/about

[Subtitle]: James Ballentine Uptown VFW post 246

[H1]:

[Body Copy]: James Ballentine Uptown VFW post 246 is a mid-century building recently renovated for 2017. The original ballroom is now a 400 capacity music venue and nightclub. They've also added two new bars and a restaurant in the same building. The original back bar has been featured on Esquire TV's Best Bars of America and remains untouched by any major remodeling. Voted “Best Party Bar” by City Pages Best of the Twin Cities 2017 and “Best Karaoke” several years in a row. Local, national and international acts, all genres, 7 nights a week.

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[H2]: Vision

[Body Copy]: James Ballentine VFW Post 246 provides a crucial link between veterans and the community of Minneapolis area. JB Post 246 links new age feel with old school principles. Our goal is to provide a place for veterans to come and have a sense of responsibility post military, while enhancing the surrounding community.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is a nonprofit veterans service organization comprised of eligible veterans and military service members from the active, guard and reserve forces.

We trace our roots back to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service: Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans' pension for them, and they were left to care for themselves.

In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations that would eventually band together and become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Today, membership stands at nearly 1.7 million members of the VFW and its Auxiliary.

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[H2]: Mission

[Body Copy]: To foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts. To serve our veterans, the military and our communities. To advocate on behalf of all veterans.

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[Title]: Core Values

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Always put the interests of our members first
Treat donors as partners in our cause
Honor military service
Ensure the care of veterans and their families
Serve our communities
Respect the diversity of veteran opinions

[Name]: William Kettle

[Title]: Post Commander

[Body Copy]: William "Winston" Kettle was raised in Bloomington, MN. Graduated from Jefferson High School. Joined the Navy Seabees in 1987 as a Builder. He attended the University of Minnesota and has been the owner and operator of William Kettle Construction a general contracting firm since 1990. He deployed with the Seabees to Iraq in 2006 and Afghanistan in 2011. He retired in 2017 as a Builder Chief Petty Officer. He lives in Savage with his wife of 20 years and their three children.

[Name]: Brandon Daniels

[Title]: Senior Vice

[Body Copy]:Brandon served in the U.S. Navy Seabees from 2005 to 2015. He served in Afghanistan in 2006, Guatemala 2010, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba 2010. He was born in Duluth, MN and is married 6 years with a 2 year old son.As Sr Vice Commander, my goal is to get our membership up to 100%. along with finding new members, work on strategies to boost membership retention. The goal is not just to find fellow vets and get them signed up, it is to find way to keep them involved with the VFW and our community.

[Name]: Gabe Thomas

[Title]: Junior Vice

[Body Copy]: Gabe Thomas served as an infantryman in Iraq, March 2006 - July 2007. The longest single deployment in the war on terror. He honorably discharged as an E5. His goal while Junior Vice is to assist the commander in preserving order and continue to improve the community outreach of James Ballentine VFW 246. His hobbies include hockey, fishing, the outdoors and his dog Stanley. He considers himself a Coors Light enthusiast, and is currently ICU RN at Regions hospital in St. Paul.

[Name]: Paris Magee

[Title]: President

[Bio]: Paris is committed to honor and respect our Veterans in any capacity possible. After her cousin, Marine Corporal Taylor J. Baune, became the 2,000th American to die in the U.S War on Terror in Afghanistan and subsequently watching his family suffer their loss, has only strengthened her dedication to our Veterans and their families. Paris joined the Auxiliary through the eligibility of her Father, Gerald C. Magee WWII, Seabee Sargent of Arms U.S Navy. Paris enjoys traveling the world. She's traveled extensively in South America, United States, Middle East, throughout Europe and as far eastern as India. Paris also enjoys the local "lake life" and take advantage of her families resort that they bought forty years ago.

[Name]: Rebecca Woychick

[Title]: Senior Vice

[Bio]: Rebecca is a part of the Auxiliary because she wants to support those veterans who have supported our nation through their service. She am especially interested in helping veterans who struggle with homelessness and PTSD. Rebecca is Auxiliary-qualified through my father's service in Korea.
Rebecca lives in south Minneapolis with her husband, two teenage sons, and a lucky dog.

[Name]: Renee McCloden

[Title]: Junior Vice

[Bio]: Renee's primary goal is to support veterans families and provide much needed services
which not only meet basic needs but more importantly allow for quality of life.
Renee qualifies for VFW Auxiliary life membership under her husband for
his service in Just Cause and Desert Storm as well as by her paternal grandfather for his service in WW II.
Renee is an IT professional who loves her family, awesome husband, and amazing step kids! She plays tennis and love donating time and energy to the best VFW ever, POST #246!

[Heading]: Uptown VFW Sneakily Open Big, Cool Second Bar

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[Link]: http://www.citypages.com/restaurants/uptown-vfw-sneakily-opens-big-cool-second-bar-7967424

[Heading]: A Battle With Pain

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[Link]: http://www.startribune.com/the-new-goal-at-the-va-treating-the-root-causes-of-veterans-pain/311225971/

[Heading]: Young Vets Keep Uptown VFW Hip and Expanding

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[Link]: http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/land-of-10000-stories/2015/12/01/james-ballentine-vfw-post-246-uptown/76550390/

[Data 1]: $4.4

[Data Heading 1]:million in monetary aid to veterans, active-duty military and their families

[Data 2]: 878,349

[Data Heading 2]: volunteered hours in VA medical centers, hospitals, nursing homes and veterans homes

[Data 3]: 145,550

[Data Heading 3]: legislative contacts to help pass or block important bills affecting veterans and their families

[Data 4]: $126,000

[Data Heading 4]: awarded in scholarships

[Data 5]: 336,400

[Data Heading 5]: youth worked with across America

[Data 6]: 292,781

[Data Heading 6]: U.S. Flags Distributed