Category: Commentary

By Harold Rodenberger

 

Welcome to our new VFW year. Last year was a busy and productive one with the building remodel (detailed elsewhere in this paper)  high on our priority list. We are moving into the new year with enthusiasm, determined to keep this project high in our sights as we as a post, narrow down the alternatives and arrive at a decision that will benefit the VFW, other veterans organizations, our community and, most of all, our members, present and future.

 

Congratulations to our new officers who were installed May 2 at the business meeting and took office last week, after our Washington State Commander was installed. I am confident they will continue the fine work of their predecessors and continue to lead the post toward our goals.

 

When I think back over the 2018-19 year, several things deserve special mention. Again this year, thanks to all who brought in new members, we achieved 100 percent membership. This time reaching that 100% mark by December 31st thus setting a new record for our post.

 

Our Post 3063 Auxiliary is enjoying a revival. President Donna is supported by a good slate of officers but they are still looking for active additions to their rolls so if you have qualified family members, please encourage them to join our auxiliary.

 

Our outgoing service officer, Leo Potts, raised money to take a group of veterans to Washington, D.C. to tour the military monuments and take a cruise on the Potomac River. Since he and Suzanne are moving to Spain in the fall, he has been helping our incoming service officer, Joseph Mesa, learn the ropes and continue to provide the same outstanding service to our members and other veterans that Leo, and before him, Gail Engler, have provided.

 

Our Post 3063 Honor/Color Guard participated in many ceremonies, including a graveside service for our 106-year old WWII member, Joe Small, when we braved a snowstorm to render proper honors to our departed comrade.

 

Remember the picnic scheduled for August at the Seelig’s place on Lake Serene. It promises to be a good time for all. Hamburgers, hot dogs and soft drinks furnished, bring anything else you want to eat or drink.

 

Happy Fourth of July! Remember, the business meeting in July is postponed from the 4th to the 11th.

 

Finally, THANK YOU for being a member of our post! It is only through your continued membership that we can support veterans’ goals at all levels, from local to national.

By Pete Krawitz

 

This will be the last column I write as Post Commander. I first wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all once more for giving me the opportunity to lead the post for the last two years. It’s been a very fulfilling and challenging experience. I appreciate the willingness of many of the post members to try some new things, like modified meeting formats and leveraging more technology in our operations. Now, it’s time to hand off the gavel to Joe Tiffany, who I’m confident will bring a fresh perspective to the podium. I look forward to supporting Joe and the new leadership team.

 

Over the last 24 months, we’ve been able to work together to become the largest post in the Seattle District. We’ve built stronger ties with other VSOs, community groups, and local businesses. We are also slowly working on improving our business continuity practices and leveraging technology which will help make running the post more accessible for our current and future officers.

 

We have some exciting projects on the horizon and we’ll need all of the help we can get. Whether you’ve been a member of the post for 40 years or 4 months, there are various post officer positions and committees that could use your expertise. Talk to members of the leadership team if you are interested in helping out in any capacity.

 

While I have moved a bit further away, I still plan to stick with post 3063 for the foreseeable future, the community that welcomed me and my family to Ballard 5 years ago. It’s a community that I’m very proud to be a part of.

By Joe Tiffany

 

First I’d like to say how proud I am to be installed as Post Commander of Ballard Eagleson Post 3063. As I write this I am getting ready for the Department of Washington 99th State Convention in Vancouver, Wash. where I officially become Post Commander. I look forward to our upcoming year. We have many exciting items at hand. There are, and will be, many opportunities for all hands to be involved. Please don’t be shy; get involved and join in. If you have a question please ask. I am of the school of thought that the only dumb question is the one not asked.

