Author: ateeter

Bunker Labs Muster at UW

Bunker Labs Muster at UW
Pete Krawitz Post 3063 Sr. Vice Commander, Lindsay Zike, American Legion-Ballard Post #40 Commander, and Charlie support the Bunker Labs Muster at the UW May 5. According to https://bunkerlabs.org, it “brought together participants and partners for day-long events of veteran entrepreneurs pitching their businesses, an Idea Lab, and a marketplace to buy products from veteran-owned small businesses.”

Post and Auxiliary Officers Installed During May Meeting

Post 3063 2017-2018 officers were installed during the May business meeting May 4, 2017. The following individuals were installed as post leadership:

Induction speech
Ballard Eagleson Auxiliary President, Margaret Philips; and incoming Post 3063 Commander, Pete Krawitz, watch as installing officer and state junior vice commander Linda Fairbank, and outgoing commander, Nestor Tamayao, take turns addressing the audience during the installation ceremony May 4.

 

Commander: Pete Krawitz

Sr. Vice Commander: Joe Tiffany

Jr. Vice Commander: Joe Fitzgerald

Chaplain: Bill Griffith

Quartermaster: Harold Rodenberger

1-Year Trustee: James Williams

2-Year Trustee: Aaron Stoltz

3-Year Trustee: Russ Seelig

1-Year House Committee: Gail Engler

2-Year House Committee: Doug Maines

3-Year House Committee: Jordan Houghton

 

The following members were installed as auxiliary leadership:

President: Margaret Philips

Secretary: Jo Ann Anderson

Treasurer: Marge Hestad

Trustees: Alice Voyce, Agnes Demyanovich, and Karen Flynn

 

First nominations were made in March, followed by second nominations and an election in April. Installation happened in May but officers do not take office until the department commander is installed. The installation of the state officers is usually the last weekend in June so Post 3063 (and district) officers take over July 1.

Oath
Incoming officers take their oath during the installation ceremony May 4.

 

District 2 election and installation of officers was held at Post 3063 in May. The new officers were installed by Linda Fairbank, our state junior vice commander who will be serving as senior vice commander next year.

 

How to Gain an Honor Degree…With the Cooties

By Alyson M. Teeter

 

While attending the Post 3063 2017-2018 officer induction ceremony and business meeting May 4, 2017, installing officer and state junior vice commander, Linda  Fairbank, gave a plug for the “Military Order of the Cootie.” She said this organization within the VFW is a quirky organization that helps others while having fun.

 

The name alone piqued my interest, so I did a little research and found out some other interesting tidbits about the MOC at http://www.lotcs.org:

 

  • “It is a distinction reserved for “active” members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; those who have succeeded as an officer on any level, or who have demonstrated ability as a leader of a major Post committee or function.”
  • “Cooties take on the added responsibility of support for the kids at the VFW National Home for Children in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, …and support the hospitalized veterans in VA Medical Facilities, domiciliaries, and hospitals around the United States, and throughout the world. “
  • “The prime directive of the Military Order of the Cootie is to Have Fun.”
  • Their favorite slogans: “Keep ’em Smilin’ in Beds of White,” “Closer than a Brother, Busier than a Bee,” “Increase and Multiply”
  • “As our hero, The Great Blue Louse instructs us, “A smile is the one thing that you can give that you will always get back,” we strive to bring humor to our efforts, to our fellow veterans and to those less fortunate than us.

 

If you’re interested in joining the Military Order of the Cootie and the local “Pup Tent,” contact Linda Fairbank at [email protected].

 

Yoga: New Instructor, New Time

The post has resumed one-hour yoga classes on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 a.m. Classes are free to veterans and their families. Please wear loose clothing and bring your yoga mat and a blanket to cushion your knees, if desired.

 

Yoga Instructor
Alicia Brill

Alicia Brill is our new instructor and is a veteran of the United States Army, having enlisted as an Intelligence Analyst for the Army Reserves and the Montana Army National Guard. Alicia first began practicing yoga on a deployment with the Army. While the military taught her discipline, yoga provided her with a sense of discipline plus honoring one’s self exactly where you are.

 

Since getting out of the military in 2007, Alicia has admired the sense of camaraderie she felt in the military and has sought ways to be of continued service to other military veterans. Alicia became a certified yoga teacher with 8 Limbs Yoga Centers in April 2017 and completed Level One training with Veterans Yoga Project in January 2017. Her concentration has been on Yoga for Trauma Healing and Yoga for PTSD.