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‘Lest We Forget’
Newsletter
Number 22 *** January 2009
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The President and Committee wish all our members and
readers a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.
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PRESIDENTS REPORT January 2009
Happy New Year, to
all our members, their families, and visitors to our website.
With
Christmas 2008 now behind us, the fireworks of New Years eve here in the Philippines fully exploded (it’s like WW3 at midnight), it’s time for the plans of the Australia Day
Fiesta Committee to now be implemented.
The Committee have worked hard, and elsewhere in this newsletter,
details of the various activities appear.
Our
monster raffle is the biggest ever with prizes totaling P485,000.00 and tickets
are available from most bars and members and I encourage all to enter. Whether
you want a breast augmentation, a nose job or the round trip flight per favour
Qantas to Australia, or any of the multitude of other prizes, the total
proceeds of the raffle go to our Charity account to be spent here in Angeles City
for the benefit of those persons (particularly children) who are not so
privileged as us.
Our
Barangay medical missions start again in February, and Operation Smiles is
planning yet another mission for surgery on children with hare lip and cleft
palate deformities early in the year.
In
February also the Sub Branch will be involved in a visit by 12 navy veterans
from Australia who were manning Australian ships that landed US
forces in Lingayen Gulf, North
Luzon in 1944. These men, now aged in their 80’s, are being
assisted in their tour arrangements by the Defence Attaché’s attached to the
Australian Embassy in Manila and I have expressed our keen interest in being
involved. More details will follow.
Our
Annual General Meeting and election of Office Bearers will be held at the
Ponderosa Hotel on Tuesday 17th February and nominations will be called
for all positions at the general meeting on 20th January. Please take part and be part of our
continuing growth and strength as being one of only four Sub Branches outside Australia. Our membership at the end of the year stood at 291
members, and I am informed by Col Whelan our membership director, that we have
had more new members join already in the new year.
That
is all for this month and encourage all to be part of our Australia Day Fiesta
at the end of the month.
James
E. Curtis-Smith
President
FOUR IMPORTANT NOTICES
AUSTRALIA DAY FIESTA 2009 - ANGELES CITY (from Percy Mitchell)
The 8th Annual Australia Day Fiesta organized by
the Angeles City R.S.L. will be held from Wednesday 21st
January to Monday, January, 26th
2009 .
The “Curry Cook-Off Competition”
will be held in Fields Avenue, Balibago on Sunday 25th January
as part of a Wednesday 21st January to Monday, January, 26th
2009 celebration of Australia Day.
We would like to offer your
organization an invitation to enter a team of up to 3 members in the Curry
Cook-Off competition. The entry fee for this event is P2,000.00 which includes
a T-Shirt for two team members.
The winners of the competition will be the team that
prepares the tastiest curry which will be judged at 4.00 p.m. by professional Chefs from local
restaurants/hotels.
A copy of the rules governing the competition and an entry
form is at www.rslangelescity.com
Entry Forms and fees should be either mailed (Registered
Post) or hand delivered to Ponderosa Hotel
Angeles City
before 24th January, 2009.
Late entries may not receive team shirts for the cook-off due to early ordering
of the shirts. Cheques should be made payable to: Angeles City RSL Australia
Day Fiesta.
A meeting for team captains or representatives will be
held at Ponderosa Hotel on 24th January commencing at 12 noon.
Finally I would like to highlight the fact that this
event will be an excellent form of promotion for your organization to advertise
and offer the general public a sample of your cooking expertise.
For further information please ring 09179726600, Bob Young
or email info@rslangelescity.com
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AUSTRALIA
DAY FIESTA 2009 CURRY COOK-OFF RULES
1. Teams
Organizations, Individuals or Families may enter. A team
shall consist of as many as you like.
2. Name
Each team and their Curry recipes should have a name.
3. Curry Team Captain
Must be an adult.
4. Equipment
A booth, table and work area will be supplied for each team.
Teams are responsible for their own curry ingredients, cooking utensils, stove
and gas or BBQ and charcoal. No electrical appliances or pressure cookers are
permitted.
5. Cooking Time
Shall be from 12.00 pm. Samples of Curry must be ready for
judging at 4-00pm. Approximately 450grms or 12ozs.is to be presented for
judging in a container provided. Teams must cook at least 4.5 litres or one
gallon of curry.
6. Preparation
Curry must be prepared and cooked in your allocated booth
between 12.00 pm and 4.00pm on the day of the Curry Cook-Off.
7. Judging
Judging will be based on taste. Decisions of the judges will
be final.
