Thank you to all the auxiliaries that sent their year-end reports in on time. I want you to take a long deep breath. 1, 2, 3. Now let’s get back to work.
I know we just finished our reports, but it is time to start working on our new year of service.
May and June gives us several opportunities to get our "Buddy® Poppies” out into the public eye so we need to start planning in April. The month of May has Armed Forces Day on the 20th, do you include this in your "Buddy® Poppy” schedule? Memorial Day is the 29th. We all know that this is a big time to display and distribute our "Buddy® Poppy”. Have you got plans in the works for what you are going to do? June 14th is Flag Day, another opportunity to get out your "Buddy® Poppies”.
So, after that cleansing deep breath we are now ready to get moving onto another successful year letting our towns and neighborhoods know the meaning of this little red flower and what the donations can do for our veterans.
Don’t forget the VFW National Home. You can be a Home Front Hero. To be a Home Front Hero all you have to do is pledge a recurring monthly contribution. It doesn’t have to be a large amount, $10 will do. This helps provide a steady, reliable source of funding for the VFW National Home’s essential programs and services. You can promote the VFW National Home outside of the VFW and Auxiliary. Anyone in your community can be a Home Front Hero. They do not need to be a VFW or Auxiliary member to contribute to the VFW Home.
Don’t forget you can get a Lifetime membership to the VFW National Home for $50.00. You also can purchase a brick that will be placed on the Homes grounds for $100. You can purchase a brick to honor someone or purchase one for yourself. The money from the purchase of a brick helps with the Homes expenses and also helps beautify the grounds.
Keep working on these two very worthwhile programs. I appreciate all you have done for "Buddy® Poppies” and the VFW National Home this year.
Pam Seelye
Department "Buddy® Poppy” and VFW National Home Chairman
The National Home received over $10,000 for the refinishing of the Veterans Service office; any donations received over and above the cost will be used to refurbish the office with furniture and needed office supplies.
The National Home, like all nonprofits always has a "needs” list. Has your Auxiliary considered making a donation? Two ways you can do that is by making a donation in memory or honor of someone from your Auxiliary by purchasing a brick or a Life membership to the Home. The purchase of a brick or Life membership is available to everyone. It does not have to be your Auxiliary, you as a member can purchase these on your own. Forms are available on the VFW National Home website. While you are on the website check out the store. They have some great items there you can purchase.
Have you made your donation to Health and Happiness? Please get that into Sonya (Department Treasurer) ASAP.
District 12 (California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington) of the VFW National Home has an opening this year for the 2023 Board of Trustee Elections. VFW National Home District Trustees hold a vital and prestigious position with a mandate to oversee, guide, promote and support the VFW National Home. The newly elected District 12 Trustee will serve with 11 other elected National Home District Trustees and 5 ex-officio Trustees that include; the VFW Commander-in-Chief, the Adjutant General, the Quartermaster General, the National President and the National Secretary/Treasurer.
Written nominations for candidates to run for District 12 Trustee of the VFW National Home Board of Trustees shall be submitted on or before June 1, 2023 to the attention of the Executive Director of the VFW National Home.
The candidate elected as the Home’s District 12 Trustee will serve a six-year term and will travel to the National Home to attend the October 2023 board meetings beginning with a New Trustee Orientation on Thursday, October 26th , Board Committee Meetings and Board Meeting on Friday, October 27th and the Annual Meeting of the Life Members, Saturday, October 28th . Wednesday, October 25th and Saturday/Sunday, October 28/29th are travel days. The VFW National Home Board of Trustees meets up to 4 times annually.
Qualifications, requirements and duties can be found in my January article. If this is something you have a passion for, please consider applying.
Buddy Poppies, have you been displaying them at your Post and at every activity you participate in? REMINDER – the little red flower can go everywhere with you. Please don’t leave it behind.
Pam Seelye, Department Buddy Poppy and VFW National Home Chairman
The "Buddy Poppy”® can be used as napkin holders, center pieces and many different decorations for tables and décor throughout whatever room or area you are using. You can add them to goody bags as a tie closure, that way all the yummy items inside won’t fall out when you hand them out to children, veterans and the community. Take these goody bags to retirement facilities, senior adult centers, libraries, schools, and many other places I am sure you can think of. This is a great way to get the "Buddy Poppy”® out in front of your communities and other organizations. Conversations can come about from that little red flower that has such a meaningful history.
