Category: Post Business

Get Vaccinated at the VA

Quartermaster Harold Rodenberger receives his COVID-19 Vaccine at the VA Medical Center in Seattle.

Vaccines are now available for eligible veterans at the VA (for more info go here). Quartermaster Harold Rodenberger received his vaccine and here’s a write-up about his experience:

After we became eligible, I spent several days trying (and being disappointed) to get appointments for my wife and myself on the various sites handling vaccination appointments.  


Thursday afternoon I received an email from the VA saying that eligible veterans could call to schedule appointments. It also stated that the VA was proactively calling eligible veterans to schedule appointments. Knowing that at least two of our older members had received unsolicited VA calls and been scheduled for the vaccine, I thought about waiting, but decided to try calling. After spending 37 minutes on hold, I was connected to a helpful clerk who went through the COVID questions, then asked if I wanted to be vaccinated as soon as possible. I responded with a hearty “yes” and she scheduled me for noon yesterday (Friday).


Arriving about fifteen minutes early, I joined the socially distanced line, was tagged with a red ribbon indicating I had been screened, completed the paperwork, received shot number one, waited the required fifteen minutes, and was on my way. I felt relieved that I finally was on track to help defeat this virus by being immunized. Almost danced a jig as I followed the light at the end of the tunnel back to my car.


Now I’m back to trying to schedule a vaccination appointment for my wife. Still the same grind – check the sites to find all appointments taken, wait an hour, check again, ad nauseum.


For non-VA vaccine information, visit the Washington State Department of Health’s website.

Officer Spotlight: Jr. Vice Commander Alyson Teeter

This is a recurring column that highlights the 2020-2021 post officers.


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

As the Jr. Vice, I’m essentially the back-up to the back-up commander (Sr. Vice). It’s been great working with Joe and Bryce while trying to keep the post moving along during Covid. I’m hoping to get our adopted unit program on the right track this year and we’ve started out great by assembling care packages together in December. I’m also the webmaster and newsletter editor so communication is a priority.


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

I joined in 2015 after I left my position as a VA and DoD caseworker for a politician. My youngest child was born that year and as a new stay-at-home parent, I felt the need to find my new tribe. I’ve loved connecting with fellow veterans here in the Ballard and Fremont area! After a few years of serving as Adjutant and on the House Committee, this is my first year on the command track as Jr. Vice.


What do you enjoy most about belonging to the VFW?

Making meaningful connections in this day and age of social media is really important to me and the VFW has provided an outlet for that. I’ve learned a lot from my friends at the VFW, especially Harold, who I consider a mentor. There’s a core group of folks who work tirelessly to keep the post going and I’d love to see that group expand. Just know that if you become more involved, you too can make meaningful connections and help veterans in the process!

Commander’s Corner (January 2021)

Comrades:


Success in spite of adversity.


As we come to the end of 2020 and hopefully what will become the beginning of the end to the pandemic, I want to wish all of you a Happy and wonderful New Year, surrounded by those who mean the most to you.


This has been a difficult year especially since March, for all of us, but I am most confident that with the ever increasing availability of the vaccinations, happy days will indeed be here again sooner than later! We will eventually be moving beyond the Covid restrictions, but for now there is still a need to stay the course with masking, social distancing, etc. for what will hopefully be just a bit longer. I never thought the comment, “I wouldn’t touch them with a six foot pole” would become a national policy – but here we are!


The pandemic, as difficult as it has been, has served to make us look at new or different ways for the Post to meet or exceed the goals that are set at the beginning of each VFW year.


Zoom has enabled us to continue with our business meetings, The Bidding Owl resulted in our fundraiser being far more successful than anyone thought, the Honor/Color guard has successfully pursued a grant that will allow it to “march” right along (sorry) better than ever, and Kay and the kitchen staff have developed a system that keeps the operation in compliance with the Governor’s requirements and still serve tremendous meals to 80-100 people each month. Through the efforts of many, the post successfully assembled in excess of 90,000 Buddy Poppies that will generate another $2,000 for the post. And these are just some of the main accomplishments!


Lastly, with regard New Year’s Day, Mark Twain once said, ”Now is the accepted time to make your annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.” For me, my New Year’s resolution list usually starts with the desire to lose between 10 and three thousand pounds! Hopefully you all can do better!


MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU! Here’s a special message from our command team: https://tinyurl.com/y9wx92dn.


Joe Fitzgerald

Post 3063 Commander

Quartermaster’s Update (January 2021)

By Harold Rodenberger


Due to the holidays, I wrote this update during the winter equinox, the shortest day of the year. Here in northwestern Washington, there were only about eight hours and twenty-five minutes of daylight. Our typical winter weather of overcast skies made the day seem even darker. Like this short day, most of this past year has seemed dark and dreary. Despite those dark days we carried on with our mission, knowing that the days ahead would be brighter and warmer.


During this past quarter, we continued our business meetings via Zoom. If you haven’t connected on that platform, please join our meeting on January 7th. See Zoom instructions elsewhere in this newsletter and on our website.


Chef Kay and helpers made wonderful dinners for our social nights. The Thanksgiving dinner set a record at 85 dinners prepared, but the Christmas dinner smashed that record with 102 dinners for members and guests. A special thanks to 1SG Britt Anderson, of our adopted unit, who donated three whole tenderloins and to Hope who donated 25 dozen farm-fresh eggs. 


Because of the virus, our hall has been empty, but during December members of Seattle Stand Down assembled and wrapped Christmas presents for needy veterans and their families in our community. Members of the leadership team from our adopted National Guard unit (A Co, 181st BSB) did the same for needy unit members and their families. It was good to see our hall being used for such worthy causes.


It’s been a difficult year for VFW programs, but your post honored students who competed in the VFW Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen programs. Our first-place winners advanced to District level for further competition. We also submitted our entries for Police Officer of the Year and Firefighter of the Year for judging at higher headquarters.


Our Relief Fund contributed funds to the SeaTac USO, Fisher House at the VA Medical Center, members of our post in distress, and to needy personnel in our two adopted National Guard units.


Another hearty “Thank You” to all who assembled poppies. We shipped back to headquarters about 95,000 completed poppies.


As we look forward to the Year of the Ox and brighter times, please join me in applying lessons learned from these dark days by resolving to treasure relationships, show more patience and kindness and further support our fellow veterans and their families.


Happy New Year, 2021!