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Angeles City Sub Branch

Philippines

www.rslangelescity.com

‘Lest We Forget’

Clubhouse: Ponderosa Hotel

President

Vice Presidents

Secretary

Treasurer

Editor

James Curtis-Smith Rob Cairns Bob Barnes Dallas Drake Vivian Hart Larry Smith

Email address’:

president@rslangelescity.com

secretary@rslangelescity.com

treasurer@rslangelescity.com

editor@rslangelescity.com

NEWSLETTER # 54** SEPTEMBER 2011

PRESIDENTS REPORT September 2011 A strange interpretation by the Executive and staff of the ACT Branch of a motion put and passed at the last Branch congress has resulted in at 480% increase in the capitation fees this Sub Branch will be required to pay to Branch for all renewals and new memberships. At the Branch Congress 2011, the motion before the meeting was that subscription rates to the Sub Branches of the RSL (ACT Branch) remain the same as it was in 2010. This was carried. The Executive of the Branch then notified overseas Sub Branches that the capitation fees hitherto paid at AUD$5.00 per head would be increase to AUD$24.00 per head for 2012 !! A very strange interpretation of the motion by the Executive. I wrote to the President and Executive of the ACT Branch for an explanation and was advised that the concession previously granted about 5 years ago to overseas Sub Branches was withdrawn and we would be required to pay the full capitation. The rationale behind the withdrawal of the concession, according to the Branch, is that the extra capitation fees are required to fund the administration of the Branch. The ACT Branch is responsible for only eleven Sub Branches within the ACT and four Sub Branches located outside Australia, they being Angeles City and Subic in the Philippines, Port Moresby in PNG, and Washington DC in the US. Angeles and Subic combined comprise about one-third of the total financial membership of the ACT Branch. Seems to me that the ACT Branch should be

2 dissolved and merged with NSW, or become part of the National HQ. The membership of the whole of the ACT Branch is a very small percentage of the total membership of the RSL in Australia and simply to charge capitation at the rate proposed to prop up an office to service such a small number is bad economics and management. It is noteworthy that this Sub Branch, since the introduction of the amended eligibility provisions of membership and the concessional capitation fees, resulted in an increase of membership from about 46 members in 2004 to over 470 members in 2011. A meeting of the Committee of this Sub Branch has as a consequence resolved that renewals and new memberships of the Sub Branch including capitation fees for 2012 will be ₱1,500.00. I am sure that this will result in the loss of many of our members. To avoid this loss, the Committee further resolved that existing members and new members be offered either to continue or join the Sub Branch and pay the new subscriptions or cease to become members of the RSL, and instead join the revamped RSL Supporters League at our existing P700 subscription. (See the new guidelines for new membership fees for 2012 on page 3) Ed In real terms there will be little difference in the facilities we offer here in Angeles. Discounts at local business houses will continue to both members of the RSL and the Supporters, both groups will wear the same shirt and be involved in the Australia Day activities, our Children‟s Medical Missions, ANZAC Day, VV Day, meetings, social days, the monthly newsletter, etc etc. Supporters League members will carry a similar membership card to the existing card.

Our Children‟s Medical Missions now continue monthly and at the mission at Sto.. Domingo on September 12, 830 children received medicines prescribed by medical professionals at the mission. Our next mission will be at Sta Lucia Resettlement area on October 1st. We expect up to 2000 children at this next mission and we will really need a good roll up of members and wives and girlfriends to assist. A location map is included in the newsletter. For those requiring transport please be at the Ponderosa at 7.15am. A very busy month, and not helped by the money grab from Canberra. Still what‟s new in that !!

JAMES E. CURTIS-SMITH President

Some very happy kids get their medications We need a truck to convey our medical supplies

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ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

THE FOLLOWING new members are welcomed: Scott Simms (Zambales PI) * Phillip Amber (A/C) *

Stephen Starkey (QLD) * Wayne Evans (ACT) * Leon Colville (A/C) * Douglas Blades (QLD) * Darrell

Wooley (A/C) *

Welcome to Life Subscriber: Phillip Salmon on transfer from QLD

WHATS ON IN OCTOBER

Weekly Raffle NOW EVERY Wednesday at Emotions Nite Club at 6.00 pm.

