WebMaster's Corner March 2017
Song for March: Kerry Reel
February was not your typical cold, rainy and snowy month for much of the country, due, possibly, in part to the great volumes of hot air emanating from the politicians and the media! In fact, February was the hottest February on record! It looks like March is coming in like a Lamb, so we may have to look for some more cold weather later on.
The gemstone for March is
the Aquamarine
The flower for March is
the Jonquil (aka Daffodil or Narcissus).
Now, About March in History:
On 1 March 1692, Salem, Massachusetts, authorities charged Sarah Goode, Sarah Osborne, and a slave woman, Tituba, with practicing witchcraft. The arrests inaugurated the infamous Salem Witch Trials.
On March 2nd, 1836, fifty-four delegates representing the various settlements in Texas, met in a one-room building at Washington-on-the-Brazos and unanimously voted to separate Texas from the government of Mexico. The declaration claimed the mexican government had ceased to protect the “lives, liberty and property of the people, from whom its legitimate powers are derived.” from that day forward, Texas declared its independence from Mexico and became the Republic of Texas. life as it was, changed forever. link to the Texas declaration of independence http://www.lsjunction.com/docs/tdoi.htm Also, March 2nd was the 9th day of the Siege of the Alamo. Here is a link to the battle chronology. http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/ccbn/dewitt/adp/history/1836/the_battle/chronology.html#2
Late in the afternoon of 5 March1770, British sentries guarding the Boston Customs House shot into a crowd killing five civilians in an event that was to become known as the Boston Massacre . Surrounded by jeering Bostonians slinging hard packed snowballs, the small group of soldiers lost control when one of their number was struck. They fired despite explicit orders to the contrary.
Eight soldiers, one officer, and four civilians were arrested and charged with murder. Defended by the lawyer and future American President, John Adams, six of the soldiers were acquitted, while the other two were convicted of manslaughter and given reduced sentences. The sentence that the men guilty of manslaughter received was a branding on their hand.
6 March 1836 - Fort Alamo fell to Mexican troops led by General Santa Anna. The Mexicans had begun the siege of the Texas fort on February 23rd, ending it with the killing of the last defender. "Remember the Alamo" became a rallying cry for Texans who went on to defeat Santa Anna in the Battle of San Jacinto in April.
It also became the battle cry of the hearty band of resource managers who attended the RAFINO/RAFINCO 2012 reunion in San Antonio. We will have to come up with another slogan for the 2018 reunion in Charleston.
12 March 2017 - Daylight Savings begins at 0200 hrs on Sunday, 12 March, 2017. Set your clocks one hour forward, keeping them that way until 5 November 2017.
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Thursday, 17 March St. Patrick’s Day, is loaded with folk lore that would fill this whole web. The Shamrock, the blarney stone, the leprechaun who can reveal hidden treasure to anyone who catches him are well known.
The day is generally characterised by the attendance of church services, wearing of green attire, public parades and processions, and the lifting of Lenten restrictions on eating, and drinking alcohol, which is often proscribed during the rest of the season.
Operation Iraqi
Freedom
began on 19 March 2003, just 21 years ago.
20 March 2017 is the day that spring begins and we will see the Vernal Equinox, or equal night, when both northern and southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight and the days and nights are of the same length. Click here for more . In much of the country the crocus will add their contribution to the beauty of our worldand there is a chance that the Swallows will make it back to Capistrano (San Juan Capistrano, California) after their long flight from Africa..
Statehood Dates
The following states achieved statehood in March:
- Vermont (14), March 4, 1791
- Ohio (17), March 1, 1803
- Maine (23), March 15, 1820
- Florida (27) March 3, 1845
- Nebraska (27) March 1, 1867
March TAPS
Let us take this opportunity to remember any members of our Finance Family whose passing was a year-ago March passing.
| Name | Rank | Deceased |
|---|---|---|
| BRADSHAW, ARTHUR L. | LTC | 3/1/2016 |
| DITTENHOFER, MORTIMER A. | COL | 3/4/2016 |
| FAZAKERLEY, RICHARD G. | MG | 3/17/2016 |
| GILCHRIST, RAYMOND | LTC | 3/3/2016 |
| JOHNS, ROBERT W. | CSM | 3/20/2016 |
| RAMEY, HUBERT D. | COL | 3/28/2016 |
New Members Added to the Roster Last Month
| New Member - SSG WALTER "DREW" A WHITE |
| New Member - MSG MARGUERITE (MICKI) M JONES |
| New Member - CPT STEVEN H STILLWELL |
| New Member - SFC PATRICK J BOYD |
And, Finally, ...
Dues for 2017.
Our Treasurer, Imre Volgyi, reminds us that the deadline for getting current on your 2017 dues
is 31 March. If you haven't done so, please get that check in for your 2017
(and/or additional future years) dues to:
RAFINO Treasurer
ATTN: LTC Imre Volgyi
3112 Waterfront Dr.
Chattanooga, TN 37419-1535
Life Memberships. Of course, the preferred approach is the "one and done" of a Lifetime membership. One payment and you are through messing with dues for life!
Reunion Committee: Elaine McNeill is our VP – Reunions. She and her committee have been busy since the Las Vegas Reunion reviewing options for the 2018 Reunion. We previously reported that we were looking at two options: Charleston, South Carolina, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. As there was little discussion on both of these options at the Las Vegas Reunion, we wanted to fully develop the plans, programs, and costs for both of these options. After all the facts were considered, including the number of our RAFINO members that live closer to the East Coast, the Reunion Committee finalized the selection of Charleston, South Carolina as our 2018 Reunion location. This decision confirms the vote that occurred in Las Vegas. With that decision finalized, it is our desire to plan and execute a top-notch reunion, and we need your help to make that happen. If you would like to join Elaine on our Reunion Committee, please contact her via email at: emcneill1943@yahoo.com. We really need your help to make the 2018 Reunion a wonderful event for everyone !!!
New Members: Larry Elsom is our VP – Membership. Since the Las Vegas Reunion, we’ve added 23 new members. We’re excited that the word is getting out, and we ask everyone to be part of our membership committee. Seek out your friends and colleagues, ask them if they are members, and if they are not, please encourage them to join us. The 2018 Reunion will be special and even more memorable, if you are surrounded by those you enjoyed serving with throughout your career. If you’ve lost contact with someone, and don’t know how to reach them, please let us know. There are several avenues we can use to help locate your fellow Finance Retirees, and encourage them to join us.
Updated By-Laws: Imre Volgyi, RAFINO Treasurer, is in the process of drafting an update to our organizational By-Laws. When completed, we will submit them to you for your approval in a vote similar to what we did for our membership dues and lifetime membership options. We appreciate your support, and your vote of approval is important to us
Robby Robson, The Webmaster