Archive for June, 2008

July 2008 Scuttlebutt

Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

Dear Fellow Comrades,

By the time most of you read this article, the VFW Department Convention in Milwaukee will be over. Commander Ben (WE) Anderson and Quartermaster Tom Puig from our post are once again being recognized as one of the All State Posts for 2007-2008. I want to say it takes teamwork and a lot of work by all members at the post to receive this award.

I want to talk Larry Anderson once again for all his hard work at the Aquafest and for all the members who assisted with the Color Guard. Larry has done a great job on the new float for the Rice Lake Veterans Center. Larry plans on taking the float to several other local parades in the area and could always use some assistance. Please give him a call if you can assist. From what he told me the next parade he will be attending is the Chetek Parade on the 4th of July and then Bloomer on the 5th.

The Department of Wisconsin once again is holding the annual OTI “Officer Training Institute” classes at Wisconsin Rapids on the 25-26th of July. Commander Anderson, QM Tom Puig and I are all planning on attending these classes, as they are always very informative. Ben and I will also be attending VFW King Day on the 27th.

I recently received an important letter in the mail a few days ago. I found out that I have been appointed to the VFW National Finance & Internal Organization Committee and will be attend the National Convention in Orlando, Florida 16-21August. Of course, Betty said when do we pack our bags.  I will be arriving back in Wisconsin just in time to head to Fort McCoy for the picnic that the VFW Department of Wisconsin is sponsoring for the Army National Guard Unit. It will be a busy week.

On August 21 & 22 the VFW Department of Wisconsin will be sponsoring a picnic for all the Army National Guard Unit members at Fort McCoy. We will need lots of volunteers. If you are interested in assisting, please let Pete Breed or me know if you can assist and on which day.

At our July meeting we will once again discuss plans for a Christmas Party or something like it for the Rice Lake National Guard Unit. If you have any ideas please attend our next meeting.

    **** If you know of any member who is sick or could use some sunshine, please contact Ted Kuchera at 434-3123.

Upcoming Event:

15 July  -  Monthly Meeting

25-27 July -  OTI Training & King Day (Wisconsin Rapids)

16-21 Aug - VFW National Convention (Orlando, Florida))

    19 Aug  - Monthly Meeting
    21-22 Aug - National Guard Picnic (Fort McCoy)

Yours in Comradeship,

John L. Fredrickson

9th District Commander

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July 2008 Scuttlebutt

Monday, June 9th, 2008

Hi Comrades,

We had a very short meeting this monthly. Our Adjutant was on the road again this month. He attended some training for work in Chicago and was then headed to Appleton for the DAV State Convention. I guess we will have a long meeting next month just to make up for this months short meeting. A short discussion was held regarding the retirement of both Sue and Barb from the County Veterans Service Office. Currently a party is being planned for them at the Rice Lake Veterans Center sometime in July. More information will be provided as soon as plans are firmed up. If possible please attend and give them a great farewell.

The Department Convention was well represented in Appleton June12-15. John Fredrickson, Lenny Shier, Joe Anderson and myself all attended. A lot of new information was presented and we will brief all members at our July meeting. Roger Dorman was elected as the new Department Commander for the upcoming year and he will be a great asset to the Department. Roger said he will be attending one of our Chapter meetings in the near future and we are looking forward to his visit.

The highlight of the Department Convention was the Appleton Flag Day Parade. It is the largest parade in the nation. Several of the meetings were rescheduled just so we had time to watch the parade. Some of the units were the USMC Band, University of Wisconsin Marching Band, VFW Department of Wisconsin Commander, American Legion Department of Wisconsin Commander and band. Viet Nam Veterans Association, Native American Veterans, to name a few and several Appleton area bands. We were extremely lucky as the parade passed directly in front of our hotel. I was able to sit in my room and watch it out my window. What a great parade.

I did find out that our Adjutant Fredrickson did end up with a couple more hats to wear this year. Besides being 4th District Vice Commander, he was appointed to the position of DAV Department of Wisconsin Chaplin and will also hold chairs on the Membership and Veteran of the Year Committees. I don’t know how he can find time for all of this.

Remember all our men and women serving all over the world to keep us safe. Say a big prayer for each and every one of them. May they all come home safe. God bless each and every one of you.

Upcoming Events:

  • 14 July 08 - Monthly Meeting.
  • 11 Aug 08 - Monthly Meeting

God Bless, Love Ya

Yours in Comradeship,

Ben (Walking Eagle) Anderson

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