Event Updates
We had our first official introduction to the public on Tuesday 2/4/2025 at a veteran round table put on by Akron City Councilman Eric Garret Sr. The event was well attended by local area veterans along with numerous veteran service organizations which always presents as an opportunity for the leaders of Alpha 11 to make connections to better serve our veterans.
As part of our Mission, we are bringing together area VSOs to facilitate improved services for our veterans and their families. Our first VSO Roundtable was held 2/15/25 and was attended by representatives from 15 different VSOs spanning 4 counties. We spent time discussing each organization’s services, challenges we face, and how we can build on these newfound relationships to support each other and the veterans we all respect and serve.
March 15th marked our first official fundraiser. We served around 160 people a delicious meal of spaghetti and meatballs, salad, and dessert. Our friends from Rowdy Beans coffee roasters supplied their outstanding coffee and tea. We had 25 donated baskets for our silent auction and a 50/50 auction. A professional photographer and a professional videographer captured the true spirit of the event in pictures and our new video posted on our home page and circulating on Facebook and Instagram. To all of those who joined us, we thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you again in the future
May was a busy month for Alpha 11. We held our second VSO Roundtable with Live With Honor at the American Legion Portage Post 496 in Kent. This event demonstrated our commitment to working together as VSOs to ensure that our veterans are gaining access to the services that they need and deserve. Attendees came from a wide range of service organizations, not just those specific to veterans. Through engaging conversation, we learned how to adapt the way we do business to accommodate the unique needs of all veterans and their families. Thank you to Representatives Heidi Workman and Derek Hall for joining us.
Memorial Day is a big deal for Alpha 11. We start off our remembrance celebration each year by assisting DAV chapter #35 with placing flags on the graves of all our fallen service men and women at Hillside Cemetery. This year we had a young volunteer who assisted with placing flags and learned about appropriate flag etiquette and how to recognize all the unique symbols used to mark military graves. On May 26th we continued our celebration by participating in Tallmadge’s 157th consecutive running Memorial Day parade by chauffeuring the Poppy Princess in our volunteer’s red ’94 Mustang “Sally” convertible and marching with our newly formed detachment from Danbury Assisted Living facility, located in Tallmadge. The ceremony that followed the parade was a beautiful tribute to all our fallen Heros. A big THANK YOU to all our members and volunteers who showed up to represent!
Alpha 11 has been truly blessed by people who care for veterans as much as we do. Many of those people came out to support our second fundraiser at our golf outing sponsored by Aquatic Frog. The weather threw us some curveballs by raining on and off, but everyone really enjoyed themselves and we were able to raise funds to continue our mission! Thank you one and all for your generous support. We couldn’t do it without you.
2025 EVENTS
February – Veteran Roundtable in Akron, February 4th, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
First VSO Roundtable, February 15th, 6-9 PM, Summit County
March – Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser, March 15th, 6-9 PM
May – VSO Roundtable, May 10th 11AM-2 PM, Portage County
Tallmadge Memorial Day parade, May 26th, 9-11AM
July – Golf Outing, July 26th, Brookledge golf course, Registration at 7 AM
August – VSO Roundtable, August 16th 10AM-2PM, Wayne County
Vet Fest – August 22-23 North Ridgeville
November – TBA November 8th, St. Eugene’s
VSO Roundtable, November 22nd, SAM Center, Canal Fulton