The mission of Heart of Illinois Chapter is to benefit the members of the uniformed services, their families and survivors, and to advocate for a strong national defense, while providing support to the community and programs to grow our members.

In order to continue these great programs and activities we need great members, that’s where you come in. We still meet at the Lariat Steakhouse 2232 W Glen Ave Peoria on the third Tuesday of the month except June, July, August and December.  We have added the ability to join Chapter meetings using ZOOM if you cannot attend in person. The Camaraderie before the meeting is vibrant and we all learn from each other during our meetings.  To join our Chapter, Please reply to our Chapter president  david.zabinski@comcast.net

Our members were recently involved supporting General Petraeus Peoria visit and have have been involved in such endeavors as “Tee it up for the Troops”, Honor Flights, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, ROTC, JROTC, Veterans Affairs, and others.  In addition, our programs range from current affairs such as Ukraine & Middle East, critical military impacts such as Tricare changes, “Planning for Military Spousal Benefits” and military historical learnings. We are always looking for other ways to support the military in our Chapter region.

Of course, our reason for existence is to influence legislation that affects the military, especially retirees, and there is much of that floating around these days – such as 2025 Tricare changes. And we track what affects Active and Reserve/Guard as well. With so little military experience in our legislature these days, they need our voice.

Future Planned Programs:  On GPS, AI, and Western History.

Chapter’s 15 October 2024 Program will be an Update on the War in Ukraine and the Geopolitical consequences beyond an eventual Russian failure. Putin can’t win this War. Ukraine will never appease or surrender. Neither will the bulk of NATO countries. They are reliving the lessons of 1938.

Focus will be on the dueling Strategies and some key weapons systems... And a goodly amount on digital warfare applications including AI, for this war and beyond. A fascinating subject... and next comes a Bi-Polar World of 2 Superpowers, USA and China. Russia a bit player one way or the other. What our U.S. advantages are, and why the PRC will not actually mount an open water attack on Taiwan.

Speaker: Professor Elmo(Joe) Roach was a Bradley Professor and Director of International Programs for faculty and students. In the 1990s, he directed American-Russian projects with academic and research partners, serving as a consultant for Caterpillar Inc joint venture efforts in Russia and Siberia. In 1994, Prof Roach was selected as a Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Moscow.

Prof Roach has military background service as Marine in the First Marine Air Wing, Marine Air Group 11. They flew in the old R4Qs to Okinawa and on to Pingtung South Air Base ROC Taiwan.  His Squadron pilots taught Chinese pilots in the use of first generation Sidewinder missiles. As a grad student in 1967, Prof Roach did his doctoral dissertation research in Russia.