September 2016

Blue Star Moms ROC

ROCHESTER BLUE STAR MOTHERS

ELECT NEW EXECUTIVE BOARD

AND APPOINTED POSITION NAMED

On Saturday, August 20th the Rochester Blue Star Mothers elected

officers for 2016-17. The following Blue Star Mothers were elected to

the Blue Star Mothers NY8 Chapter Executive Board; President; Angie

Uhnavy, 1st Vice President; Sue Louis, 2nd Vice President; Rochelle

Sulli, Treasurer; Debra Rinck, Financial Secretary; Janet Deasey, Re-

cording Secretary; Vera Mae Rudd Young. President Angie Uhnavy

appointed Mary Anne Zani as Chaplain, Dory Braun as Patriotic In-

structor, Dee Fuller as Historian, Nancy Lopez as Corresponding Sec-

retary, and Jean Ristau as Sunshine Coordinator. All elected and ap-

pointed positions were sworn in to serve and carry-out the mission of

the Rochester Blue Star Mothers which is to support each other and all

members of the Armed Forces past and present and their families.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Associate Members…………….2/3

Thank You...………………………..2

Chapter News……………………...2

BSMA News………………………...2

BSM & MAG…...…………………...4

Play Ball………….……………………5

The Vet Center……………………..5

Warrior Benefit Concert………...6

Stokee Farm………………………...7

Panera Fundraiser………………..8

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Social Get-Together, Oct 3rd at

Greece Panera on

800 Greece Ridge Center Rd at

7pm

• Coffee House Drop-ins for Women

Veterans on Friday September 9th

and 23rd at 1010 East Ave from

5:30-7:30pm

• Saturday, September 17th Blue Star

Mother Chapter Meeting at 10am at

the Veterans Outreach Center at

459 South Ave

• September 24th Gold Star Blue Star

Family Picnic at 1050 East Ave

(Asbury Church) at 1pm

• September 25th Wreath Laying

Ceremony to Honor Gold Star

Families at White Haven Memorial

Park at 2pm

• October 1st Cookie Baking Day

Webster American Legion 11:30—

3:30

• SAVE THE DATE: December 4,

2016 Lights of Honor at Greater

Rochester International Airport

We would like to THANK the following individuals and groups for their dona-tions so that we can continue to serve and support military service members and their families.

Wegman’s from the Military Appreciation Night at Frontier Field, Dan Bachtelle– a Marine and 3 time Purple Heart recipient during the Vietnam War, and Dottie Bruntrager.

Monthly Social Time: Each month the Blue Star Mothers and Future Strong Stars meet at a local Panera to sup-

port one another. It is a great way to meet other military families, share what is going on with you and your military

child because life is never dull when your son and/or daughter is active duty, reserve or a veteran...we know!!!.

Membership Renewal: Blue Star Mother Chapter renewals are due the end of August, the yearly dues is $30.

If you have not renewed your membership you can do so by going to the national Blue Star Mothers website

and renew with a credit card or at the September 17th mtg with a check/cash. Instructions for on-line re-

newal: Sign-in at www.bluestarmothers.org. On the left side at the top is a “Renew Now” button. Click on

the button and follow the instructions. After you have paid with a credit card, you will be finished, if you do

not get a notification to pay with a credit card, you are in the wrong file and must quit and start over again.

Volunteers Needed: Our chapter is successful in supporting each other and military service members past and

present and their families because of mothers like you. We need your help and support with events and programs.

Please consider how you can offer your time and use your talents to help make this a community that stands

behind and supports our military.

ROCHESTER BLUE STAR MOTHER CHAPTER NEWSROCHESTER BLUE STAR MOTHER CHAPTER NEWSROCHESTER BLUE STAR MOTHER CHAPTER NEWSROCHESTER BLUE STAR MOTHER CHAPTER NEWS

The Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. is a non-

partisan, non-political, non-sectarian organization.

We do not support any political candidate nor do we

endorse any religious organization. The military rep-

resents all aspects of America as does the Blue Star

Mother organization. Paid memberships are open to

all mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster

mothers and female legal guardians who have chil-

dren serving in the military, guard or reserves, or

children who are veterans. Associate memberships

are free to all Blue Star dads, brother, sisters, aunts,

uncles, cousins or supporter of our military who

would like to get involved and support the many ac-

tivities our chapter sponsors to advocate for military

service members, Veterans and their families. Complete

the application in this newsletter and come show your

support.

