Volume 1, Issue 2 2017 Just to keep everyone informed of my activities as your Department Commander here is where I was at on behalf of Amvets since the last report dated 29Jul2017. To Date I have travelled in excess of 6000 mile representing Amvets Department of Indiana. July 4th: Went to Montezuma, Ind. For Quilts of Honor Ceremony at 11:00 AM, then returned to Montezuma for their July 4th Parade at 6:00 PM. July 6th: Went to Big 4 Meeting at Indianapolis Department Headquarters. July 8th: Hartford City Post 23 for District II Meeting. July 15th: Addressed American Legion State Convention in Indianapolis. July 16th: IVH Picnic Lafayette, Indiana. July 19th: Department Headquarters. July 21st: Department Headquarters. July 27th: Went to Opening Ceremonies for Traveling Wall at Columbus, Ind. Aug. 2nd: Soldiers Circle Indianapolis, Ind. For Dedication & Department Headquarters. Aug. 3rd: Monticello Post 91 Meeting. Aug 5th: Car show Amvets Post 222, Terre Haute, Ind. Aug. 8th 13th : National Convention Norfolk, Va. Aug 16th: Department Headquarters. Aug 17th: Rockville Post 61 Meeting. Aug. 18th: Department Headquarters. Aug. 23rd: Department Headquar- Aug. 25th: Meeting with new Chairperson on the Commission and Department Headquarters. Aug 26th: Rockville Post 61 State Golf Tournament. Don t forget about our Fall Conferrence at the new location the Wyndham Sept. 22,23,24. Yours in Amvets; Kenny Burton, Commander
Auxiliary President Debra Gass What can I say? INDIANA ROCKS! Twenty-Nine Ladies from the Hoosier state ( Twenty-Six Voting Delegates) attended the 71 st National Convention held in Norfolk, VA. Twelve of our lovely ladies were PDP s (Past Department Presidents) and Three PNP s (Past National Presidents) Our Department also received National Recognition for the Highest percentage increase in Membership! Pretty outstanding, don t you think? Keep up the good work ladies. Remember - Membership is the lifeline to our organization. Congratulations to the new incoming National Officers, especially, Madam President Marvel Ruppel of Wisconsin! Green Bay Packer Fans are elated! Her Project is Freedom Foundation, Lighting the Path to Freedom. Her challenge is to raise money for lamp poles down the paths from one dorm to another. Reporting Department Officers should soon receive a packet from National Reporting Officers introducing themselves and their projects. Please pass this information along to your local Reporting Officers. Thank you. Aside from a fabulous time at Convention, I have been pretty busy the last several weeks serving our Veterans and Community. Details will be read on my President s Report at Fall SEC. Speaking of Fall Conference, the dates are September 22-24. Training Segment starts at 1 p.m., Saturday Sept 23. Should be over around 4 p.m. Business Meeting on Sunday, Sept 24, starts 9 a.m.. Casual dress on Saturday, UNIFORMS for Department Officers on Sunday. For anyone who has a uniform and wants to wear it at the Business session on Sunday, feel free to do so. Please read articles from Kandi Jaeger and Dawn Dennie in this newsletter regarding training etc. Its going to be a fun, exciting and of course very informative - you DON T want to miss it! Learning, Laughter, and Prizes too! Now, as you may recall the Department had a Car Show in June to raise money to entice Auxiliaries to come and attend our training conference. This was set up for those Auxiliaries/Ladies who have never or haven t in a long time been in attendance. For further information, contact Carol Riley, Department Secretary for qualification and details at (765) 621-4067. We, at Special Olympics Indiana want to personally THANK YOU for your part in making the 2017 Plane Pull an extraordinary success. We had over 100 volunteers, 70 teams pulling, and hundreds of athletes from around the state of Indiana participating this year. With the help of you and many others, a grand total of over $185,000 was raised for the more than 13,000 Special Olympics Indiana athletes that train and compete year-round throughout the state. Whether you helped with staging, Bubble Soccer, the Car Show, parking, registration, sold souvenirs, helped in the carnival area, and any other position you may have filled, you played a valuable role in the weekend's success. We could not have done it without you! We THANK YOU once again for volunteering your time last Saturday! We hope to see you at a future event again soon! For future events, be sure to visit: www.soindiana.org All the best, Tracy Mortensen See You in September! (Debra Gass
