Support The Veterans Of Foreign Wars

By CURT CLARK

Published: Oct 31, 2003 12:00 am

To the Editor:

The Veterans of Foreign Wars is considered the elite of the US veteransâ organizations because it demands overseas service in time of war or international crisis to qualify for membership. We have been well respected since 1899. Membership spans the generations from WWII to Iraq. Reasons to join the VFW are: enhanced pride in service, support efforts to find the cause of and treat illnesses afflicting veterans, perpetuate core American values and traditions, improve the quality of life in your community, help bolster national defense, and enjoy the company of your fellow veterans. The VFW helps solve veteransâ problems, raises your voice on Capitol Hill, supports our troops, helps veterans find jobs, encourages enhancing our community, and works with youth. By joining you get the VFW Magazine, eligibility in the VFW Credit Union, an automatic $1,000 accidental death and dismemberment protection insurance policy, and many voluntary member benefits.

The VFW needs new members so our voice can continue to be heard. WWII veterans make up a large part of our membership and they are passing away at a rate of 1,500 per day. Our Korean War veterans are also getting up there in age. There are approximately 150 VFW Posts in Connecticut. Some have post homes. Some do not. Some have canteens (bars). You can select what serves your needs and desires best. You do not have to join the post in the town where you live if you would rather not. The choice is yours. You do have to be eligible and approved by the post. Yearly dues average around $20 depending on the by-laws of the post. If you would like more information, contact your local post, go to the website at www.vfw.org., or contact me at 792-5300 (rgodfrey1@prodigy.net). To cop a phrase, âWe are looking for a few good men and women.â Are you one?

Respectfully,

Richard Godfrey

District One Commander

Department of Connecticut Veterans of Foreign Wars

4 Granite Drive, Bethel Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â October 24, 2003

Celebrating America’s Semiquincentennial Locally: Brainstorming Underway By Newtown 250 Committee

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A birth certificate is a permanent document that doesn't change...your marriage license/certificate is proof of a name change and used to confirm changing your driver's license, SS card, Passport, etc.

Elections Have Consequences XXI

The “Newtown has no town green/town common” line is doing a lot of work. We literally have Ram Pasture — a huge public green space — right at Main Street and 302. And it’s not like it’s never been used for exactly this kind of thing. Ram Pasture was used for a candlelight vigil, and it was also used during the warehouse protest. So yes — there is a highly visible public space for gatherings that doesn’t require turning the busiest intersection in town into a choke point. If the goal is truly to be heard without disrupting day-to-day life, then use Ram Pasture, keep sidewalks passable, and don’t “accidentally” crowd the roads in front of Town Hall because it’s the most effective way to force attention. Free speech is a right — manufactured gridlock doesn’t have to be part of it. I have yet to hear a convincing argument as to why it needs to be on and IN the busiest road in town. The Bee's own photos show people standing in the road. Of course, local PD doesn't want to get involved because we all remember what the mob did when they suggested some common-sense suggestions to protect the crowds...

The proposed Director of Operations salary is roughly $125,000. With benefits, the cost jumps fast. Even conservatively, you’re looking at about $162k all-in ... and if we end up with two senior administrative roles, we’re easily at $325k+ annually. Apparently, the new strategy is: run for First Selectman, get the salary, then announce you’ll need an additional executive (or two) to do the actual job. Must be nice—most of us don’t get to accept a role and then immediately propose hiring extra people at six figures to make it workable. But sure, why stop there? The first Selectman needs a new driver and a private chef to handle those late 7:00 meetings. Quickly slip it in the budget and hope nobody notices. In classic Billy Mays fashion, but why stop there, let's add some admin staff, the First Selectman doesn't like to have to respond to his constituents directly, before he was elected, he did, but no longer, let's add a couple of staffers, how about a Deputy Director of Folllw up, Chief Email Forwarding Officers, Director of Accountability Avoidance. If the First Selectman role isn’t manageable, then maybe the answer is to elect someone who can manage it—not to keep adding expensive layers. At minimum: publish the duties, reporting structure, and measurable results that justify the cost.

Town Administrator, Town Manager, Director Of Operations?

I was talking about the state being forced to turn over our voter data files to the federal government. Last I checked States are in charge of elections. I show my license every time I vote. There is no evidence of wide scale nton-citizens voting in this country. The Heritage Foundation looked into this and could not find a problem. If the so-called Save Voting law were to be passed, I, as a woman who changed my name when I got married, would have to go through additional work to prove who I am because my name no longer matches what was on my birth certificate.

Considering showing proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections is an 80/20 issue. Also, explain why you would be against showing ID to vote? Just curious, if you entered a foreign country illegally, would you expect to be able to vote in that foreign countries elections?

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