VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS NEWSLETTER July/August 2020

Important Note: Elections for all vacant district officers will take place at the July 2020 District meeting.

CHANGE IS CONSTANT, ADAPTING IS HOW IT IS ANSWERED!

Commander’s Call by David A. Pearl

Comrades, welcome to our District 8 Bi-Monthly newsletter which is yet another tool for communication throughout our District. We have concentrated on improving communication starting last year within our District starting with a new website and this year we are also launching a Bi-Monthly Newsletter to keep everyone in District 8 well informed on VFW National, Department, and District information. As you are most likely aware due to Covid-19 our old way of doing some things has made a drastic change. While we have not been meeting face-to-face, we still are moving forward and keeping our Motto of “Doing more for Veterans.” Our leadership at all levels has changed and is reorganizing at a very fast pace to keep us moving forward

as an organization. Our Sr. Vice John Otte who will be editing and organizing this Newsletter will post some of the changes that are already in place at all three levels but since some positions still need to be filled he will keep you all posted on the new Officers.

I wish to start off by letting you know as your new District Commander we have hit the ground running since June 12th when I took over from Tom Hauserman and have assembled a Team of officers and Committee Chairs that is open to change and eager to move forward. We have already had two Command staff meetings by videoconference and will continue to meet every two weeks to keep working at making our District the best. Sr. Vice Otte will also Post in another section the new refined list of committees and their Point of contact. This list is a living document that will be updated and refined as I see fit throughout the year. Meetings will be shorter and more specific to our Goals and in fact better for our attendees.

This is where you as members of District 8 are going to be part of our Team. I’ve attended many District Meetings have seen the same faces each time. What I can say is thank you to all those that come and participate but I am concerned where the rest of you are. How many Posts out there with a Canteen can fill the Bar easily but during a Post meeting and you get less than 5% of your membership show up. This is not what we are about at the VFW! As Post

Commanders it states in our National By laws under Section 218 and responsibilities under Commander that you will at section K this:

Assure that the Commander or their Representative attend all properly called District Conventions or Meetings and County Council meetings.

Comrades your Job to make the meetings and represent your post or make sure a representative is there. We have 6 meetings a year and they’re always on a Sunday afternoon. There is no longer a reason why you can’t make the meetings. Moving forward we are going to remove the need to be there in person if you have scheduling conflicts. We will be including Zoom meetings to our toolbox. With all these opportunities to get involved there should be no reason why you can’t make these meetings. It is your obligated duty to do so.

What you see here above is a small part of the changes we are making at District Level so please don’t fall behind. Get involved! Don’t just say it but really mean it when you say, “we at the VFW do more for Veterans than anyone!”

DISTRICT VFW OFFICERS (2020-2021)

Commander: David A. Pearl Sr. Vice: John A. Otte Jr. Vice: VACANT Quartermaster: VACANT Chaplain VACANT Judge Advocate: VACANT Surgeon: VACANT Adjutant Joseph Mendez Service Officer: Vic Madeja

VFW PA DISTRICT 8 NEWSLETTER | JULY/AUGUST 2020 HTTP://VFWPADISTRICT8.ORG

“We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are”.

Max DePree

From the Office of the Senior Vice Commander by John August Otte

Greetings District 8 Comrades and friends. We find ourselves in interesting times for sure. Covid-19 has really reshaped our lives in many different ways including changes to a new “Normal”. That said, we, in District 8 are also changing. Changing to “our new normal” in a very big way! First, an acknowledgement of the most recent change for District 8. I would like to congratulate our new District Commander David Pearl for his assumption of Command of District 8. I also want to thank him for his outstanding leadership over the past 2019-2020 VFW year as he stepped in as District Commander during the time that Tom Hauserman was ill. Commander Pearl was instrumental in keeping continuity in District 8 as he attended the required Department meetings and forums in Tom’s place. Well done Commander Pearl! Second, Commander Pearl has declared that Membership is his #1

priority for our District. This is a significant change of focus for our district as many of our posts fell well short of reaching 100% of their 2019-2020 membership goals. As your District membership chairman (and now the Eastern Districts State Membership Co-Chairman) I can assure you that I take this responsibility seriously. The number one mission of each member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars is to ensure that our existing members are retained and that new members are actively sought and recruited for membership. Simply put, if we do not have the people to do the job of taking care of veterans then there is no “taking care” of veterans, PERIOD! So, what will it take to affect a change as large and significant as this in our district? How do we rise as Comrades and leaders in our district to meet the challenges of recruiting and retaining members in our posts? The answer is found with a complete change in mindset! The answer is found by flipping the focus from “operating a canteen” back to a “VFW First” mentality. There is no canteen without the VFW. There is no Home Association without the VFW. As previously mentioned, there is no care for veterans without the VFW! Lastly, Commander Pearl’s motto for this year is “Change is Constant, Adapting is how it is answered!” What does this mean for District 8? It means that we will build upon the “bridge the gap” foundational changes that our Department Commander Ron Peters has asked us to embrace. It means the active transition of leadership roles from Vietnam Era veterans to younger and more eager members that are

stepping up to serve in this great organization. It means that you pledge to support, mentor and guide them in their VFW leadership journey. Be ready for change Comrades because very big changes are coming to our district this year. I hope to see many new faces at our district meetings and as always feel free to reach out to me with questions and/or requests for support. I can be reached at: jvc@vfwpadistrict8.org

WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

Our Mission: To foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts. To serve our veterans, the military and our communities. To advocate on behalf of all veterans.

