Newsletter Oct/Nov 2008

Letter from President
Our Frontier Days Grease Fest and Breakfast was a big success. I’d like to thank all of our volunteers. That’s what helps make an event happen.

The house out front is gone, HURRAY! The grass is in and it looks a lot better.

The Auxiliary is having a pasty day coming up in October. We also have our Handicap Hayride and help is always appreciated that day. Texas Hold’em needs help on October 25.

With Halloween on Friday this year we’ve decided to do a Costume Halloween Dance. Come in and join the fun! 50/50 drawings, door prizes, best costume contest and a lot of crazy fun. Let’s try to make this a howling good time!!

Next District Meeting is at Greenville on October 26th. After that it will start back up February 27th here in Charlotte. All meetings are at 2:00 pm.

Don’t forget our vets on November 11th – Veterans’ Day.

November 16th – the last race of the season - we will have a NASCASR party out back. Bring a dish to pass. We’ll have 50/50’s. Randy likes “wreck betting” and everyone should have a great time.

The Auxiliary purchased a piece of carpet for the Bandstand out back. Some enthusiastic men laid it for them. Thanks, Guys!

‘Til next time, Pres Rod

Letter from Madam President
Fall is here and what a beginning with all the rain! Hope everyone is dried out. We had our Grease Fest and it was great! Deb and Renee were a great help and liked “working it.” We had a good time.

Breakfast on Sunday turned out super! Once again, a lot of good help turned out. Thank you to all! At this time I would like to ask all members to try to volunteer. It would be wonderful to see new faces. We are not scary – other than Deb and I yelling at each other. “We come for the FUN!”

Ladies, I decided at the last meeting we would start publishing whose names were drawn for money at the Auxiliary Meetings. For new members, our meetings are the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. We discuss ALL sorts of things. Please come join us!! I will keep the meetings under an hour. For every new face we can cut off more time. The ladies who lost $100.00 each at our 9/10 meeting are Cleone Keffus, Cindy Hoffman, Donna Fuller and; last, but not least, Jeanie Gilding who lost $4.00.

Pasty Day is October 11th. This is a great money maker for the Auxiliary. Pasties are still only $4.50 each, with or without gravy. They freeze well, so pick up lots. You can pre-order with payment (this insures that people won’t forget to come pick them up), come in and order take out or eat them at the Club with a drink and good fellowship.

We will be bowling again on Pasty Day on the Wii. It is a hoot and everyone had a blast! This time we decided to have two (2) people teams and charge $3.00 per team. The money will be given back in prize money!! Choose your partner and come on down. Bowling will start about 4:00 pm. Sign up sheet for pasties will be posted on October 1st. We will also post a signup sheet for bowling, let’s have fun!

October 18th is the handicap Hayride. We can always use help that day and this is an important event for our community. Anyone you know that is handicapped is invited to take part.

October 24th the Aerie is hosting a Texas Hold’em. Help is also need for this event.

SPOOKTACULAR!!! On October 31st we will have a Halloween COSTUME Dance!! Chiller of a door prize, ghostly paper to vote on for the best costume, hair raising Band to do the Monster Mash, 50/50’s and grueling snacks for all our terrific members. Starts at 8:30 p.m. See you at the Howling event.

On Thursday, September 18th, a team of four (4) gave out poppers to all who came in. Way to go Berlyn and crew! I would like anyone who is a member to take a turn doing your “THING” and bringing it in on Thursday to share. Good way for us all to try something new and bring in members. This is a donation type thing – not to make money. The club will be making money on all of us participating.

The Auxiliary purchased carpet for out back and vinyl for the chairs. I hear some great volunteers are helping us lay the carpet and recover the chairs. Thank you so much.

See you at all the events,
Pat, MP

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Capitol Report - - - - - - - - - - - - -

School Safety is an important topic now that schools are open. I have learned that not all school districts report threats to law enforcement. In one case, a district did not inform the teacher after a student threatened her with physical harm. This not only endangers the teacher, but also other students. I have just introduced a bill that would require school administrators to report all threats of harm to law enforcement officials and also advise the school employee of the threat. After the Columbine School Shooting and others, we cannot take chances with school safety.

