Hello and happy holidays to all, I wanted to take a minute to thank you for your support this year to make the holidays a little brighter for the families of injured and killed in action veterans.  The “Our Military Kids” organization provided me with a Christmas Gift Wish List of 26 veterans’ families including 65 children this year.  Thanks to your help, packages are on the way for 16 of these families.  We are down to just 10 families left on the list, but now we are headed into ‘crunch time’.  With limited time left to buy, wrap and send gifts we must find people or organizations to support these last 10 families within the next week. If you have been thinking about committing to help…. if you can find room in your heart and your wallet this year…. please let us know before time runs out for these families.  One of the wounded veterans I spoke to last week was so thankful when we told him his family would be receiving support with Christmas gifts.  He mentioned that he was especially grateful because last year his kids did not get any Christmas gifts.  Let’s not let this happen again for any of these families who have sacrificed so much for all of us. If you would like to help make this holiday season a little bit brighter for the children of our injured and killed in action servicemen and women, all you have to do is respond to this email.  You can adopt one child, a family or simply make a cash donation.  Nancy and I will gladly purchase the gifts still on the list if you do not have the time.  Simply give me a call or drop an e-mail to Santa@BobNelsonTeam.com. These are the children still available for ‘adoption’ :

1. Vaughns Family

Jordan (6): Vtech MobiGo Touch Learning System MobiGoCarrying  Case MobiGoSoftware Games:  Toy Story 3, Disney Cars, NASCAR, Shrek, Mr. Men/Little Miss

John (10): Nintendo DSI (black)

Dejah Miles (15): Women’s UGG Australia Classic Short Boots, Size 10, Color:  Black

2. Ellis Family

Juliann (13): New clothes/Gift card to Target, Pac Sun or Forever 21

Joshua (12): Nano Touch I-Pod – Gray or Silver (Purchased through Cash Donations)

Jesse (16): Nano Touch I-Pod – Gold (Adopted by Louis and Chris Wise)

3. Kuinileti Sele Family

(Adopted by Elizabeth Gaffney)

Peter (9): Sony PSP G Handheld Game; black or blue

Serafina (7): Sony Limited Hannah Montana PSP Entertainment Pack (used on Ebay $130.98); pink or purple Kleopatra

(4): KidKraft 65156 Designer Dollhouse Doll Toy; multicolor is fine

4. Broesch Family

Bella (7): Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters Wild Bunch (set of 4) Barbie Horse Adventure:  Riding Camp for Nintendo Wii Uno Attack Game Easy-Bake Oven and Snack Center with Classic Light Bulb Oven (mint green) (Purchased by Jenni Blessman – Keller Williams) Magic Tree House Books

Taylor(15): Gift card to a clothing store such as Macy’s (Purchased by Alison Sherman – Keller Williams), Vanity or Maurices, Gift card for gas, Solia 1″ Flat Iron

5. Summers Family

Amber (11): Beginner snowboard, length 140-145 cm

Devan (10): Beginner snowboard, length 132-137 cm

Tristen (8): Beginner snowboard, length 135-140 cm

6. Byrd Family

Nailah (14): Ipad or Iphone (or a gift certificate to the Apple Store or to the AT&T Store to go toward either of these items)

Nia (13): Dell Laptop (pink) (or a gift certificate to the Dell Store to go toward it)

7. Mitchell Family

Zac (18): a Craftsman tool box, the one that stands up with a bottom box and top box (To be purchased with donated funds.)

Jerret (8): Nintendo DSiXL (blue or black)

Serenity (6): (Adopted by Susan Wisely – Keller Williams)   A nice, portable DVD player, one that the screen flips and folds down; (Sony has one)

Finally, we would like to thank the following who have already come forward to show their support. The Copito Family, The Borland Family, The Hoernig Family, Rick and Amy Buchanan, Jane and Doug Hanscom, Gene and Laura Smith, The Brugel Family, Mary Burnette, Mark and Carolyn Stys, John and Sally Burns, P.C. Martin, Dave and Pava Cohen, Joan Fiander, The Weaver Family, Louis and Chris Wise, Kofer and Suzanne Black, Richard Moxley, Sue Long, Beatriz Duque Long, Elizabeth Gaffney, Paul Norman Family, Dave Lesser Family, Chip Bay Family, Shiner Roofing and Siding, Sonya Dervenis – Lavender Hill Interiors, Jack Legler – Legenter LLC, Tami Harsanyi – State Farm Insurance, Diane Hoyer – Women Helping Women with Finance, Jill Grossman – LSA Title, Tim Heil – Keller Williams Realty, Michael Vandergrift – Washington First Bank, Laura DeSimone – DeSimone Health and Fitness LLC, Collingswood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Susan Wisely – Keller Williams, Alison Sherman – Keller Williams, Jenni Blessman – Keller Williams,

