blue star mothers of america, inc. · dear sisters, thank you for all the wonderful messages to the...
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BLUE STAR MOTHERS OF AMERICA, INC. October 2019
From the desk of the National President:
Dear Sisters,
Thank you for all the wonderful messages to the Board and myself. We have all felt your love and support. This year is going to be a busy one. This is a governing doc-ument year, and we anticipate changes to our governing documents; hopefully, not too many.
I wanted to tell you a little something about me. I am a Blue Star Mom. I am your Blue Star Sister. My son Brad gave me that privilege in 2002 when he joined the United States Air Force. I began my journey with Blue Star Mothers in 2004, and it has been amazing. My son is still in the Air Force and looking to retire in three to four years. I am very proud of him, but I am also very proud of all your sons’ and
daughters’ service to our nation. Thank you for raising children who were willing to step up and serve. I also have a beautiful daughter, Tiffany, my mini me I’m told, who blessed us with our grandson Tyler boy eight years ago. He is our star hockey player, and I’m thankful I like the cold!
My hope is that this year we can all concentrate on the mission and work through differences with respect; it’s alright to disagree, but we need to settle matters as ladies. Ms. Anne had a motto for her year, and it was respect. I am asking all of you to embrace this year with respect; accept your fellow sisters for who they are; and, realize that our very important mission cannot move forward without cooperation from all of us. We are Blue Star Mothers because of our children’s service, for no other reason. Our children, many of whom are in the Sandbox, expect us to act appropriately while serving them, Veterans, Wounded Warri-ors and Gold Star Families. I have a project for you: I ask you to answer this question “What does the mission mean to me?” I would love for you to send your response to our 2nd VP and allow us to put it in our newsletter.
My President’s project this year involves Homeless Veterans. I ask for you to make donations to your lo-cal VA hospital’s homeless veteran fund or send funds to National to be used for Homeless Veterans Pro-jects in varying locations (one location will be the VA domiciliary in Detroit, Michigan where I have been volunteering for many years). This has always been very close to my heart, as well as my son’s. He al-ways says, “Mom, don’t worry about me. Please help the veterans who are homeless.” So, I have made it my mission! With that said, what does the mission mean to me? The mission means doing something greater than myself with sisters who understand the circle of support needed for our Deployed, Veterans, Homeless and Gold Star Families and that that circle is completed by all of us, because no one person can do it alone.
Thank you for what you do, and hugs to you all.
Carla Brodacki
National President
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Contact Information for
National Executive Board
President:
Carla Brodacki ~ MI
1st VP: Stacy Anders ~ CA
2nd VP: Paula Lombardo ~ OH
3rd VP: Teri Reece ~ VA
4th VP: Kathleen Fowl ~ TX
Recording Secretary:
Rebecca Stafford ~ MO
Financial Secretary:
Genevieve Schindler ~ CA
Treasurer: Diana Evans Vance ~ OH
Page
President’s Message 1
Index 2
PNP Anne Parker & VAVS 2
New Chapter Corner 3
2019 Convention Highlights 4-14
1st VP-Memberships 15
2nd VP– Yearbook Info 15
3rd VP– Blue to Gold 16-17
Webmaster 18
Index
PNP ANNE PARKER
I again want to thank everyone
who made my year as National
President so special. The De-
partment of Minnesota and all of
the elected and appointed officers
who worked so tirelessly were
nothing short of amazing. We
noted accomplishments of public
awareness and fundraising ideas
to the chapters as well as ex-
panding the mentoring program
to all chapters with a 100% com-
pliance. Unfortunately, chapters
closed but new ones
opened. We are busy at work on
a new website and the word RE-
SPECT was talked about a lot.
I have served this organization in
four different elected offices as
well as National Historian and Fi-
nance Committee Chairman and I
have seen a lot of changes, most
of them for the good of the organ-
ization; I am confident that our
new National President and her
board will lead our organization
forward.
I have resumed my position as
National VAVS Representative
and look forward to expanding
our organization's participation at
the VA Hospitals. This is a part
of our mission and I urge all
members to see how they can be
a part of the VA System.
