Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:33:05 +0100

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS’

LITTLE EGYPT CHAPTER

MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

Vol.24 No 12

THE PATRIOT

December 2009

VIEW FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

With the arrival of December, it means another Veteran's Day was observed, Thanksgiving celebrated and that Christmas is almost here. Last month we also celebrated the life of Lt Col James Springs, who died at the age of 88. Jim regularly attended our chapter meetings and will be missed.

Our November chapter meeting was held at the Crab Orchard Golf Club in Carterville. After dinner and chapter membership meeting we had great guest speaker, Christopher Piha, an Air Force Iraq war veteran. Members had the opportunity to listen and ask questions about his experiences while serving for six months at the Bagdad International Airport. Chris Piha was recently appointed Southern Illinois University Veteran's Coordinator.

At our November membership meeting we discussed reducing our Chapter meetings from ten a year to six. Meetings would be in February, April, June, August, October and December. On the months in between meetings we would work on our service projects, attend Veteran's ceremonies, etc. We will vote on whether to change our meeting schedule at the December membership meeting.

I represented MOAA at Veteran's Day recognition ceremony on November 8 in Anna and one sponsored by the Air Force and Army ROTC cadets at Southern Illinois University on November 11th. George Hagans was invited to attend a ceremony at the Abundant Life Church in Benton, Illinois as their Veterans Ceremony keynote speaker on Sunday November 8th.

Chapter News

Deceased Member Recognition: Members approved donating $20.00 in a deceased members honor to whatever church, hospice, or other venue indicated by the family. If no memorial is designated by the family, then we will send a plant or flowers.

Cemetery project: The Marion city mayor thanked MOAA for the cleaning up the approximately 156 years old cemetery. The Chapter will continue to partner with the city to maintain the cemetery. American Monument Company will help with the repair, research and deciphering the inscription on the

grave markers. Members were invited to help with the research. It was noted that John A. Logan faculty and staff have helped research other cemetery histories and Col Tomczak will contact Logan for more information.

Membership: 2010 membership dues are being accepted. We have 4 paid members for 2010. In addition, we received a $50.00 donation from one of our associate/auxiliary members. Dues are $15.00 for general membership and $7.50 for associate/auxiliary memberships. Any additional donations you can make will help the chapter maintain our commitment to our Air Force and Army ROTC cadet scholarships. Make checks payable to MOAA-S.I. Little Egypt Chapter and mail to Sunantha Simmons at 105 Whippoorwill Lane, Makanda, IL 62958. 2 The Patriot December 2009

Chapter Budget:

Balance of November 5, 2009 was $1,491.10

Deposits: Donation: 59.48

Interest: 0.32

Dues: 52.50

Expenses: Postage: 9.48

Balance as of November 21, 2009 is $1,593.92

News from the National MOAA Office: The December issue has an article on the battle for Tarawa during WWII. In addition, read the interview with Gen George W Casey, Army Chief of Staff about sustaining the all-volunteer force after eight years of war. Check it out on-line at http://www.moaa.org/digitalmilitaryofficer

Chapter Website: Misplaced our chapter newsletter or meeting minutes, you can find that and more information on our website. Provide feedback to Dave Wiggs. Check it out at the following link: http://soillinoislittleegyptchapter.yolasite.com/

December Chapter Meeting: Our final meeting of the year will be at OAKRIDGE MANOR BED & BREAKFAST on December 19th starting at noon. Note the change in date.

This will be our "Crazy Gift" Christmas Party with a special lunch prepared by Anna and Bob Bordenave. Cost will be $10.00. Wine will also be provided. Reservations are required; please call Anna at 996-2237, no later than Tuesday, December 15th. Directions to Oakridge Manor are at the end of the newsletter.

"CRAZY CHRISTMAS GIFT EXCHANGE" is a fun time and looked forward to activity each year. Each person brings a wrapped gift that costs around $10 dollars. Each member draws a number which determines the order of selecting a gift. When it is your turn, you can select from under the tree or if there is a gift someone previously selected and you like it, you can take that person’s gift. That person can then select another from under the tree or select from a different person who has already unwrapped a gift. A gift can pass only three times, and then it is out of play. It is a fun time so make your plans to be there. CALL ANNA FOR YOUR RESERVATION.

Board Meeting: Our next Board meeting will be in January, location to be announced

This Month’s Quotes:

"Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Abraham Lincoln

"The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell."

Kung Fu-tzu Confucius

Walter J. Tomczak, Colonel, USAF Ret

MOAA – S.I. Little Egypt Chapter President

Little Egypt Chapter 2009 Meeting Location and Times

Date Time Location Meal

December 19 12 Noon Oakridge Manor Oakridge 3 The Patriot December 2009

November Membership Meeting

Christopher Piha and Walter Tomczak

Bill Berry

Diann Tomczak and George Hagans

Judith and James Fosse 4 The Patriot December 2009

Directions to Oakridge Manor from I-57

Take Exit 54a off Interstate 57. This is IL-13 going east toward Marion and Harrisburg.

Go approximately 5.8 miles east on IL-13. There is a traffic light at this intersection.

Go right (south) on IL-166 toward Creal Springs.

Go 3.6 miles south on IL-166 (watch your odometer). Driveway is on the right (9049 Rte 166). You will not see the house from the road - - it is 3/10 of a mile off Rte 166. The mailbox has several blue reflectors on it. There is also an Oakridge Manor sign at the entrance to the driveway.

Note: The Old Creal Springs Road joins 166 (on the right) about 300 feet before our driveway. There are no other driveways near us. If you see a large building on the left called the Four Star Arena and a gray stable/barn on the right - - you missed the driveway - - turn around!!