Best wishes to you and your family this holiday season,

Nancy and Bob Nelson (703) 999-5812

A Recent Connections Newspaper Article

The local Great Falls Connections newspaper contained an article about Military Appreciation Mondays which they entitled “Paying Tribute” The writer Alex McVeigh really seemed to capture the essence of what we have been trying to do with the monthly dinners.  I was really worried about how well it would come out since he interviewed me in the middle of the dinner.  This while I was hold my granddaughter Reagan who insisted on being with her POP.  Please be sure to mark your calendars for this month’s dinner in support of the Yellow Ribbon Fund.

Thanks to all our great supporters, the Military Appreciation Monday event raised nearly $4,000 for Operation Second Chance.  We had nearly 100 people turn out for the dinner to include several servicemen and women currently stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  One of the greatest parts about the evening was that two of the most desirable door prizes were won by one of our visiting vets.  He walked away with a two day stay at the Lodgecliffe on the Choptank Bed and Breakfast and a fabulous apple pie from B. Sweet.  The four star lodging is donated each month by Dawson Richardson at Merrill Lynch.  B Sweet has donated two pies for each of our last two events. The wife of another vet won the biggest prize of the evening, a beautiful pendant donated by Adeler Jewelers.

If you have a chance, please be sure to give a big thanks to our co-sponsors and door prize donors.

Co-sponsors include:

The Old Brogue
LSA Title Services
Gary Kaihara, DDS
The Grossman Family
Julius Fleischman
The Norman Family
The Nelson Family
James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Taylor Allgyer – First Savings Mortgage
Carrillon Capital

Door Prizes for this month were donated by:

Adeler Jewelers

Lodgecliffe Bed and Breakfast

Dominion Title

PF Chang’s

Maison Du Vin

Great Falls Design Build

State Farm Insurance

Great Falls Exxon

B. Sweet Pies

Last month’s Military Appreciation Mondays dinner in support of the Golden Age Games was our most successful event to date.  We ended up raising more than $5000 which will help support the sending of several local vets to the next games which are to be held in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Hope you can make it to this month’s dinner on October 25th which will be raising money for Operation Second Chance.

Thank you again to all of you who came out and a special thanks to our co-sponsors and door prize donors.

Co-sponsors Include:

Nelson Family

Norman Family

Grossman Family

Julius Fleishman

Gary Kaihara, DDS

The Old Brogue

Carillon Capital

Chris Melnick – LSA Title Services

Taylor Allgyer – First Savings Mortgage

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

and our Door Prize donors

Adeler Jewelers

PF Changs Restaurant

Dominion Title

Great Falls Design Build

State Farm Insurance

Great Falls Exxon

Legenter LLC

Neighbors Network

Lodgecliff on the Choptank B&B

B Sweet Home Baked Pies

Romantica Deli

Maison du Vin

National Veterans Golden Age Games

This month I am moving a little outside the norm for MAM by raising funds for our veterans who are over 55 years old. I am particularly excited by this effort since it gives us a chance to say thanks to the Vietnam Era vets and those who came before them. The request for this event came from Julius Fleischman, one of our newest co-sponsors. Julius fought in the European Campaign during WWII.

Date: September 27th.

Where: Old Brogue – Great Falls, Va.

Time: Two seatings – 5:30 and 7:30.

Please be sure to make a reservation by calling: (703) 759-3309.

As always, you simply come out and have dinner at the Old Brogue in Great Falls. Myself and my cosponsors will each be contributing a 10 percent match (A 100 percent match this month) of your dinner tab to The Golden Age Games.

If you know of anyone who might be interested in becoming a co-sponsor, please contact me at bob@bobnelsonteam.com or call at (703) 999-5812.

You can also show your support through:

A. The purchase of door prize entries. (ALL Proceeds will go directly to The Golden Age Games)

B. Our buy a vet dinner initiative. We hope to have between 10-15 enlisted personnel for whom you can buy dinner.

C. Or you can make out a fully tax deductible donation to Veterans Administration.

Please come out strong to show your support. This is our first time back after the summer and I’d love to have a huge turnout to show our active duty personnel and veterans just how much we appreciate their service.

If you have a chance, please be sure to thank my co-sponsors.

