VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 6978

215 NORTH US 31

NEW WHITELAND, INDIANA 46184

317.535.4041

Look us up on the internet at: http://www.vfw6978us/ like our group page on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/groups/254723575456/ and like our public page on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/vfw6978

September 2017  Edition  #31

In this Issue:

Post Events and Activities Next 30 Days

Post Commanders Corner

Auxiliary Presidents Corne

 Post Committee Updates

Community Support and Post Events

Canteen Menu

 In Memoriam

Post Events and Activities Events Next 30 Days

Poker every Tuesday at 7 pm

Dinner every Friday Night 5:30-8:30 pm

Euchre every Saturday at 2 pm

Post and Auxiliary Meeting at 7 pm Wednesday, September 6^th

Wine Tasting on September 9^th

Patriots Day Monday September 11^th

POW/MIA recognition Day September 15^th

Greater Whiteland Community Day September 16^th

District meeting September 17^th

Ribeye Hoagie ride-in on September 23^rd

Post Commanders Corner- Comrade Commander Chris Baldwin

Comrades, Sisters, and Brothers,

        I hope this newsletter finds everyone doing well. It’s hard to believe that we are already through our first month of the 2017-2018 year. In the month of July, we conducted 20 community support projects that included support to the Indiana Veterans Home, National Children’s Home, 2 veterans with emergency relief, doctor visit assistance, etc. Our honor guard conduct 10 funerals in June as well. In all, we accrued 68 hours of community service and donated $625.00 to various organizations and charities.

              This month I wish to start off our discussion just as our monthly meeting does every month, “We are here to transact business of mutual benefit. Do not let petty jealousies or trivial personalities influence our deliberation. Let us uphold always the obligations of unselfish comradeship and loyalty to our organization” (VFW National Charter, By-Laws, Manual of Procedure, and Ritual, 2017).  I start off like this because just was we watch the news and see the evident divide amongst our citizens, I see that same trend happening within our membership. Too many people want to voice their individual opinions without knowing much, if any of the facts behind decisions or events. All while they themselves do little to nothing for the betterment of the organization or their individual segment for that matter. We seem to be too pre-occupied with the idea of getting something for less or complaining about change, in an environment that has failed in the past due to its internal inability to change with current times. Organizationally, we have implemented numerous positive changes to increase our ability to communicate effectively and efficiently across all segments of our organization. We are more worried about getting a cheaper drink that we are about being able to be profitable and sustain ourselves for the future. We are more worried about what’s on the TV’s than we are about knowing the various events that are happening and ways we can participate. We’ve had the Greater Whiteland Community Day volunteer sheet up for 2 months and out of the 697 members that I track daily, we still have the same 4 people signed up to volunteer. The same type problem we had with National Night Out, Friday Night Steak Dinners, etc., etc. We seem to have a significant number of people that complain and want stuff but I don’t see them actually participating. By the way, if you are reading this and asking yourself “is he talking about me?” I probably am. Come to a Post meeting, Auxiliary meeting, a Town Hall Meeting and voice your concerns, ask your questions, be involved in the discussion and the decision-making process, fill out a House Committee form, or be an adult and schedule an appointment with me directly. I’ll be more than happy to talk to you, discuss your concerns, explain, or expound upon whatever topic you have issues or concerns with. Don’t just sit around the Canteen complaining, making derogatory remarks, and hurting the efforts of all of us that are working hard to make our organization successful.  

         We had a fantastic 50^th Anniversary Party on August 13^th. All those Charter members that established this organization in a garage and all those hard-working members in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s that continued to build on the foundation our founders made it prosper, deserve our best efforts to preserve and continue the work of our organization. Lastly, all of our future members deserve our best efforts today to ensure they have the same place to congregate, to seek assistance and fellowship, and to share in and to better each other’s lives as comrades.

         In closing, I’d like to welcome our new member: no new members in Augustin. Additionally, we’d like to welcome members that have transferred to us from other Posts; Jim Stephens from Post 5864.  As always, I want to thank everyone for their continued support and dedication to our great organization. We hope to see you at the canteen for some of the upcoming events that we have scheduled.  May God bless you and your families, our current service members and veterans all around the world, and may God Bless America.      

Christopher R. Baldwin

1SG (R), USA

Post Commander

Auxiliary Presidents Corner- Janet Riddle

Dear Comrades, Sisters, and Brothers,

   I hope this newsletter finds everyone well. We had 5 members participate in National Night Out at the VFW booth. We got to talk to a lot of people. It was nice to see the community come together to support this event. 

   Everyone enjoyed the 50th Anniversary celebration. Thank you to everyone that organized it and all those that came to celebrate the milestone that we reached.

   A reminder to our current annual Auxiliary member's that haven't paid their 2018 dues. The VFW Auxiliary #6978 is having an Earlybird Special for our current annual members. Your dues must be received by September 30, 2017, then at our October 4, 2017 meeting we will draw one name out of the qualifying members to receive a Lifetime membership and then we will draw two names to receive their annual dues back. We have already had a lot of members pay their 2018 dues to take a chance on this special. Don't forget that September 30th is the deadline.  Good luck to all those participating!

   The Auxiliary is hosting a Wine Tasting at the Post on Saturday, September 9, 2017 from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm. Tickets are $10.00 per person which gives you 6 tastings and a chance on a door prize. Tickets can be purchased at the Post. There will be a variety of fun raffles and snacks. Come out and enjoy the evening with us. 

