Post Dispatch: February 2019
From the Commander:
Hi, Sam Maggio, commander of 2801 VFW. Happy February VFW members, auxiliary and friends of the post. We are now in a winter like I remember when I had to walk to school. You know, it was 8 miles to school, uphill both ways and your lips froze…..etc.
One thing I am proud of is that the VFW is one of the finest organizations in the country. We are the veterans that have gone to foreign soil and had a chance of getting hurt. A few of us did get hurt. Our post is one of the finest that I know of.
We have dedicated people that make the magic happen and keep the post open. With the closings of some of the other posts in the suburbs, I am glad we are running strong. One of the things we hope to do is to keep this VFW open forever so that future generations of soldiers coming home to have a place to be welcomed to.
We need volunteers called friends of the post. These are people that volunteer yearly to help us run the post functions. For a number of hours of service, you get some of the privileges of being a member. You also get reduced rates on certain post events like the shooting range.
We could use people on Tuesday and Friday nights to help out. We also need regular VFW members. With all we have going on we should have a lot more members. We are the only VFW post in the country that has a shooting range. If you know of anyone eligible please steer them in to us. We know have pizzas after the meetings.
If you want to rent the hall, give us a call. Everyone keep warm and spring is around the corner. I have booked the rock band, the Twisters for March 23rd. These guys are great. Come on in and enjoy. It will be $5 at the door.
From the Auxiliary:
Happy New Year! We have made it half way through the auxiliary year.
I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays with your family and friends.
January was a busy month, 19th District Voice of Democracy banquet was held
on January 12, 2019. We entered our 1st place winner, Parker (Grace) Melton
from Glenbard East High School each student that placed received a certificate
and monetary gift. Ron Bakes, Mary Ciszek auxiliary chairman, Virginia Proffitt,
and myself represented our auxiliary on the 19th District color team.
Our Post Commander Sam Maggio,Sid Berg, Marilyn Pirano, auxiliary co-chairman
Rae Rupp Srch and the student parents also attended. Everyone had an enjoyable evening.
The Patriot’s Pen 19th District celebration was held on January 27th 2019 at the Batavia VFW Post #1197.We entered our 1st place winner, Gabrielle Williams from Timothy
Christian Middle School. The students that placed received a certificate and monetary
gift, all other participate received a gift card. Mary Ciszek, Marilyn Piraino, co-chairman, Debbie Wesoloski, Rae RuppSrch, student parents and myself attended.
We had a very enjoyable afternoon.
We have invited the 63 middle school and 4 high school students and their teachers,
family members, judges and auxiliary and post members to an Recognition Ceremony.
Sunday February 3rd from 2-4pm at our post home. Prizes will be awarded to the top winners in each category.
Auxiliary dues notices were to all annual members in January. If you let your dues
lapses you will loss all of your pervious years of service as a member.
Please keep your dues up to date! We don’t want to lose any members!
Volunteers are always needed at our monthly events Tuesday Bingo, Give Back
Thursday and Friday Fish Fry
Especially Friday Fish Fry night during Lenten season, March 8th 2019 thru April 19th2019
Every 2nd Tuesday and Wednesday of the month we host bingo at Hines Hospital. Wednesday night volunteers are needed Please contact Marilyn Piriano 630-495-2327
Dates to Remember:
Monday February 11th – Auxiliary Meeting 7:30pm
Tuesday February 12th – Hines Bingo – Psychiatric Ward
Wednesday February 13th Hines Bingo – Spinal Ward
Thursday February 14th – Happy Valentine’s Day
Sunday February 17th – District Meeting
Please let me know if any of our members has been sick or had surgery.
We would like to send a card to cheer them up.
We always meet the 2nd Monday of every month and have snacks after the meeting .
Please come join us!!
Loyally,
Jan Bakes, Auxiliary President
From the Quartermaster:
BINGO:
Bingo is held every Tuesday, rain or shine. Doors open at 4:30 and sales start at 5:30. Early Bird Bingo is at 6:45 and Regular Bingo starts at 7:00. We have over $2,000 in prizes for Bingo weekly, plus four Raffles bn. For Post Members: Bingo needs workers. In the last year several long-term workers have died, entered long-term care or just moved away. We need people willing to commit to Bingo on a regular, long-term basis. Bingo workers essentially sell things – Pull Tabs, Raffle tickets and Bingo cards. These three incomes are vital to the Post’s revenues. So, if you can spend some time on a Tuesday, come on down and help the Post.
Range News:
The Range is in full swing as 2019 is underway. The Range committee is scheduling some fun little fund raisers in the coming months. The next one is tentatively set for Friday March 8th and it will be themed around St. Patty’s, So watch for news on this event and plan to come on down and have dinner at the Post and then mosey on down to the range. As always everyone is a winner.
Watch our calendar or give us a shout for more open range times. We have Joe B. taking over the range from 5 to 7 on the 2nd Mondays and 5:30-7:30 on the 4th Mondays. If you’re an Auxiliary member the 2nd Monday is right before our scheduled meeting
The Post is having a Gun Show on Saturday May 11th, the day before Mother’s Day for all you last minute shoppers.
We still have some tickets left for our 6 Gun Raffle, as soon as the tickets are sold we pull a winner. Information and tickets will be available in the Canteen (lower level bar). We really want to sell these tickets and find out who our winners are. SO GET THEM NOW!!
Shooters remember with a New Year comes a new Hold Harmless. 2019 HH forms can only be accepted if one has renewed their membership. SO if you’re in the range and have renewed your membership (2019 card will be required) in the Post for next year, you can fill out the new form.
Remember Shooters, we want your opinion. We here at the Range are trying everything we can to make our range more accommodating for our shooters. If our shooters have any suggestions please email us with your ideas.
And lastly…..Lent is just around the corner and the Post could really use everyone’s help during Fish Frys. IF you can help PLEASE call the office and ask for Dominick and set a day to help us here at the POST. Remember, without the Post we have no Gun Range. WE always can use assistance.
Are you remembering the F in VFW stands for FUN? Well the V is for Veterans and the W is for WOW! Come check us out and have some FUN, talk to a few VET’s and say WOW what a great place. We have had many who once they have come in to our VFW want to make it theirs too.
If you’re a licensed CCW holder and your renewal is coming up, we have instructors that use our facility for classes. Email us and we can give you names and contact info for you to schedule a class.
Check Range calendar on our web page www.villaparkvfw.org, hover over Range then click on membership to see all the new days and times when the range is staffed. Click on the name on any day and it will show the hours that an RSO is there. If on the calendar you do not see the range staffed at a time you would like to use or if you have any questions what so ever including membership or who can use our state of the art range please contact us at vfwpost2801range@gmail.com or 630-939-1278.
THANKS again to all our RSO’s who volunteer their time to staff our range on a weekly basis. We function almost 7 days a week. Watch for info on upcoming shoots.
We of the Range Committee and our RSO’s are committed to giving our members a safe and fun place to shoot; as well as giving back to our post.
Fred Roder