As your National Chaplain I invite
you to send me names of veter-
ans with whom you are acquaint-
ed who have passed away during
the year and we will include in
next year's memorial service. I
ask that you only send names of
veterans with whom you have a
personal connection, not names
that you see in the newspaper,
etc.
The outgoing National President
of the American Legion Auxiliary
said last week, "I am tired and I
think I will go home." I rather will
say, "I have had a great experi-
ence serving this organization for
a number of years and I am going
to travel."
Anne Parker
Proud Blue Star Mother
VAVS Deputy Doreen Berggren
A note from your VAVS Team:
We are looking forward to a great year of service to our veterans. Start the
year with new knowledge. Visit our national website, www.bluestarmothers.us,
and click VAVS. There you will find the updated Training / Guidelines plus a
power point presentation. If you have questions please reach out.
Monthly you will find a new article from VAVS in the newsletter as well as a
Friday facebook post too.
If you are interested in more information, after reading the guidelines, please
contact vavs.bluestarmothers.us to become a Representative or Deputy.
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Since our National Convention, the following Chapter has been Chartered within our organization.
Please welcome:
WA 7
Please see below, details regarding Western Washington BSMA.
WA7 - Western Washington Blue Star Mothers of America - Chartered Friday, August 9, 2019 Serving: Bellingham - Burlington – Sedro - Woolley - Mt. Vernon Areas President: Rochelle Pittis [email protected] 1VP: Kathy Augir [email protected] Recording Secretary: Tracy Diehl [email protected] Financial Secreatry: Mia Bacco-Guidroz [email protected] Treasurer: Maggie Potter [email protected]
WA7 Western Washington Blue Star Mothers of America
225 N Walnut St Burlington, Washington 98233
Description: WA7 meets on the 2nd Thursday every month (except December) at Secret Harbor offices, 225 N Walnut St, Burlington 98233 @ 6-8 PM.
Email [email protected] Phone (360) 466-8281
NEW CHAPTER CORNER!
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2019 CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS
Paula Lombardo National 2VP
On the next few pages we have compiled several Minnesota Convention pictures.
There was no shortage of comradery between sisters. If you weren’t able to at-
tend this past year, perhaps we will see you in 2020!
2019-2020 National Executive Board
2019-2020 Big Dipper Board
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2019 CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS
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2019 CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS
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2019 CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS
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2019 CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS
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2019 CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS
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2019 CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS
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2019 CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS
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2019 CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS
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2019 CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS
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2019 CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS
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NATIONAL 1ST VP
Stacy Anders—Membership
I would love to say a huge Thank You for al-
lowing me to be your 1vp for a second term.
Working with members is the number 1 reason
I wanted to be on the board. With that said,
here are a few items we need to go over again:
Dues that have not been renewed are now
past due. All dues expired August 31, 2019.
All past due members and associates will be
moved to lapsed January 1, 2020
If you still need to pay due’s, please do so ASAP.
If you need help with your username and pass-
word, please email webmas-
[email protected]. Please DO NOT
JOIN AGAIN. We will be happy to help you
renew.
Presidents - please make sure your Member-
ship or Financial Secretary file all chapter dues
renewals under the chapter profile, so all re-
ceipts are under the chapters profile and not a
member’s profile. If you need help with your
chapter profile username and/or email, please
let us know. I have been receiving numerous chapters and
Dept Dues renewals and as I change the dates
it will not let me save them without an email
address. I believe this is a new required Field
and will not save without it.
Please have all members and associates
check to make sure they have email address
otherwise I will not be able to save them or up-
date them.
If you are sending in applications, please read
it over to make sure it is complete and reada-ble. If I cannot read it or it has missing infor-
mation, I will send it back to you.
Please feel free to email me or call any time if
you have membership questions or anything. If
I don’t have the answer, I will find it.
Stacy Anders [email protected]
831-236-9625
NATIONAL 2ND VP
Paula Lombardo — Newsletter & Yearbook
Dear Sisters, it is my honor to serve you all again
this year as National 2VP.
I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoy compiling
the Monthly Newsletter and getting to know so many
of you through this journey!
I’m also looking forward to the 2020 YEARBOOK.
Now’s the time for everyone to start working on that
special group picture!
