Department VFW Auxiliary President
Mount Blanca VFW Auxiliary 899
Proudly Endorse
Nadia Flores
For the Office of Department VFW Auxiliary President
2024-2025
We, the members of Mount Blanca VFW Post 899 Auxiliary, are proud to endorse one of our most cherished members, Nadia Flores, for the office of Department President.
Nadia Flores has been a life member of VFW Post #899 Auxiliary since 2012. She joined under the eligibility of her father, Christopher M. Martinez, who served in the Marine Corps 3rd Tank Battalion. Nadia has been active since becoming a member serving at the Auxiliary, District and Department levels. She has served as Auxiliary President since 2014 to current, District 7 Junior Vice, District 7 President, District 7 Sr Vice, District 7 Secretary/Treasurer, Department Color Bearer #1, Department Youth Activities Chair, Department Legislative Chairman, Department Jr Vice and is currently serving as Department Senior Vice.
Nadia is committed to helping our veterans and their families, never hesitating to volunteer for VFW, Auxiliary, and community activities and events. When she is in the community she shares with them the importance of caring for our Veterans and their families. She is willing to share any information she gains, gives encouragement, and is committed to fairness. She continually learns and grows in her duties with the Auxiliary, striving to help members of her local Auxiliary and District 7 as well as to all Auxiliaries she comes in contact with, to learn and grow as members and servants to our veterans. Her leadership and dedication goes above and beyond.
We respectfully ask you to join us in supporting Nadia at the Colorado Convention with your vote.
Sincerely,
Rowena Martinez
VFW 899 Auxiliary Treasurer
- The Department of Colorado VFW Auxiliary Parade of Programs, Workshops, and Council of Administration meeting is scheduled for March 16-17, 2024, at John S. Stewart Post #1, 841 Santa Fe Dr. Denver, CO 80204. A complete schedule of programs and workshops will be available on the Department website. A Joint Council of Administration meeting to be held on Sunday, March 17, 2024, and the Auxiliary Council meeting will follow. Please watch for further details coming out soon.
- Department President Phil Reinpold’s special project is Operation Veteran Strong. Please forward all donations to Department Treasurer, Lennie Dolan.
- Members in Good Standing are those who are life members or those who hold a 2024 annual membership card as of January 1, 2024. A member who is not in good standing is not eligible to attend meetings, vote, or hold an office or chairmanship. They are also not eligible for a cancer grant from National. All rights and benefits are restored immediately upon payment of the current year’s dues. Proof of payment may include a paper or digital copy from MALTA.
As of January 31, 2024
District 1 | 2023 | 2024 | % | District 8 | 2023 | 2024 | % | ||
1 | Denver | 183 | 186 | 102* | 859 | Leadville | 18 | 19 | 106* |
501 | Denver | 146 | 139 | 95 | 11411 | Lake George | 48 | 49 | 102* |
5061 | Denver | 167 | 159 | 95 | 12009 | Conifer | 32 | 32 | 100* |
TOTAL | 496 | 484 | 98% | TOTAL | 98 | 101 | 102%* | ||
District 2 | District 9 | ||||||||
2788 | Penrose | 42 | 47 | 112* | 4264 | Stmbt Spgs | 28 | 28 | 100* |
3641 | Pueblo | 72 | 57 | 79 | 4265 | Craig | 35 | 40 | 114* |
4061 | Canon City | 104 | 98 | 94 | 5843 | Meeker | 30 | 30 | 100* |
5812 | Pueblo West | 41 | 41 | 100* | 9374 | Kremmling | 20 | 22 | 110* |
7305 | Colo City | 21 | 22 | 105* | TOTAL | 113 | 120 | 106%* | |
8898 | Boone | 0 | 17 | 0 | |||||
TOTAL | 280 | 282 | 101%* |
The holidays are over and I know our Auxiliaries have been very active supporting our Veterans during the holidays. Let’s get more involved and support President Phil’s special project Operation Veteran Strong in the remaining months of the 2023/2024 year.
The holidays were tough for me after losing a special friend by suicide just before the holidays last year and then our community lost a police officer just before Thanksgiving in the line of duty. The police officer was also a Veteran. I found myself reaching out to Phil’s Special Project, Operation Veteran Strong, for help, and they were very helpful. For anyone who has experienced a suicide of a friend or family member, it is traumatic. This great organization also has help and resources for family members who are seeking resources to combat the many questions suicide leaves behind.
As a nation, we are losing our Veterans by Suicide at an average of 22 a day. This includes Veterans that are just returning home and can’t cope with returning to civilian life and our World War II, Korean and Vietnam Veterans. Operation Veteran Strong has free help for them and their families.