The Old Brogue

LSA Title Services

Gary Kaihara, DDS

The Grossman Family

Julius Fleischman

The Norman Family

The Nelson Family

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Taylor Allgyer – First Savings Mortgage

Carrillon Capital

Previous Co-Sponsors

The Heil Family

Mercury LLC

Knight Point Systems

Shiner Roofing and Siding

and our door prize donors:

Adeler Jewelers           Dominion Title

PF Chang’s                      Lodgecliffe Bed and Breakfast

Elite Fitness                   Fitness Together

Turner Framing           Maison Du Vin

Great Falls Design Build     Pinkman Baseball Academy

Legenter LLC.               State Farm Insurance        Downs & Assoc. Insurance

Please read the following to learn more about the Golden Age Games and their importance to our veterans.

Celebrating its 25th year, the National Veterans Golden Age Games offer sports and recreational competitive events for Veterans 55 years of age and older. It is the largest sports and recreation competition for this age group of military Veterans in the world! The Games continue to serve as a showcase for the rehabilitation value that wellness and fitness provide in the lives of older Americans.

The National Veterans Golden Age Games are an outgrowth of the historic involvement in geriatric programs by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For many years, VA has put major emphasis on health and fitness with the goal of Veterans living healthier, longer lives. Many of the events began as recreational activities at VA hospitals and nursing home care units across the country. Inspired by the health and fitness movement for America’s senior citizens, the Games extend that concept to our nation’s aging Veterans. In 1985, the first National Veterans Golden Age Games took place in Albany, Georgia, with 115 competitors representing VA medical facilities across the United States.

A “fountain of youth” for the rapidly aging Veteran population, the Games provide a multi-event sports and therapeutic recreation program for eligible Veterans receiving care at any VA medical facility. It is the premier senior adaptive rehabilitation program in the United States, and the only national seniors’ program designed to improve the quality of life for all older Veterans, including those with a wide range of abilities and disabilities. This event truly reflects VA’s mission – to provide quality programs and health care for America’s aging Veteran population. It has become one of the most progressive and adaptive rehabilitative senior sports programs in the United States and the world.

Over the years, competitive events at the National Veterans Golden Age Games have been adapted to meet specific needs of the participants. The Games have separate age groups and gender divisions. Additionally, because many Veterans also face medical challenges, events were added for those who use wheelchairs and those who have visual impairments. To accommodate the varying degrees of physical conditioning, motor and cognitive skills of the participants, basic competition rules were adapted. The modification of rules and use of adaptive equipment in many events allow non-ambulatory and visually impaired Veterans to participate, in separate divisions where needed and with ambulatory and sighted Veterans when possible. This has made the National Veterans Golden Age Games a truly adaptive therapeutic sports competition that has become a model for other local, state and national senior sports events.

Since 2004, the National Veterans Golden Age Games have been a qualifier for the National Senior Games, a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Through this partnership, gold, silver and bronze medalists in certain events have the opportunity to compete further, among America’s elite senior athletes.

James Gaudiosi with Wells Fargo just informed me that the first time home buyer tax credit is extended for military and certain other federal employees serving outside the U.S.  Myself and I would have to believe most Realtors were not aware of this stipulation in the tax credit legislation.  Please see below for the specifics.

Members of the U.S. military and certain other U.S. federal employees serving outside the U.S. have an extra year to buy a principal residence in the U.S. and qualify for the credit. Thus, an eligible taxpayer must buy, or enter into a binding contract to buy, a principal residence on or before April 30, 2011. If a binding contract is entered into by that date, the taxpayer has until June 30, 2011, to close on the purchase. Members of the uniformed services, members of the Foreign Service and employees of the intelligence community are eligible for this special rule. It applies to any individual (and, if married, the individual’s spouse) who serves on qualified official extended duty service outside of the United States for at least 90 days during the period beginning after Dec. 31, 2008, and ending before May 1, 2010.

In many cases, the credit repayment (recapture) requirement is waived for members of the uniformed services, members of the Foreign Service and employees of the intelligence community. This relief applies where a home is sold or stops being the taxpayer’s principal residence after Dec. 31, 2008, in connection with government orders received by the individual (or the individual’s spouse) for qualified official extended duty service. The credit is still allowable even if this happens during the year of purchase. Qualified official extended duty is any period of extended duty while serving at a place of duty at least 50 miles away from the taxpayer’s principal residence (whether inside or outside the U.S.) or while residing under government orders in government quarters. Extended duty is defined as any period of duty pursuant to a call or order to such duty for a period in excess of 90 days or for an indefinite period.

