Post Talk
NORTH BRANCH POST # 85
By Glenn Pierce, Adjutant

Meeting Schedule:

Bar Finance & Accounting October 7th at 3:30 pm
Membership Meeting October 8th at 7:00 pm
SAL Meeting October 15th at 6:00 pm

Orv Otterness, Post Service Officer – I attended the meeting with the Chisago County Veterans Service Officer at the Legion Hall last month. There were two presenters there to tell us about the Veterans Camp on Big Marine Lake. The camp is South of Scandia.

There is summer camping from April 15 until October 14 and there is winter camping from October 15 until April 14. The camp has rental cabins, tent sites and RV sites. They can be rented by the day, weekend or week. There are also rental boats, boat slips and ice fishing houses.

For more information you can telephone: 651-433-2699, or you can email: vetscampingmn@live.com or check out their website at www.vetscampmn.org

Randy Koivisto, 1st Vice Commander – Here’s a good local area organization that supports veterans and their families. It’s the Freedom Fishing Foundation based in Lino Lakes. They are a 501C3 outfit, and their program provides for a day of fishing, all expenses paid, including bait, gear, and meals. Their services are provided for veterans, gold star families, and military children. To donate, or to request their services, contact them at:

Freedom Fishing Foundation
631 Lois Lane
Lino Lakes, MN 55014
Phone – 612-618-3825
www.freedomfishingfoundation.com

Michelle Still, Auxiliary President – Our 10th District President, Brandi Christensen, has sent out a request for clothing for our veterans in need. An average of 20-25 veterans come to the clothing store at the St Cloud VA Health Care System every week. Some have nothing but the clothes on their back. The immediate needs are for XXL Underwear shirts, Zipper or Pullover Hoodies (Size Large and up), belts of all sizes, as well as winter clothing items. Please bring them to our next meeting on Oct. 8th, or let me know and I will pick them up from you. Keep in mind, they accept new clothes only.

Also, October is American Education Week. Literacy programs such as “Give 10 to Education” are needed to promote education and support for our schools. The unit is collecting school supply items and we are asking for 10 of any given school supply to be brought to our next meeting.

Glenn Pierce, Adjutant – This is a reminder to Minnesota service members to take advantage of a refundable military tax credit before it expires. More than 1,400 military service members are eligible for the credit but have not claimed it yet. The Credit for Military Service in a Combat Zone for service in 2015 will expire October 15, 2019, for most qualifying service members.

The 2015 credit is $120 per month or partial month served.

“This is an important tax benefit for our military service members who risked their lives serving our country overseas,” said Revenue Commissioner Cynthia Bauerly. “We want to ensure that the state is doing everything we can to help them claim the expiring 2015 credit before the mid-October deadline.”

To qualify for the credit, service members must meet each requirement below:

They were a Minnesota resident during the time of service
They served in a combat zone or qualified hazardous duty area during 2015
They received combat pay that is exempt from federal and Minnesota income tax

Find more information on combat zone locations approved for tax benefits from the Internal Revenue Service.