The American Legion is a national organization, established Aug. 27, 1920, for veterans of all wars to serve God, country, and community.

Locally, the Post sponsors the Winsted Boy Scouts, and youth delegates to Minnesota Boys State. Members visit and provide Christmas gifts for veterans in the area’s care centers and Veterans Administration hospitals, as well as donate to local charities and causes. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the Legion has reintroduced the Blue Star Banner Program for families with a loved one in uniform, and the Post has distributed these banners locally.

Each year, the Legion conducts a public Memorial Day observance, a Veterans Day dinner, a pancake breakfast the first Sunday of each month, and dinners as announced.

American Legion Post 407 is excited to announce renovations to its club building, under the new ownership of Dr. Michael Thoennes. It welcomes the public to check out improvements and sit on the deck to enjoy its view of Winsted Lake.

To join, you must be an honorably discharged member of the Armed Forces who served at least 90 days during designated periods of conflict. Annual dues are $35. Meetings are the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at the Legion club at 161 1st Street North.

With present membership at 119, officers are: Commander Jeff Sterner, Finance Officer Chris Otto, and Adjutant/Membership Chip Guggemos.

For more information, contact Chip Guggemos at (320) 485-4332, or write the Legion at PO Box 360, Winsted, MN 55395 or post407@live.com. For club rental information, contact Dr. Michael Thoennes at (952) 465-8293.

Find American Legion Post 407 on Facebook by searching “Martin Krueger Post #407 of the American Legion – Winsted, MN.”

American Legion Auxiliary Post 407 was established to help support veterans, soldiers, and their families. It also helps other organizations within our community by volunteering hours or monetary donations.

Each year, the auxiliary sponsors a junior girl from the Winsted area to attend Girls State, a week-long event that teaches leadership skills and the importance of political values.

The auxiliary hosts several fundraisers throughout the year. These funds help VA hospitals, and send care or supply packages to military men and women overseas. In May, the ladies are busy handing out poppy flowers for donations.

The president of the American Legion Auxiliary is Margory Kritzeck.

If you would like more information about the organization or membership, contact Helen Yager (320) 485-2172 (membership chair). Meetings are at the Legion the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m., with the exception of January, when there is no meeting.

Please remember that without our service men and women serving and protecting our country, we would not be enjoying the lifestyle that we have today.

The Cub Scouts program enables boys to be involved and active in their community and with other Cub Scout packs through various fun Scouting activities.

Pack 399 participates in the Winsted Summer Festival parade, the Winsted Winter Festival parade, summer day camps, the Pinewood Derby car race, and other activities and field trips to encourage growth and education.

Any boy in grades kindergarten through five is eligible to join. Meetings, which are for all dens, are scheduled once or twice a month, and locations vary, depending on availability and times. Each month there is plenty to do, with no requirement for attendance at all of the events.

Yearly dues are $50. Pack 399 is committed to serving every boy in this community; no boy interested in Scouting will be turned away for financial reasons. There are Scouterships available for those who desire.

Den leaders change from year to year, and parent involvement is encouraged and recommended.

To join, contact David Anderson at (612) 986-9461, or danderson@digitallakeinc.com.

Through its patrol meetings and troop activities, the Howard Lake, Waverly, and Winsted Scouts work to develop character, citizenship, and personal fitness.

The group has seen a steady growth in membership in the past four years. As an active troop, they participate in spring and fall camporees, develop winter survival skills, ski, canoe, fish, and take part in area civic events.

Each summer, they plan a campout at various locations, including Many Point, Camp Ripley, and Medicine Mountain (near Mount Rushmore), which provides Scouts the opportunity for such activities as sailing, archery, tower climbing, obstacle courses, and fishing.

Annually, they sell malts at the Wright County Fair, as well as Christmas wreaths, and popcorn.

Steve Goebel is Scoutmaster, and Steve Thisius is assistant Scoutmaster.

Membership is open to any boy who has completed the fifth grade or is 11 years old, but not yet 18. The Scouts usually meet two times a month. There is a yearly registration fee of $12. To join, call Steve Goebel at (320) 485-3552.

The Crow River Chapter of Minnesota Ducks Unlimited has been raising funds for wetland conservation and waterfowl habitat since 1984.

The chapter, which has about 150 members, hosts a spring and fall banquet.

Since 1984, the chapter has raised more than $250,000 for conservation. More than 80 percent of that money goes directly to protecting natural resources.

If you would like to participate with the world’s largest wetlands conservation group, contact Scott Schmidt at (320) 543-2498.

Education Minnesota Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted promotes and ensures that students in the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted School District get the best possible education resources allow. The association meets the last Monday every other month.

Officers are Duane Lichy, president; Stephanie Dailey and Josh Westling, co-vice presidents; Christin LaMott, treasurer; and Karen Ready, secretary. The membership fee is $120, and you must be a teacher in the HLWW schools to join.

The Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted FFA Alumni was started in 1980, to help support the local FFA chapter and the agriculture education department at HLWW High School.

The group, currently numbering about 40 members, meets the third Wednesday of each month at 8:30 p.m. in the high school ag room.

The group’s annual events include the annual consignment auction, meetings, family night in February, a special meeting in June, and a picnic in July. The group has helped provide equipment for the ag shop, as well as curricular materials, and has acted as an advisory board for the agriculture department.

Membership dues are $15 per year, $100 for Minnesota lifetime membership, or $150 for a national lifetime membership. Potential members must have a willingness to support high school agriculture. To join, contact the officers, advisor Jim Weninger, or the high school ag department at (320) 543-4600.

Laker Pride serves as the promotional arm of the HLWW School District. During the 2013-14 school year, Laker Pride served refreshments during August open houses, and after the Community Concert program. Laker Pride contributes pictures and articles for the Herald Journal newspaper and the district website. We have also recorded elementary musicals, and have had entries in the summer parades.

We welcome you to join us on Facebook at “HLWW Laker Pride,” where you can view news, photos, and videos from district activities. If you don’t have a Facebook account, don’t worry. The HLWW Laker Pride Facebook page is open to the public for viewing. If you do have a Facebook account, we welcome any photos you would like to share with us. We also welcome your pictures, videos, and comments. Please feel free to post to “Laker Pride” as much as you like!

We encourage you to contact us with any comments or suggestions you may have. We can be reached at adamlakerpride@hlww.k12.mn.us, or through the district office at (320) 543-3521.

The HLWW After Prom Party was formed in fall 1988, to provide a safe form of entertainment for Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted High School juniors and seniors and their dates on prom night. The first after-prom party was in 1989, and has seen a steady increase in attendance every year since then. The students enjoy an all-night party with food, fun, wonderful prizes, and entertainment.

This volunteer group hosts many fundraisers, including bingo during Good Neighbor Days, bake sales (at the Howard Lake annual craft and art expo in November, and at the business expo in the spring), a concession stand at home football games, and an annual fall garage sale.

The group welcomes anyone who is interested in helping. Meetings take place in the commons area at the HLWW High School.

The Winsted Jolly Juniors 4-HClub, established in 1946, promotes positive youth development through support for communities, organizations, and families in the education of their children.

Each year, the Jolly Juniors are interested in helping with community pride projects. They carol at St. Mary’s each December, and exhibit projects at the McLeod County Fair. The group has had four county championships in Share-the-Fun since 1986, including winning in 2002, 2005, and 2007.

There are presently more than 30 members, with dues at $5 per year paid by the club.

Membership is open to children in grades kindergarten through 12. Meetings take place monthly in members’ homes, or in the cafeteria at Holy Trinity School in Winsted..

For more information, call Lori Anderson at (320) 395-2806, Kim Hausladen at (320) 485-2856, or the McLeod County Extension Office at 800-587-0770.

The Knights of Columbus was established to help the needy and support religious vocations, while also promoting charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism within the order.

Its purpose is to speak out for the lives of the unborn, the aged, and the mentally-challenged.

Annually, the Knights conduct a pro-life breakfast and free-throw shooting contest in January, a fish fry the second Friday in March as well as many other activities to support the community.

The order was formed in 1982, and meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m., with officers meeting the second Tuesday of each month. Membership dues are $25 per year, and membership is open to Catholic men 18 years or older and in good standing with the church.

The Knights’ mailing address is PO Box 250, Winsted, MN, 55395. Also, email us at winstedkc@gmail.com.

The Lake Mary Homeowners Association was organized in 1987 to maintain and improve the water quality of Lake Mary. Lake Mary is located a few miles southeast of Howard Lake and is a spring-fed lake. It’s approximately 180 acres in size and is 47 feet at its deepest point.

The association conducts an annual meeting and potluck fish fry picnic each summer.

At its annual meeting, the association studies new ideas offered and keeps members informed of existing projects. Our association has a successful yearly (ice out, date guessing) contest raffle. All of the monies from the raffle, along with contributions from the Winsted Sportsmen’s Club and the Watertown Rod & Gun Club are used to finance a bi-annual walleye stocking program. Our association also has a newsletter/blog for membership communication, community interaction, and articles of interest.

Over the years, the Lake Mary Homeowners Association has worked with the Wright Soil and Water Conservation District, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) on various fish studies and water run-off filtering projects. These include vegetation buffer zone areas, French drains, and rain garden projects.