IMPORTANT NEWSLETTER CHANGES! Over
the last several years the newsletter deadline has
been the 15th of the month, with the newsletter
getting out by the end of that said month (the
newsletter was also “named” for that current
month).
After discussion with President Carla, it was de-
cided to keep the deadline as the 15th of the
month.
HOWEVER the newsletter will now be put out
within the first week of the next month, and be
titled accordingly.
For instance, in order to make this happen im-
mediately this current newsletter had to become
the OCTOBER Edition.
What does this mean to you for the next newslet-
ter edition?
PLEASE turn in all pictures, articles, etc…
by October 15th for the NOVEMBER Newslet-
ter.
Going Forward: Any articles turned in after the
15th of each month, are subject to being held until
the following edition. Also, — Please put your chap-
ter number in the subject line of your email.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have ANY
questions.
Paula Lombardo
Phone: 614-827-5362
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NATIONAL 3RD VP
Teri Reece— Blue to Gold Liason
National 3rd Vice President: BLUE TO GOLD PROGRAM
DoD CASUALTY NOTIFICATIONS It is with great sadness that the DoD has reported the loss of service members during the later Month of July and August 2019: SSG William Edward Friese, 30, Rockport, West Virginia; West Virginia Army National Guard (7-18-19) – KIA Kuwait; Gunnery Sergeant Scott A. Koppenhafer, 35, Mancos, Colorado; USMC (8-10-19) – KIA; Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Slayton Saldana, 24; US Navy (7-30-19) – Non-Combat Over-seas; PFC. Brandon Jay Kreischer, 20, Stryker, Ohio; US Army (7-29-19) – KIA Afghanistan; Spc. Michael Isaiah Nance, 24, Chicago, IL.; US Army (7-29-19) – KIA Afghanistan; Specialist Clayton James Horne, 23, Atlanta, Louisiana; US Army (8-17-19); Master Sgt. Luis F. DeLeon-Figueroa, 31, Chicopee, Massachusetts; US Army (8-21-19) – KIA Afghanistan; Master Sgt. Jose J. Gonzalez, 35, La Puente, California; US Army (8-21-19) – KIA Af-ghanistan
Our thoughts and prayers are with their families of these brave Service Members.
SSG William Edward Friese Gunnery Sergeant Scott A.
Koppenhafer Aviation Electronics Technician
2nd Class Slayton Saldana
PFC. Brandon Jay
Kreischer
SPC. Michael Isaiah Nance Specialist Clayton James Horne
Master Sgt. Luis F. DeLeon-Figueroa Master Sgt. Jose J. Gonzalez
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NATIONAL 3RD VP
Teri Reece— Blue to Gold Liason
BLUE DAISY
It is with great sadness that I report the loss on August 1, 2019 of Gold Star & Blue Star Moth-er, Jan McCurdy, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Jan was a Member of Chapter LA1. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and with her fellow Members of Chapter LA1.
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September Webmaster article
It is my honor to be the new Webmaster for
the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc!! I
have learned so much about the website.
I want to say that the “Forgot password” and the “forgot user name” are non-
functioning at this time. Please email me if
you need to have your password reset
I have uploaded some documents from
convention for you to share with your
chapter mates that were not able to make it
this year (once you are logged in to the
website go to 2019 Convention tab on the
left all the way at the bottom.) The Officer
presentations, the presentations the speak-
ers gave and handouts are there for you to
upload.
Stay tuned for some more informational
items to be uploaded on the website!!
*Brenda
WEBMASTER
Brenda Ternullo
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NATIONAL 4TH VP
Kathleen Fowl—Compliance
It’s that time of Year Again
We all look forward to Compliance Time. Right? Not so much!
It really shouldn’t be something that is dreaded, just needed. Our compliance guide has been
revamped to help you work through the process step by step.
Please use it, you will find it on the Forms & Reports page of our website. Remember to use
your chapter profile to file your chapter reports (rather than your personal profile). Every chap-
ter officer can access the Forms & Reports page using the chapter profile. Please be sure to la-
bel anything your upload with your reports with your Chapter Number (ie: TX7).
If you need your Username & Password, send me an email and I will get it to you. And we are
here to help you, so if you are having a problem or need some assistance, please send me an
email and I will get you the help you need. Let’s work together to get 2019 Compliance behind
you and free you up to do the things you love to do.