If you know of anyone whom meets the above criteria and would appreciate the level of support provided by myself and the Bob Nelson Team, please give me a call or drop an e-mail.  I will be more than happy to help them out.

Hope you can join us and show your support to our nation’s servicemen and women on Monday February 22nd at the Old Brogue in Great Falls.  Proceeds from this month’s event will go to the Semper Fi Fund.

For those not familiar, you simply come out and have dinner.  Myself and my cosponsors will be contributing approximately 90 percent of your dinner tab to this critical organization.

You can also show your support through:
A. The purchase of door prize entries. (ALL Proceeds go the IMSFF)
B.  Our buy a vet dinner initiative.  A minimum donation of $25 to the Semper Fi Fund entitles you to purchase dinner for one of our vets.
C.  This month we will be selling autographed copies of the Book “Highpocket’s War Stories” authored by Great Falls’ own Col. Pete Hilgartner USMC (Ret.).
D.  Or make out a fully tax deductible donation to the Semper Fi Fund.

The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to provide financial aid and quality of life assistance to service members and their families.  The group provides help to Qualified service members of all military branches and their families.  It helps Marines and Sailors as well as members of the Army, Air Force and Coast Guard who have served in support of Marine forces. The Semper Fi Fund provides assistance to these qualifying men and women, and their families, when they become injured in post 9-11 combat or training operations, or are diagnosed with a life threatening illness.

Please support my co-sponsors whenever you have a chance.

Mercury LLC

Knight Point Systems

Kevin Shiner – Shiner Roofing and Siding

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Danny Ott – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Chris Melnick – LSA Title Services

Gary Kaihara, DDS

The Old Brogue

and our door prize donors:

Golds Gym

Dominion Title

Adeler Jewelers

Casa Noble Tequila

Elite Fitness Concepts

Campbell Mechanical

PF Chang’s Restaurant

Great Falls Design Build

Lodgecliffe Bed and Breakfast

As many of you have already heard, I have changed the name of our monthly events to Military Appreciation Mondays. This month’s event to be held on Monday January 25th at the Olde Brogue in Great Falls, Va. and will be supporting the group Thanks USA. This wonderful organization, the brainchild of two local teenagers provides college scholarship money for the children and spouses of our veterans with priority going to the families of those vets who have sustained injuries. Please come out and show your support.

As always, you need do nothing other than come out and enjoy dinner and a fun event. Myself and my co-sponsors will each be donating ten percent of your tab to Thanks USA. In addition, we will be selling door prize chances for a variety of items to include, but not limited to: jewelry from Adeler Jewelers, gift cards for PF Chang’s restaurant, gift baskets, a one year service contract for your heating and air conditioning system, etc.

We are again inviting several servicemen and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. A minimum donation of $25 to Thanks USA, earns you privilege of buying dinner for one of our vets. If you would like to buy dinner for a vet, please e-mail or give me a quick call.

Whether you sign up to buy a vet dinner, purchase door prize entries, or simply come eat dinner your presence goes a long way towards helping raise funds for the organization and showing that we all respect and care about our veterans.

We are again doing two seatings (5:30 and 7:30) to accommodate the overwhelming response we have had to the last four events. Please be sure to make a reservation early since the Snuggery portion of the Old Brogue has filled up for both seatings in the past. Call the Brogue at (703) 759-3309 to do so. Invite your friends and let’s try to fill the entire restaurant this time around!! The only cost to you is your dinner.

If you know them, please be sure to thank my co-sponsors:

The Old Brogue

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Kevin Shiner – Shiner Roofing and Siding

Danny Ott – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Chris Melnick – LSA Title Services

Gary Kaihara, DDS

and our door prize donors:

PF Chang’s Restaurant

Dominion Title

Adeler Jewelers

Campbell Mechanical

Elite Fitness Concepts

Golds Gym

Thank you so much to those who have stepped up to brighten Christmas for the children of our injured servicemen.  Twelve of the sixteen families on the list have been fully accounted for with 25 of the 33 kids ready to have a wonderful Christmas morning.  Nancy and I ran out on Friday to do our shopping for the Helmuth kids.  We simply couldn’t resist the urge to buy “any toy that makes noise” for the one year old girl.  It was a great deal of fun picking out toys we thought the twins would enjoy.  We also had to learn all about transformers for four year old Nathaniel!!

If you are still considering showing your appreciation to our vets, please take a look at the remaining names below.  Once you let me know who you would like to purchase a gift for, drop an e-mail to Santa@BobNelsonTeam.com.  We will then give you the address and contact info for the family.  Feel free to visit the websites for Our Military Kids, Operation Second Chance, Thanks USA, the Semper Fi Fund and the Yellow Ribbon Fund if you’d like to show your support to these wonderful grassroots organizations.

