March - April 2021 Newsletter

- 2/22/2021

Post Commander

   Hello Everyone!  I wanted to start out by thanking Maria, Vickie, Mark, Adrianne (& her DEPS), Jerry, Lupe, Oscar, Todd, Veronica, Lawrence, Vern and Lisa for volunteering and keeping this Post operating and thriving.

  The problem is that the numbers do not add up.  Between the Post and Auxiliary we have more than 700 members yet the 12 members above are carrying the weight.  That is simply ridiculous.  If you want to continue to see YOUR Post grow, then step up and volunteer.  You don’t need to volunteer every Friday but at least once a month.  If enough members volunteer, then it will be much easier.  A load shared is a load made easier.  We need volunteers in the kitchen, to clean and to help do maintenance and repairs.  I said I did not want this Post to survive during this Pandemic, I wanted it to THRIVE. The 12 volunteers above have done that but think how much more we could do with more help.

   Unfortunately, because of the pandemic I have made the decision to cancel the Past Commanders Banquet for this year.  Hopefully, we can be back next year and have our annual gathering.

   We need members to renew their annual dues as we work hard to get to 100% again this year. If you are having a medical or financial problem, please let us know so we can help.

   It is important that you come to the Post meetings.  Your voice is not heard if you do not attend.  Good ideas do us no good if they are not presented to the membership.

Michael Martin

Post Commander

________________________________________________________               

Auxiliary President

   I hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy.  Our days are getting longer, and Spring will be here before you know it.

   We are just over halfway through the year and nominations and elections are coming soon. We have 339 members, and I would like to see more than 7 to 9 members attend our meetings.  Hopefully, the weather and the pandemic cooperate.  I’m encouraging all member that are able to attend and willing to donate 2 or 3 hours a month to our Great Auxiliary that you please come to our meetings on the second Thursday of each month.  We need more of our members to step up and fill officer positions.  Men and Women, we are ONE auxiliary now.  It would be a terrible thing to lose our Charter because we cannot fill the Officer positions for the 2021-22 years.  Let’s keep our great Post and Auxiliary alive and well.

  I am willing to continue the position of Auxiliary President one more year, unless of course someone else is nominated and elected.  I will continue to mentor our incoming officers as I am able for the ensuing year.  Again, if our officer positions are not filled, we no longer exist.  Hope to see more of our great members at our next meeting March 11.  Thank you to all Auxiliary members and volunteers for your continued service and support.

Lisa Blauwkamp

Auxiliary President

                                                                                                               

Veterans and Family Support 

  Hello Everyone! It won’t be long, and Spring will be welcoming us, so keep happy thoughts.  Would love to see more of you at our meetings now. 

   Welcome our new members with a smile and "glad to see you”. Most of all stay safe.  Adhere to responsible, sensible guidelines for your safety.  Lastly keep our troops in harm’s way in your thoughts and prayers.

Ellen Robinson                                                                                       

Dad’s Post 132

   Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.  We’ll have a Post meeting Saturday, April 3rd at the Post.  See you then!    Hondo Robinson                                                                                              

Chaplain

  Took Bibles to the family of Byrne Douma, Thomas Fierro, Gerald Brink, Don Wiersma, Gus Feenstra, Louis Hallacy and John Bronkhurst.

Hondo Robinson                                                                                 

Meeting Reminders

   Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 73 meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 7pm.  All Vietnam Veterans are welcome.

   Vet to Vet support group meets every Wednesday from 630 to 730pm.  Veterans of every era are welcome to attend.

   Marine Corps League meets the Third Saturday of each month at 10am.  Everyone is welcomed to attend.                                 

House Committee

   It is so great to see Comrades and Auxiliary Members back in the Post.  This when we really appreciate our huge Post.  Even at 25% capacity we can still have 87 customers in our Post at one time with lots of room for social distancing.  I have been told that we are about the only restaurant in town still open that you can walk right in with no waiting to sit. Come to your Post and show some support! Our great kitchen staff is serving approximately 80-100 meals every Friday.  On Friday the 19th we served over 160 meals!  Just found out that we will have Smelt starting February 26th.  We own a huge thank you to our Volunteers in the kitchen and bar.  We really can use more volunteers so some of them can have a break sometime.  It takes at least 6 or 7 volunteers every week to put out that many meals.  Please come and have some fun with the team.  It can be very rewarding for everyone. 

   With every private club it takes members and volunteers to make it work.  We have added at least 13 new members since July 1st, 4 of them Life Members who never have to pay any more dues every year. Thank you so much for joining our great Post.  Now we need our annual members to please renew your dues.  If you are having a rough time, we will be happy to assist you with your dues.  It can happen to anyone, especially in these times.  We have been 100% for the past 3 years and want to continue the great record we started 3 years ago.  The Honor Post banners look great hanging in our Post.

   Nominations and elections will occur during this newsletter time.  We had 387 members on June 30 last year.  We need attendees and members that are willing to contribute 3 to 3 hours a month to keep our Post alive and well.  We can do so much more to help Veterans in our area, but we need your help to make it happen.

Vern Blauwkamp—

House Committee Chairman

 

 

 


Officers and Contact Info

Post: (616)392-2144

Commander:   Mike Martin (616)594-9151

Senior Vice:   Jenna Schaub (231)649-1745

Junior Vice:   Adam Cameron (309)212-1148

Quartermaster:  Garrett Dickey (937)570-8254

Chaplain:   Robin Bailey (616)994-2239

Auxiliary President:  Lisa Blauwkamp (269)206-1810

Auxiliary Treasurer:  Nancy Vredeveld (616)422-1403

Honor Guard:  Harold Kuipers (616)886-0462


March 2021

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Watch Facebook and Flyers for Details

1—Euchre 1230

2—Soup Night

3-- 75¢ Wings

4—Burger Night

5—Fish or Rib Dinner

6—

7—Closed

8—Euchre 1230

 

9—Soup Night

10— 75¢ Wings

11—Burger Night

Post & Auxiliary Meeting 7pm

12—Fish or Lasagna Dinner

13—

 

 

14—Closed

15—Euchre 1230

 

16—Soup Night

17-- 75¢ Wings

 

18— Burger Night

19—Fish or Scalloped Potatoes with Ham

20—St Patrick’s Day w/Corned Beef and Cabbage

21—Closed

 

22— Euchre 1230

 

 

23—Soup Night

24-- 75¢ Wings

25—Burger Night

26—Fish or Enchiladas Dinner

27—

 

28—Closed

 

 

29— Euchre 1230

 

 

30—Soup Night

31—75¢ Wings

 

Watch Facebook and Flyers for Details

Prices Subject to Change

 

 

 

 

 

Or Current Resident

 

 

 

April 2021

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Watch Facebook and Flyers for Dinner Details

Prices Subject to Change

 

 

1—Burger Night

2—Fish Dinner or Wet Burrito

3—

4—Closed

5— Euchre 1230

6—Soup Night

7—75¢ Wings

8— Burger Night

Post & Auxiliary Meeting 7pm

9—Fish or Spaghetti w/Meatballs

10—

11--Closed

12— Euchre 1230

 

13—Soup Night

14--75¢ Wings

15— Burger Night

16—Fish or Steak Dinner

17—

18—Closed

19— Euchre 1230

 

20—Soup Night

21--75¢ Wings

22-- Burger Night

 

23—Fish or Chicken Dinner

24—District 8 Testimonial Dinner

25—Closed

26—Euchre 1230

27—Soup Night

28—75¢ Wings

29—Burger Night

30—Fish or Smothered Pork Chops