Thank you so much to all the chapters that have already been working so hard to get it done on
the early side. Please don’t wait until the last minute, because if you run into a problem then –
you are too late to get it resolved before falling into the incompliance category.
On a couple of other notes:
Chapter Mentors – We have a wonderful group of experienced, knowledgeable ladies who are
working as mentors for each and every Blue Star Mothers Chapter. They are there to help
every member of your chapter (not just your chapter officers) – so if you have a question,
concern or need, please contact them and they will be glad to answer your questions and/or
get you the help/guidance you are seeking. If you do not know who your chapter mentor is,
please let me know and we will put you in contact with her.
@bluestarmothers.us Email Addresses: We are able to set up chapter emails for all the of-
ficers of your chapter (as well as other non-elected positions, such as; parliamentarian, histo-
rian, etc.) We highly suggest that you use these emails, keeping all your communication in
one email account for each office/position, ready to pass on to the new officer after each
year’s elections. This keeps all the history for each office in one place, no more hunting for
info in some past officer’s personal email. If you do not have your chapter emails set up,
please email me to get them set up.
Remember, we are here to help you. Please send me an email any time.
Blessings!
Kathleen Fowl
Nat’l 4VP
The deadline for compliance is December 1, 2019.
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DEPARTMENT OF MN
Dept. President Lucie Cutts
Well, as you all know, the 2019 Blue Star
Mothers of America, Inc., National Convention
was held here in Minnesota. I’m a little biased,
but I think it went pretty well! We are very glad
that you all came to visit, we all learned a lot
and had a lot of fun too. We wish we had more
time to show you more!
On Tuesday, August 27th
, it was Military Appre-
ciation Day at the Minnesota State Fair. We had
a Department information table that was
‘Womaned’ by members from all over our State,
and we broke the total attendance record this year too! We also marched in the Military pa-
rade in the afternoon – one of our favorite
things – although this year as we were lining up
– the Sky’s opened up and we got soaked and
also hit by hail! It stopped as quickly as it
started, and the rest of day was wonderful.
We have also been holding our 2019 – 2020
term elections – wonderful women are being
elected to guide and lead our chapters.
We are now preparing for our Department Fall
Convention at the end of October and planning
this next year’s activities!
As promised at the National Convention –
please find attached the recipe for Chicken
Wild Rice Soup – my all-time favorite!
Respectfully,
Lucie L. Cutts
President Department of Minnesota
Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc.
763-442-3217
EDITORS NOTE REGARDING SOUP: If you came to the Minnesota
Convention, there’s a good chance that you had a bowl of
FAMOUS MINNESOTA CHICKEN WILD RICE SOUP!
I can tell you that I had several bowls. The hotel served it in the
restaurant and I could have grazed on this soup for days! If I had-
n’t been in public view… I probably would have licked the bowl
clean! We also had it served at one of our lunches and I felt
butterflies inside when I saw it.... Kind of the way you
feel when you meet someone and it’s love at first sight!
This recipe that Ms. Lucie has shared with us is a keeper!
I’ve already made it and can’t wait to make it again.
Sincerely, Paula Lombardo National 2nd VP
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DEPARTMENT OF MN
Chicken Wild Rice Soup
From the Kitchen of Lucie L. Cutts – Department of Minnesota
½ Cup plus 2 Tbls Butter 1 Finely Chopped Onion
½ Cup chopped Celery 1 1lb bag frozen mixed vegetables
¾ Cup all-purpose flour 9 cups Water/Chicken Broth
½ Cup Wild Rice ½ Cup White Rice
1lb Chicken Breast ½ Teaspoon dried Parsley
Seasoned Salt Ground Pepper Garlic Pwd Onion Pwd
2 Cups half-and-half
Optional: ½ pound fresh Sliced Mushrooms, 1 Cup Slivered Almonds, 3 TBLS Sherry
Directions: Slow boil in a large saucepan, (at least one hour) Chicken Breast in 9 cups of
water, seasoned with Seasoned salt, Garlic Pwd, Onion Pwd and Ground Pepper.