   Our condolences go out to the family and friends of Auxiliary member Ronald L. Greene, 79, of Franklin, IN, in his passing on August 18, 2017. May God give you comfort.

   Our next meeting is on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at 7:00 pm at the Post. We will be welcoming our District President, Michelle Jackson, at this meeting. May God bless you, your families, and our military here and abroad. 

Respectfully, 

Janet Riddle, President 

VFW Auxiliary #6978

Post Committee Updates 

1.       PAO and Community Support Committee; Chairman Comrade Unknown- If you have an e-mail and you are NOT getting frequent e-mails from us please send an e-mail to us with the correct information. Please ensure you look at our Website, Facebook pages, and e-mail for information about Post activities in the future.  If you have any questions please contact us at vfw6978webmaster@gmail.com. 

2.       House Committee: Chairman Comrade Tabor Siedl.  If anyone has any suggestions or issues that they’d like this committee to review and discuss, submit them to our Post e-mail at vfw6978webmaster@gmail.com or you can write/type a letter and place it in a sealed envelope and give it to one of our canteen associates, not later than Tuesday of each week.

3.     Visitation Committee: Chairman Comrade Don Metcalf-If you are having issues or just need someone to talk to please reach out to us.  If any members know of anyone that needs a visit please contact us at vfw6978chaplain@gmail.com or call the post at 317-535-4041 and leave a message for the visitation committee. Emails and phone calls will be answered within 2-3 business days.

Community Support and Post Events

September-

September 2^nd- VJ Day- Japan surrendered 1945, ending WWII.

September 6^th- Post and Auxiliary Meeting @ 7 pm

September 9^th- The Auxiliary is hosting a Wine Tasting at the Canteen from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm. Tickets are $10.00 per person which gives you 6 tastings and a chance on a door prize. Tickets can be purchased at the Canteen. There will be a variety of fun raffles and snacks. Come out and enjoy the evening with us. 

September 11^th- Patriots Day- We will have a Post event for local Law Enforcement, Firefighter, and EMS. This will be a pitch-in luncheon. We’ll have a small ceremony and prayer before serving. The Post will open at 1100 am that day.  Pitch-in sign-up sheet is on the board at the canteen.

September 15^th- POW/MIA Recognition Day- We will have a small Post event, Loretta is working on the details.

September 16^th- Greater Whiteland Community Day- Once again the executive committee has asked our Post for manpower assistance. We need approx. 8-10 volunteers to help with various activities for the event. The Post needs approx. 6 volunteers to man out membership and information booth. Additionally, we are looking for 4 Comrades to lead the parade with the national colors and well as present the National Colors during the Opening Ceremony. A sign-up sheet is located in the canteen.

September 17^th- 7^th District Meeting Odon, In at 1030 am.

September 23^rd- Ribeye Hoagie Ride-In. from 11 am- 2 pm. We will serve all participants a Ribeye Hoagie Sandwich and an Ear of Roasted Corn for $9.00. Other canteen menu items will be available as well. Each rider will receive a $2 discount and each passenger will receive a $1 discount on their meal price. (Discount prices for special only). All others are welcome to attend as well. All drinks are separate.  We will also have 50/50 drawing, pull tabs, and other gaming events. Rain date will be September 30^th from 11 am- 2 pm. If you drive a car/truck, please park in the High School parking lot located directly behind our Post.

September 23-24- Bus trip to National Home for Children. Details in the July general orders on post bulletin board

October-

October 4^th- Post and Auxiliary Meeting @ 7pm

October 9^th- Start of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Afghanistan 2001.

October 18^th- Recognition of Women in Military Service

October 21^st - House Winterization Project.  We will help veterans around the local area prepare for winter by conducting yard clean-up, gutter repair and cleaning, covering windows with plastic, splitting wood, etc. Please send us an e-mail with anyone needing assistance.

October 26^th from 7:00-8:00 pm.  Quarterly Town Hall Meeting This meeting will be open for all Post members to attend. We will provide our vision, strategic goals and objectives, our measures of effectiveness for the year, and all members will have an opportunity to ask questions and get answers by the senior officer of each segment at the end of the meeting.

October 27-29- State VFW Fall Conference. Details TBP by State.

October 28^th- Adult Halloween Party starting at 7:00 pm. We’ll have a costume contest, DJ, special drink list, pitch-in dinner, etc.

November-

November 1^st- Post and Auxiliary Meeting @ 7pm

November 11^th- Veterans Day-

November 19^th - 7^th District Meeting Spencer, In at 1030 am

November 23^rd- Thanksgiving Day

Veteran Centric Community Support Project- TBD

Friday Night Dinner Schedule- Dine in or carry out available (Change subject to cook’s discretion)

September 1^st-  Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans- $10.00

September 8^th-  Surf n Turf with Roasted Red Potatoes and Steamed Vegetables- $11.00

September 15^th- Chicken and Noodles Mashed Pot with Corn Roll- $10.00

September 22^nd- Hamburger Steak with choice of Mushrooms and Onions- $10.00

September 29^th- Friday Steak Dinner, Potato, Vegetable, and Side Salad- $13.00

 In Memoriam:

Our thoughts and prayers go the family of the recently deceased member(s) of Post 6978.

Auxiliary Member Ron Green August 18^th, 2017