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Inside this issue

President Pg 1 Joyce C. Fullford Pg 2 Meeting your NEB Pg 3 Ohio Pg 4 Membership Pg 5 Fundraising Pg 6 Installations Pg 7-8 Thank You Pg 9 Chapters Pg 10-15 Q & A Pg 16-17 VAVS Pg 18 Editor Page Pg 19

President Judy Dorsey 1st VP Charilyn Damigo 2nd VP Stacy Anders 3rd VP Cyndi Ventura 4th VP Amy O’ Campo Recording Secretary Gloria Cervantes Financial Secretary Carla Brodacki Treasurer Brenda Ternullo

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 3

NOVEMBER 2015

Serving as your NP has been one of my highest honors. This past month has been one that I will never forget. I had the privilege of attending Veterans Day events in Washington DC. What made this year so special was having my Marine Veteran son, Matthew, as my guest. I cannot put into words what it felt like hearing both the President and Vice President of the United States, thanking my son for his service. I know my heart was ready to burst with pride. Matthew, also was proud to “coin” the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps! Later we were humbled to present a wreath on behalf of Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. at the Tomb of the Unknowns. My thanks to our National Patriotic Instructor Teresa Bullock, also an Army Veteran, and Ginger Novak, our National Historian, for carrying our colors during the parade of flags. A special thanks also to Teresa Sumners, our DC Rep. for getting us around DC and to our appointments on time. We were also honored to attend the ceremonies for our female warriors at WISMA and being present when the first two female Rangers were introduced. Earlier this month, I Traveled to MI to attend funeral services for PNP Joyce Fullford. Joyce served as our National President during the 1996-1997 term. BSM was a very part of her life and we were honored by her service. Please remember Joyce’s family in prayer as they go through this very difficult time. As we head into the holiday season, I want to wish each of you a blessed holiday. For some of you this will be the first Thanksgiving and Christmas without your son or daughter. Please know that you are in our prayers. We have walked in your shoes and know what you are feeling. I encourage each of you to reach out and hold close, your sister and her family. Giving strength and encouragement each step of her journey. Thank you once again to all our sons and daughters who are serving or have served. To our Gold Star Families, you are in our hearts always. May each of you have a blessed and happy holiday.

Respectfully, Judy Dorsey, BSMA, Inc. President 2015-2016

Blue Star Moms of America Inc.

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"Those Who Have Made The Ultimate Sacrifice For Our Freedom and Liberty

Will Never Be Forgotten "

"And They Who For Their Country Die, Shall Fill an Honored Grave.

For Glory Lights the Soldier's Tomb and Beauty Weeps the Brave"

—Joseph Drake

Mrs. Fullford 80 passed away Monday November 2, 2015 at Gladwin Nursing & Rehabilita-tion Center following a lengthy illness. She was born in Cordova Mines, Ontario to the late Edward & Luella (Varty) Kraner. She married Thomas Fullford on April 6, 1963 in Gladwin; he preceded her in death on October 1999. Joyce was a Past National President of the Blue Star Mothers, member of the Gladwin Eagles and a The American Legion Post 171 Auxiliary. She was awarded twice the Point of Light Award from President Bush for her volunteer sup-port of the Veteran Organizations. She enjoyed traveling to different States and being on the go wither family. She will be remembered by her family and friends as a generous, supportive and loving friend. She is survived by her children James & Heather Grant, Michael Grant, Melody & James Derbin, Shannon Fullford and Thomas & Lisa Fullford; 4 grandchildren James & Carrie Grant, Burt & Daniele Grant, Daniel & Sarah Grant and Michelle & Thomas Dugger; 4 great grandchildren and a sister Janet & Emery Sansturm. She was preceded in death by 3 sisters Betty St. Martin, Edna Hart and Sharon Kraner and a brother Jack Kraner.

