Week One of the Second Year

And what a week it has been!  Of course, not traveling yet, but that has not stopped the hours of daily virtual meetings and preparations for the future.  Travel is just one small part of how we get the mission accomplished:  The mission of the VFW never stops!

In anticipation of COVID-19 restrictions lifting one of these days [months?], the Chair Officers and senior leaders met via a special multi-hour Zoom to start the travel planning.  There are a lot of moving parts to determine who will go where, at what time, to what event, to fulfill this mission.  While we worked through a potential March end date, I can only say it could all go up in smoke if 2020 decides to throw us yet another curve ball!  In fact, DURING our meeting we received a cancellation notice for an assignment that we were at that time working to fill!  All I can say is that we are doing our best to create and maintain a travel schedule so that we can jump in as soon as things start sorting themselves out.

And, in the spirit of getting information to all of our stakeholders, the Chair officers continue to reach out to our state counterparts [for me it would be Department Senior Vice Commanders] to ensure a continual transparent flow so they know what's going on.

It would be easy to just sit back and do nothing, claiming the pandemic has tied our hands.  Dear readers, I can assure you NOTHING is further from the truth!

Thailand!

I'd like to welcome our new readers from Thailand!  Joining us this week, they become the 31st country to start following this humble blog.  As COVID-19 restrictions begin to lift and I can start traveling again, I can't wait to fill these pages for all the readers to follow along on my adventures.  In the meantime, feel free to take a trip back in time if you want to see where I was at this point last year.

Thank you Thailand!

PART TWO: Senior Vice Commander in Chief of the Veteran of Foreign Wars of the United States

Greetings dear readers and welcome to Part Two in my journey to become the Commander in Chief of the VFW.  Today, I become the Senior Vice Commander in Chief.

Usually, this would occur at an election during our national convention but due to COVID-19 the convention was cancelled as a matter of public health and safety.  Avoiding a "constitutional" crisis,  rational minds came together in the National Council of Administration and determined that even though an actual election could not take place, the Congressional Charter and our National By-Laws clearly outlined the succession of certain offices.  And that is why, today, at the end of my term as the Junior Vice, I move up to take the position of Senior Vice.  The current Senior Vice, at the time of this writing, will have assumed the position of Commander in Chief.  An orderly transition of power is the hallmark of a truly civilized organization!

I look forward to serving under Commander Hal Roesch and I promise you things are not going to move forward in the same manner we have always done them.  COVID-19 is still an enemy but it will be defeated and we will be out visiting with all of you once again, eventually.  We are in a new age of enlightenment in this country and so too in the VFW.  The winds of change are blowing.  Change can be uncomfortable and it can be difficult, I understand this.  However, we cannot grow if we are not capable of change.

Thank you for supporting me and for your continued support as I move forward.  Check in from time to time to see what's new in the blog.  All I do, I do for the mission of the VFW and I want to share that with you as best I can!

The End of My Junior Vice Commander in Chief Year!

How time flies, whether you are having fun or not!  One year ago I took the oath of office to become the Junior Vice Commander in Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.  What a proud moment, and coincidentally, the birth of this humble blog also.

I took the duties and responsibilities to heart and began the business of the VFW with an assignment the very next day!  After that, it was a fast paced blur of succeeding assignments.  In between however, came the real work of moving the VFW forward, continuing the eternal push for veterans service and legislation to make the lives of veterans and their families better.  Many in the ranks of the VFW, and outside the ranks too, see only the visits to events.  I can assure you this is part of the job, but only the tip of the iceberg to be sure.

COVID-19 came quickly and the traveling stopped, but the work didn't.  We continued to meet electronically on almost a daily basis to continue the mission of the VFW as best we could.  Our Washington office continued the mission of legislative affairs.  Our Veterans Service branch increased output to meet the demands of veterans seeking assistance with the VA in both medical and compensation matters.  While the world seemed to come to a standstill, the leadership of the VFW kept the engines stoked and kept the ship on its course.  That's what we do, day in and day out.

We had to cancel our annual convention in Reno, Nevada, certainly a first, but the safest thing for our membership.  Did this cause some concern over the future of our leadership going forward?  Yes.  Did we resolve it according to our By-laws, Ritual, and Congressional Charter?  Yes.  Did we affirm that nothing will stop the VFW from doing what we are here to do?  YES!

This post ends Part One of my proposed three year blog of my adventures as a Chair officer. I thank all the 30,000 views and multiple countries that have been following.  You can always go back and view some of your favorite blogs I wrote over the year.  Maybe I'll highlight a few in the coming weeks and months for your reading pleasure. Tomorrow, I begin Part Two, as the Senior Vice Commander in Chief of the greatest combat veterans organization in the world!  

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for you support!

All Hands Zoom with the VFW

Today was a first.  Using technology we had an "all hands call" bringing together every Department Commander, Senior Vice, and Junior Vice...as well as Department Adjutants and Quartermasters if they desired.  To top it off, the meeting was hosted by the soon to be Commander in Chief, Senior Vice CIC, and Junior Vice CIC.

For far too long each group/team/class was an entity within itself and we didn't see [or didn't want to see] the synergy that could be created if we all rowed in the same direction.  To that end, Hal, Tim, and I thought it would be a great idea to introduce ourselves to all of the Department leadership teams across the entire VFW.

