As I write my final newsletter commentary as Commander of Ballard Eagleson VFW Post 3063, I find myself both grateful and hopeful. Thanks to the work of the UW Foster MBA team, I believe we’re standing at the edge of a turning point.
Over the past quarter, this group of six veteran MBA candidates worked closely with our Post to understand what’s working, what’s not, and where we can go from here. Their findings confirmed what many of us have felt: the Post has heart, history, and potential, but without deliberate action, we risk stagnation and failure.
Now is the time to seize the moment.
The recommendations we received weren’t abstract theory. They were grounded in the voices of our members: young and old, new and longtime. They told us we need to modernize our outreach, reimagine our events, and foster a stronger leadership pipeline. Most of all, they reminded us that we cannot wait for “someone else” to do the work. That someone is each of us.
We need members to step up. That doesn’t mean signing up for full-time roles or burning yourself out. It means saying yes…yes to helping organize a single event, yes to mentoring a new member, yes to attending a meeting, or simply bringing a friend. Small actions build momentum, and momentum builds community.
As I pass the torch to Comrade Harold Hamilton, I do so with immense pride in what we’ve done and with great expectations for what’s ahead. Our Post doesn’t need to be what it was in 1965 or 1985. It needs to be what our members and community need it to be today.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve. I look forward to standing alongside you in the next chapter, not as your Commander, but as your comrade.
In comradeship,
Commander Alyson Teeter
