Vfw march 2014 newsletter by Slack Attack

V.F.W. POST 7591 POST CHATTER

MADISON, WISCONSIN Post Chatter is published monthly by Post 7591, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Wisconsin for the information and guidance of VFW members and the Ladies Auxiliary. The meeting will be held March 13th, at 7:00 p.m.

Editor: Pat Ryan 242-8323

Volume 28 Issue 3 March 2014

Commander’s Column

Auxiliary President’s Column

Greetings Post Members and Ladies Auxiliary,

Dear Sisters and Comrades:

Weather reports show temperatures near 40 degrees next week – I hope everyone is surviving this never-ending winter. An apology goes out from last month’s article regarding the passing of Kenny Dunbrook, as I was recently notified that Comrade Kenneth Meyer is a Charter member and to the best of our records, the last remaining Charter member serving the Post. Comrade Meyer and I will meet in the near future at a fish fry and I very much look forward to meeting him and hearing his story. March’s meeting will include a recognition ceremony at 6:30 pm for our Voice of Democracy, Patriot’s Pen and Teacher of the Year participants. This is a great opportunity to recognize the young adults and teachers that assist us with our mission of promoting patriotism – I hope to see you there. Enclosed in this month’s Chatter is a registration form for our 5th annual golf outing that will occur on Friday, May 16th at Door Creek Golf Course. This event saw 16 teams compete and have fun last year, with over $850 raised for the Post Relief Fund. Initial interest shows we will have no problem filing the 18 available team slots, so I encourage those interested to sign up early. We had the pleasure of initiating two new

Last month I mentioned the Patriotic Art Contest for high school students (deadline March 31st). This month we’re looking forward to the awards presentation for our Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen student essay contests and our Teacher of the Year. Beginning at 6:30 prior to our March 13th meeting, it will feature the winners reading their essays and a reception for all. If your last name begins with M-Z and you can bring some cookies or other goodies for the reception that would be great! Everyone please come congratulate these fine young people. A “Health Check-up Questionnaire” was included in the Chatter about a year ago. It was a survey seeking information on your satisfaction with Auxiliary programs and operations and your suggestions for changes. One result of that survey was the change in meeting time from 7:30 to 7:00 pm. The same survey is available this year. We are not including it in the Chatter but it is available on the bulletin board at the Post, at the March 13th meeting, or by mail if you contact me for a copy. All input is welcome. I also call your attention to a separate article in this issue about reporting your community service activities. Wisconsin VFWs and Auxiliaries report-

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Auxiliary President’s Column continued on page 2

Commander’s Column continued from front page

Auxiliary President’s Column continued from page 2

Comrades during the February meeting and approved another 4 applications. I am pleased by the amount of new members and transfers we have experienced in the recent past and encourage you to find some time to meet your fellow Comrades and enjoy what the Post has to offer. As a reminder for the new Comrades that join as life members, our Post will purchase your VFW cap. Please see Quartermaster Joe Ellis and provide your hat size so he can place the order. There is also an excellent document at our website http://www.vfwpost7591.org/about.html entitled the Mentorship guide that provides a good overview of our offerings and activities. Please know that your dues go to worthy causes that support veterans – most recently to the lobbying efforts that successfully repealed the one-percent cost of living adjustment for military retirees previously passed in the federal budget. The VFW was one of the first organizations on Capitol Hill to successfully eliminate the penalty for current retirees and everyone serving in uniform. Thanks for being a Veteran and for your membership in VFW Day Post 7591. I also want to thank the Ladies Auxiliary for all of their support and activities that assist the Post – they are truly second to none.