Phillies Sports & Grill Raffle every Saturday at 6.00 pm.

MEDICAL MISSION SATURDAY 1st OCTOBER (see web site for details or meet 07.15am Ponderosa)

Tuesday 4th OCTOBER 12.30 pm Ponderosa Hotel* Australia Day Fiesta Meeting followed by Monthly

Committee meeting* Social Tuesday 4.00 pm **LA BAMBA* HONKY TONK

Tuesday 11h OCTOBER Social Tuesday 3.00PM **STARGATE & PINOCCHIO'S* SILLY HAT

Tuesday 18th OCTOBER Monthly General Meeting 2.00 Ponderosa* Social Tuesday Ponderosa **T&A*

FOXY*MATRIX*GARFIELD* 4.00 pm

Saturday 22nd 0715 hrs Ponderosa. We are going to:

CORRIGIDOR ISLAND all day trip BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL (This trip will be one that you will never

forget) see also short notice further on page 4.

Tuesday 25th OCTOBER**Social Tuesday Ponderosa 2.00 pm** DRILL SHACK* PERIMETER* 3.00pm

***** ***** *****

NEW MEMBERSHIP GUIDELINES 2012 ANGELES CITY SUB BRANCH

SERVICE MEMBERS ANNUAL FEES FOR 2012 WILL BE $30.00 OR ₱1,500.00

ENTITLES YOU TO THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CARD (HARD PLASTIC) AFFILIATE MEMBER ANNUAL FEES WILL BE $30.00 OR ₱1,500.00

ENTITLES YOU TO THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL CARD (HARD PLASTIC)

RSL SUPPORTERS LEAGUE (SOCIAL CLUB) ANNUAL FEES WILL BE $20.00 OR ₱700.00

ENTITLES YOU TO THE LOCAL SUB BRANCH MEMBER CARD (LAMINATED)

TWO NEW SUPPORTERS HAVE COME ON BOARD:

"THE KINGS HEAD" (FORMERLY ROY'S BAR ) NEW HOST IS JOHN WOOD, AND AT SUBIC WE HAVE

"THE FLASH RAT" (NEXT TO MIDNIGHT RAMBLERS) HOSTS PAUL AND MICK FROM BLUE ROCK.

Call in and flash your RSL membership card.

***** ***** *****

ANOTHER SOCIAL MEDIA LINK

Our Sub Branch has initiated another means for our members to correspond by linking Facebook to our Blog and

Newsletter. Go to our website and you will find the link, or go direct to:

www.facebook.com/pages/Angeles-City-RSL-Philippines

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Something to put into your diary

Visit to Corrigidor Island Thursday 20th October departing Ponderosa 0730 hrs. Cost depends

upon numbers as Bus and Bunker Sizes need to be considered. Budget Max P2,000/head. If

numbers are 10 + the cost could be as low as ₱1,500 per head. Limited to 17 members.

***** ****** ******

ALASKA now is offering local drinks for ₱50.00 all the time.

***** ****** ******

Sometime this October, 40 Ladies, being Member Partners as the FIRST Priority, will be invited to attend

SHOWTIME as Guests of Anne Curtis.

President Jim will take the P500.00 Deposit to cover the hire bus.

CONDITIONAL will be all Ladies MUST wear the RSL Shirt. There will be NO CHILDREN.

This is a Ladies Function and they must be PARTNERS of MEMBERS (no daughters, sons, mothers, cousins, uncles,

aunties, next door neighbours, barangay captains or ninang or ninong !!! ETC)

A Banner will be made for the ladies to display during the Show.

