I recently attended a Post when the subject of advertising for new members came up.  The question was “what was National doing to help the Posts in their recruiting efforts”.  The answer is they are trying.  Lou Diamond Phillips has been hired as the spokesperson for the VFW and will be making commercials (perhaps infomercials is a better term) which will be aired on both radio and TV.  While any effort from National is a good effort, I think it is up to each Post to let the community know that VFW is alive and well in their area.  A great example of that are the efforts being made by Post 2554 in Sultan.  Chuck Donahue, Post Commander and his wife Judy, an Auxiliary Member,  have designed an attractive poster advertising their Post’s meeting place and time and Jerry Gibson, Post Trustee, distributed the posters around town to the local businesses.  The businesses, including the Red Apple grocery store, proved willing to post the information and assist the Post in getting the word out.  In addition, a young Post member has set up a great Facebook site for the Post.  You can check it out at https://www.facebook.com/SultanVFW2554.  Finally, the Post is advertising their meeting in the Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce weekly newsletter.  The efforts are paying off.  At their November meeting, two transferees showed up along with a new member.  I have forwarded a copy of the poster to the Post Commanders but if you would like a copy (I’m sure Chuck and Judy won’t mind plagiarizing their idea) let me know.  District can help you in printing the Poster off if you need it, but you will have to knock on the doors to have it distributed.

I always give Marty Spani, Commander at Post 1040, a bad time about never meeting a camera he didn’t like, but Post 1040 are champs at getting in the newspapers, both local one and the Herald.  The latest was an article in the newspaper about selecting their Voice of Democracy winner and the fact that she is now in the District running for 1st place.  Publicity like this for a Post can’t be bought.  Whether you have a VOD, PP, or Youth Essay winner (not to mention Teacher, Police, Firefighter, or EMT, get the word out to the press.

SFC Dave Sivewright, a recent member of the Sultan Post, is also know at the Hwy. 2 Freedom Runner.  SFC Sivewright has logged 2,800 miles running with Old Glory since 2010.

Art King, a local residence of Sky Valley, is making Dignity Sticks for any veteran that would like them.  A dignity stick is a long walking stick with a carving at the top such as an eagle.  If you are interested in obtaining one, you can contact Dave Sivewright at javajive47@gmail.com.

Post 2100 ‘s home is still on the market.  In the meantime, the Post is doing great things such as providing free Thanksgiving meals to veterans.

Post 8870 along with American Legion Post 66 is hosting a Christmas dinner for its members, families on December 14th and has invited all veteran students at Edmonds Community College who wish to attend to join the celebration.

Post 1040’s next meeting is their annual wrapping party where they package care packages for the troops overseas.

After a lot of emails flying back and forth on the deadline for Safety Awards.  It now appears that the Posts have until the end of December to get the awards to District (not Department) where the winners will be forwarded to Department.  Why the change is a bit of a mystery since there are so few of the entries to begin with.  However, if you do have a nomination, please get it to me as soon as possible as I plan on taking the holidays off.

Just a heads up that we will be having our annual student essay finalists along with the teachers of the year at our January meeting.  Lunch will begin promptly at noon so please plan on arriving prior to that time.  Once we have everyone seated we will commence with introductions and get the awards program underway.  Following the luncheon, we will have a District meeting.   I will have more in the next newsletter.

The following invite was received from Navy Base Everett.  Post 8870 has one survivor, Erv Schmidt, that many of you know.  If you know of anyone in your community that was present, would you please contact them and let them know of the ceremony.  They will need to have clearance to go on the base which can be done through Troy Schulz.

We are planning our event this year and we are really trying to make it special again this year. We have typically made this primarily about Pearl Harbor since that has the direct connection to the Navy. This year we are expanding a bit and what I am trying to do is gather as many survivor’s as possible. I am requesting from all of you to assist me in locating any of these survivor’s in your communities. If you know of any local survivor’s that we can reach out to. I do not know if some of them are in community centers or reside in the community, so maybe with a little help we can push this to contact other organizations send me back the information whatever it would take.

Thank you for any support you can provide in this endeavor.

V/R
Troy W. Schulz
Executive Assistant/Protocol Officer
Naval Station Everett
425-304-3357

BB 425-508-2940

Gordon Huggins has announced he will be in the race to be elected Jr. Vice next year.  Gordon is expected to face Elmer Clark who is currently Judge Advocate. I will invite Gordon to attend a future District Meeting to introduce himself to the Post  Commanders and other attendees.

On January 4th we will have a Buddy Poppy

Contest.  Corsage or tray favor.

Bring in a brown bag, label the bottom of the display telling the Post or Auxiliary number.  The total poppies used and the name of the person making the tray favor or corsage.

Mid winter is having the same contest so plan to get it there for the judging.

Plan now for your Buddy Poppy drive in the spring, Memorial Day will be here before you know it.

Check with your stores and get permission so that you will be ready.

Have you ordered your Poppies for the rest of the year?

Have available and ready, your Buddy Poppy story brochures.  Take membership applications and brochures for Patriotic Art and Voice of Democracy.

See you at the District One meeting January 4th.  Have your entries there by 11:30.

Ronald Haley Ruth Herren
Co-chairmen for District 1 Post and Auxiliary

Same time and place unless indicated below. See the listing from the links on left sidebar.

If you change the date or time of your meeting, please let both District and Department know of the change.