ed from May to October a total of 66,955 hours of service plus $234,243 in monies spent or donated. What a difference in the health of our communities we are making! And I’m sure this is just the tip of the iceberg in what our members do – Please report your activities so they can be included in these figures. Today I returned form the state Mid-Winter meeting held in Oconomowoc. A smaller version of the June convention, it does include some award presentations. Again the recognition we received was really gratifying. We received awards for several membership achievements – Thanks, Treasurer Jo Ann! A glamorous feathered Mardi Gras mask decorated with Buddy Poppies made by Junior Vice Lois Butt won third place in the mask contest. A bra (yes, you read that right) decorated by members Sharon Oliver and Pat Holzhueter Roth won a first in that contest. The bras were later modeled (over shirts) by Post members and auctioned off. We thank models Marlyn Klongland, Mike Woodards, and Joe Baumann for their aid in the effort which raised $500 for the state cancer aid and research fund. And we won another big award . . . . This year, the achievement award has been split into two parts. Phase I focused on membership success and financial participation in state and national Auxiliary programs. Phase II will focus on program activities and be given in June. I am proud to report that we won the Phase I achievement award for our size auxiliary! We received a medal and certificate and will be recognized at the convention banquet. Again we need to thank our treasurer for her membership work, all our members for their continuing commitment to the VFW and our veterans, and all those active members who help raise funds which make our donations possible. Congratulations to us on this endorsement of our auxiliary’s work!

“Bridge the Gap” Jon Russell Commander 608-577-6149 jonrussell1989@gmail

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER • March 8, Color Guard Banquet, Great Dane Brew Pub • March 13, 6:30 PM Patriot’s Pen/Voice of Democracy Awards, Post 7591 • March 16, 8:30 – 12:00 Omelet Breakfast • March 16, 2:00 – 4:30 Irish music at Post • March 17 St. Patrick’s Day, corned beef and cabbage served at the Post 12:00 – 6:00 • March 26, 7:00 PM, Color Guard Annual Meeting, Post 7591 • April 10, Post and Auxiliary Elections • April 20, EASTER, NO Omelet Breakfast • April 23, Cooties Spaghetti Dinner, 5 – 8 PM • April 26, Loyalty Day, Viroqua • May 4, District Meeting, Post 7591 • May 8, New Officers’ Installation • May 16, 5th Annual Post 7591 Golf Outing • June 4 – 7, Dept. Convention, Eau Claire

God bless America and those who fight for our freedom.

Karen Baumann, President H – 608-221-1220 C – 770-1220 karenbaumann44@yahoo.com (Please note new e-mail address)

COOTIE CORNER Spaghetti Dinner, 23 April 2014, 5 – 8 pm (1700 2400 for Army personnel). $8.00 for adults. Advance tickets available at the bar. Joe Baumann Hungry Cootie

SR. VICE COMMANDER’S REPORT

AUXILIARY TREASURER’S REPORT

I heart March Madness. Every non-paid member has been called. We are pushing to reach the number needed for All State. All State is our minimum standard at VFW Post 7591. We have amazing members, auxiliary, and staff that do amazing things for vets and families. Please continue to volunteer at and enjoy your Post.

Thank you for all you have done this year for membership. Wisconsin has been in first place in our National Membership Group the last 3 months according to our membership chairman. Our Auxiliary received a monetary award from National for achieving 100% by December 31st. There are still awards to be won this year for Auxiliaries, Districts and members. Calendar year for the Auxiliary is from January 1st to December 31st. A tip to increase Auxiliary membership: educate the community about all the great events and activities our VFW Auxiliary does so they will want to join our group. National is awarding $100 to the District and a “Keeping America’s Veterans and Families Strong” Plate to the District President and membership Chairman of each District achieving 100% in membership and received at National Headquarters by March 31st, 2014. As our National Director, Rita Byers states in her membership blog, “most of us joined the Auxiliary to honor a special veteran or veterans in our life, and what better way can we honor them than to recruit new members for our organization to ensure the benefits our veterans fought for will always be available to them.” Let the recruiting begin! Celebrate Spring! Recruit from the heart for Veterans.

Get outside, and enjoy time with those you love.