DIRECTIONS TO RSL OCTOBER MEDICAL MISSION -- STA LUCIA

FROM THE PONDEROSA HOTEL – GO TO THE MC ARTHUR HIGHWAY AND TURN NORTH PROCEED NORTH AND PASS UNDER THE NLEX/MABALACAT INTERCHANGE FLYOVER. TURN RIGHT 300 METERS PAST THE FLYOVER AT THE G.R. BANK FOLLOW THIS ROAD 5.1 KILOMETERS TO THE MABIGA-MADAPDAP TODA (TRIKE STATION) TURN RIGHT INTO 14

TH STREET--- THERE IS A SIGN THERE FOR DEAN SWIMING POOL.

THE ROAD IS NARROW AND PART OF IT IS UNSEALED WHERE IT PASSES TROUGH A CANE PADDOCK, BUT ITS OK FOR CARS, MOTORBIKES ETC. AT THE END WHERE THE CONCRETE STARTS THERE IS A LITTLE TOLLBOOTH (P4 ENTRY) KEEP FOLLOWING THIS ROAD TO THE END AND TURN RIGHT -- THE BASKET BALL COURT IS ABOUT 400 METERS DOWN THIS ROAD TO THE RIGHT. THERE IS A SIGN THERE FOR THE HON FERDENAND SOTTO. IT IS ABOUT 15 KILOMETERS FROM THE PONDEROSA. (A map is too large to publish in this newsletter, so I request you contact Dallas or Lindsay Drury for a mud map of the directions shown above. Maybe Dallas will bring a mud map to the monthly meeting. As President Jim stated in his report, we expect a large turn-out so are asking for plenty of volunteers to assist). Ed

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The good work still goes on even if it is raining. This is part of our wheelchair donation

program funded from our charity account. Another one of our worthy charitable events.

***** ***** *****

Angeles City RSL members visited Subic Bay RSL for a Social Afternoon meeting. Attending from Angeles were Rob Cairns, Peter Strudwick, Lee Townsend, Gordon Winzar, Gary Kennedy, Joh Parrish, Jamie Flanagan, Paul Davy, Neil Griffiths, Dallas Drake, Michael Mashman, Bill Barnes, Douglas Errington, Robert Spurway. Lindsay Drury.

With Typhoon Signal up the weather was fairly rough but our first meeting at Sand Baggers on top of the hill overlooking Blue Rock was very lucky to have two hours of clear weather so the great view was appreciated. For pictures of the visit, go to our website: www.rslangelescity.com and look under Image Gallery

Jane Gebirtas and Jenky Cairns, members of our

„ladies committee‟ present Edward Andrew with

his wheelchair. Edward is a diabetic.

Allen Bernesca and mother Jocelyn gladly

accept a wheelchair from a „ladies committee‟

member. Allen is suffering from meningitis.

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To read the story to this Presidential Citation, go to the next page

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Vietnam Veteran Day Reports

The Presidential Unit Citation above was awarded to 6th Battalion the Royal

Australian Regiment (6RAR) as a result of their action at the battle of Long Tan on 18th

of

August 1966.

Originally, 18th

of August was known as Long Tan day but in 1987 was decreed by the Prime

Minister of the day as Vietnam Veterans Day.

Two survivors of the battle, ex

2LT David Sabben (L) and ex

SGT Bob Buick (R) recently

visited the Long Tan memorial

in Vietnam. SGT Buick had to

assume command of his platoon

when his platoon commander

2LT Gordon Sharpe was KIA in

the early stages of the battle. Lt

Sabben and his platoon

attempted to reinforce SGT

Buick and platoon but came

under extreme withering enemy fire and were stalled.

Eighteen members of 6 RAR died in the Battle of Long Tan on August 18, 1966. It was the defining

Australian battle of the Vietnam War when 108 Diggers defeated a determined enemy force

estimated to be around 2,500 in strength, close to the Australian base at Nui Dat.

Due to a quota system, officers such as Lieutenant Sabben were denied high-level awards and the

men under their command were never properly recognised.

