Celebrating Veterans

Let me first say "Thank you" to all our service men and women who have protected our freedoms. On behalf of the Tulsa Metro Salvation Army, we are deeply grateful and indebted to you.

The Salvation Army and the United States military have a long and mutually satisfying history. During World War I (the war to end all wars - so we had hoped), Salvation Army personnel were sworn in as Army Privates so they could serve alongside our fighting men in the European theater. Most of these "soldiers" were women. They were trained as nurses and sent to serve in makeshift hospitals behind battle fronts in France. They not only helped mend the bodies of wounded fighting men, they also brought healing to their weary, lonely souls. The Salvation Army "Lassies" sang to the troops, helped them write letters to home, prepared meals, and directed worship services. But the greatest spirit-lifter was the good old American doughnut. The "Doughnut Girls", as they became known, would fry up hundreds of these sugary pastries every day. Soldiers would line up and patiently wait for a taste of home.
During World War II many Salvation Army locations across the United States were used as local USO sites. Soldiers would often times go to the Salvation Army building for relaxation. Salvation Army personnel would play music, show movies, lead games, offer letter writing materials, and serve refreshments for free to help distract soldiers from thoughts of where they had just been, or where they about to go. It was a service that many said helped them get through the war.

Today, in some military towns Salvation Army canteens (mobile kitchens) greet returning soldiers as they disembark from overseas service, serving them and their loved ones snacks and beverages, and giving them "Welcome Home" gifts.

Numerous Salvation Army officers have been commissioned as Chaplains throughout the years and served alongside our soldiers bringing comfort and courage. It has been, and remains to this day, our distinct honor to serve those who serve this country.

Thank you all for your service.

God bless you!


Major Jim Taylor
Tulsa Area Commander

Booth Dinner to Highlight Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet with the 2013 William Booth Society chairpersons, Charlotte and Wade Edmundson, and the remarkable dinner committee they have assembled to help make our 20th Annual Benefit Dinner a success. This year they will highlight our six Metro Tulsa Boys & Girls Clubs and I wanted to share some information about why our Clubs are essential for youth in our community.

I should also mention that this year we will have Bob Costas as our keynote speaker! As the face and voice of NBC Sports, Costas is best known for covering events seen by millions such as the Kentucky Derby, the Super Bowl and the Olympics.

Here are some interesting facts from a national Harris Survey conducted by Boys & Girls Club nationally.

Nationally, 1.3 million students in the class of 2010 did not graduate with a high school diploma: a graduation rate of 69%

Boys & Girls Club members graduate at a rate of 90%
15% higher average GPA than peers
87% fewer absences

Oklahoma spends on the average $36,500 per year for each child in juvenile detention

Boys & Girls Clubs spend $600 per child each year on programs and services that are proven deterrents to juvenile crime.

Check out this infographic with more: 

Source: http://bgca.org/whywecare/Pages/KidsInCrisis.aspx

The Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs in Tulsa serve more than 5,000 youth annually. Our programs focus on physical fitness, education and the importance of being a good citizen, among other things. Our staff is top-notch with a passion for ensuring the kids in our Clubs don't just do well, they prosper and succeed, understanding that if they work hard nothing is out of their reach! If you would like to support The Salvation Army and our Boys & Girls Clubs while also enjoying a fabulous dinner and world class speaker, call Nancy Lloyd at (918) 587-7801.

See you there!
~Lindsay

Countdown to Booth Dinner

The excitement is building as more publications get the word out about The Salvation Army William Booth Society Annual Dinner April 12. The dinner will be held at the Tulsa Convention Center at 7 p.m. and Bryant Gumbel is the speaker. Here's a link to an article which ran in the Tulsa World Sunday. CLICK HERE. Articles have also run in Tulsa Lifestyle and Southern Spirit, The Salvation Army newsletter for the Southern Territory.

Remembering Walt

From left: Walt Helmerich III, Billie Barnett, Major Roy Williams, Rik Helmerich.

