Father John J. Hickey Post 731 Commander Honored

Our post Commander, Fred Steigerwalt, was honored at the March general membership meeting by our state Commander, Frank Picarello. Frank took a few minutes to address those present at the meeting and honored Fred for his hard work and dedication not only to Post 731, but to the entire CWV organization.

Fred's hard work as both the post Commander and the Corsacs Association steward have long been known and appreciated by all post members. We now congratulate Fred on being recognized at the state level, and thank our state Commander for taking the time to personally bestow this honor to Fred.

General membership meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month starting at 7:30 PM for members. CWV Officers meet before the general membership meeting at 7:00 PM sharp.

The CORSAC Home Association Board of Directors meets every other month, on the third Wednesday of the month, at 7:00 PM.

COMMANDER'S REPORT - Fred Steigerwalt (449-6987)

St. Sebastian Award Nominee: We have submitted Vince Hanna's name for the St. Sebastian Award, presented each year at the National Convention. More information on the National Convention is available from Fred if you are interested in attending.

Tuesday Committee: Thanks once again to the Tuesday Committee for all the work they put into facility maintenance.

Memorial Day: We have several activities scheduled for Memorial Day (refer to the 1st Commander's report). This is one of the few opportunities we have to honor our deceased comrades. I encourage you to pick one event to participate in this year. We are in need of marchers, color guard, and rifle squad participants.

1^ST VICE COMMANDER'S REPORT - Sam Zampino (449-3074)

Memorial Day Activities

Saturday, May 29th, 10:00 AM - Assemble with blazers and hats at the Post to go to the cemetery for our salute to the dead and place flags on graves.

Sunday, May 30th, 10:00 AM - Assemble with blazers and hats to march to Sacred Heart Church to attend a combined Corporate and Memorial Mass at 10:30 AM, followed by memorial services at Father Hickey's grave. A Commander's Breakfast will be held after the services.

Monday, May 31st, 10:00 AM - Assemble with blazers and hats at Grace Chapel parking lot for parade and services at Veterans Field.
1:00 PM - Memorial services at the Post. An open house will follow immediately after the services.

ALSO: The Vietnam veterans will be presenting a new POW/MIA flag in conjunction with POW/MIA Day and Memorial Day.

St. John's Hospice: The Post will be collecting men's clothing and personal hygiene products for the St. John's Hospice. Items can be dropped off any Friday night at the Post through June 5th. Please bring donations in plastic bags or other appropriate container.

Contact Chaiman, Charlie Farrell (449-4397), Welfare Officer, Tom Loftus (446-7096), or me, Sam Zampino (449-3074), if you have any questions or need assistance.

2^ND VICE COMMANDER'S REPORT - Vince Gisondi (449-1159)

Please join us in welcoming two new members to our Post: Harold T. Robinson and William J. Rafferty Jr. Hope to see you at future meetings and CWV/Corsacs events. Editor's Note: Vince submitted a membership report which broke down member statistics in a variety of categories. I've included a few of these below:

• Our oldest member is 91 and the youngest is 22. The average age is 74.
• Our members come from approximately 29 parishes, with the most members coming from Sacred Heart, St. Pius X, and Annunciation BVM. We are attempting to have churches include a note about our Post in their bulletins.
• Our current membership count stands at 159, down from last year's total of 195.

While we are attempting to recruit new members via Church bulletins, we are also looking for other methods. Your ideas/suggestions can be forwarded to Vince Gisondi. We especially request your participation in the recruitment process.

3^RD VICE COMMANDER'S REPORT – Ernie Beck (446-2605)

Ernie has requested that spelling books be returned if any members have them in their possession. Our next event is the William Rachor Award.

WELFARE OFFICER'S REPORT - Tom Loftus (446-7096)

Please keep the following members and their families in your prayers as they recuperate from their illnesses and injuries: Vince Hanna, Jim Wood, Charlie Demeo, Buddy Kearns, Jim Roe, and our Welfare Officer himself, Tom Loftus.

Post 731 Auxiliary lost members Mary Jensen, Ann Gillispie, and Mary Sheridan. Auxilairy member, Betty Roe, lost her brother, Francis Lynch. Our condolences go out to their families and friends.

Poppy Sales: We need volunteers to attend the following masses. We ask you to attend at least two masses for each week, but as always, any help you can provide is appreciated. Please contact Tommy, or check the sign-up sheet at the Post.

BLOOD DRIVE UPDATE

The next blood drive will be on Thursday, June 24^th. Let's roll up those sleeves for a good cause.

The Post is still looking for someone to plan the October blood drive, and all future blood drives, as Ches Hall will be taking a well-deserved break.

LADIES AUXILIARY REPORT - Madam President Kay Farrell

Madam President – The CWVA 731’s 50th Anniversary was celebrated in a grand way. From the Mass, celebrated by the Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Father Boyle, hymns by the Sacred Heart Choir, other duties by members of the Auxiliary, and a well attended lunch at Llanerch Country Club, it was a PERFECT day. Thank you to Commander Fred Steigerwalt and the members of the Post for the beautiful plaque honoring us. Thank you to all members and guests, and a special thanks to Jo Sheridan, the chairperson of this delightful event!

Our Annual Cocktail Party was moved to Sunday October 24th. Details will follow. Please mark your calendars!!

1st Vice President – There was a memorial Mass for one of our oldest and dearest members, Anna Gillespie, who died while residing in North Carolina. The service was held at Sacred Heart and attended by many members of our auxiliary. The next day, a Requiem Mass was celebrated for Margaret Jenson, past President of Post 731 and past President of the Department of Pennsylvania. Margaret was one of our most honored members. The service was held at Holy Cross Church and was well attended by both CWV and Auxiliary members.