Joyce C. Fullford

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I would take a moment to introduce myself by sharing a bit about myself and my family. First I’ll begin by thanking the membership for having faith in me by electing me as their National Financial Secretary. It is truly an honor. I have always said that it is never what hat you wear, but more the service you can give to others. I have two children, Brad who serves in the United States Air Force, and Tiffany who returned back to College after the birth of her son Tyler, and is currently in her senior year. I have one grandchild, Tyler, who is a Novel within himself, I should write it. I am a third generation Blue Star Mother. My Great Grandmother Estelle Carnes became a Blue Star Mother in May 1942 and then on November 13th my Uncle John was KIA on the USS Barton. My grandmother became a Blue Star Mother in 1955 when my Uncle joined the Air Force. I joined Blue Star Mothers in August of 2004 two weeks before my son was sent on his first Deployment. My son is still serving today. I taught Music for 25 years, retiring completely four years ago to help with my Grandson. I also ran our family business, and I’m still helping with the marketing side, as well as financial. I have served my Chapter Blue Water 180 as President, Financial Secretary and Recording Secretary. I have served on the Department Board as Recording Secretary, President and Financial Secretary. I have served on both Department Big Dipper, as 1stVP and as Financial Secretary, and served as Patriotic Instructor for National Big Dipper. I have served on numerous committees within our organization as well, loving every minute. Now that we are beginning compliance and all are all facing a deadline I would like to give a short explanation of a Profit and Loss. It is about the activity of Income and Expenses for the fiscal year. It does not reflect your bank balance, so it should not start or end with a balance, other than your net income. You then take your income and total it, then take your expenses total them, and deduct your income from your expenses, that is your net income for that fiscal year. I hope that helps explain it. I pray for a year of harmony, and hope that my service to our organization will inspire others to serve. If you have any questions please feel free to email or call me, I’m here to serve you.

Thank you, Carla Brodacki, National Financial Secretary

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Department of Ohio new officers installed on November 1 from left to right-

Karen Stillwell– Treasurer, Cheri Spurlock - Fin. Secretary, Barb Cook-2nd VP, Christina Moos-President, Brenda Russell-1st VP,

Paula Lombardo Recording Secretary, Susan Fulton, Chaplain

Department of Ohio President Christina Moos and NP Judy Dorsey resting their feet

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Membership News

At the October National Executive Board (NEB) meeting, the finance committee brought a recommendation that we immediately suspend the use of e-checks. NP Judy Dorsey and Finance Chair Anne Parker sent emails to announce the change: The National Executive Board voted to cease acceptance of e-checks since the current processor, Coastal, cannot furnish to the organization an accounting of each transaction. It has become impossible to maintain accurate records. Unfortunately, this caused a great deal of confusion for those chapters who regularly use e-checks to process memberships. At this time, if you have memberships or renewals to process, please continue to use the online forms, but choose the “Send a Check” option for payment if you do not have access to a debit/credit card for online payment, and mail the check to the NFS as indicated below. I will activate the profiles as soon as I receive notice of payment. If in the future a processor with a better record keeping system is procured, the decision could be reversed. With the current website, the organization has no choice of a processor. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience that this may cause, but are certain that you understand the importance of good record keeping. In the mean time

please mail payments to: BSMA Fin Secretary P.O. Box 443 St. Clair, MI 48079 **Please note the corrected zip code. The initial 2015/16 Membership Application inadvertently had an incorrect zip code. ********************************************************************************************************* Once again we have a large number of new members who have joined online who have not been moved from the “Applicant” group to the “Member” Group. If you have received notice of a new member in your chapter, please edit their profile promptly! If you are not sure how to do this, or need me to do it on your behalf, please just let me know. ********************************************************************************************************* Have you requested your chapter’s membership cards yet? Don’t forget to do so! If you have cards left over from last year (with NP Judy Dorsey’s signature) you are welcome to use them. However, this year, since we voted at Convention to make digital membership cards available, I've been making membership cards that you can print off at your chapter. We don't yet have an option that members can print off for themselves, although we're working on it as an option for the future. We are also including a line for "type of membership" so that you may issue cards to both members and associates. When you request your chapter’s membership cards I will send a set of cards for you in pdf format with instructions about the business card stock you can purchase inexpensively to print them. I will also include a blank set of cards so that you can use one of the blank cards for anyone who renews or joins later throughout the year. If you (or someone in your chapter) are unable to print them for some reason, let me know and I will print them off and send them to you right away. If you ever have any membership questions, please don’t hesitate to email or call. I’m more than happy to help resolved any issues you may be having! Charilyn Damigo National 1st VP