Along with thousands of other Tulsans, it is with great sadness that I mourn the death of Walt Helmerich III, a lifetime member of The Salvation Army Advisory Board and a friend. The Helmerich family has been a supporter of The Salvation Army for at least 40 years, maybe longer.

I’m told that for many years Walt would pick a day and along with a friend, he would drive to all of the facilities of the Tulsa Area Command, including the six Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs. They would tour the clubs, noting things that needed to be repaired, then Walt would donate the money to have it done. The driving tour was a tradition that Walt started, and in recent years his son Rik, an Advisory Board member, has continued.

While repairs at Boys & Girls Clubs may seem minor compared to other financial support the Helmerich family has provided, it was very meaningful to the Boys & Girls Club staff members to see that someone as important as Walt cared about their needs. In the same spirit of showing support in a personal way, every Christmas Walt and Peggy would attend our Advisory Board Christmas luncheon, whether the temperature was at zero degrees or in the forties.

The Advisory Board Christmas luncheon is always held in the warehouse where all the toys and food are stored. For several years the Helmerich family would let us use a warehouse that they owned, free of charge. This past Christmas luncheon was the first Walt had missed in many years, and we missed him.  Walt and the Helmerich family were among the first supporters of the William Booth Society and the younger family members are continuing the tradition. Every year, Walt and his family would donate the money for at least one table at our annual Booth dinner and attend the event.
 
While I am grateful to Walt and the Helmerich family for their monetary support, it is his gentlemanly presence and dignity I will always remember. Walt Helmerich III was a man of integrity and honor. I will miss him greatly.
 

Major Roy Williams, Tulsa Area Commander

Love Him? Hate Him? We Don’t Care – Just Give Us Your Support!

Remember the excitement of having George H. W. Bush Sr. and Bill Clinton speak at our William Booth Society Annual Benefit Dinner last year? Democrats and Republicans alike were passionate about that dream team. The former presidents have been hard to top, but the speaker at this year’s Booth Dinner March 13 also engenders passion – from the political right and the left.

It’s Fox News Cable Channel’s Bill O’Reilly, host of the O’Reilly Factor. He’s a commentator that people seem to love, hate or even love to hate! No matter what your political leanings, please support The Salvation Army.  Attend the event at the beautifully renovated Tulsa Convention Center, or be like one of my friends who said she was going to mail us a check and then to counter-act O’Reilly conservatism, sit at home on event night and read the late Senator Ted Kennedy’s new book. Sounds fair to me! Call 587-7801 for information about buying a table. Ask for Nancy Lloyd.


-Sallie

Annual Benefit Dinner - Speaker Announced

We are excited to announce the featured speaker for the 2010 Salvation Army Benefit Dinner, Mr. Bill O’Reilly.  Every year this annual event brings national celebrities to Tulsa to support our efforts to help those in need. Past speakers include: Dave Barry, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Emmet Smith, Walter Cronkite and many others.

The 2010 Salvation Army Benefit Dinner will be held on Saturday, March 13th at the newly remodeled Civic Center in Tulsa and will feature Mr. O’Reilly, bestselling author, columnist and host of Fox Network’s top-rated “The O’Reilly Factor.”  O'Reilly probably is the most controversial, most frequently discussed TV analyst today.  In addition to his cable show, Bill finds time to turn out a weekly column appearing in more than 300 papers, and to write books.

We are grateful for Mr. O’Reilly’s commitment to help serve The Salvation Army through his presence at this event.  This is a great opportunity to be entertained as well as help the less fortunate in our community.  This exclusive event is open to all members of the William Booth Society and table packages start at $5,000.  No individual tickets are available at this time.  For information or package details call 918-587-7801.

Tulsa People Honors Salvation Army

Spotlighting the year’s top-earning fund-raising events, Tulsa People listed the William Booth Society Benefit Dinner as the number 2 fundraiser in Tulsa!
This year's event will be the 17th annual and the speaker is guaranteed to be impressive. Past speakers include: Bill Clinton, Terry Bradshaw, Dave Barry, George H.W. Bush and Walter Cronkite.

Read the article.