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		From Teeing Ground To Green Reprinted from December 2005 Issue -by JOE MADAY Tee’s The Season…This month I’m going to make a departure from what has become a tradition for my December column over the past few years. Usually, my December column provides suggestions on what Santa should get the golfer for Christmas. This year, I’m taking a different avenue. Christmas is a holiday shared and celebrated by many religions. It is a day that has an effect on the entire world. To many people, it is a favorite time of the year involving gift giving, parties and feasting. Christmas is a holiday that unifies almost all of Christendom. The spirit of Christmas causes people to decorate their homes, cut down trees and bring them into their homes, decking them with silver and gold. In the light of that tree, families create memories and give gifts. When the sun goes down on Christmas eve, and darkness covers the land, families will participate in long-standing customs such as burning a Yule log, singing carols, kissing under the mistletoe, and attending a late night service or midnight mass. Such will be the traditional Christmas for many. For many others, this Christmas may not be as warm or traditional. A great many of our fellow Americans are displaced this year. The ravages of the 2005 storm season, with its hundreds of billions of dollars in damages, continues to impact many. A friend of mine working in Louisiana has witnessed the devastation up close. My friend has seen people whose only possessions were the clothes on their back. He told me during a recent visit, “I will never complain about having a bad day again.” During this season of giving, I ask you to give. Give some of your time and talent to those who could benefit. We all seem to be a bit short of time, but just a couple of hours volunteering can have a tremendous impact on you and those you serve. President Bush created USA Freedom Corps to build on the countless acts of service, sacrifice, and generosity that followed September 11th. When he announced USA Freedom Corps in his 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called on all Americans to commit their lives to serve a cause greater than themselves. Over the past three years, USA Freedom Corps has helped Americans answer that call. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 64.5 million Americans volunteered in 2004—an increase of more than 5 million since 2001. For more information on how you may serve in our community, check out the Freedom Corps website at www.usafreedomcorps.gov/. At this time of the year let us not forget those who are serving in our Armed Forces. By the time this article is published, our son will have begun his tour of duty in Iraq. One group of local volunteers who gives so tirelessly to our service personnel is American Citizens Encouraging Support (ACES). They don’t care where your soldier has served; Iraq, Afghanistan, some place else overseas, or stateside, ACES are proud of them and want to let them know how thankful we are for their service to our country. Show your support for our military personnel by helping provide a warm welcome home for returning troops - wave a flag, hold a banner, cheer, show your support by being there. For more information on how you can volunteer with ACES, or make a financial contribution, contact them through their website at www.americansupport.org/. Merry Christmas! I’ll see you here, next year, in The Entertainer. About the author - Joe Maday is a member of The Northwest Golf Media Association. He is also the Co-Founder of The Brotherhood of The Dimpled Orb™, b.o.d.o.™ Golf, and the b.o.d.o. Tour™. He has competed as a regular player on the b.o.d.o. Tour™ and was the Commissioner of the Tour’s august body of brethren. If you have any comments about this article, questions on where to play, or problems with your game, you can reach Joe at his e-mail address: bodogolf@televar.com.