After chicken is cooked remove from pan and cut into small chunks. Set aside. Take out
2 1/2 cups of the Chicken broth and put in another saucepan and bring to a boil, add a 2
TBLS of butter, and a pinch of salt, add all of the rice, stir and return to a boil, stir. Then
turn down to a low simmer, cover and cook rice for 30 minutes (wild rice takes longer to
cook than white). Check after 20 minutes and if moisture gone, but rice not quite
cooked add ½ cup water and a little butter, cover and continue cooking.
Sautee chopped Celery, sliced Mushrooms, and chopped Onion in ½ cup butter on very
low flame for about 5 minutes, add in flour and stir well. Gradually add the rest of the
Chicken Broth while stirring continuously. Bring to a boil and then simmer on very low
heat. Add the chopped Chicken, Mixed Vegetables, Parsley, Almonds, Sherry and
Cooked Rice. Mix thoroughly. Stir in 1/2 & 1/2 and simmer on low for an hour or two.
Do not bring back to a boil or you will break the Roux (thickening). Serve with a side
salad and a Croissant - Enjoy!
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NM 6
BSM Valencia County – NM6
NM6 had a whirlwind 2019 Summer! From The Memorial Day weekend through September, chapter members and associates were busy supporting our troops and our veterans at airport homecomings, celebrations of life, parades, fundraisers, a packing, and the State Fair, etc. while supporting one another. The new board was elected in September, and NM6 moms (and dads) look forward to continuing to serve with our community.
Trophy winner:
charitable organization
NM State Fair:
Remembering our
fallen
Raffle: recording & drawing winners
Quick Pack
New Board: Thanking past president, Annette Arellano (center)
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WI 2
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CA 30
Our 7th Annual Gold and Blue
Star Mother’s Day Luncheon
on April 28th focused on our
partnership with different or-
ganizations including the
American Legion, All American
Riders, National Charity
League, Elk’s Club of Corona,
Inland Empire Gold Star Moth-
ers, the Corona Rotary and the
Chamber of Commerce.
Several board members spoke about their connection to
the different organizations. Board Members present are
from L-R MaryAnn Sherman 2ndVP, Moira Fisher 1stVP,
Veronica Wheeler President, Teresa Bullock 3rdVP, Geni
Kromberg Secretary and Lorraine Camire Financial Sec-
retary (missing Kandie Phelps Treasurer).
Elks Citizen of the
Year Award March
2019
Paul Harris Fellow Award
from International Rotary
Foundation
2019 Woman of the Year for
the 60th Assembly District of
California
2nd Vice President MaryAnn Sherman
was named 2019 Woman of the Year
for the 60th Assembly District of Cali-
fornia by Assemblywoman Sabrina Cer-
vantes. MaryAnn is pictured with her
husband Tom, a Vietnam veteran,
when she received the Elk’s Distin-
guished Citizenship Award for 2019
and the Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary
Foundation International.
We are fortunate to have such a dy-
namic and caring woman on our
board!
MaryAnn and Tom’s son, Col. Thomas
Sherman, is the commander of Wright
Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton,
Ohio.
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MI 191
Michigan 191 was pleased to have a
very successful July Golf Outing!
LA 7
Visiting the VA in New Orleans to play Bingo
with our Veterans—August 10, 2019
Induction Ceremony during our monthly
meeting. August 12th 2019
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I know there’s LOTS of activity going on within our Chapters and Depart-ments…..so please make sure that someone is capturing your events and special moments on camera (or phone)! Do you have a Chapter Historian? This would be a great time to appoint someone if not. All they have to do is send in those great pictures and tell a little bit about the event.
Your special events and activities can be shared in the National BSMA Monthly Newsletter and/or in the National BSMA Yearbook. We love seeing what our sisters are doing in other parts of the country!!
Pssst.... Don’t
forget to renew
your member-
ship.
2019 YEARBOOKS—Yes these are still available!
If you would like to order a 2019 yearbook you may do so through the TreeRing Website or from the BSMA On-line Store.
If you order from TreeRing you can still customize 2 free pages with your own personal pictures.
If that doesn’t matter to you… then you might as well order from the On-line Store.
Please contact me if you would like to go through TreeRing and I will send you the information and/or help you place the order.
Paula Lombardo [email protected] Phone: 614-827-5362