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Two Fundraisers, Two Successes

By Bob Riggle and John Zutz

The only things that really matter when putting on a benefit are whether it is profitable and whether those attending enjoy themselves. The Milwaukee chapter of VVAW was successful in both respects at two fundraising events. On February 10 the Sweetheart Concert at Milwaukee's Tasting Room featured some of the best of Milwaukee's blues musicians. On March 11 the annual Milwaukee Beer Festival presented a wide variety of beers for tasting and appreciation. Both events raised much-needed money for the My Lai projects. A portion of the proceeds from the beer festival was also sent to the Vietnam Veterans Art Museum in Chicago.

The My Lai projects are run by the Madison Friends and include revolving loan funds, the construction of a new elementary school and hospital in My Lai, and the Peace Park. We felt two fundraisers were appropriate since the Peace Park was due to be dedicated on March 16. We have seen the commitment of Vietnam veteran Mike Boehm and the Friends over a number of years. Through their various projects they have forged links of friendship and cooperation with the people of Vietnam. They have asked for help, and since we are a veterans' group based on peace and justice, we wanted to do whatever we could.

Boehm, who left for Vietnam within hours of the concert, made a brief presentation about the My Lai projects at the event. Titled a Sweetheart Concert for Valentine's Day, the bill featured music by Steve Cohen, who has played at a number of VVAW events, including campouts, in the past. He was backed by The RoCos and special guest Greg Koch. The band was cooking and everyone had a good time. After all the concert bills were paid, the Milwaukee VVAW chapter added a little money for a total contribution of $850, which should build a classroom for the My Lai primary school.

One month later VVAW sponsored the Milwaukee Beer Festival featuring the 13th annual "Blessing of the Bock" at Milwaukee's Serb Memorial Hall. This is a unique religious experience. We invite brewers, including homebrewers and commercial breweries, to present their beers. We have a priest bless the beers, then we drink them. Since the festival is on a Sunday I like to tell Catholics it fulfills their obligation to attend church. The festival gives beer drinkers an opportunity to compare various beer styles and to taste a variety of different beers in one place. We also attempt to promote the art of homebrewing. Over sixty volunteers put in nearly a thousand man-hours at the festival. There were over thirty-five display tables and over three hundred paid admissions. The profit of $4,650 was divided evenly between My Lai projects and the Vietnam Veterans Art Museum in Chicago. Once again, a good time was had by all.

More information:

My Lai Projects
c/o Madison Friends
1704 Roberts Court
Madison, WI 53711-2029
<www.mylaipeacepark.com>

Vietnam Veterans Art Museum
1801 S. Indiana
Chicago, IL
<www.nvvam.org>

Milwaukee Beer Festival
2922 N. Booth St.
Milwaukee, WI 53212
<www.milwaukeebeerfest.com>