I have learned that many diabetic children do not go to school and are home schooled, because the schools have no one trained to help a diabetic child for testing or in emergencies. I am introducing a bill that would require every school to have someone trained to help diabetic children with their sugar checks and insulin intake. The Diabetic Association would provide the training at no cost. There is a "good Samaritan clause" noting that the school volunteer cannot be sued for helping the children. This would also make our schools safer for all of our children.

Rep. Rick Jones


In Memory of Les Wells

Les Wells was a life member of our 3552 Eagles. He passed recently; and, at the request of the family, a donation was made to the Eagles Building Fund in his memory.

Contributors were: Bruce & Roberta Carp, Dick & Phyllis Walters, Marie Kritz & Lisa, Rex & Bonnie Fredline, Lyle Carter, Chris Taylor, Bill Harris, Mary Slade, Jack & Donna Decker, Homer & Phyllis DeWater.

Secretary Notes – Aerie
In the last newsletter we told the members that the Aerie voted to have all member’s due become due on June 30th effective June 2009. The new dues amount schedule is listed below.

The amount is based on the number of months you’re responsible for before the switch. Any members who paid the full amount for July, August or September, will be credited the difference for June 2009.

Member Through Through
Due Date June-2009 June-2010
31-Jul-08 $22.91
31-Aug-08 $20.84 $45.84
30-Sep-08 $18.81 $43.81
31-Oct-08 $16.72 $41.72
30-Nov-08 $14.63 $39.63
31-Dec-08 $12.54 $37.54
31-Jan-09 $10.45 $35.45
28-Feb-09 $8.36 $33.36
31-Mar-09 $6.27 $31.27
30-Apr-09 $4.18 $29.18
31-May-09 $2.09 $27.09
30-Jun-09 $25.00

Newsletter Available On-Line

The Eagles 3552 Newsletter is available on-line at www.foe3552.blogspot.com. It will have the Newsletter, along with articles and stories about the goings on at the Club and any news that is provided by a member. We can include pictures too. Check it out. We’ve got a slide show from the last NASCAR Derby.

If you wish to continue to receive your newsletter in the mail please contact the club, leave a note in the newsletter box in the social room or send an e-mail to (foenews@yahoo.com). We will continue to print a few copies for the social room.

Upcoming Events / Dates
Pasty Day / Wii Bowling Tournament – Oct 11
Handicap Hayride – October 18
Texas Hold’em – October 25
Hallloween Costume Party – October 31
Vetrans’ Day – November 11
NASCAR Party – Final 2008 Race – November 16
Thanksgiving – November 27

Hog Roast & Dance Sept 27

If you didn't make it to the Hog Roast and Dance on Saturday night, you missed a great time.

Rod had the pig roasting out at his house early in the morning. Pat and company (I saw Donis, Deb and Karen) did a fine job on the accompanyments and everybody had a great dinner.

After that The Vintage Band and the Bums took to the stage. We've had them at the club before and they are always fun. They combined their music with a bit of humor here and there and got the people on the dance floor. (I wouldn't be surprised if Sherman wasn't a bit tired come Sunday!)

Didn't get any photos, but I'll be sure to have my camera handy next time.

Charlotte Frontier Days

The Charlotte Eagles Club kicked off the Frontier Day Weekend with a fish fry and Karaoke on Friday night. Considering the competition with the other events around town we had a good crowd for both.

The club had a GreaseFest on Saturday, September 6. The cooks were serving up fried pork sandwiches, fried squash, french fries and about anything else they could throw in the fryer. It was a lot of fun with people coming in to eat all afternoon. Pat Goodrich spent most of the day in the kitchen with her helpers. Deb Hayes split her time helping Pat and Tom Heth - the bartenter for the day. And Tom was busy keeping up with the thirsty crowd!

On Sunday we had a breakfast buffett from 8:30 to 11:30. There was a steady flow of people all morning and, believe me, nobody went home hungry. All said it was a great weekend at the Charlotte Eagles Club.

