VFW POST 1658 ONLINE NEWSLETTER

Well the “MIGHTY 1658″ Auxiliary has again proven it is the BEST in the State of Florida. Last month at State convention they walked off with six awards, starting with Patricia Ahern as President of the year. Other awards went to the following: First Place Awards:

Cancer Aid & Research: Chairperson Sharon Hampton

Special Award For The Most Money Raised:

Snowball Express:  Chairperson Kim Stover

Publicity: Chairperson Paula Twaits

Legislative: Chairperson Marie Komar

Second Place:

Military Kids: Chairperson Sheri Benner

Outstanding Auxiliary Patriotic Instructor: Marie Komer

Congratulations to you all and thank you for being the best Auxiliary ever.

On the down side our blood drive turn out was not very good. I had hoped for at least 40-50 pints but only wind up with 12. We will have another drive in the fall. let us hope we get more then. I do want to thank those who did donate.

Our pizza night and Memorial Day Bar-B-Q had a full house and we all had a great time.

Speaking of great times how about the bus trip to Oldtown! This was put together by Paula Twaits, what a time we had. We left the post about 8 A.M. Our first stop was to pick up Claude on the side of the road. ( He was supplying the music) Then we made a stop at the REBEL POST 5625 in Chiefland for Morning cocktails. Our next stop was 8189 Homosassa for Bloody Marys and to take a few chances on the game machines.  

Then it was off to Tom & Kathy Brownes place (Belly Acres) for some of the best Bar B Q ever. ( Tom is a member of 1658)After a grand tour of the house and 12 acres we headed back home via the Homosassa post for one last goodbye. Thanks Paula you did an outstanding job.

Friday the Fourth of July we will  have our annual Flag Reterement Service and Bar-B-Q. We are having ribs and chicken. This is a free post function so please bring a side dish. Service will start at 2:00P.M. dinner at about 4:00 P.M.

With the exception of the National Convention in August the rest of the summer will be kind of quiet so this will be the last news letter till September. Keep an eye on the calendar and emals for any unscheduled events.

Have a Safe Summer

Dutch Grubbs

Commander

As we say good bye to our snow birds and gear up for the summer months lets look back at April. Another Great month for the “Mighty 1658″ The brunch for the Military Kids was a huge success. A total of $300 was raised. Many thanks to Sheri Benner, June Grubbs and Kim Stover for another splendid job.

Thanks to Paula Twaits and her fund raisers and a very nice donation from Milton Knellinger we now have a 32″ flat screen TV at the post. Come on down and and watch the Ray’s play or watch your favorite race car driver.

For all you non smokers you will be glad to hear that we have just installed two (2) new state of the art SMOKE ELIMINATOR FANS over the bar area. These fans have been in use for two weeks now and the feed back is 99% positive. So come back in and you will see and smell the difference.

We had our semi annual post and yard clean up and a big thank you to the few who turned out to help and spruce up the post. We also purchased a new shed. Rick & Marie Komer spent a whole weekend putting it all together. Thank you both very much.

Thanks to a nice donation from Pat & Joyce Brogan we were able to send some care packages to the National Children’s Home in Eaton Rapids MI. There was a call from Nancy, at the Children’s home, expressing her gratitude to the post and a special thank you to Pat and Joyce.

On the 26th we had our first annual Loyalty Day Honors dinner for Law Enforcement ( Pinellas County Sheriffs Deputy,Tarpon Springs Police Officer) Palm Harbor Firefighter/paramedic and Sun Star EMS Paramedic. Along with them we also honored our Patriotic Art winner Lindsay Rapp who won at state and is now at National.  A big Hoo Rah  to Gerry Calve for putting this all together and a super thank you to both Gerry & Jan for such a great meal and Patrica Ahern for her help in the kitchen.

This Wednesday April 30th we held our 2nd Bar B Q at Bay Pines VA Hospital. We hosted about 130 vets and it was a great success. It also gave us a chance to walk around and talk to a lot of these men and women. This is the one thing they need the most and that is outside involment some one they can talk to. So if you have some spare time take a trip to Bay Pines and put a smile on a Vets face.

