Ballard Eagleson VFW Post 3063’s September newsletter is available for download here. Highlights of September’s issue include: Report on the VFW National Convention. Benefits of a Lifetime Membership. A profile of Post 3063 Sr. Vice Commander and Adjutant Pete Krawitz.
News
Free dental care for veterans
On September 8, 2016, Team Smiles at Southcenter will offer complimentary dental care for veterans, active duty military, and dependents. This includes exams, X-rays, cleanings, fillings, and extractions. Team Smiles is located at 15425 53rd Ave S, Tukwila, 98023. They are taking appointments so call 206-575-9150 if you’re interested in receiving free dental care.
Report on the VFW National Convention
By Harold Rodenberger
Our National Convention was held in Charlotte, NC, July 23-27 2016. Four members of our post attended: Commander Nestor Tamayao, Trustee and Past Commander, Aaron Stoltz, Quartermaster and Past Commander Harold Rodenberger, and delegate Jesse Basher.
This convention is the supreme authority of our organization, and as such acts through the delegates to enact and modify laws governing how our group operates. People are appointed as our leaders and enact various goals and programs for the current and future years.
This year there were almost one hundred proposed amendments and revisions to be considered and voted on by our convention.
In addition to the changes in our governing documents there were many other items of business. We heard speakers ranging from the Mayor of Charlotte to the Secretary of the VA to both the Democratic and Republican candidates for president. We presented our VFW awards, and the winners are listed on our VFW National website at vfw.org
One of the main functions of the convention is to elect and install our leaders for the ensuing year. This year we elected Brian Duffy as our Commander in Chief. Chief Duffy is the first Desert Storm veteran to hold that office. We also elected another Desert Storm veteran and the first female to hold the office, Karen Anderson, as our new Quartermaster General.
Quartermaster’s September Update
By Harold Rodenberger
School vacations are finishing up, Labor Day is just around the corner and the Harvest Moon will be sailing high on the sixteenth of this month. It’s time to get back to school, back to work, and back to enjoying some camaraderie and volunteer service at your local VFW Post.
School classes along with his young family and full-time work schedule leave Jon Guncay with very little additional time for VFW activities so he is postponing his progress through the chairs until later. Our Junior Vice Commander, Pete Krawitz, moved up to Senior Vice and we elected Joe Tiffany as Junior Vice Commander to serve for the remainder of this year.
If the weather is favorable, we plan to have another US Flag retirement ceremony in our parking lot from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm on September 18. We will be retiring unserviceable flags with an appropriate ceremony. All who wish may attend and observe or participate.
Fall is cleanup time. As a community service we are offering to dispose of latex paint, so check your basement or garage for old or unwanted water-based paint. Bring it to the post during our regular office hours (1-5 pm) on September 1, 3, 6, 8 or 10 and we will dispose of it properly.
At 10 am on September 5, our surgeon, Justin Mamallo, will be leading members of our post to visit patients at the Seattle VA Hospital to pass out monetary chits and bring them some conversation on Labor Day. If you would like to join this visitation please meet at the Emergency Room entrance at 10 am. The new parking garage is convenient and it’s just a short walk to the ER entrance, so come out and celebrate Labor Day by bringing some cheer to the patients.
On September 24, District 2 post and auxiliary members will meet at our post for a joint meeting. In addition to the meeting there will be a school of instruction. All members, and especially post officers, are encouraged to attend. There will be lunch ($6.00) at 11:30 am and the meeting starts at 12:30 pm.
Our post has recently lost a couple of old time members. To make up that loss, and to build for the future, we need to recruit more new members. As you go about your daily activities keep an eye out for potential recruits.
Save big bucks with a lifetime VFW membership
By Harold Rodenberger
Every once in a while it’s good to review our members
hip requirements and various membership options.
As you know we are the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In order to join our organization a potential member must show documentary evidence, usually a copy of DD Form 214, of service in a designated war zone. They must also be a Citizen or National of the United States. The only other requirement is an Honorable Discharge.
Most people join as annual members, paying dues at the going rate each year. Currently our dues are thirty dollars which is the combination of National and Department (state) dues since our post, unlike most, does not charge any additional dues.
As you can see by doing some simple math these annual dues add up over the years so I encourage our annual members to consider taking out a life membership. We have one person who has been paying annual dues for 69 years. Imagine how much he could have saved if he had converted to life membership early in this period.
The fees for life membership are age based and they presently range from $450 for those up through 30 years old to $170 for those 81 and older. The fee can be paid as a lump sum or spread out over a year using the Life Installment Plan.
To get a real bargain on a life membership, once you attend three business meetings you become eligible for the quarterly drawing when we award a free life membership to a lucky annual member who is in attendance. This is your chance to save big bucks so plan on attending our regular meetings.
If you have questions or are interested in converting to a life membership send an email, call 206-782-8618 or come by the office during our regular hours.