Category: Commentary

Commander’s Corner (September 2023)

By Alyson Teeter

Hello comrades, take a look in this month’s newsletter at all the interesting and diverse activities we have to offer in September and October. From Paint and Sip, to coffee and talk, to service, we have something for everyone. 

As we host opportunities for service and camaraderie at our post, I’m building a list of our active participants who we can depend on to help spread the load for our volunteer organization. If you want to be added to this list, please volunteer to help at the post at an event or in the office during our office hours. Being on the list also give you access to perks, like free Mariners tickets!

I’m also keeping a close eye on our spending. The award of a $15,000 county grant should help lighten the burden of our social costs. We’re also trying to increase our revenue through our rentals programs so we created a rental pricing list. If you’re aware of any other grant or donor opportunities or have feedback on the rental pricing, please let me know! 

Lastly, thank you to the Seeligs for hosting our annual picnic at Lake Serene. I heard Joe and Laura Fitzgerald are the new Post 3063 Corn Hole Champions. Congratulations! 🙂

Commander’s Corner (August 2023)

By Alyson Teeter

Greetings comrades, I hope you’re enjoying the lovely PNW summer. Post comrades had fun in the sun while participating in the Ballard SeafoodFest in July, where we interacted with the local community and visitors from near and far. We’re also keeping up our social events, like trivia in July and our annual picnic August 19 at the Seelig’s house on Lake Serene. If you’re in town and available, please consider joining in on our events! It helps build bonds and keeps our community going strong. I’m open to new and creative ideas for socials too (comedy? bingo? karaoke? sip and paint?!).

If you’re looking for service opportunities, there are plenty of projects we could use help with. First off, we need folks to help staff our office on Thursdays and Saturdays. If you could devote an hour or two a month, we’d be grateful! Also, is there anybody handy with a weed wacker? We have a lot of growth in the back of the post that could use some trimming. We’re also hosting a service event with The Mission Continues September 16, which will include more landscaping work and lounge upgrades. Lastly, consider helping with our fundraiser October 21. The proceeds from the event will help us purchase a new flag pole, fund youth scholarships and replenish our relief fund.

I want to call out our post and auxiliary volunteers who helped move the new and old refrigerators. It was definitely more than a 2 or 3 person job so the extra hands made it much easier! As my kids say, teamwork makes the dream work.

Stay safe, and as the military says, these are the 101 critical days of summer. Due to risky activities, summer is a time where there’s an increased need for blood donations and we’re hosting a timely blood donation drive August 3-4, at our post. See details in the newsletter.

PSA from the VA: There’s no deadline to apply for PACT Act benefits. But if you file your PACT Act claim—or quickly submit your intent to file—by August 9, 2023, you may receive benefits backdated to August 10, 2022. So don’t wait, apply today. 

Quartermaster’s Report (July 2023)

By Harold (H2) Hamilton

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as Quartermaster. First, a huge shout out to H1, Harold Rodenberger. H1 has walked me through the process of what the Quartermaster does and means to their post. He has also shared much of the official and unofficial wisdom necessary to continue in the role. I thank H1.

H1 and the leadership team has set the tone for an ambitious shift in our posture. This is what we will continue. The post is currently on solid ground but there is much action afoot.

The post needs all its members to participate in continuing the make this post an outlet for Seattle area veterans and the larger community.

Let’s continue working together to make the post more vibrant and welcoming. We should see much in the way of  improvement thanks to the day of service a couple weeks back. Paint jobs, new lights, and even new folks.

Our Memorial Day buddy poppy distribution was a blast. The Fremont Festival was interesting… Let us continue as a post to get out and be seen in the community. This is a large part of how we will make the impact this post if capable of. The community can benefit from the skills and talents present within the post. If anyone has ways we can get into the community and offer some service, feel free to let myself or anyone else know.

Last meeting there was even discussion of a group to simply talk. I do not know where we will arrive but working together, we can achieve a great deal. It is possible and we can do it.

Commander’s Corner (July 2023)

By Alyson Teeter

Happy New Year! ICYMI, July is the start of the VFW year. We have a new leadership team and goals for the next year. There isn’t enough space to properly recap last year’s highlights but we accomplished so much, inside and outside the post, with our membership and the community. Let’s use this momentum to keep making positive change! I’m focused on balancing our budget, increasing our membership (from 92 to 110%), event participation, and community outreach. Read more about our 2023-2024 goals at tinyurl.com/yfh8tk3n.

We can’t meet our basic requirements without volunteer power so that means we need a solid team to pitch in. The bulk of the volunteer work shouldn’t fall on a couple shoulders. Thank you to those who stepped up to volunteer in the past year, continuing your service.

I need your ideas and feedback! Contact me at [email protected].

Commander’s Corner (June 2023)

Greetings, comrades! We continue to have an active spring at the post and will keep the momentum going as we roll into summer. We enjoyed hosting service members at our Armed Forces Day-themed social and thank you especially to our adopted unit, the Washington National Guard’s 181 BSB A Co, for bringing out their equipment and personnel. We look forward to more collaboration with them, including a tour of the armory in Interbay.

Also thank you to everyone who came out for our Memorial Day weekend events, which included an Auxiliary Pancake Feed, Day of Service at Golden Gardens and various Buddy Poppy tables in the area. We all have our own way of doing this, but we remember and honor those who have fallen in service to our country.

The new VFW year starts after the Department Convention later this month so we’ll soon see big changes around the post. Harold Rodenberger (aka H1) will literally relinquish the post keys to Harold Hamilton (aka H2). I’ve said it here and in meetings but Comrade Rodenberger has been a critical node in the operation of our post for the last decade. H1 will continue to serve as a trustee and I’m sure he’ll help us when we have questions, but it’s important we give him space and allow him to “retire.” Please continue to send quartermaster-related questions to [email protected]. H2 is eager to learn and create efficiencies; many thanks to him for stepping up to this challenge!

In late May the Fall Fundraiser Committee met and came up with a plan for the Oct. 21 Spaghetti Feed Fundraiser, which will be Halloween themed. We really need help with procuring donations! Our procurement sub-committee chair is Comrade Mark English so please let him know if you have leads or donations in hand. We’ll need volunteers for the event so in the meantime mark your calendars.

Looking ahead to June, the post has exciting plans in store. A special service event in collaboration with the Seattle Seahawks is scheduled at the post June 9, 1000 – 1300. You can sign up at the June business meeting or contact Mark English. Additionally, the post will participate in the Fremont Solstice June 17-18 by staffing a booth. I’m TDY overseas June 1-17 so I really need help from a couple folks to set up the booth. If interested, contact me at [email protected].
 
Stay safe and enjoy the beginning of summer!

In comradeship,

Aly Teeter, Commander