Commentary – Page 22 – Ballard Eagleson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3063

From the Commander

By Nestor Tamayao

As my reign as Post Commander comes to a close in June, it dawns on me that the tenure of the position is fairly short. Twelve months are not a lot of time to accomplish many things that I had on my “to-do” list regarding the post.

Membership was one of those items I wanted to address. As of this writing, the post is fairly close to 100 percent membership. We lost members over the past several years which affected our membership total. The VFW as a whole has had some difficulties with declining membership. Gone are the heydays after World War II when the VFW was a strong and robust organization with millions of members. Our own post, I’ve been told, was a flurry of activity and social events many years ago with Saturday night dancing, dinners and post and auxiliary meetings with many members in attendance.

The decline in the membership of the VFW is, in my opinion, attributable in part to its difficulty in recruiting younger veterans. I have talked to younger veterans and have encouraged them to join our post. Many of them say they would think about it but don’t follow through. I have a feeling it may be the impression they have of the VFW – stodgy members who sit around and drink. But we all know that is far from the truth.

Younger veterans comprise a different generation than a majority of us. So they have different outlooks and ways of doing business. In order for us to attract them, we need to ensure that we make the VFW relevant to them. Our post has had new initiatives, committees and activities that have improved the vibrancy of the post. Members have stepped up to chair events, participate in fund-raisers such as Buddy Poppy distributions, and improve communications through social media and our newsletter which resumed publication after many years of being idle.

All of us are “recruiters” for VFW membership. And when you get an opportunity to talk about the VFW to a prospective new member, bring out what the VFW does and the benefits available with membership. But most importantly, tell them why you joined. I’m sure that would perk their interest.

Speaking of membership, I received a letter from National VFW Commander-in-Chief Brian Duffy acknowledging Comrade Harold Rodenberger’s recruitment of 10 new and returning members to our post. Comrade Rodenberger’s accomplishment typifies the level of involvement of post members. I thank him for his single-handed effort which is recognized with a special pin indicating the recruitment of 10 members.

Clearly, membership is paramount for the VFW organization and our Post to endure. I certainly can’t see into the future, but I am confident that the VFW and Ballard Eagleson Post 3063 will continue to be a premier fraternal organization with the mission of “Veterans Helping Veterans.”

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.

Changing times requires emphasis on recruiting, membership

By Harold Rodenberger

Citizens of this great country over the years have formed many organizations. There are civic, fraternal, sporting, patriotic, religious, scholastic and work related groups. In fact, there are organizations designed to appeal to almost every interest.

Organizations bring like-minded people together just for fun, as in the case of our sports teams’ fan clubs; for sharing ideas, as in the case of cooking, quilting and book clubs; and for help achieving a better life, as in the case of religious, scholastic, business and union organizations. Some people belong to many organizations and some people belong only to one or two.

People use organizations to help them achieve a better life and even, in some cases, to survive. In turn, no matter how large the organization or how good its mission, it must have members to survive. Though once a great organization, The Association of Switchboard Operators is just a memory alongside the Ballard Local of the West Coast Shingle Weavers’ Union.

The VFW was founded to provide benefits to our Armed Forces veterans who served in combat areas. Foremost among these was camaraderie with fellow veterans, assistance for comrades in distress and furthering patriotic ideals. In addition, strength in numbers allows our voice to carry more weight with politicians from the local to national level.

In addition to helping others, the VFW helps our members. Our VFW Service Officers help qualified veterans file for medical care and disability benefits. We give financial grants, scholarships, and there are other programs to help our members and their families. To check out additional benefits go to: http://www.vfw.org/my-vfw/copy-of-member-benefits.

When I first joined the VFW, there was emphasis on camaraderie with most posts having a canteen and kitchen with lower priced food and beverages giving their members a place to gather with fellow veterans. As time passed, attitudes changed and our post closed its clubroom as have many posts across the nation.

Today’s VFW members want to be more involved in helping fellow vets and the community. Our post typifies this changing attitude by doing many activities that support our community and especially our fellow veterans.

The key to attaining these goals is membership. Without a growing, or at least stable membership, our voice on Capitol Hill, our ability to aid our comrades in distress and resources to help our community all diminish.

Most of our members know of the benefits of belonging to the VFW but many qualified veterans don’t know about us or may have the outdated idea that we are a bunch of old fogies, hanging out in the bar telling war stories. To get the word out about the new VFW and to encourage our members sign up new recruits, we have various incentive programs.

On our post level, when we sign up new members we know that we are helping vitalize and strengthen our own post. The more members we have the more dynamic we are, the more dynamic we are the more we can accomplish for our members, other veterans and our community.

At department level, if you sign up five new or reinstated members this year, you will receive a Silver certificate and a ticket to enter the “Fishing for Membership” raffle. Sign up ten and, in addition to another raffle ticket, you will get a Gold certificate and a Recruiter’s Baseball cap. Every additional five members earns another raffle ticket.

The raffle drawing will be held at our state convention and the twenty winners will also receive a fishing license, lunch and bait for a trip departing from Westport. The biggest fish will also win a prize.

Members who earn a Silver certificate also will be entered in four $50.00 cash drawings at our state convention.

At national level, there are several attractive incentives for recruiters.