Back in Australia at Gallipoli Barracks, located in the Brisbane suburb of Enoggera, former

members of 6th Battalion's Delta Company received the Unit Citation for Gallantry - 45 years

after they earned it in the blood and mud of Long Tan Vietnam by Governor General Ms

Quentin Bryce.

Ms Bryce presented the citation to former Major Geoff Kendall, MG, and the warrant for the Medal

for Gallantry to ex-Lieutenant Dave Sabben.

Mr Sabben said he would be proud to stand alongside members of today's 6th Battalion as a "tribal

elder".

Ms Bryce also presented bravery awards to current members of 6 RAR and their Commanding

Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Jennings with a Meritorious Unit Citation for his unit's work with

the Mentoring Task Force 1 in Afghanistan last year.

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Meanwhile in Angeles City, our RSL Sub Branch conducted a memorial service at the

cemetery of former US Air-force Base Clark.

The actual numbers at the service were a few down on last year. Those attending were

Australian and New Zealand Vietnam Veterans, the US Fleet Reserve Association (FRA),

American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Vietnam Veterans of the USA.

The keynote speaker was our Defence Attache', Group Captain Craig White, accompanied by

his assistant Warrant Officer Don Kelly, both Royal Australian Air Force.

120 persons attended the after service function at the

where plenty of refreshments were consumed, raffles run and won and every one attending had

a good time.

Our new Vietnam Remembered shirts proved to be a hit with dozens sold. More on sale.

***** ***** *****

Vietnam Veterans Day ceremonies were conducted all over Australia. One ceremony

was attended by our newsletter editor in Launceston Tasmania. The Vietnam Veterans

Association of Australia (VVAA) Launceston Sub Branch made many preparations for the

service to be conducted at the Launceston cenotaph, but, due to the vagaries of weather, had to

adjourn the service to the Launceston RSL Sub Branch building.

GPCAPT Craig White (L) and WO Don Kelly (R) at the service and later enjoying the company of

other veterans at the Ponderosa Hotel

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Dignitaries attending

were the Mayor of

Launceston, Hon

Albert van Zetten,

Vice Mayor and

several council

aldermen. Guest

speaker was former

mayor and state

politician Don Wing.

Also attending were

members of the

Riverside High School

girls‟ choir who sang songs, hymns and the national anthem. They sang beautifully and

received great applause.

There were about 100 Vietnam Veterans and supporters present on the day.

The Sub Branch is very fortunate to receive great support from the Launceston City Council.

Current Sub Branch President Terry Byrne and historical researcher Paul Bullock provided

me with some interesting statistics. The Launceston Sub Branch was the first Vietnam

Veterans Association to start, that being in May 1980 and the Launceston RSL Sub Branch

was the first to receive their Charter on 8th

November 1916. The next was Hobart on 17th

November 1916. All other states followed at later dates, mostly in 1917. Ed

***** ***** *****

AND we all remember our old mate and

member Ray Sauvola who recently moved

back to Australia after many years

residing in Angeles City. Ray was our

auctioneer at our „after service‟ activities.

Ray is on the right

Ray spent Vietnam Veterans Day at the

Whyalla (South Australia) RSL Club

enjoying the company of local Vietnam

Veterans and dignitaries. Here is a picture

of Ray enjoying the day with their Vice

President and a guest from Adelaide.

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Minister for Veterans‟ Affairs Monday, 29 August VA069

NEW PROGRAM TO MAINTAIN GRAVES OF OUR BRAVEST

The graves of recipients of Australia‟s highest honours for bravery will be protected under a new maintenance program, the Minister for Veterans‟ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, announced today.

Mr Snowdon said the program would cover the Victoria Cross (VC), its equivalent civil award, the Cross of Valour, and the predecessor of the Cross of Valour, the George Cross.

“My Department, through the Office of Australian War Graves (OAWG), has continued to maintain official commemorations to a high standard for almost a century. However I have become aware that some private graves of our VC

recipients are not covered by the current program,” he said.