MEETINGS Conferences and Convention Message from SONS Commander Fall '17 September 22, 23, 24 Winter '17 December 1,2,3 Spring '18 March 16, 17, 18 Convention '18 June 1, 2, 3 Fall '18 September 28, 29, 30 Winter '18 December 7, 8, 9 Fall Conference, September 22nd., 23rd., 24th. 2017. Friday Sept. 22nd. Help needed setting up hospitality room. 4:00-5:00p.m. Hospitality room opens at 5:00 p.m. Help needed in hospitality room. Saturday Sept. 23rd. Sons E-Board meeting: 9:00 a.m. Sons general meeting: 10:30 a.m. Help needed in hospitality room Saturday evening. See James Keirstead. Sunday Sept. 24th. Help needed to clean up hospitality room and to reload Sons trailer. Time? To be announced. We had eleven (11) Sons attend the National Convention in Norfolk, Virginia. Our own immediate past Commander, Michael McDarrah was elected to National Provost Marshall. CONGRATULATIONS MIKE! As I mentioned in the previous newsletter, my project for the year is the Yellow Ribbon Support Center ( www.yellowribbonsupportcenter.com ) Please take time to check this out. Any donations to this project will be greatly appreciated. I will have more information available at conference. See you all at conference. Sons serving Veterans, Dave Myers Sons Department, Commander This year for the fall we are Whyndam at 2544 Executive Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46241 +1-317-248-2481 For the winter we are at the Lexington at 2500 S High School Rd, Indianapolis, IN, 46241 866-238-4218 Follow us on Twitter: @IndianaAMVETS Like us on Facebook just search for Amvets Department of Indiana Visit our website: http://amvetsin.org/
Veteran Town Hall Series A Veteran Town Hall Series has been planned by the Big Four. The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and AMVETS have formed an Alliance in Indiana to unify the veteran voice. This Veteran Town Hall Series came about as a follow up to an event over the summer that had only one veteran in attendance because know one knew about the event. We plan to change that and let our legislators hear our veteran voices. This Town Hall Series gives you an opportunity to meet with local, county, state and federal officials. The kickoff event will be held at AMVETS, Post 222, West Terre Haute, IN 47885 from 6:30-8:30 PM on Tuesday, September 12th. Future events are planned for locations around the state with a final event, Military and Veteran Day at that Indiana State House on January, 9 th, 2018. Information will be posted on Department website and Facebook. Come join the conversation about what we can all do to move Indiana forward and let your voice be heard. Calling all Women Veterans! Would you like to attend a women veteran retreat? Need a few days away with someone else doing the cooking and being able to take a long shower and relax with your coffee? Need a little rejuvenation? This is the event for you. The retreat consists of a Friday night arrival, overnight stay on Friday and Saturday with departure by noon on Sunday. During the event you will meet other women veterans from around the state that are active in veteran issues. You will provide a service in the local area to a veteran in need and then learn about women veteran benefits and programs and spirituality in women veterans. In the evening we will enjoy some good food and celebrate our service and learn What One Voice Can Do. Planned date for the Hoosier Women Veteran Retreat is November 3rd, 4th, and 5 th. The location will be announced at Fall Conference and registration forms will be available then. Participants will be notified via email. Space is limited; participants are only responsible for their transportation to the retreat site. Lodging provided. Meals furnished Saturday and Breakfast on Sunday. A light snack with be available upon arrival Friday evening. Carpooling is generally available. SAD SACKS It official at National Convention if you are a member of the Auxiliary or Sons you can become a Sad Sacks member. So, this will allow for new membership, new ideas and new Units. If you would like to become a Sad Sack please contact Tim Tuttle, Mike Davis or Roger Williams for information or an application. AMVETS Department of Indiana 2840 Lafayette Road, Suite A, Indianapolis, Indiana 46222, Tel: (317) 923-4320, Fax: (317) 923-4354 Email: indiana.amvets@gmail.com www.amvetsin.org Sad Sacks dues are $11.01 FOR YOUR 2018. Remember that everything we raise go to nursing scholarships.
Membership Application Membership Application Yes, I want to join AMVETS! I certify that I have served honorably since December 15, 1940, or that I am currently serving, in the Armed Forces of the United States (Active, Reserve or National Guard) Membership Type: Annual ($30.00) Life ($250.00) Name: Address: City: State: ZIP Code: Phone E-mail: Spouse: Male ( ) Female ( ) Date of Birth: / / Date Entered Service: / / Branch of Service: Date of Discharge: / / Type of Discharge: Payment Method: ( ) Check ( ) Cash Signature: Signature of Sponsor Date: / /20 Provide your sponsor with a copy of your DD-214 or current active or reserve military ID and your payment: Mail To: AMVETS Department of Indiana, 2840 Lafayette Road Suite A, Indianapolis, Indiana 46222