5, 10, 15 – shamrock pins with the appropriate number.
25 – Commander-in-Chief membership coin and citation.
50 – National aide-de-camp cap and citation.
75 – VFW leather travel bag.
175 – Commemorative medallion set.
250 or more – $1,000.00 stipend toward attending the VFW National Convention and a distinctive cap, citation and name tag.
The VFW member who signs up the greatest number of new or recovered members greater than 250 by July 1, 2017, will win Recruiter of the Year and will receive a $1,000.00 stipend toward attending the convention; reserved seating at the opening session; a special cap, citation and name badge plus the Commander-in-Chief’s Crystal Eagle.

In addition to these incentives our Commander in Chief, Brian Duffy, is offering a special “Pot O’ Gold” member drawing. For every five new/reinstated members recruited between July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 you will receive one chance and for each increment of 25 new/reinstated members you will receive an additional 10 chances to be one of three winners who, along with a guest, will accompany Chief Duffy on an all-expense paid trip to Ireland in the fall of 2017.

You might think it’s a little late in the year to be trying for any of these awards but there are still five months to qualify and remember that in each new VFW year there are prizes like these (except the trip to Ireland) so recruit for this year’s prizes but also plan for succeeding years.

Quartermaster’s February Update

By Harold Rodenberger

January was a busy month at our post.

Some of our traveling members collected toiletries from hotels along the way and brought them by so we could give them to the homeless folks in the camp next door. Brian, the security coordinator, said they really appreciate those small size toiletries since their shower facility is several blocks away and it’s awkward to carry large bottles of shampoo and such up the street. The small containers work so much better.

If you are a collector of hotel-size toiletries and have some to spare, bring them by and we will accumulate and donate them to our neighbors.

I gave blood again in January. As I detailed in an article a couple months ago, it is almost pleasant to give blood the modern way. There is no question it saves lives, so if you can give blood, please do. If you give blood, please let us know so we can add your donation to the list of good things our post does, for our Community Service Report.

Another item of community service that is reported up our chain of command is the donations in kind many of us make from time to time. When you donate clothes, groceries or household items to your favorite charity, please send us a compilation so we can add those values for community service credit.

In January, members of our post visited three local retirement homes and several older members in their homes. If you would like to join the effort to visit our members in these local homes, or any of our (especially older) members, please let me know.

This month brings the debut of Kay Seelig as the new cook for our social dinners on the third Thursday of each month. Please check out this short article, check the menu each month and plan to attend the socials every month.

February will also be a busy month at our post.

Nominations for many of our VFW National awards are due. There are awards for: Teacher of the year, firefighter, police officer, EMT technician of the year; veteran of the year, Scout of the year and others. If you know someone who is head and shoulders above others in their specialty, please bring it to our attention so we can put them in for proper recognition.

Believe it or not, our meeting next month brings first nominations for officers for the upcoming VFW year. If you are interested in running for elected office, now is the time to let that secret out of the bag. Talk to a fellow member about nominating you and spread the word about your candidacy. We also have vacancies in some appointed offices and committees. Again, don’t keep it a secret if you are interested in serving your post in this way.

Quartermaster’s January Update

By Harold Rodenberger

Another year has come and gone. They seem to roll by faster as I age but the old folks told me to expect that, so I don’t worry.

Of course, with faster years come faster months, weeks and days. I don’t think too much about the faster years and months but the faster weeks and especially days sometimes leave me befuddled.

A couple days ago, I got up at 5:30 a.m. thinking I had the whole day ahead of me so I could get a lot accomplished. In addition to my normal routine I wanted to clean out the shop and straighten up some things in the basement and make a trip to Goodwill to donate some excess clothes. That day seemed like it might be a good day to get those things done.

After I went downstairs and greeted my little dog, I brought in the paper, made coffee, did a few exercises, ate breakfast and the next thing I knew it was 10 a.m. Had an 11 a.m. medical appointment at Northgate so hurried through a shower, got dressed and just made it to my appointment on time.

On the way back from Northgate stopped at the office to check on a couple things. Next time I looked at the clock it was 5 p.m. and time to head home for supper. Not long after I finished eating, my little dog reminded me it was walk time, so I bundled up against the cold, put on my reflective vest and off we headed to check out the evening in our neighborhood.

Back from our walk, I decided to make a quick batch of cookies and next thing I knew it was past time for bed. No time spent cleaning the shop or the basement and no trip to Goodwill. Where had the day gone?

Time spent at the VFW is a lot the same. So many routine tasks need to be done that our plans to grow the post, help our members and serve our community sometimes drop into a lower priority.

Fortunately, at the post there are active officers and volunteers to help accomplish the special things that need to be done.

Those volunteers and officers visit the VA Hospital and other nursing homes and retirement centers to visit with patients and veterans; perform Color Guard functions; manage our newsletter, Facebook page and website; help with meals on meeting nights, socials and special dinners; contact potential members and those whose memberships have lapsed; retire old flags; maintain our library and even change burned out lights.

What would we do without volunteers willing to give up some precious time and energy to help others? It would be a sad world indeed.

In this new year, if you would like to join our volunteers in these many activities, please come to meetings, call the office, drop by during business hours or call me personally (206-972-2135) and we will add your name to the list of good people who are helping make our world a better place.

Now if I could just find time to clean out my shop…