“The new program, to be delivered by the Department of Veterans‟ Affairs through the OAWG, will provide for the maintenance in perpetuity of the graves of all Australian Victoria Cross, Cross of Valour and George Cross recipients, wherever they may lie.”

VC graves which are not currently covered by the existing program of official commemoration will be included, as will the graves of one New Zealand and 18 British VC recipients buried in Australia. The graves of George Cross and Cross of Valour recipients will also be covered under the new program.

Mr Snowdon said the new program is separate from the existing program of official commemoration.

“The new program recognises the significance of the recipients of these highest of awards in our nation‟s heritage and, in including foreign recipients, acknowledges the significance of the honours in their own right.”

The VC for Australia is the pre-eminent award for acts of bravery in wartime and Australia's highest military honour. Until the Victoria Cross for Australia was created in 1991, Australians were eligible for the VC under the Imperial

system of honours. The requirements are the same for both awards.

96 Australians have earned the VC. Two Australians have earned the VC for Australia, the most recent being Lance Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, VC, MG, of Perth, for actions in Afghanistan in June 2010.

The George Cross is the civilian counterpart of the VC and is awarded to civilians for „acts of the greatest heroism‟ or to military personnel for actions that are not „in the face of the enemy.‟ 22 Australians have earned the George Cross.

In 1975, the Cross of Valour became the pre-eminent Australian award for acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril. There have been five awards of the Cross of Valour to date, most recently to Senior Constable Timothy Britten and Mr Richard Joyes, for their courage following the Bali bombing in 2002.

11 “The significance of these awards, and their recipient‟s great achievements, warrants a dedicated national program to maintain the graves of their recipients in perpetuity,” Mr Snowdon said.

Families of recipients of the Victoria Cross, Cross of Valour or George Cross are encouraged to make contact with the Department of Veterans‟ Affairs at GeneralEnquiries@dva.gov.au or by phone on 02 6225 4461.

VETERANS ACCESSING MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE Marking World Suicide Prevention Day, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Warren Snowdon said he was encouraged that more than 20,000 veterans, Australian Defence Force members and their families received support from the VVCS in the past year. The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service has centres across Australia, an after-hours counselling telephone service and provides counselling services in regional areas, to assist eligible veterans, ADF members, and their families. “It’s great that an increasing number of veterans, serving men and women and their families are accessing the invaluable VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service,” Mr Snowdon said.

“We know that VVCS has had an additional 2,000 inquiries this past year compared to 2009-10, up from 18,000. The Veterans Line after-hours telephone counselling service received more than 5,300 calls, an increase from 4,600 in 2009-10. ”I want to remind our clients that help is available at any time, where ever they may be.” Mr Snowdon said modern technology adopted by VVCS is making it even easier to access services. “VVCS now offers counselling services via video link so veterans can talk to mental health professionals face-to-face for specialised and confidential support in most rural and remote areas in Australia,” he said. To mark World Suicide Prevention Day, Mr Snowdon encouraged the veteran community and wider population to learn more about mental health. “We need to raise awareness about the signs of mental illness and reduce the stigma around it to help save lives. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has a range of online initiatives that provide information and advice on recognising the signs and symptoms of mental health issues in loved ones,” he said.

Initiatives include the Wellbeing Toolbox, and At Ease website. The VVCS Operation Life workshops also educate the veteran community about recognising signs of potential self harm. For more information on DVA mental health initiatives or the VVCS visit www.dva.gov.au. VVCS can be contacted 24 hours per day by calling 1800 011 046. For information on activities to mark World Suicide Prevention Day visit www.suicidepreventionaust.org.

www.beyondtheblackstump.com

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Blue-Book acknowledgement of our Medical Missions

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A WORLD War II US veteran recognised as the oldest living survivor of the Bataan Death March has died

at age 105 in an Illinois nursing home.

