Category: Post Business

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! 🙂

New program: Five and Five

“Five and Five” is a unique opportunity to:
– Speak 
– Listen 
– Learn
– Understand 

Date : Sept. 21, 2023
Time: 10 a.m. 
Location: Ballard VFW Post

Each participating comrade will speak on their own unique military experiences highlighting the first FIVE years of military service OR the last FIVE years of military service. 

After each member has spoken, we return to the first speaker. That speaker will then speak on what they VISUALIZE the NEXT FIVE years going forward will entail.

The environment will be one of total respect, no judgement and trust that each comrade’s experience is valued and kept within the group.

We want to address certain serious consequences of loneliness noted in the recent U.S. Surgeon General’s reports through respectful and trusted communication in our “Five and Five” informal coffee hour meeting platform.

Coffee and pastries provided.

Register with Dave Tyner at [email protected] or 206-979-5889.

Operation FRIDGE SWAP a success

Operation FRIDGE SWAP was a success thanks to the brains and brawn of our awesome post and auxiliary members. Thank you to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to bring in the bigger and better commercial grade refrigerator (which had to be lifted sideways through the counter since it was too tall and wide for the kitchen doors) and take out the old broken refrigerator.
Special thanks to Comrade Stokke for lending his trailer for the fridge recycling mission. Also, HUGE THANKS to the donor whose contribution paid for the new refrigerator! ❤

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.