Our Day of Recollection was indeed inspirational to all that attended. Sr. Dorothy Beck, Ernie’s sister, did a fine job in directing our thoughts toward a deeper love of Jesus. It was certainly a fulfilling way to spend a day during Lent. Don’t miss the opportunity next year!

Please remember to pray for all the military personnel and chaplains serving throughout the world. As Memorial Day approaches, it is a most poignant time to remember the men and women of all services who are in Kosovo. On a personal note, a good friend of mine has a son just recently sent to Kosovo. His name is Marty Sullivan, and he is a Navy pilot with a wife and two children. Please remember him in your daily prayers. I will keep you posted about his activities.

VAVS - We had our annual Bingo Party at Spring City Veterans Center. Tom Loftus, Charlie Farrell, Chuck Kane, Sam Zampino and Bill Sheridan were there to help. Kay Farrell, Pat Brown, Jayne Kane and myself were also on hand. About 28 residents played bingo, and we had enough refreshments for them to use another day! The $100 the post donated was used to buy canteen books used for prizes. Thanks to all for their help. Jo Sheridan

50^th Anniversary - Our 50th Anniversary Mass and Luncheon was a huge success. Father Boyle celebrated Mass and our Chaplain Deacon John assisted. Thanks to the ladies who served as greeters and to those who participated in the Offertory. Also, thanks to our readers Pat Brown and Betty Roe. We were honored to receive plaques from both Anna McMaster (Pres. Dept of PA) and our Commander Fred Steigerwalt. There were 66 guests in attendance, and we received many compliments on the choice of food. A million thanks to Pat and Jan, and to Betty Beck for taking care of the flower arrangements and the beautiful missillettes, and to Betty Hall and Betty Roe for their help as Co-Chairladies. Jo Sheridan

Spring Dinner - Our final meeting will be held June 2nd at The Lamb’s Tavern. The choices of meals are: Lamb, Chicken Marsala, or Flounder/Crabmeat. For tickets and more information call Betty Beck 446-2605 or Betty Roe-449-5853. All members are encouraged to come!

THE "SINGING CORSACS" SING AGAIN

On Thursday, April 11, 1999, after a three-year interruption, the Singing Corsacs of Father John J. Hickey Post 731, under the able direction of the group's founder and director, Bob Rachor, presented their first concert of 1999 at the Waverly Heights Nursing Home in Gladwyne, PA. The audience was made up of patients, nursing attendants, and employees who joined in on some of the songs presented.

The singing group was made up of seventeen Corsacs members were dressed in their light blue blazers, dark trousers, white shirts, and black bow ties. The medley of old time hits was enthusiastically applauded by those in attendance. It was another banner day for the Post whose singers for the past 40 years have been entertaining patients of nursing and convalescent homes.

The Post received a thank you letter directed to our Commander and members from Eileen McGoldrick, Coordinator of Health Care Activities. In her letter, Eileen praised the group's performance and expressed the desire to have the Singing Corsacs return to entertain the patients again. To paraphrase Ms. Goldrick, "A good time was had by all."

HOME ASSESSMENT NEWS

Homes in Delaware County have been recently reassessed. If you have any questions on your assessment, you can consult information available at local libraries. The deadline to meet with the Assessment Board was May 10th - we regret that we were not able to get this information to you sooner.

"DAY AT THE RACES" UPDATE

The "Day at the Races" event, originally scheduled for May 8th, has been postponed until October. Look for further details in the September edition of the Short Sheet.

CWV STATE CONVENTION

Date: June 3 - 5, 1999
Place: Pottsville, PA
Contact Commander Fred Steigerwalt (449-6987) for more information.

ALSO: Fred is selling raffle tickets for both the State and National conventions. State tickets are $6.00 for 10 tickets and top prizes of $500.00. National tickets are $10.00 and this year's first place prize for the National raffle is a 1999 Mercury Sable - oooh!

SHUFFLEBOARD CHAMPS

Congratulations to shuffleboard co-champs, the Hot Shots and Tip Tops, who both finished the season with 6-1 records!

CAKELESS CAKE SALE REPORT

Ches Hall reported that the Cakeless Cake Sale raised a total of $1050.00 and thanked all those who patronized this worthy cause.

COMIC RELIEF

I just can't leave half a page blank, so hope you enjoy these humorous quips.

A Prayer
God grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones I do,
and the eyesight to tell the difference.

Men Rule Walking into the bar, Harvey said to the bartender, "Pour me a stiff one, Eddie. I just had another fight with the little woman."
Oh yeah," said Eddie. "And how did this one end?"
"When it was over," Harvey replied. "She came to me on her hands and knees."
"Really? Now that's a switch! What did she say?"
"She said, 'Come out from under that bed, you gutless weasel!'" Husbands and Wives

• Men are like a fine wine. They all start out like grapes, and it's our job to stomp on them and keep them in the dark until they mature into something you'd like to have dinner with." - Author Unnamed
• My wife dresses to kill. She cooks the same way. - Henny Youngman
• The best way to get most husbands to do something is to suggest that perhaps they're too old to do it. - Ann Bancroft
• I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought jewelry. - Rita Rudner
• My wife and I were happy for twenty years. Then we met. - Rodney Dangerfield
• I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury. - George Burns
• What's the difference between a boyfriend and a husband? About 30 pounds. - Cindy Garner
• When women are depressed, they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country. It's a whole different way of thinking. - Elaine Boosler
• I bought my wife a new car. She called and said, "There was water in the carburetor." I said, "Where's the car?" She said, "In the lake." - Henny Youngman
• Never go to bed mad. Stay up and fight. - Phyllis Diller
• My mother buried three husbands, and two of them were just napping. - Rita Rudner
• The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret. - Henny Youngman