His biographer, Kevin Moore, says Albert Brown was recognised as the oldest

survivor of the deadly 100km trek at an annual survivors' convention in 2007.

After the three-month Battle of Bataan in 1942, Japanese soldiers forced 78,000 US

and Filipino prisoners of war to march through the Philippines to a POW camp. As

many as 11,000 died.

But Brown survived. When the war ended, he moved to California and rented

properties to Hollywood stars.

Moore said today that Brown's story of endurance and hope has as much relevance for

today's wounded warriors as it did for World War II veterans.

Capt. Albert Brown

LOOKING FOR……… I (the seeker) am trying to locate anyone who served with Vietnam veteran BEVIS LABBETT GARDNER (See attached details = RAEME 102 Fd Wksp SVN 1968/69) who died in 1994. He was known by colleagues as JOHN GARDNER during his military service. Some additional details; Enlisted in Sydney on 27 June 1966 and discharged on 26 June 1972....apparently actual date released was 20 July 1972. Bevis died 20 July 1994. His son Ben who resides in Tasmania is keen to talk to anyone who served with his father. If you could distribute this to your networks I and sure young Ben would appreciate it Regards, Brian (oldfaithful@netspace.net.au) If any of our members can help Ben with info about his dad should contact Brian at the email address shown above. Ed

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A piece of Philippine trivia

The largest city (by area) in the Philippines is Davao City. With an area of 2,211 sq. km., it is about three times the size of the national capitol, Metro Manila.

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LOOKING INTO OUR PAST

Charles Spry

Brigadier Sir Charles Chambers Fowell Spry, CBE, DSO (26 June 1910 – 28 May 1994) was an Australian soldier,

who from 1950 to 1970 was the second Director-General of Security, the head of the Australian Security Intelligence

Organisation (ASIO).

Charles Spry was born on 26 June 1910 in

Brisbane. He attended local state schools and

then Brisbane Grammar School. At the age

of 18, he enrolled in the Royal Military

College, Duntroon, from which he graduated

in 1931.

After graduating from Duntroon, Spry

served as an infantry officer in Hobart and

Sydney, where he earned the nickname

"Silent Charles" while adjutant of the

Sydney University Regiment. From 1935 to

1936, he served in the British Army in India, where he joined in operations with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment

in the Northwest Frontier.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation

ASIO's first Director-General, Geoffrey Reed, had been due to retire in February 1950, but his appointment was

extended until the Menzies Government could find a suitable replacement. At the time, Spry was the Director of

Military Intelligence in the army, and was seconded to ASIO on 6 July 1950, with an option to remain in, and return

to, the army if he so desired. He was discharged from the army on 15 June 1954, and his secondment ceased on 20

August, with Spry appointed solely to ASIO.

Spry was head of ASIO during the Petrov affair when Vladimir Petrov, Third Secretary

of the Soviet Embassy in Canberra, defected to Australia in 1954. Spry authorised the

payment of £5,000 to Petrov to encourage his defection and as payment for documents

he obtained from the Soviet embassy. Spry also instructed ASIO officers to seize

Petrov's wife, Evdokia Petrova (also a Soviet intelligence officer), from a plane at

Darwin Airport, where she was in the custody of Soviet Interior Ministry (MVD)

officials being transported back to Moscow.

Spry remained Director-General for nearly twenty years, only deciding to retire in 1969

on medical grounds after a heart attack, and doubts about serving under Prime Minister

John Gorton.

Spry was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order on 23 December 1943, for his actions in the South

West Pacific theatre of World War II, specifically for maintaining the flow of supplies in Papua New Guinea.

He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) on 31 May 1956, and knighted on 1 January

1964. The citations for both these honours simply stated "Public service". Barrister and academic Ian Spry, QC, was

Sir Charles's son.

