Sitting in the Pittsburgh airport I'm thinking back over the convention.
We achieved a milestone with the adoption of the gender neutral auxiliary by-law change. There was opposition from a few of the old timers just as there was opposition from the same demographic in 1978 when this body debated the virtues of admitting female veterans to the ranks of the VFW.
Just as in 1978 when we finally voted to admit female veterans in spite of dire warnings of ruination of the order, we have now joined the real world by admitting males to the auxiliary despite those same warnings.
All things take time and eventually an organization has to change to survive. We did and we will.
After I left you Monday evening a group of us went to the Hoffbrauhaus for dinner. Modeled after the original on Munich, it's quite popular but we went on Monday night so the band wasn't playing oomph music, the place was mostly empty and we could actually carry on a conversation.
Yesterday we presented awards to the many people we sponsor as champions of democracy. Gold medals to various supporting groups, cash prizes to teachers of the year and other awards to politicians, members of the government and others who support the goals of the VFW.
Last night we went to Penn Brewery for dinner and brews. The food was good, the beer was good and the company was good.
Our commander, Aaron, was compelled to try their beer sampler. He still had room for the pork shank.
Today we attended the last session, nomination and election of officers for the next year then checked out of the hotel and off to the airport for the flights home.
Next year we meet in Charlotte, NC, then in 2017 in New Orleans. I think maybe Iko will go with me to that convention. We may even spend a few extra days there enjoying the delights of New Orleans.
Meanwhile, back to the grind of stay at home work. But it'll be nice to be home for awhile enjoying Seattle's weather and catching up on walks with my little dog.
We achieved a milestone with the adoption of the gender neutral auxiliary by-law change. There was opposition from a few of the old timers just as there was opposition from the same demographic in 1978 when this body debated the virtues of admitting female veterans to the ranks of the VFW.
Just as in 1978 when we finally voted to admit female veterans in spite of dire warnings of ruination of the order, we have now joined the real world by admitting males to the auxiliary despite those same warnings.
All things take time and eventually an organization has to change to survive. We did and we will.
After I left you Monday evening a group of us went to the Hoffbrauhaus for dinner. Modeled after the original on Munich, it's quite popular but we went on Monday night so the band wasn't playing oomph music, the place was mostly empty and we could actually carry on a conversation.
Yesterday we presented awards to the many people we sponsor as champions of democracy. Gold medals to various supporting groups, cash prizes to teachers of the year and other awards to politicians, members of the government and others who support the goals of the VFW.
Last night we went to Penn Brewery for dinner and brews. The food was good, the beer was good and the company was good.
Our commander, Aaron, was compelled to try their beer sampler. He still had room for the pork shank.
Today we attended the last session, nomination and election of officers for the next year then checked out of the hotel and off to the airport for the flights home.
Next year we meet in Charlotte, NC, then in 2017 in New Orleans. I think maybe Iko will go with me to that convention. We may even spend a few extra days there enjoying the delights of New Orleans.
Meanwhile, back to the grind of stay at home work. But it'll be nice to be home for awhile enjoying Seattle's weather and catching up on walks with my little dog.
posted from Bloggeroid
Have a safe trip. Good post!
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