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We are bundling some of our online store items to help reduce inventory. This month's bundle is a Tote Bag, T-Shirt and a Blue Star Mother's pin for only $25.00!

Respectfully, Brenda Ternullo National Treasurer 2015-16

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Santa Cruz CA 26 Installation 2015-2016

From Left to Right: Recording Secretary Marsha Nord, Financial Secretary Nancee Teresi, 1VP Kim Monack, President Stacy Anders, National 4VP Amy O’ Campo, National Treasurer Brenda Ternullo, 2VP, Chaplain and Blue to Gold Cindy King, Treasurer Melissa Empson-LeBarre, Sergeant Arms Brigitte Hernandez

Newly elected Department of Michigan Blue Star Mothers Board. Standing L-R Treas. Elizabeth Bohannon, 1VP Debbie Rasmussen, PDP Kristine Wirgau, PDP Lisa Gwilt, PDP Carla Brodacki, 2nd VP Patty Alexander, Fin. Sec. Lori Thueme. Seated, Rec. Sec. Barb Butler, President Kathy Barnes, National President Judy Dorsey & 3rd VP Marcia Janik.

Department Of Michigan 2015-2016

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President Norma Florez and her youngest associate Andrew helping with care packages.

Monterey County CA 40 Installation From L-R Recording Secretary– Katie Balli Trevino, Treasurer– Shirly Risher, National 2VP- Stacy Anders, President– Norma Florez, Financial Secretary– Corina LaCuesta, Vice President– Julie Jaquez

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Thank you very much for the care packages you've sent to the Soldiers of 1-327 IN. 1-327 IN are back in the US and we replaced them a month ago. We, the Wolverine, 1-89 CAV, FT Drum, NY, MT Division, benefitted from those care packages.

We have a Free X where everything is free for our Soldiers. Your support keeps the Free X alive and helps keep our soldiers' resiliency high.

Blessings CH Ron Terrado

Dear Ladies,

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Our annual Holiday 2015 packing Party. Shipped 150 care packages to our deployed and overseas

Debbie Callahan-Whitcomb, Debby Paccella, Terry Morter and \ Dana Pavlu dropping the boxes off at the post office.

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Blue Star Mothers of Valencia County NM6

Saturday,14 November 2015—packed over 250 Care Packages for the Troops for the Holidays.

Southeast Wisconsin Chapter 2

Southeast Wisconsin Chapter 2 Blue Star Mothers participated in the Milwaukee WI Veteran's Day Parade,

carrying the Blue Star flag, along with flags representing the branches of the service. One of our parade cars

showed the Vietnam Commemorative flag.

The chapter is a commemorative partner.

Flag pins were handed out along the parade

route.

We were invited to join veterans at the War

Memorial after the parade for lunch.

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Blue Star Mothers of Valencia County, NM6

Recording Secretary, Ruth Romero, Financial Secretary Yvonne Jojola,

President Gloria J.K. Chavez-Sampson, Vice President Barbara Carlberg,

Treasurer Denise Black

Officers 2015-2016, from left to right;

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The Blue Star Mothers of America, Greater Tampa Bay, FL-3 Chapter provided a delicious meal for the 35 residents of the Fisher House at James A. Haley VA Hospital, Tampa, FL, Wednesday, November 4, 2015. Gold Star Mother and Fisher House volunteer, Toni Gross, pictured in the blue polo, made a request to numerous local Veterans Service Organizations here in the Tampa Bay area for meals to be provided to the Fisher House families each Wednesday evening.

