Tag Archives: care bear

Commanders Call – Nov. 2014

Cmdr_Ted*It is always hard for me to start off newsletters offering condolences to families.  Our AMVETS family lost three really terrific people since the last news.  Donald Rodenbeck, AMVET, passed away September 25th under Hospice Care in Mason City.  Michael Siberski, AMVET, passed away October 10 at the Waverly Health Center.  It was an honor and pleasure for me, that these two gentlemen shared a portion of their lives with me.  Elizabeth McKenzie, AMVET Auxiliary, passed away at the Shell Rock Senior Living/Meadows on October 6th.  Liz was truly a dedicated volunteer for many causes and organizations, but was always there when her AMVET family needed help.  She was a “Marshalltown regular” until her health became a problem.  Heroes and role models are not always on the field of battle or football fields, but are right here in front or beside us.  May the three of you rest in peace and we all remember the good times.

*GET THE WORD OUT— Our Men’s membership dinner will be Wednesday, November 12th at 6:30 p.m.  Registration and social hour will start at 5:30 p.m.  We have asked for suggestions, but at this printing, things will be as in past years.  We will continue our raffles to help support the cost of the dinner and donations to various activities.  Please bring your 2013-14 plastic membership cards so a new 2014-15 sticker can be placed on it.  Check around among your acquaintances and “draft” another new member.

*QUESTION TO AMVETS—Since our membership year is now September 1st – August 31st (following year); weather in November can be unpredictable; some members depart for the winter; the question is:  Would you (AMVETS) be willing to move our dinner into October or September?   Please give this some thought, knowing harvest time for farmers, schools and colleges starting, and the possible end of summer vacations.  We need your input on this.

tribute bricks*REMINDER TO AMVETS FAMILY—Help make this the best Veterans Day, November 11th yet, by being involved at the Tribute, at the Centre’ and wear something to display your branch of service.  Terry Lindell, our local historian, will present a program on Monday, November 10th at 4:00 p.m. on WWII at Eisenach Village Klubhaus.  Contact Barb Bridges at 352-6105 for more information.  A flyer is posted on the bulletin board at the VFW or can be viewed at www.amvets79.us ( Latest News/Honoring our Veterans-Bartel’s).  Check the newspaper or our local radio station for updates.

*Please check out the new chainsaw carving at the Waverly Area Veterans Tribute and also the new ground improvements.

*HIT MY NERVE—No names, but a comment was made that the WAVP hall was competing with various locations in the community.  As I am not a lifelong resident of Waverly, but have just completed 28 years, please correct me if I am wrong.  In 1986; -the American Legion had their hall (seating 150 plus) and everybody was there for the chili/oyster dinner, -the VFW had their hall (seating 150 plus) and steaks, hamburgers, meal specials were always on their calendar, –AMVETS had their hall (seating 150 plus) and their fish fry’s were known throughout central/northeast Iowa (record was over 700 served in one evening) plus their steaks.  These halls were constantly being used by the Community and the Veterans.  The Waverly Country Club and the now closed “Red Fox Inn banquet rooms” were also busy in 1986.  Recently several friends and acquaintances of mine, acknowledge they held weddings/anniversaries/receptions/reunions/etc. at locations in Cedar Falls and elsewhere because of pricing and/or scheduling.  It seems to me that WAVP will be fulfilling a need for the community.

your_vote_counts_button_3*DO NOT FORGET:
Daylight Saving Time ends November 2nd (fall back)
Don’t forget to vote (No vote=No  _itching)

 

*History bits for November: 1st – US Marines land on Bougainville (1943), 8th – Allied invasion of North Africa begins 91942),  12th – Battle of Guadalcanal begins (1942), 20th – Battle Tarawa starts (1943), 23rd – US Women’s Coast Guard Reserve (SPARS) is established (1942), 24th – B-29’s begin attacking Japan from Saipan (1944).

Help AMVETS Help Veterans

AMVETS Presents Care Bears to Law Enforcement

Left to Right: Commander Ted Lanske, Sheriff Dan Pickett, Chief Richard Pursell and Finance Officer Carl Benning

Left to Right: Commander Ted Lanske, Sheriff Dan Pickett, Chief Richard Pursell and Finance Officer Carl Benning

AMVETS Post 79 has been involved in the “Care Bear” program for several years.  This is a program supported by National and the Department, but is administered and financed by the local posts.

The concept is to furnish “teddy bears” to local emergency departments that they can carry in their vehicles and when called to an emergency where young children are involved, they can give this “Care Bear” to a child under stress.  We realize that responding personnel must first do their job, whether it is traffic control, 1st Aid, calling for support or whatever is needed to keep the area safe, and that the “Care Bear” may come later after things are under control.  At that point, if children are involved, the comfort of something soft to hold and hug can become a magical moment.  Most of us, at some point in our lives have had our own “teddy bear” or another stuffed toy that we have hugged and loved, possibly till the stuffing came out.  So I would ask for your support of this project, either financially or verbally by passing this on to others.

There are several AMVET posts in Iowa involved with this program, and comments we have received from a few of these emergency personnel has been very positive.  Fortunately, our local departments hand out very few, but this is not true for other areas, especially those located near communities like Des Moines or Cedar Rapids.

On Thursday, May 1, 2014, Ted Lanske and Carl Benning representing AMVETS Post 79 presented “Care Bears” to Chief Richard Pursell, Waverly Police Department and Sheriff Dan Pickett, Bremer County.