8. Clean-up
Each team will be responsible for the cleaning up of their
assigned area and returned to original condition. Tables, chairs and tents must
be returned to a central marshalling point. Captains will be informed of
marshalling point at team captains meeting.
9. Awards
Best Curry - 1st . Trophy
Best Curry - 2nd. Trophy
Best Curry- 3rd.
Trophy
Humdinger- Trophy
10. Presentation of Prizes
Prizes will be presented after judging.
11. Entry Fee
There will be an entry fee of P 2,000 which must be paid no
later than 24th January, 2009
at the team captains meeting. (Ponderosa Hotel)
Cheques should be made payable to: Angeles City RSL
Australia Day Fiesta.
ANNUAL RSL DART TOURNAMENT
WHERE: HOTEL LA CASA/BLUE BOAR INN, CLARKVIEW
DATE: SATURDAY 31 JAN 09
TIME: 1400 HRS - SINGLES - FORMAT: DOUBLE ELIMINATION, EACH SET BEST TWO
OF THREE GAMES (CRICKET TO 15, 501 STRAIGHT ON DOUBLE OFF AND CORKER CHOICE, IF
NECESSARY). ENTRY FEE: P600
TIME: 1900 HRS - BLIND DRAW DOUBLES - FORMAT: SAME AS SINGLES
EXCEPT CRICKET TO 12 INSTEAD OF 15. ENTRY FEE: P600
P100 FROM EACH ENTRY WILL BE DONATED TO THE RSL FOR THEIR CHARITY FUND.
PRIZES WILL BE CASH FROM ENTRY FEE MINUS WHAT IS DONATED TO THE RSL
REGISTRATION TIME: AT LEAST 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO STARTING TIMES. DO
NOT BE LATE - STARTING TIMES ARE FIXED.
LOCAL DRINKS ARE P45 BUT WILL BE REDUCED TO P40 FOR THE DART COMPETITORS AND THEIR GUESTS. ONE FREE DRINK TICKET WILL BE PROVIDED
EACH COMPETITOR UPON REGISTRATION.
LET’S MAKE THIS A GREAT COMPETITIVE, FUN DARTS DAY. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT:
JIMMY ‘D’
AT 09287781473 Cell
number +639165243084
AND FINALLY
AUSTRALIA DAY FIESTA BELL RING at Golden Nile, Fields Avenue on Friday 23rd January commencing at 5.00pm.
The Bell Ring night will commence
with a slot machine derby.
P1,000.00 admission gives
you P500.00 credit on the slots and after 45 mins of play any credit on your
machine card will be cashed in and half of the proceeds on the card will go to
the RSL Charity Fund.
Following the derby, we move
to the 3rd floor of the Golden Nile where a meal will be served and
free local drinks will be available until 7.30pm all covered under the P1,000 admission.
We will be entertained by
showgirls “Bad Influence” and the Bell Ring follows. A great night and we need members support to
ensure our Bell Ring” reputation remains untarnished.
MORE EVENTS COMING
SOON
Sunday
Feb 1st RSL Members,
Families & Friends Gathering to be held at Angeles Sports & Country
Club (Hidden Vale )
Play a round of Golf or Lawn Bowls, swim in the pool or just relax and wind
down after the Australia Day Fiesta 2009 is over. Bring your own steak to BBQ
or be served meals from the Facilities available.
Feb. AGM & Election of Office Bearers. Nominations from the floor can only
be accepted from financial members at any AGM. Membership renewals
now due.
VFW Post 11447 will hold their 17th Annual Barrio Barretto Beach Bash 2009
Feb 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Events, Grand Parade, Pool, Table Tennis, Darts, Volley Ball
Tournaments, and activities such as Volley Ball, Dunk Tank, Children’s Games,
Vendor Booths Raffle Drawings. Plus, Battle of the Bands, Dance competitions,
(2 Divisions) Mrs Beach Bash, Little Miss Beach Bash, and Miss Beach Bash
Beauty Contests. Booths are available for rental to advertise and/or sell your
products..
Funds raised go to Scholarships for 50 Local indigent
children and Clark Cemetery maintenance, the Fleet Reserve
Association's Child Nutrition Program and many more worthwhile programs such as
free Medical and Dental Clinics.
Contacts are Jose Alvarez
(Commander) 09208502483
Wayne Gordon (Sr Vice Commander )
09284973808
Edward Spears (Jr Vice Commander )
09282433259
Email: subic11447@yahoo.com.ph Website:
WWW.VFW11447.ORG
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THE Sub
branch would like to welcome the following new members: William Lewington
* Terrence Alexander * Stanley Gibb * Sharon Mendoza * Stephen Bates * James D
Brown * Michael Flaten* Christina Poschung * Dr Marilou Tanchico *
¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶
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CAR POOLING IN AFRICA
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SUPPORTERS OF RSL
New discount places.