Directions to the Oakridge Manor from I-24

Take Exit 14 off I-24 (Harrisburg/Vienna) Note: There is an earlier exit to Vienna, which you don’t want.

Turn right onto US-45 toward Harrisburg. Take US-45 for 12.2 miles. Turn left onto IL-166.

Go approximately 10.7 miles north on IL-166.

Oakridge Manor will be on the left (9049 IL-166). There is a large building with the name "4 Star Arena" on the right, and a gray stable on the left about ½ mile before our driveway. There is an Oakridge Manor sign but it can be hard to see from the road at first glance

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:13:07 +0100

August 17, 2009

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS’

LITTLE EGYPT CHAPTER

MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
Vol 24 No 8

THE PATRIOT

August 2009

VIEW FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

Our July general membership meeting was one of the best attended meetings in the last year—28 members and guests. Our guest speaker was Mr. Warren Hill, the Director of Marion VA Medical Center. Mr. Hill provided information on changes at the Marion hospital which provides services to Southern Illinois, Southwestern Indiana and Western Kentucky. The VA has started a community outreach program where, on a quarterly basis, the public can take a tour of the hospital and talk to the medical center staff. The next tour date is September 11, 2009. Check the Marion VA website for time. The presentation ended with an excellent question and answer session with Mr. Hill taking several questions back to his staff for more clarification. Special thanks goes out to the Brehm Preparatory School dining room staff for preparing an outstanding meal for our members.

Colonel George Hagans was selected as the Illinois Veteran of the Month for August. The award will be presented at the Illinois State Fair in DuQuoin on 30 August at 2 pm. Members are encouraged to attend the ceremony. Congratulations Col Hagans!

At our last meeting we approved sending invitation letters to prospective members in early July inviting them to our July and August meetings. One hundred sixty letters were sent to current MOAA life members and members whose national registration had expired. We had eight prospective members and their guests attend the meeting.

In addition, our State Council of Chapters Chaplain, Ralph Woehrmann, drove down from Springfield to attend our meeting. Chaplain Woehrmann previously served as Chaplain for several of the Guard units in Southern Illinois. We appreciated Chaplain Woehrmann taking the time to visit with us.

Chapter News

Chapter Programs: Old Marion Cemetery project. George Hagans discussed the proposed project with Marion Mayor Butler and the mayor supports our chapter taking care of the cemetery. George is preparing a letter which will outline what activities in the cemetery upkeep the Chapter is responsible for. No person or group claims ownership of the cemetery. The cemetery runs parallel to the Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railroad just West of Court Street. The cemetery is the final resting place for Black Hawk war veteran George H. Harrison, who died Jan 12, 1848 and Patrick Henry Lang, a veteran of the Mexican War. After we receive the Mayor’s response we will set up a schedule for maintaining the cemetery.

Membership Drive: The next step in membership drive is to have the MOAA National office send an email to local non-chapter MOAA members. I will be working with the National office to get the emails sent.

Veterans Day at the State Fair: In addition to Col Hagans’ award, our chapter was invited to staff an information/recruitment table in the Department of Veterans Affairs information area. The Board will discuss at our August meeting.

Chapter Flag: The chapter flag was ordered and will be here in late August in time for our Vets on Parade participation in September.

Membership: We have 35 paid members and 2 honorary members. Dues are $15.00 for general membership and $7.50 for associate/auxiliary memberships. Make checks payable to MOAA-S.I. Little Egypt Chapter and mail to Sunantha Simmons at 105 Whippoorwill Lane, Makanda, IL 62958.

Chapter Budget: Balance as of July 28, 2009 is $2,421.18.

News from the National MOAA Office: Two great articles in the July issue of Military Officer Magazine. The first one is on the history of combat search and rescue and the second article shows the winning entries in MOAA's annual photo contest. Check these articles out.

August Chapter Meeting: We need 4 more reservations to reach our minimum of 30 people for the Miners Baseball Game.

MOAA night at the Miners Baseball game (August 21st) is on schedule to be a great time. We can take our seats starting at 6:00pm, followed by the All American Picnic Buffet with the game starting at 7:05pm. We will be sitting between third base and home plate with the buffet being served in an air conditioned suite. Cost will be $29.00 for members and $29.00 for their first guest; additional guest will be $35.00. The All American Picnic was chosen to provide members with a choice of grilled chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers and soft drinks or bottled water. There is an elevator available for members to get to our seats.

Dave Wiggs is the chapter point of contact for the event. We currently have 25 members and guest attending. We need a minimum of 30 members and guest reservations by August 6th. You can call or email Dave to make your reservation. His number is 618.985.3389 or email at dlwiggs@mchsi.com. You can mail your check to Dave at 1503 Marion St, Carterville, IL 62918. Make your checks out to Southern Illinois Chapter MOAA.

Next Board Meeting: Will be 14 August.

Misc Items:

In this time of bail-outs and bankruptcies, I remember what Will Rogers once said.

"Things will get better--despite our efforts to improve them"

Walter J. Tomczak, Colonel, USAF Ret

MOAA – S.I. Little Egypt Chapter President

Little Egypt Chapter 2009 Meeting Location and Times

Date Time Location Meal

August 21 6:00 PM Southern Ill Miners Baseball Game Ballpark Buffet

September 19 12 Noon Bill & Carole Berry's home Berry's home cooking

October 17 12 Noon Crab Orchard Lake Boat Club Catered

November 21 5:00 PM Kokopelli Golf Club Golf Club

December 12 12 Noon Oakridge Manor Oakridge

Posted by David Wiggs

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