Author: ateeter

The Auxiliary Corner

Here ye, here ye, the time has come when all good ladies and gentlemen need to come to the aid of their Auxiliary. We are looking for a few good applicants to come and join us to help work with and support our service men and women.

 

Auxiliary logo

Our group gets together at Post 3063 every first and third Thursday of the month. On the first Thursday we have our meetings at 5:30 p.m. and we serve a light dinner. On the third Thursday we have our social and serve a great dinner at 6:30 p.m.

 

Please feel free to call me at 206-412-7384 if you have any questions about joining or if I can help in any way.

 

Sincerely,

Margaret Philips

President, Post 3063 Auxiliary President

 

Officer Profile: Gail Engler, Post 3063 Service Officer

Tell us about your new position and what you hope to accomplish during your term.

As Post 3063 Service Officer I help members and their family members file for disability claims and also try to educate and inform members about their veterans benefits. I am especially interested in making sure our senior and elderly veterans are aware of the Aid and Attendance benefit which can help pay for assisted living if they qualify. I am at the Ballard Senior Center the 3rd Thursday of each month for several hours and available at the post by appointment as needed. I also visit several of our WWII Veterans who reside in retirement homes and assisted living.

 

How long have you belonged to Post 3063 and did you previously serve in an officer position?

I joined Post 3063 in October 2009. I am now a VFW Life Member thanks to the generosity of Post 3063. I previously served as a Trustee for Post 3063.

 

What is your military background?

I joined the Army in 1975 right after graduating from high school. I was on active duty until June 1977 and was a Radio Operator, serving in the small town of Schwabisch Gmuend, Germany. It was quite an adventure going from a smallish town in Montana to a small town in Germany. I was assigned to HQ, 56th Field Artillery Brigade. I enjoyed traveling throughout Europe while there and my mom even traveled by herself all the way from Montana to come visit me. That was nice considering she was quite reluctant for me to join the Army in the first place. My dad didn’t “protest” too much about my joining the service. He was a WWII Veteran—a Marine who fought on Okinawa. I am so humbled by these courageous WWII Veterans and their service during such a horrible war.

 

After my active duty service I got out and six months later I joined the Army Reserve. It was a good way to help pay for college in addition to having the camaraderie of belonging to a “select” group of people.

 

I also was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in 2004, serving with an Engineer Battalion while living in Missoula, Montana.

 

I retired from the Army Reserve in June 2015 and also from my civil service career where I served as a Military Technician since 1996. My last duty station was in Marysville, WA with the 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command.

 

What do you enjoy most about belonging to the VFW?

I like helping people so I enjoy being a service officer. There are many great people in our post and I enjoy working together with them to help our fellow veterans, those who are currently serving and their family members and to make our community a better place. I think we all have a responsibility to do so.

Post reps attend state’s 70th Annual Mid-Winter Conference

By Nestor Tamayao

 

The Department of Washington 70th Annual Mid-Winter Conference took place on Jan. 20 and 21, 2017 in Vancouver, Wash. Those who attended the conference along with me were Quartermaster Harold Rodenberger, Senior Vice-commander / Adjutant Pete Krawitz, Trustee James Williams, Service Officer Gail Engler, Assistant QM Joe Fitzgerald and House Committee member Doug Maines.

 

The conference serves to provide updates to posts statewide and provide training opportunities.  There was a post service officer training session, two phases of recruiting training and a quartermaster class. At the general business sessions, chairpersons of 27 committees provided updates of their respective committees, such as federal legislation, audit, inspections, public relations, POW/MIA and many others. The business session allowed candidates to inform the membership of their intent to run for office for which the elections will be held at the Summer Convention in Olympia in June.  Also, pertinent information was disseminated from the State Commander and from the Council of Administration.

 

A highlight of the conference was the Voice of Democracy Banquet.  High school students who were top finalists at each district in the state vied for the top prize of an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the National Competition for a $30,000 scholarship. The Department of Washington winner was Erica Roloff, who was sponsored by District 3.  She will represent Washington State at the National competition. Danika Nolton, who placed 1st at District 2 (which Post 3063 is a part of) placed 5th at the State level.

 

Quartermaster’s March Update

By Harold Rodenberger

 

A recent health scare reminded me that I’m mortal. Like most people, I know in my head that I will die, but this event brought awareness to the depths of my heart, that I WILL die, perhaps soon.

 

What to think and do at a time like this?

 

As I’ve gotten older I’ve come to realize that accumulating things is less important than doing what I can to better the lives of my family, my VFW family and others in my community. A life-threatening event like this reinforces those feelings.

 

Most of us in the VFW have long-lasting memories and even friendships dating from when we served our country in a war zone. As we get older, we might let those guide us in helping the soldiers of our generation and others who came before or after. We share a common bond that should bridge personal, and even political, differences allowing us to do as much as we can to help others, particularly our comrades in arms and their families.

 

As for me, for as many days as I have left in this life, I resolve to do as much as possible to repay previous kindnesses, help those needing help, share my good fortune with others and “pay forward” (as the current slogan goes) the help I’ve received over the years.

 

Speaking of forward, let’s look forward to the coming season.

 

The ides of March soon will be upon us. Instead of a warning, I like to think of the day as a harbinger of the outdoor time of the year. Urging us to draw in a deep breath of fresh air, enjoy the lengthening days and break out of the doldrums of winter.

 

Our post has exciting plans, including some new and some old events that will motivate you to attend:

  • Another American Flag retirement ceremony, this one on Flag Day, June 14, 2017.
  • Another shredder party if there is enough interest. Let me know if you have papers to shred.
  • More visitations to the VA and other hospitals and homes.
  • A special fund raiser for our post relief fund.
  • Another care package assembly and packing party.
  • Fresh new menus and interesting guest speakers during our social nights.
  • Special Memorial Day activities.

 

This month brings first nominations of officers with second nominations and elections next month, Good officers make a good post. Help us elect the best.

 

Chef Kay will cook corned beef and the trimmings for this month’s social. It’s the day before St. Patrick’s Day so plan to attend and celebrate the occasion.

 

Beginning this month, we will host a weekly yoga class for our members and families. Sharon Jenson, long-time student of yoga, has retired from her practice as a physician and now teaches yoga. She has advanced qualifications for working with veterans and their families. Please wear loose fitting clothing, bring a small blanket to cushion your knees and a yoga mat if you have one.  If you would like to try yoga but can’t easily get on and off the floor, please come anyway.  We will have chairs and adaptations available for you.

 

We welcome you to Sharon’s classes each Wednesday morning beginning March 22 from 8 to 9 a.m. in our hall.

 

Active members are the backbone of this post. Please join in and make our backbone stronger.

 

Please complete post fundraising survey!

Post leadership wants to focus on holding one fundraising event a year. Fundraising events are beneficial to the post but with too many events planned by a small number of people, it becomes a chore for those involved. Please fill out this online survey to choose what type of fundraising event you prefer.

 

https://goo.gl/forms/9ZAsPjorQnCsCYVO2 

 

Want to be involved in the planning of a fundraiser? Attend the post business meetings on the first Thursday of the month. Thank you for your participation!