Operation Veteran Strong is a Colorado based non-profit set up as a useful tool just for U.S. Veterans navigating civilian life. They (and you) can find inspiring stories from other Veterans, information on accessing benefits, helpful self-assessments, and a wide range of free, innovative and practical support services. This help to our Veterans is 100% FREE and confidential.
Here, at Operation Veteran Strong, Veterans get the tools they need to get things done. With their free, confidential account, they can connect on their own terms with: Veteran benefits, VSO contacts, outdoor recreation, employment, financial support, education, family and spouse supports, vet groups, VFW’s, community support, and so much more. And most importantly both medical and non-medicalized solutions for Veterans returning to civilian life. They also specialize in mental health programs and help with Suicide Awareness.
This opportunity is for all Auxiliaries and District Auxiliaries to be rewarded and recognized for completing tasks that are already required in the VFW Auxiliary By-laws. Some examples are completing tasks on time i.e. Installation reports, audits, purchasing bonds, filing the IRS 990 form and Officer dues paid. Other tasks that are in the report that we feel will have helped to improve your Auxiliary or District was to attend the Council of Administration weekends to share program information and updates. The President, Secretary and Treasurer of each Auxiliary or District that earns All State Achievement will receive an All-State Achievement pin and medallion. The Auxiliary or District will receive a certificate of All State Achievement Recognition.
Caroline Gelatt, Chairman
Patsy Gilmore, Lennie Dolan
Many of you shared your activities and promotions via emails, Facebook, and Instagrams. Please keep all this going as we go into 2024. I share often with National Ambassador, Linda Roloff. I can tell you she is loving it! We have many opportunities to celebrate our military successes and history of all our branches of service.
• January 25 – Anniversary of the US and Allied Victory at the Battle of the Bulge.
• February 9 – Anniversary of the US Victory of the Battle of Guadalcanal
• February 19 – Coast Guard Reserve Birthday
• February 28 – Anniversary of the US led Victory in the Persian Gulf War
• March 3 – Navy Reserve Birthday
• March 5 – Seabee Birthday. Yes, they are still active. United States Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Navy Seabees, form the US Naval Construction Force (NCF)
• March 13 – K-9 Veterans Day
• March 25 – Medal of Honor Day
• March 26 - Anniversary of the US Victory at the Battle of Iwo Jima
• March 29 – Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day
Department Americanism
Greetings and Happy 2024. It's hard to believe that we are just two months off of our end of the year reporting. I am proud of all the hard work that each and every one of you have done to support the Buddy Poppy/National Home program. I hope you are still doing all you can to support these two programs and the veterans they help. I’m not going to break down where all the money goes that we raise, but I am going to emphasize the fact that we need to keep doing our fundraising to support these programs.
On January 7th the National Home turned 99 years old, and for the next year they are gearing up for many events to celebrate their 100th Anniversary. Please check their website at www.vfwnationalhome.org, where they will be announcing the Formal Gala in February and sending out invitations for the Birthday party and community celebration. They just had their Annual Meeting of Life Members, where they thanked the out going trustees hose terms have ended and welcomed in the new incoming trustees. If you visit the website, you will be able to see whose term ended and who came in to take their place.
I will see all of you at the next COA. In the meantime, keep those numbers coming in.
God Bless,
Patricia Rowley-Wilson
Department Buddy Poppy/National Home
Please Note
There are two (2) NEW Buddy Poppy Order Forms on the Colorado Web Site.
- One order form is for the Traditional Red Cloth Poppy.
- One order form is for the NEW TIN RED METAL POPPY, that is available.
You must include a VFW Membership #, since we have to order thru the VFW, and they have access to that Data Base. If you do not include a VFW Membership #, we can look up the Post Quartermaster and use your address for Delivery.
Orders still have to be placed with VFW Department Headquarters.
VFW will get credit for their Poppy Order and Auxiliary will get credit for their Poppy Order.
You must include Shipping charges when you order.
Rates are on the Order Form.
Please use the New Order Forms
We have a new Auxiliary to Boone Post #8898! They were instituted on November 12, 2023 and we would like to welcome all new members. We are looking forward to meeting you at District and Council of Administration meetings. Congratulations!
Nominations and elections will be in April which is only a few months away. Now is the time to encourage members you have been working with throughout the year and those you have seen with leadership abilities to run for an office or program chair. If a member is unsure about a position talk with them, refer them to “Building on the VFW Auxiliary Foundation” to find duties and responsibilities of an Officer or Program Chair and recommend that they talk with current or past Officers or Program Chairs.
The holidays are over and we are starting the downhill road for the 2023/2024 year. I hope you all had wonderful times with your families and friends over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. Now we need to get busy and accomplish all the tasks that we want to finish and make sure that President Phil makes it to the Circle of Excellence at National Convention.