Newsletter -- Aug/Sep 2008

Letter from President
I’d like to thank Dave and his helper Chick for the great Father/Son Banquet. It was really a great meal. Hope everyone is surviving all the storms this summer.

We had our 2nd Annual NASCAR Derby and it was a great success! Had great help on the new ramps, with some good ideas. A big thank you goes out to Fred and Deb who were over the top on helping and painting. The ramps made it racing and we all had a ball. Had a JD this year and with his sick sense of humor, music and fly over it was great! Thanks, Terry! Bar outside along with good food from the cook shack just made it a really great day. I want to thank my Wife for all the time and work she puts in on this fund raiser.

September 6th we are having a grease fest! Deep fried pork sandwiches, deep fried squash and French fries. September 7th is the breakfast buffet from 8:30 to 11:30.

We are ready to tear down the house out front. Maybe, by the time you get this it will be done.
Don Ells went to the fair as our buyer and purchased a 4-H hog. The Pork Roast Dinner will be September 27, 5:30–8:00, with the Vintage Band and the Bums following at 8:00 pm. If you haven’t heard them, come on out for a great time.

Euchre is going to be on Saturdays this year. First game is on September 20th at 6:00 pm sharp.
Anyone have ideas for fund raisers? Well until next time,
Rod

Letter from Madam President
June started out nicely, with our Father/Son Banquet – cooked by Chick n’Dave. It was wonderful as usual. Then all heck broke loose with our many rains and storms. I hope by now people are getting somewhat back to normal.

July also had storms; and, with rain on July 12th (NASCAR Derby DAY) everyone held their breath, said a prayer and BOOM! the rain stopped and the day was wonderful. So many members came out to help! A big thank you to all. A thank you also goes out to Terry for DJ-ing. He really added to the day’s event and Father Frank did a great job on the grill. He had a newcomer help him later on – Ben Barnes. The food sold out with smiles all around. Candice at the TIKI bar was also great. All these things were new this year and added a lot! I got over 20 sponsors for the race this year. A sponsor is someone who gives to support your event. In return they get free advertising, can pass out flyers or small gifts. Just like at the races. Sponsoring the Derby can be done by money, prizes or food. If you would like to be a sponsor, please let us know.

COOKBOOKS – Please come in and buy one or two. If every Auxiliary member bought two we would be sold out. And Aerie members have recipes in it also. All members need to buy one.
We set up an account for our continuing Grant Fisher Bruce Scholarship at Independent Bank. We hope to continue to give a scholarship to a deserving student at Charlotte High for many years to come. Anyone can donate to this fund, just by going to the bank.
I know it is early, but October 11th will be Pasty Day. You will be able to order early by pre-paying, can come in and eat, or take out. Remember to stock up. They freeze well.
Bye fro now, MP Patricia

Texas Hold’em – June 28
We had 44 players for our June Texas Hold’em. Total payout was $1,400. Profit was $1,005. We also had cash games which added $200 and 50/50’s for $150. Total deposit to the building fund was $1,355. Next Texas Hold’em will be October 25.

NASCAR DERBY – July 12
The NASCAR Derby was a great success and lots of fun! A BIG THANK YOU goes out to all our members who came and helped that day. We added J&T Entertainment, hosted by Terry Hough, who did an awesome job as our sportscaster and with the music. We even had a fly over. With a TIKI Bar to the right and way to the right Brats and Hot Dogs being cooked on our cook shack grill by Father Frank, they were great! His talent for grill cooking is no longer a secret.

With our many sponsors we were able to give out great trophy’s and prize money. 1st place ($300.00) went to Ron Smith (Smitty) driven by Buster Edgerly; 2nd place ($200.00) to Randy Bryner, car driven by Heather; and 3rd place to Jerry Hayes, car driven by little Jerry Jr. Our El Presidente and his assistant, Mike Grove, took Best of Show ($50.00) and last, but not least, #23 driven by Kari Place, owner Trevor Woods, took Worst of Show ($50.00). Trevor revamped this year so Kari thinks now its how she dresses? There is always a next year, Kari. The new ramps allowed for heat racing. It was a blast.