Our Vision: Ensure that veterans are respected for their service, always receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized for the sacrifices they and their loved ones have made on behalf of this great country.

Our Core Values: Always put the interests of our

members first Treat donors as partners in our cause Promote patriotism Honor military service Ensure the care of veterans and their

families Serve our communities Promote a positive image of the VFW Respect the diversity of veteran

opinions

VFW PA DISTRICT 8 NEWSLETTER | JULY/AUGUST 2020 HTTP://VFWPADISTRICT8.ORG

2020 – 2021 District 8 Subject Matter Points of Contact

Subject POC Email Address Phone Buddy Poppy John Otte jvc@vfwpadistrict8.org 267-644-7942 Voice of Democracy Chuck Jackson chuckjackson21@gmail.com 610-966-4787 Women Veterans Joanne Elliott joannemelliott@hotmail.com 215-431-6372 Patriots Pen/Teacher of the Year John Otte jvc@vfwpadistrict8.org 267-644-7942 Arthritis and Diabetes Dennis Hein Joden0327@aol.com 610-504-2509 VFW National Home Peter Walter basepiece70@verizon.net 609-261-5629 Youth Activities Paul Gerhart p_henny_hoppy@msn.com 215-536-4043 Delaware Valley Vets Home /Cooties Jim Ritchie rustlers175@gmail.com 215-736-1875 Police Fire and EMS awards David Pearl thebesthdchief33@yahoo.com 215-669-8430 Community Service Reports Joseph Mendez josephmendez1115@gmail.com 267-733-8826 Voice of Democracy Chuck Jackson chuckjackson21@gmail.com 610-966-4787 Loyalty Banquet David Pearl thebesthdchief33@yahoo.com 215-669-8430

2020 – 2021 District 8 Meeting Schedule

Date Post Number Address

19 July 2020 Macungie 9264 287 Lehigh Street, Macungie, PA 18062

20 Sep 2020 Levittown 6495 1605 Haines Road, Levittown, PA 19055

15 Nov 2020 Whitehall 7293 5209 Springmill Road, Whitehall, PA 18052

17 Jan 2021 Warminster 6493 645 Louis Drive, Warminster, PA 18974

21 Mar 2021 Macungie 9264 287 Lehigh Street, Macungie, PA 18062

16 May 2021 Sellersville 245 2118 Old Bethlehem Pike, Sellersville, PA 18960

All meetings start at 1:30 PM and will have a light meal served afterwards

VFW PA DISTRICT 8 NEWSLETTER | JULY/AUGUST 2020 HTTP://VFWPADISTRICT8.ORG

Auxiliary Presidents Message by Lynn Mussleman

Thank you for electing me as VFW Auxiliary District #8 President. The last time I served as District #8 President was in 1994-1995, that seems like a lifetime ago. A lot has changed in those 26 years, our official uniform has changed a few times, people have changed, our towns and communities have changed, our name has changed to VFW AUXILIARY, and we now welcome men - BUT our goals and commitments of this wonderful organization, HAS NOT changed –

We are still working for our Veterans and their families; we are still working in our communities to show them who the VFW and the Auxiliary is and what we do. As our VFW District #8 Commander, David Pearl, has said we are a “Different not NEW VFW”, we do the same things that we did 26 years ago – just a little differently.

Congrats!! To all the VFW Auxiliary District #8-line officers and chairman. Congrats!! To all the Auxiliary Presidents. I am very happy and looking forward to working with all of you this coming year.

We will be having ‘School of Instructions’ at our district meetings, if there is something that you are unsure of or want to learn more about– just let me know. (i.e., Delegate Forms, voting, History of National Home, etc.)

Auxiliary District meetings are open to all auxiliary members, so please come out and be part of our family.

Our VFW Auxiliary National President, Sandi Onstwedder’s theme is “Honoring Our Mission To Serve Veterans”. Our Department (state) President, Wendi Hennemann’s theme is “United we Stand” and her membership theme is “We Are Family”, so come out and be part of our family.

If you want to contact me, please call me at 215-920-2601 or email me at L.Musselman@verizon.net (please note there is a “dot” between the L and the M).

DISTRICT AUX OFFICERS (2020-2021)

President: Lynn Musselman Chaplain: Kathy Spaar Conductress: Judy Pearl Guard: Greg Shannon Patriotic Inst: Rose Rivera-Hrosiak Veterans Spt: Jody Weinreich National Home: Lynn Musselman Buddy Poppy: Lynn Musselman Chief of Staff: Diane Ritchie Mentoring: Diane Ritchie Hospital: Kathy Spaar Hospital: Brenda Johnson Legislative: Debbie Smith Membership: Mary Jean Mastridge Scholarships: Judy Pearl Youth: Ruth Berghold

Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regard to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, more than 51,000 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1.9 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. The national first place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarship ranges from $1,000-$16,000, and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins a minimum scholarship of $1,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. District 8 VFW posts and their auxiliaries work together to bring an exciting experience to students that work hard in developing their essays. Please consider how you can volunteer to help your post or auxiliary chairman with reading and rating these essays and help coordinate with the honoring and recognizing of these students for their hard work and effort.