WYANDOTTE, MI — A local Veterans of Foreign Wars post has found a way of boosting its membership in an aging organization whose bylaws greatly restrict who is allowed to join.
VFW Post 1136 recently created a men's auxiliary that operates in a fashion similar to the ladies' auxiliary.
Barbara Milewski, a spokeswoman for the ladies auxiliary, said the post was fortunate that enough men expressed interest in forming the group and accepting officers positions.
"The benefit I see is for veterans who did not serve overseas," Milewski said. "It builds the base of people, the volunteer group. It was hard to get new members, because in order to join you must have served in a war zone."
Albert Starzec, who recently accepted the position of adjutant of the regular VFW post, said it's not necessarily veterans who didn't serve overseas who stand to benefit the most, although they may comprise part of the auxiliary's membership.
"You must be a relative of someone who is eligible to be a member of the VFW," Starzec said.
Specifically, you may become a member of this new auxiliary if you are a male over the age of 16 and you are the son, husband, brother, father, grandfather, half-brother, grandson or widower of an eligible veteran.
Starzec said the VFW at both the state and national level have approved resolutions allowing the creation of local men's auxiliary chapters. Unlike some veterans organizations, the VFW does not have associate membership.
American Legion Post 217 and the Wyandotte Veterans Honor Guard demonstrate the proper way to fold the American flag during recent Veteran Day activities at Wyandotte's Bishop Park that took place as part of the city's sesquicentennial celebration.
Starzec said that with an estimated 1,100 World War II veterans dying each day in the United States, the VFW is addressing the problem of dwindling members. VFW Post 1136 has 549 members of which 262 are WWII vets.
"We collected names of people who were interested in joining, and out of 50- some members who originally showed interest, we were down to 30 people who joined," Starzec said.
Twenty-five is the minimum number of members needed to form a men's auxiliary chapter. The group plans to write bylaws similar to the ladies' auxiliary rules.
The fourth district is composed of Wayne and a small portion of Monroe County. Out of 43 posts, Starzec said he is aware of only two men's auxiliary posts. If these chapters flourish, Starzec believes other posts may follow suit.
The new VFW Post 1136 Men's Auxiliary officers are President Rodney Keatts, Senior Vice President Michael Riddle, Junior Vice President Michael Palazzolo, Secretary Daniel Gretzner, Treasurer John Kurc and Chaplain Nicholas Chodnicki. They took office July 1.
Anyone interested in joining the men's auxiliary unit may apply for membership by obtaining an application from VFW Post 1136. Submit the completed application, proof of sponsorship eligibility (usually a copy of a DD-214, which is the separation paper from the military) along with $30 for the 2005 dues year to President Rodney Keatts, 633 Ford Ave., Wyandotte, MI 48192 or drop off the application at the post.
Likewise, VFW Post 1136 and the Ladies' Auxiliary are always looking for new members. Those interested in joining are asked to stop by at the post building and pick up a membership application.
New officers also were elected at the post and ladies' auxiliary.
Stepping up to new positions in the post are Cmdr. James Macek, Senior Vice Cmdr. Ray Pawlowski, Junior Vice Cmdr. Leonard Milewski, Quartermaster Jim Zieminski, Chaplain Charles Tear and Adjutant Albert Starzec.
New ladies' auxiliary officers are President Betty Valentine, Senior Vice President Terri Balavitch, Junior Vice President Linda Watts, Treasurer Barbara Milewski, Secretary Lana Bourlier, Chaplain Barbara Pilon, Guard Ann McBain, and trustees Martha Butler, Loretta Gray and Barbara Tear.
VFW Post 1136 as well as the ladies' and men's auxiliary groups promote patriotism, conduct creative youth programs, protect veterans' entitlement, raise funds for cancer research, volunteer in local hospitals, support American troops and serve the community in a variety of ways.
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