Kids Still in Need of Gifts

Weissmiller Family (Adopted by the Moran and Vamvakias families – Thank you Mary and Don)

• 12 yr old girl: in-line skates (size 6-7)
• 7 yr old girl: roller skates (size 1)

Jensen Family (Adopted by the Grimes family – Thank you James and Susan)

• ·         13 yr old girl: Ipod Touch
• ·         9 yr old girl: Wii gaming system
• ·         6 yr old girl: Littlest Pet Shop toy house

Fulkerson Family

• 18 yr old boy: laptop computer for his school work and for college next year  (A  big thanks to Shiner Roofing and Siding for offering to purchase the laptop.  Again my thanks Kevin.)
• (A short note about this one.  It seems that the Fulkerson boy is a senior in high school.  He had come home from school and accidentally left his car door unlocked.  Someone actually stole the laptop out of the car from the son of an injured vet.  I realize this is a large item to be requesting.  I’m imagine he would be happy to receive a good condition laptop if nothing else.)

Thank You to Those Who Have Agreed to Purchase Gifts for the Families Below

Bellis Family (Adopted by the Hoernig family – Thank you Laura and Family)

• 14 yr old girl:  electric guitar, JC Penney’s gift card
• 11 yr old boy: football, Tennessee Titans merchandise, JC Penney’s gift card
• 6 yr old girl: Barbie doll, furreal electronic dog, JC Penney’s gift card

Broesch Family (Adopted by the Heil family – Thanks Tim)

• 15 yr old girl: art supplies (paint brushes, charcoal pencils), iTunes gift card
• 7 yr old girl: books, craft supplies, a Barbie doll

Brown Family (Adopted by Knight Point Systems – Thank you Lindsey)

• 7 yr old boy: Xbox 360
  
• 1 yr old girl: Disney princess toys/merchandise

Christiansen Family (Adopted by the Christianson family- Thank you Vickie and Family)

• 9 yr old girl: Girl Gourmet Cake Bakery
• 4 yr old girl: Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker

Deen Family (Adopted by the Matthews family and Collingswood Nursing Home – Thank you Catherine)

• 16 yr old girl: iPod
• 15 yr old boy: video games
• 14 yr old boy: video games
• 9 yr old boy: board games
• 3 yr old girl: educational toys teaching the alphabet and numbers

Helmuth Family (I can’t resist.  Adopted by the Nelson Family. 

• 3 yr old boy: Transformers, action figures, books
• 1 yr old girl: any toy that makes noise!  (I love this one)

Loper Family (Adopted by the Borland Family – Thank you Dodie and family)

• 12 yr old girl: digital camera
• 11 yr old boy: remote controlled cars
• 10 yr old boy: nintendo dsi
• 7 yr old girl: American Girls doll

Sherrill Family (Adopted by the Copito family – Thank you Debbie and family)

• 14 yr old boy: new sports bag (for carrying sports equipment to practice)
• 11 yr old boy: new sports bag (for carrying sports equipment to practice)

Hall Family (Thundercat Technology)

• 8 yr old boy: gameboy

Holsey Family (Adopted by the Grossmans.  Thank you Jackie!)

• 15 yr old boy: gift cards to Footlocker and Macy’s

Pointer Family (Adopted by the Heil family – Thanks Tim)

• 13 yr old boy: ripstick skateboard

Williams Family  (Adopted by the Smiths – Thanks Laura and Gene)

• 14 yr old girl: gift cards to Barnes & Noble or AMC Theaters

• 6 yr old girl: Barbie doll, clothes (pants size 6x, shirts size 7)

According to data from the National Association of Realtors, pending home sales were up 3.7 percent in October, compared to September, and up 32 percent when compared to October 2008.  This was the biggest annual increase in history.  Keep in mind that October 2008 was a historic low so we should not be surprised by the huge increase.

Pending home sales — which equates to the number of contracts signed but have yet to close — rose in all sections of the country except the West.  They were up 20 percent in the Northeast, 11.6 percent in the Midwest and 5.4 percent in the South, but down 11.2 percent in the West.

Part of the surge is probably attributable to buyers rushing to take advantage of the government-subsidized first-time home buyer’s credit, which was set to expire at the end of November but now has been extended through April.  Also, the bulk of sales still are coming from cheaper houses, with little movement in houses costing more than $250,000.