January 1, 2026

VFW Post 2121 Members,

 

Yes, I'm new to the Commandership of Post 2121, but I have been around the Post for the last 18 years, joining the Post in 2008. At that time, 2008, as I walked in as a new-be, the question was why is our Post losing money? With my background as an accountant for 40 years I uncovered that the Office Manager and two of our bartenders were pilfering our accounts to the point there was only a small CD left to run on. Unknown as to how much had been taken and a denial from the local police as what was to be done, a new era had begun. At that time, I was made Quartermaster and over the next year we paid all that was owed and began moving upward.

Today, since that time we have been through some rough times, on November 2023 we found we were operating our gaming illegally and stopped selling pickles and pull tabs to the public.  We went from a $Million non-profit to a $350K non-profit company (sales). This put a hole in our sales and profits. Next on February 14, 2024 (Valentines Day) our manager walked out taking all employees with her in a dispute that we didn’t think the Post Management appreciated them. It took the current Quartermaster, me, and others two months of bartending, accounting and  managing until a new Manager and bartenders were found to keep the Post open. We did it! Today we are like other Posts and non-profits struggling to keep the doors open. It is with a great thanks to our current Post officers, Office management and hourly employees that we can continue  providing a place for Veterans and their families to come for comfort and help if necessary.

 

I think going forward we will struggle because our VFW members are mostly Vietnam veterans, getting older every day, I am 81 and a Vietnam veteran. Mostly gone are our WWII and Korean veterans. For some reason our current Foreign Wars Veterans do not need our type of facility and support that our previous Veterans needed. Just something we must get through. Getting through it  requires our 153 members a need to come in and support our Post. 

On a positive note, for 2026, I look for growth in membership support, that is, a lot of "yea I will do that" and "I'll see you later for a beer". 

Post members please support us!!!!

 

Richard Hannan, Commander