Posts in the area are reaching out to new members by using the Internet.
The latest to add a website is Mentor VFW Post 9295 with www.VFW9295.com. 
Younger military personnel are using computers for just about everything and just like everything else in the world the post home is changing. Younger members are joining and the computer age is catching up with the VFW, American Legion, AMVETS and Marine Corps League.
Visit the post of your choice online and see what is offered.
Are there events of interest? What does a membership cost? Are there family events? Does the post serve food? Many of these questions can be answered with a click of the mouse.
check out a post in the virtual world and then stop in for a visit.
District 20 Commander from Mentor post
John McCallister of AMVETS Post 40 in Mentor has been sworn in as the District 20 commander of the Ohio AMVETS at the convention in Cincinnati.
The new Commander’s territory includes Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Medina, Portage and Summit counties. McCallister has also served as adjutant for District 20. He is the second vice commander and trustee for his home in Mentor.
Legion Riders prepare pig roast
American Legion Riders Post 112 will host the third annual pig roast, 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, at the post home, 6671 Middle Ridge Road in Madison.
Cost is $10 per person and includes door prizes and the meal. The evening will feature entertainment, a cash bar, 50/50 drawing, raffle baskets, and a lottery tree drawing. For details, call 440-428-7893
Dinner is served at Gunny’s Hall
Col. Justice M. Chambers Foundation, which operates “Gunny’s Hall” at 8720 Twinbrook Drive in Mentor, will host a chicken and steak dinner at 6 p.m. Saturday.
The dinner will be served only with a reservation so call the hall at 440-974-9380 to reserve a meal. Donation is $12 for the chicken dinner and $15 for the steak dinner.
Andover Bank accepts USO donations
Andover Bank will be collecting food, toiletries and monetary donations for the USO through Saturday.
The United Services Organization, which is a private non-profit organization that provides morale and recreational services to our military personnel, is also in need of monetary donations to help defray the cost of postage to send the items to the troops.
Items may be dropped off at any Andover Banking Center in Madison, at 6611 North Ridge Road.
Breakfast benefits others
Madison Men’s Auxiliary of VFW Post 8548, 7604 Lake Road East, will host a sausage gravy and biscuit breakfast 8 a.m. to noon Sunday. Proceeds will benefit the food bank and the scholarship fund.
Donation is $5 for adults and $3.50 for children ages 10 and younger. For details ,call 440-428-3050.
Painesville VFW joins Party in the Park
Painesville VFW Post 2595 will again host a booth at the Painesville Party in the Park July 20-22.
The post will have information about the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary programs available. And, there will be a drawing for a flag set and membership information for all of the VFW, Auxiliary and Juniors units. Membership for any active eligible serviceman or woman is free.
This year, a second year’s membership will be free for any eligible veteran or Ladies Auxiliary member joining at Party in the Park. Call Jill or George Householder at 440-352-9522 for details.
IslandFest is Christmas in July at Pickle Bills
Pickle Bill’s will present a little bit of Christmas cheer in the summertime with IslandFest “2012” — a fund raiser for Toys-for-Tots — 3 to 8 p.m. July 22.
Stop in and help make Christmas for a tot. There will be auctions, games and prizes.
The event is sponsored by the Lake County Toys-for-Tots Committee and the Col. Justice M. Chambers Det. 555 of the Marine Corps League. For details, call 440-974-9380.
To submit items for this column or the online listings, send them to: The News-Herald, Attn: Larece Galer, 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, OH 44094; fax to 440-975-2293; or via email to LGaler@News-Herald.com.