I received an email from the facilities and grounds director Todd Marriott from the VFW National Home on January 26th. In the email he informed us that new Oregon flags have been purchased for the home, the basement has been prepped and painted and the carpets have been cleaned. Because of your continued financial support of the Oregon Home these things can be done to keep our home livable and inviting. Way to go Oregon.
I want to encourage you to continue this work. The VFW National Home needs funds. They are getting hit with the changes in the economy like all of us are. But any little bit you can provide added to other auxiliaries little bit can make a big difference in the life of the families at the National Home. Purchase life time memberships to the Home for you are someone else. Bricks can be purchased to be displayed at the Home. These forms can be found on the VFW National Home website.
Purchase your poppies and distribute them. Display them at all of your activities whether it is an outside event or at your post. The poppy can be with you everywhere you go, just like a faithful friend. No watering or feeding needed.
I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. The new year is here, and we are still working on our programs. A reminder, please send in your monthly program reports. Some Auxiliaries are really good and that and some still need a little help. Your chairman need your reports to let them know what you are doing.
This information is from the "Buddy Poppy”®/VFW National Home ambassador Cathy Farley and I wanted to share this idea with you. Is this something your Auxiliary can do? Yes, they can.
BLESSING BAGS
What is a blessing bag? and how do you make them? This is a great way to promote "Buddy Poppy” ® and help veterans. In a gallon zip lock bag, put a new pair of socks, a collection of bath products collected from your stay in hotels and a new toothbrush and toothpaste (my dentist donated a dozen to my blessing bags); I also added some face masks and hand sanitizer. Next, I took greeting cards to my Auxiliary meeting and asked them to write a message in them; then I asked for a dozen $5 McDonalds cards from the Auxiliary. After putting the gift card in the greeting card, I added a "Buddy Poppy”® in each card before adding the card to the "Blessing Bag.” And finally, I delivered them to the homeless veterans in the veterans’ wing at a local homeless shelter. A small way to help a homeless veteran but a good way to let them know they are not forgotten.
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE VFW NATIONAL HOME
If you are interested in applying for this position here are some of what is required. If you would like more information, please contact me and I can forward the complete email to you. Enclosed below are the requirements for the Board of Trustees open position for District #12, including California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, of which you represent. Please make readily available to any and all departments and/or personal that may inquire of this information. Additional questions or clarifications may be directed to the VFW National Home Chief of Staff, Lynn Bloomer at either 517-663-7023 or lbloomer@vfwnationalhome.org Please note that the June 1, 2023 deadline will be held in strict compliance and all documentation needs to be submitted at the same time for consideration.
VFW National Home
Board of Trustee Election 2023
Candidate Qualifications and Guidelines
District 12 (California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington)
VFW National Home District Trustees hold a vital and prestigious position with a mandate to oversee, guide, promote and support the VFW National Home. The newly elected District 12 Trustee will serve with 11 other elected National Home District Trustees and 5 ex-officio Trustees that include; the VFW Commander-in-Chief, the Adjutant General, the Quartermaster General, the National President and the National Secretary/Treasurer.
VFW and VFW Auxiliary members seeking candidacy must meet the following requirements:
Written nominations for candidates to run for District 12 Trustee of the VFW National Home Board of Trustees shall be submitted on or before June 1, 2023 to the attention of the Executive Director of the VFW National Home.
The written nomination must include the following requirements:
The candidate elected as the Home’s District 12 Trustee will serve a six-year term and will travel to the National Home to attend the October 2023 board meetings beginning with a New Trustee Orientation on Thursday, October 26th, Board Committee Meetings and Board Meeting on Friday, October 27th and the Annual Meeting of the Life Members, Saturday, October 28th . Wednesday, October 25th and Saturday/Sunday, October 28/29th are travel days. The VFW National Home Board of Trustees meets up to 4 times annually.
Pam Seelye, "Buddy Poppy”®/VFW National Home Chairman