 

Thank you to Commander Pete Krawitz for your two years of leadership and “always moving forward” mentality that you brought to our post. I’d also like to say a special thank-you to Jan (Pete’s mother) who is always going above and beyond with her help; and the unsung heroes – the House Committee and Trustees. Maybe not every member understands your duties or functions, but those that do are extremely grateful. That also applies to the entire leadership team. And last, but surely not least, is Quartermaster and District 2 Senior Vice Commander Harold Rodenberger who is the post’s backbone. Without his conscientious efforts, our post just wouldn’t be the squared-away post it is.

 

Thank you all.  I look forward to working with each and every one of you.

By Harold Rodenberger

 

Change is in the air. Spring began last month. The days are longer and warmer. Pollen counts are up and the birds are busy building nests.

 

Spring is bringing changes here at your post also.

 

Our commander is having to devote more time to family with their newborn first child. With that, a demanding work schedule and commute times, he has asked our Senior Vice Commander Joe Tiffany, and Junior Vice Commander, Joe Fitzgerald, to assume to leadership roles at post meetings. Pete is continuing to participate via electronic means.

 

I’m pleased to report that our membership is changing too. First, we have thirteen more members now than what we ended with last year. That brings us to 108.3% of our goal. To me it’s even more important than we have more younger members. Last time I checked our roster the median age of our members has gone down to 68 years old. That means half our members are less than 68. We have 36 members under the age of forty. When we take into consideration the fact that our youngest member is 25, with the next youngest 28, it shows we are attracting a good number of younger veterans.

 

We are also making good progress on our remodel investigations. The architectural firm has completed their concept sketches for the three levels of remodel. They have also consulted with the City to determine what can be done at each level to get the best return on our investment without triggering massive code upgrades. We are still waiting for the final presentation which will lay out cost estimates for each of the options, including the fourth option of sale or demo/rebuild.

 

Meanwhile, we have had an assessment for hazardous materials to show us what needs to be done in that area. Over the years we have had problems with the sewer so we had a company run a camera through the lines to determine what needs to be done to improve that drainage.

 

Once we get the final options and cost estimates from the architectural firm, we will bring the package to our members for their input, full discussion and decision. That part also will take time so hopefully we can begin the process in the next few weeks.

 

Meanwhile, get out there and enjoy the spring weather. And keep an eye out for potential new members for our post. As we grow and expand into new activities to benefit the veterans in our post and community, we will need more volunteers and members to help accomplish our mission.

By Pete Krawitz

 

Comrades,

 

I know you haven’t seen much of me over the last few months. I have a good excuse for my absence. I’m delighted and proud to report that Clare and I welcomed our first child (Evelyn Isla Krawitz) into the world on the 23rd of January. Clare and I soon learned that this baby runs our life now. Baby Evelyn is skilled at eating, sleeping, filling diapers and distorting the space-time continuum… Lately, I haven’t been able to figure out what day of the week it is…  I’m still having a hard time believing it’s already April…

 

A big thanks to Sr Vice Commander Joe Tiffany and Jr Vice Commander Joe Fitzgerald for leading the post meetings while I’ve been away. The leadership team has been keeping me updated via phone and email on the latest and greatest. It’s been wonderful to see some new activities and events taking place at the post. One such event was the recent “Shamrock and Shenanigans” on St. Patrick’s day. I hope that we continue to have volunteers step up and coordinate similar activities in the future.

 

I’d also like to congratulate the post on reaching 100% membership for the year. At the time of writing, the database shows our post at 108%. Once again, our top recruiter was Comrade Quartermaster Harold Rodenberger. Thank you, Harold and all of the other recruiters who brought new members into our post this year.

 

Lately, the demands from my career and family have increased exponentially, leaving very little time for other activities, including VFW work. However, I do intend to finish out this term as your commander as there is still some work I plan to complete. One such project I need to see through is the Post 3063 Renewal Study. The house committee and consultants have worked very hard on this project over the last few months, and it’s nearing completion. With that, expect to see me at the Post business meetings once again over the next few months.

 

I look forward to catching up with many of you at our April business meeting.

 

Yours in Comradeship,

-Pete