Posts and detachments in the area have put in another great year of community service.
The exact number of events cannot be counted, as some go unannounced, and some are done so quietly that only the giver and the recipient are aware of them.
These are the type of events that should spark an interest in membership, but how often have you talked about them to anyone? Have you (the member) invited a friend or acquaintance to an event?
I have been to many of the posts and have noticed one thing that really, really irritates me. Not knowing who was doing the talking or who might be listening, members in the canteen were talking post business and complaining. I am willing to bet that these are the same “members” who never appear at a meeting, never lend a hand with a dinner and never voice a positive opinion about anything.
The worst thing a prospective member can hear during any event is one of these critics voicing an uninformed opinion to someone else. Remember the saying, “Loose lips sink ships”?
My thoughts are this: If you are not a part of the solution then do not be a part of the problem. If you don’t like the way things are being done, get off your duff and do it yourself.
Membership is like family, you may not like everything that everyone does, but if you don’t all pitch in to help, things begin to fall apart. The best place to complain and criticize is not at the canteen or at an event, it is at the meeting.
In the new year, let’s try to work together to build every post and detachment into a great organization so everyone can benefit from the work that is done.

Rolling Thunder an active group
Rolling Thunder, Chapter 1 of Northeast Ohio is a very active and dedicated group helping veterans and their families. As a group, they visit the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Wade Park every other month or so.
The visit usually includes toiletries and personal items for the patients. A bingo game for the patients is also part of the visit.
Rolling Thunder hosts fundraisers throughout the year to collect articles for the veterans and to raise the money needed for the annual picnic given for the patients each July.
The picnic is the big event that serves all of the veterans at the hospital and is a joint effort with other Rolling Thunder chapters, plus rider groups from other veterans organizations.
The next visit of the group will be Feb. 9.
If you would like information about Rolling Thunder, call Winston Bailey, Chapter 1 president, at 440-637-7939 or atwebailey@roadrunner.com, or call Vikki Carroll at 440-283-7766.

Air show announces return of Blue Angels
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels Jet Demonstration Team is scheduled to appear at the 2014 Cleveland National Air Show during Labor Day weekend, Aug. 30 through Sept. 1.
The Department of Defense has approved its 2014 Air Show schedule and the show at Burke Lakefront Airport will be one of the region’s largest events.
The Blue Angels complete air show schedule can be found at www.blueangels.mil.

Gunny’s Hall breakfast AWOL Sunday
Please remember that there will be no Sunday morning breakfasts served at Gunny’s Hall on Sunday because of the holiday. The breakfast will return Jan. 5.

Pancakes and sausage at Burton post
Atwood-Mauck Post 459, 14052 Goodwin St. in Burton, will host a pancake and sausage breakfast from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at the post home. Adult tickets are $8 and tickets for children age 12 and younger are $5. For details, call Bo at 440-834-8765.

Young Marines now accepting registrations
The Greater Lake County Young Marines is now accepting registration for the next recruit class. Orientation will begin at 2 p.m. Feb. 15.
The not-for-profit youth education program for boys and girls ages 8 through high school focuses on character building through a combination of self-discipline, teamwork and leadership while promoting a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.
This is the official youth program of the U.S. Marine Corps and the focal point of the Marine Corps Youth Drug Demand reduction efforts.
For more information visit www.glcyoungmarines.org or call 440-413-6707.

Catholic War Veterans host national membership drive
The Catholic War Veterans of the USA will host a National New Member Recruitment Drive after all masses, Jan. 18 and 19. CWV Post 1959 The John Paul II of Lake County will participate in the drive at all of the Catholic churches in Lake County. Those eligible for membership must be practicing Catholics and an honorably discharged veteran or active duty member of any branch of the U.S. armed forces.

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.