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Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

Col. B.J. Smith VFW Post 9892

National Hwy, Paringao, Bauang, La Union, 2501 Philippines

Tel: (072) 607-6660 -- Email: vfw9892@yahoo.com.ph

September 11, 2011 Greetings Chili Fans,

On Saturday, November 26, 2011, the members of Colonel B.J. Smith VFW Post 9892 will be gathering at the Bali Hai Beach

Resort, in Bauang, La Union for our 20th Annual “Chili Cook Off.” Our theme this year will be “PATRIOT CHILI” This is truly

fitting, as our history has proven to us that “Patriots” are the foundation that “freedom” is built on. All Chili aficionados are invited to

join us for a day of fun in the sun.

The festivities will start at 8:30 a.m., when the Chili cookers crank up their fires, and commence their individual efforts to

show all and sundry just what is simply the best Chili. It won‟t take long before the aromas alone make you happy you came. The

specific objective of course is to determine which team cooks the best pot of Chili, judged solely on quality. An exquisitely carved

wooden trophy goes to the winner, with plaques for the next two places. There is also a “Commander‟s Plaque” awarded to the best

decorated cooking booth, and team attire, as judged solely by the Post Commander.

We also attempt to fill the time between the actual cooking, and the completion of the judging by conducting a “Miss Chili

Pepper” bikini contest. This is a favorite of all the admirers of the female form, and the young ladies are only required to wear street

wear, and participate in a bikini contest. They are judged solely on their appearance. Cash prizes are awarded, as well as a Plaque for

the Winner. There is no additional fee for entry into this contest.

For planning purposes early entries are encouraged. Get your team info and fee, P2,500.00, to us NO LATER THAN the end

of October to insure proper shirt sizes on the day of the Cook Off. That being said entries will be accepted up until the Team Captain‟s

Meeting at noon on the preceding Friday, Nov. 25, 2011 at the VFW Post 9892 Canteen.

NOTE: No beverages, or food, (expect Chili ingredients), may be brought on the premises. You will find food and beverage

prices are very reasonable. All proceeds gained from food and beverage sales go towards our Community Projects support of Bauang,

and its residents. Help us as we help them.

Sincerely yours,

Frank B. Hilliard IV

Commander

(Frank will guarantee that you will have a great day. Besides it is a good excuse to get away from Angeles for a couple of days). Ed

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Time for some light relief A man from Texas, driving a Volkswagen Beetle, pulls up next to a guy in a Rolls Royce at a stop sign. Their windows are open and he yells at the guy in the Rolls, "Hey, you got a telephone in that Rolls?" The guy in the Rolls says, "Yes, of course I do.." "I got one too... See?" the Texan says. "Uh, huh, yes, that's very nice." "You got a fax machine?" asks the Texan. "Why, actually, yes, I do." "I do too! See? It's right here!" brags the Texan. The light is just about to turn green and the guy in the Volkswagen says, "So, do you have a double bed in back there?" The guy in the Rolls replies, "NO! Do you?" "Yep, got my double bed right in back here," the Texan replies. The light turns and the man in the Volkswagen takes off. Well, the guy in the Rolls is not about to be one-upped, so he immediately goes to a customizing shop and orders them to put a double bed in back of his car. About two weeks later, the job is finally done. He picks up his car and drives all over town looking for the Volkswagen beetle with the Texas plates. Finally, he finds it parked alongside the road, so he pulls his Rolls up next to it. The windows on the Volkswagen are all fogged up and he feels somewhat awkward about it, but he gets out of his newly modified Rolls and taps on the foggy window of the Volkswagen. The man in the Volkswagen finally opens the window a crack and peeks out. The guy with the Rolls says, "Hey, remember me?" "Yeah, yeah, I remember you," replies the Texan, "What's up?" "Check this out...I got a double bed installed in my Rolls." "The Texan exclaims, "YOU GOT ME OUT OF THE SHOWER TO TELL ME THAT?"

REPORT FROM BLOOD REGISTER

The Blood Registration day in July at the Orchid Inn was another step in the right direction with a good turn out to have their blood typed and donated. Here is a quick break down on how the Blood Register stands at the moment.

