AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS CHAPTER 182, NEW PALESTINE, IN

Who are the Riders?

We are American Legion Family member VOLUNTEERS,
working to improve the lives of United States veterans,
to enhance our community, and support those in need.

• Here at New Palestine American Legion Post 182, there are ~200 veteran and active duty members of the American Legion, STILL supporting our veterans and serving as community volunteers here in OUR home town!
• The Sons of the American Legion (SAL) Squadron 182 has ~80 men whose parents and/or grandparents (great grandparents, etc.) are serving or have served, and those sons wish to support ALL our veterans (not just their parents) and our New Palestine community
• Our Auxiliary Unit 182 has ~3 dozen spouses, daughters & granddaughters of veterans or active duty personnel who have been through their years of service back home, and wish to continue same as volunteers
• We American Legion Riders Chapter 182 are ~20 members of any of the above sharing a common bond of volunteerism AND a thorough enjoyment of the open road on motorcycles

Member Monthly Meetings
9a 2nd Sunday, 3525 W US 40 Greenfield, IN
7:30a optional breakfast at Sero's, Cumberland

Most monthly member meetings address numerous veterans, community and philanthropic issues, and, of course, planning of Chapter rides - recently, the meeting agenda was:
* Approved a donation (through a neighboring Legion Post) to help a struggling area veteran meet his monthly rent
* reviewed donations made to support veteran transportation to the not-for-profit HyperBaric Oxygen Treatment center for needed care and counseling (funds raised from the Fall HBOT ride we hosted)
* confirmation of this year's Support Our Veterans ride date, park location, participation of Indy SouthSide Harley Davidson, auction items, etc.
* confirmation of space for our hosting of an Accident Scene Management class, and possibility of our funding the lunches for all attendees
* dates of upcoming ALR State Conferences
* dates of our Chapter's participation in local parades & ceremonies, other Chapters' scheduled fund raising rides, our fun & friendly social rides
* arranging upcoming Chapter Meet & Greets (1st & 3rd Thursdays)
* and more . . .

Our volunteer projects include
(but most definitely not limited to):

Every WEEK, members of Rider's Chapter 182 chip in to help host Poker Night, our Post's BIGGEST fund raiser (plus, on occasion, make a little for our Chapter selling 50/50 raffle tickets on site).

Our Post is building a NEW BUILDING!
and this ride will help raise funds for it

Raise the Roof Ride Link

The Veterans Memorial at Sugar Creek Township Park (700 W just south of US 52) has been a vision of Legion 182 members for many years, finally coming to fruition in partnership with the Parks Board, and the efforts of MANY volunteers from both our membership and the community!

Each year, we would help place US flags on the graves of any and all Veterans over Memorial Day weekend (New Pal Cemetery).

Volunteer members of 182 annually lend a BIG hand at the New Palestine Chamber's SummerFest, AND participate in the PARADE!

Other Community Activities

We annually helped deliver a full gross (12 dozen) Gundt Teddy Bears to a children's hospital, visit our veterans in VA hospitals,
serve a few thousand brats / meals each year at the annual Miracle Ride for Riley Children's Hospital,
help distribute meals prepared at Thanksgiving
collect a few tons of food for needy families at the holidays, and we spend our Chapter (and personal) money buying Christmas gifts for the kids of disabled vets in the area, too.

Riley
Children's Hospital
Miracle
Ride includes a loop into Indy, past the VA and Children's hospitals, around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and back for lunch (which Chapter 182 members serve up!)

Thanksgiving meals - while we weren't asked to help prepare them, we WERE asked to help provide carry-out services

On occasion, like after hurricanes and disasters, we gather our volunteer resources, spending Chapter and personal funds buying and delivering four figure$ worth of sorely needed items to those most effected by same.

Every month, members of the Riders volunteered to host bingo at a local nursing home (the residents / patients there LOVE it!)

9-11, US Flag at Homecoming, Veterans Day...
(yes, we are patriots, too)

Joining fellow bikers in a 9-11 Memorial Ride (hosted by an Indy HOG Chapter), this is a most worthy patriotic experience, well organized and produced (yes, you'll get a little choked up)

Always cognizant of our representation of our host Legion and the veterans we serve, there are events, like the Indianapolis Veteran's Day Parade, that simply make you feel PROUD to be an American (and Legion Rider)

brief Veterans Day video clip (Rider's perspective)

Fund Raising

Our Chapter fund raising currently comes 5 ways - the HBOT Ride (featured above) via rider fees and sponsorships, raffles, auctions, partnered restaurants (Jim Dandy's and Dairy Queen, for example), and donations (bottom).

recent raffles

recent auctions

partner dinners

Social Events, Fun Rides, Meet & Greets

Many of our meetings have purpose, many are just for fun - rides, too, can be veteran and/or community focused, or for the sheer enjoyment of a beautiful day (to be honest, we also have FUN at the meetings and rides that include 'work' )

Meet & Greets - area ride & dines on 1st & 3rd Thursday evenings

social events, fun rides & road trips

brief road trip video clip

All In the Legion Family

OK, so, as New Palestine Chapter 182 American Legion Riders, we're active in our town, we support our vets and those in need, we work fund raisers, and enjoy rides and socializing.
AND, by definition, we're all also members of the Post (veterans), Squadron (Sons) and/or Auxiliary (spouses), participating on committees, as officers, working fund raisers for those Legion Family members, too!
We work with our local Lions Club, neighboring Legion Posts, partner with fellow Riders Chapters, attend Legion District and State, even National functions!