July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Gambling crackdown hurts local groups (10/25/07)
Letters to the Editor
To the editor:
It was frustrating to me reading about the huge plans being made to build large facilities that will house thousands of slot machines.
It was a sad day especially when Indiana lawmakers implemented laws forcing local clubs to remove gambling machines with the intention of driving their customers to the big-time gambling establishments.
Most of the local customers enjoyed the machines as a source of entertainment. Our members were able to experience a small sample of the excitement of attending a large casino. Most local members are able to attend our local clubs on a weekly basis. To most, visiting the casino is at least a two-hour drive and, with the cost of gasoline, is not even a reality.
Our small clubs put a lot of their profit back into our communities. The Eagles Lodge, for example, has 92 Aeries in Indiana. If I am not mistaken, the Eagles Aeries nationwide donated $55 million to charity in 2006.
Our local club donates thousands of dollars every year to Riley Hospital, cancer society, heart centers, Jimmy Durante Home for Abused Children, burn centers, scholarships, local fire departments, sheriff's departments, police departments and many other charities.
The Eagles Lodge has made its goal to donate to the Riley Hospital Heart Center a $150,000 machine.
The American Legion and AMVETS all represent our nation's armed forces. These clubs donate flags for our American Soldiers. American Legion Post 211 in 2004 donated a total of $11,947.
The more recent totals are not available to me, but the totals exceed these.
The removal of these gambling machines from our local clubs have forced the closure of many Eagles, AMVETS, American Legions and Moose clubs. The revenue that all these clubs collected have nearly destroyed all of our organizations. It is impossible for these small clubs to purchase all the permits required to function. The paperwork is so massive it is unbelievable. It is discouraging that we are struggling to survive and the donations are slowly coming to a halt.
Most of these clubs have members who are veterans that gave our citizens the freedoms that we enjoy. Thousands of veterans have given their very lives for the freedom of our nation. It seems as though our lawmakers are using that freedom to destroy whatever they choose.
It is time for all the residents of Indiana to stop and think carefully before they cast their ballots in our upcoming elections.
We need to elect those who will protect us and save the clubs that our fathers before us created and cherished.
It is time that we choose and support politicians that protect our privilege of freedom instead of destroying it. We are, after all, one nation under God. Please save all our rights.
Tommy Derringer,
Trustee, Eagles
Lodge 928
Portland[[In-content Ad]]
It was frustrating to me reading about the huge plans being made to build large facilities that will house thousands of slot machines.
It was a sad day especially when Indiana lawmakers implemented laws forcing local clubs to remove gambling machines with the intention of driving their customers to the big-time gambling establishments.
Most of the local customers enjoyed the machines as a source of entertainment. Our members were able to experience a small sample of the excitement of attending a large casino. Most local members are able to attend our local clubs on a weekly basis. To most, visiting the casino is at least a two-hour drive and, with the cost of gasoline, is not even a reality.
Our small clubs put a lot of their profit back into our communities. The Eagles Lodge, for example, has 92 Aeries in Indiana. If I am not mistaken, the Eagles Aeries nationwide donated $55 million to charity in 2006.
Our local club donates thousands of dollars every year to Riley Hospital, cancer society, heart centers, Jimmy Durante Home for Abused Children, burn centers, scholarships, local fire departments, sheriff's departments, police departments and many other charities.
The Eagles Lodge has made its goal to donate to the Riley Hospital Heart Center a $150,000 machine.
The American Legion and AMVETS all represent our nation's armed forces. These clubs donate flags for our American Soldiers. American Legion Post 211 in 2004 donated a total of $11,947.
The more recent totals are not available to me, but the totals exceed these.
The removal of these gambling machines from our local clubs have forced the closure of many Eagles, AMVETS, American Legions and Moose clubs. The revenue that all these clubs collected have nearly destroyed all of our organizations. It is impossible for these small clubs to purchase all the permits required to function. The paperwork is so massive it is unbelievable. It is discouraging that we are struggling to survive and the donations are slowly coming to a halt.
Most of these clubs have members who are veterans that gave our citizens the freedoms that we enjoy. Thousands of veterans have given their very lives for the freedom of our nation. It seems as though our lawmakers are using that freedom to destroy whatever they choose.
It is time for all the residents of Indiana to stop and think carefully before they cast their ballots in our upcoming elections.
We need to elect those who will protect us and save the clubs that our fathers before us created and cherished.
It is time that we choose and support politicians that protect our privilege of freedom instead of destroying it. We are, after all, one nation under God. Please save all our rights.
Tommy Derringer,
Trustee, Eagles
Lodge 928
Portland[[In-content Ad]]
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