Offset and Digital Printing • Letterheads • Newsletters •

Littel Printing Company, LLC Serving Madison Since 1938 Quality Printing at a Competetive Price 4535 Helgesen Drive Madison, WI 53718 Across Hwy. 51 from Farm and Fleet

608.223.9144 Fax 608.223.9145 8:00 AM — 4:00 PM Monday – Friday

littelprinting@sbcglobal.net Gregg Coplien Owner/President

Envelopes • Brochures • Business Forms • Wedding/

Political Literature • Professional Business Cards •

Scott Groff Sr. Vice Commander Cell: 608.417.0723 Email: stgroff@hotmail.com

Jo Ann Klongland Auxiliary Treasurer jklongland@hotmail.com (you can email address changes or call me with them) 608-241-1368

AUXILIARY COMMUNITY SERVICE Instead of the old twice a year report, we’ve been asked to report our service to others and to community organizations more frequently. If you’ve volunteered or done other good deeds that benefit the community rather than the VFW, please inform our Community Service chair, Glennis Whitish. She needs to know what you did, how many hours it took, and mileage incurred in doing it. This report will cover November 1st through February 28th, so please get your info in as soon as is convenient. If you did things between May 1st and October 30th last year but did not yet report them, it’s not too late to let her know of those things too. You can call Glennis at 244-8195; or email your report to President Karen and she will pass it on to Glennis. Thank you. 3

Anniversary Invitations • Raffle Tickets • Checks • Flyers •

WANTED:

QUARTERMASTER’S REPORT Movers and Shakers, it is about time for you to move and shake again. PLEASE let the Post know the 15th of the month BEFORE you Move and Shake. The Post is doing OK, however we need you to support us. Lots of things need to be done and we can only do them with your support. We need some new bar stools and more chairs for the back room. Music is working well in the back room, more improvements are coming. Korean War Veterans, I still have a few books left. See me at the Post, during the hours 0900 - 1200 daily. If I am not here, Steve or Bill can help you. Remember we have a new membership application. It is the only one that can be used. It has blocks that you can have your annual dues taken from your credit card or bank account annually and you never see a bill. Annual dues are $40.00. Blank forms are behind the bar. Ask the bartender for them. Remember to be nice to everyone, and treat them the way you want to be treated.

OLD/USED EYEGLASSES AND HEARING AIDS The Madison – Monona Lioness Club has placed a white container on the shelf above the coat rack by the front door of the Post to collect any old eyeglasses and hearing aids you may have. They will be donated to people who need them. Please look around your household and donate these items by putting them in the container. If you are unable to bring them in, but would like to donate items, please call Sandi at 222-5082 to make arrangements to have the items picked up. Many thanks on behalf of the Madison – Monona Lioness Club. Sandi Russell

Joe Ellis Quartermaster

VFW POST 7591 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221-9326 MANAGER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SUSANNE KOHLER 764-5195 HOUSE COMM. CHM. . . . . . . . . . . WOODI WOODARDS 223-1137 QUARTERMASTER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JOE ELLIS 222-8931 COMMANDER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JON RUSSELL 577-6149 CHAPLAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MARTY VOGEL 221-3684 HONOR/COLOR GUARD CAPT. . . . . . . . . . LLOYD DUNN 246-0626 VET. FIRING SQUAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . ROGER SWINGEN 274-4106 AUXILIARY PRES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . KAREN BAUMANN 221-1220 AUXILIARY CHAPLAIN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . CAROL WELCH 838-3733 FUNERAL LUNCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DOLLY JENKINS 222-5397 DANE CO. SVCE. OFFICE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 608- 266-4158 POST SERVICE OFFICER . . . . . . . . . . . . . JOHN LYNCH 347-4495

Interior Painting Over 30 years Over Twoooo Thousand references Free estimates

249-4451 DOUG JENKINS PAINTING Wallpaper Removal • Drywall Repairs $ Referral Fee $ 4

EMERGENCY DISASTER RELIEF FUND The state VFW maintains an Emergency Disaster Relief Fund for the aid of Post and Auxiliary members experiencing loss or major damage to their residence in excess of $5,000. The fund’s purpose is to provide early cash money for immediate needs. Grant amounts are based on availability of funds and usually are several hundred dollars. Should you experience a fire, tornado or other major damage to your home, please contact Auxiliary chair Dolly Jenkins (222-5397), Post chair Culley Popma (445-5751), or Quartermaster Joe Ellis (221-9326).

