Membership Meetings and Past Events

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Cindy Rauf spoke on January 8th. She’s the Community Partner Director of Senior Helpers in Spring Hill and shared how veterans can apply and qualify for this assistance by using the VA’s Aid and Attendance Benefit which can help pay for the care. The service is not based on income. Medicare’s GUIDE program is also an under-used benefit improving the quality of life for individuals living with dementia.

Senior Helpers support seniors to allow them to “age-in place” without the need to leave home. A wide range of services is offered from companion support, assistance with daily activities, and help for those with chronic diseases.

​At the January 8th meeting, associates also graciously responded to the Veterans Depot’s recent urgent request for paper towels, toilet paper, and toothpaste. Mary McColgan thanked all for our continuing support. Unfortunately, local Veterans continue to need even the most mundane help.​
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In the early hours of December 13, 2025, 23 members of the Glen Lakes Veterans & Friends Association led by a 4-person motorcycle escort from Rolling Thunder, left the clubhouse parking lot headed for Bushnell National Cemetery. Their goal was to honor our American veterans lying in rest, by taking part in an annual wreath laying ceremony known as Wreaths Across America.  At exactly the same time, and on the same day in all 50 states, wreaths are being placed on the gravesites of each of our veterans by an army of volunteers.  Your Glen Lakes members were there. Why? They believe in the Wreaths Across America mission statement:
                                          Remember the Fallen
                                       Honor Those Who Served
                            Teach Our Children the Value of Freedom
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We hope you joined us Thursday, Dec 4th, at 9AM at GlenLakes Ballroom…
for an inspiring discussion with Mike Belkin, who shared his remarkable journey—from serving in Vietnam as a combat infantryman and receiving the Bronze Star, to spending three decades as a New York police detective.  
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Mike’s commitment to service continues today. He currently serves as a Citrus County State Committeeman, is an active member of the Citrus County Honor Guard and the Republican Executive Committee, and holds distinguished memberships in the Knights of Columbus, VFW, and the American Legion. In addition, Mike is a Florida Supreme Court-trained mediator, resolving cases across Hernando and two other counties.

As many of you know Mission BBQ is coming to our area shortly.  In fact, they came to our meeting!
One of their managers Sara brought tasty breakfast eats along with coupons and news of the new “GlenLakes Veterans and Friends Wall of Honor” in the new Brooksville store.

This was also our official annual business meeting.  Curt Reilly, Joan Rowland, Jim Karam, Bob Henry, and Susan Starrett were elected as 2026-2028 Board members.  Dick Rowland and Linn Craton remain carry-over board members.  We had $38K in sponsorships for our recent November 10th Golf Event, so we’ll soon fund many new local vets’ activities​
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​Cindy Roberts (Co-Location Coordinator for Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL) provided details about the national program and focused on specific efforts for WAA at the Florida National Cemetery at Bushnell.
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Our October speaker was Sharon Christian, of the American Red Cross office located in Brooksville.
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Sharon spoke to the support ARC offers our military members from the moment they enlist to the moment they separate from the service and beyond. The ARC offers critical assistance and resources to service members, veterans and their families. Sharon spoke to us about the ARC Holidays for Heroes program enabling Americans to “Give Something That Means Something”. If you are interested in volunteer work, the Red Cross needs your help. This meeting was be a great venue to learn more about local volunteer opportunities from Sharon.

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