Nothing earth-shattering happened, but we didn't expect that.  What we did expect was a breaking of the ice and the levels that have been ingrained.  Everything we do, we do as a team.  If one hand doesn't know what the other is doing, you're not going to get very far.  I can say with confidence now that everyone knows exactly where they stand and what is expected of them.  We are moving forward smartly and it's going to be exciting!

More Spine Surgery!

This week I once again allowed a very skilled VA neurosurgeon to operate on my back.  Personally, I think he just wanted to see if he left his watch in there last time!

While he didn't do another, separate, fusion above the last one, he did say this was "delicate and difficult" and spent six hours in there.  I'm under some pretty severe restrictions, more so than last time.  Nonetheless, I'll follow all of them as best I can to minimize going down this road again.  A huge heartfelt thank you and I love you to Megan for getting me through this.

As an aside, I left the hospital with a ton on Percocet and muscle relaxers... Plus a two pack of Narcan just in case I decide to throw myself a party!

Y-Kiki Divers and new VFW members

Welcome to the VFW family Valerie and Ken Elliott, owners of Y-Kiki Divers in St Louis Missouri!

As some of you know, I've been a professional scuba instructor with Y-Kiki for a few years now.  Several of the instructors are also veterans.  Here's a sharp salute to Divemaster Tom McLerran, who also happens to be the Department of Missouri VFW Adjutant, for signing up Valerie and Ken into Post 8828 in Troy, Missouri.  Val and Ken are Army and Navy veterans respectively.  They stay pretty busy with the shop and other activities but the time was finally right.  As I've always said, tell the good news about the VFW and when people are ready, they will join.

Diving, for me and many other veterans, offers peace of mind and respite from injuries.  Now that we've got Val and Ken on board, hopefully we can reach out to the veteran community and bring them into the sport.  If you're interested in learning how to dive, and you're in the St Louis area, give Y-Kiki Divers a call and you won't regret it.  Who knows, I just might be your instructor!

Valerie and Ken!

Finally out of the house and presenting Valerie with my Commander photo [with Mama, she's part of the dive scene too].  I also presented Val and Ken my Commander's Coin.

Two locations!  Chesterfield and South County

Social Spacing, not Social Distancing!

I'm not keen on the phrase Social Distancing.   

Distancing sounds like you WANT to get away. Being distant has the connotation of being physically and emotionally away from others.  We are constantly being told to be socially distant.  That's just not a good thing at all.  Humans want to be around each other.  We are social animals and we don't like being told what to do.  I know The Bard said a rose by any other name, but why beat ourselves up with a phrase?

I'm good with social "spacing."  It sounds better.  Most of us would rather not be packed in together like sardines in a tin.  Give us some space and we're good being around others.  If we socially space ourselves, we don't have that distancing word haunting us.  Plus, spacing will keep us healthier in the long run.  When we beat this virus, I'd almost like to continue social spacing.  I sure know that I'm going to be suspect about handshakes and hugs for a long time into the future.  Maybe I'll take up politely nodding my head or bowing.

Writing from Illinois, so I'll leave you with this:  Practice Social Spacing and stand at least one President Lincoln away from each other!

  

Independence Day: The Fourth of July

No flags here, no fireworks.  Just two images as food for thought for all Americans:

VFW Visit: Post 3830 in Hawaii

No, don't get excited.  I didn't fly over there to attend a meeting.  However, I did harness technology and attended a Post meeting via Zoom on the Big Island last night.  Given the current state of medical affairs in the world we need to do more than think outside the box; we have to burn the box, get away from it, and start from a new perspective!

My counterpart in Hawaii is Senior Vice Commander Lewis and she is also the Post Senior Vice Commander.  State Commander Lockwood flew over from Oahu to be part of the meeting.  These two are a force to be reckoned with over the next few years. They have big ideas and the most important thing of all, they understand that our mission is to serve veterans, their families, and their communities.  No matter what issues may have occurred in the past, these two understand the need for teamwork.  They both exude a can-do spirit and, as we all know, that spirit is a great motivator and huge factor in the success of any organization.

The official Post name is:  Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Post 3830, Pahoa, Lance Corporal Hayward Kimo Hamili Peleiholani Memorial Post.  I'm pretty sure I can remember Post 3830!

Special thanks to Auxiliary President Sauer for taking me on a 'tour' of the building and grounds.  The Post home is beautiful and is full of memorabilia and history.  One of these days I will make a visit in person!

Mahalo nui loa!

VA Hospital in St Louis

I visited the John Cochran VA Medical Center on Monday, in anticipation of an upcoming surgery.  I've always had the best care here and this visit topped them all.  I haven't been to the facility since February.

Upon entering, I was greeted and asked why I was there. After saying I had an appointment, I was directed to another station to wash my hands, then moved to a technician in full PPE.  She took my temp and asked the usual COVID Questions, then verified where I was to go.  I received a yellow wrist band and was on my way.

The waiting room in neurosurgery still had all the chairs, but I was really surprised to see the efforts they took to ensure proper spacing.  The chairs all had these coverings on them.  All of the employees were their usual chipper selves and morale was high.  Maybe that had to do with the fact they had a lot fewer patients, but I'm just guessing on that!  All throughout the hospital, as I went from location to location to get pre-op procedures checked off my list, everyone I met with was in that same frame of mind.  It was a pleasure being around dedicated health professionals who, although surrounded by pandemic procedures, were able to continue providing the great care that I've become accustomed to receiving.

Thank you VA, I appreciate all that you do for veterans!