BIRD SHOW

BIG TEN AND NFL NETWORKS FREE WI-FI Wii PLAYSTATION ATM

SUNDAY

EUCHRE 1:00 PM

AMVETS 7:00 PM

EUCHRE 1:00 PM

MONDAY

V.F.W. DAY POST 7591 DANE COUNTY SERVICE OFFICER 608-266-4158

BINGO 6:30 PM

TUESDAY

GUN SHOW

MUSIC BY JERRY STUEBER

EUCHRE 1:00 PM

KWVA

HALL IN USE

EUCHRE 1:00 PM

POST & AUXILIARY MEETINGS 7:00 PM

MUSIC BY JERRY STUEBER

EUCHRE 1:00 PM

COOTIE & AUXILIARY MEETINGS 7:00 PM

EUCHRE 1:00 PM

THURSDAY

HALL IN USE

MUSIC BY JERRY STUEBER

2014

FACILITIES AVAILABLE

WEDNESDAY

PUBLIC WELCOME

March

MUSIC BY FRANK JAMES

FISH FRY 5 – 8 PM

FISH FRY 5 – 8 PM MUSIC BY RUSTY HEARTS

MUSIC BY BACK 40

FISH FRY 5 – 8 PM

FISH FRY 5 – 8 PM MUSIC BY MIDLIFE CRISIS

FRIDAY

HALL IN USE

SATURDAY

301 COTTAGE GROVE ROAD FRIDAY NIGHT FISH FRY 5:00 – 8:00 P.M. TUESDAY NIGHT BINGO 6:30 – 9:30 P.M.

V.F.W. POST 7591 301 Cottage Grove Road Madison, WI 53716-1107 (Return Service Requested)

Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID MADISON, WI Permit No. 1

POST OFFICERS FOR 2013-2014

AUXILIARY OFFICERS FOR 2013-2014

POST COMMANDER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . JON RUSSELL SENIOR VICE COMMANDER . . . . . . . SCOTT GROFF JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER . . . MIKE HEMBERGER QUARTERMASTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JOE ELLIS JUDGE ADVOCATE . . . . . . . . . LEROY HOLZWARTH CHAPLAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MARTIN VOGEL SURGEON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JOHN LYNCH TRUSTEE - 1 YEAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . DENNIS LANDEN TRUSTEE - 2 YEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . VIRGIL GRENIA TRUSTEE - 3 YEAR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DANA SIMONS HOUSE COMMITTEE - 1 YEAR . . . . . . JOHN LOOZE HOUSE COMMITTEE - 1 YEAR. . . . CULLEY POPMA HOUSE COMMITTEE - 2 YEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NIEL ROSSMAESSLER HOUSE COMMITTEE - 2 YEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MARLYN KLONGLAND HOUSE COMMITTEE - 3 YEAR . . . . . JOE BAUMANN HOUSE COMMITTEE - 3 YEAR . . MIKE WOODARDS SERVICE OFFICER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JOHN LYNCH ADJUTANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JOE BAUMANN

PRESIDENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . KAREN BAUMANN SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT . . . CHERYL WOODARDS JUNIOR VICE PRESIDENT . . . . . . . . . . . . LOIS BUTT CONDUCTRESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DONNA BUTLER TREASURER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . JO ANN KLONGLAND SECRETARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DOLLY JENKINS CHAPLAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CAROL WELCH GUARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CELIA GROFF HISTORIAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JULIE EVANS TRUSTEE - 1 YEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . BEVERLY ELLIS TRUSTEE - 2 YEAR. . . . . . . . . . . . LINDA SCHLUTER TRUSTEE - 3 YEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JACKI BOHNE PATRIOTIC INSTRUCTOR. . . . . . . . . LINDA FONGER HOUSE COMMITTEE - 1 YEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MARJORIE MARSHMAN HOUSE COMMITTEE - 2 YEAR . . . SANDI RUSSELL