FreedomSystem Board Meeting Summary
May 16, 2026
The FreedomSystem Board of Directors met on May 16, 2026, at the Community Foundation of Elkhart County.
Board Business
The Board approved the April 2026 meeting minutes. The Treasurer's Report was reviewed and approved. Financial reports are available upon request.
Veteran Engagement
Program participation for April included:
Outreach and Community Partnerships
Board members continue to expand FreedomSystem's reach throughout Northern Indiana. Discussions and outreach efforts included:
- Exploring opportunities to grow the Mountain Biking Program in the Warsaw area.
- Developing a potential Veterans Bible Study partnership with a local church.
- Sharing information about the 4VetsByVets Support Group through local HR networks and community partners.
- Working with Greenleaf Health Campus to connect Veteran residents with FreedomSystem events.
- Promoting FreedomSystem at community events, including the New Paris Speedway's Night of Destruction.
- Planning participation in the Elkhart County 4-H Fair's Hometown Hero Day on July 25.
- Coordinating booth opportunities with the South Bend Cubs and FreedomFest Airshow.
- Expanding community awareness through increased distribution of brochures and event flyers.
Marketing and Communications
The Board discussed several initiatives to strengthen FreedomSystem's communications and digital presence, including:
- Expanding social media support and content creation.
- Finalizing the Alpha Nerds website launch.
- Establishing a Substack platform to support newsletters, articles, and email list growth.
Battle of the Bands – June 20, 2026
Planning continues for the annual Battle of the Bands fundraiser.
Current updates include:
- Three bands have been confirmed:
- Worth the Cover Charge
- Sierra Shame
- Graffiti Black
- Food service and event logistics are being finalized.
- Volunteer recruitment and event-day scheduling are underway.
- Family-friendly activities and games are being planned to increase community participation.
- Event merchandise will include shirts, tank tops, pint glasses, and stickers.
Remember Event – November 7, 2026
Planning has begun for FreedomSystem's annual Remember Event.
Highlights include:
- The event will remain at the Northern Indiana Event Center but will be held in the Pavilion.
- Kenny Holmes will serve as the keynote speaker as FreedomSystem celebrates its 10th year of service to Veterans.
- Community partners have offered support with event decorations and desserts.
Veterans & Family BBQ – September 26, 2026
The Board approved plans for a Veterans and Family Community BBQ at Ox Bow Park.
The event will focus on fellowship, family connection, and community support for Veterans. Sponsorship outreach efforts are underway to help support the event.
Mountain Biking Program
Interest in the Mountain Biking Program continues to grow. The Board discussed additional communication tools to improve ride coordination and participant engagement.
Organizational Operations
The Board reviewed internal communication practices and discussed implementing Slack as an additional communication platform to improve collaboration among board members and committees.
Committee leaders were encouraged to meet regularly and continue providing updates on their projects and initiatives.
Next Meeting
The next Board Meeting will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Community Foundation of Elkhart County.
The meeting concluded with prayer and adjournment.