Dr.Holms Bar
Foxy Bar
Anchorage Inn
Oriental Rose (Barrio Barretto)
Broadway (Barrio Barretto )
Blue Rock (Baloy Beach )
Nigi Nigi "Too" Resort (Boracay Island )
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N.B. Look for the RSL logo Posted on Premises and
show your RSL Card.
Below is a true story, related to me by an Aussie family of kids about
what they saw and experienced on the eve of Christmas 2008
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(I
put this into two columns for space saving reasons) Ed
'Twas the night before Christmas; there
wasn't sound,
Not a possum was stirring; no-one was
around.
We'd left on the table some tucker and
beer,
Hoping that Santa Claus soon would be
here.
We children were snuggled up safe in our
beds,
While dreams of pavlova danced 'round in
our heads.
And Mum in her nightie, and Dad in his
shorts,
Had just settled down to watch TV
sports.
When outside the house a mad ruckus
arose,
A loud squeaking and banging woke us
from our doze.
We ran to the screen door, peeked
cautiously out,
Snuck onto the deck, then let out a
shout.
Guess what had woken us up from our
snooze,
But a rusty old Ute pulled by eight
mighty 'roos.
The cheerful man driving was giggling
with glee,
And we both knew at once who this plump
bloke must be.
Now, I'm telling the truth, it's all dinki-di,
Those eight kangaroos fairly soared
through the sky.
Santa leaned out the window to pull at
the reins,
And encouraged the 'roos, by calling
their names.
On Kipper! On, Skipper! On, Bazza and
Wayne!
'Now, Kylie! Now, Kirsty! Now, Shazza and
Shane!
So up to the tank those eight kangaroos
flew,
With the ute full of toys, and Santa
Claus too.
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He slid down the gum tree and jumped to the
ground,
Then in through the window he sprang
with a bound.
Park up on that water tank, grab a quick
drink,
I'll scoot down the gum tree, be back in
a wink!'
He had bright sunburned cheeks and a milky
white beard.
A jolly old joker was how he appeared.
He wore red stubby shorts and old thongs
on his feet,
And a hat of deep crimson as shade from
the heat.
His eyes - bright as opals - Oh! How
they twinkled!
And, like a goanna, his skin was quite
wrinkled!
His shirt was stretched over a round
bulging belly,
Which shook when he moved, like a plate
full of jelly.
A fat stack of prezzies he flung from
his back,
And he looked like a swaggie unfastening
his pack.
He spoke not a word, but bent down on
one knee,
To position our goodies beneath the yule
tree.
Surfboard and footy-ball shapes for us
two.
And for Dad, tongs to use on the new
barbeque.
A mysterious package he left for our
Mum,
Then he turned and he winked and he held
up his thumb.
He strolled out on deck and his 'roos
came on cue,
Flung his sack in the back and prepared
to shoot through.
He bellowed out loud as they swooped
past the gates,
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, and goodonya,
MATES!'
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I must say
again that this is a true story as we know that kids do not tell lies about
Santa
Editorial. In a lot of our newsletters there has been a
picture or two and a mention of RSL member, Phillip Terrell. BUT
WHO ‘IS’ PHILLIP TERRELL??? I
knew of Phillip, so last August when I was in Angeles City for Vietnam Veteran’s Day,
I asked Phillip if I could do an article on him. He took some time to get the following words
to me, but as you read his story you will appreciate that he is a hard
taskmaster on himself and he does not have too much spare time in ANY day. The
RSL is made up of team members and Phillip has worked hard to be a member of the
team. He has chaired the Medical
Missions sub-committee of the Sub Branch and been the link between the Sub
Branch members and Operation Smiles which is one of our major charities
supported by this Sub Branch. Another reason he took some time was that he has
serious medical problems himself and has been back in the USA seeking a solution to
those. His military background has been US Coast Guard and USN for some 20+
years. ED
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From Phillip --“I came to PI for the first time in August 2003. I had planned to invest in a Hotel
here. Before I make an investment, I always go to Church and pray over it. I
am not over religious, but I do believe in God and the power of prayer. I was
supposed to sign the contract for the Hotel on Monday morning. We reached an
agreement and all was done. I went to Clarkfield Baptist Church on Sunday and there was a child on the pew in front
of me with a Cleft Lip and Palate. For two hours, the child never took his
eyes off of me. It was as if he knew I was there to help him. After the
Sermon, I went to the Pastor and introduced myself and told him I wanted to
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meet the family of the child. I explained
to him that I wanted to pay for his surgery. The pastor told me there were many
more just like him. I then asked him to take me around to see them all. He said
we would visit maybe 15 families because there was no way to see them all. It
was the saddest day of my life. I talked with a lot of the families and the
stories they told me about how their children were treated, tormented me. Kids
throw rocks at them and beat them. The child never looks in a mirror for fear
of what they will see. They don't get an education and the entire family is
outcast because people think it is Voodoo or Witchcraft, and if you associate
with the family, it will happen to you. Needless to say, I did not sleep that
night. I went into the meeting with the attorney to sign off on the hotel and
told them I’d changed my mind, I found a better investment. The investment was
to sponsor every child I could find for surgery.