Our association is also creating a water sample data base through the Wright Soil and Water Conservation District. Volunteers submit lake water samples monthly from (May through September) to district offices in Buffalo. These samples are shipped in turn with other Wright County area lake samples to RMB Labs in Detroit Lakes to record water clarity and phosphate levels. Water clarity “Secchi Dish” checks are also done for the MPCA.

The Lake Mary Association was awarded a $2,000 grant for participating in the Minnesota Healthy Lakes & Rivers Partnership program. This is a program sponsored by the McKnight Foundation. A lake plan was made up during this process. Following this lake plan, a Point Intercept Map project was awarded in 2010. The Point Intercept Map was completed by the Minnesota PLM Lakes & Land Management Group in September 2011. PLM used GPS technology to study and “map” the underwater vegetation growth in Lake Mary. This helps the association better understand the vegetation health of Lake Mary and will guide it in the coming years for future projects to improve Lake Mary’s water quality.

Interested new members can contact Chairman Mike Ollig at 10932 Grunwald Ave. SW, Howard Lake, MN 55349, or by e-mailing him at mikeollig@tds.net, or calling (320) 485-4242.

VFW Auxiliary is a national organization, established in 1914 has united Americans from all walks of life with a common purpose: to improve the lives of veterans, active-duty service members and their families, and our communities. Initially, this organization started with a small group of women who wanted to serve veterans. Today, nationally, there are nearly 475,000 male and female members representing all 50 states.

It helps other organizations within our community by volunteering hours or monetary donations. Proud sponsor of the Annual McLeod Co Beyond the Yellow Ribbon coming home event, provided help to VA hospitals, homes, and area nursing homes, Veteran Day gifts, Christmas gifts to veterans, Flag Exchange Program, Books for Patriotism Literacy in area schools & promotes scholarship opportunities, Voice of Democracy, Patriot Art & Patriot Pen contests within our schools each year.

The auxiliary hosts two fundraisers annually – Breakfast in mid June for two days each year, and the Annual Chicken Dinner event which takes place the 1 st Saturday of December each year. In May, the auxiliary is busy handing out poppies which 100% of donations received goes to benefit veterans & their families exclusively.

To learn about becoming a member, contact Rhonda Decker at 763-242-9383 (membership chair) or email funnyfarm4524@gmail.com, Judy Pease at 619-261-4809 (President) Mary Quast at 612-760-7385 (Secretary). Lifetime Memberships & Annual Memberships are available which include Cancer Insurance & Grant Benefits. Meetings are held at the Legion building in Winsted the second Thursday of each month at 2:30 p.m. Find Lake Mary VFW Auxiliary on Facebook by searching Lake Mary VFW Aux Winsted MN.

The Lake Mary VFW Auxiliary 9232, chartered in 1963, supports veterans by donating to the McLeod County Veterans Emergency Fund and the McLeod Emergency Food Shelf, providing gift baskets at Christmas, and more. Its primary fundraiser is a chili feed, which takes place each January.

Meetings take place at 2:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the American Legion in Winsted.

To learn more about becoming a Lake Mary VFW Auxiliary member, contact president Amy Gatz or treasurer Rhonda Decker at (320) 485-3831.

HLWW Lakes Community Girl Scouts encompasses the communities of Howard Lake, Waverly, and Winsted, and is open to all girls entering Kindergarten - Grade 12.

The Girl Scout program levels correspond to what grade you are in at school.

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. We provide an all-girl, girl-led, and girl-friendly environment created with and for girls.

At Girl Scouts, a whole world of opportunities is waiting just for you! You'll always get to think big, try new things, and unleash your inner leader!

For more information, don't hesitate to get in touch with HLWW Lakes Community Girl Scouts at lakesprairiesgirlscouts@gmail.com.

The WHAT UP (Winsted Holding Activities That Unite People) Committee, a youth and family council, was made an official volunteer committee of the city in May 2009.

This committee has created a dynamic program that provides activities for youth and family in the community, such as movies in the park, sports clinics, and game nights, among other events.

Members of the committee are: Jeff Campbell, Mike Henrich, Rose Heimerl, Amanda Zeidler, and Tyler Bruns.

The regular meeting is the second Tuesday of each month. The group hosts monthly activities. Watch Herald Journal for event notices, or check your monthly utility bill. You can also find them on Facebook.

To learn more about WHAT UP, be part of the committee, or volunteer to help for various activities, email Jeff Campbell at jrcampbell@tds.net .

The Winsted Area Chamber of Commerce’s mission statement is, “To foster a stimulating atmosphere in which business can flourish, thereby adding to the economic and social well-being of our community.”

The Winsted Area Chamber of Commerce was established more than 50 years ago.

The Winsted Winter Festival, winter lighting contest, The Women’s Expo, Brat Busters, Easter egg hunt, Business Trick or Treat, and the annual chamber banquet are some of the annual events sponsored by the organization. To find out more information regarding these events, visit www.winstedchamber.com. It also promotes business appreciation events, sponsors political forums, and provides a welcome packet for new residents.

