Category: Post Business

As the old adage says: “All good things must come to an end.”  There is an end to everything, to good things as well.  That sums up how I feel about my period in office as Post 3063 Commander.

During my tenure, I have experienced many “good things.”  It was rewarding to see participation and involvement of comrades in various activities, events, meetings and socials throughout my time of command.  The House Committee met and worked hard to make sure the post operated with fiscal responsibility.  Quartermaster Harold Rodenberger worked tirelessly to ensure many requirements were met and ensured that the post was sufficient with day-to-day tasks.  The Color Guard participated in events that not only fulfilled requests, but also brought favorable publicity of our post.  Editor Alyson Teeter-Baker continues to put together a high caliber newsletter which enhances communication to the membership.  There is increased member participation in District 2 meetings, Department VFW workshops and training and attendance at state and national conventions.  All of this shows how involved and active our post is.

There were others who forwarded reports to Department Headquarters and made sure certain requirements were met.  We achieved over 100 percent membership. These contributed to the post receiving White Hat status for the post commander and quartermaster, the second consecutive time this has happened since last year.  My thanks to those involved.

While the “fun” of being your commander comes to an end, it is not the end of things facing the post.  Membership continues to be paramount.  We need to continually achieve 100 percent membership to mitigate losses due to normal attrition.  We should ensure help for veterans, be it through visits at area facilities, at our post, or through services such as with comrade Gail Engler, post service officer.  We need to continue efforts to attract younger eligible veterans to join.  In addition to becoming active members, they can be leaders for the future.  Our post’s infrastructure needs addressing and it is essential that our financial resources remain strong.  The membership will eventually have to determine the best courses to take regarding these matters.

As I leave, incoming Commander Pete Krawitz will be faced with various issues that were not resolved or completed within my 12-month tenure as commander.  However, I am confident of his capabilities and his military and civilian backgrounds will help the post continue as a vibrant and active post.  I wish him well with his new position.

Yes, all good things do come to an end; but that does not mean the end of my involvement with our post or the VFW.  There are many things yet to accomplish and I intend to continue to be involved.  It has been an honor to serve as Ballard Eagleson Post 3063 Commander.  Thank you for this wonderful and fulfilling opportunity.

Yours in Comradeship,

Nestor Tamayao

By Harold Rodenberger

Our recent warmer weather has accelerated my feeling of renewal that happens every spring.

The older I get the more I appreciate the sense of renewal that happens this time of year. When I was younger, the days rolled by one by one, weeks took a full week to pass and tomorrows seemed endless.

Now, as the passing days, weeks and months total nearly four score years of living on this earth, my days spin by quickly. Sunday barely gets going before Saturday pops up and the months pass like weeks did in years past.

I think the apparent speed is caused by accumulating memories that blend current observations with the old. I seldom see a genuinely new thing unless I search for it. The temptation is to go with the same old emotions, fit new sights into the old and categorize the passing scene as, “the same old, same old.” Only if I set out to find a new shape, color or idea nearly hidden in the smoke screen of old memories can I find something that stimulates a new question or thought.

Not saying that old memories are bad, just that they should be used with discretion. As I get older I find refuge in some of those old memories of gentler and happier times when time passed slower and multiple blinking, beeping, speaking and vibrating electronic things weren’t competing for my attention.

This time of year brings renewal to our VFW Post as well. Joint installation of our new officers and those of our Auxiliary will be held this Thursday, 5/4/17, with our Department Junior Vice Commander, Linda Fairbank, presiding. Linda will be installed as our VFW Department Senior Vice Commander next month at our state convention.

Our Post Honor Guard Captain and Chief Librarian, Bill Hoeller, finds it necessary to step down to take care of pressing family matters. Bill has done a wonderful job but must move on and he will be sorely missed.

Joe Fitzgerald is stepping into the position of Honor Guard Captain. We receive requests for our honor guard to perform, especially graveside or memorial services, but we need more people to field a proper team even when some members have other commitments. If you are interested in serving on our honor guard, please contact Joe at 206-777-5364 or [email protected].

We are looking for someone to serve as our post librarian. Since we have an honor system library, the duties are not time consuming. If you have an interest in books and would like to maintain our library, please let me know.

This month we will visit the VA Hospital to host a bingo night on May 23, 2017 and again on Memorial Day when we will visit with and hand out goodies to patients.

Remember, “new” is a big part of “reNEWal.”  Sometimes I am reluctant to step out of my daily routine but I need to “embrace renewal,” not only of the natural world around me, but also of the brain. If I let them, new sights and changing scenes can bring new thoughts and memories, rejuvenating a tired old brain and getting our new VFW year off to a running start.