Commanders' Message

I hope this message finds you well after a blessed Thanksgiving Holiday. With the rush of Christmas upon us, I hope you can find time to relax and enjoy the time with your family. I invite you to join Post 52 in the Franklinton Christmas parade on Thursday, December 7, at 7:00 PM. If you would like to ride in the parade with us (pick-up truck bed), please let me know ASAP. We will be meeting at the Post at 6:00 PM to mount up. I want to thank those who made the cash raffle fundraiser a success. Your purchase and selling of tickets is greatly appreciated. Please remember there is no membership meeting in December.

Membership Meeting Dates Changed in 2024

We changed our membership meeting dates/times to Saturday at 9:00 AM in September and October. Each meeting averaged about 30 attendees. On average, our traditional last Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM membership meetings generate about 30 attendees. My unscientific estimate and analysis of the Saturday morning meeting vs the Tuesday night meetings produced a zero net effect. The Saturday morning meetings drew some folks who do not attend night meetings because driving at night is challenging. It was good to see them back at the Post. The Saturday meetings may have dropped 3-5 Legionnaires that would typically come to the Tuesday evening meetings just because Saturdays tend to produce more conflict with family schedules than a Tuesday evening might. After discussing this analysis, the Post Executive Committee (PEC) voted to adopt a "hybrid" membership meeting schedule for 2024 that looks like this:

Last SATURDAY of the month @ 9:00 AM.
Standard Time Months
January 27, February 24, March 30, and November 30

Last TUESDAY of the month @ 7:00 PM.
Daylight Savings Time Months
April 30, May 28, June 25, July 30, August 27, September 24, October 29.

The idea is to take advantage of the longer days (daylight) during the spring and summer when we can have an evening meeting and be adjourned before it gets dark. Likewise, we shift to Saturday daytime meetings in the winter. The thought is that family activities generally occurring on weekends in the summer will not conflict with our daytime Saturday meetings in the winter as outdoor activities lessen. The PEC felt this would be a good, compromised schedule to try for a year and re-evaluate for the 2025 calendar. The PEC will continue to meet on the 2^nd or 3^rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM, so check your calendar. All Legionnaires are invited to attend. While we may not see every member at every meeting, the hope is that more meeting flexibility will build or maintain meeting attendance and allow every Legionnaire to attend meetings for fellowship, updates, and participation in our activities. Every Legionnaire is essential to the strength of Post 52.

Please note the new membership meeting dates/times for January, February, and March so you don't miss a meeting.

Finally, please remember those serving our country who are forward deployed to protect our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, who will not be able to be with family and friends for the holidays. I wish you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Chris Smith, Commander Post 52
csmithforest@gmail.com

Vice-Commander's Report

Fellow Legionnaires, a huge thank you to all who have renewed their membership for 2024; however, we still have approximately 68 members who have not renewed their membership for 2024. Those members who do not renew by December 31 will automatically become delinquent, will no longer be considered members in good standing, and will not be allowed to participate in post activities. Post 52 does not want this to happen to any of our members. If you cannot renew your membership now, please let us know so that the Post can help you. If you have not renewed due to other circumstances, please let us know so we can improve the post-experience for everyone. We value your service and commitment to our country and our Post. We need your continued support to keep our Post prospering for another 104 years.

Mike Donnelly, 1^st Vice Commander

Chaplains' Corner

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6 NIV

As we close 2023, I want to remind everyone to remember our service men and women who are away from their families during this Christmas Season. This remembrance should not be just a seasonal matter but an everyday matter that we Pray for them and their families. I pray that you all will have a Safe and Merry Christmas, and may the New Year bring you Health, Happiness, and Peace.

Before we meet again, we will have celebrated Christmas and entered a New Year. It is a time when families and friends will come together, eat, exchange gifts, fellowship, make resolutions for the New Year, and give thanks. May we all remember the most incredible gift from a God who loved us so much that He gave His only begotten son, Jesus Christ.

Harvey Satterwhite, Chaplain

Auxiliary Unit 52 Report

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! This time of year, is very busy for your ALA Unit!!

We provided 10 Veteran families with groceries for a great Thanksgiving dinner in November. We had planned to take part in the Christmas Veterans Tree at the VA again this year. In a wonderful development, the VA already has enough donations from the community to handle all of their Christmas needs. Instead, we will partner with the Raleigh Vet Center to meet the needs of their Veteran Clients. In case you are unfamiliar with the Raleigh Vet Center, they are an extension of the VA and serve local veterans and their families in many ways. I encourage both the Post and ALA members to check them out and the important services they provide at https://www.va.gov/raleigh-vet-center.

Finally, we will use our December meeting time for our annual Christmas party, but we are changing the meeting date and time. Instead of meeting on Thursday, 12/21, we will have our Christmas Tea Party on Sunday, 12/17, at 2:00 PM at the Post. Please bring finger sandwiches to share. The Unit will be supplying the tea. I hope to see everyone there.

In the Spirit of Service, not Self,
Velinda Moore, Unit 52 President

Brunswick Stew Sale

Get your pre-order for quarts of our famous Brunswick Stew sale on Saturday, January 13, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Quarts are $10.

Call/text Steve @ 919 727-0087 or email Stephen.ijames@gmail.com, giving your name, phone number, and number of quarts to reserve.

Including the Space Force.

Need assistance dealing with the Veterans' Administration? Contact our Franklin County Veterans' Service Officer, Brenda Wilkins,
at 919 496-1939.