Here is to a New Year, let’s Rock 2024!
Department Historian/Media Relations
Happy 2024! Hope you all had wonderful holidays and are ready to not only finish out this reporting year strong but also continue with your great work during the upcoming year. National Salute to Veteran Patients Week is February 11-17 this year. It’s always the week of Valentine’s Day, so it’s a perfect time to get out into facilities and plan Valentine’s Day events, or if you are unable to do that, send cards! Valentine’s for Veterans is one of our goals from national this year, so if you haven’t planned something yet, you still have time to do it! As has been the case the last several years, please make sure you check with the facility first to make sure they don’t have any COVID restrictions in place.
Skimming through the things that have been reported this year, we are lacking in a couple of areas. We have two months still in this reporting year, so this is the time to make your push on trying to do those things you haven’t yet.
Have you recruited volunteers to help with your hospital events or sending cards? If you have, have you thought of ways to recognize them (and, have you reported it)?
Have you researched and found information regarding women’s health and provided that information to those who need it?
How about Honors Escorts in hospitals? Have you looked into that yet?
As you plan out your hospital projects, please contact me if you have any questions at all. I’m here to help you! I would also love to see pictures of your events, so please send those to me.
Loyally,
Brandi Dolan
Department Hospital
To quote National Legislative chairman Sherry Howland “One of the main objectives of the Legislative program is to improve the lives of our veterans, service members and their families through advocacy”.
What “things” should we be extra concerned about? The VFW Priority Goals and signing up for Action Corps which you can do both by signing into MALTA, Member Resources, Legislative can give you direction. The Priority Goals show the main issues the VFW is working on. The weekly Action Corps gives weekly input and updates on what our Congressmen are doing and other important info.
Many have been reporting, but I hope many more are and have been being proactive. Report what you are doing and if it concerns “bills” please tell what bills you are doing things about.
Hope to see everyone March 16-17 at COA, hosted by Post 1.
Rena Cales
Department Legislative Chairman
Here’s hoping y’all had a Happy Holiday!
Lights, Camera, Action: And ACTION you have!
I want to thank each of you again for making the Department of Colorado over 95% + which you all did by December 15th and the percentage goes up each day as dues are entered. The deadline was December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, the Department of Colorado was at 96.15% and then on January 1, 2024, Department of Colorado was at 96.20%!! Here’s taking Colorado to 100% and your Auxiliary to be done by the time you read this!
We have 21 Auxiliary’s at 100% and so many Auxiliaries that are so close to being 100%, So let’s get those dues paid and in Malta as you get them. There are still some Auxiliaries that are below the 90% but they have been working hard on their membership, Keep going strong, you will git-r-done! You all are Stars in my eyes!
Department Mentoring for Leadership
Welcome to another fun and exciting year! Thus far, 2024, seems to be a year full of amazing things that our auxiliaries are doing to support the mission of the Scholarship Programs. The Continuing Education Scholarship deadline is fast approaching and entries are due to National Headquarters by February 15, 2024.
March is a very busy month as the Young American Patriotic Art and the 3-Dimensional Patriotic Art Scholarships entries are due to your local auxiliaries by March 31, 2024. More information, including promotional materials for these scholarships, can be found at vfwauxiliary.org/scholarships, and in MALTA Membership Resources. March is also the end of the reporting period for all programs so please make the time to turn in your reports!
Please remember my current promotion focuses on recipient recognition and student participation. I am looking forward to the next COA where I am hopeful that many auxiliaries will share how they recognized their scholarship participants and winners. As always, thank you for all that you do! Remember, the best way to ensure the continuing growth and support of our organization is by continuing to support and encourage our younger generations through these scholarship opportunities.
Sincerely,
Crystal Proffitt
Department Scholarship
Please remember March is our last COA, time to get the last little bit of important information from all the wonderful chairman and women. Bring your questions and comments and I promise to leave tears at home this time.
Needs, VFW “Sports Clips” Help a Hero Scholarship program, Our Women Veterans, and Veteran & Military Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness. There are tons of information on each of these programs on the national website VFWAuxiliary.org
Thank you for all you do for our veterans. Please remember if you need anything or have a question you can always reach out to me, email is always the best way, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. As we are Banding Together for Our Veterans, let us remember We Value Every Veteran and do all we can to help each one of our veterans, especially in their time of need. Colorado let’s take a stand and change the stigma of mental health. Happiest of the holiday season to each one of you! I look forward to seeing you in 2024.
Department Veterans and Family Support
I hope this finds you well and you all had a peaceful and joyous holiday season filled with family and friends. As we head into the new year, my wish for all of you is a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2024.
Youth Activities