Financial problems have Frankfort veterans struggling to keep post open
Commander of VFW Post 1493 says overdue bills threaten resource
As a veteran of the Vietnam War and the U.S. Marine Corps, Stan Tylinsky never shied away from a tough assignment.
But just a few months into his role as commander of Frankfort’s VFW Post 1493, he said he is now fighting to keep its doors open.
“I would rather be in foxhole surrounded by bad guys with a lot of ammo than put up with this,” he said.
Tylinsky did not realize that the post was behind in its bills when he took over, he said, noting that it lost a major source of revenue when Frankfort’s Beer Entertainment Tent Association disbanded in 2017.
The association was a coalition of civic groups that all earned money by providing volunteers to serve inthe beer tent at the Frankfort Fall Festival for nearly 20 years.
Officials previously said it folded due to a lack of volunteers, and the beer tent was redesigned into an upscale Beer and Wine Garden, with a more subdued setting.
Tylinsky said his VFW always had enough volunteers to cover their shifts, which provided them with about $8,000 annually — enough to carry them through the year.
“We certainly relied on that revenue and have not had it for two years,” he said.
Neighboring posts are buoyed by video gaming revenues, but that is prohibited in Frankfort, he said. Even though the VFW is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operation, it still has expenses like any other business — a mortgage, property taxes, sales taxes, liquor licenses, insurance and utilities.
Alot of bills were not paid on time, or not paid at all, and IRS forms had not been filed. Real estate taxes were past due because the bill was mailed to the wrong address. Utilities were paid on credit cards to keep the lights on, he said.
“Money got tight real quick,” Tylinsky said. Complicating the problem was that bills were not mailed to the post on Pfeiffer Road, but to the home of a member, who has since died, and members were not told of the dire financial situation.
Tylinsky said he “ran into a buzzsaw” when he took over in July. He and others have put up some of their own money to cover ex--
penses in the meantime, and perform routine maintenance, whether it is a nonflushing toilet, a leaky roof or a failing air conditioning system on a summer day.
“I am just trying to iron all this out and put a budget together. People tell me I am crazy,” he said.
His main concerns are covering the mortgage and paying the state for thepost’s retail liquor license, which is due Nov. 24. If that doesn’t happen, the doors would close on Nov. 25, he said.
He said he has been so focused on paying bills that it is difficult to fulfill the VFW’s primary mission of helping veterans in need.
“We’re supposed to be helping them, not saving ourselves. But honestly, I need every nickel and dime that I can scrape up,” the commander said.
Members have created a GoFundMe page — “Help Save the Frankfort VFW 1493” and have launched other fundraising efforts to help pay the bills. More information also is on Facebook.
A Motown Party is scheduled at 8 p.m. Nov. 17, and participants are encouraged to come in costumes from that era. Members are seeking donations for raffle prizes.
A Queen of Hearts drawing is held every Tuesday at 7 p.m., and members only dream of the cash pot growing as large as it did at other posts in Morris and McHenry, which attracted hundreds of players.
Members would like to bring in new people, with fresh ideas, and revive the Friday fish frys.
According to its Go Fund Me page, the post is “vital” to veterans and the community. It’s a place for vets to call home, enjoy a beer ands wap tales with others who understand.
“It’s sad” to think it might close, said Vicky Gress, who used to be an active member of the auxiliary, until it folded. “My heart is here. We have some good times here.”
The post is on the outskirts of town, surrounded by open space, and sits on 11 acres in the southeast corner of Pfeiffer Road and Sauk Trail. The post owns five acres, and ComEd has the rights to the other six.
Beyond the bar area, members added on Building B — a small banquet hall used for small parties and fish frys that could seat about 80. Occasionally it is rented out for showers, birthdays and fundraisers. The Frankfort car show was held on post grounds once this year, and it was so well received, Tylinsky hopes to bring them back next summer.
As the commander looks out over the acreage, he said they would like to make plans for the future, maybe expand, create a patio with a fireplace, make better use of their space. But lacking funds, he is now considering leasing the north half of the property to generate some revenue.
“I got to be able to keep the doors open,” he said.
Despite their struggles, members will commemorate Veterans Day Sunday with an open house, food and refreshments. They also plan to host a flag retirement ceremony with local Scouts on Nov. 18.
For more information, call Tylinsky at 815-931-1493.
“We’re supposed to be helping them, not saving ourselves. But honestly, I need every nickel and dime that I can scrape up.”
— Stan Tylinsky, commander of Frankfort’s VFW Post 1493