I went back to America and put my money in an account so it would be easily
available to me and flew back to PI and started setting up Medical Missions. It
took a lot of research and time to start the ball rolling. The first mission
was in August 2004. We had around 500 kids to show up. I will never forget that
day as long as I live. Some Nurse came running to me and said Sir, you need to
come with me outside. She wanted me to see the people lined up. Some of the Doctors asked me to stay inside
for fear something might happen to me. I refused to listen to them because I
wanted to meet every family and assure them that their child was going to be
beautiful at the end of the mission. There are no words to explain the feeling
I had when the surgeries began. I personally took the kid from the surgery
table to his mother after the child was finished and most of the mothers did
not believe it was their child. Of course we all shared our tears of joy in the
recovery room.
I started going to other provinces and the
situation was worse than I could imagine. We set up a mission in Naga City and 750 children showed up the first day. I left
there and went to Cebu and Davao and it was the same. More than 850 kids showed up in Davao. I did a mission in Makati City and no one thought there would be a large number of
kids there, and we were shocked at the numbers that came. I have paid for
children to have other surgeries as well. Two years ago a man brought his 1
month old grandson to me. His eye was hanging outside the socket and was black
from cancer. I took him to the Chinese General Hospital to see a friend of mine. Dr. George Co is the best
eye surgeon in PI. He agreed to operate on the kid. I told the family his
chance of survival was not good. They understood and told me the cancer would
kill him anyway, so we agreed to operate one week before Christmas, and they
took him home Christmas Eve. He is still alive and looks as normal as anyone.
We put in a glass eye and it move just like it is real. I can tell you so many
different stories but you would never have time to read them all.
I spent my life savings helping kids and
have no regrets. I have a good retirement from the Military in America and can still put a mission or two together once a
year. This will be my fourth mission in Angeles City. I am sending you a picture of a child I could not
help. He had a Cleft Lip and Palate, along with Retardation, Cerebral Palsy and
a Heart condition. When I find kids like that it hurts. They just want a chance
at a decent life and to be treated like a human being.
The mayor in Angeles City is a good friend of mine and we met when he was a
congressman. Blueboy Nepo has been a blessing to me and the kids. He is very
dedicated in helping me with these missions and we hope to eradicate the
problem here. He has authorized me to go into the public schools and educate
the children here on the Cleft Palate children so they better understand what
these kids go through. Educate the kids and maybe they will stop tormenting the
Cleft Lip and Palate children. A lot of people do not like Blueboy, but his
political policies and practices have nothing to do with me or the children. He
helped me get the surgeries approved and that is all that matters to me. I don't
get involved with the politics for fear it will hurt the kids that need help.
I can never leave PI as long as I know
there are more kids suffering and also knowing I can help them. I have over 100
top Surgeons, Doctors and Nurses standing by just waiting for my call. They all
work for free. The Anesthesia, Sutures, bandages and required medicines for
aftercare is what I sponsor. I also have to pay for the volunteers travel,
meals and hotels. I have no plans to stop anytime soon. Maybe this will help
you understand my reasons for what I do.
I will start my own foundation in January
2009. All the Doctors that volunteer their services have requested that I do
this and put no limits on the type of deformities we can help. Operation Smile
is a great organisation and we work well together. I will continue that
program, but there are a lot of needs that does not fit their criteria. As of
to date ( December 24th 2008) I have a list of 135 toxic goiter patients waiting
for surgery. Some are as young as 15 years old. I have treated 70 children for
Primary TB and Cancer. There is so much we can do if we all work together.”
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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The monthly Garfield
cartoon for the RSL friends at “Garfields Last Stand” on Perimeter
Road
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Another couple of WW1 pictures
from the Australian War Memorial Collection
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Squadrons of the
4th Australian Light Horse Brigade in formation at Gaza. Picture: Frank Hurley, February 1918
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The 2nd Australian Light
Horse Regiment behind the front line barricades at Nalin in Palestine, one man passing across a grenade. Picture: Frank
Hurley, January 17, 1918
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Does the
following spousal exchange apply to anyone you know???