BSMA NATIONAL NEWS

∗ Newly elected National Blue

Star Mother Officers: Presi-

dent: Cynthia Ventura, 1st VP:

Amy O’Campo, 2nd VP: Stacy

Anders, 3rd VP Christine

Boyd, 4th VP: Lori Thueme,

Treasurer: Brenda Ternulla,

Financial Secretary: Carla

Brodacki, and Recording

Secretary: Kade Rutherford.

2

CALLING ALL BLUE STAR DADS,

BROTHERS, SISTERS, AUNTS,

UNCLES, COUSINS, FRIENDS:

YOU CAN BE AN

ASSOCIATE MEMBER

Coupons….Coupons….Coupons

Did you know manufacturer coupons can be used at military bases and they are honored up to

6 months past their expiration date? Please save your coupons and our Blue Star Mom, Pat Witt

will see that they get to four different military bases to be used by families buying food at mili-

tary PX. Commissaries. Bring those coupons to chapter meetings or mail to: Blue Star Mothers,

c/o Veterans Outreach Center, 459 South Ave, Rochester NY 14620

Blue Star Mothers at the Memorial Art Gallery

4

The Rochester Blue Star Mothers were invited to be part of the Rochester

Memorial Art Gallery’s exhibitions of Afghan War Rugs and War Memo-

randa: Photography.

The art gallery’s offerings are an opportunity to

look at and reflect how we talk about and record

war. The 42 Afghan war rugs on dis-

play depict the many years of war that

country has endured and the influences of the countries that

have been apart of those wars. The Afghanistan people who

wove the rugs, many were in refugee camps, used century old

methods of dying wool to provide a pic-

torial war history in rugs.

The other MAG exhibit is titled “War

Memoranda: Photography; Walt Whitman and Re-

newal by Binh Danh and Robert Schultz” features the

images of soldiers from the Civil War and from the Vi-

etnam War all are dead or doomed. The pictures are

displayed using a spe-

cialized photography

technique called chloro-

phyll print, that leaves

the images of these sol-

diers very real and

haunting to the observ-

er. The MAG urged pa-

trons coming to the ex-

hibits to bring care

package supplies for our

Blue Star Mother chap-

ter. Several Blue Star

Mothers and a sister got

to see the exhibits and accept donations from

the community.

Even Santa came to celebrate our

strong, amazing, resilient military

children!!!

Local Agency that is

Helping

Veterans and their

Families

The Rochester Vet

Center located at

2000 S. Winton Rd

(585-232-5040) pro-

vides a broad range of

counseling, outreach,

and referral services to

combat Veterans and

their families. Vet Cen-

ter professionals assist

Veterans and their

families through the

major adjustments in

life that can occur

when a Veteran re-

turns from combat and

transitions to civilian

life. Services offered

include individual and

group counseling in

the areas of Post-

Traumatic Stress Dis-

order (PTSD), alcohol

and drug assessment,

and suicide prevention

referrals. All services

are free of cost and are

strictly confidential.

The Rochester Vet

Center offers a Mobile

Vet Center that can

bring services to vari-

ous locations in Mon-

roe County. The Vet

Center was a collabo-

rating partner in the

April Military Child

Event at Rock Ven-

ture.

TAKE ME OUT TO A

BALLGAME

5

Blue Star Mothers

and other family

members went to

a Rochester Red

Wings ballgame

in August to cheer

on the local ball

club and get one

last glimpse of

their favorite mil-

itary member as

their picture flashed across the score board during

the 7th inning stretch. The Rochester Red Wings

honors our kids by taking the photos we provide to

them and creating a slide show of the pictures that

are then shown on the big

screen. Thank you Roches-

ter Red Wings for support-

ing our hometown he-

roes!!!!

Annual Warrior Benefit Concert 2016 - New York Warrior Alliance

On August 20, several members of Rochester Blue Star Mothers NY8 at-tended the Annual Warrior Benefit Concert at Greece Post 468 American Legion. Members, Vera Mae Rudd-Young, Pat Witt, Angie Uhnavy, Nancy Lopez, and associate member, Elijah Pope, (pictured with Stephen Im-burgia) set up a small table with information about our organization. The

benefit had vendors and support groups distributing informational brochures about their programs (i.e., Blue Star Mothers and Dogs on Deployment). There were bands, a silent auction, raffle prizes, 50/50 drawings, face painting, a dunk tank, good food and cold beer. All proceeds went to the New York Warrior Alliance.

The annual event began 5 years ago, in part, by the Rochester Gold Star family of LCPL Brian Schramm to honor his sacrifice to our country. The New York Warrior Alliance mission is: “To support the wounded military members and their caregivers by honoring their service with donations to aide in their rehabilita-tion. Our funding is supported through donations that are re-ceived from the community and other non-profit organizations.”