I am grateful to the local Blue Star Mothers of America Tampa Bay chapter for the special and cherished relationship that we have....they embrace us Gold Star Mothers in a sincere and heartfelt way.

Tampa Bay FL-3

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We are extremely excited to serve our Hoosier veterans and active military. Our mission is not only to pro-vide care packages to our troops but supporting each other as mothers. Our goal is to provide an extensive library of statewide and national resources to assist veterans with integrating back into civilian life, but espe-cially to those injured and diagnosed with PTSD. By providing all available resources in one central location we hope to make it easier to find different options available to them and reduce the negative impact it has on our veterans and their families. We should all support our troops but let's not ignore the veterans, because the battle continues here at home. By educating our communities that we are still losing on average of 22 veter-ans every day to suicide, and the vast number of people that are directly affected by their deaths is devastat-ing. The stigma attached to their trauma needs to end and it starts right here in our communities. Support our military by helping us to reach out to them, donate today, thank you and God bless those that have and still sacrifice today."

- Vickie Sullinger, President Indy Blue Star Mothers—IN14

I am the Office Manager for the Vet Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a division of the Veteran Administration. I too, am a Blue Star Mother.

However my article or remarks are concerning Blue Star Mothers Chapter 5 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

I would like to let so many of your other mothers realize the impact that this Chapter has done in not only the care

packages that they continue to ship to our troops overseas, but the efforts that they have put forth in our Community. There are so many behind the scene issues dealing with the veteran population and the transition back into civilian life. On numerous occa-sions this Chapter has provided groceries to a disabled veteran while he waits weeks and weeks for his disability payment to kick in. They have helped with extra clothing and blankets and personal hygiene items for my veterans who are living in their vehi-cles, some awaiting housing. They have gone above and beyond, with their own time and efforts gathering household goods and furniture as we get a homeless female with children off the streets and finally into an apartment. They have even run to parts stores to get a battery for a disabled veteran who needed to get to work. And Christmas, they have made sure that every call for help, that a veteran’s child doesn’t know the struggles his mother or father might be facing. They have thrilled the older veterans, World War II and Korea, with candy at my facility to satisfy a sweet tooth or given them the ability to take snacks to a grand-child. During a Citywide Veteran Benefit Day, Moms volunteered to serve all the veterans attending lunch and then made sure everything was cleaned up giving us the time to spend with veterans and answer their questions. I also Chair the Mayor of Tulsa Veteran Advisory Council and Chapter 5 has been steadfast at attending every monthly meeting, sharing their accomplishments and goals, and reaching out to other veteran organizations. There are over 90 agencies involved in the Council. The Community has asked a lot from this organization and not once has anyone been disappointed. Their accomplishments have not been one time, or one month, but this is now years of dedication to this Community and they should be recognized. As I have told them over and over, many of the veteran organizations and myself are the ones who get the “Thanks” and the tears of joy and the smiles, but we know for a fact, that Blue Star Mothers Chapter 5, have our backs.

