Greeting my fellow comrades from Chapter 39, I write this memo while attending the National convention in Las Vegas, NV.  So far the convention has been very busy, also here from the Chapter are Ray Coronado, James Wills, Jazmin Bravo, and Anthony Simpson.  The latter two are working for National while here. The meetings have been very informative by most standards, we have two more full days scheduled to go.  Yesterday we had the honor to present Tammy Duckworth with the Disabled Veteran of the year award.  She is an Iraqi war veteran who was a helicopter pilot who lost both legs when her aircraft was hit by a rocket.  She is very articulate and spoke very eloquently about her war time experience. She is the head of the Illinois VA, and very dedicated to the plight of disabled veterans.  We also saw a video from Barack Obama and had a speech from John Mc Cain.  I only wish that more of you could have made the trip to the convention as there is so much to learn here. I'll finish up this newletter when I get home but I felt thet I should say something while here.  

Ok I said I would continue my newsletter upon my return from the National Convention.  Well it's been about a month and a half since the convention ended so I guess I should finish up the newsletter.  Both presidential candidates spoke at the convention, ABM by tape and McCain in person.  I can't present an unbiased report on what was said, as I have very strong positive feelings for one of the candidates and a large distrust for the other.  I am very left wing so you figure it out.  It was a very good convention and if you have not attended one you should plan on attending the next one in Denver, Co.

    Now on to whats happening locally, we are going to be very busy as a chapter in the upcoming weeks, the meeting is scheduled for the 1st, followed on the 2nd with the Senior Expo at the AV fairgrounds.  We will be at the AV Swap meet on Sunday the 5th.  I would like to thank Service Officer Jazmin Bravo and Treasurer Ray Coronado for assisting me at the Veterans booth at the Los Angeles County Fair on Sunday the 21st.  The Chapter remains very active but I'd like to see more of you come out and assist us.

 November brings back our annual fund raiser the "Forget-Me-Not" fund raiser.

As you know this is our only fund raiser to gain funds to aid needy Veterans through out the year. we can use all the help that you can muster. Please give us some of your time. Contact the Chapter if you'll help.

Ruben R Trejo, Commander                                                     

We are back at the Lancaster Moose, our meetings continue to be the first Wednesday of the month at 7:15 pm.