Pair of Sterling Heights veteran posts fighting for survival

Veterans of Foreign Wars North End

Post 6250 and American Legion Poxon Post

326 in Sterling Heights rely on 16 yearly charity poker games, called millionaire parties by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, to raise money for their service projects.

But since the coronavirus shutdowns began in March, the posts have not had the thousands of dollars in proceeds coming in that they usually have to help veterans, and keep their posts open. Eighty percent or more of annual post budgets comes from hosting millionaire parties.

Thankfully they entered into an agreement some years ago where the two groups have a vet center in one building in order to share rent and utilities and other costs of operation. They can share a meeting area, earn money from room rentals, and have space to keep furniture and clothing for veterans in need on Van Dyke Avenue in Sterling Heights.

They even share a commander in Stephen Bilan.

“We have an area we can rent out for small gatherings,” Bilan said.

There was hope that, with new executive orders from Michigan’s governor, they would resume millionaire parties, also called Texas Hold ‘ Em, adjoining a bar, and a bar-restaurant, in their area this week. But – as of last week – the process is still in limbo, and the rules for keeping people safe from COVID-19 are making things difficult.

“People would come in and have their beer and food, whatever, and have a good time and it was a win-win for the business and the charity,” he said.

“With these new regulations, you cannot have more than three players per table but I talked to two suppliers and they both said it’s not profitable at three. To make it profitable for both the supplier and the charity, it would have to be six people or more. Ten would be better,” Bilan said.

The vets are waiting for action on their application for a license, and for guidelines from the control board.

Meanwhile, one post is living on its reserves, which will only last another three months. The other is out of funds.

“We trudge forward on donations. Some people give more, some give less, so we can be there for the community like we have for decades. There’s a vestibule on our building. People drop off cans and bottles that we can redeem. They sometimes drop off envelopes in the slot with a donation too,” he said.

Bilan said checks are welcome and appreciated mailed to 44400 Van Dyke Ave., Suite 102, Sterling Heights MI 48314.

A millionaire party is tentatively on their schedule on their Facebook page for Nov. 16 and Nov. 19 but a license for the event has not yet been granted.

“They say we can’t be next to a restaurant or bar, saying the disease can be spread that way. We need the control board to say you could open up as long as you take precautions,” he said.

He said barriers at both locations keep the patrons of each operation separate and there are limited days for the games.

Bilan said that when the order came down to close the establishments in March, their “Texas Hold’Em” was one of the first to be canceled.

“That’s roughly

$20,000 we’ll never see again,” Bilan said.

“Now the Michigan Supreme Court came down with that edict that the governor’s executive orders are null and void after 30 days and with legislative approval we can open up, but we’ve still got hurdles. The Michigan Game Control Board has not issued us our license and I have not heard any guidance from the board or suppliers to say it’s business as usual. So charities are still in a holding pattern.”

Bilan would like the game control board to postpone or waive fees to help out the charities.

And business as usual isn’t realistic, as people are being cautious about gathering inside.

“I get it. At the post, we take it seriously, wear facemasks, do social distancing, use disinfectant because we don’t want to subject anyone to a virus. Our aging veterans, they say no way, I’m not doing it. The younger people say if I get it, it’s not a death sentence,” he said.

Bilan, 56, served in the U.S. Navy in the submarine service.

Post members can point other vets in the right direction when it comes to applying for VA health care and benefits.

Their storage facility is accepting clothing for Operation Suit-Up that male and female veterans can have to wear for job interviews and employment. Other clothing has gone to Vets Returning Home shelter in Roseville. Currently, the posts are collecting coats and other winter clothing, and toiletries, for homeless veterans. The vets own a truck, another expense, for transporting donations of clothing and furniture.

One vet in particular cannot stay in the house he has been in and is looking for an apartment. The posts are trying to help him get reestablished. But the posts have rental issues of their own. Their landlord has worked with them, giving them breaks.

“But he’s a businessman and we have to honor our contract with him to pay our rent. We have garbage to pay for, utilities, an alarm company. The last thing we can do for a veteran is deliver the honors at the funeral. But even doing that costs money for gas, uniforms, rifles and rounds for the volleys. In all the years I’ve done honors we’ve never received a single donation,” he said.

Bilan said he’s played taps for friends and relatives.

“I had a dear friend pass away Aug. 3 and we still have not had a service because of COVID but we want good health and well being for the vets who are still around. I thought it was hard before COVID keeping up with the posts, but it’s overwhelming now when we don’t know where our next dollar is coming from,” he said.

He said what would make people more comfortable to come out is better ventilation, and good sanitizing, adding masks are available to anyone entering their posts, if they don’t have their own. They have disinfectant and gloves and they seat fewer people to each table.

“We have enough room. I want to make sure everyone in my group of vets feels comfortable and comes to meetings. There’s also enough room where we play Texas Hold’Em. We could easily seat six people to a table and make a profit,” he said.

Bilan hopes that the fundraiser will go on.

“But things are changing so fast. The information we got about what the control board requires us to do has changed three times already and now we have not heard from them in two weeks. There are so many hurdles for charities, they make it almost impossible to continue on with the parties,” he said.

Bilan feels the casinos have more influence at the state level but that charities that help their communities should be given a fair shake. When charities help people, that’s less strain on government agencies, he said.

According to an article in Crain’s Detroit Business, Michigan charities earned a net profit of about $6.3 million last year to enable them to conduct community service projects.

Bilan argues that the local parties also allow people to go to the functions close to home rather than drive to Detroit to the casinos.

“Until they grant us licenses, nothing is going to happen, but we are not going to have our doors closed without a fight,” Bilan said.