Membership in the chamber is open to any interested individual or business. Members receive reminder e-mails prior to the meetings. There are presently about 90 members.

For more information or to join, go to our membership page at www.winstedchamber.com, or e-mail info@winstedchamber.com. You can also find them on Facebook.

The Chamber of Commerce mailing address is PO Box 352, Winsted, MN 55395.

In 2008, a small group began meeting to discuss development of an arts organization in Winsted. Several attendees participated in the Blandin Community Leadership Program in October 2007, and returned with a vision for arts in Winsted. The group morphed, and in early 2010 officially formed the Winsted Arts Council (WAC), complete with articles of incorporation, bylaws, a board of directors and officers, a federal ID number, and 501©3 status. Membership is tax deductible and supports all the activities of the WAC.

The Winsted Arts Council envisions an artistic community within Winsted that inspires a vibrant downtown with successful businesses and a culturally engaged citizenry.

Its purpose is to provide artistic experiences for all ages, by presenting a voice and an outlet for the community; making the city an appealing location for families and businesses.

Highlights of the previous year include an after school art club, summer art camp, a photography exhibit featuring Winsted native Trudi Sexton; and musical guests like Dervish, Lehto & Wright, the Tex Pistols, and a Homecoming Concert featuring the incredible talent of Winsted area musicians. Visit our website at www.winstedartscouncil.org and our Facebook page, or email us at winstedartscouncil@gmail.com.

The Winsted Karate Club offers instruction in Shotokan karate for self-defense, competition, and personal development.

The club regularly competes in tournaments and performs various demonstrations throughout the year. Several members have made the US Karate Team and have competed in Japan, England, Ireland, Germany, and throughout the US. Club members have also appeared on KTCA TV, and Channel 2’s “Newton’s Apple.”

Organized in 1981, the club presently has 20 members and meets Mondays at the Winsted Elementary School at 6 p.m. The club is a non-profit organization. Dues are $30 per month, per individual; or $60 per month, per family. It’s a member of the American Shotokan Karate Federation (ages 7 and up).

For information, contact Russ Ferrell 320-274-8101.

The mission of the WLWA is to provide a leadership role in improving and protecting the quality of Winsted Lake and its watershed for present and future generations.

The WLWA was formed in 1979 and is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Membership is open to anyone interested in contributing to the quality of Winsted Lake and its Watershed. Annual membership dues are $30 for individual/family and $100 for corporations. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact one of the Officers and/or send your membership dues to WLWA, PO Box 577, Winsted, MN 55395.

WLWA meetings are usually the first Tuesday of the month in the Vollmer Room at Winsted City Hall at 7 p.m. and are open to the public. Attend one of our meetings or contact one of the officers if you wish to share an idea or a concern.

The WLWA officers are; Open, President; Gary Lenz, Vice President; Evelyn Fowler, Secretary; Peggy Lenz, Treasurer.

More information is available by going to our site at http://winstedheraldjournal.com/index.php/watershed-association/.

The Winsted Youth Baseball/Softball Association promotes and organizes summer baseball and softball for area youth ages 4 to 18. Approximately 130 children and more than 20 volunteer coaches participate in games, primarily in the months of June and July.

Membership is open to anyone interested in playing baseball/softball. Signup will be in early March of each year. A registration fee applies to cover the cost of hats, jerseys/shirts, umpires, and other association expenses.

Business sponsorship of the association is encouraged, to help defray expenses and keep the player fees lower. The association meets in the winter months, and into spring to prepare for the next year. Parents and volunteers are encouraged to help coach or be part of the association. Watch the Herald Journal for signup notices.

More information can be found at www.winstedlittleleague.com; or by contacting Rick Baumann at (320) 485-7476, or rbaumann@tds.net.

The Winsted Sportsmen’s Club has helped to ensure quality hunting and fishing for area sportsmen since 1952.

Some activities the group annually organizes are a firearms safety course, a snowmobile safety class, stocking lakes, a lake cleanup, and the raising and releasing of pheasants. The group builds wood duck houses and wildlife feeders, and supplies feed for wildlife.

The club also owns and maintains boat landings at Dog, Ida, Mary, and Round lakes. In April, the club conducts its annual hog roast fundraiser at the American Legion in Winsted.

There are presently 75 members. Membership dues are $10 per year. Meetings are the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. During summer months, it meets at the Lake Mary clubhouse, a few miles northeast of Winsted; and winter months in locations to be announced.

There are no membership requirements. To join, contact any member or attend a meeting or sponsored event. For more information, contact Tom Kieser at (320) 224-3079. The club’s mailing address is 10895 Fetch Ave. SW, Waverly, MN 55390.