Every Veteran’s Day, the NY Warrior Alliance, headed up by Amy Tausch and members of her church, load up several trucks filled with items, including gift cards to Walmart or Tar-get, clothes, toiletries, even diapers, to bring to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington. The supplies are not only for the wounded soldiers, but their family members, including babies and children, who may be with their loved ones while recuperat-ing for days, weeks or months.

Through the efforts of selfless people, esp. Amy Tausch and her husband, Stephen, her parents, the Military Ministry at the North-field Church in Pittsford, which she is a member of, the American Legion; the Legion and Patriot Guard Riders; and the countless number of volunteers and organi-zations, the attendees and dona-tions raised, has grown in size. This year’s benefit honored five American heroes but the event itself is a meaningful tribute to ALL of our area Veterans. This year the guests of honor were (from left to right): Alyssa Trombley, Ezekiel Michijah Crozier, Donald Jarvis, Stephen Imburgia and Amy Folwell.

2016 Military Appreciation Weekend

STOKOE FARMS Saturday, Sept 17 and Sunday, Sept 18 from 10 to 5

All Components, Active duty, Reserve, Guardsmen and retired military personnel and their family can enjoy

the farm for free!

5 Zip Lines 4 lane open slide hayrides through the pumpkin patch kids train

Straw Fort and Hay Chute 100% Sunpowered Maize Farmer 500 pedal cars

Stokoe Farms

656 South Road

Scottsville, NY 14546

stokoefarms.com

585-889-0770

info@stokoefarms.com

only 13 miles from the Jetview Center !!!!

VA TOWN HALL MEETINGS

Opportunity for feedback from Veterans, Family Members, Stakeholders, Veteran Service Organizations, and Community Partners

On September 10, the Canandaigua VA Medical Center will host a Quarterly Town Hall meeting.

This event will take place at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center located at 400 Fort Hill

Avenue, Canandaigua, NY 14424 in building #5 starting at 10 a.m.

On September 14, the Rochester VA Outpatient Clinic will host a Quarterly Town Hall meeting.

This event will take place at the Rochester VA Outpatient Clinic located at 465 Westfall

Road, Rochester, NY 14620 starting at 6:30 p.m.

These Town Hall meetings will provide the opportunity for feedback from Veterans, family

members, congressional stakeholders, Veteran service organizations, non-governmental organi-

zations, and other community partners. If you would like more information regarding these

meetings or would like to pre-submit a question or comment, please contact Dan Ryan, Public

Affairs Officer at (585) 393-7209 or e-mail at Daniel.Ryan@va.gov.

Monroe County Veterans

Discount Card Program

Monroe County, the Veterans Outreach Center and local merchants wish to recognize and thank area Veterans for their service by offering a discount program. For infor-mation on the program: http://www2.monroecounty.gov/veterans-mcvdcp-faq

BLUE STAR MOMS ROC

We are the mothers, step-

mothers, grandmothers, foster

mothers and female legal

guardians in the Rochester,

NY area who now have or have

had sons and daughters hon-

orably serving in the United

States military. Our mission is

to support all members of the

Armed Forces through a varie-

ty of activities and events. We

were chartered on April 16,

2011.

The Blue Star Mothers of

America is a non-partisan, not

-for-profit organization

formed for the purpose of

supporting America’s military,

veterans, and their families,

and to foster patriotism.

Blue Star Mothers Business Meetings Our business meetings are the 3rd Saturday of the month at 10am (but

come at 9:30 get to know all the moms and enjoy some coffee and a

snack) at the Veterans Outreach Center 459 South Avenue

Chapter President: Angie Uhnavy,

Chapter 1st VP: Sue Louis,

Chapter 2nd VP: Rochelle Sulli,

Chapter Record Secretary: Vera Mae

Rudd Young, Chapter Financial

Secretary: Janet Deasey, Chapter

Treasurer: Debra Rinck

Mailing Address

Blue Star Mothers

c/o Veterans Outreach Center

459 South Ave

Rochester, NY 14620

Phone: 585-350-7272

E-mail: Bluestarmothersroc@gmail.com

YOUR LOGO HERE

September 17, 2016 October 15, 2016

November 19, 2016 December 17, 2016

January 21, 2017 February 18, 2017

March 18, 2017 April 15, 2017

2016 Social Get-Togethers

Our social get-togethers are an informal time to share, talk and support

each other while partnering with the Future Strong Stars. We meet at local

Panera Breads throughout the Rochester area at 7 pm on the

1st Monday of each month. Come join us!!!

October 3, 2016 Greece: 800 Greece Ridge Center Dr.

November 7, 2016 Fairport: 16 Courtney Drive

December 5, 2016 Webster: 935 Holt Road