thereof. He reportedthat he assisted two Legion Members.Flag Committee Chair: Flag sales are going great. Large order has just been placed.Scholarship: N/ASons of the Legion: Flag has arrived and is on display with all of the other flags in the meeting room.Legion Riders: Will be working with the Honor Guard starting in the spring.Unfinished Business: N/ASick Call: NoneThe Good of the Legion: N/AAdjournment: There being no further business to come before the post, it was moved, seconded, and passedthat the meeting be adjourned at 1938.CHAPLIN’S CORNERIt is my honor to serve you as the Chaplain and I am always open for comments or suggestions. It has been mydesire, and I believe, responsibility to serve you and your family in any way you would look to your pastor,priest, deacon or rabbi for prayer and spiritual support. Of course I am not full time, but will always do my bestto meet your need. Prayer for you or a family member is always a priority for me and your request will alwaysbe at the top of my list. In addition to the nursing home visits I currently do monthly I would like to add anyhome-bound veterans or hospital patients that are members of Post 121. If you know of anyone who fits intoeither of those groups please notify me. If you feel there is a special need or function not currently beingprovided by your chaplain, please speak to me or e-mail/text.Philip (Phil) Gatlin 678-232-1771 - nasa428@windstream.netAUXILLIARY UPDATESee you at the Veterans Luncheon.