A Retiree's Thought...
My wife said, "Whatcha doin today"
I said, "Nothing."
She said, "You did that yesterday."
I said, "I'm not finished."
Bluey and Curley
at their WW2 antics again
This cartoon was drawn over 15
years ago! Seems to fit right in today!
POTPORI
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Dallas Drake, Lee
Townsend and Colin Whelan present the nebulizer to Dr Eric Suarez
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Presenting Nebulizer to Dr. Eric
Suarez of the PNP ( Colonel and Ear Nose Throat Specialist ) who works with
Balibago Barangay Clinic that offers free medical service to the less
fortunate residents. RSL Capricorn Sub Branch in Qld and their Ladies Aux
Contributed $700.00 cash to assist us with this program and we are indeed
grateful of their co-operation. One of our members was discharged from
hospital between Christmas and New Year found himself in difficulty unable to
breath. Luckily we had another Nebulizer on hand and was able to put to
immediate use and help bring him through recovery stages of his recent
illness. Thanks Capricorn RSL, well done.
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RSL Angeles City has also donated a good quantity of
Medicines to stock this new facility at Balibago Barangay Hall
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Some members at the President’s Xmas drinks on Tues 16th Dec at the
Ponderosa where some 60 of them attended for the end of year function.
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! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
A Department of Water representative stopped at a farm
and talked with an old farmer. He told the farmer, 'I need to inspect your farm
for your water allocation.'
The old farmer said, 'OK, but don't go in that field over there.'
The water representative said, 'Mister, I have the authority of the Federal
Government with me. See this card? The card means I am allowed to go WHEREVER I
WISH on any agricultural land. No questions asked or answered. Have I made
myself clear? Do you understand?'
The old farmer nodded politely and went about his farm chores. Later, the old
farmer heard loud screams and saw the water rep running for the fence and close
behind was the farmer's huge-horned prize bull. The bull was gaining on the
water rep with every step. The rep was clearly terrified, so the old farmer
immediately threw down his tools, ran to the fence and shouted out.....”Your
card! Your card! Show him your card!”
Below are a couple of pictures
taken over the lead-up to New Year at the Dreamland Resort at Subic.
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Dreamland Resort
and it’s huge pool
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Dallas
looks like he is ready to see the end of 2008
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COSGROVE JOINS CALL FOR MORE FAMILIES FOR VIETNAM STUDY
General Peter Cosgrove has joined
the campaign to encourage Vietnam-era service families to register for a study
to research the long-term effects of war service on families and children.
General Cosgrove, one of Australia’s most respected soldiers and a Vietnam veteran, is supporting the Vietnam Veterans’ Family
Study which is currently recruiting participants.
“Invitations to participate
in the study were sent to randomly selected Vietnam-era army personnel – 10,000
each of those who served in Vietnam and those who didn’t,” Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Alan Griffin said.
“General Cosgrove was one of
those Vietnam veterans who was randomly selected to participate in
the study, and I was pleased to hear that he, his wife and his family have
signed up.
“The nation is grateful for
the contribution of Australian servicemen and women during the Vietnam
war. But we are asking for help once again, especially from those Army
personnel who served at the time, but not in Vietnam, as they provide a very
important comparison to those who did serve in Vietnam,” Mr Griffin said.
A letter from General
Cosgrove has been sent to all participants who have not yet responded to their
original invitation, encouraging his former colleagues to register for the
study.
General Cosgrove wrote, “I am
asking for you and your family to participate in the program. Your contribution
will help shape approaches and policies which will not only aid those in need
from that era but many thousands of young men and women in uniform and their
families in the future.”
The preferred recruitment
target is around 5000 each of the randomly selected Vietnam veterans and Vietnam-era service personnel, and 5000
of each group’s children. This will allow the study to provide many
comparisons, including more rare medical conditions.
To date 2200 Vietnam veterans have responded, but only 1200 of those who
didn’t serve in Vietnam.
“If you served in the Army
during the Vietnam war, even if you didn’t go to Vietnam, you can help. Talk to your mates and encourage
those invited to participate, and encourage their families to participate as
well,” General Cosgrove said.
You can
register by calling 1800 502 302, on-line at www.dva.gov.au/vvfs or by mailing
in a completed registration form. Copies are available on-line, photocopies are
acceptable.
“The price of liberty
is eternal vigilance”