Sandra “Sandy” L. OxfordOfficer ManagerTulsa Vet Center

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Question: Is it appropriate to send religious materials to our deployed servicemen? I have told her that it is not allowed. Can you help me with this? Answer: I'm not aware of anything specific in the governing documents -- I think it's more of a general policy that our chapters have always followed. I think you're fine to say that your chapter (and many others) have chosen not to send these materials. The organization is non-sectarian, but that doesn't mean you can't participate in religious activities, rituals, etc. It just means that we don't show preference for one religion over another. Even the rituals are somewhat generic, even though they have a Christian- based theme. I think that an individual would probably be fine to mail the items herself if she wanted, but you're certainly within your rights to let her know that your chapter will not be including them. ****************************************************************************** Question: I would like to see a few changes to the uniform, to start losing the hat and gloves. This is a very outdated accessory. I am all for tradition, but do not want to see us so set in our ways that cannot freshen up an old look. The nice white blouse and dark pants look very good but it would not hurt to add a white polo for times when the dress is not so formal. The Army makes changes regularly to uniforms and I think to stay fresh Blue Star Moms should also. I also do not see the significance of the National officers to wear all white again looks outdated. Answer: Up until 2004, all BSM's wore the white nurses dress. The Blue pants or skirt started then with the white blouse. We wear uniforms when we are at formal events, convention, memorial services, funeral or representing the organization. Most Chapters are less formal during their fundraising events and parades and such. Any change in the uniform would be voted on by the convention body. ******************************************************************************** Question: Once my child leaves active military status, does my membership change to associate? Answer: No! You are welcome to remain a full member of our organization. Membership is open to anyone who has a child who is serving or has served in the military. Some of our members do, for various reasons, change their membership to associate status, but this is not required, and we encourage you to remain active in your chapter. Constitution, Article V: An individual is eligible for membership in the corporation if – (1) She is a mother meaning a woman who filled the role of birthmother, adoptive mother, Step-mother, Foster-mother, Grandmother, or Legal Guardian of a person who

(A) is currently serving in any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States; and (B) has served or been honorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States; and

(2) She is citizen or legal resident alien (a permanent resident is someone who has been granted authorization to live and work in the United States on a permanent basis) living in the United States or is a Citizen of the United States living outside the United States.

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Question: Is it up to the governing board of a chapter to vote on whether they want the position of Chaplain for their chapter? I thought it was either mandatory or very highly suggested by BSMA national board ( or in BSMA regulations) that the office of Chaplin was not optional for a chapter? Answer: Our governing documents state that the president is to appoint all committee chairs and non-elected positions. The Chaplain position is listed as a non-elected position. In our Leadership Handbook, page 47, it states "The Chapter President may appoint the following officers and assign to them their respective duties". One of these listed is the Chapter Chaplain and the duties are listed as follows: Chapter Chaplain: a.) Lead the Chapter in the devotional exercises; b.) Obligate new Members; c.) Respond to all sickness and deaths reported; and d.) Perform such other duties as may be required. Since it states the chapter president "may" appoint, it is optional. However, if there is no Chaplain these duties would have to be given to another officer. Also in our Code of Conduct, page 8, is the agenda to be utilized for meetings. There is to be an opening and closing prayer. This would be the responsibility of the Chaplain, if no Chaplain someone else would have to be given this responsibility. So to answer the question, it is not a requirement, but it is recommended to have the position of Chaplain in order to carry out the responsibilities necessary for the chapter to be in compliance with our governing documents.

Please send your questions to 4vp@bluestarmothers.us and put

NEWSLETTER QUESTION in the subject line. I look forward to hearing from you.

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Anne Parker BSMA, VAVS Representative vavs@bluestarmothers.us

843-504-0032

Now that Veterans Day has passed let's never forget their sacrifices. So many people want to go to the VA facilities during the holidays and present gifts and in January/February the halls are empty. If your organization is planning something at a VA facility for the holidays, please check with the volunteer coordinator and see if they would rather you come after the first of the year. Remember there is Valentines for Veterans in February and you have not lived until you see the smile on a veteran's face getting a Valentine and he cannot remember the last time someone gave him a Valentine.

A part of our mission is to honor and serve our veterans and like our military, no act is too small. They have all done so much; we can never do enough, in my opinion. If your chapter would like to have a VAVS representative at your closest VA hospital, please email me at vavs@bluestarmothers.us or call me at 843-504-0032.

Making a difference together one day at a time for our veterans.

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The dead line for all submissions is the 15th of each month. Late submissions will appear in a future newsletter. If you would like to add anything about your chapter to the newsletter please send in all pictures in jpig format, and all articles in a word document. Send it to: 2vp@bluestarmothers.us I pray that you all had great Thanksgiving and God Bless you and your families. Stacy Anders National 2VP Stacy