Sunday May 18th 11 AM - 5 PM we are going to have a blood drive at our post. Our goal is 50 pints so please pass the word to everyone you know. There is NO age limit anyone in good health can donate. Must be at least 18. So roll up your sleeves and give a pint. PLEASE

One last Item.  We will be out over Memorial Day weekend with our annual Poppy Drive this is a three (3) day weekend and we need Post members to be stationed at various locations so please sign up for at least an hour or two.

There is so much more coming up these next few months so please keep watching the calendar as there are always new events happening.

Fair Winds and Following Seas,

Dutch Grubbs

Commander

12/08 Jan Koch      

12/08  Lou Tramburro (In Memory Of) 

12/08 Harry E Burroughs (In Memory Of)

12/08 Edy Burroughs ( In Memory Of)

12/08 Gerry & Jan Calve

03/09 Ralph Camp

03/09 Jim & Kay Mulligan

07/09 Don & Sharon Hampton

06/08 Dave & Pauline MacRoberts

03/08 Charlene Cline

03/07 Patrica Maxwell

09/07 Dale Weir

09/07 John Brelish

09/07 Lee & Paula Twaits

03/09 Jean Salvucci

03/09 Betty Lou Bennett

05/09 Dutch & June Grubbs

Well here it is March and we are off to a good start for the year. In January there was the Snow Ball Express dinner for the Military Kids which was a great success as was “Big Al’s meatloaf. Sheri Benner and Kim Stover hosted the event and they raised $1000.00

February we had the Cancer Aid and Research dinner. The theme this year was “Locks of Love” with some of the post members getting their ponytails cut. Well Lee Twaits almost had one, Don Hampton’s was pretty good and they both raised some good money. There was also a young lady from Palm Harbor who raised $85.00 to have her hair cut. BUT the big money was Dennis Zieminski. Everybody pooled their money and about $435.00 was raised to cut Dennis’ 23″ ponytail. Sharon Hampton was the hostess for this event and she raised $1300.00. On Saturday March 1st the Auxiliary held their annual yard sale which also was a great success. Congrats to all the ladies.

Saturday the 15th of March we will have our St. Patrick’s Day dinner. Rick Komer and his assistants did such a good job cooking last year we will give them the honors again this year. ( Let’s hope Jim Mulligan makes his cheescakes).

On the 22nd of March we will have a Ham Dinner and our first annual “BUNNY DERBY RACE” that’s right a bunny race. Paula Twaits and helpers have gone to great expense to get the best thoroughbred bunnys around for this race. This is one event you don’t want to miss. All proceeds go towards getting our new 32” TV for the post.

I know I have been a little slack on keeping the calendar up but have been under the weather for a while. I seem to be getting better so I will be doing a lot of catch up over the next few days. Speaking of the calendar if you click on the dates you will see a sereen with that sometimes will have more information on the events.

One more thing, MEMBERSHIP. If you have not yet renewed you are not in good standing so PLEASE renew now.

Would like to thank all the 2008 paid Boosters. Remember Boosters hlep fray the cost of the web site and mailings.

Fair Winds and Following Seas,

Dutch Grubbs

Commander

  We ended 2007 with a great New Years Eve party. There were about 40 people and from the looks of the pictures they all had a good time. (pictures to follow soon) There was a special suprise guest appearanance by the lovely Carol Channing who just brought the house down with a great show.

  The web calendar is up and running so check often to see what is happening at the post. We will be having a fish fry on the 11th of January at 5PM. On the 26th there is the Snow Ball Express dinner to benefit Military Kids. This event is sponsered  by the Ladies Auxiliary with Kim Stover and Sheri Benner as chairpersons. 

  Our first place winner for Patriot’s Pen went on to win third place in District 21, and our first place Voice of Democracy winner won first place in District 21. She will be heading to Mid Winter Confrence this month and compete for Department winner.

That’s about all for now but keep coming back as I will update and add through out the month.

Yours in Comradeship,

Dutch Grubbs

Commander

Welcome to our New Newsletter format, which is linked with our new website:  http://www.vfw1658.org    Please come back often to view updates in our newsletter.

Dutch Grubbs, Commander