Category: Post Business

Commander’s Corner (February 2024)

TONIGHT IS MEETING NIGHT! Consider attending to learn more about our post and our mission. Quartermaster Hamilton is cooking food, which will be served around 6 p.m. and then the business meeting starts at 7. If you can’t come physically, we also offer a virtual option via Zoom.

Our leadership focus has turned to membership, which includes recruiting and retention. Members old and new can help with these endeavors in a variety of ways, such as setting up a booth at the Ballard Farmers Market or calling expired members. To be successful, we must make this focus a team effort. (Quick plug for expiring members: renew ASAP or consider a lifetime membership, which includes a $100 rebate!)

In other news, our last World War II veteran, Ed Westing, passed away in January. Comrade Engler and I attended his service and learned he was a B-17 and B-29 gunner in World War II. This marks the end of an era for Post 3063. It’s a reminder that we need to stay in touch with our elder members and honor their legacy of service through connection and listening (and even recording their histories!). I’d appreciate it if someone could step up and volunteer to lead our outreach at local assisted living facilities. Contact me if interested.

In comradeship,
Aly Teeter, Commander

Last World War II Post 3063 member passes away

On Thursday, January 18, 2024, VFW Post 3063 Comrade and our last World War II veteran, Edward “Ed” Roy Westing passed away at age 97 in Seattle. Ed was born June 19, 1926 in New York, NY to Carl and Anna (Brünges) Westing.

He was a WWII veteran, serving in the Army Air Force where he was stationed in the Pacific with the 20th Air Force. Ed graduated with a business degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1972 and worked at Westinghouse in Baltimore, Maryland as a technical writer for more than 20 years. He was passionate about chess, receiving a meritorious service award from the U.S. Chess Federation in 2019. For many years Ed wrote a chess column for the Jeffersonian Newspaper in Towson, Maryland, and was the longtime president of the Towson Chess Club and member of the Maryland Chess Association. Ed was also known for his love of movies and his impressive book collection. He relocated to Seattle in 2016 to be close to his daughter and enjoyed frequent visits to the Seattle Swedish Club and the National Nordic Museum. He was preceded in death by his wife, Judith, of 35 years. He is survived by his daughter Karen, son-in-law Chintan, and extended family and friends.

Wanted: Honor Guard Volunteers

We invite you to take pride in serving your community and honoring our veterans by joining the VFW Post 3063 Honor Guard. As members of this distinguished group, you will have the unique opportunity to represent the values of the Veterans of Foreign Wars while participating in patriotic events, Wreaths Across America ceremonies, and various community engagements.

Why Join the Honor Guard?

Serve with Honor: Demonstrate your commitment to honoring our fallen comrades and supporting the VFW’s mission of advocating for veterans’ rights and well-being.

Patriotic Engagements: Participate in meaningful events that celebrate the spirit of patriotism and pay tribute to those who have sacrificed for our freedom.

Community Involvement: Strengthen your ties with the local community by being an active participant in parades, memorial services, and other events that bring people together to commemorate our nation’s history.

Quality Uniform and Training: We provide top-notch uniforms and comprehensive training to ensure you represent the VFW with the dignity and respect it deserves.

How to Join:

Reach out to Comrade Joe Fitzgerald at [email protected] for more details on how you can become a part of the Post 3063 Honor Guard. Comrade Fitzgerald will guide you through the process, answer any questions you may have, and share the rewarding experiences that come with being a member of this esteemed group.

Mid-Winter Conference recap

On January 19-20 in Wenatchee, the VFW Department of Washington hosted the state’s Mid-Winter Conference. At this conference, various training classes were held, officer reports were read and winning essay participants were recognized.

Here are some highlights Commander Teeter noted that she thought were worth passing along:
Recruiting and Membership:
– Posts are successful if they have a robust, active membership committee. Traditionally it’s led by the Senior Vice and the Quartermaster and Adjutant are members as well.  
– The state recruiting team attends large public events, like Seafair. At these events they recruit for VFW at-large. They can provide at-large lists by zip code so posts can do outreach to these members.
  — If Post 3063 wants representation at the VFW recruiting booth at large events, we must be vetted by the state recruiting team.
  — We can invite the state recruiting team to our local events. (Consider for Ballard Seafood Fest.)
  — For events, do not have more than 2-3 people in a booth!
– Consider setting up information booths near marijuana dispensaries. This tactic worked well for the state recruiting team.
– For new members, perform 30-60-90 day follow-ups so they stay engaged.
– Provide temporary membership cards to new members.
– Hold family-friendly community events at the post; this will help pull people in!
Quartermaster:
– Audits must be performed by trustees, not the quartermaster! This is mandated by National and was emphasized by the National Quartermaster, who was in attendance. Also recommended electronic audits.
– State can provide 1:1 training for Quartermasters.
– Have procedures down in writing.
Adjutant:
– This position performs reporting to state Community Service Reports page, All American Dashboard, etc.
– Buddy Poppies! Order through State Assistant Adjutant, Jason Paxton.
Veterans/Military Support (VMS):
– Up to $5K for adopted units.
– $500 Homeless Veteran Grant. Standdown instructions are available as well.

Commander’s Corner (January 2024)

By Alyson Teeter

Welcome to 2024, Comrades! If you’re a new or returning member, check out what we accomplished in 2023 in our annual report below. We had a very active year serving veterans and the community and we will continue the momentum into the new year. My primary focus will shift to membership and how we can activate members to participate more with the post. We are a volunteer-driven organization and we can’t be successful in doing more for veterans without a thriving community of #StillServing comrades.  

Happening this month is another opportunity to connect with the Five and Five discussion group at 5 p.m. on Jan.18, which also happens to be our monthly social night. Come for some meaningful connection and stay for our a family-friendly movie and popcorn at our first ever Movie Night Social. Our quarterly blood drives, in partnership with BloodWorksNW, will continue this year and our first for 2024 is at the post on Jan. 25. 

I’ve saved the bad news for last, which is the dissolution of our Post 3063 Auxiliary. The Post 3063 Auxiliary President, Sean Peat, resigned his position last month and nobody was able to take on the position vacancy. Thus the auxiliary voted to suspend its charter. On behalf of the post, I want to thank Sean for taking on the daunting task of leading the fledgling organization. He helped bring it back to an active status for the last couple years and the small but mighty auxiliary did a lovely job of supporting veterans and Post 3063. Thank you again to the auxiliary and know that our post family members and friends can still make a positive impact serving veterans regardless of auxiliary status.