Next year’s NASCAR derby will be July 18, 2009. Put it on your calendar and make plans to race, or just attend for all the fun! This is a money maker for our Club and loads of fun. It costs the club nothing to put on and I hope to see more participants next year – so far we’ve got 10 confirmed.

The Charlotte Eagles 3552 at 116 Lansing Street, Charlotte, MI, would like to express our gratitude to the many sponsors of or NASCAR Derby this year. Because of them and our many members who helped out it was a great success. Rather it be by money, prizes, food or DJ’ing – by J&T Entertainment (517-588-9044) - you all helped us make it happen. This year’s top sponsor was GALE BRIGGS, INC. When rain set in that morning we thought we were gonna have to steal their logo (come play in the mud with us).
Sponsors
Eaton Federal Eaton Auto Body
Conestoga Construction MaQueen
I.G.A. Independent Bank
Montgomery Builders Team One
Crandell Brothers Meijer
Lea’s Auto Body Candy Ford
Eaton Place Wal-Mart
Insty Prints D&G Equipment
Dornbos Signs Custom Home
C.B.’s Bar Tri-State Toy
Sherwood Forest Auto-Zone
Campground Flagstar Bank
Frank’s Party Store Coldwell Banker
Remember When Auctioneers
Our State Representative, Rick Jones

A thank you also goes out to Silk Screen Stuff for a great job on our shirts and to our many distributors – Budweiser, Miller, Frito-Lays.

Upcoming Events
September 6th - Grease Fest. Deep Fried Pork Sandwiches, Deep Fried Squash, French Fries. 12:00 to ?
September 7th – Breakfast Buffet – 8:30 to 11:30
September 20th – Euchre Returns - 6:00 pm sharp!
September 27th – Pork Roast Dinner 5:30 – 8:00 followed by the Vintage Band and the Bums until midnight.
October 11th – Pasty Day.
October 18th – Handi-cap Hayride.

From the Aerie Secretary
In the regular Aerie Meeting, July 16, it was voted that we would change the Aerie Member dues payment date to June 30. Member dues will be prorated.
We hope this will help the members to remember their due date, the bartenders with tracking delinquent members and the secretary in the processing.

Newsletter Going On-Line
We are getting ready to launch our newsletter on-line. With the cost of supplies to produce the newsletter continuing to climb, this is a good time to take advantage of the technology available to anyone with access to the internet. The newsletter and calendar will also be printed and copies available in the Club social room. If any member would prefer to continue receiving the newsletter via postal service they can by request. Either mail the request to the Club, attention: Newsletter or e-mail to FOEnews@yahoo.com.
Look for it in the coming weeks at:
http://www.blogspot.foe3552.com/This is a Weblog format. It will allow us to let members know what is going on as they happen. I hope to continue to add more content as time goes on and would welcome member comments.

First Installment

I've been getting feedback from members who think that we should put our Newsletter on the WEB. With the cost of everything from postage to paper going up, it really is a good idea. After playing around with some different options, I think that this format will work for us - and, hopefully, it is something that I can learn with relative ease :-)




I'm going to spend some time getting familiar with it and making mistakes without subjecting every one to them. Once I feel comfortable, I will start to post and advise members that it is available.




Pretty cool that we were able to get the blog name FOE 3552, although why anyone but the Charlotte Eagles #3552 would want it is beyond me. Stranger things have happened.




The plan for this blog is to not only publish the newsletter, but also to allow a place for current news, notices and antidotes through out the month. The method of getting that information here has yet to be discovered. I'm familiar with the ability for people to add comments to a post, but I don't know if there is a way to allow for a community posting area. Possibly we can set up a post with the month's name as the title and people can post comments (aka their news) there.




It is certainly going to be a work in progress for awhile, but I think it will be fun. I really hope to see this evolve as place for members to find out what's been going on, share some stories and laughs and see what we've got planned for upcoming events.