Post delegates attended the VFW Department of Washington’s 2018 State Convention in Bremerton June 21-23. The convention started with a joint session with the auxiliary that featured numerous guest speakers, including Governor Jay Inslee and VFW Auxiliary National President Dee Guillory. During the joint session, awards were also presented, and our post newsletter, the Ballard Eagleson Patriot, won first place in the Class I category.
Various committees met for business, by-law changes were voted on, and department leadership was elected and installed for the new year. Our very own District 2 comrade, Linda Fairbank, was installed as the 2018-2019 VFW Department of Washington Commander.
Commander Pete Krawitz and Quartermaster Harold Rodenberger don their newly awarded white hats and hold the post’s All State Post certificate at the Department VFW Convention June 22.
Friday evening there was a banquet and more awards were presented. Commander Krawitz and Quartermaster Rodenberger received white hats for achieving All State Post status, which was achieved by completing various reports on time, reaching membership goals, attending district meetings/workshops, participating in community activities, and other factors. Post 3063 achieved approximately 111% of the post’s membership goal for the year. Around 10% of commanders and quartermasters in the state receive the white hat.
VFW Past National Commander Jim Mueller represented national leadership at the convention and read a speech on behalf of VFW Commander Keith E. Harman at the banquet. The overarching message of the speech was survival. The VFW’s numbers are dwindling and posts must evolve or they will disappear. VFW Auxiliary National President Dee Guillory also spoke and she announced a new strategy to allow auxiliaries to stay open if a post closes its doors. Overall the convention was a great success and Post 3063 was well represented.
VFW District 2 Commander Linda Fairbank installed the 2018-2019 slate of elected and appointed officers of VFW Post 3063 on May 3. First nominations were made in March, followed by second nominations and an election in April. Officers do not take office until July after the department commander is installed.
Congratulations and good luck to the new leadership team!
Commander: Pete Krawitz
Sr. Vice Commander: Joe Tiffany
Jr. Vice Commander: Joe Fitzgerald
Chaplain: Bill Griffith
Quartermaster: Harold Rodenberger
1-Year Trustee: Aaron Stoltz
2-Year Trustee: Russ Seelig
3-Year Trustee: Jon Guncay
1-Year House Committee: Doug Maines
2-Year House Committee: Jordan Houghton
3-Year House Committee: Alyson Teeter
Adjutant – Alyson Teeter
Judge Advocate – Dan Stokke
Surgeon – Tiffany Cavin
Adjutant – Alyson Teeter
Service Officer – Gail Engler
Officer of the Day – Anthony Rose
Guard – Anthony Rose
Incoming officers perform their oath during the officer installation May 3. (Photo by Chris Dresnek)
VFW District 2 Commander Linda Fairbank installed the 2018-2019 slate of elected and appointed officers of VFW Post 3063 on May 3. (Photo by Chris Dresnek)
Ballard Eagleson VFW Post 3063’s May 2018 e-newsletter is available here. Highlights include: Today is Loyalty Day; Standing Watch at Herb Leake Interment; Honoring our Korean War Veterans; Glass Blowing Project Honors Doughboys; New Member Spotlight; In Memoriam: Bob Ferguell; Post Achieves 100% Membership; and We Need Board Games.
Michael Baehr, U.S. Army, VietnamAntonio Com, U.S. Navy, AfghanistanAaron Cook, U.S. Army, AfghanistanTodd Eckloff, U.S. Marines, Desert Shield, Bosnia, OIF and OEFLyle Stevenson, U.S. Navy, Vietnam
