District 1 School of Instruction

Click Here

Membership quicklink to renew

VFW.org has made it very quick and easy to renew your post membership today! Membership is still going, we welcome all renewals. Thank you for all the support.

Renew Your Post Membership

Help Support VFW Programs & Services

Donate

Like us on Facebook

facebook.com/vfwmighty1st

Facebook
Previous Next

WELCOME TO MIGHTY FIRST DISTRICT - DEPARTMENT OF CA

Mighty First District - CA
 

Commander Letter

September NewsLetter

 
 
Greetings Mighty First Family! 

The lazy days of summer have passed,, and we are officially into the busiest time of the year!  I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year.  I love all of the holidays and activities that fill our calendars, but I hate how fast the days seem to go by!  My most valuable tool over the next few months is my planner.  It isn't just a busy time due to holidays, but our VFW schedule has many due dates that come up. Yes folks, its award season!  First up we have the Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy essay contests. The themes this year are "How are you inspired by America?" for our Patriots Pen, and "What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?" for our Voice of Democracy.  I encourage you to share the entry form with your youth and get them thinking about their entries.  It is more than just getting the word to our schools, it is sharing it with Scout troops, youth groups, and family members too! Use your social media and share it with your community, you never know who will see it. Maybe your Post will have our next National winner! We can't forget about the great teachers that educate our youth, Teacher of the Year awards are also coming due this month!  There are three categories Elementary, Middle and High School.  Talk to your kids and find out who inspires them.  Lastly, it is also time for our Law Enforcement, Fire Fighter and First Responder awards packages to be due.  Please direct any questions you have on these programs to Wendy Calderon (Post5867) for our PP/VOD/ToY packages and to Bob Parks (Post7907) for our FF/EMT/FR awards. 
 
We are consolidating VFW Post 7766 in Rancho Bernardo with VFW Post 1513 in Escondido.  VFW Post 7766 was established on May 17th, 1986, and changed its name to honor Major Abraham J. Baum in 2013. Maj Baum was a highly decorated veteran from WW2. He served as Post Commander from 1993-94 and again 1995-96, being the first All-American Commander for this Post.  Thank you to all that have been members and leaders of Post 7766. Your dedication to your Community has left an imprint that will only be enhanced by the addition of Post 1513's members.  
Mark your calendars and plan those carpools!  The next District meeting is scheduled for November 5th, 2023 at 10AM.  This meeting is going to be in Campo.  Yes, I know it is a little bit of a drive, but I promise it will be worth it!  After the meeting there will be a BBQ and a tour of their new building they are working on making their new home.  

In closing, I just want to remind everyone that kindness doesn't cost anything and but can leave the largest impact.  We cannot expect to gain new members if we are not putting our best selves out there for all to see.  You only get one chance to make a first impression!
Yours in Service, 
Alexis Henshaw
VFW District 1 Commander

Auxiliary President Letter

September Newsletter

 

Hello Auxiliary Sisters and Brothers!  

What an ending we had for the month of August! Record high 3-digit temperatures and a Hurricane to boot! Hoping everyone survived and you are all safe and well!

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month-– 20 Veterans commit suicide each day. Get educated about the warning signs of suicide. The Veterans Crisis Line is a confidential toll-free hotline available 24/7/365 that connects Veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified responders. Call 988 Press 1 – Please remember to conduct wellness checks on our Veterans. Refer to our Department VFS page for more information.

National Service Dog Month is a month-long celebration honoring the hard work and life-changing impact service dogs make on people with disabilities every day. Thank you to the Auxiliaries who have donated to my President’s Special Project "Freedom Dogs ". If you know someone who has benefited from having a service dog, you realize what a life-changing experience it can be and what a "paws” ative impact the dogs provide to those in need. 

Maui VFW Fund   Our hearts go out to the many families and businesses who have been impacted by the Maui wildfires, thank you to those Auxiliaries who have offered financial support to help those in need during these challenging times. Together let’s stand strong and extend a helping hand to our fellow VFW Community in Maui on their path to recovery, rebuilding and resilience.  Visit our Department VFS page for ways you can help. 

 District "Pup" Date-

- Bonds: we are 100%”

- Audits: still waiting on a few to be checked off, refer to the blackout sheet to see your status.

- IRS forms- Please continue to send in proof of completion.

- Membership: Congratulations to the following Auxiliaries for reaching 100% in membership: #1513, #1924, # 7907, # 9578! The current District total membership is 93.84%. Membership is our lifeblood, please continue to recruit, and retain members.

- Inspections: I have completed 4 Official Visits and wish to thank those Auxiliaries for their warm welcome! My team will be visiting 6 more Auxiliaries this month and look forward to hearing about your "fur” tastic work that you do for our veterans!

- Programs: The blackout sheet is up and running and the Department Program Chairmen are busy approving reports. Now is the time to work on the Scholarship Program and Buddy Poppy hat contest which will take place at our November District meeting.

 "Pup” Coming Events-

    September

9/6 District Auxiliary Fundraiser @ Lakeside boll Weevil 5 – 9

9/11 Patriot Day

9/15 POW / MIA Recognition Day

9/16 Department POW/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony USS IOWA, Long Beach 11 am

9/18 Air Force Birthday

9/23 NC Stand Down Clothing Drive- Rancho Bernardo

9/24 Gold Star Family Day

9/26 District Membership Santee Post

9/29 VFW Day

 Oct 14 District Auxiliary Fundraiser Prime Rib Dinner @ 1512 see me for tickets.

Keep up the good work that you are doing to improve the lives of our Veterans! If I can be of service, please contact me! 

Loyal in service to our Veterans,

Diana


SEE FULL GALLERY

FOLLOW US

DONATE TO MIGHTY FIRST DISTRICT - DEPARTMENT OF CA

Our programs support our service members while they are on the front line, as they are being discharged and long after they return. Your tax-deductible donation will be immediately directed to the VFW programs where your support is most urgently needed.

DONATE NOW