Hello Brothers and Sisters and welcome to a new year with the best veterans group around.

The first Learning Academy is in the books and many of us are off and running soon to the National Convention in Colombus, OH soon. Just a few short weeks away. There will be a workshop about the National Home and Buddy Poppy program that I am planning on attending. I will be learning quite a bit as I do not know very much about the VFW National Home. I do know that our Trustee for the National Home is Mary Ann Kreutz. She is the one that speaks for us on what is going on at the Home and the Oregon cottage.

I am hoping to attend many District meetings this year so you can let me know if you have questions, I can get an answer for you on the National Home and Buddy Poppies.

 This year we only had one entry for the Buddy Poppy display contest. This contest is nationwide, and I would love to see an entry from each of the three categories representing Oregon next year. There are three categories and I will have that information for you at the Learning Academies in Oregon City  on August 23, and Winston on Sept 6(I won’t be attending this one as I will be on a cruise that was scheduled before the Academies) Even though I will not be in Winston, there will be information about these programs there to hand out and someone will talk about the programs.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the Learning Academy and getting your reports from March through now. Hoping that you are still distributing Buddy Poppies at your recruitment tables and city festivals. Have a great rest of the summer and see you all soon.