Celebrate Grandparent's Day: September 8, 2013

Grandparent's Day (the second Sunday of September annually) falls on September 8 this year. President Jimmy Carter proclaimed in 1978 that National Grandparents Day would be celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Labor Day.

The movement for a National Grandparents Day was sparked by Marian McQuade, a housewife in Fayette County, West Virginia. McQuade wanted to champion the cause of lonely elderly in nursing homes. She also hoped to persuade grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage their grandparents could provide.

SmileBox provides software to create greeting cards, free.

Grandparents Day provides ideas and resources for families and groups, including a songfest contest anyone can enter.

Create Fall Memories by exploring pumpkin patches, picking apples, enjoying fall festivals, and discovering great off-the-beaten path attractions.

This month's feature at KC Parent, 'The Dad Manual', by William Bartlett, is sure to spark fond memories that bring a smile to Grandpa.




 

Veteran's Needs: Series No. 3

Today, in this ongoing series about veterans needs, the services available to them in our area, and supporters, Michael Lovas, Communications Director of Spokane Veterans Forum, talks about an annual fund raising event that supports veteran's services in our area of Washington.

 

Motorcycle Clubs Step Up for Veterans

(Part Three)

By Michael Lovas

Run Whatcha Brung
The "Run Whatcha Brung" event in Old Town has grown into a highly popular affair that features motorcycle drag races, right on the city street, on the weekend of the 4th of July. Each year, the event raises money for veterans’ causes.

 

The event works like this: two riders line up next to each other. It does not matter what they ride. Sport bikes line up against choppers, racing bikes line up against heavy touring bikes. On the signal the pair ride as fast as they can up Idaho Street. Anyone can enter, and riders consistently get back in line to it again and again. Many do it over and over, all day long to the delight of a cheering crowd.

 

The weather was perfect this year, warm and clear with just a slight breeze. First to set up their headquarters tent was the Hells Angels, who are a major supporter every year.

 

Over the next 12 hours, motorcycle organizations from Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon arrived, including:

• Marines MC
• Brother Speed
• Vietnam Veterans/Legacy Veterans
• Outsiders
• Free Souls
• Combat Vet Riders
• American Legion Riders
• Dire Wolves
• BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse)
• Unchained Brotherhood
• Soul Patrol
• Sons of God
• Sober Riders

 Each time a club arrived, their arrival was announced by a deep, visceral rumble, the kind of guttural assault that conjures up visions of stampeding elephants or King Kong’s wild roar. All day long, other riders arrived and small parties spontaneously erupted into laughter.

 

The next morning, the drag strip and VIP lounge were set up, volunteers were making last minute checks to the track, and families began lining up to get henna tattoos, ice cream, bar BQ and cold drinks. Staff members from the Spokane Veterans Forum walked through the crowd offering sun block to folks with pink skin. Then, the big event began at 10:00. Two riders pulled up to the starting line, smiled at each other and waited for the starter to give them the signal. 3-2-1 GO.

 

What didn’t happen was anything you might have expected based on the old biker movies from the 1960s. No pile of empty beer bottles. No terrorizing the crowd. No one got mowed down, run over or accosted.
 

See what DID happen!

(Scroll to pictures)

Most importantly, 100% of the proceeds were again donated to Spokane Veterans Forum!

Experience it for yourself next year on 4th of July weekend. 

Mike Lovas, Communication Director
Spokane Veterans Forum
(509) 465-5599
michael@aboutpeople.com
 

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September is National Library Card Sign-up Month

September is national library card sign-up month.

Here are good reasons to sign up!

 

DON'T DELAY ~~ SIGN UP TODAY!

Veteran's Needs, Local Services, and Supporters: Part 2 -Community-based Vet Centers

The Department Of Veterans Affairs community-based Vet Centers are located nationwide with services available to War Veterans from all eras. Their family members are also eligible for services. 

 

Spokane Vet Center is located at 13109 E Mirabeau Parkway, Spokane, WA, 99216. Guide to Key Staff.

Phone: 509-444-8387 Or 877-927-8387

Fax: 509-444-8388

 

Normal working hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. In an effort to better serve the veteran and family members, upon request Vet Centers will provide services after normal work hours and/or on weekends.

• Services provided include:
• Individual and group counseling for Veterans and their families Family counseling for military related issues Bereavement counseling for families who experience an active duty death Military sexual trauma counseling and referral Outreach and education including PDHRA, community events, etc.
• Substance abuse assessment and referral Employment assessment & referral VBA benefits explanation and referral Screening & referral for medical issues including TBI, depression, etc.

*Stated on their site, upon request, their services are available after hours.

 

Vet Center Locator.

Veteran's Needs, Local Services, and Supporters - Part One

This is the beginning of an ongoing series about veterans needs, the services available to them in our area, and supporters. It begins with a three-part series provided by Michael Lovas, Communications Director of Spokane Veterans Forum. 

Motorcycle Clubs Step Up for Veterans
(Part One)
By Michael Lovas

Spokane Veterans Forum
In a practical sense, the people we consider heroes are those who take action to bring life to their values – without the expectation of a tangible reward. One organization filled with such people is the Spokane Veterans Forum. It is a national model for all other Veterans Courts and Forums.

This is an all-volunteer organization that supports the Spokane Veterans Court, which is part of the Spokane Country District Court and the Spokane Municipal Court.

The Forum is funded exclusively by donations. Those donations come in the form of funds, food, equipment and services. Members of the Forum are primarily military veterans and surviving family members.

Their job is to mentor other veterans who suffer from PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Sexual Trauma, or are in other serious ways finding the transition from military to civilian insurmountable or at least difficult.

As happens to veterans world-over, such obstacles often invite behaviors that run contra to the law. When veterans commit such offenses, and the offenses are misdemeanors, they usually qualify to be tried in the Veterans Court. In addition to fines and fees, the defendants receive sentences that include a two-year probation, appropriate therapies, an on-going relationship with a Forum mentor and six Forum meetings.

These Forum meetings include a sit-down meal and classes taught by notable professors, psychologists, counselors and therapists. All the topics are chosen based on: 1) their relevance to this highly military-oriented audience, and 2) the practicality of applying the lessons learned in real life.

All the Mentors are volunteers. They receive on-going training in how to help their mentees receive community resources and get help from the Veterans Administration. Often, the mentees have no idea such help is even available. Mentors are also trained in how to ask questions, build rapport and trust and nurture the relationships with their mentees. For many of the mentees, this is the first time they’ve received help that actually works. The key is the relationships with the Mentors.

This year, the "Run Whatcha Brung" event in Old Town, Washington, donated 100% of the proceeds to the Spokane Veterans Forum. Visit here for  more information on the Forum. (Also, Check Gallery\Events and scroll to pictures.)

 Mike Lovas, Communication Director

Spokane Veterans Forum
(509) 465-5599
michael@aboutpeople.com



 

Eric Petersen's book review of the mystery novel "The Trojan Colt" by Mike Resnick, is published at Internet Review of Books.

Palouse Food Bank Welcomes Your Extra Produce

Hello Palouse Gardeners!

The Palouse Food Bank would love to receive any extra produce you might have from your garden for their food distribution this week.  You can bring it by the Community Center Tuesday, between 2:00 and 5:00, or Wednesday between 12:30 and 1:00.  Please call Amy Browse with any questions:  878-1251.  Thank you for supporting our local food bank!