We changed from a drinking club to an overall social club, Joe Gallagher, the organization’s president, said. We don’t want our old reputation to scare away new members.

Capt. Mitchell Malone said new leadership is the reason for the change.

(The leaders) wanted to get more involved and be more University-oriented instead of self-oriented, Malone, assistant professor of military science, said. Now they’re working within the system, instead of against it like they did a couple of years ago.

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There is a connection existing between people in the military that the Veterans Association wants to build on, Wade C. Weitlauf, treasurer, said.

The club used to be an association of veterans that got together to drink and party, Weitlauf, a senior in finance from Belleville, Mich., said. I believe right now we’re trying to pull the veterans together and restore the camaraderie that exists between the veterans in the club.

The Veterans Association now participates in Veteran’s Day, Armed Forces Day, MIA/POW Day and other activities involving the community, Weitlauf said.

Dana Welge, a sophomore in administration of justice from Hillsboro, said the club donated money from bake sales to the Garden Park fire victims, helped out at the Haven Veteran’s Home and was involved in the Carbondale clean-up.

The first meeting I went to, all everyone talked about was past activities centered around beer, Welge, a current member, said. I think we got tired of hearing our reputation. We represent SIU and we are trying to cut down on the party image, especially because that’s a big issue in Carbondale right now.

Malone said he started noticing a change in the club during the past year.

(The Veterans Association) weren’t involved with (the Army ROTC) at all until just this past year, Malone said. Now we’re working together on a program to help the University with flag-raising.

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Frank Carlisle, an honorary member, said when he first joined the organization there were only a dozen members.

Our whole social agenda was the tailgates at football games, Carlisle, a 1988 SIUC graduate, said. It’s getting better and better now as far as participating. There’s a lot more women vets in the club now, and the club is doing activities that vets can bring their kids to.

The Veterans Association is participating in more activities to include the interests of all members, Lena Dowers, vice president, said.

We participate in all intramural sports so we include what all members like, Dowers, a graduate student in zoology from Georgetown, said. Before, they had their own little group of people that wasn’t trying to include more members. Now we want everyone to join.

At 7 p.m. tonight the club is holding a social at the American Legion, 205 N. Illinois Ave., inviting all old and new members to come, Gallagher said.