-We now have a total of 113 people on our register. -62 are suitable to donate. -22 are above 60 years old and are not suitable unless cleared by the Doctor. -9 are children and are exempt. -20 have moved or are un-contactable.

The blood types we have on the Register are O+, A+, A-, B+ and AB+ (AB+ is rare and we only have 3) The blood types we don’t have are O-, B- and AB- (AB- is even rarer) If you have these blood types please register – we need you. Its interesting to note that at the last Blood Register at the Orchid Inn in July that we had 53 participants, 16 were RSL members, and the rest were either RSL family or friends, residents of the hotel, and staff from the hotel. A big thanks to Dave the Manager for bribing his staff to donate with a free lunch. Some of them were terrified but they were brave and still fronted up. Out of the 12 donations we received on the day, 1 was from an RSL member and the rest came from the staff and 1 guest. Out of the 53 people attending only 12 people could donate because of Red Cross restrictions. Please read the Requirements of Potential Blood Donors printed below. Please don’t be under the misconception that you have to be able to give blood to be on the register. That is certainly not the case. The whole idea of the blood register is to be able to obtain blood for expats and their families in the case of an

17 emergency. So even if you can’t give blood for any reason, be it medical or personal, it is important that you are still on the register. In the case of you having an accident or other emergency we can get the right blood to you ASAP. Just your being on the register and we know your blood type will speed up this process. BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF A POTENTIAL BLOOD DONOR AGE; 18 years old and above to 60 years old (Doctors and parental consent required for under and above these ages). WEIGHT; At least 50kg (110lbs) PULSE RATE; Between 60 and 100 beats a minute. BLOOD PRESSURE; 110/70 to 140/80 NO ALCOHOL INTAKE WITHIN 24 HOURS NO MEDICINE, ANTIBIOTIC INTAKE (WITHIN 1 WEEK) TATOOS AND BODY PIERCING AT LEAST A YEAR OLD PEOPLE WITH COUGHS AND COLDS WILL BE TEMPORARILY DEFERRED NO ALLERGIES PEOPLE WITH VACCINES UNDER 2-3 WEEKS OLD WILL BE TEMPORARILY DEFERRED WOMEN CANNOT DONATE – 2 WEEKS BEFORE MENSTRUATION AND 7-10 DAYS AFTER MENSTRUATION

Since the inception of the Blood Register in October 2010 we have had 9 instances where we have been called on to supply blood. We have been able to supply a limited amount of the required blood in all these cased. The AUF Hospital has been very helpful in giving us credits for all types of blood we donate in exchange for any other types we may need in the future. So the more credits we have – the better position we are in to help when called on. Please help if you can. While this Blood Register in its infancy and we still need to “iron out” problems with electronic filing and actual blood donor procedures I feel it is a very worthwhile project and should be continued with as much as possible. In the future we hope to combine our register with the likes of the VFW and other expat organisations here. The bigger the register the more effective it will be. I would like to say a BIG thank you to all who have helped us. We most certainly appreciate all the help we get from everyone, from those who come to the Blood Registration days to help with registering, blood typing, blood donors, blood taking, and to the proprietors of the venues for letting us use their facilities. I’d like especially to thank those who I have called upon to at some of the most inconvenient times to give blood. All of you (and you know who you are) have been very co-operative and came, uncomplainingly. You are the real heroes of the Register. THANK YOU ONE AND ALL. If you have any questions or suggestions, or would like to help in any way, please contact me Lindsay Drury Organiser, RSL Blood Register E-mail lad251@gmail,com Cell 0921 601 0966

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The Angeles City Sub-Branch of the R&SLA, the Committee and the Editor take no responsibilities for any errors,

omissions or inaccuracies contained in this newsletter. Nor do they accept any liability for loss or damage suffered directly

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this newsletter are necessarily the opinions held by the Sub-branch, the Committee or the Editor

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