VVA CHAPTER 936
March 2005
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
George Rogers and Whit Scully, committee members for our raffle efforts, introduced the initial points of interest concerning our plans to raffle a weekend at Williamsburg, Virginia. The sole purpose of the fund raiser is to enhance our Chapter funds. these funds will be utilized explicitly for Veterans issues as agreed upon by the membership. We will be printing up a total of 3,000 tickets, selling the tickets for $1.00 per ticket, or possible 6 tickets for $5.00. The raffle may take place on Veterans Day, 2005 and the winner will use the prize for the time period surrounding Valentines Day 2006. The winner will spend Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights at the Radison Hotel, in Williamsburg, excellent accomodations. Complete details to be worked out by the committee in the near future. Out thanks to George and Whit, great idea!
For everyone’s information, on Tuesday, March 8th, 2005, there will be a pre-town council meeting in Mt. Jackson, at seven (7) PM. This meeting will be to discuss the creation and design of the Veterans Memorial to be built at the intersection of Main St. (Rt. 11) and King Street.. Anyone with any ideas , contact Mr. Joe Williams, Mayor of Mount Jackson. He is ver open to suggestions. Roger Stevens, our Vice President has suggested the sale of bricks, with the veterans name, branch of service, and period of service, much as has been done at other memorials. Ed Gazaw, our coordinator, with the Winchester Memorial Project, has suggested a motorcycle event in conjunction with Rolling Thunder. Excellent suggestion.
On Friday, February 18th, I had the occasion to go to Martinsburg, with another Chapter member. While there I participated in a program coordinated by Ken Watts, at the Martinsburg VA Center. This is a documentary program of Vietnam Veterans, which will be preserved by the Library of Congress. The interviews were light, video-taped, and well prepared. Our thanks to Ken Watts for the program (also the donuts). Anyone interested or wanting to participate, please call Ken at (540) 678-0978. (Read more about this in this months’ American Legion Magazine).
Don’t forget the upcoming election for our Chapter Officers. Anyone interested in holding office, please let myself or Roger Stevens know so we can get you on the ballot. The election will be held during the April meeting. According to our By-laws and the National Constitution, you must be present to vote. We are in need of a secretary and Sergeant of Arms as our good friend Martin Ritenour is leaving for Arizona this Spring. There are also a couple of seats for the Board of Directors.
The new procedures for Veterans Administration Identification Cards are now in place. Martinsburg is where you need to go for applications.
Thanks to everyone who responded to last months newsletter. I sincerely appreciate the response. Thanks and please remember our fellow Veterans.
On Saturday, February 12th, 2005, we had our regularly scheduled meeting. Once again we had an excellent turn out of members. I have heard from several members who can’t attend on Saturday morning, but they all have expressed how proud they are to be in our Chapter. It was great to see everyone.
President: Pete Mulligan (540) 740-3392
Vice President: Roger Stevens (540) 856-2871
Treasurer: Jon Clark - (540) 984-3056
Secretary: TBD
Sergeant at Arms: Martin Ritenour
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Russell Hasler
Jon Clark
Peter J. Mulligan
William Mader
Harry Scheeler
Roger Stevens
Martin Ritenour
Rolland Aylesworth
STATE DELEGATES
Jon Clark, Pete Mulligan, Roger Stevens
NEXT MEETING
Our next Meeting will be March 12th, 2005 at the VFW in Edinburg. The Board will meet at 10AM and the Chapter at 11AM.
JUNE VSC MEETING
The June VSC Meeting has been changed to Sandston, VA. Meeting will be held at the Best Value Inn (Formerly Best Western), 10-12 June. Room rates are $50.00 Single and $60.00 double. Please make reservations by 25 April, 2005. Phone (804) 222-2780.
New Members Appointed to Advisory Committee on Women Veterans
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson has announced the appointment of six new members to the Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, an expert panel that advises him on issues and programs affecting women veterans.
The new committee members include Dr. Jacqueline Morgan from Seattle; Carlene Narcho from Fort Apache, Ariz.; Lorna Papke-Dupouy from Greenfield Center, N.Y.; Col. Shirley Ann Quarles from Stone Mountain, Ga.; Capt. Emily Sanford from Huntington Beach, Calif.; and Chief Master Sgt. Sara Sellers from Johnson City, Tenn.
Administration Seeks $70.8 Billion for VA in 2006
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson announced today that President Bush will seek a record $70.8 billion in the fiscal year 2006 budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), with the overwhelming majority of these resources targeted for health care and disability compensation.
“This budget demonstrates the President’s ongoing commitment to provide the very best health care and benefits to those veterans who count on VA the most,” Nicholson said.
The FY ’06 budget proposal calls for $33.4 billion in discretionary funding -- mostly for health care -- and $37.4 billion in mandatory funding, mostly for compensation, pension and other benefit programs. This represents an increase of 2.7 percent over this year's discretionary budget.
AVVA PROJECT FRIENDSHIP
Nationally we will support: Fisher House - Homes away from home for military personnel. In Reno, NV we will support: Step 2 - a transitional housing unit for women and families in recovery. Items needed are: toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, conditioners, nail files or emery boards, hair ties (scrunches), lotion, bar soap, or shower gel and any other nicety you can think of. Always needed are cleaning supplies, Twin bedding and cash.
Also needed are Airline Miles. Donate your excess miles to fly families to the bedside of their wounded family member or to fly the soldier to their homes, while they are on leave. Participating partners are: American Airlines Delta Air Lines, Independence Air, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and US Airways.
Please make all checks payable to “Project Friendship” with either Fisher House or Step 2 in the memo. Checks are only to be sent or given to AVVA treasurer, Sonja Holybee.
FROM SHABOOM’S KITCHEN
Easter is early this year--March 27th---so I’ve picked out this lovely glazed baked ham your whole family will enjoy.
Whole cloves
1 cup apricot preserves
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard (spicy is best)
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
Pinch of ground ginger
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Use a large sharp knife and cut fatty surface of ham in a diamond pattern about 1/4" deep. Insert whole cloves in each diamond, using as many as desired. Place the ham on a rack in a roasting pan (at least 13x9x2). In a small bowl, combine apricot preserves, mustard, ground cloves and ginger; spread all over ham. Pour about 1 cup of water into the bottom of the pan. Bake about 25 minutes per pound or until internal temperature reaches 140 degrees on an instant-read thermometer.
Remove ham from the pan to a platter; tent with foil and let rest at least 30 minutes. Using a sharp carving knife, carefully cut and remove and discard the fatty layer from the ham. Cut away and discard any burned portion from the edges. Slice and serve warm.
Enjoy more of Shaboom’s recipes at
www.shaboomskitchen.com.
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Questions? Suggestions? For more information about joining our Chapter, please e-mail us!
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VVA Chapter 936
594 Cave Spring Lane
Edinburg, VA 22824