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***Recorded on 10/14/2025***

We launch a new season with candid updates on the VFW Riders’ push for autonomy, a grounded look at burn pits, PTSD, and VA claims, and a spirited debate on borders, raids, and what conscience demands. Stories from Iraq, Africa, and the road anchor a practical plan to keep posts alive.

• Riders group evolving into an affiliated entity with bylaws
• Why riders need rider-written rules and road protocol
• Post life: darts, trunk-or-treat, and new lottery draw games
• Mental health outreach and the state suicide prevention lead
• Burn pits, telehealth C&P exams, and filing smarter VA claims
• Membership realities, aging out, and family-first scheduling
• Service stories: mortars, piracy, and special operations culture
• Faith, conscience, and weighing security against mercy
• Immigration triage versus sweeping raids and late-night no-knocks
• School funding, per-pupil dollars, and local equity

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Email Us with your comments and suggestions at vfwpost3033@gmail.com, we'd love to hear from you!

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***Recorded 03/11/2025, and we forgot to upload it***

The hardest part of service often begins after the uniform comes off. We open with the paradox of war—how it forges unbreakable bonds and leaves unhealed scars—then move straight into real tools veterans can use to build a stable, joyful life: VA home loans, Michigan benefits, and a community that shows up.

We bring a new voice to the mic and honor a friend whose memory fuels the work. From there, we dive into VA loans with clarity you can act on today: why VA default rates compare favorably, what appraisals really check for, how to navigate wells, septics, and county pest rules, and when IRRRL refinancing makes sense. We unpack the VA funding fee, the exemptions many vets qualify for, and the power of assumable VA mortgages that can transfer low COVID-era rates to eligible buyers. Michigan veterans get a crucial rundown on the property tax exemption for those rated permanent and total, plus county processes that make it stick.

Benefits aren’t the whole story. We spotlight the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund as a lifeline for urgent needs like furnaces and roofs, and we explain how accredited service officers—working in coalition across VFW, American Legion, DAV, and others—turn red tape into real outcomes. Community matters just as much: youth scholarships like Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy, Camp Trotter service days, riders’ support, and family-first events that keep posts relevant. You’ll also meet Terry, “the Eagle,” whose faithful presence reminds us why posts are more than bars; they’re anchors.

If you’re a veteran, a spouse, or someone who cares about this community, this conversation is a roadmap: claim your benefits, find your people, and help carry the load for someone else. Subscribe, share this with a vet who needs it, and drop us a note with the one benefit question you want answered next. Your story belongs here.

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Email Us with your comments and suggestions at vfwpost3033@gmail.com, we'd love to hear from you!

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***Episode was recorded on 04/01/2025, and we forgot to upload it***

We trade war’s paradox for the daily reality of running a VFW post: elections, budgets, volunteers, curb appeal, and how to welcome younger veterans without scaring them off. Then we map out smarter fundraising, compliance, and training ideas that keep the lights on and the mission alive.

• leadership changes shaping post culture and direction
• auxiliary partnership to share the house and workload
• curb appeal and first impressions for younger members
• easing new members in through volunteering before roles
• electrical upgrades, Keno plan, and licensing steps
• fundraising mix: squares, darts, pull tabs, poker runs
• food safety, TIPS, bonding, and compliance basics
• CPR training as service, revenue, and community value
• revisiting hours, especially Sundays, to control costs
• why conferences and statewide ties matter for unity

Support the show

Email Us with your comments and suggestions at vfwpost3033@gmail.com, we'd love to hear from you!